Dripping water (Merry)

[Rister Graas S6]

He loved his home. He truly and wholly did. But it was also pleasurable to be back at Hogwarts. Not because he liked the crowds of students or classes or homework – most of which he actually did as Lita had long ago learned to summarise a list of what had to be done for him. It wouldn’t do to fail anything, even if he didn’t attend classes too properly. But Hogwarts was better than the apartment in London, as the apartment didn’t have a proper forest near-by. Parks just weren’t the same. Rister needed his space and the wilder areas of woods. Besides, he couldn’t let his skills get rusty, as taking care of wide expanses of forests would one day also be part of his duties. His siblings had simply laughed when he disappeared from their side after the feast was over – he had even gotten the first detention of the year and won a bet with Gabriel during it. Apparently McGonagall didn’t appreciate having a kiss blown to her when she was unrolling the scroll to start calling the names of first years. But returning to the subject, he had dropped by Hogwarts once in the night and someone had taken the trouble of owling him a couple of sandwiches at one day. But, Rister figured, as he took one more sip of cold spring water from his palms, it was perhaps time to return to school and stay put for a day or so now. Besides, he had a relatively long tear at the side of his shirt, his face showed a decidedly dark stubble on his chin already, there was a thing gash on his cheek that wasn’t completely healed yet, and his trousers had plenty splatters of mud, water, and smudges of grass on them.

Raising to stand from where he had bent on one knee – the Forest was too treacherous to bend over the small spring – Rister absently shook his hands to get rid of excess water and turned. His knees bending loosely with every step, he loped as soundlessly as any human could ever achieve through the forest. Slipping out from the shade of trees at the nook of the Hogwarts lake that was sheltered from view from the windows of the Hogwarts castle, Rister walked straight into the lake. A soak wouldn’t hurt him, besides this set of clothes was going to the trash anyway. Immersing himself fully in water the moment the depth of the lake allowed it, Rister swam languidly. His body stretched out in water, he pushed lightly with his feet, absently eyeing the Hogwarts students that started appearing in view as he floated around a small cliff that had hid his entrance to the water. A lot of students were out in reality. Which was to be expected really. It was a pleasant enough sort of day, the lake had always been popular for students to meet and spend time together, and there as a whole summer worth of catching up to do in most cases. What was more attention worthy was the argument that was clearly taking place.

His eyes narrowing for a moment, Rister turned over from his back and used long, powerful strokes to reach the shores. His clothes clinging quite flatteringly to his body, Rister waded through the water to the shore, listening to the argument half-heartedly. He wasn’t sure what started it, but he didn’t perhaps even entirely care. Merry had a character down to par and Slytherins had never shown much modesty either when it came to verbal spars or quick hex practices. Especially a fifth year, who was trying prove some before a soon-to-be relative seventh year. Wands would be drawn soon, however, Rister mused as he approached lazily from behind Merry. “Robert,” Kris greeted the 7th year lazily to make Merry aware of his presence before he threw his right arm over her shoulder and rested his chin on her left shoulder, “I heard you bought the dojo in Japan. Congratulations are in order, I believe.” “Rister,” the seventh year inclined his head in polite greeting, shifting in his position almost unnoticeably, “I did. It will be a suitable wedding present for my wife. I was glad to hear you would be coming.” “Of course,” Rister’s eyes shifted to the tense fifth year, “It would be such a mess were something to happen now, wouldn’t it, Colisle?” His voice a soft purr, as he referred to the last name rather than the boy’s first name, even if he was fully aware of that as well. Both Slytherins heeded the subdued remark that Merry – who hadn’t been brought up among political games and high society - probably didn’t even notice. “Graas,” the fifth year responded politely after a moment of deliberation and the two boys turned and left.

“Don’t position that elbow in my ribcage, if you would. You have more martial arts practice than I do and could drop me on my arse easily enough. I admit that. But I’m hungry, didn’t sleep much more than an hour last night and that makes me grouchy. Fighting dirty wouldn’t be a problem. Or dipping us both into the lake, as I’m wet already anyway. I’m a Slytherin for a reason,” Rister remarked lazily in Merry’s ear, aware with hidden glee that his hair and arm around her back with his wrist limply resting on her shoulder were slowly dripping water on Merry’s shoulders anyway, “Robert there is getting married in February. To Colisle’s older sister. This was probably a form of tutelage from Robert you saw, as it’s a marriage of love. Robert wouldn’t have pulled a wand directly on you – it was Colisle’s training. My appearance shifted the balance of forces – the so-titled pureblood society is still quite patriarchal so remove your heel from my toes as well if you will,” Rister remarked in a neutral tone, as if Merry’s heel wasn’t digging into his foot, “It was easier and far calmer to solve the situation this way. Considering the articles published in summer, Robert would have probably chosen to block Colisle himself and keep the collision to go overboard. It’s a tricky game and sometimes infuriating. How has fair Rosalind been faring?”

[Merry Garwin H6]

She missed her family, just as she always did. She missed Rosa snuggling next to her and asking for a story, and Pip, with wide eyes, watching her demonstrate martial arts or archery. She even missed Kali dragging her off for a shopping spree or Tyler stepping in to get her and Reid out of trouble. She missed Jake, and the laughing horror on his face whenever Kali started detailed wedding plans and the way he begged Merry to save him from her sister, she missed her father’s quiet watchful ways and her mother’s dominant presence in the house. But most of all, she missed Reid. She missed the younger of her older brothers most simply because their relationship was the most equal. He never demanded anything from her that she didn’t give to him. Kali demanded a girly companionship, Tyler wanted silence, Rosa and Pip wanted amusement, her parents wanted obedience and Jake wanted her to be the younger sister he had always wanted. Reid was most like her, they could sit in silence or run wild. Merry loved all of her family equally, but Reid was the sibling she missed most. Hogwarts was lonely after a summer filled with her family, and she craved the presence of her siblings even though she knew that Pip and Rosa would only enter Hogwarts long after she had left. The only thing she didn’t miss was working three jobs. Mr Saunders had happily accepted her resignation from the Asteroid Café but grudgingly offered her a job next summer, the sports hall where she worked as an archery instructor knew without even asking that she would return to them next summer and she held her job at the bookstore in Hogsmeade all year round. She didn’t have to work at all today though, which was why she was sprawled out near the lake with a book, a half-finished letter to Jake and Kali and a present for Rosa’s seventh birthday next week. The little girl had asked if she could invite Mordred – Rister, Merry and her mother had corrected the six year old firmly – to her party but, with a barely hidden smile, their mother had taken charge of the matter and gently explained that Rister, much like Merry, would not be allowed out of Hogwarts just for a little girl’s birthday party. That had caused a small bout of tears but Rosa had always cheered up quickly and rarely held grudges, for which Merry was thankful. She disliked seeing her younger sister upset.

Merry wasn’t entirely sure what started the argument. All she knew was that two boys had wandered up to her and it had exploded into an argument. She practically relished it, her eyes glittering with anticipation. After all, she had grown up with two older brothers and martial arts tuition. Fighting was her way of life in a way that her mother and sisters didn’t understand. Not even her brothers understood it, not really. It was the rush of the adrenaline, the threat of more than a verbal spar. It set her alight. The younger of the two boys looked ready to draw his wand and Merry shot him a disgusted glance. There were times when she truly despised wizards. They were always too quick to fall back on their wands. None of them would survive in a fight unless they had magic. But the voice coming from behind her shifted the situation and Merry barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she felt an arm rest on her. The political game went unnoticed by her, but the shift in power did not and it made her eyes glimmer with bad temper. She was restless, she had needed that argument and Rister had taken it away. It wasn’t fair and she resented it. But, patiently, Merry waited until the two Slytherins had left before turning her head to glare at Rister irritably.

“I’ll do more than drop you on your arse if you don’t remove yourself from me this instant, Rister Graas,” Merry warned ferociously. She was still spoiling for a fight and it showed in every restless shift of her body. The feeling of cold water leisurely dripping on her shoulders and down her back wasn’t improving her mood so she shrugged him off and stepped away, turning to face him defiantly. “You weren’t needed. I could have handled it perfectly well by myself,” Merry snapped irately, her teeth biting into her lip as she resisted the urge to slam her heel further into Rister’s foot and instead removed it peaceably. The mention of the ‘Rumour Has It...’ articles didn’t really help her in her quest to not maim Rister but Merry bit back a remark about him being more infuriating than any ridiculous pureblood game. “Rosa’s fine.” Merry bit out short-temperedly. “Excited about her birthday because it means that she’ll be the same age as Pip for a few months before he turns eight in February.”