Back and Better Than Ever! (Open)

[DONOVAN RANDAL GREYBACK]

A deep sigh escaped both of Don's nostrils, free of the frequent stream of sparks for the first time in what felt like forever. Rubbing his hand quickly on the skin directly below the two holes, Donovan made sure that no mucus had managed to find its way on his upper-lip, as that would by a most emberassing way to come back to Hogwarts. It was a beautiful day in late-March, and just the PERFECT time for him to come back. Narrowly missing the wintery earlier portion of the month, and even a good chunk of the frigid February.
Picking up the trunk he'd set down briefly, the muscular beater hauled it over his shoulder and walked up the collection of steps. Making his way towards the entrance hall, Greyback gave an occasional nod, or "hello" as he was greeted by passing students. Classes had already ended for the day, but it seemed that some of the students were still in their robes, as apposed to Donovan, who elected to go with a leather wind-breaker over a red shirt, as well as a simple pair of blue jeans.
Donovan was stoked to see his friends after the lengthy break, even if he'd missed out on a good portion of his school work, the intelligent young man would likely have to make due. It wasn't as if he were behind in any of his classes before, so it probably wouldn't be TOO difficult to catch back up. Greyback would just have to miss outside for a week or two.
He hadn't seen much of his friends, or Lily, during his absence, and the young man privately mused to himself over what the others may have been up to. Roxy was probably doing something absolutely brilliant, that was for sure. Don and the guys would have to get together for a impromptu jam, the wizard just hoped he hadn't let his pipes go bad over the period of resting.
These were some of the things that raced through Donovan's mind as he approached the door, pushing the heavy slab of wood open as he entered the massive room with the wide staircase in the center.

[Deleted]

Xirena hadn't seen Donovan in a while. She knew him well. He was the first other werewolf she had met at Hogwarts. He was also in her House and Year of course. Xirena didn't talk to a lot of people all that much, but she found Donovan interesting. Was he a friend? That was a hard question to answer for one like Xirena who wasn't exactly swimming in friends. She certainly didn't hate the other werewolf. In fact, there was a part of her that was upset when Donovan was taken ill and had to depart from Hogwarts for a while, and was relieved that he was back.

She watched as everyone and their sibling said hello to Donovan as he walked about. She wasn't going to act like a giddy schoolgirl to him though. As he approached him, her physical greeting was a laid back nod as opposed to some goofy wave.

"Welcome back," she said. No smile to follow, but she showed eyes of sincerity, eyes that told Donovan she had missed him... and that regardless of her inner uncertainty, he was a friend.

DONOVAN RANDAL GREYBACK

[DONOVAN RANDAL GREYBACK]

Donovan continued on his way until Xirena actually approached, and greeted, the young man. While his own usual expression remained largely the same, his body language shifted slightly. The werewolf himself was not actually at ease with others like him, even Xirena, who he considered enough of a friend to hang out with an socialize.

On some level, it could have something to do with all the stories his mum had told him over the years about werewolves. But equally, the fact that he had the subconscious "pack mentality" playing a factor also helped add to the situation, taking Greyback out of his typical comfort levels. Even as a sort of "alpha werewolf" Donovan was never really sure how to handle his body language around others. He remembered several occasions in which he'd actually offended other werewolves, not realizing that they were in fact just that, so the werewolf was often found in a situation where he was unsure of how to carry himself.

Regardless, Donovan gave Eastbooth a rather goofy grin and said, "Thanks, it's great to be back." Knowing that the girl probably wouldn't return the smile, but more than able to tell she was happy. "I was just gonna go hit the common room before finding something to snack on, wanna come with?" The casual invitation having a rather open intent, not seeming to be too bothered by the idea of her refusing, or accepting.

@xirena

[Deleted]

Xirena hated most of the othter werewolves she had known. But that sort of made sense given most of the werewolves she had known were an Egyptian cult who murdered her parents for leaving them. She had a pretty good reason regarding them. But Donovan had long ago proven himself to be a decent guy. She never encounter him in wolf form, but she doubted the two would have some kind of knock down, drag out wolf fight. All in all, while she wasn't one hundred percent sure she could call him a friend, she didn't hate the guy at all.

Xirena shrugged when Donovan asked her if she wanted to go to the Common Room with him before he grabbed some food.

"Yeah, sure," she said. She walked quietly with him for a bit when she decided it might be in good taste to talk with the guy. "So... what did you do while you were out? I mean, I'm sure you weren't coughing or puking all the time."

Xirena Eastbooth... skilled conversation starter.

DONOVAN RANDAL GREYBACK

[DONOVAN RANDAL GREYBACK]

Smiling, Donovan exclaimed, "That's great!" As he began making his way up the steps, struggling initially to maintain his balance with the heavy trunk over-shoulder, but managing to compensate after a few moments. "So," Greyback then began as he turned over to look at Xirena, "anything new and cool happen while I was gone on vacation?" Sarcastically using the last term to refer to his period of sickness.

He was definitely excited to get to see his mouse Mickey again, too. Lily had been put in charge of him during the absence, and he was sure the mouse had gone crazy without a conversation partner, Donovan knew that he went a bit nuts after not having his best pal in the world to talk to.

"Oh, well I got some reading done, found out that those Carl Carpenter books are pretty good, even if it's mostly younger kids who read them." Talking about a world-renowned series in progress that followed the chronicles of a young squib boy who was trying to acclimate himself to the muggle world while the evil duke moldybelch tried to exact revenge on him for dubious and vague reasons. "Turns out that a wizard CAN accurately portray the muggle world despite not being a muggleborn, or even halfblood."

[Deleted]

Xirena walked with Donovan and shrugged when he asked if anything had been happening at Hogwarts.

"Probably... I don't know," she said. "You were here back when the Headmistress was kidnapped. I guess nothing can really compare to that." She wondered if she could tell him about a few nights before when she was pursued in Hogsmeade while in her wolf form, not because she was threatening or harming anyone, but simply because of the villagers' fear and paranoia. Don of all people would probably accept that. But he had also gotten over an illness recently. Perhaps now was not the time.

Xirena nodded about the book series. She didn't do much reading outside of what was needed for classes, but the idea of a Pureblood writing the Muggle World seemed interesting.

"Well, I guess it could happen," she said. "I mean, it's not like our world and theirs is a million miles away from one another. Before they were ki... before they died, my parents told me most of their neighbors in Cairo were Muggles. They learned a lot about them because of it."

DONOVAN RANDAL GREYBACK