Icy Waves {OPEN}

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

    

 

I wannah be somebody who's good enough to be seen with you.

Cole stretched out his arms as he came onto the bank of the Black Lake. It wasn’t frozen over anymore as it had been just a few short months back, but there were still a few ice chunks floating in the dark water and he knew that it would still be way too cold to go into the water. Though Cole was strong and he liked to prove how tough he was to the general public, he did have sense. A lot of it, actually. He was a smart guy, both when it came to school and when it came to common sense and street smarts. His dad had made sure that he would always be like that. Theodore Nott had raised the perfect son, or, so he thought. Cole was a shoe in to get hired on at the ministry of magic right after he graduated and finished his last few months here in the stone castle of Hogwarts. His father wanted him to work at the ministry and work his way up to being a department head or ever higher up if he were able to make it that high. Cole wasn’t quite sure if office work was suited for him. He loved Quidditch. He loved exercise and loved flying. Cole knew that he was good, really good. He was captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team and knew that if he worked hard enough, he could go professional without a doubt, but he was sure that his father would hate the idea and insist that he work for the ministry anyway and keep Quidditch as a hobby.

His father had also instilled into him the desire to marry a Pureblood girl and make a pureblood family. Cole really believed that he wanted this, some day. He could be a good father, he was positive. But first thing was first, he had to find a girl. He knew Thalia, his younger sister and one of his best friends had a few pureblood friends who were in her year and also part of their beloved Slytherin house, maybe he could ask her about it next time the two of them hung out. Cole had a few girlfriends in his years, but he wasn’t the type of person who dated much, he didn’t believe in casual relationships, he believed if there was no possibility of a future then it wasn’t worth it.

Currently, Cole was just stretching. He had just finished his daily run around the grounds and always liked to end the run at the lake. The sight of the calm waters always soothed him and helped him to unwind after his daily run. There were a few people around, walking and sitting on the grass, but it was still a colder March day and the world was still wet and cold from the winter. Cole stood there alone, watching the icy waves crash upon the bank.

[Deleted]

Katrina liked the Black Lake. It was both beautiful and haunting and had that mystery about it. Katrina liked stuff like that. She liked when nature presented things that didn't have straight up answers. It intrigued her to the point that she hoped she would never find all the answers because that would ruin everything and make the place boring. Katrina had these thoughts as she sketched her view of the lake from where she was sitting.

As she drew, she noticed the guy running in the distance. She couldn't make out who it was from a distance, but she found he could make an interesting addition to the sketch. So quickly she drew him in mid-run. As she finished up the sketch, she looked up at the sky. The clouds didn't look friendly and a light rumble of thunder was heard in the distance. A storm was coming. It might not be there for a while, and might completely pass her over, but she wasn't about to let her book of sketches get drenched. So she rose and stepped out. As she did so, she saw who she was drawing and smirked at the humor of her. It was Cole, the older brother of one of her two best friends. She hadn't talked to Cole all that much, but he seemed okay when she did. Plus, he was Thalia's brother, and whatever was in Thalia's blood that had drawn Katrina to become friends with her had to be in Cole somewhere. If anything, she would muster up the good taste to greet the guy.

"Hey Cole," she said, dryly but with a hint of good manners. "I'm Katrina, your sister's friend. Um... how goes it?"

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

    

 

I wannah be somebody who's good enough to be seen with you.

Cole hadn’t been expecting to be approached by anyone, let alone the person who did. He turned around once she spoke. He knew that he knew her from somewhere but couldn’t quite think of where. At first, he thought that she probably had just been one of the girls who had shown up to the Quidditch try outs at the beginning of the year but hadn’t made the team. Or maybe, she had been one of the flocks of girls who liked to come and watch them practice. Cole used to think it was weird how they liked to do that, but when he looked at the people he had put onto his team, he really couldn’t blame them. Cole was quite full of himself when he wanted to be. He liked to think that he was noble and respectful, but the truth of the matter was, he was just a 17 year old male and he had that edge to him like every other 17 year old male had. It probably didn’t help that he was good looking, talented, smart and from a good family.

"I'm Katrina, your sister's friend. Um... how goes it?" she introduced herself to him and he nodded with a smile. That was where he knew her from; he was one of Thalia’s friends. He remembered a little better now, he had probably spoken to the girl a few times when she was around Thalia and he had no doubt seen them together with Ali around the common room and the corridors. “Hey, Katrina.” He nodded in greeting. “It’s going pretty good.” He smirked a little and bent over to touch his toes in the last stretches he would normally do before returning to the castle. “How about you? How are you?” he asked and stood up, looking at her. Cole would admit, she was rather pretty, and she was a Slytherin, which made him approve of his sisters friend even more.

[Deleted]

Cole had a lot of attributes. Katrina of course knew a few things about him from hanging around Thalia. More through that relationship anyway as she didn't follow the school's Quidditch happening. Now that she was standing this close, she couldn't deny that one of his attributes was good looks. But the thing that made Katrina most want to continue being in his presence at the moment was that he didn't seem as arrogant as she thought he might be. To her, he seemed genuinely concerned in how she was. Kat was anti-social and a big uneasy around males in general, but she could respect that right away.

"I am well as can be expected," she said. "Kind of disappointed that the weather might interfere with my sketching of the Black Lake... oh and you. I drew you jogging in there. I hope you don't mind." She showed him the sketch. She didn't show him a face of anticipation of his opinion of her artwork. Just her same, usual dry look. She then tried to think of somewhere to take the conversation.

"So... working out, huh?" she said. "I guess you have a big Quidditich Game coming up or something. With all due respect, I don't follow the game. Not much of a sports... person. Nevertheless, I wish you the best of luck when you go out there on the Pitch and do... whatever it is you Quidditch people do that makes your fans happy."

Katrina said all this in the tone that matched her facial expression, but she was actually making an effort to be on good terms with one of her best friend's brothers.

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

    

 

I wannah be somebody who's good enough to be seen with you.

Cole loved working out. He always had. He loved running and swimming and flying and stretching, everything. It gave him a sort of natural high that was completely healthy for him. Plus, the Slytherin boy held a lot of pride in his appearance and liked to stay in shape. Cole always ended up getting a little soft around the holidays thanks to his mother making cakes after cakes after cookies after pies. He loved the holidays and never would consider limiting his sweet intake during that time, it just game him an excuse to run more and push himself a little harder once they were over and he was back at school where he could run again in peace and have time for himself and to listen to his own mind. Whenever the boy was at home, his father was constantly pressuring him about going to work in the Ministry and finding a proper girlfriend and getting his life started as soon as he graduated so he could have everything. Of course, Cole wanted everything. But he wasn’t sure if he wanted it at the expense of working a desk job for the rest of his life.

Cole was a little surprised to hear that she had drawn him. As far as he knew, no one had drawn him before and for a second, he had thought that it was a little weird, but when he saw the picture, he couldn’t help but smile. He looked good. Really good. It had been well done and Cole was impressed. “That’s really cool.” He smiled and nodded to the girl. He chuckled. “You don’t follow Quidditch? I thought everyone loved Quidditch.” He smirked.

[Deleted]

Katrina nodded and smiled a little when Cole said her drawing was cool. Usually she didn't care if people praised or bashed her work. She didn't do her art to impress others. She did it for her. Still, for some reason Cole giving her kind words came off as very... nice."

"Thanks," she said. "I do self portraits of people if they want them... you know... if you're ever interested in that."

When Cole said that he thought everyone was into Quidditch, Katrina just shrugged.

"Meh... guess I'm full of surprises, huh?" she said. "You know there was a time when I thought everyone was into art in some form or another, but since I've been here, I've been proven wrong. But what can you do, right? Some people just don't like stuff."

Katrina then remembered she needed to head in before her sketchbook got soaked. The storm still seemed far away, but that didn't mean they wouldn't get a little rain to warn them of the big shower to come soon. But then for some reason, she looked at Cole and felt the need to ask a request of him that she usually didn't ask from a guy.

"Well, I'm heading back to the castle," she said. "If you're not still jogging, I wouldn't say no if you wanted to walk back with me. I mean, if you want to keep working out, that's cool too. Just saying... wouldn't turn you down if you wanted to." Katrina then realized how goofy at how she sounded and realized there was a weird sensation on her face.

Was she blushing?

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

    

 

I wannah be somebody who's good enough to be seen with you.

“Maybe once I’m a famous Beater.” Cole chuckled a little when she mentioned that she did portraits of people and would be willing to do one for him. He wasn’t so self-obsessed right now to want to have a large picture of himself hanging up somewhere in his dorm or in his house. His father would probably scoff at the thought and mention how pride was nobler than vanity. Yes, Cole had been known to be a little self-obsessed. He liked his skills. He knew he had skills. He knew he was friendly and he knew that he had a group of younger years who liked to follow him around sometimes and watch him practice. It was actually a huge ego boost, however unhealthy it probably was.

"You know there was a time when I thought everyone was into art in some form or another, but since I've been here, I've been proven wrong. But what can you do, right? Some people just don't like stuff." Cole had to admit, he wasn’t at all into art. He liked it, sure. And he’d spend time looking at it in museums when his family took trips, but it wasn’t some underlying passion waiting to be discovered. He liked Quidditch. He liked the thrill of the sky and the stress of the game. He was more of a physical being; he didn’t have the patience for Art. “Well, you’re good at what you do.” He smiled in appreciation.

"If you're not still jogging, I wouldn't say no if you wanted to walk back with me. I mean, if you want to keep working out, that's cool too. Just saying... wouldn't turn you down if you wanted to." Cole smirked at the thought. He was finished and he was about to go inside anyway. Not that he was opposed with walking with the girl on any other basis, she was pretty and she seemed like a true sort of person; but, he knew that she was one of his sister’s best friends and he wasn’t sure how either of them would feel about anything: assuming something ended up happening. “Sure, I was about to head in anyway… it looks like rain soon.” Cole agreed.

[Deleted]

Katrina gave a small smile at his response to the portrait.

"Don't think I've ever drawn anyone famous," she said. "Except Margo Mindlepop once. She was doing an autograph signing in Diagon Alley and she spotted my sketchbook. Nice lady. She even paid me for the sketch even though I didn't want money for it. But the money bought me some new paints so... worked for me." Katrina gave a little shrug at this.

Katrina still had the smile on her face when Cole said she was good at what she did. She didn't really do art to please others, but it was nice to be given a bit of praise now and then.

"Thanks, and I just might come out and watch you some time," she said. "Guessing you're pretty good at what you do as well."

She found the odd sensation of blushing not going away when he agreed to walk with her. Then she thought that she needed to be Katrina Bayne and not be so nervous and goofy around this guy. Yes he was handsome, genuine, and liked her work... and the brother of her best friend, but that didn't mean Katrina had to play the role of the awkward schoolgirl. She also knew that Thalia might give her hell for what she was about to ask, but she figured the two would work it out at some point. They always did.

"So... tomorrow I'm going to Hogsmeade to get some food at the Three Broomsticks," she said. "If you're not busy, would you like to get food with me?"

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

    

 

I wannah be somebody who's good enough to be seen with you.

Cole smiled as she told him how she had met a famous witch artist. Cole had heard of her, of course, but he wasn’t very interested in her. It just wasn’t his passion. He had met plenty of famous Quidditch players, and he enjoyed every moment that he was able to spend with them, talking about the various strategies that they had used in their last match. He liked the way that he seemed to fit in with all of them, like they were already his teammates and he was getting ready to celebrate their victory on the pitch with them. He wanted that feeling to last forever. He wanted that feeling of victory to be his someday. Sure, he knew the feeling of Victory on the pitch against Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor… but he knew that there was no way it would be the same as it would be in the professional league. He had also met plenty of Ministry workers who all shook his hand properly and spoke humbly of their work in whatever department that they headed. He knew that was more than likely where he would end up once he graduated.

"Guessing you're pretty good at what you do as well." Cole couldn’t help but smirk. “I’m not too bad I guess… I’ve been captain for the last two seasons.” He told her as they walked into the castle. It was getting cold out, probably getting late. Cole was unaware of the time, he never wore a watch, it reminded him too much of his impending job at the Ministry, where he was sure to have to wear a watch every day and report to the office at the same time each morning just like his father did right now. He couldn’t help the sickly feeling in his gut rise up when he thought about it.

"So... tomorrow I'm going to Hogsmeade to get some food at the Three Broomsticks," she said. "If you're not busy, would you like to get food with me?" Cole smiled and looked down to her, she was awfully shorter than he was and that made him want to smile more, he forgot how tall and large he was –he definitely had a Beaters Build. “Uh, yeah sure, I don’t think I have anything else to do.” He had plenty of girls ask him out before, though, normally he said no. He had always believed that he should be the one who asked the girl out, he was very proper and conservative in that way. But this wasn’t exactly a date; they had just met after all. Though, Cole knew that Thalia wouldn’t keep improper friends.

@katrina

[Deleted]

"That's cool," nodded Katrina when Cole said he had been captain for a while. "I'm Captain of the Art Club now. Haven't been for long, but good to know someone thought I deserved the position and all. I just do it all for fun, but I have a few projects for the members to work on the rest of this year and on into next."

Kat did feel a bit odd being the one to ask Cole out on a... could one call it a date? And she would have understood if he said no. She had turned down a lot of guys who asked her out after, and punched a few who didn't take no for an answer the first time. When he said he would, Kat gave him a small smile, and her notice of how incredibly handsome he was grew. Now she just hoped the little meet up turned out to be a successful one... and that Thalia didn't go nuts on her if it did.

"Cool," said Kat, not really any of the excitement and anxiousness she was feeling inside. Kat had made appearing not excited about anything an artform after all. "Five thirty good? I have an Art Club meeting at four thirty, but we're just wrapping a few things up."

Kat walked with him a bit longer, and turned to Cole again.

"You know, I didn't really have any friends here until Thalia came along," she said. "She's kind of been like a sister to me as well. She also introduced me to Ali Krum, who's my other best friend now. Just saying that talking to you, I can see that Thalia's not the only member of your family with a good head on her shoulders. Guess you probably know I'm not crazy about being around most guys, but you seem pretty cool." She gave him another small smile.

(You can wrap this up if you want, and we can do the "Date" Thread.)

COLE THEODORE NOTT