[center][i][h2][color=#addfad]Piper Ward[/color][/h2][/i]

Interacting with [@Cole] Damian, [@Daydreamz] Jaxon, [@Hitman] Halle, [@Josephb] Elliot.
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Piper listened intently to Halle's summer adventures (or lack thereof). She held Barnaby's cage on her lap, resting her arms on it, chin coming down to rest on her folded forearms. Barnaby chirped inside the cage like he was not a dignified owl but a sparrow, his beak trying to nibble on the hem of Piper's cardigan from between the bars.
[color=yellow]"That's cool. My summer was...uh...pretty boring. I can't carry my wand with me, so I just kind of hung around with my parents, visited some relatives, watched the news on the television...you know, the box with the screen that shows a moving image of somebody else? I think I explained that one already,"[/color] Halle explained while Piper's head bobbed in anticipation. Her face immediately lit up at the mention of something she was familiar with.
[color=#addfad]"Yes! The tellovision! You told me about that one before,"[/color] Piper excitedly exclaimed with a self-satisfied look on her face for remembering it. [color=#addfad]"I wish we had those, instead we just have moving newspapers. And they don't even display sound,"[/color] Piper huffed, shaking her head. Muggle life sounded so interesting! All the little gadgets and odd customs, Piper really wished she could just visit the Muggle world sometime. Maybe Halle would take her there, someday. A warm feeling enveloped Piper at the thought.
[color=yellow]"I kind of wanted to lock myself in my room and try some spells, but I don't want to risk breaking the Ministry of Magic's laws. I'd rather not get expelled... But overall, pretty boring. Not the worst, though. I could think of a lot of ways it could be worse,"[/color] Halle continued after a brief pause. Piper nodded, getting lost in her thoughts. I suppose it could be a lot worse in many ways. But now Piper got distracted by beginning to think of all those ways it could've been worse. She chuckled, then. Her and Halle's summers hadn't been that different, after all.
[color=#addfad]"Yeah, it could've been worse. I assume your relatives [i]didn't[/i] bombard you with questions of if you had a boyfriend yet. That was my summer at the family reunion, it was the [i]worst[/i],"[/color] Piper recalled, chin firmly nested on her arms. Evading those questions had been so frustrating, not to mention the way it had seemed to be the only topic of discussion her far relatives had come up with when addressing her. Like, they could've talked about anything else!

Next thing Piper knew, Halle had launched into a ramble directed at the Ravenclaw boy sitting across from them. Piper let out a small huff with a knowing smile on her face. She had a hard time keeping up with the oncoming babble, but she remained unfazed by it, simply enjoying listening to the voice of her friend. The Hufflepuff girl was talking about their upcoming OWLs, a topic which made Piper's stomach turn unpleasantly. She knew she'd have to study her arse off if she wanted to succeed. Not quite the academic genious as her brother had been... [i]is,[/i] Piper reminded herself sourly, [i]is, not was[/i] - Piper would have to do a lot of studying to please everyone in her life. She just felt so... tired.
Finally Halle finished, probably realising her speed, since her cheeks reddened into an adorable blush. [color=yellow]"Sorry,"[/color] Halle apologised quietly, [color=yellow]"I do that a lot."[/color] The blonde took a seat then. Piper just smiled at her friend with an understanding look in her eye, mind wandering off as she watched her.
[b][color=#addfad]"Ow!"[/color][/b] Piper cried out next, sitting up straight and pulling her hands off the cage on her lap. Her finger had been absent-mindedly fondling the bar of Barnaby's cage, and the damned bird had gone and nibbled her finger. Offended, Piper examined her right index finger, which drew a small drop of blood. The messy haired brunette glared at the oblivious bird in the cage. [color=#addfad]"Not cool, man. Not. Cool,"[/color] Piper chastised the bird who was now pushing his head against the bars of the cage, trying to nudge Piper to pet him. Clearly, the bite had been a cry for attention.
Holding her hurt finger, Piper sighed and wiped the drop of blood off, going in between the bars to scratch Barnaby under his chin. The owl seemed way too self-satisfied, almost smug that he got the attention he seeked. He leaned into the scratch, giving a small hoot of approval. Piper couldn't bring herself to stay annoyed at the creature because she actually got it; she, too, was in constant seek of attention and validation.
Elliot was greeted into the compartment with Halle's bluster of winning the House Cup this year. Piper snickered at the girl's attempt at boasting, pipng up with a daring comeback: [color=#addfad]"You wish. Mark my word: I take no enjoyment from it, but I [i]will[/i] hit you hard with a Bludger if necessary."[/color] Piper wasn't actually sure if she was capable of hurting her friend even if she wanted to, even if victory was at stake. That might've been her biggest downfall. She always put duty above everything else, but with Halle... she didn't seem to know how to.