To the Forbidden Forest~!

[dualpistols]

Jake glanced over his shoulder on more time as he slipped out of the Great Hall and into the courtyard. It had been three devilfucking long days since he'd been able to get away from his pernicious housemates. He really didn't see why the hat had decided to put him in the dungeons.

Okay, so the cold, damp, dark, did remind him a bit of his home, but the other inhabitants were worse company than the monsters on Hellmurder island ever were. The castle itself was fun to explore during his free period and after classes were over before curfew, but it was still just a building. An enormous magical building with even more secrets than his Grandma's house, Jake was positive of, but it still had an end.

The Forbidden Forest was much more like home. The plants were different, and Jake had to remember to wear a jacket (fuck the cloaks they were the hardest fucking thing to adventure in) because it was colder and dry, but it still had the same magical feel. In the castle the magic was everywhere, but wrapped up in things and people. Lessons were fine because magic started leaking out everywhere from the other students, but the forest was still the best.

It was wild like his home island so he made the effort to break the rules and escape out there whenever he could.

Now for instance.

With a quick wish that none of the professors were looking out their windows, Jake darted across the grounds straight for the dark of the trees.

Comments

[dualpistols]

Jake took his hand gratefully.

"Thanks, chum."

He knew he spoke oddly compared to everyone else, but like fuck was he ever going to acknowledge it and let people make fun of him. He found that if he ignored that it was odd everyone else did too, but it didn't stop him from blushing and biting his lip at Strider's comment anyway.

[flashstepirony]

He honestly liked it but then again he liked a lot of the weird little things he's noticed about Jake. Even if he seemed to pay no attention, he had frequently been watching the other in the hallways, in the shared classes they had, the Great Hall at meal times. Okay, so he probably sounded like a hell of a creeper but no one else knew about it... He was distracted from his thoughts by a figure suddenly making their way down from the castle.

"...Not a problem, bro. But I think that might be."

[dualpistols]

"Buggeration!"

Jake slapped his leg and sighed.

"Hell's teeth. I was hoping for a clean abscond tonight."

He regretted that tonight was the night he got caught. Now Strider probably wouldn't venture out with him again, and that would be a sorry thing. Jake had enjoyed his mostly quiet company.

[flashstepirony]

"...yeah. A bit too late for that, man."

Dirk just shoved his hands into his pockets, deciding to just start towards the oncoming Professor. Not a whole lot he could really do about the situation this time, so he decided to just be cool about it.

"Hey Prof. Nice night for a walk in the forest, wouldn't you agree?"

Professor Longbottom did not quite return that smirk that Dirk was giving him, sighing. Strider was always a bit of a pain to deal with no matter who you were.

"...As nice as I'm sure it was, Strider, we both know that you and English aren't supposed to be here. Especially this late at night."

[dualpistols]

At least their bad luck was on a good scale. It would have been horrible to be caught by someone else besides Professor Longbottom. Jake loved his class and never felt too confined in it considering all the magical plants in the greenhouses, and their outside practical lessons.

"Good evening Professor Longbottom! I was just showing my chum Strider how much the forest was like Hellmurder island!"

[flashstepirony]

"I see... Well.."

Neville seemed to be thinking over what to do for a moment before starting towards the castle. He couldn't really blame someone for missing home and whatever things it was that he got up to there, but this was school. In school, kids aren't allowed to go wandering off into the forest in the dead of night.

"Let's get you two back to your common rooms and to bed. I'll go ahead and let you both slide this time but next time you're caught out of bounds especially after hours I won't be able to look the other way."

Dirk followed the Professor, wondering how the hell they were really managing to escape detention for this. Not that he was arguing. That meant more free time to work on his robotics.

"...Hellmurder Island? Is it seriously called that, English? I'm not going to lie, I'd like to meet some of those cockatrices."

[dualpistols]

"Golly! Thanks Professor! We'll go straight back to the dorms!"

Jake wasn't going to promise the Herbology professor that it wouldn't happen again, because he knew it would.

"Oh! By the way, I noticed your herb beds out there should be ready for harvest in the next couple of nights! If you need a hand I'd be glad to help!"

At Dirk's comment he stops mid-stride and turns to look at him.

"Yeah? Most people get the willies about those! You and Dave will have to come visit on holiday!"

[flashstepirony]

...Longbottom knew it would happen again too. He smiled a little at that offer as they reached the castle.

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind. Good night, and should either of you decide not to go straight to your dorms I will know. I won't be so lenient, either."

Dirk's first thought on what English had to say was that he was such a kiss ass. The last thing he said, however, intrigued him. They barely knew each other and the kid was already inviting them out to his island?

"...Sounds like a plan, English. I'll let my bro know next time I see him. And later Prof."

Dirk already turned and had started his way off toward Gryffindor Tower.

[dualpistols]

Jake backed towards the dungeons waving at Strider's retreating back.

"I'll see you tomorrow!"

Maybe he shouldn't have said it, but Strider was the one that had followed him in the first place. It was his fault Jake wanted to be his chum now.