Anyone clever and normal wouldn't even think about diving in those dark, mouldy waters, not even knowing how deep the Lake actually was.

But, you see, if you were in the case of Valentina Pearl Greysoul, that would not be a problem.

Valentina, who has always had the passion of swimming, could not hold back her love for the water for long. Two or three months maximun, and baths and showers could not satisfy her temptetion to have a good dive in that beautiful lake, even if it would mean breaking fifty school rules at once and putting her life at risk.
Water was simply her ideal enviroment.

As you can immagine, if you are so desperate of swimming, walking anywere near the Lake or studing water plants would mean a real torture. For Valentina, it was like this case, if not worse.

Valentina had always been a clever student, quiet but quick minded, polite but cunning, good but intrested in the Dark Arts…

she couldn’t possibly turn toopsie turvie her reputation just like that! Just for a good swim in the Dark Lake! Was she crazy?

Still, the idea kept creaping in on her, from sitting in the Transfiguration classes to walking along the corridors. It was an obsession.

Finally, the idea came, just as she was mixing crushed snake fangs in the sirens’ siliva one morning in Potion class…



(((who could voluntier to help Valentina having one good swim in the lake?)))

OOC: I can

IC: Muchia was just sitting in potions class one day working on his potion. It was a fairly klarge assignment and it had taken over a week just to get to this stage. He realy didn't want to mess up. If he made just one tiny error all of his work leading up to this point would be for nothing.. He measure his bat wings cslices and remeasure them before dumping them in his cauldron. He stirred a few times and the solution turned a pale pink. Excellent he thought. Now he had a few moments to relaw while he waited as the instructions said to.

(((thank you, Muchia!))


Valentina was now fidling with her Salamandra’s Blood when her gaze searched the room for something intresting to see.

She stopped to look at the Hufflepuff boy next to her, while he stirred the mixture in his calderon.

His solution turned to a pale pink.

She was desperate to talk to someone, anyone…

They were only a few inches away, so it would be easy to hook up a conversation.

Valentina finished with her Madracora’s juice and put it aside, now looking at the boy. Muchia, he’s called! she thought.
“hiya!…” she started nervously, looking at his blue eys, hoping that he would continue the conversation.

*Muchia looked over to see who was talking to him. It was a Slythering Girl just a year or 2 younger then himself.*

Muchia: Hey there.

*there was a short awkward silence*

Muchia: soooo. Uhhh hows the potion comming?

Valentina grinned silently.

"mine's all right! how's your's?" she said with a cheerful smile.

she thought this conversation was going to end up with a funny conclusion. she waited for him to answer.

"erm... you did great the other day, you know, last wednesday! when you used that spell to make the orange smoke desapear!
what was the spell called?" she asked, very curious.
Defencieve spells were probably one of her favourtie subjects, so she was happy talking about it.

Muchia: Its going pretty good. At least I think it is. Its the right colour and everything.

Valentina: erm... you did great the other day, you know, last wednesday! when you used that spell to make the orange smoke desapear!
what was the spell called?

*Muchia grinned he always did like a compliment and it seemed that lots of people were quite impressed with his vanishing charm. He had always thought it to be a basic spell but now he supposed it must not be

Muchia: thanks. It's called a vanishing spell. Its not realy that tricky. I could show you how to do it sometime, if you want

Valentina watched Muchia grin.
"thanks. It's called a vanishing spell. Its not realy that tricky. I could show you how to do it sometime, if you want " the hufflepuff boy said.
Valentina's eyes widend.
"R-really? oh, yes please! i would love to see that spell!"
she gave a quick glance at the teacher, that was now looking at a ravenclaw boy.

"is it okay friday afternoon? lets meet near the lake, noone goes there anyway, so we can show each other spells, jinxes and charms without being disturbed!"

the thought of the lake made her anxious.
----------
FRIDAY AFTERNOON- 15:35

Valentina hurried over to the lake, near a shallow bank. There were some trees shadowing some parts on the grass- perfect for covering from the warm sun.

The water seemed a nice, welcoming blue and emerald green, and you could see some grey great,big, flat rocks underneath, looking like a perfect lake bed.

She sat by the side and put her index finger in the water. It was a lovely fresh temperature.

She waited for Muchia. She was now looking at the lake in the distance. It looked huge.

She let out a long and painful sigh.

*Muchia strode down to the lake not realy sure if he wanted to go at all. One the one hand he had some school work he should be doing if he wanted to surive for the rest of the year. but on the other hand he realy needed tyo realax and meeting with valentina could be a good way to do that. as he got closer he saw valentina sitting at the lakes edge looking off to the horizon.*

Muchia: hey there! hows it going?

Valentina looked up startled.
it was only Muchia.

"oh! h-hi Muchia! i didn't hear you coming!" she said with a smile.
"i was just looking at the lake... i wonder how deep it is..." she let out a long, drammatic sigh.
then she got her Defence Against the Dark Arts book.
she knew many other spells that the book didn't mention. her father always warner her not to use them...

" i was really wondering if you could teach me that spell..." she began, "i have quite a few ones i know that i could teach you..."
she paused, "innocent ones, you know, not dark ones..."

she realised that she was blabbering about nothing in particular, so she stopped.

"and i was wondering..." Valentina took a deep breath in, before continuing, "... do you know any spells which make you breath underwater?"

Valentina looked away. maybe it sounded stupid.

*Muchia wasn't sure what to think of valentina. She was obviously anxious about something or at least had something on her mind. He racked his brain for charms that would allow someone to breath underwater. He could only think of one but he wasn't excactly sure if it was what she was looing for. He never tried it before though and wasn't even sure how it was done."

Muchia: well the only thing that comes to mind is the bubblehead charm, but i've never tried it before. I'm not even sure how its done. If your looking to breathe underwater though i'd suggest you try gillyweed. it works well, but then again it's not to easy to get your hands on.

"well the only thing that comes to mind is the bubblehead charm, but i've never tried it before. I'm not even sure how its done." Muchia said.

Valenina looked back to face him, an expression of disapointness printed on her face.
but Muchia went on:
"If your looking to breathe underwater though i'd suggest you try gillyweed. it works well, but then again it's not to easy to get your hands on."

Valentina yelped and grabbed the boy by his shoulders, ignoring the fact that he was two years older and taller than her.

"A-are you sure? i mean... siriously?!" she gasped, shaking him slightly, "it's not a lie, right?" she was now smiling so boldly that her Defence Against the Dark Arts' practice had now desapeared.

she quickly let go of her grip on his shoulders, realising how odd it would look for poor Muchia to see her so happy... he would think her crazy!....

"Muchia..." she started calmly, brushing her fringe out of her face, "i need your help!... i... i want, no, i must have a swim in the lake!... you're probably thinking that i'm loony, but i have always swam, since i was three!" she turned back to face the lake.
"now i need it more than ever!...That's why i asked you that... i NEED a swim in the Lake!"

she turned back to face him.

"will you help me?"

*Valentina jumped up and grabbed onto Muchias shoulders with such force that Muchia was completely taken aback. then she practicaly screemed something about swimming in the lake. It tok him a while to recover but when he did he wasn't sure what to say. It was obvious that it was realy important for her but on the other hand it seemed like a sort of obsetion to her.*

Muchia: Ummm. S-sure I guess. What do you realy need me for though?

Valentina gave a long sigh of relief.

"thank you so much, Muchia!" she turned back to look at him, and crossed her arms, meaning she was in deep thoughts.

"where do they keep K- Keelyweed or what's it called?" she said at last, "surely they keep it in the school!" she thought aloud.

"have you got any ideas where it can be?" she asked quietly, but enought loud for Muchia to hear. "y- you can help me with finding the store..." she said, looking straight at him.

"and, " she continued, "would you be able to watch my back if i can have a swim in the Lake?"

maybe she was asking for too much.

"please," she added quickly, realising that it was rude not thanking for his listening.

*Muchia weighed the risks in his mind t see if he ought to do this for valentina. It was obvious that she had a burning desire to swim and Muchia realy wanted to heklp her out but he couldnt afford to get in any serious trouble again, or hed get sent packing. In the end his more mischievious side got the best of him and he began to get excited as he hadn't for a good while*

Muchia: it's called gillyweed and it would probably be kept in the postion masters store. It won't be easy to get at but I think if we can cause A distraction in potions class we ought to be able to get our hands on some. Unless of course you think its to risky.

*he said the last sentence with a hafl laugh as if daring Valentina to chicken out. He knew that she wouldn't, it was obvious she would do anything for a swim in the lake*

OOC: so in the potions lesson thread well get some gillyweed. Unless your chickening out B)

Valentina thought it through.
it was risky. far too risky.

was a swim in the lake worth Muchia and her expelled?

she gulped slowly. This was an improtant decision.

"Yes," She said at last, " it's worth it, trust me!".
she grinned.

"when shall we get started?" she asked, with his same daring tone.

((OCC: Meet you there! ;) ))