Strange Love

Noxias arrived on Platform 9¾ alone like he did every year. This would be his last year here, and part of him was excited about that and another, terrified. Hogwarts acted as a kind of safety net for the boy, but he was ready to leave it behind, if he could.

With an old, rusty, battered trunk in one hand, he got onto the train. He always sat near the back because most people liked to sit in the front where the trolley lady came first and you were always sure to get dibs on whatever you wanted. Noxias found himself a quiet, empty compartment and slid the door open. Stepping into it, he put his trunk up above him on the rack and then sat down, promptly closing the door again.

Getting to Hogwarts on the train was always a bit of a trying time for Noxias. If someone wanted to sit with him he generally didn't turn them down. He was a bit too polite for that. Instead he had to spend his time awkwardly not answering questions until whatever unfortunate person that decided to sit with him got the hint that he didn't want to be disturbed. A lot of the people in his own year or his house knew that about him already, but there were many others in other houses or other years that didn't.

Noxias glanced out the slightly dirty window towards the families on the platform below. Sighing softly, he ran a hand through his black hair, slicking it back, and then pulling a book out robes he was already wearing. He often wore his robes even when he didn't have to. His clothes were shabby at best, but his Hogwarts robes were nice and well taken care of. Opening the book in his hands, he began reading about palm reading. A lot of people chalked it up to Muggles trying to get in on some magic, but there was an actual skill to it that Noxias found fascinating.

Blocking out the sound of the train and the people saying goodbye outside, hew as content to become lost in his book all the way to Hogwarts, providing no one tried to sit with him.

Noxias glanced up towards the door as it opened. A pretty girl with blonde hair came in. The exact opposite of himself, with her light colors. Noxias had black hair and black robes on, but even under his robes he was wearing a dark grey sweater and dark jeans. Even his eyes were a dark brown in color, and they promptly glanced away from her and towards his book again. He recognized her. Most people going to Hogwarts would, probably. It took him a moment to remember her name though. Something with an I. About two sentences down his book he remembered. Indie, he was pretty sure. The shining star of Gryffindor. That much was one hundred percent sure of.

"Afternoon." He greeted after she settled in. He glanced out the window at the scenery zooming by them, back to the girl, and then down to his book again. As far as he was concerned, saying hello and then not saying anything else would be the best course of action here. He had no idea why she was sitting back here with him when she probably had a million friends towards the front of the train, but he didn't ask. He only went back to reading, pulling his legs up onto the seat with him so he could rest his book against his thighs.

Noxias was a slight boy with more of a runner's body than muscled or average. Slim but of average height. The shoes on his feet were nearly as worn out as the trunk above his head, and black like most of the rest of his things. He rubbed at his cheek a little and remained silent, not wanting to say much else.

The way she greeted him made Noxias think that maybe he would get lucky and she would not talk to him. He simply kept reading his book, flipping to the next page where there was an intricate diagram of a hand and various points of reference for him to look at. He did not notice Indie's discomfort, but even if he had he wouldn't have done anything differently. What with her popularity, maybe he should be the one feeling discomfort but he honestly didn't. He was just fine.

His hopes of having a quiet ride to Hogwarts shattered when she asked about his cloak. It was likely that if she asked this question, she would ask more. He gave Indie a glance above the top of his book for only a few seconds and then looked back down at it again. "We'll have to put them on before we get to school anyway." He pointed out, not looking up t her when he spoke. He found not looking at people when he only sort of answered their questions back often let them know subtly that he wasn't interested in talking. He had years of experience to figure out what things worked and what didn't. Asking people to be quiet often just led to more questions of whys and what was wrongs. His method of avoidance was generally worked a lot better.

Noxias' lips came together a little tighter just slightly. There were always the difficult questions to avoid, and this was one of them. Noxias was not stupid. He knew if he said yes she'd be asking him for a reading. He saw it all the time with artists. A person has their sketchbook out and its always 'You can draw? Can you draw me?' from every person who happened to be next to them. Saying no would obviously be a lie in this case though, since he was half way through the book in his lap.

Finally his quick brain devised an acceptable answer that was still basically avoiding really answering. "I'm still learning." It explained why he was reading the book without really saying yes to her question. It might not be enough to stop her from asking him to read her hand, but it was a way better defense than just saying yes.

What he had said hadn't been a lie. He WAS still learning, but at the same time he wasn't still learning so much that he couldn't have read her hand. He nodded once when she replied, showing he had heard but not responding in any other way. He flipped the page of his book to keep reading then, pleasantly surprised when they lapsed into silence. The ride to Hogwarts was a long one though, and just as the sun was setting on the horizon Noxias looked up at Indie and from the book he had almost finished reading. "What are you doing back here?" He asked her. He almost cursed himself for saying anything. Honestly, curiosity was Noxias' one downfall, and he could never figure out how to satiate his curiosity without just asking the question he was curious about. But really, what was she doing back here? Looking down at his book again, he wished that he'd waited to ask his question until he was finished with the book though. It had just been burning at him ever since he realized who she was, and he could hardly concentrate on his palm reading by now.

Noxias didn't fail to notice how the static in her hair made a few strands hug the window. He glanced at that and then back at her. He supposed that made sense. Having as many friends as she did, it was likely she wouldn't get much quiet time during the school year. It was still a little weird though. He found that her smile was pleasant though, and he thought he could stand to see more of it. Too bad that after the train ride he'd likely not see her again. Or if he did, she wouldn't see him. Noxias stayed in the shadows everywhere he could except for potions, which he enjoyed too much to let someone else take the spotlight. "I guess I'd just expect you to like all that noise..." He did not say it as if it was a bad thing. In fact, he wasn't sure why he'd said it at all. What was he doing, talking to someone else? He really should just let her alone, and after a moment's hesitation his eyes plunged back down to the book he was reading. She shouldn't get caught up in him.

Noxias wasn't sure why what he had said was so funny, but he couldn't help the small smile that came to his face as she laughed. Despite trying his best to stay away from people, Noxias was by no means a stick in the mud. He was just... very selective. And very hard on himself, too. And those two things put together often meant he seemed more grumpy than he was. He glanced back up at her again as he thought about her question. Why? He'd not thought about that before he said it, and he took a moment to respond. "I suppose because you're always surrounded by people... and if you didn't like noise, you wouldn't be." He decided.

If she took the time to analyze people by their eyes, than she could probably tell from Noxias' dark brown ones that he actually liked and wanted company, despite pushing people away. And beyond that, thinly veiled behind his quiet nature was a secret. A secret that hurt. A secret that made sure he did not attach himself to other people. But he didn't know thats why she was looking at him like that. He just looked back at her, waiting to hear what she might say about his answer.

He nodded at her answer. That was true. There was no excuse to leave the conversation, which was also why Noxias did not find train rides pleasant unless he was alone. But... he didn't mind this particular conversation. Or maybe it was just Indie that he didn't mind. It was kind of radical, to think that he didn't mind talking with someone so popular. He supposed it was because this conversation was not meaningless. Noxias couldn't quite stand meaningless conversation, especially when he was trying to push people away. He did not, for now, try to push Indie away.

When she mentioned his book he looked down at it as if he had to check if he did or not. Looking up at her again, he shook his head. "Almost." It was a little hard to hear Indie over the loudness of the train when she spoke so softly. But then, he wasn't exactly a loud talker either.

Noxias gave only a passing glance at the guy who opened the door to their cabin, looking down at his book afterwards but not really reading what was on the page. It was just a cover until that guy left. He looked up again only when Indie started to leave. He instinctively gave her a small wave back and then looked down at his book once more after she closed the door again. He sighed and then leaned forward to press his face into the pages of the book, inhaling deeply and sighing again. What was he doing? He needed to stay away from her. And listening to the guy Indie called 'Nick', he now had more reason to stay away from her than ever.

Hanging out with someone as popular as Indie would only invite more people to bother him. Especially if there was a jealous boyfriend involved. Still, he had found that he actually enjoyed Indie's company for however long it lasted. She hadn't pushed him to talk to her at all, which was already a good sign. People who had to fill the silence were not people Noxias was interested in, but he and Indie had sat together in the quiet for most of the ride. Quickly, he made himself stop thinking about that AND about Indie. She'd only bring trouble. Or rather, find trouble. Instead, he finished his book right as the train was pulling into the station.

Getting up, Noxias left his trunk on board like most of the students did. They were always magicked into their rooms anyway. Pulling open the cabin door, Noxias tucked his book into his robes again and then started to head off the train. There was a crowd of people all heading towards the carriages that would take them to school. He saw the tiny first years already being rounded up to be taken by boat, but Noxias made his way with the rest of the older students towards the carriages.

Many people didn't realize that the carriages did not pull themselves. He supposed that was a good thing. The thestrals that pulled the carriages could only be seen by those who had seen death, and they were a stark reminder to Noxias. He didn't look at their skeletal features. He didn't look at them at all, climbing into one of the carriages instead.


The opening feast at the Great Hall was similar to how it always was. First years were sorted into houses, there was a ridiculous amount of food, and then a ridiculous amount of dessert. This was one of Noxias' favorite things about Hogwarts, despite all of the hub bub. Food, and as much as he could want, was something he always enjoyed.

Once the feast was over everyone was sent back to their houses and then rooms. Noxias put his clothes and everything else he had away before sleeping. He did not see Indie for more than a few seconds in the hallways the next day, and by the day after that he'd promptly stopped looking for her. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately depending on how one was to look at it, they would be brought together again during class.

He and Indie had several classes together, but he kept away from her and everyone else, sitting at the back of the class like he always did and not bothering to answer questions or talk much. It was the second Defense Against The Dark Arts class where he could no longer ignore Indie, and that was because the teacher had put them into pairs, and he had gotten paired with Indie via the teacher's chart.

Noxias was not so sure what to say as he crossed the room to stand with Indie, the teacher explaining what spells they were supposed to be practicing. Noxias was only half paying attention, until finally the teacher stopped talking so that the pairs could practice. It was a defensive charm, and one person was supposed to use an attacking spell of their choice for the other to ward off - but of course they weren't supposed to be using a spell that could actually hurt them. They were, however, allowed to practice the defensive spell a few times first. Noxias finally turned to face Indie, giving her what might be more of a grimace than a smile. "Hi again."

Noxias nodded in confirmation about his name, but when she told him it made him seem sinister and dangerous he looked almost physically ill. He looked away from her, one hand coming up to clasp his elbow. He looked at their books, not saying anything about that. He knew she was teasing but he didn't like it anyway. In fact, he hated it. Teasing was fine, but not that. Of course, she couldn't know. She couldn't possibly know, could she? He eyed her without taking his face away from the book, paranoia settling into his system. Maybe it was a warning, that she knew something about him. He had to stay cool.

Taking a deep breath, he was quiet as Indie went on to talk about meeting him again. He was a little surprised about that, and tried to just act normal. "You.... you did?" he asked. Stuttering now. Nice. Super natural. He silently berated himself and then sighed. "Why were you wondering that?" he asked. That was a little better at least.