ashoka (thurisaz) wrote in requirementic, @ 2019-12-09 19:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, 1997 december, c: lisa turpin |
WHO: Lisa Turpin & Martin O'Brien
WHEN: December 2nd, shortly before curfew
WHERE: Near the Slytherin common room
WHAT: Martin finds his cat in a place that, unbeknownst to him, is the IS HQ. Lisa finds him there and they have a short conversation.
WARNINGS: None!
Martin had been searching for his cat as soon as he had gotten back to the 6th Year Slytherin dorm to find her gone. Cleocatra was known for going out and about, giving in to her natural instinct and hunting for mice, though she usually did stick to the Slytherin rooms. On the rare occasion she did get out somehow, he could find her nearby. She was important to him. Martin had the Burmese cat for as long as he could remember. She had been with him before he even knew about Hogwarts, before he even knew that what he could do was something he could fine-tune.
He had been looking for a while with the help of some others, but curfew was fast approaching and he was growing more and more nervous. After splitting up with his dormmate Mal so that they could cover more ground, he headed back toward the Slytherin common room only to spot Cleo near a painting of Umbridge. Thinking nothing of the painting itself, he slowly approached his cat.
Lisa was headed towards the IS headquarters when she noticed someone also headed that way. Lisa knew that he wasn’t in the IS, but she wouldn’t put it past the Carrows to recruit some more folks so she didn’t want to think immediately the person was up to no good. Lisa slowed her steps watching for a moment before speaking up. “What you up to?” After all, it was getting close to curfew.
He had been so absorbed in trying to grab Cleo before she decided she wanted to scamper off again that he didn’t notice someone coming closer until she spoke. Martin turned around, making eye contact with a girl he was pretty sure was a year above him. “Hey. I’m trying to catch my cat.” He gestured toward the big-eyed feline in question. “I was looking everywhere for her, turns out she wasn’t far. Or maybe she was and she came back.” Martin shrugged.
“Ah,” Lisa said looking towards the cat. “Devious little things aren’t they.” She said rather flatly just pleased he wasn’t trying to do anything with the Umbridge portrait or the headquarters. She looked to the feline and wondered if she would take to being picked up by her owner.
“Especially this one.” Martin assumed she was full and he had found her back by the Slytherin common room because she was done. He slowly approached her without calling her name. Cleo didn’t respond to anything like that. No amount of sweet talk or begging worked with her. When he got close enough, he dove for her, wrapping his hands around her middle and scooping her up into his arms. “Gotcha!” He beamed, pleased, as he turned back to the other student. “She had me on a wild goose chase,” he explained. “I’m Martin, by the way.”
“Has she now?” Lisa smiled a little as she said this. “I’m Lisa,” she returned the favour of the introduction. “Well, I’m glad she has got back home, so to speak.” Lisa assumed the cat probably would have returned of her own accord had the boy let her but at least he had her back now.
“Usually she comes back well before curfew. Or doesn’t leave Slytherin rooms at all, really.” He shrugged. “Cats.” It was as if that word explained everything. Cats had a mind of their own. “Nice to meet you, Lisa,” he said politely. “I’m glad too, I was getting worried that she’d be locked out.” Or worse, that he would get in trouble for his animal being loose in the castle, but he left that unsaid.
“It is probably for the best she was found,” Lisa said with a bit of a nod. She didn’t know what the IS would think of it, or the Carrows really. Lisa looked Martin carefully. “I hope you she doesn’t sneak away again. I have always wondered the protocol of animals in the castle and how much free reign they are allowed.”
Martin wanted to make a quip about how not much was allowed anymore without punishment. Word was out about how even looking at something too long could land you in detention. “I’ll keep a closer eye on her,” he reassured Lisa. “This is the first time I haven’t been able to find her and I’ve been bringing her for 6 years.” He patted Cleo on the head. “Eh, girl? Getting a little too adventurous.”
Lisa was pleased to hear this wasn’t a regular occurrence. She was sure someone would find issue with a cat roaming free. Lisa shrugged, “Maybe a little bored or she has some cat boyfriend?” She was amused by her own statement but the deadpan flat delivery of it sounded like she was serious about the statement.
Highly amused by her question, Martin couldn’t help but laugh. He kept it as quiet as he could manage, the smile that resulted from it lingering on his face afterward. “Can you imagine? I wouldn’t put it past her. Going to visit your cat boyfriend, Cleo?” He let out another short laugh. Martin was easy-going and friendly with everyone regardless of house unless a situation called for something else.
“It does have a funny mental image,” she chuckled just a little after she had said this as she thought about it. “Well Martin, I’m glad you managed to find her and just in time honestly with curfew near.”
“It’s hilarious and she’s so sassy, I could totally see her sneaking around with a tomcat somewhere.” Martin was sure he wasn’t the only one with a cat on the grounds. “Yeah, me too. Thanks. It was nice to meet you, Lisa.” He smiled, giving a little awkward wave goodbye because his arms were full of cat. “I’m just right here so I don’t have far to go.” He started toward the Slytherin common room. “Have a nice night.”
“It was nice to meet you too, Martin.” She smiled at him a little and returned the awkward wave. “Oh good. Well, I should probably head back to Ravenclaw. Have a good night and hopefully she doesn’t get out again.”