{The Unknown Names}{Open}

[Cheryl Cohen]

"Yes, just turned klutz if anything, Diane. Just name me one other time you've seen me fall...excluding the falls tonight." she asked her, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to name one.
"Aside from me being a klutz," she laughed,"Nothing has really been going on with me. Same old, same old."
'Except from the last time I saw you, I didn't have the d**n drinking problem I have now. That is what's new!' she added that after thought, but thankfully it was said in her head, she would have died if she she had accidentally said it out loud.

Diane. Yet another one of her friends that she neglected to inform about her potion problem! Once it gets out in the open, which will because these things happen, all of her friends will hate her, which gives her an even bigger reason to hide it.
"Yeahnothingnewwithmewhataboutyou?" she asked so fast she almost got whiplash. She must have been so eager to not talk about her life at the moment that she seemed overly eager to talk about Diane's.

[Diane McLain]

She was trying to think of another example of Cheryl being clumsy, but couldn't really think, "Cheryl, we haven't seen each other that much, how am I meant to remember when you fall over? I don't keep a tally chart," she said, trying to smile in a friendly way to counteract what she was saying.

She heard her fast speaking, and almost started laughing, "You know, I'm going to have to learn that girls language. You know that one were they begin talking at the speed of light and no guys (or me) can understand?" she told her scratching her head, "Repetez, si vous plait." she had no idea why she was saying so much French today...

[Cheryl Cohen]

"You never know! Maybe some people do keep tally charts of who falls and how many times. Though, that would be creepy...actually I do think you keep one!" she laughed.
"Anyways, I didn't know you could speak french..." she told Diane. "I thought I was practically the only one! Not that mine is any great shakes. Listen...Bonjour." she said in the most horrible attempted French accent there was.
She shifted in the place she stood fiddling with her invisibility cloak.
"I said that there was nothing new with me and what about you." she repeated what she had said about a minute previous.
"I don't think I talked that fast..." she said knowing full well that it wasn't slow.

[Diane McLain]

"Oh yes, I keep lots of creepy tally charts under my bed." she said in the most monotonous, sarcastic voice she could manage. She wished she wasn't talking to another griffindor, because now she was worried that she'd actually go and check.

"I can't speak French." she said laughing, "I was taught a few words, and making things up with a stupid French accent. It passes the time, and lightens the mood," she said, childishly putting her head to one side.

She breathed out as she heard the slowed down version, "See? Isn't life better when it's at a reasonable pace? It almost sounded believable too. Almost." she said frowning, "You don't look your old self, Chery."

[Cheryl Cohen]

"Well if all you have under your bed is tally charts..." she began laughing a little. "...then you are truly lucky. Personally, I think a ghoul is under my bed, and it snores at night, at least I think that's what it is." she said with a shrug.
She took a seat on the battered couch that was in the very cluttered Trophy Room, she wondered why there would even be one in here. Would people actually sit here and look at all the trophies from afar rather then be up and looking at who won them?
She looked up as Diane told her about her French.
"I probably know more then a few words. We were taught French everyday in my muggle elementary. As well as German, Spanish, and Italian. Though I never learned much of the other three. I had an awful teacher for them. The French teacher was actually nice. Quite the opposite from the other one.
She looked up at the ceiling an closed her eyes for a moment. "Sure, sometimes life is better when it's at a slow pace, but you will never win if you keep at it." she told her slowly.
Cheryl's eyes re-opened quickly.
"Erm...w-what do you mean I don't look like my old self?!?" she asked her nervously.

[Diane McLain]

She heard about the 'ghoul' under her bed. "I thought that that was under the other kids bed? I bet she just moved it..." she muttered, knowing fine well that the missing ghoul was probably hers from when she'd kicked it out.
She sat on the arm of the sofa, still looking at the one with Cheryl's name on it. "I didn't learn any French at school. My muggle sister tried to teach me a little at the holidays though."

She noticed Cheryl's paranoia, and wasn't sure how to tackle the situation. Unfortunatly, in the middle of a coversation, there isn't usually much time to think, "It's stuff like that, Cheri. You just look really uptight, that's all."

She needed to move the conversation away from that quickly, "Hey, my cousin's coming to this school soon. Wanna help me make him feel at home?"

[Cheryl Cohen]

Cheryl laughed a little at the thought of the ghoul switching locations with a little suitcase in it's hand with a map of the different dormitories.
"Oh well, it can stay there if it pleases. I guess I can just cast a silencing charm upon it to make the noises it makes to just not be heard!"
She shifted on the sofa now that so her head was able to rest upon her knees. She thought that if she happened to do that back at home, her mom would yell at her for putting her shoes on the sofa.
"I have a sister as well, she had magical powers but upon the arrival of the letter she refused and carried on with muggle education. I still think it was a mistake on her part. My dad was so disappointed, my mother didn't really mind much." she told Diane.
Cheryl then heard Diane telling her about how she was all uptight now, those were the kind of people she hated. The uptight ones. Was her problem going to actually cause herself a form of self hate that will make her problem worse?
She turned her head to look at Diane. "You know, I have no clue what would make you think that, nothing has changed..."
If she was telling the truth, she would have been looking Diane straight in the eyes, like she always did with her friends, but this time she couldn't bring herself to it. She had lied.
She quickly turned back to stare at the floor. "Sure, I love making newbie’s feel at ease here." she told her with a very fake smile on her face.

[Diane McLain]

She was grateful that she didn't mind about the ghoul. That thing had creeped her out to no end when it was under her bed, and she was worried that she'd shown just how selfish she really was. Or at least, how selfish she thought she was.

She heard her story about her sister with worry, "But.... doesn't she, you know, well..." she tried to think of how to say it, "Can she manage without using magic? When I was little and not allowed to use it at home - well, truth be told, even now in the holidays - I feel like it just needs to come out. I almost hexed my sister just last summer." she told her.

She didn't want to try to get to the truth - she really didn't want to know. Things like that were best dealt with by more capable people and stronger friends.

She smiled evilly, standing up and walking around the sofa, "You won't say that when you meet him. He's a snotty brat who thinks he knows everything and OWNS everything. He almost snapped my neck in two when I suggested he start school in first year. Well, he would, if he got angry."

[Cheryl Cohen]

"My sister never cared for magic, so she gets along fine without it. There is the odd occasion when she looses her temper and I get throw backwards a little, but that's about all she can do without a wand, and magical education." she told her Diane. A small part of Cheryl didn't like how her sister decided not to come here, it just set them apart even more causing more fights to break out among them when they saw each other.
Cheryl sat in thought for a moment and then genuinely smirked. "The ghoul sent it's regards by the way." she laughed knowing full well that it came from under Diane's bed.
She looked up again and stretched. "He can't be that bad, now can he? Do you know what house he was sorted into?" she asked thinking it may be Slytherin if he was as bad as he sounded.

[Diane McLain]

She nodded in understanding. She'd once sent someone back when in a foul temper and not knowing what magic was when she was young. Her father had been concerned, but her mother knew. Although she was muggle-born on both sides, her aunty, Ryan's mother, had been a witch, suggesting a deep root in magic in the family which had been previously mostly hidden.

Her face turned bright red when she was caught for having sent the ghoul, mumbling a responce. "I didn't mean for it to go to you. I just was chasing it away and lost it somewhere in the griffindor tower and it's a big tower..."

She rolled her eyes at Cheryl's naivity when it came to her cousin, checking her watch. "He's in Ravenclaw. Which did wonders at chipping off a little of his ego." she said sarcastically. "He should be here soon. Fancy coming down to the Great Hall to meet him?"

[Cheryl Cohen]

Cheryl got up from the couch and pointed out to Diane. "Your really red you know. I didn't know kicking a ghoul out is so embarrassing! I guess I will keep mine under my bed, and push away all the doubts I had about it!"
She stretched a little more and then yawned; drowsiness had been cast upon her.
"Ravenclaw? Well he must be really smart then, so he'll know to keep out of my way if I happen to not like him!" she smiled.
"How's he getting here anyways?" she asked as she started waling towards the door. "Floo pow-"
Once again she fell over! It MUST be this room. She had never fallen over so much in such a short period of time.
"Don't laugh...” she mumbled to Diane knowing that she probably would any second.

[Diane McLain]

She had to contain her laughter. It was hard, but somehow she did it, even if she still had a look on her face that was laughing silently.
"Yeah, he's clever alright. Intelligent clever, not so much on everything else, so I wouldn't say that he'd know exactly how to not p*ss you off..." she said, walking over to Cheryl and grabbing her hand, practically dragging her away, "Come on, I want to get there early for him. If you think I'm pedantic about time, you should see him!" she said, laughing.

"I'm not sure how he's getting here..." she mused, walking to the door, having dropped Cheryl's hand.

[Cheryl Cohen]

"Just a second! I have to tie my laces...I think that's why I tripped!" she told her quickly as she bent down and tied then in what seemed to be a record time.
She got back up and jogged a little to catch up with Diane. New students usually come in during the early mornings, don't they? And if you haven't noticed...or perhaps looked out a window but it's late in the evening...hate to break it to you!" she smirked as she headed down a staircase, one that happened to be a moving one. Though Cheryl didn't seem to notice the fact.
"Is he cute? I know he's your cousin and all but it's a simple yes no question. Just say whether he is, or isn't!"

[Diane McLain]

She frowned, "I know exactly what the time is, Cheryl. It's 6.43 exactly." she said, slightly offended that she of all people was accused of not knowing the time. "And he's arriving here at 7 o'clock. It's probably the only time that his parents could bring him round. His aunt and uncle are always working." she said, rolling her eyes as she stepped out of the door, hoping Cheryl would follow.

She opened her mouth, completely amazed Cheryl would ask that question, "Cheryl! I'm his cousin and he's my.... ew!" she said, as it sank in. "He's weird, Cheryl. He dumped his last girl because her dad got demoted and they were 'no longer of the same class status'." she twisted his words into a high pitched, exadurated posh accent. "You don't want to get caught up with him. Besides, I thought you liked girls." she gave a mischievious smile.

[Cheryl Cohen]

"It's best not to rely on your watch so much. It's a device with no brain, so it can be wrong sometimes!" she told her cautiously, she was somewhat aware that if she insulted her watch in some way, she would get yelled at. Something odd to be upset about, a watch! Ha!
She followed Diane out the door, sure to close it behind her. Doors were meant to be closed, right?

"Diane, I'm not asking you to go out with him for heavens sake! I was just asking if he was cute! Since he's your cousin and you've seen him, then you know the answer! I guess it doesn't matter anymore though because he seems like a jerk, and according to you, I like girls!" she laughed.