Corner of the Sky

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

It seemed like just a few days ago school had started, and now they only had a few weeks left in the term. Seventh year was quickly approaching. What would come next? Nicholas was a little afraid to find out. He had spent hos first six years mostly in the comfort of the Hufflepuff common room. But now, he was getting a little antsy about the future. What would it hold for him? Where would he fit into the worlds folds? He wasn't a fighter. He was a lover. A protector? He did protect as much as he could - it was the Hufflepuff in him. But he never used violence. He was basically flunking Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Nicholas Belby had never flunked a class. He was good at reading books and writing essays. But the practical, hands on stuff always got him. He just wasn't good at it, especially under pressure.

Would he ever find his Corner of the Sky?

Nicholas pondered the thought as he leaned against the walls of the courtyard and looked up at the large patch of clear blue sky in between the light clouds. Most of his friends already at least had an idea of what they wanted to do when they graduated next year. Nicholas had nothing. He couldn't imagine a life outside of the Hufflepuff common room.

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YiXue was beaming as usual. She had just finished a meditation session and had gone to her happy place. Now she was ready to enjoy the rest of the day. She decided to go out to the Middle Courtyard to look at some of the lovely Spring flowers that were growing there. She walked and hummed away, and stopped when she saw Nicholas. She smiled and gave him a wave. She of course knew Nicholas fairly well. Same year, same house, and YiXue was the queen of friendliness. She stepped over and noticed he was in deep thought, which made her curious.

"Hey Nick," she said. "Soooo... whatcha thinking about? The state of the cosmos? Life after graduation? What we had for lunch today? Because if it's the latter, that chicken we had today was spiiiicy! Whew!" She then grinned. "Oh right... hugs." YiXue was a hugger, and if you were her friend, you got them all the time. She gave Nick one and was stilling grinning when she released him. "So how are, my mate of the mortal plain?"

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

"Definitely the Chicken." He smiled as YiXue approached him and hugged him as well. He was a Hufflepuff, hugs were part of their greeting ceremony. And he was quite a fan of them himself. He was aware that a majority of the male population were against hugs, at least in public, but he never felt that way, Human contact always made him happy. It made everyone happy. It was programed into them as humans to make them happy. "Hey, YiXue." He added. She was a decent friend of his. They had known each other for years and Nicholas found himself very fond of her as a friend. She was always good company. Perhaps it was because she was always so smiley and friendly. "I'm doing fairly well for a bloke out pondering the reason he exists in the world." He shrugged as if to say that it was no big deal. "And how are you? You seem very relaxed." he observed. He knew that she was very into meditation. He always admired that about her. He himself would never be able to do it. He liked to talk a little to much to sit for any extended period of time in silence. If left alone to nothing but his own thoughts, he was sure that a panic attack, or something along similar lines would follow.

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YiXue laughed when Nick say he was pondering why he exists in the world.

"Soooo... you were thinking about more than the chicken, eh?" she said jokingly. "And I'm fine. Just got done meditating. You really should try that some time. When you let yourself go and put yourself at peace, you often find a lot of a lot of life's answer. Well either that or you can just sit and focus on fun things like Hippogriffs and rainbows and stuff."

YiXue was always trying to help others who had some deep questions like Nick had. She wasn't as good as teaching meditation as her mother and father was, but she was getting there. If anything, she could teach someone to relax whenever they were stressed.

"Sooo... next year's the last, huh?" she said. "I tell you... time going by... wow. You got any idea what you're going to be doing after graduation?"

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

The funny thing about YiXue, was that she was always somehow able to know what Nicholas was thinking. It used to freak him out a little, but over the years he had realized that most Hufflepuffs thought alike and thus it was more than likely just a great coincidence that she would bring up the exact subject that had just been on his mind. When she suggested that he do meditation, he shook his head. "I've tried it. I'm not really mentally or physically prepared to sit for any extended period of time and just think." He admitted with a shrug. "But I so admire that you do it." He added. It was the truth, he wasn't just sucking up.

When she asked if he had any idea of what he was going to do after graduation, he shook his head. "Not one. But maybe I'm okay with that." He said. "Maybe it all doesn't have to be planned out. I mean, the last 6 years were spontaneous and I escaped them with minor injury and emotional scaring." He insisted. "What about you? Have you got your life all figured out?"

[Deleted]

YiXue was a bit disappointed that Nick wasn't into meditation. She wanted as many she knew as possible know the epicness of meditation. Oh well, one couldn't win them all.

"Well, if you ever want to give it a shot, let me know," she said. "But really, you don't have to sit and spend a long time meditating to relax. A simple method is just to stop for a moment and take a few easy, but deep breaths. You'll be surprised how good it feels."

YiXue nodded in understanding as Nick spoke of not having a plan and why. True, the last six years had been something, lots of unpredictability there.

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure it all out," she said. "As for me, I'm going into the family business. I love teaching others how to meditate. Even now I help my mum and dad during the summer and winter holidays."

YiXue sat and her smile remained. She was happy a good ninety-five percent of the time.

"If you could be anything... and I mean ANYTHING right, what would it be?" she asked out of curiosity.

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

Nicholas wasn't surprised that YiXue was going into her families business of teaching meditation to others. It was exactly what he would have expected her to do, and probably was what everyone else expected of her as well. It wasn't bad that she was following expectations. Nicholas just wasn't really sure what sort of expectations he had to follow. What did people expect from him? What did he expect from himself? "Well I can't think of anyone better to teach people how to meditate than you. I've seen you do it a few times, you're always so focused and dedicated. Nothing makes to lose concentration." He insisted; it was rather impressive.

When she asked what he would do if he could do absolutely anything, he tilted his head to the sky and thought for a minute. "I have absolutely no idea." He admitted. It was the complete truth. He had no idea what he wanted to do. He had no idea what he would be good at, if anything. All he had wanted to be for his entire life was exactly what he had been: A Hufflepuff. He wasn't good at fighting, he was getting a little sick of school. He didn't want to sit at a desk in the Ministry. He didn't like working with creatures. He had absolutely no idea.

[Deleted]

YiXue chuckled about Nick's remark that nothing made her loose concentration.

"Ooooh, trust me, there are a few things," she said. "Like if I am meditating on my own and my mum is cooking. I will snap out of it in no time. Or if kids are around laughing and playing. I want to jump up and go play too. Big fan of the kids. Shen and I are already talking about having a family some day." She chuckled. Many thought it was strange that she and her boyfriend were already discussing this, but both of them were very close to family and it hardly seemed strange to them.

She had never heard anyone answer the question about being anything they wanted with that person having no idea.

"None at all?" she said. "You know I don't just mean stuff like what job you want to do. I mean, like would you want to be a dragon or a giant or something. It's an exercise... go with it."

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

Nicholas was a fan of children as well, he knew that one day he wanted to have a family of his own, but he had never really even had a serious girlfriend so ideas and plans like that seemed more than far off. Though he could imagine YiXue as a mother, and the thought made him smirk a little, "I can only imagine how well behaved your children would be." He teased light heartedly. She was one of the kindest, gentlest people he knew and he loved that about his friend, and while he didn't know her boyfriend well, he wished them the best of luck in whatever they chose to do with their lives, and whenever they chose to do it.

When she clarified the question, Nicholas still shrugged. "A Hufflepuff. And I already am. See, that's the problem. I'm so content with life now that I'm worried that I'll never find anything else that I love so much." He told her.

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YiXue blushed as Nick spoke of how well behaved her children would be. It was nice to be approved of as a mother long before she became one.

"Awwww, thanks," she said. "I would make sure they behaved well, but have freedom at the same time. Middle ground is what it's all about. Extremes are out!" And YiXue firmly believed that- don't starve and don't eat too much, don't take away freedom and don't give too much. She believed balance brought perfection.

YiXue liked Nick's new answer a lot more. Not the Hufflepuff part, though that was cute. But because he was content right now.

"That's fantastic," she said. "And it's good you are living in the moment, happy in the moment. I don't think anyone could ask for more. Worry about the future when it comes, right?"

As speaking of the moment, YiXue had planned to go for a nature walk.

"I'm going for a walk to mesh with nature," she said. "Join me?"

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

Nick just shrugged when YiXue praised him for being able to live in the moment and love what he was doing. It was all he ever wanted to do. He had never thought of his future because he couldn't imagine a life outside of school and outside of the Hufflepuff Common room. The entire idea scared him. What if he wasn't cut out for life in the real world? What if he was now all that he was ever meant to be? "I suppose you're right." He agreed. "I'll worry about the future when it comes." He decided. He just hopped that putting off planning for his life didn't mean that he would be doing it all too late.

"Yeah, I'll walk with you." He nodded when she asked if he would like to go with her. Why not? It wasn't like he had any other things to do today. And while he was taking a break from being his normal lazy self. he might as well enjoy the grounds a bit more.

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YiXue smiled and nodded at Nick when he said he would worry about the future when it came.

"Brilliant," she said. "But I know whatever you go on to do, you will be amazing. I can tell already." She then gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek. YiXue was loyal to Shen as a girlfriend, but being the way she was, YiXue gave hugs and kisses on the cheek to both her male and female friends all the time. "For luck."

YiXue beamed when Nick said he would join her for a walk. Walks alone were nice, but it was also nice to have someone join her. She knew Shen would when he could, but she also knew with his false leg, a lot of walking winded him easily.

As they walked, YiXue looked about.

"It certainly is beautiful here," she said. "I'm glad we get to enjoy it another year."

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY

[NICHOLAS JASON BELBY]

By this point, after actually having spoken to someone about his future plans... or lack there of, Nick was ready to be done talking about the subject. He just needed to think. That was it. And he knew that it was something that he would have to do on his own. The nature walk was helping though. Nick liked being outside. He liked being out in the fresh air. But he was glad when they got back to the castle. As much as he liked taking a walk with his friend, he liked the idea of getting back to the common room more. "I think I'm going to head down to the common room. I can walk you down if you're coming too." He said, but he didn't want to pull her away from the outside if she wanted to spend more time with nature.

((ended for Nick))

[Deleted]

(Quick close for YiXue)

YiXue smiled at the idea of going to the Common Room. She was getting getting a bit tired.

"Sounds fun!" she said. "Hmm, maybe Shen will join us there." She knew Nick knew Shen. Shen was a Puff too, and YiXue went on about him all the time as a girlfriend was often expected to do. As they walked, she went down the list of things she wanted to eat once they went from the Common Room to the Great Hall.

(End)

NICHOLAS JASON BELBY