Too hot

Despite the fact that it was summer, people in Hogsmeade refused to leave the premises of the houses. First and foremost it was because the temperature was high, too high for many. Amber had learned through the Daily Prophet that some witches and wizards had been hospitalized due to that. Luckily for her, though, she tolerated heat enough, but not enough to spend hours under the burning sun and enjoying the soft, yet dangerous rays of it.
With her water supplies already gone, Amber had to find a place where she would be able to rest for a little bit before continuing the small “shopping spree” in Hogsmead. Her destination was the Three Broomsticks and although the place was quite quiet, the Ravenclaw student was surprised when she entered: the room was full of customers who were too relieved to have at least cold breeze here. The waitress ran around from one table to another, not even noticing a newcomer.

Regardless of the place being so full of people, Amber looked around in hopes of finding herself a place to sit. Finally, she spotted one little table in the very corner of the room, the darkest spot of them all. Quickly she placed her order for a cool butterbeer before rushing there to reserve it only for herself.

Once there she also realized that the waitress had no time to clean everything up there. The one who had a meal behind the table left a total mess, but that did not bother Amber as much as the sweat lingering in the air, and the heat. Cleaning the table, she finally sat, expressing her satisfaction with a quiet sigh. Finally a place to sit and cool down before continuing her journey.

Although Brice knew that the Three Broomsticks would be probably full, looking through the window, he came in, too thirsty and to think about somewhere else. He entered, feeling the switch between the burning hot sun and the somewhat cool (Although not much, since the heat was pretty much everywhere), cozy air from the restaurant.

He quickly scouted around for a place to sit upon listening to someone entering. He saw a seat on the corner of the room, where a girl from about his age was sitting. Realizing that it was the only place that was open and that it could be a chance to make a new friend, he quickly walked to the seat, brushed it off neatly from the dust, and sat down. He looked to the girl and complimented her with a warm smile and a simple "Hi." He then called over the waitress, and kept waiting for the answer from the girl and the coming of the waitress.

She did not expect anyone to sit next to her, especially considering the fact that Amber was mostly avoided by people. She occasionally wondered why. Was she too ugly? Too skinny for their taste? But she shrugged those questions off. Those things did not bother her enough to concern her to the bone.
She sipped her butterbeer peacefully, really enjoying the taste and its smell. From what she knew, Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks was literally the best she could get. No other place would offer such liquid deliciousness as they did.

Her eyes wandered lazily from one guest to another, observing them not longer than a few seconds. Yes, it appeared that they all came here as a last resort. What a lucky day, they all had refreshments on their tables. And like that, looking around, she did not notice how a young man approached her table and sat on the other side of it without even asking for permission whatsoever.

Frowning slightly, Amber turned her head to look at the boy. Obviously he was new around. She had not seen him before which already meant something. “Hi,” she responded quietly, pulling away a bit from the table.

Once the waitress came around, he ordered a butterbeer and then looked back at the girl there, and upon seeing her pull away from the table, he wondered how long it had been since he trained his charisma. He should of had at least trained a bit before.

It was no time to think though, so he thought what would make someone uncomfortable. Then he thought "Of course! I just came in and sat here out of nowhere! No one does that." Awkwardly, he tried his best to seem chivalrous, and said "Sorry about sitting here like this, it's just that It's too hot out there, you know? And, well, I couldn't help but see this was the only one that had no one, and I saw you, so I thought that, maybe, I could make friends with someone while here. You see, I'm new here, just joined Hogwarts."

He kept hoping that she wouldn't ask where he studied, because he didn't want to lie already, and also hoped that having explained would make her less suspicious of a random stranger coming by.

Tilting her head, Amber looked at the young man who suddenly seemed so conscious of what he did. Somehow it amused her and she smiled gently. Sitting like this to her table was a bit odd, she had to admit that, especially without any warnings or even a greeting.

His explaining was vivid, it seemed to Amber that the heat had taken its tolls on the poor boy and she could not be angry or upset with anyone today. She herself had to concentrate on her thoughts to think clearly and communicate with people so that they would actually understand her.

Sipping her butterbeer, she studied the young man carefully. He did not seem to be from anywhere near. It was her “talent” of reading people and telling whether or not they belonged. However, when he admitted that he was a new one, Amber nodded. That settled it.
“Why did you move to England if you don't mind me asking? And I am Amber by the way. Amber Lockwood,” she introduced herself as she reached out her hand, ready to shake his.

He took a quick sip before Amber finished talking, and then looked at her, before replying "I'm Brice. Brice Volkov." and shaking her hand. He then answered the second question with a small sigh. "Pretty much easy to know I'm not from here, yeah? Mainly because I'm starting at fifth year, I suppose. Well, I used to live in Bulgaria, until my father decided to move my sister and I to finish our education here, because of our exceptional skills at.. many things..." He said that as if in trying not to say which and then continued "And well, I'm here. I was sorted into Slytherin, and... well, England actually is way more fun than Bulgaria, to be honest. I like it here. There's lots of nice people, like you." Then he quickly added, "Or at least it seems like you are!" shrugging with a smile.

“They way you speak gives it away,” Amber surrendered. His accent was different, but not far different from what she had heard. In fact she had encountered in at Hogwarts so many times she was not even surprised by another Bulgarian in England. Did they not like Durmstang anymore? What was going on with people moving all to London and sending their children to Hogwarts? Not that she had anything against it, school was more than capable of competing against the others now, but it certainly gave her a thought. Perhaps the teachers were not so good or the society was not as great as all thought of it. After all, it was always better when you were not there.

It appeared that the boy did not wish to speak about his personal skills, especially those that actually brought him there, and Amber did not question him of them just yet. They had just met and it was only impolite to do so.
She smiled when he compared nice people to her. Although she did not consider herself nice in any way, it was a compliment regardless. “Thank you.”

She then proceeded on drinking her butterbeer before returning to the previous topic. “But the weather here is not like in Bulgaria I assume? There its more... Stable?”

That was random. Brice never really cared for the weather, usually because it was pretty hard for him to ever get a cold on the fancy clothes his parents always bought. He drank a bit more of his butterbeer before replying to her:

"Well, yes. It usually was, hardly going anywhere other than between 10º and 30º Celsius. I didn't really care anyway. Whatever the weather, anything was good for Quidditch. Except rain. I didn't play it in the rain because... well.. I don't know. I just didn't. - He'd stop to take a quick sip - Uh, how's it like in Hogwarts? I heard they have Defense Against Dark Arts, and potions with an actual good professor. And in case you're wondering... well, I did learn Dark Arts there. I'm not ever doing any of it though" he quickly added.

It was indeed a lie, at least if things went according to his plans. He was a very skilled liar though, and did not show any of his arrogant and what some would consider evil emotions. The Ravenclaw did not suspect about anything, which got him extra confidence about forging a friendship with her.

Amber tilted her head. Imagining a weather with 30 degrees over Celsius was hard, especially since had never experienced such things on her own skin but it was, most likely, quite disturbing and frustrating for those who did not tolerate heat much.
Here, in England, they experienced varieties of weather every day. And that several times a day. One moment it could be rainy and minutes later it could be sunny, nice and warm. Carrying an umbrella with her was a habit.

When he mentioned Quidditch, Amber tilted her head to the other side and she observed the young man. He did not resemble someone who would dedicate his life to that sport, but then again, he was from Bulgaria and like most British witches and wizards – he was fond of it as well. The Ravenclaw student smiled gently. It was nice when someone had a passion towards something. She for example was very interested in healing and also defenses against the dark arts. She was not the top of her class, of course, but the subject was not only interesting, but it changed so much and taught a lot to a girl who wanted to become an auror.

“Oh yes, we have excellent professors here! I am certain you will soon agree with me! By the by, I wanted to ask you about the Dark Arts. If you don't mind it of course. Was it hard studying them? I am more interested in the whole educational system you had in Durmstang. I also assume that the Dark Arts are a very interesting and also dangerous subject, do you have any opinions on it? And yes, also how do you think it would benefit the society... By that I mean not only that knowing the curses and spells can help to develop different things, but otherwise? If you understand what I mean, of course. You don't need to answer these questions, just consider them something a curious girl might ask from a foreigner.”

Brice sighed and drank more of his butterbeer, staring at the table for some seconds before raising his head and looking at her with an penetrating look, trying to see if she was just curious, or something else. After a couple seconds of that awkward staring, he finally said:

"Well, I'll say it. Dark Arts is a weapon, not something everyone should have and use in free will. Everything related to it, they're weapons, and that includes curses, poisons, herbology, and basically every other thing you have here. I suggest you stick to the things you're taught here, but if you really must know, you should use the Dark Arts to protect yourself, and your valuable others. There isn't much to say, you have weapons, and if you use them the wrong way, you're done. Oh, and before you ask, I do know the curses. They're not something that you should play with, in any means. They were not made for good things, and I can't think of any good way to use a torturing method, or a killing curse, or even something that makes someone get completely controlled by you. Poisons are a less delicate topic though, since it mainly involves poisoning people, but can also be used to get rid of pests, defend a secret, and much more. And of course, I think everyone has the topic of herbology with carnivore plants. I just hope we have more here, since most Dark Arts classes were the same things... and they are not nice. Mark my words."

Upon finishing, he took another sip of his butterbeer and looked inside her eyes with the penetrating look again, which made most people instantly turn away from him. He was sure she was a Ravenclaw, the only ones that would want to know that other than Slytherins. He kept staring, and internally let out a grim smile to her resistance to turning her face away.