escaping the madness//OPEN

Nancy glared over the top of her book at the loud people surrounding her in the Gryffindor common room. Sure, it might not have been the best place to get some studying, done, but she just thought that maybe, this once, it might be a nice place to study. She was feeling a little bit lazy and didn’t exactly feeling like walking all the way down to the library in order to get her essays written and pages read. Some of the students caught her glaring at them, but they seemed to just not care. They just shrugged, glared back or turned away. Nancy rolled her eyes and slammed her Defense Against the Dark Arts book and stood up. She slipped her book into her book bag and slung it across her chest before elbowing her way out of her corner and stomping out of the Gryffindor Common Room.

After walking for a few moments (or stomping, rather) down from Gryffindor Tower, she calmed down a little bit. She found herself regretting losing her temper with the students in the common room. They were just enjoying themselves at the end of the year, after all. She really needed to work on her temper. Ever since she accepted Olivia into the family, Nancy had set a goal to try to be more like her. Olivia was probably one of the sweetest people that Nancy had ever met and she felt proud to be able to call her a sister. She was always so calm, cool and collected. Nancy didn’t think she had ever seen the older girl lose her temper. Maybe become the slightest bit irritated, but never angry.

A few more moments passed and Nancy finally arrived at the library. She slipped into the library, only pausing to sidestep a Slytherin seventh year – a particularly annoying one, at least. She smiled at the librarian before plopping down at one of the empty tables in the study area. Maybe here she would finally be able to get something done.

Ethan made his way to the library, as usual, in order to study or read or whatever else he felt like doing at the time. He practically lived in the library. He had managed to convince his friends that he had a lot of work to do an escaped, when really he was basically caught up for the next week of classes.

As he entered the library he made his way to his usual chair in a corner between the tallest shelves. he discovered this spot his first year and had sort of made a nest out of it, but as he approached he saw a couple sitting in the chair. His chair. The two looked like they were practically one person. He frowned and grunted loudly. The two didn't move. He coughed. They still didn't move. His un-amusement was un-matchable as he started to walk away. There was no way he was going to break these two apart and decided he'd just find somewhere else.

He found a series of table and found an empty table. He sat down and pulled a few books out, making the table look busy and full in a matter of minutes. He glanced around the people and saw firey red hair at the table next to him. Nancy. They were in the same house, same year and he had barely spoken to her. He wished he had done better at socializing in his time at Hogwarts. He decided, if she looked up, he'd wave to her. Maybe even say hi. Maybe.

Nancy leaned back in her seat as she stared down at her book bag full of books. She’d had to charm it so that it could hold all the books that she wanted to carry around with her. Almost as soon as she had sat down at the table, her motivation to study had dwindled down to practically nothing. She huffed out a sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. Her lack of motivation was probably just because she’d gotten so mad at the stupid people in the Gryffindor common room. She tried to be even tempered like her sister, Olivia, but sometimes she just couldn’t help herself.

With a sigh, she reached into her book bag and pulled out the very first book she could get her hands on. It was her Charms textbook. A small smile crossed her face. She’d always liked the subject. In her honest opinion, it was underestimated and deemed unimportant - probably because not all charms could be used in duels or something silly like that. Charms made life so much easier, though! Good luck cleaning your house or cooking a meal with magic if you weren’t good at Charms.

Nancy briefly glanced up and did a double take when she saw a familiar face sitting at the table next to hers. Oh, what was his name again? It started with an E, she knew that. Evan or Edgar or…Ethan? The two had never really spoke too much,d espite being in the same house and year. “Did the loud common room scare you away, too?” she asked with a grin on her face, as she leaned over closer to him.

He found himself glancing up at her every once and a while. Waiting for her to notice him maybe, or just being distracted by her movement in the corner of his eye. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw her own smile play on her lips. It looked like she had pulled out the charms book that they were using this year. He wondered why it made her smile. He wanted to ask her even, but didn’t. Not yet. He tried to occupy his mind by focusing on the papers and books in front of him, but nothing seemed interesting. He was having trouble focusing.

Then the embarrassing part happened. Right when he looked up at her she made eye contact and he saw the wheels start turning in her head. Perhaps she was contemplating how best to ask him to stop staring. He looked down quickly right before she spoke. He pretended to be startled by her voice and looked back up, smiling. “Well, I usually am around loud people...like James and Ben,” he shook his head and smiled, “but it’s nice to get a break every once in a while. I like just... being here.” He was surprised at how honest he was being, but it couldn’t hurt anything.

As she leaned closer to him he tried to decipher the color of her eyes. At first they were a shocking blue and then they seemed slightly green. He’d have to ask her what they technically were so that he could pick one to associate her with. He let his smile fade into a casual smirk and leaned forward towards her as well, “I’ve not seen many fellow Gryffindors studying around here before.” He tried to sound impressed, he was impressed.

Nancy raised her eyebrows slightly when she realized that she must have taken him by surprise by speaking. “Oh, I see,” she said with a laugh,”So I guess you’re pretty used to it.” Nancy’s friends weren’t necessarily loud – but they could really be talkative. It was one reason why she often made excuses to study without them. They always started up some sort of conversation that she really couldn’t help but get involved in…which resulted in her getting absolutely nothing done. She smiled at Ethan’s comment about the library. “I know what you mean,” she said with a sigh as she rested her head in her hand,”It’s always so quiet and I just really love the smell of the old books.”

She smirked after hearing what Ethan said before looking down and put her Charms book back into her bag. Nancy slipped her bag over her shoulder and moved over to the table where Ethan was sitting. “Yeah, it seems like a lot of Gryffindors really fall into the stereotype – you know, pranksters and athletes and that sort of thing. The scholars are kind of few and far between,” she said with a laugh as she pulled her Charms book from her bag once again. She sighed and flipped the book open to the chapter that the class had just gone over. “This is the first time we’ve really talked, isn’t it?” she said, glancing up at him.

Ethan nodded as she mentioned the way the books smelled. It made him smile. "That's the best part about the library," he started, breathing in the scent and closing his eyes, "It just makes you feel... relaxed. Like the world is a good place. A better place." He kept his eyes closed for a moment longer before opening them and realizing how silly he must have looked. He blushed and looked down at the table again.

He noticed her movement as she put her charms book away. Immediately he thought of all the things he said wrong and all the stupid thing he could have done to make her leave. He felt bad, since she was here first. But when he looked up she was suddenly at his table sitting beside him. "Ye-yeah." He agreed nervously. "I don't know how I even got into that house to be honest..." He admitted. Granted, he had been through many different kinds of trouble and had to show bravery. But he didn't recognize it as bravery. He watched her open the book. He had already reread the chapter since class ended. He made eye contact with her. "Yeah it is... I don't really talk to many people." He didn't want her to take the lack of previous talking personal.

Nancy couldn’t help but smile when she saw just how Ethan reacted to what she had said. It was nice to find someone that enjoyed the library just as much as she did. People like that weren’t really hard to find, but from Nancy’s experience, they tended to be a little snobby and often tried to tell her that she didn’t fully understand nor appreciate it or some other nonsense like that.

She jumped to the conclusion that she was making him nervous – judging from the stutter and just his tone of voice, so she leaned back slightly. Nancy could be a flirt when she wanted to, but she didn’t like to make people feel uncomfortable…unless they deserved it, of course. She laughed slightly at his comment. “Yeah, I used to think that I got sorted into the wrong house,” she said, resting her chin in her hand,”Up until a few years ago, I thought I would have done better in Ravenclaw, but…I think Gryffindor is a good fit now.” She gave an assertive nod after she finished speaking. “You don’t have to be loud and adventurous to be brave,” she said, glancing off to the side,”Bravery can be smaller things, depending on the person.” It was something that she really figured out back when she really accepted that she was truly a Gryffindor.

“Yeah, I kind of noticed,” she said, even though at the back of her mind, she had always wondered why. “Does it make you nervous or something?”

He was slightly disappointed that she leaned back. That mean that she sensed his nervousness. He was also grateful, he could talk to her better this way. And talking was important. It was good. It was fun...right?

He nodded as she spoke. He blushed. "You're correct about that. I am very good proof that Gryffindors aren't all exciting people." He titled his head to the side as she described smaller kinds of bravery. The truth was, he had never really accepted himself as a Gryffindor. Even in his last year he finds himself fighting to figure out why he belonged in the house. "I guess you're right... I hope your right." he spoke quietly at the last part. Not wanting to show his insecurities just yet.

She had caught him. And she... noticed? He blushed an even deeper read and placed his forehead in his hand. "Ah... i'm just a really..." Shy? Awkward? Not-worth-it conversationalist? "I'm nervous. Yeah, that's what it is. I always know i'll say something stupid and make a bad impression." He removed his hand and looked up at her, giving her an awkward half smile, "Funny that you noticed though. Seven years of being in the same classes. Makes sense."

Nancy smiled and shook her head slightly. “Oh, I’m sure you’re exciting in your own way,” she said, unable to suppress her natural positivity. Besides, it was really true that not everyone was the loud and obnoxious kind of exciting. She really didn’t like to clump people into little boxes like that. After all, everyone was different so different things were exciting to different people. Nancy pursed her lips, trying not to smile too much when she realized that she had made him blush. It was…adorable. “Well, of course, I’m right,” she said, jokingly, unable to keep a straight face.

She had to look away for a moment when Ethan began blushing even harder. Nancy had really not even tried to make the poor boy blush, but it was obvious that she was doing it accidentally. She looked back at him when he spoke up again. “Well…in all honesty, if you’re that nervous that you’re going to make a mistake, then you probably will. You’re probably just freaking yourself out too much. Try and relax a little bit,” she said with a light laugh before she rested her chin in her hand,”That’s okay, though. I have a friend that’s a lot like that. He’s always worrying about talking to people. You seem to be doing perfectly fine right now!”

Ethan shook his head, "Good luck finding anything exciting about me." He saw her purse her lips. Was she trying not to smile. Was she laughing at him? No, she wasn't doing anything mean. Or thinking anything mean. She had a sort of confidence about her that Ethan liked. Two insecure people at one table would be a little difficult. Luckily, she had enough positivism for the both of them. Which was a relief. She knew she was right and that made him feel better.

As she looked away he hoped he didn't upset her. He was glad she did though. It gave him a moment to breathe, get more comfortable with the situation. Her logic was sound and he knew it. "Yeah, I know. I always tell myself I'm a good student, which is why i'm a good student. I understand the way you use your brain translates int the universe and all. Anyway," He smiled, the heat leaving his face, "thanks." She rested her chin in her hand and smiled a little. It was sweet, and comforting.

"Who is this friend?" Ethan asked. Interested in continuing the conversation.

What Ethan said next sort of tugged at Nancy’s heartstrings. She hated to hear it when people were so down on themselves. Now, she knew that not everyone could be quite as confident as she could, but she was absolutely convinced that everyone had their special qualities. Everyone was special and exciting in their own way. As much as she wanted to argue with him about his opinion of himself, she resisted. After knowing Vincent for a few years, she learned quickly that you just didn’t argue with someone who had a lose opinion of themselves.

“No problem,” she said, broadening her smile slightly. It was nice to see him smile. In Nancy’s mind, that just meant that he was becoming at ease with her, which made her happy. She really wasn’t as intimidating as people might think from time to time – that is, unless someone messed with someone she cared about. Then she would become a powerhouse.

“Oh, he’s sort of a friend of the family. Vincent Dorée. He’s a Ravenclaw in our year. You two would probably get along really well,” she said with a nod. Actually, she wasn’t sure if a friendship between Ethan and Vincent would be a good idea. Two people that had low opinions of themselves was a bad combination. “Hey! Isn’t this weekend a Hogsmeade weekend?” she asked, suddenly remembering what day it was.

Ethan nodded as she explained who her friend was. Ethan knew of him, "Oh yeah. I see his around here sometimes. Seems cool. We don't talk." Ethan was only being honest. Since he didn't talked to many people, it was near impossible that he would be talking to Vincent Doree, someone as reclusive as he was. But there was something different about Ethan. If he was so beckoned or persuaded he could be as wild as any other teenage kid. His friends had taken that out of him many times, but they had been a bit distant as of late. They had a way of... annoying Ethan when he was studying. Since it was their seventh year, studying was even a bigger deal than before.

He looked up in thought of her next comment, about the weekend. Then he nodded, "Should be..." he really wasn't sure. He had skipped out on the last Hogsmeade trip due to caring for a sick friend. Angela was just a friend. For the most part. When he thought about being more than that she had gotten sick. The sickness had gotten worse and worse until she left school for Saint Mungos. They hadn't spoken much since then but in her last letter she clearly said, "Thanks for being such a good friend. Make sure you find a nice girl!" That was not one of Ethans finest moments, reading that letter.

He snapped back into the present and smiled at her, "You going?" He asked.