A Bit of Freedom (open)

[ALBUS SERVERUS POTTER]

Albus had been out near the lake as his snowy owl was resting on his shoulders. He had been slowly teaching the owl not to grab onto his shoulder with his sharp claws knowing that there could be scars. He was at Black Lake not seeing any sign of his older brother, maybe this was a good day. Usually he found his brother by now and some sort of prank followed. He had also come out here to enjoy some freedom instead of being cooped up in classes all day, then doing homework, and studying. He wanted some change for once, he didn’t mind his classes or anything, he was passing them all so he saw that he deserved at least a few days of freedom.

Once they got down close towards the water’s edge. He let the owl go to flap its wings and stretch them since he knew she had been up in the owlery for some time. Never really having a chance to send messages back and forth to his father or mother, but he was sure his other siblings were keeping in touch and giving any news. But another reason why he hadn’t sent a letter in a long time was well things were the same, he was progressing fine with classes. There was nothing out of the ordinary seemed to be going on so far in this year. But maybe he should send one sometime soon, he was sure his parents would worry about him still.

Once his owl was up farther than he could see his attention turned to the lake, he wondered who else was around. If he would find them first or his own, it was hard to say really. So mostly out of curiosity he began to make his way towards the other sides of the lake to see who was there as well. He kept his coat on tightly around his shoulders realizing it was starting to get a bit colder out. As he looked up again, he could see his owl coming back closer to him, but it was still out above the lake up in the sky, where he would only be able to get to her with his broomstick.

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

OUTFIT

It was a nice sunny day, about mid afternoon now. The grounds were quiet for the weekend, as most people were indoors, avoiding the mid-autumn chill that had set in. But the sun was warm and Tabitha liked being outside. The breeze tousled her hair softly as she made her way to the lake, that dark glimmering mirror. beautiful really, though powerful and she could see why some found it frightening.

She slipped off her shoes (heels, of course) and stuck her toes into the water. "Ooh!" She exclaimed, it was much colder than she'd anticipated, but that was okay. Tabby wiggled her toes lightly and tossed her shoes into the grass a few feet away before clasping her hands behind her back.

Life had been interesting as of late, as if being a seventh year prefect weren't interesting enough. She'd found out one of her friends was also a lesbian, and proceeded to pretend to be her girlfriend on a blind date. It sounded like something one would read in a magazine. Either way, it had gotten Tabby thinking. About Piper, about life after school, about if maybe she really would get the family she dreamed of one day.

She was a bit surprised to hear a hoot from nearby. Owls in the daytime were common here of course, but not usually like this. The bird was hovering above the lake, as if deciding whether is wanted to go wherever it was supposed to, or stay. To think, and owl that didn't want to deliver any letters.

[ALBUS SERVERUS POTTER]

There was no surprise in his eyes as he continued to make his way around the water’s edge. There were other people out and about doing their own activities like a few he had spotted perhaps studying or just relaxing on the grass that was at the edge of the lake. But he had also noticed one girl who was at the edge of the lake, he had honestly thought it was a bit cold for dipping their feet into the water this time of year, before they knew it winter would arrive, it was already fall. And the water would continue to get colder, probably even freeze over. But he would keep his thoughts to himself about that; it would be rude perhaps to speak up about that.

He still had some distance before he would get to the girl that was sitting at the water’s edge so he looked back at his own. She was still flying over the lake’s edge enjoying herself as she went but also looked a bit nervous. Was it from the separation, he wondered? Or was it something else? Whatever the owl’s concern was he would do his best to help her when she came back to him from flying over the lake.

As he got closer to the girl he had also noticed that he had not recognized her, maybe he wondered she was in a higher year. It wasn’t surprising, there were higher years all around him, he was in his second year. He finally brought up the courage towards speaking with Tabitha he had also noticed that she seemed to in some deep thought, then again if not it didn’t hurt to make another friend. “Heay can I sit with you? It looked like you wanted to talk to someone or just have some company.” He asked

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabby looked up as a voice spoke. It was a boy, a rather young one it seemed, certainly not her year, or her house. Tabitha made it a point to know Hufflepuffs, even if she wasn't head girl or anything. Truth be told, she didn't mind being alone with her thoughts, but she was polite as a rule and gestured to him to stand beside her at the water's edge.

"If you'd like." She told him with a smile. If she wasn't mistaken, he was one of the Potters, the Potter and Weasley children were unmistakable, but there were quite a few of them and Tabitha had trouble keeping track. Celebrity children were just like anyone else really.

"Is that your owl?" She inquired, nodding to the hovering bird. It was really an unusual sight, an owl not doing anything in the air like that. Tabby supposed if the boy was still here, he had just let the bird go. In that case, the owl hadn't gone to hunt or deliver a letter or anything else it was supposed to be doing.

[ALBUS SERVERUS POTTER]

"Yes it is my owl I let her streatch her wings a bit since I haven't sent a letter home in awhile." He sad as he sat down nearby Tabitha after she gave him the okay. He like her, didn't mind to be left alone sometimes of course his family had encouraged him to make friends, even if it meant that his brother would continue to tease him and his friends. But by now he was used to James' constant teasing it was nothing but old news.

But now he wasn't really sure what to say as he looked back at her. He felt an awkward moment amongst them, but he was trying to say something to Tabitha, but he did wonder just a bit if it would make things only worse. Maybe, but it did help continue in conversations. "I haven't sent a lot of letters home recently, things aren't very interesting right now for me so I'm letting her go on her own for a bit."

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabitha nodded softly, her brain still trying to place him. He had to be Albus, the 5th year. That made sense. Why didn't he send letters home? A dull life? Maybe he felt like his life should be grand like his parents. Tabby figured that made sense, she didn't have famous parents. Her parents kept busy under the radar, just regular middle class pure bloods. Nothing special.

"You're Albus Potter aren't you?" She queried. "I suppose you get sick of people knowing who you are..." She said, sitting beside him, wiggling her toes in the water as she shifted from her standing position, introducing new skin to the water. She shivered lightly. "I'm Tabby." She offered. Tabitha was a name her grandmother used, and maybe her future wife would be allowed to. Her last name was irrelevant and so she didn't feel they had to be formal.

Her eyes shifted to the owl, and finally, it moved and she sighed. It was strange for an owl in flight to be so still, like a hummingbird.

[ALBUS SERVERUS POTTER]

Albus had shrugged when he heard her mention the fame that came in their life, he knew he didn't mind it that much. But he had also guessed that his younger sister and older brother hand't enjoyed it. Sometimes it was irritating, he agreed with that. "Yes, it's nice to meet you Tabby. And you don't have to call me Albus you could also call me Al like my family does." He said as he noticed Tabby shiver from the cold water, he didn't seem to have much interest of doing it. It was too cold for a swim in his opinion but he couldn't help but look at their reflection occasionally in the water.

Then he looked back up at his owl to see that she had moved. Maybe she was starting to get a bit more confident after being away from him and could be on his own. Either that or she had spotted something that interested her that would keep her busy and keep her worry and concern away from him.

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabitha just nodded. Al.... probably because many still remembered his namesake with fondness, all these years later. Albus Dumbledore, a man of fame and legend even in these few decades. Tabby wished she'd known him, the stories one heard were awe inspiring, but none the less, there were new heros to be made for the current wave of muggle hate. Tabby wasn't named after anyone special, not really. Her great grandmother was named Tabitha or something, but mostly it was a name her mother liked.

She sighed and glanced at him. Their small talk was utterly dying, and she didn't know what to say to him. It wasn't like she would flirt with him or anything. He was too young, and besides, she was gay. He didn't seem especially chatty, and Tabby generally was, but she was never one for a one sided conversation.

Tabby took her toes from the water and pulled them up to the grass, which was also cool and a strange texture against her feet.

[ALBUS SERVERUS POTTER]

Albus had been still watching the water, also noticing that their conversation had been dying, he was unsure of what to say at this point as he found himself looking up past the water. His eyes moving to where he saw the motion of his own owl who had moved away from the lake and landed on a nearby tree. Probably for a rest, or had just wanted to be close to him. There were many creatures within this lake he knew of that to be certain, many of which had never been discovered probably, and wanted to be left elusive to the wizard's eyes. He had heard his father tell him of the story of the Tri Wizard cup when he had seen many creatures looking like Mermaids, yet they weren't mermaids at all, in fact they had looked more like monsters.

As the Snowy owl lifted back into the air again she came closer to the shore from where they were sitting and rested on a nearby tree where she could watch Al and Tabitha and also enjoy her meal. Finally this silence was getting to odd for him, but as he stumbled through his mind for something to say he could only mutter out a few words, hardly a sentence at all towards the older student, "Umm....I really can't think of anything to say. It's embarressing almost." He managed to finally speak.

[TABITHA JANE WINTERS]

Tabby offered Albus a sideways smile. He didn't have to be embarrassed, they had nothing to talk about and not much in common. That was just life, whatever. "That's okay." She said. Maybe she had something to do inside so she didn't have to lie... He didn't make her uncomfortable though, so she could just sit here next to him and not worry about it.

Tabitha stood up and picked up her heels in one hand and moved into the very edge of the lake, her toes shocked with cold. She decided she'd just walk along the water while she still could. "I suppose I'm going for a walk." She gestured. He could come or not.

ooc- maybe this is over?

[ALBUS SERVERUS POTTER]

Ooc: Think so sorry for it being so short.