[Open] Thinking Upside Down

There is a particular tree near the lake that stands on its own. No one really goes near it for the leaves have all fallen off and refuse to grow back. It's dead and has been since before any of the current students entered Hogwarts.

Ski had found it in her second year and fell in love with the gnarly old tree. It's trunk was scarred and pocked with holes from various birds and animals, it leaned slightly to the side, and one branch stuck out at an odd angle from the rest. This branch was also one of Ski's favorites, for when she first found the tree she had climbed it, and found the remains of old rope wrapped around the branch.

Ski had seen the rope and immediately looked out towards the castle from the tree and realized this tree had a beautiful view of the lake and school combined. No one came here anymore because the tree was dead, but at some point, when it had been alive, someone had tied a rope swing to this oddly angled branch. Possibly just as a regular swing, maybe even as a swing to catapult themselves out onto the lake, for the tree was close enough to the water to land there safely.

Ski found the thickness of this branch perfect for one of her favorite past-times. Hanging upside down. She'd climb the old tree, hook her legs around the branch, and swing around until her head was pointed at the ground, the tips of her hair still a foot or so off the ground, she viewed the world from upside down.

It helped her to think.

The world was a different place upside down, the sky became the ground and the ground the sky. Trees were clouds and clouds were buildings, skyscrapers, labyrinths, forests, cities. Today a strange question was plaguing Ski and she knew of the best way to fuddle it out. She dressed in her hanging upside down clothes (jeans with her t-shirt tucked in and a nice pair of trainers), and headed out to the lake. It was almost hot today with the sun beating down, only a few clouds scurried past but they were fat and growing dark along the bottom edges, she knew it wouldn't be long until rain arrived to cool the earth.

The tree stood as it always did and Ski followed the now familiar motion of climbing it's trunk, hooking her legs, and sliding upside down to view the world. What was on her mind today, you may ask? Well with school coming to and end soon and exams nearly upon them, she was figuring out what sort of special project she would do for her 6th year potions lab. They were supposed to pick a potion befitting their level of training and attempt it, there were plenty of options, but she had no idea which one. Letting out a slow breath, and feeling the blood starting to rush to her head, Ski stared at the clouds that scuttled along the ground, and looked up at the water that floated in the sky and hung there.

Even upside down the look that Ski gave the world was one of complete disinterest, a cold look that didn't seem to befit the action of hanging upside down very well. She looked a little annoyed, even though she'd let her mind wander ages ago to what she might teach her sister this summer. She'd already pulled out some of her assignments and marked pages in her textbooks, almost a curriculum for a student that couldn't attempt any of the magic within them. A studious curriculum sure, but one that Aurora could never participate in. It hurt her heart...

The pain didn't show though, in fact nothing on her face did but a bored disinterested look at a world that was completely upside down.

Ever since Aideen had woken she had been restless. She wasn't too sure why but something ate at her in the back of her mind setting her on edge. Already she had lost control of her anger and snapped at a group of first years for giggling too loudly. In attempt to cool off she had taken herself out of the castle and just about as far into the grounds as she could get. What she didn't expect to encounter on her walk was a Ravenclaw girl hanging upside down from a tree.

For a solid few moments Aideen considered just turning around and leaving the peculiar girl to her thoughts but something about the blank look she gave made Aideen stop. Aideen didn't pretend to be any expert at reading expression, in fact her hot headed and argumentative attitude often prevented such things. But blank looks were something Aideen was familiar with. She saw them in her sister Mira frequently. And she knew they were often associated with strong emotions suppressed beneath a mask one was expected to wear. As a slytherin this concept was easy for Aideen to understand. In fact it was a concept most of her house put in to practice daily.

By the time Aideen realised she had become lost in her thoughts she had been staring at the other girl for a long number of seconds. Well it was a little late to turn back now. so Aideen walked over and tilted her head, "do you hang from trees often?" She asked.