Storm Clouds Overhead

[Star Dare]

It was a perfect night, if those existed. The weather was sublime, with a light breeze blowing the tops of the trees slightly. Great weather for a walk. Star was taking full advantage of the afternoon, and she hopped down the steps of the castle with a lightness that she rarely possessed. She breathed in the fresh air like a person saved from the depths of the ocean.

She struck out toward the beech tree down near the lake, which was bathed in the light from the setting sun, casting the tree into shadow, and reflecting beautiful colours in the lakes surface. When she arrived the Gryffindor hoisted herself into the topmost branches of the tree, grunting with the exertion, and when she was finally up amongst the branches she merely sat, taking it all in, trying not to think to hard about school work or Umbridge, or anything else that was going on.

After a while, (she'd actually completely lost track of time,) Star noticed something in the darkening sky. A small cloud, darker than the rest, was moving steadily her way. She frowned, a storm cloud? What on earth...

Before she had time to even consider the implications, a crack of thunder sounded overhead, and lightening struck down, very near to where the fourth year was sitting, crisping a nearby elm.

With a cry of surprise Star fell out of the tree, hitting the ground just as the storm clouds finished gathering, and let a torrent of rain fall down upon the grounds.

Star lay on the cold ground, stunned, as the water soaked into her, her only dull thought was how odd it was that it could be perfect one moment, and pouring the next.

[Silas Moncrieff]

On his lovely evening Silas found himself wandering about he grounds with out much purpose. This year hadn't been turning out as one might have wish. Everything he had been promised, everything he had coming to him had not manifested itself. Second year was suppose to be his year. And yet why did it feel like a slightly less intimidating version of his first year?...

It was clearly because he hadn't made the right sorts of friends yet. That was it. It was the fault of his current friends. Had to be. Well... nothing to it but to move on to some new friends!

It was just then that the crack of lightening shook the ground causing young Silas to fall to he earth, covering his head in sheer terror. But it got worse... far worse. He heard a girl scream, why was she screaming?!, and looking up saw her fall from out of no where and hit the ground. What was happening! And to make matters worse just when he figured he would stay still and let what ever terrible thing was happening over look him it began to pour rain. The rain was the worst. Pushing himself up from the ground and pushing wet strands of hair out of his eyes Silas collected his thoughts, and walked slowly up to the girl.

Funny how the rain put things into prospective. There was no dragon or volcano erupting. Just a girl laying in the wet grass.

Stopping a few paces from her now the boy said,

"You had best get up. No use making a fool of yourself over a silly old thunder clap. Don't they have thunder storms where you come from?"

Funny how easy it was to feel brave and superior when you were sure your own fear had gone unseen.

"Not hurt are you?" He added. "Hope not because I would hate to have to carry you back up to the castle.

Which really wasn't a possibility to begin with considering Silas small stature and lack of any physical strength.

[Star Dare]

Star lay on the ground, stunned, as rain poured down around her, and thunder cracked overhead. After a moment Silas' words penetrated through the thick fog that was currently her mind. She raised her head, looking around groggily, her head was pounding like mad, and she groaned as she sat up, closing her eyes as it spun.

Star turned to look at Silas' his words finally making sense. "Fool of myself..." she repeated, what are you, what are you talking about?!" Star tried to stand, her legs buckling slightly as her head spun once more. Stumbling slightly, she made her way over to the tree which she used to support herself as she stood fully.

Once she was upright she took a proper look at Silas, which wasn't easy considering how dark it was, and the rain that was still pouring from the heavens. She glared at him with all the severity she could muster, which wasn't much since her head felt it might burst open at any moment.

"Do you want something?" She asked curtly, yelling the last bit to be heard over the thunder, "or do you just like being an arse?" Honestly, making fun of someone who'd fallen and cracked their head was not a good way to start a relationship, Star crossed her arms, attempting to make leaning against the tree look cool, instead of like she needed it to support her so she didn't fall over.

[Silas Moncrieff]

"Oh! Well! Excuse me...." he said sarcastically. "So sorry if I cared enough to make sure you weren't dead or something. I guess next time I'll just walk on by you."

But rather than moving on he moved closer in under the tree. The rain pouring down was quite uncomfortable and he wasn't in the mood to go tramping through it back to the castle until it had settled down. Besides, it wasn't as if the tree belonged to her.

"If you are so offended by my presents," he added, "You are welcome to leave. Besides wanting to make sure you were alright I wanted some shelter from the rain."

Looking up into the tree then he said,

"What were you doing up there? How did you even get up in that tree?" Silus was not exactly the most nimble or coordinated person in the world, and he couldn't imagine climbing up in a tree without expecting to fall out of it almost at once. It she like she had really been asking for this accident to happen. Perhaps she was a bit touched in the head...

[Star Dare]

The boy's tone was not helping the situation in the slightest, Star continued to glare at him as thunder crackled overhead, folding her arms and looking at him in indignation as he spoke. Really, yelling at her to get up off the ground was caring?! This kid had some serious problems.

She opened her mouth to retort as he said she could go back to the castle if she was offended by his presence. "What are you on about?!" She asked, looking at him in consternation. This is ridiculous! Besides I got here first... But that didn't matter, and Star knew it. Attempting to shove her aggravated feelings to the back of her mind, she tried to adopt a neutral expression, but before she had the chance to speak Silus was off on a completely different thread, asking how she'd been able to climb the tree.

Star shrugged, climbing had always come naturally to her, it felt right somehow to be up in the branches of a sturdy tree, perching herself up in the sky, where she was free, at least for a moment, from all her problems down on the ground.

"Just sitting," she replied, "before this blasted rain the sky was beautiful, I was watching the sunset." At that moment a huge drop of water plopped down the girl's shirt. She winced at the sudden cold, wriggling slightly. "And, ugh, god that's cold, I like to climb," she said with a shrug as the drop made its way down her back soaking her shirt.

"What about you, why are you out here?" She asked, trying not to sound as though she was accusing him, but actually curious.

[Silas Moncrieff]

Lifting his chin up high he said a bit defensively,

"I was wondering about looking for new friends if you must know. All my old ones are perfectly useless, and I think I out grew them. Besides, there was no where else to go. The common room was too noisy, and one of my room mates is being an annoying twit at the moment. So since he is sulking in his room and making everyone miserable i thought I would escape out here. My room mate is Michael Lux by the way, and if you should see him wondering about steer clear of him. He is nasty company to keep. I suspect it's just growing pains, but why should I have to deal with it, am I right?"

Turning back to the tree then he said, "Why would you climb a tree? It's dirty and dangerous... And dull I should think. No one else was up there with you. Is there something about being in Gryffindor that makes you want to do wreckless things? Seems like it I would say..."

[Star Dare]

Star didn't think much of Silas' response but she said nothing, simply raising her eyebrows slightly at his answer. Then he went on about a Michael Lux, someone she didn't know, but Silas was acting a complete brat, no wonder this Lux kid was bothering him, if she was in his dorm she'd probably set fire to his bed or something to teach him a lesson about respect.

These thoughts flickered over her face for a moment as he talked, but vanished quickly. Her hands clenched slightly though as he questioned why she would climb a tree, that it was dirty and reckless. It's reckless to talk to someone with as much disdain as you're talking to me, but you probably don't give a darn.

She sighed, putting her hands in her pockets to make sure she didn't clench them anymore.

"Well," she sounded aggravated, she tried again. "Well climbing trees is a bit like... reading a book or playing quidditch. It clears your mind, and can help you think up solutions to things you wouldn't be able to figure out otherwise." She shrugged, "you should try it sometime, you never know, you might like it."

[Silas Moncrieff]

"There you go again..." replied the boy, shaking his head and sounding a bit impatient. "Since when does reading a book, or playing a demanding sport clear the head? I have read many books and all it does is fill my head. And sports?! Far to much stimulation on the brain and other senses."

Raising a brow he said, "Have you ever even played quidditch before?" Looking up into the tree he said, "I fail to see the comparison. Perhaps I need to ask another tree sitter about this because your analogies made no sense."

Walking up to the tree then he placed his hands on the trunk. It felt rough and dirty. Taking his hand away and looking at it he saw that was the case. Little flecks of bark were left behind on his skin.

[Star Dare]

She was close to socking Silas right in his rude mouth, but again decided against it. Clearly he was used to saying whatever came to mind, and hadn't learned the value of keeping his thoughts to himself, rather than spitting out exactly what came into his head. This thought calmed her down, although she couldn't help wondering how much longer she was going to make up excuses for him.

"What I meant, was that if you have a problem, something that you're struggling with, climbing a tree can give you the space to think about other things, which in turn might lead to helping with the problem, as you're thinking of something else, and not focusing on what's bothering you."

She folded her arms as he went to touch the bark, only just managing to resist rolling her eyes. "Yeah," she said tersely, "why don't you do that." If anyone else will even have the patience to have a conversation with you.

As Silas took his hand away from the tree, looking at it intently, Star moved forward hesitantly, and drew even with him. "Look, it really isn't that bad," she said putting her hand on the trunk herself, she looked at the other boy. "Wanna try it? I'll give you a boost."

She knelt, cupping her hands to boost the Ravenclaw into the tree, never mind the rain, which was beginning to abate now, she had promised herself she'd give him a chance, and that was what she was going to do.

[Silas Moncrieff]

Silas stared at the girl as though she had suggest he sprout wings and fly, but after a moment he shrugged and said,

"Well... I do have some rather pressing problems I must think over, and if this tree thing really works I should at least give a go."

Placing his hands against the trunk then he stepped into her hand and let her help him up, and after struggling and huffing and puffing all the way (he had poor upper body strength) he was finally standing in the lowest part of the tree with his arms wrapped around the thick trunk saying,

"This feels very dangerous I'll have you know. If this is a trick you will answer for it. I don't even know why I listened to you given the fact that I just watched you fall out of a tree. How will I ever get down?"

Opening his eyes might have been a good start....

[Star Dare]

Unable to resist rolling her eyes, Star looked up at the tree, and sprang up to catch the lowest branch. Swinging slightly, she gracefully pushed herself up, so that she was standing level with Silas. The view was gorgeous, the rain was turning into a fine mist that shrouded the hills in the distance, but revealed the lake.

Crossing over to Silas, Star grinned at the younger boy. "How bout you open your eyes," she suggested, "take in the view. I promise you won't regret it."

[Silas Moncrieff]

Silas opened his eyes and stared a moment before saying,

"This feels like a very bad idea. It's not as if we can fly with out brooms you know? And I can't produce a pillow spell fast enough if I fall. Could anyone? I don't think so. This is why my mother always told me not to climb trees, or walls or ladders. I have very delicate health."

Sliding down to a sitting position Silas sat on the branch now with one hand on the trunk and the other on the branch. He looked up, about, and then finally at Star before saying,

"Well it's not half as bad sitting down. But what is your name? I should know it in case you fall on your face, and I need to tell them so they can identify the body. My name is Silas Moncrieff."

[Star Dare]

Star had ceased to take Silas seriously, and chuckled quietly when he said his mother had advised him against climbing trees. "Well I've always thought rules were meant to be broken, and who knows, maybe you'll surprise your mum. You're doing something she's afraid to do. That's brave." Taking the fact that the boy hadn't vomited, fallen, or started screaming as good signs, Star slid down to sit beside the boy, her legs swinging over the empty space.

I sincerely doubt I'd die if I fell from this height," she said lightly, leaning back so that she was partially hanging over empty space, "this isn't anything compared to some of the trees I've climbed."

Smiling, she tucked a loose strand of her jet black hair behind her ear before sticking out a hand to shake Silus'. "I'm Star, Star Dare. Nice to meet you Silas."

[Silas Moncrieff]

When Star sat next to him Silas took his hand from the branch and moved it to the truck, clinging on a bit tighter. Her moment scared him a bit, and her body leaning back concerned him even more. What if she slipped and pulled him down with her?! Then what?!

"ah... um..." He said, looking at her extended hand. "Taking his hand from the trunk then he quickly shook her hand before pulling it away and saying,

"Star? well that sounds about right. Probably had some hippie parents didn't you? No wonder you sit about it trees."

Looking up into the branches then he said,

"I need new friends, but I'm not sure how to get them. So how does this work? I just sit here and let my mind drift? Or do I think about the things I am trying to figure out?"

[Star Dare]

Raising her eyebrows and trying not to laugh, Star watched Silas as he quickly grabbed her hand, shook it, and then clung tightly to the trunk again, for all the world as though he was... well, then again he was high in the air, she just didn't tend to think about that much anymore, she'd grown used to it.

Star stiffened slightly when Silas made a crack about her parents, but it hadn't been intended in an insulting way, and she let it slide, not mentioning that she had no idea whether her parents had been hippies or not, as she'd never gotten the chance to know them.

"Well," she said, watching him. "Generally I think it's better not to think about what's bothering you, but that's really up to you, although I doubt any new friends are going to just magically pop into being if you think about it hard enough."

[Silas Moncrieff]

"Well then what is the point of all this?" said Silas, sounding a bit frustrated. "I thought you said if you had problems to work out sitting up in a tree could help? Why are we even doing this?"

This was all very confusing. One moment the girl was saying one thing, and then next she was saying something else. It was all a trick to make him look silly! He just knew it!

[Star Dare]

It was a good deal harder not to knock the boy off his perch now that they were several metres above the ground, and Star imagined pushing him off the branch and watching him hit the ground with a satisfying thud. The thought gave her an odd sense of satisfaction, but once again, she resisted the urge to physically assault the boy.

"Maybe if you just looked around, and stopped thinking about trying to make friends, you'd see that someone is trying to be your friend." She said with forced patience, looking at the boy with a mixture of aggravation and amusement.

"Silas, relax. Stop thinking about the problem, distract yourself. Tell me... what's your favourite class?"

[Silas Moncrieff]

Not understanding the girls comment about a potential friend Silas said,

"Well yes, I suppose there are people about who might be my friend, but I have very particular standards when it comes to friends you see? It's not that I have trouble finding any they just aren't the ones I want. A friend should be of some use to you don't you think? I've had to distance myself from the whole lot I made my first year. They turned out to be no good at all. Just a bunch of little children with no power or control over anything."

Looking about then he tried to relax as he said,

"Well I like Herbology and I sort of like Potions... We no, not the class really. Snape is a bit much. But I like the things you can do when you combine the classes. I like the idea of inventing a new ultimate potion. There is an older Slytherin girl here named Kaylee Hadyn who invented a new magical fertilizer which makes plants grow extra special, and she won't give the formula to anyone. But can you imagine what that might do? When used on magical plans? She only uses it on muggle plans at the moment, but I intend to get some from her one way or another and use it for magical plants."

Looking quite excited at the prospect his eyes grew wide as he said,

"Can you imagine the possible potions one could make?"

Making a feeble attempt then at swinging his legs he said,

"What are your favorite classes?"

Then rolling his eyes he added, "And don't say Defense Against the Dark Arts. That class makes no sense... I don't know why I've heard so many older Gryffindors say they love it." Of course with it only being his second year and having had the Umbridge version of it contrasting again the fake Madeye Moody's version it was no wonder he was a bit confused about it all.

[Star Dare]

Star really wasn't sure what to say when Silas said that friends ought to be useful. Well sure... he had a point, friends were useful in that you spent time with them and enjoyed their company, the thought that Silas felt that friends should be useful in some other sense made Star think he'd never had a true friend.

Opening her mouth to say something to this affect, the fourth year decided against it, why not just lead by example? He probably would take her words the wrong way anyway.

"Herbology and Potions," she repeated, looking at him, "that's really interesting. I love how things work too, although I have to say I'm not great at potions." She made a small face, "I think he said something about," she imitated Snape, "this potion is a travesty! If someone can't take a whiff of your potion without taking flight how on earth do you think you will get them to drink it Dare?!" She sighed, "it did smell awful though..."

Grinning at Silas' excitement she leaned against the tree, "so is that what you want to do? Create potions?"

Her grinned widened as he asked whether she was the stereotypical Gryffindor who liked Defence Against the Dark Arts. "I mean, it's not a bad class, although that Umbridge woman can go fall into a hole somewhere, but my favourite class is probably Transfiguration. I love learning how magic works, why it works, and Transfiguration goes into that a bit."

[Silas Moncrieff]

"Is that what I want to do? Create potions?.." Silas looked up a moment thoughtfully before saying, "No, not really. I just want to create things that get you better things. I want to be able to influence people and events, I want to have control, I want to have power. That's what it basically boils down to. If you can invent a weapon that is better than another persons, that gives you control, and draws others towards you. If you can create a new potions that others want to buy? That also give you power. Money and the right kinds of friends give you power. What other reason are we here at Hogwarts for? To learn to be the top dog right? I'm not handsome and witty to attract others and get them to do what I want, I'm not brave, and I'm not physically strong, but I am mentally strong." he said, pointing at his head. "So that's what I've got to use."

He hesitated a moment then before saying, "It's too bad I'm behind you a few years, because I'm not bad at potions, I just find the class stressful, which is why it's not on my list of favorite classes. If I was in your year I would offer to help... you know, in trade for something or other..."

Looking away from her then he said,

"Transfigerations does come all that easily, but I'm really fast at learning from other's mistakes. I find if I sit back and watch what the other students do, then zero in on the ones getting it right I can mimic their movements and tones and figure out the right way to do it. The professor doesn't tend to demonstrait enough times for me to pick up the right way. You could try that in potions, but you would have to be really sneaky about it with Snape around, and then you have to really be carefully of your times."

[Star Dare]

While Silus' words weren't exactly typical, especially coming from the mouth of a twelve year old; Star wasn't alarmed. It seemed that Silus was anything but typical. In fact if he'd said something like "I want to be a pony trainer!" Star would have been quite a bit more alarmed. As it was, she nodded thoughtfully to the small boys words. He was certainly right, he was way smarter than she was, at least in some ways. And he was quite young to have this all figured out already. No wonder he was a Ravenclaw, he was one of the most persistent people she had ever met (and liked).

Star leaned back and sighed wistfully, "I know... you're right. It is too bad." She smiled slightly but said nothing else, until he started talking about Transfiguration that was. He certainly was interesting, and she actually completely agreed with him about sitting back and watching what others did, although often she could simply do it without having to watch others. For whatever reason it just came naturally to her.

"I totally agree, it's very helpful to watch other people work, especially in Transfiguration when one little thing can mean the difference between success and failure. I suppose it's similar in potions, only I'm rubbish at potions, and Transfiguration comes more naturally."

Darkness had truly fallen now, and the storm clouds had vanished, leaving a dark night, with very few stars winking in the sky.

After a moment Star said, "So your favourite class is potions right? How about... least favourite class?"

[Silas Moncrieff]

"No... he said, giving her an odd look. My favorite is Herbology. My least favorite is Care of Magical Creatures. Animals are unpredictable, and dirty, and they smell, and I haven't cared much for the professor's teaching style."

Looking up at the sky and staring to worry about curfew he asked,

"So why do you find transfigurations easier than potions? With potions all you have to do is exactly what the book, or Snape, tells you. You don't have to give a wand an exact flip of the wrist, or pronounce a silly spell with a slight lisp in order to make it work right.The book says stir three times counter clock wise?... Easy, you do just that. Five minute to boil? You time it by exactly five minutes. Don't put in the pinch of dried toads eggs until it turns the shade of a Horntails underbelly? Wait until it's the correct shade.... Easy..." He added, realizing that the last thing he said actually didn't help his point about potions being easy.

"I guess certain things just make sense to me. It's a science."

Waving his arm around he said, "I hate how if you are casting a spell some small variation in the way you move your arm can change the outcome."

Looking to the sky again he said,

"How long do we have before we get in trouble for being out here? I know you Gryffindors think it's such jolly fun to break the rules but I don't. Not with the punishments I hear Umbridge is dolling out."

[Star Dare]

So...Herbology. That was interesting, Star liked herbology herself, she enjoyed being able to get into her work, although some of the finer points always seemed to escape her. Like with potions; she never could really tell when to stop (or start) watering her plants, and for that matter, much dirt they needed, she had a tendency to drown her plants in soil before Professor Sprout came over and noticed what was going on. While she generally saved the Gryffindor girl from killing the plants altogether, it was always a close call.

"Why do you like herbology?" She queried, interested. "I mean, I think it's a very interesting class, but I'm not very good at it."

She shrugged at his next question, "you know, I'm not really sure. It's like you said, some things just come easier to people than others. I never seem to be able to catch the potion at the exact moment it's ready. I always wait a little too long or not long enough, I can never get it to the right shade, I do things in the wrong order," she sighed, "I'm just really not a great shakes at potions."

She nodded thoughtfully, "you're right," which would explain it! She thought to herself, she had always been rubbish at potions back at the orphanage, evven when they'd simply been mixing baking soda and vinegar to make a volcano.

"Actually, that's what fascinates me," she admitted, "I've always wanted to know why that happens."

She remained silent a moment longer until Silus asked how long until they got caught. Star immediately felt guitly, he was right, she hadn't thought about the possibility of them getting in trouble at all. Still, the idea of going inside was not at all interesting.

"We should be all right for a couple more minutes," she said, "I doubt they'd expect students to be out here after a storm."

[Silas Moncrieff]

Silas took on a thoughtful expression when the girl finished. He might have been thinking about potions, or her question about Herbology, but in reality he was thinking that if they did get caught he would simply play the card of the younger inexperienced student being lead astray by the older one, and Star would probably take the blame since she had just told him they should be alright. He could see her now saying "I'm sorry, it's my fault we were out so late. Silas did ask about the time and I told him we would be alright. I should have known better..." Yes, it would be alright to stay here.

"Ok." He said, moving on from the subject quickly.

"I like Herbology because the things we study are so often the ingredients for potions, and they present the opportunity for me to create new ones. As I said before, I'm not particularly talented at wand waving, at least not yet. I would also like to see if there is more to this Divinations class. I can't tell if it is genuine, or just a cleaver plot to move weak minds to others' wills. But either way it sounds like something I should learn more about. If you go about things in the proper manner, and with the right mindset it will only help you out in the end. What do you think?"

[Star Dare]

If she had known what Silas had been thinking, Star would have been a bit hurt, if not at all surprised. Silas had that whole calculating every possible situation to see what the best outcome would be vibe, and she respected - if did not agree with that view.

In regards to Herbology, Star shrugged, she certainly found it easier than potions, but it still didn't really come naturally to her. She was much more of a wand wavy person herself, Transfiguration and Charms were her classes, and she found Defense Against the Dark Arts interesting when it wasn't taught by someone completely incompetent.

She shrugged, "I suppose I enjoy Herbology, but again, it really doesn't come naturally to me. As to divination, I know basically nothing about it, I decided to take Runes, which I really enjoy. You might like it too, it's all about puzzles and decoding and stuff, it's very interesting."

She noticed that it was starting to get truly dark, and she sighed. "I suppose we should start to head back," with that she dropped from the branch she was on, swinging slightly before dropping gracefully to the ground. "You need any help?"