Losing yourself [open]

Lily strolled in to the hall with a smile plastered on her face and a sparkle in her eye. Today she had felt much more like her old self, the girl people knew her as from Summer, from the beginning of the year. She relaxed her shoulders and cheerfully greeted people as she passed them, heading towards her table. Instead of going to her usual spot in the middle, she stayed fairly near the doors and glanced around for a familiar friendly face.

Hex strode into the Hall, smiling faintly for no particular reason at all, he was just happy for once, Hex was happy since he had figured out the secret or so he thought so. He had to remind himself again and again that he was not to tell anyone. Whether they be close friends, or staff. No one. He still wasn't sure if it was the truth but it all fit in, in the end so it had to be. Pipes. He thought, shoving his hands into his pockets, nodding at people he knew, still smiling. He made his way to his table and sat down in a crowded place, full of his friends. He listened to their conversations, he had decided to not think about the Heir anymore but it kept coming back to him in the end.

She listened to conversations taking place around her, nothing really catching her interest. She sighed and poured herself a goblet of pumpkin juice. She waved at Hex down the crowded table and grinned, glad that he had a smile on his face. Thinking of her Summer, she turned her eyes skyward, and watched the enchanted ceiling for a while, allowing herself to be caught in its wonder.

Ruby's mood was deteriorating. Even taunting the mudbloods wasn't fun today. She walked into the hall, glaring daggers at anyone who looked her way. Firstly, Professor Lockhart hadn't asked her to answer a single question, even though she'd known the answer to everything he asked. Her arm was aching from having it up for so long. Idiot. Next time she'd tell him that blue really wasn't his colour. And to top things off, she'd given herself the fright of her life by thinking she'd lost the comb. Luckily enough Ruby had found it on her dorm mates bedside table... Lucky. Lucky that the girl hadn't used it, she must have found it on the floor and picked it up. Ruby had no intention of telling Vine that she'd let it out of her sight.

She sat down at the Slytherin table, scowling seemed to be her default expression today.

He drew his wand and pointed it at a coffee pot, saying nothing, just waving his wand in the correct wand movement making the coffee pot zoom toward him at a surprisingly fast pace. He grinned smugly, at the looks on some people's faces, nonverbal magic was difficult, very difficult indeed, but he had been practicing it, and it didn't seem all too hard now. He stowed his apple wood wand back in his pocket. He set off to making coffee, eventually succeeding looking at some people. As he poured himself the liquid, he caught a movement in the corner of his eyes. He waved to Lily, grinning, but saying nothing. He continued, draining the coffee in a matter of minutes. He glanced at Ruby who had entered the Hall, he didn't bother waving at her since she seemed to be in a bad mood. He averted his eyes and made more coffee.

Basil walked into the Great Hall, running a hand through her hair. She was behind. Very behind. She hadn't slept at all for the past three nights. Tired. She could barely stay awake during all of her classes. Thing was, she didn't know why she wasn't sleeping. She hadn't a clue at all. Basil sat down at the Ravenclaw table, resting her head on her hands, looking about the hall.

Lily noticed Ruby enter the hall, but didn't pay her much attention, she didn't look too happy and she didn't fancy socialising with an upset Slytherin. She turned her attention away a moment, catching a wave from Hex, but her attention was caught once more at the doorway. She watched Basil go over to her table and sent a grin her way. She took a sip of the juice and winced slightly at it's taste but dismissed it and took a longer gulp. She held the goblet in both hands as her eyes dreamily glanced around the room.

Basil gave a halfhearted wave to Lily. She folded her arms, and let her head drop, letting it rest on her arms. She let out a yawn, closing her eyes. Maybe she could get some sleep here. She doubted it, but it was worth a try.

She let out a little laugh as Basil looked like she was about to fall asleep. Everyone seemed to be so tired these days, either that or far too over-excited. Was it fear or adrenaline? She couldn't tell, but she did know that the excitement of recent incidents had affected each and every student. Even she had sneaking out of the dorms so often after curfew, for fear of being caught up in an attack. So not the drama she wanted to deal with.

Basil groans as a group of second year Ravenclaws sit down next to her and start to talk loudly. "So tired. Just want some rest." She mumbles, lifting her head off from her arms and rest them on her hands once more. Why was she feeling like this?

Her thoughts turned to her grades and school life. She was back on track to pass with flying colours, thanks to actually attending class and doing the work set, but there was still something wrong. Something she couldn't quite figure out. All she knew was that it was to do with herself, and the person she was. Something had changed, not only was she more confident than ever, but she was taking risks that she would have never taken before and that could put her, and those she loved, in so much danger. Why am I so stupid sometimes?! she scolded herself, taking another drink.

Basil headed the table once another group of loud Ravenclaws came to sit on the other side of her. Just be quiet. For once... Basil got up and moved over to the Gryffindor table, sitting in front if Lily. She was in deep thought. She could tell. She rested her head on her hands, waiting for her to finish.

She blinked, finally escaping her thoughts not wanting to think about everything too much. Lily realised a girl had sat across from her. "Oh! Basil! Hey!" she smiled, trying to regather her thoughts so that she could actually say a sentence that made sense. "You tired much?" She raised an eyebrow and drained her goblet.

"Hey Lils." She said, trying to say it loud enough for Lily to hear. Basil yawns again. "Very tired. Tired, tired, tired..." She says, trailing off. "How are you?"

She laughed slightly, "I can tell" Her eyes drifted over the room once more, "Hm? Me? I'm..." for some reason she had to think about how she was, causing a slightly awkward pause. "I'm.. not sure how I am." She managed to form a sentence eventually, though she was certain her reply would be questioned. That is, if the girl opposite her could stay awake for long enough.

Basil rubbed her eyes and layed her head down on her arms, looking down and the floor. "Why-" She yawned again. "Why is that?"

She smiled watching the girl, "Well.. I'm sure you've seen I've not been myself recently.. And I've only just began to notice it. I just can't figure out why."

"Hm? Oh, yeah..." She said closing her eyes. "And you don't have any idea what's causing it." Her hands seemed to curl into fists, what she usually did before drifting off. "When did it start?"

"I don't know.. I don't know a thing.." She bowed her head slightly, "Maybe we can talk about this some other time." She noticed that Basil was almost asleep already. "You look like you could use some rest."

"No, no. I'm fine." She said, shaking her head, trying to wake herself up. "Its these moments that I wish I drank coffee..." She mumbled to herself. Basil looked up, resting her chin on her arms. "So no idea at all...?"

She smiled and pushed a goblet towards the girl. "Try it, it's not coffee, but it'll wake you up a little." She cupped her chin her hands and leaned her elbows on the table. "I'm pretty certain it all started just before we came back to Hogwarts. But it's only got worse since I've been here." She frowned slightly, a small crease appearing above her nose.

Basil took the goblet and looked down into the liquid. Usually she didn't take food or drink from other people. She could never trust anyone fully. Her eyes glanced up to the girl, then she took the goblet and raised it up to her lips. She blinked. It tasted... Different. She put the goblet down feeling a bit better. "Before school?" She asked, running a hand through her hand. "An it got worse when you came to Hogwarts?" She looked up at the ceiling. "Family maybe? Or a certain someone?" She raised an eyebrow, knowing she knew she was talking about Vine.

She smiled as the girl drank from the goblet, and explained "It's a herbal blend I came up with, for those who don't like, or don't drink coffee." Thinking about it she guessed everything had changed when she plucked up the courage to talk to Rory. The boy who had turned out to be her cousin. "It could have started out as family I guess.." She laughed a little at the other suggestion the girl made, "Oh believe me, it's not down to him, I'm in complete control of that situation." Or at least, she hoped she was. She played with her hair, a common sign of stress for her.

"Thanks." She watched the girl start to play with her hair. She herself did that when she was nervous, though she knew other people did it for other reasons. "What's up?" She asked, leaning on her elbows.

She bit her lip a moment before speaking what was on her mind. "I think.. I think I may have made the biggest mistake.. and put someone else in great danger by doing so." Maybe she had said more than she should have, but it was good that she could get it out of her system. Her face paled slightly with the realisation of what she had done.