¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Clair was old enough to know that the Forbidden Forest wasn't some trick of reverse psychology, or just some whimsical name that had no meaning.  It was actually, truly forbidden and for lots of good reasons too. 

That suited him down to the ground, because other people didn't hang out in places that were forbidden, or they weren't supposed to.  There would probably be some idiot first years along any moment, determined to prove how hardcore they were, and Clair would just stay out their way.

Let them get eaten by acromantulas or caught out of bounds.  He didn't care.  His own best friend was in the flask he'd brought along.

Charlotte was determined to find a new place where she can enjoy in loneliness.
It was really hard because castle seems to be alive more than ever, with annoying students who are running around and make all that noise.
This Charlotte wanted to know is: Are they aware that someone can hear them even if they're not yelling? It's so simple but still, when you are at castle's corridors, it was hard to hear your own thoughts.

That is why Charlotte was making her way to the Forbidden Forest carrying geography's book. This place is mostly without people except for few silly first-year students who are stupid enough to think they actually can deal with those creatures that live in this forest.
It was so naive and pathetic, but in the end, they all find their way back to the castle and later tell stories like if they are bloody heroes, leaving out the part where they were crying and asking all Gods to save them.

But today, her favorite spot was taken. And it was famous Ravenclaw boy who can make someone angry with just looking at him. Or at least she heard that.
"This forest is huge, why you need to sit on my favorite spot?" she frowned looking at Clair wishing she can just make him leave. But that would probably bring her punishment. Her teachers don't think it's quite funny to use magic on other students.

Contrary to popular opinion, Clair actually liked other people. Oh, he didn't like their opinions, and most other people were morons, but he liked having them around to disagree with. So when Charlotte turned up, whining about him taking her favourite spot, he was happy to see her.

He took a swig from his flask and shrugged. How was he supposed to know some rando log in the forest was reserved seating?

"I didn't see your name on it," he said.

Now that he had a moment to look, or a moment to take notice, rather, Clair decided that Waldorf had a pleasing face. Or could have one, if she wasn't pursing her lips like she'd been sucking on lemons. It was an expression she often wore, like everything she saw disgusted her.

Lots of things Clair saw disgusted him, but he made it a rule to laugh at those things because frankly, if you were going to make people angry, you kind of needed to be beautiful.

"What's with the book?" he asked.

She looked at him and frowned even more. Why he just can't be nice and polite and leave? I mean, she obviously told him he is not wanted here.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I will make sure to put my name on this spot once you leave" she shrugged and came closer to him.

"If you are not going to leave, then you can at least make some place for me there and be nice to let me study?" she gave him her best fake smile, the one she learned years ago to make people think she doesn't want to see them dying. She realized people are nicer if you give them an illusion that you like them as well.

"This?" she raised her book and then looked at him again before sitting on the ground.
"It's geography book. Muggles study this at the school, so it means I need to learn that as well," she said that as much logical thing ever because for her it was, it's so natural to try to keep step with her friends.

Merlin. She was so condescending. No wonder she had no friends.

"Yeah," Clair said. "I can see it's a geography book. It says so on the cover."

"I meant, why are you bringing it out here when there's a perfectly good common room upstairs? The muggleborns have a study group for GCSEs, you know."

Yeah, Clair knew what GCSEs were. When he'd found out about that club, he'd forced the muggleborns to explain the whole concept to him. It made perfect sense, if you were a muggle. It even made perfect sense for a certain type of Ravenclaw. It had also opened his eyes and imagination to some obvious flaws in muggle/magical relations.

She frowned once again before opening her book.
"And I'm sure there is the perfect place somewhere else for you to sit and do... whatever you are doing at the moment, and still, you are here. So I guess we both make some stupid decisions" she gave him another smile but this time the real one. It just makes her smiling when she has a chance to say something which would explain her annoyance.

"I like to be alone." Charlotte decided to explain. Don't ask why because she doesn't know. It's just the thought as soon as she explains to him, sooner she will be alone here. Well, if he is polite enough.
"In the common room people are always talking and stuff like that and I need completely silence to learn all of this. It's like double homework sometimes but I need to know everything that muggles are learning at their school" she shrugged.

"What are you doing here anyway?" he seemed to just be sitting here. He could do that at the practically every place at Hogwarts, he doesn't need to came at the Forbidden Forrest.

"Drinking and bitching," Clair supplied.

"I mean, I was just drinking, but then you came along."

He'd been waiting for this moment. He'd known it would happen ever since she arrived, because getting drunk was more fun with company. Especially if it was company who'd never been drunk before, and Clair was pretty sure Charlotte was that kind of company.

"You want some?"

He wiped his sleeve across the mouth of flask and offered it to her, while he fumbled his wand from his pocket with the other hand, in order to levitate that book.

"Don't be so daft," he said. "You don't need to know this. Muggles only need to know this because they don't have magic."

"You are so charming. And I'm so sorry because I ruined your plans" she said and smiled sarcastically thinking at the same time how easier would be if she just left him here alone. But now that's not an option, she won't change her mind and give him the pleasure to think that he is a reason why she is leaving.

When he offered her flask with whatever is in there, she looked him like at a total idiot. Which he probably is. She has nothing against drinking. She like alcohol. But she doesn't like getting drunk because everything in the life needs to be balanced. And she definitely doesn't want to get drunk for the first time during the school.

"Unfortunately, I must say no. Getting drunk at the school wouldn't look good on my resume. But thank you for offering me" she smiled politely and was just about to start reading when the book just left her hands.
Literally, once second she was holding the book and in the next, the book was levitating through the air.
"Hey, give it back to me" she frowned and tried to reach the book.
"I need to learn that, I won't be here forever, you know? I can't go to the college if I don't know basic things" she looked at him angrily waiting for him to stop act so stupidly.

"You didn't ruin my plans," Clair replied with a shrug.

In fact, she'd enlivened an otherwise boring afternoon. Especially with this talk of geography and... college? What?

Clair stood and climbed onto the log, wavering with his flask still in one hand and wand in the other. He wasn't tipsy yet, the log was just slippery, that's all. He flicked his wand to levitate the book higher.

"C'mon, Lottie, you know you don't need this stuff," he repeated.

He'd have rolled his eyes, but he wanted to see her reaction. It was bound to be furious.

"Go practice your confunding charms, learn to brew some befuddlement draughts and any university in the country will have you."

Didn't she? Charlotte just rolled her eyes and shrugged. Well, he definitely ruined her plans for today.
But, if they can just cooperate and not bother each other, they should be good.

"My. Name. Is. Charlotte." She said each word with the break, she wasn't upset, she was furious. Redness overspreads her cheeks and to everyone who knows her well, it would be clear she is so mad she could kill someone.
"Only my friends can give me nicknames. To people here, I am Charlotte. Is that clear?" she looked at him icily before continuing.
"And what the hell are you doing? Give my book back. Now!" Then she made the really big mistake. She hit the ground with her foot and give him classical Charlotte's pout.
So, yeah, once again she succeeded to look like the childish spoiled brat.

"I don't want to practice magic! I just want to get my book back so I can study!" she wasn't sure how, but she grabs his flask.
"okay, give my book back and I will give this to you. Or I will drop all to the floor or drink it, in every case you won't have anything to drink." She smiled and looked at him again.