Secrets at the Black Lake

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe looked saddened by Lucinda's words.
"Lucinda, I-" she struggled, "I have lost so much to those people. You may know of Sirius Black, the man who was wrongly convicted of murder and dealing in the Dark Arts, he sounded like an amazing man, but I never got to meet him because Bellatrix Lestrange never gave me the chance. That is why I show so much dislike towards Andrea Black.
"I also lost both of my parents in the war with Voldemort. My adopted brother also lost both of his parents.
"You are right in saying that there is no fun in losing the ones you hold most dear, and that is why fighting for them, in their honor, is the right thing to do. Add plus," she lowered her voice, "fighting one as deranged as Bellatrix Lestrange, you can't help but have some fun."

[hohum]

Lucinda was slightly stunned that Professor Black began to spill her personal life to Lucinda. Lucinda personally did not know if this was meant to comfort, but it only made matters seem worse because of all those her professor had lost. Lucinda nodded and said that her father had told her of Sirius Black and that they had gone to school together. His death was a tragic one.

“I just lost my mother,” Lucinda said quietly. “And my uncle and grandparents, but I scarcely remember them. I am sorry for all those you lost, though.” Lucinda bowed her head. This was the reason Lucinda was going to become an Auror; to stop the Death Eaters from ruining anyone else’s lives.

Lucinda then laughed at Professor Black’s lowered statement. “You can have Lestrange and I’ll get Andrea,” Lucinda whispered, smiling. This made her feel slightly better about the situation. Professor Black was right in saying that it would be fun to fight someone such as them.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe bowed her head in respect.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your mother," she said, but then smiled.
"Okay, it's a deal, Bellatrix owes me anyway, for not getting her earlier," she winked.
Zoe thought for a moment. Then lowered her voice.
"It would be nice to have you in the Order. All the others are work motivated, with no time for fun anymore," she laughed and looked over towards the Forest. She thought she saw a Centaur in through the trees, but blinked and he was gone. She wasn't worried, the Death Eaters had angered the Centaurs, so there was no chance of secrets been spilled, although it was impossible to hear from that distance, anyway.

[hohum]

Lucinda nodded in approval of their accord. Lucinda then laughed and kicked up some snow as Professor Black whispered to her that she should join the Order. This perked Lucinda up instantly. She looked at Professor Black.

"You really think so?" Lucinda asked. "I've been training really hard. Some of my teachers seem to get a bit frustrated because we are learning much of the basics right now, which is something my dad has already taught me. They say I am advanced in my league, not to brag. I really would like to, though. Once I am old enough, I will."

Lucinda smiled, but that smile vanished as she looked in the direction in which Professor Black's gaze went. There was a centaur there, perhaps listening in on their conversation. She really hoped not. That would be twice she had messed up about the whole Order thing. Luckily she didn't exactly say anything too revealing. She didn't even mention the name, which she felt was very good.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe laughed, taking her eyes away from the Forest.
"It would be nice to see a new face around the Order, and also someone with your abilities."
An exceptionally strong wind almost pushed her over, but she balanced herself, taking hold of her hair and tucking it into her cloak, so it wouldn't go in her eyes.
A snowflake landed on her nose and melted. She could see the shining water out of the corner of her eye.

[hohum]

Lucinda smiled, encouraged now more than ever to join the Order. Professor Black obviously thought she was good enough for them. She referred to Lucinda's abilities, causing some pride to bubble up inside. Clearly her father's work had paid off effectively.

The snow began to fall again, a light drift in the air. Lucinda stuck her tongue out and caught one. It melted instantly, and although she felt childish, she didn't really care - even in the presence of a teacher. The trees swayed in a gust of wind and Lucinda wrapped her scarf around herself more securely.

"I can't wait to," she said finally, as the wind died out. She cast her glance out at the frozen lake and noticed someone moving in the distance. Her hand moved slowly into her pocket, gripping her wand. The figure moved steadily, just pacing, it seemed.

"Who's that?" Lucinda asked curiously, thinking that maybe Black knew.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe smiled as Lucinda caught a snowflake on her tongue.
Lucinda was looking out, over the Lake.
"Who's that?" she inquired, and Zoe look to see what she was asking about. She saw a figure moving, somewhere off in the distance.
"I don't know," she said, trying to adjust her eyes so that they would see further. Her thoughts instantly fell upon Lucius, sneaking around, getting up to his Death Eater ways, but she thought better of putting that on Lucinda.
She looked closer, but still couldn't make out who it was.
"Maybe it's just one of the teachers," she said finally, "I believe Dumbledore's grave is over there, or maybe it's..." she trailed off, looking from the east side of the Lake to opposite her, trying to figure out where it was. She had only ever visited it once in her life, and she was only young. Now she was at Hogwarts again, however, she might go and find it again.

[hohum]

Professor Black didn't seemed to be worried. She suggested that it might be a teacher, because Dumbledore's grave was in that direction. Then she was a bit confused, as if she wasn't sure anymore. Nevertheless, Lucinda didn't let her guard down. She was taught never to be too sure until you were possitive. She relaxed her shoulders but maintained a firm hold on her wand.

"Tragic, what happened to Dumbledore," Lucinda commented. "Not to mention downright confusing if you don't know the entire story." Lucinda remembered the day her father attempted to explain the situation of what had happened to Dumbledore, and it took a while until everything made sense. Lucinda was glad that she knew the whole tale, though, for she hated being confused.

The figure wandered aimlessly about in the distance. Maybe it was confused as to which direction to head in as well? Lucinda didn't know, but continued to eye the figure carefully.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

"It is," Zoe said, in reply to Lucinda's comment. She thought for a moment about the story and confirmed that Lucinda was right. If you didn't know the whole story, it could get very confusing.

Zoe watched as Lucinda eyed the figure suspiciously. Zoe merely looked, slightly interested, as to what the figure was doing. It seemed to be confused, too.

"Maybe it's a student who the Slytherins have Confunded," she laughed, although she thought that might be a possibility. She watched the figure again with curiosity.

[hohum]

"Perhaps," Lucinda said, smiling a bit. Stupid Slytherins. Why couldn't they just leave people alone. Lucinda knew what the counter curse for the Confundus Charm was, but she hadn't exactly gotten it completely right. Therefore, she kept her wand inside her pocket. If the curse went wrong, she didn't want to hurt the person - unless it was Andrea Black, then it would be alright.

Smiling slightly to herself at this thought, she began to relax, because the figure did look slightly confused. She shrugged as a tentacle popped out of the hole she had previously made in the ice.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Zoe turned back to Lucinda as she spoke and smiled.
She looked back at the confused figure and saw a tentacle appear. She laughed.
"That Squid is just like a child playing in the snow."

She watched the tentacle wave around, almost like it was waving to them. She smiled at the thought. It looks like they'd made a friend.

[hohum]

Lucinda couldn't help but to giggle at the Giant Squid. It swung up its tenacle playfully at the. Lucinda had always been curious about this particular creature. She had always feared it, afraid that it would suck her into its watery depths below the surface of the lake. Now she realized that those fears were childish. This squid was harmless, and Professor Black's comment made it all the more fun to watch.

Oddly, Lucinda felt comforted now. She was more of a verbal person, needing to release her emotions instead of keeping them bottled up. Her anxiety would never go away until her father came home, that was for sure. She felt comforted about his mission, however, talking with Professor Black. Lucinda wanted to join the Order right away, now more than ever. She knew she would have to wait, so she must be patient.[/size]

[Professor Zoe Black]

Lucinda's laugh made Zoe smile, she had never gotten through to anyone like this before, it was almost like Lucinda was silently asking Zoe for her help and advice.
She watched the Squid as it swung it's tentacle about playfully.
A cold wind swept through the grounds, chilling Zoe to the bone.
"Perhaps we should go inside now, before we both get pneumonia," she said, jokingly, although she now debated whether it was a joke.
She waited for Lucinda's answer, watching the Squid out of the corner of her eye.

[hohum]

Lucinda looked up at Professor Black as she suggested they both retreat into the castle, before they got sick. She smiled and nodded, shivering in the cold wind that swept by. She turned around to head back up to the castle with the professor.

"Good idea," she said, smiling. She looked back at the lake, the snow crunching under her feet. The Giant Squid waved its tentacle as if it were waving farewell, and Lucinda giggled as she marched up the path with Professor Zoe Black.[/size]