A drifting mind

[Isaac Pinefoy]

Isaac's quest to make friends wasn't quite as straightforward as he had expected. Of course he hadn't thought anyone would find him interesting or charismatic or anything like that, but he had assumed making friends was a sort of "yes" or "no" thing. As if conversation between two acquaintances suddenly reaches a crossroads and friendship is either achieved or struck off. As it turned out, it was far more complicated than that.

It was getting late, and Isaac was drifting off over his Earth Magic book, stuck in a reverie. He was sitting at one of the desks by the wall in the Ravenclaw commonroom, his chin rested on one slim hand as he gazed unseeingly at the pages of his book. His mind was stuck vaguely between musings on his challenging friendship quest and wondering what house Professor Lennox had been in when he'd been at Hogwarts. One thing was for sure: Isaac wasn't concentrating on his homework.

He checked his pocket watch and blinked in surprise. It was already past midnight! He snapped his watch shut and returned it to his pocket, and leaned right over his book, expression intent. He'd get this chapter read. No more letting his mind wander...

  

[Jesse Hatchitt]

Merlin's beard I'm sooooo sorry for the wait!


Jesse was... well not where he was supposed to be. He was under the impression he was going to have a hard time with this year. Jess had always been a good student, it came easily for him, but this year he was struggling. He just wanted to have a good time and enjoy his last year at school before the real world came back and smacked him and hard. There wasn't anything he could do about it, he was going to graduate with good grades because he wasn't sure if he wanted to play professional quidditch or go into the auror training program. It was a toss up at this point but he still couldn't be sure. Perhaps he'd figure it out between now and the end of the year.

Now however, with it being the beginning of the year, he had yet to settle in completely which meant he was up to his old tricks and that included staying out late. It was a miracle he didn't get locked out of the common room, but he had been out after curfew as usual and he still had some studying to do, which meant it would be a late night. Of course if Jess wasn't out philandering around. Usually he hit school and it's female population with more vigor, but he couldn't get Maryanne Burdon out of his head and that was a bit problematic. Not once had he ever had a single girl get to him like that. Still, he didn't mind altogether, but was trying to put it out of his mind.

As he crept into the common room, he saw that he was not the only one up late. The kid at the desk in the common room seemed to be studying well past bedtime. Well Jess was going to have to do the same in just a few moments. He tried to sneak through without disturbing his housemate, but the kid looked up anyway. "Sorry mate." He said with a sly grin and a wave. "Just got in, didn't mean to interrupt."

  

[Isaac Pinefoy]

OOC: That's OK, no worries! ^^;

Yes being at Hogwarts without friends or siblings meant Isaac had enough time to study for top grades, and yes natural intellect had its part to play too. But self-discipline also had a vital role, and for all his self-deprecation and low self-esteem, Isaac had always credited himself with self-discipline. But for some reason, it was letting him down tonight. He had this essay to finish, but he was tired and his mind kept wandering. If he had stayed focused he would've had his homework finished hours ago.

Just then, the door opened, and in crept a Ravenclaw. Isaac glanced up instinctively, and, when he saw the older boy, for some reason his chest hurt (or it was something close to hurt anyway). He didn't know him, but he recognised him vaguely. Still, Isaac very rarely looked at anyone properly, and now was no different. He glanced at him for about a second and a half, just long enough to get an impression of a tall, lean young man with a good-natured aura.

Isaac was surprised at being noticed at all; he was usually invisible (figuratively speaking); but like everyone else in the school, the older boy looked at him as if he were a wall or a hat stand, or even a house elf. Isaac was not a stand-out confident sort like this seventh year. On the contrary, he was timid and meek, and so slight and pretty that he sometimes looked more like a girl than a boy. His father used to tell him to be a louder presence if he wanted to get anywhere in this world, but - of course - Isaac had failed him, and his father had given up on that one.

"I - I don't mind", he said very quietly, slightly embarrassed that his nice housemate had felt the need to apologise in the first place. The fourth year had plenty of ideas for questions or conversation at this point - but - of course - Isaac being Isaac meant he didn't have the nerve to speak up.

  

[Jesse Hatchitt]

While clearly this kid was not a first year, Jess wasn't sure he had ever seen him before. Well, that was a lie. He probably had, but he hadn't ever really noticed him before. That was a bad habit of Jesse's. He tended to stick to his friends and roommates, though he was pretty friendly with everybody. Unfortunately that didn't mean he actually knew everybody. Outside of classes, his roommates and pretty girls, Jess was practically useless. Of course he should be putting effort into his studies, in this very moment that's what he should have been doing.

He balked when his housemate said he didn't mind the disruption. Well wasn't that unusual. No Ravenclaw liked to be interrupted, or at least 'didn't mind'. Even Jesse, when he was actively studying did not take well to interruptions unless it was Mercy, then he had more patience. Hesitating, Jesse contemplated just shooting up to bed instead of studying, but he figured he should at least get a bit done. "Get ready for company." He warned the younger Ravenclaw before bounding up the stairs to his dorm room. All he needed was his transfiguration book and a piece of parchment to take notes on; he just had two chapters to read. Normally at this point at night he would have just closed the curtains on his four-poster and read by lumos-light, but he also knew he would fall asleep within minutes of he was too comfortable.

Stumbling around the dark, he hoped he didn't wake anybody. Fortunately there was enough light for him to at least locate his book and study supplies and he only stubbed his toe once. Yes, studying in the common room would be the best choice. He re-emerged in the common room not five minutes later, his supplies in had. Jess chose a desk on the adjacent wall to the other boy, a good distance away so that they really wouldn't bother one another, but close enough to carry on a conversation; he was notorious for being easily distracted.

  

[Isaac Pinefoy]

Isaac wasn't entirely sure how to react when the older boy promised him company. Or rather, playfully threatened him with company. Isaac merely blinked at this, and glued his eyes unmovingly to the pages of his book. He liked humour. He knew how to laugh. In fact, he loved to laugh. But he very, very rarely did - especially at Hogwarts. It could be a place of warmth and inclusion and certainly of humour, but Isaac was too invisible to be a part of it.

Naturally, the timid boy hated the idea of distractions when he was trying to finish his homework. And he knew full well that the Seventh Year would be distracting - probably not even intentionally. Indeed, even while the older Ravenclaw was up in his dormitory to fetch his work, Isaac's subconscious mused over the stranger's lithe good-looks (which he had only really seen in a blur anyway) rather than the Earth Magic book he was supposed to be reading.

When his "company" returned, Isaac gazed resolutely at the top of the next page and willed his eyes to move.

  

[Jesse Hatchitt]

Just two chapters. That was all he had to do, he could do this. Just get through the Transfiguration reading and notes and he could go to bed. He was also trying desperately not to be a huge pain in the ass for the other guy finishing up his own homework. Jess just wanted to get his reading done and go to bed.

Of course if he wasn't such a social, trouble-making kind of guy, he may already be in bed, homework done. He could have also done it early, rather than waiting until the last minute. Oh well, he had a good time tonight with some of his mates and that was all that really mattered. Unfortunately, Jesse, while a seventh year with a career looming over him, was not in the mindset that he needed to put forth more effort this year in school, not less. Unfortunately, he had no idea what he wanted to do after graduation and that was a problem that he knew he needed to solve and fast. However, in typical Jesse fashion, he would most likely leave it until the last minute.

With his head resting on his hand, elbow on the table, Jesse went right into his reading, able to tune everything and everybody else out. Unfortunately, considering the late hour, he didn't get very far, halfway through the first chapter when his head slipped from his hand and he startled himself. Laughing despite the silence in the room, Jess looked over his shoulder at the other occupant in the room with a sheepish grin. "Sorry mate, I think it's too late." He could always do it at breakfast he supposed. He'd get through the first chapter and then call it quits.

  

[Isaac Pinefoy]

And so they got to work. Or, at least, they thought they did. Both were too tired, and Isaac was too distracted, so God only knew what reading and writing they managed to get done.

Isaac wasn't entirely sure why he was distracted. He was certainly not looking at anything but the open book at his fingertips, and nothing was on his mind other than the task at hand. At least, it seemed that way to him.

But when the older boy expressed defeat, Isaac could not help but look up, hopeful and big-eyed, knowing that if the albeit good-natured senior left the common room Isaac would find himself considerably less distracted.

(But why was that?)

  

[Jesse Hatchitt]

This was useless on his part. Jess should have known better than to try and get his homework done this late at night, especially after such a long day. He'd have to get back into the gear of studying on time once quidditch started, but for now, he was going to skate by with the least amount of effort possible.

Besides, there was always breakfast. It wouldn't be the first time and it certainly wouldn't be the last time and he could almost guarantee he wouldn't be alone in doing so. Not to mention, if he went to bed now, grabbed a few hours of quality sleep, he'd be more alert and therefore take in more of what he was reading. That plan was looking better and better with each passing thought.

Leaning back in his chair and stretching, Jesse felt his muscles loosen as tired as they were. No, there was no way he was going to finish this tonight. Perhaps he could just ask one of his classmates... nah, he'd get the reading done in the morning. "I think I'm going to save this for the morning." That was the best plan of action. Standing, Jess collected his books, knowing this had been silly in the first place. He could have been asleep by now. Hesitating just a bit before going up the stairs to his dorm, Jess looked over at his housemate. "Good luck."

  

[Isaac Pinefoy]

Being a well-trained young gentleman, Isaac found it easy to disguise his relief that Jesse was leaving the common room for the night. He seemed nice, certainly - charming, indeed, and nonchalantly so. But he and Isaac were worlds apart in almost every single respect. The idea of them communicating was like a mouse speaking to a falcon.

He nodded politely and said "thank you" as the older boy wished him luck. Isaac turned back down to his book and whispered to himself, "I'll need it". Getting back to an academic state of mind would not be easy.