Shark in the Water | Phoebe

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Cray loved being outside, she was a girl who sometimes turned into a bit of an adrenaline junkie. She often went out of her way to find adventure and excitement. Though she was also fairly cautious of injury, as a ballerina and someone with professional aspirations, injury could mean the end of everything for her. She knew that magical medicine and healing had advanced so far that they would likely be able to heal her without any serious repercussions, but bones were never as strong after a break and after so many even perfectly healed bones she'd be out. 

The Slytherin girl sat on the base of the lake with her feet in the water. She wanted to do something but couldn't think of what. She had considered going in the water but she didn't want to go back down and get her swimming costume. She didn't really care about getting her clothing wet since she was currently only wearing short athletic shorts and a t-shirt, but she was letting not having her swim suit accessible be her excuse. Instead, she just twirled her toes in the water, let the sun bask over her and pondered life underwater, something she did often from the windows in the Slytherin common room also. 

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Phoebe strolled onto the grounds, not having a particular destination in mind but simply enjoying the fresh air. It was hard to be alone with her thoughts during this time of day, when it seemed like there were twice as many students in the common room as usual; the grounds were large enough for her to not feel so claustrophobic. Much to her own surprise, Phoebe actually saw someone she felt like talking to. Even though, just five seconds ago, she was thinking about how much she didn't want to be surrounded by other people. Classic Phoebe.

By the lake, she spotted her friend from Slytherin, Cray. Well, Cray and Phoebe weren't exactly friends, but they were as friendly to each other as two people who only cared about themselves could be. At least Phoebe didn't have to hide her true self around Cray as much as she did with other people. "Afternoon," Phoebe said to announce her presence as she sat down next to the witch with her feet in the water. Phoebe causally tossed her dark hair, which today she was wearing in voluminous curls, over her shoulder as she got comfortable. "I thought sitting in silence and pondering deep topics was just for Ravenclaws," she teased.

@cray

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Cray wasn't actually that deep of a person, however, there were occasions where her mind wandered and when that happened, bets were off. However, she was much more of a surface level person. All of her thoughts were based on the immediate actions of the people around her or what she was feeling or desiring in the moment, and this was no different. However, she did have a lot more to think about now than she ever had before. School was the last thing on her mind. However, when she heard a familiar voice approach her, her mind cleared again. "It is." she admitted. "I'm not really thinking about anything... just bored." she shrugged. It wasn't all that true, she did have things on her mind, but at the moment she wasn't thinking about anything in particular. The Ravenclaw girl sat. Cray didn't have a lot of people that she considered friends, there were a handful, Zaire being one of them and likely her favorite one, but, Phoebe was fine. She was someone who the Slytherin didn't hate and absolutely saw potential in. Perhaps it was because they were both half blood and Cray liked that she wasn't the only half blood in her situation. "What are you doing out here?" 

@phoebe

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Cray stated that she wasn't thinking about anything, just bored, which Phoebe didn't entirely believe. It was hard for her to believe anything anyone said, but that wasn't the point. When asked what she was doing out on the grounds, Phoebe shrugged. "Nothing really, just trying to get away from the crowds in the castle," the Ravenclaw answered. Phoebe sat in silence for a moment after that, trying to think of something fun the two of them could do since neither of them seemed to be doing anything worthwhile. "Heard anything interesting lately?" she asked finally. She was, of course, asking if Cray had any gossip to share. While Phoebe didn't trust all of the rumors she heard, she considered any kind of information about others useful, since you never know when you'll be able to use it against someone.

@cray

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Cray couldn't blame the Ravenclaw for wanting to get out of the castle. The castle, at least most of it, often felt more like a prison than home. Cray loved the Slytherin common room, she loved the kitchens on occasion. Mostly, she felt safer underground. She felt like she was more likely to find people who wouldn't bother her in the basement or dungeons of the stone castle. Cray liked being with like-minded people, otherwise, she was either silent or she was very unpleasant to be around. Phoebe asked if she had heard anything lately and she shook her heavy head. "No. Well, nothing good at least. That kid who died last year came back as a ghost." she said, she hadn't seen the Ravenclaw boy yet, but she had heard around the castle that the 5th floor processed a new ghost. It didn't really interest her, though she knew that ghosts had to have a reason to come back, something had to be keeping them, and she wondered what it was for the Ravenclaw boy. "But besides that, no." she admitted, she wasn't keen on telling anyone about her run in with the Gryffindor boy. 

@phoebe

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The only thing Cray had to share was that a new ghost had showed up in the castle, to which Phoebe replied with a shrug. Of course she knew that already. "To be honest, I would have been happier if he hadn't bothered to come back," Phoebe muttered. The last thing Hogwarts needed was another Muggleborn running around, even if they were dead already.

"So, how's your ballet going?" Phoebe asked, sounding genuine as ever, although in reality she couldn't have cared less about Cray's ballet. In fact, she found all of the pirouettes and relevés or whatever they were called a little ridiculous, but no real friend would say something like that.

@cray

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To be honest Cray couldn't have cared less about the ghost boys return either. She didn't know the person and she didn't really care why they were back. It was the fault of their group that he was dead and she didn't really feel remorse for it. Cray wasn't the biggest fan of death. She really felt uneasy about the idea of killing people for no reason, but she knew it was part of the job. It was part of the journey to get the power and status that she craved. "Yeah, me neither. It's just a slow time for gossip." she shrugged. Phoebe then did something that threw Cray off a little and asked her about Ballet. She knew it wasn't a secret and people she knew did ballet, but it was just a hobby, nothing she really took seriously (which was a complete lie, but one that she continued to tell herself). "uh, it's fine I guess." she shrugged again, unsure what to say about it. She wasn't a very touchy-feely person and she didn't much like to talk about feelings with just anybody. Phoebe wasn't just anybody, she was a friend. "How's... whatever you do?" she asked, not really feeling bad that she didn't know but now finding herself curious. 

@phoebe

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Cray seemed a little thrown off by Phoebe's question. Oh, was that whole ballet thing supposed to be a secret? Well, she wouldn't go telling people about it if Cray didn't want her to -- since, you know, that's what friends do (but really Phoebe just didn't want Cray to tell anyone how much the Ravenclaw hated Muggles). However, Cray asked her how whatever she did was going, and Phoebe was equally surprised by the question. What did she do? Was she really good at anything other than ambling through school days and making mediocre grades? "The whatever has been going quite well, actually," Phoebe answered, making a joke to cover up her insecurity. "I..." She twirled her hair absentmindedly as she tried to think of something she had accomplished recently. She was a Ravenclaw, for crying out loud, she was supposed to be intelligent. "...learned a new spell for dueling." That was a lie, but anything to end the awkward silence was worth it. Not like lying was anything new to her, anyway.

@cray

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Cray doing ballet wasn't a secret, but it was a part of her that normally didn't come up in conversation often. It was something that she did in abandoned classrooms and over the summer holidays when she was back home in Essex. Plus the occasional class over the Winter holidays. It wasn't something that she cared to do with other people, but it also wasn't something that she was going out of her way to hide. Not anymore at least. She had tried to hide it until a few years ago when someone thought they could make fun of her for it after they found out. She she embraced it and instead went after the kid for not being as flexible and not being able to pull off the required ballet attire like she could. Oh how the Slytherin girl loved having the power to make people cry and ruin their reputation in one fell swoop. Phoebe enlightened her to the fact that the Ravenclaw girl beside her was in the dueling club. Cray nodded as that information came back to her. She had known that somehow and just managed to forget it. She really should work on being a better friend. "What spell?" she asked, feigning interest, but also finding herself curious as to whether or not it was a spell that she knew.

@phoebe