Exploration

[Darren Turner]

Darren wandered idly throughout the grounds, his head bent slightly against the cold winter wind. He'd never been to Hogwarts before, as he hadn't attended it when he'd been student aged. But he was here now, he might as well have a look around.
He'd been wandering since he'd graduated his school, all over the globe. He'd never intended his travels to take him here, to this part of the world, so very far from home, but it had somehow slipped into the agenda. His cousins had died in this area, not this direct area but around this place.
He slid slightly, nearly slipping down a small dip in the grass on the mud and he resolved to pay more attention to where he was and what he was doing rather than to what was going through his head.
Despite his newfound resolution to stay alert, he was completely unprepared for when a thick and lethal looking branch thudded into the mud next to him, splattering his jeans.
"Holy-..." The phrase died in his throat and he glanced upwards to see the thrashing tree he'd neglected to notice before, swinging another branch round to knock him over and leapt forward a few feet to avoid it.
Shortly afterwards he decided moving forwards had been a bad idea as another bough slammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Wheezing, he ducked away from it, weaving between branches and throwing himself out of range.
He looked up at the tree from where he sat in the mud, a small incredulous laugh parting his wind bitten lips despite his difficulty to draw breath through the pain in his chest. No wonder his cousins met their end here if you only had to be exploring to be beaten up by a tree that apparently had issues.

[Arden Patricks]

Leaning against a tree nearby the whomping willow, I look up from my book when I notice a guy practically walk right into it, dodge a bit, and then sit laughing in the mud.
“Look at where you’re going very much?” I mutter to myself, then shrug and decide to be friendly.
“You okay?” I call over to him, straightening up and crossing my arms with my place in the book held with one finger.

((Sorry... I don’t like being Fitzy very much.))

[Darren Turner]

"Fine!" He called back, laughter immediately dying on his lips. He didn't like being caught out displaying emotion like that, and a scowl crept onto his face.

[Arden Patricks]

Okay then.... I think, shrinking back a bit as he scowls.
"Sure you're not being possessed by multiple personalities?" I mutter, leaning back against the tree again and opening my book a little uneasily, not sure I can concentrate anymore now there's somebody there and I'm aware of them.

[Darren Turner]

"Very sure, thank you," He replied curtly, "I didn't know you were there."
It irritated him when he didn't notice people, he felt like an idiot who'd let his guard down because he had and he did not like letting his guard down.

[Arden Patricks]

I glance up, a little startled, and tuck the book under my crossed arms again.
"Sorry," I say quickly. "I didn't think that you could hear me." I pause. "And pardon me for saying so, but you weren't exactly paying attention in general, where you?"

[Darren Turner]

"Maybe you should keep it in your head then, you know, for future reference," He responded indifferently.
He glanced up at her, arching a slender eyebrow, "No, not particularly."

[Arden Patricks]

"Not the best tree to not pay attention to, just for future reference," I nod. "I mean, in case you hadn't figured that out yet." I pause, glancing down at the ground. "And again, I'm sorry. Guess I haven't quite learned that lesson yet."

[Darren Turner]

"Yeah, surprisingly I've now worked out to stay away from the pyschotic tree, thank you very much Marilyn," He muttered, barely reisting the temptation to roll his eyes, "Don't apologise, no point, I won't kill you."

[Arden Patricks]

"How about torture?" I mutter, reminded just a little too strongly of Logan for my liking, and not the friendly version. "You're very sarcastic, aren't you? And who's Marilyn?"

[Darren Turner]

He looked at her, then rolled his eyes, unable to resist, "I don't torture either, thanks. Nice to know prejudice is alive and well."
"Yes, sarcasm is my friend. And Marilyn was a columnist...like an agony aunt...nevermind."

[Arden Patricks]

"I won't." I shake my head. "And sorry. I didn't mean that I thought you'd actually torture me. You just... remind me of a friend, that's all." I shrug. "You have a name, by the way?"

[Darren Turner]

"A friend who tortures you?" His eyebrows practically shot off his head, but he shook it slightly to clear it, "Yes I have a name, thanks for asking. Do you?"

[Arden Patricks]

I decide to ignore the first comment and can't help but smile at the second. "Yes, I do. First, middle, and last, in fact. Yourself?"

[Darren Turner]

"First, middle 1, middle 2 and last," He nodded, "Intimidated by my abudance of names?"

[Arden Patricks]

"Hm..." I say, pretending to think and trying not to smile much. "No, not unless one of them is Gertrude or something frightening like that." I shrug. "Can I ask what they are?"

[Darren Turner]

He dipped his head briefly to glance at the floor in a bid to hide his slight smile, "Nope, none of them is Gertrude. Darren Joseph Alexander Turner. Yours?"

[Arden Patricks]

"Arden Melinda Patricks," I say, tilting my head politely. "And I hate to tell you this, but your name is kind of clunky... doesn't roll of the tongue very well. Darren Joseph Turner would, but not the Alexander." I shake my head mock-sadly.

[Darren Turner]

"I might be offended but seeing as I didn't pick my name I needn't be, blame the parentals, they need mental help," He shrugged, "And your name, much shorter and easier to say."
He paused a minute before adding, "I'd also like to add that no one calls me by my full name, it's just there for decorative reasons."

[Arden Patricks]

"Don't they most," I mutter, rolling my eyes briefly at the mention of parentals, then nodding. "Ah, I see. So... first off, what is it decorating, and secondly, what do people call you?"

[Darren Turner]

"Oh yeah," He muttered with a nod, "I don't know what it's decorating, just what my cousins say about people with long names, there for decorative purposes. And people tend to call me Darren, it being my name and all."

[Arden Patricks]

I nod. "Yes, that would make a vague sort of sense. The decorative thing too... but anyway. Hello Darren. Nice to meet you."

[Darren Turner]

"Hello Arden, it's nice to meet you too," He replied.

[Arden Patricks]

"Even though that introduction took an excessively long time." I grin slightly. "So... what brings you here? You seem older than a student."

[Darren Turner]

"Excessively long? I've experience longer," he grinned weakly, at the same time coming to the realisation that it was slightly sad that he felt the need to guard information so closely, "I...uh...well, I suppose it's family business."

[Arden Patricks]

I nod, though frowning with slight puzlement. "All right then.... Wait. Turner? No, never mind." I shake my head. "Common enough name."

[Darren Turner]

"There was a couple around here. Matthew and Claire? And Christopher, not that I know him," He admitted.

[Arden Patricks]

I nod. "Yeah... that was... that was the name I heard, Matthew Turner. And I know Chris Hunt, who apparently used to be Turner. Guess it isn't just a coincidence then." I shrug.

[Darren Turner]

He nodded, "Right, good, I suppose."
He thought for a moment, then decided that now he was here and he did know his cousins had been here and were still here, he hadn't quite got the closure he would have liked.

[Arden Patricks]

"Yeah... good," I say, frowning puzzledly again. "Odd choice of word."