Lost and Found [Tristan]

[krisy1]

Just into his first few days at the school and already Dorian was getting lost around the vast school. He already had found himself locked in one abandoned classroom for a couple of hours before an passing professor had been kind enough to let him out. All of the unlocking spells he knew of had no affect on the door and he was more than grateful as well as embarrassed to having needed rescuing.

It was small incidents that made him question his abilities in the forthcoming tournament. He knew very well that his father was expecting him to put his name in the Goblet of Fire, but already he was feeling a tad apprehensive.

As of right now he couldn’t let his mind wonder on such things. Dorian needed to make sure that he didn’t get lost on the moving staircases, or put his foot through one of the vanishing steps that seemed to be carelessly placed. Soon he found himself on what he guess was the third floor. He couldn’t help but think it would be better if they labeled the corridors. It was a wonder any student (first years especially) found their way about the castle.

Over the past few days he heard many of his fellow classmates trying to compare the two schools. In his mind it was impossible. Hogwarts had more of a masculine quality that he was growing quite attached to. Beauxbaton however was a tad feminine for his taste.

Many corridors, like the one he was in now were lined with suites of armor. Once or twice he swore he saw one move. As he passed them now he kept an eye on the portraits that adorned the walls, but stopped as he passed an open door. He peeked inside noticing dozens of glass cases that held hundreds of trophies and plaques. He took a few steps into the room, and casted a spell to hold the door ajar. Crossing the room he read the gilded names for various things. Some were for honoree services to the school, many seemed to be from Hogwarts Quidditch Cup champions, others were for dueling club, and the Gobstones Committee.

[tristan]

After entering his name in the Goblet of Fire, Tristan felt like taking a look at what he could possibly win if his name was chosen. He couldn't remember ever being to the Trophy room before because he had never really had any interest to go there, but now there was a reason. To him the tournament was something he could use in order to test his skills before he graduated and bring honor to what he cared about such as his house, school, and family name. The prize had no sway on him. He wasn't even sure what he would do with the gold yet (assuming if he won) or the trophy and winning wasn't even a priority of his. However, some people thought it was.

They believed that just because Tristan Bright wanted to be an Auror meant that he was interested in fame, glory, and riches. He wasn't. He wanted to make a difference in the world after graduation. He could have done a thousand different things, really, but sitting idle didn't really appeal to him. The Triwizard Tournament might be able to tell him if he was ready or not; it could test him in a way that the regular school setting of Hogwarts would never be able to. He had been nervous at first, but now he only felt excited and confident. He was ready.

It didn't hurt to see what could be...

Tristan walked around the third floor for a few minutes as he tried to remember where the Trophy room was. He knew he was on the right track when he reached the suits of armor, which caused him to smirk somewhat. A spring entered his stride as soon as he caught sight of a slightly ajar door. He had a feeling that this was the place. The sight of glass cabinets and cases was enough to reassure him even further and he stepped inside, not even noticing the other boy until he did so.

"Oh, hello there." Tristan greeted pleasantly enough while he fully entered the room proper. "Hey... Are you one of those students from Beauxbatons or Durmstrang? I've never seen you around here before is why I'm asking... My name's Tristan. Tristan Bright."

[krisy1]

For several minutes Dorian admired the gleaming trophies. He was unaware of the approaching footsteps as someone entered the room. It was only when he heard a voice that woke him from his thoughts. He turned on his heels to face the voice in questions.

While Hogwarts was a well known prestigious school, its occupants were generally quite plain. A far cry different from what he was use too. During his first week he noticed many students with their shirts un-tucked and their ties hung carelessly around their necks. Some didn’t even seem to take the time to tie theirs and just draped it around their neck. He couldn’t understand why the school was so lenient with their dress code. Dorian was sure if he did any such thing at Beauxbatons Academy he would be given lines or detention for being so untidy. This boy seemed to fit what he was now calling the ‘typical’ Hogwarts students. Perhaps he didn’t fit the ‘plain’ category that he had placed so many others in.

Dorian wasn’t quite sure what to make of the boy’s boldness. Dorian would never be the one to initiate a conversation with someone he had never met before. When it came to such matters Dorian felt very out of practice. As a child he and his parents had traveled often and met knew people frequently. Even from a young age Dorian didn’t like to meet others, and was generally the one who stood awkwardly behind his parents while they chatted with new people. Now however he didn’t have his father to hide behind.

Gulping, Dorian straightened up; taking a few stiff steps closer to the other boy. He held his hand out, “”ello. I am Dorian LaVign. I am from Beauxbatons Academy.” He said rather unusually. It was something that his fellow peers had always gossiped about. Once he heard a few muggleborns say that he sounded like a ‘robot’ whatever the hell that was. He assumed it was because he had the ability to leave awkward pauses between words. “It is nice to meet you, Tristan.”

[tristan]

Tristan smiled and shook the boy's hand. "Nice to meet you too."

After a moment or two he moved away to look at some of the trophies. Most of them were from the sports and clubs that Hogwarts had; however, there were a few that had been awarded for 'special services' to the school... Whatever that meant.

"You know... I've never been to this room. It's hard to believe that there are still some parts of the school I have yet to seen and now I may not even have time for it since it's my last year."

Tristan loved making new friends and in order to do so he often talked about random things as he tried to find a subject of common interest. He didn't seem to mind the fact that Dorian spoke in a rather unusual way because it honestly had no effect on him. He moved away from Dorian and towards one of those interesting special services to the school shields. He wished that he knew the story behind some of these trophies because he reckoned that it would be a pretty interesting one to tell. Maybe he could bring it up during his next History of Magic lesson...

"So did you come for the Triwizard Tournament? Are you going to put your name in the Goblet?"

[krisy1]

Dorian took a moment to take in what he was saying before responding. “Yes, but you ‘ave all year to explore your school. I ‘ave to spend my last year ‘ere at your school. Not zat I want too…” he turned on his heels, watching as the boy read various trophies.

“I will be putting my name in ze Goblet. My father expects me too. Zough I would rather ‘ave nothing to do with ze tournament at all. I would prefer to spend my last year at ze palace. It was my ‘ome for sixth years…” He muttered, thinking about all the comforts of his second home. Dorian was more then a bit bitter about having to spend his last year at Hogwarts, watching a tournament that he would most likely not get chosen for. Now that he was here he would support whoever was chosen from his school.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like Hogwarts. In fact he was growing quite fond of the school and the secrets it held. Dorian wasn’t happy that he got locked in a room, but aside from that the moving staircases and the gigantic grounds were worth exploring while he was here.

[tristan]

Tristan shrugged. "I guess it depends on whether or not I get chosen from the Goblet because if I do then I won't have time to investigate the rest of Hogwarts, but it's no skin off my nose really... I've enjoyed myself here regardless."

He frowned for a moment at Dorian's next words. He felt kind of bad for the other boy. He was putting his name in the Goblet because he wanted to. He knew his father didn't care one way or another and his mother - if she were alive - probably wouldn't have even let him risk it if she found out. He sighed as he shook his head, pushing that out of his mind for now. Then something suddenly occurred to him and he turned away from the trophies to face Dorian. He looked at him for a long moment, trying to decide whether he should really broach the next topic that he wished to discuss. He knew that the other schools were very secretive about what they did and where they were; he had only heard rumors, which he couldn't exactly rely on. His mother had never spoke of Beauxbatons much. This was his chance. Like a true Gryffindor, Tristan just plunged on.

"Can you tell me about Beauxbatons? I'm really curious about that school because my mother went there. She was French you see..."

[krisy1]

Dorian gave the boy a questioning look. He wasn’t sure he really felt comfortable talking about Beauxbatons Academy. Hogwarts might have been okay with sharing their secrets with the rest of the world, but Dorian knew that it was generally a bad idea to inform others about Beauxbatons. He partly wondered why the boys mother didn’t tell him about the school if it was her alma mater. However, he didn’t feel like it was his business to know why Tristan didn’t ask his mother these types of things.

Dorian shuffled his feet, walking around the large room as he contemplated on what to tell him. What ever he told him, he didn’t want to give to much about the school away. “Ze Beauxbaton palace is not as large as ‘ogwarts, but it also doesn’t ‘ave as many students as your school I believe. ‘ere at your school, you have a more masculine feel with ze suits of armor in ze halls. Beauxbaton ‘as more of a…feminine feel about ze school.” Dorian said with a small shrug before turning about to look at Tristan. “In stead of a lake we have sandy beaches…also it is a tad warmer zere zen it is here. Does your muzzer not like Beauxbaton?”

[tristan]

Tristan wasn't too disappointed when Dorian only told him a little about the palace of Beauxbatons. He hadn't been expecting to hear any grand tales or secrets so he just nodded his head slowly.

"She never really talked about it and I never really asked. I guess now that she's gone I'm kind of curious, you know?"

He shrugged his shoulders somewhat. Talking about the recent death of his mother didn't hurt as much as he thought it would... Tristan had a lot of support from his friends and family to help him through the pain and remembering the finer points of her actually brought him some join. He had never known her before she became paralyzed from a bad Quidditch accident, but she had been there for him... for all of the Brights really.

"She passed away over the summer. She used to play Quidditch. She was even on the International team for France before her accident and then she became an announcer for the games. That was how my parents met. My dad used to play professional Quidditch too -- for Wales."

Tristan chuckled a bit at the random history lesson he had just given Dorian. "Sorry. I don't really talk about her much now that she's gone." He shrugged his shoulders again and sent a hand through his hair. "So how do you like Hogwarts so far? Have you gotten lost yet? Heh. If you need some help then I could show you around."