= Wands High =

Chapter 3 - 8 May 1998, Friday

He heard the footsteps reach the top of the staircase, halt for a moment, then the person proceeded their own movement, thankfully only passing by him and not addressing him in any way. A few moments later, he was able to completely block out all of the shuffling around, as the person was apparently looking for and going through their mail.

"Can't you just take it downstairs and read it, jeez?"

He turned the volume a bit, now he couldn't hear anything but the music and soon lost track of time.

- You again! – he almost yelled out once opening his eyes, startling not only the girl standing in front of him, but himself as well. The heavy book she had been carrying ended up hitting the ground with a loud THUD, making them both jump up for a second time. – If you really want the autograph this badly, you should have just said so.

Only after saying that – words which instantly brought a displeased frown from her, had Daynen noticed that prior to that the expression on the girl's face had been relaxed and quite similar to the one he had seen in Professor Alistor's classroom earlier today.

Her lips now clenched in a thin line, she quickly picked up her book, before eventually hurrying down the staircase.

- Wait. Please – he was quick to say as he suddenly stood up, the guitar dropping down to the stone floor and perhaps she would have ignored him otherwise, if it wasn't for the terrible sound it made. – Look, I'm sorry. I actually didn't mean to be a jerk just now, you simply startled me, is all.

- Just now?

She kept looking at him, with head turned over her shoulder, eyebrows locked in what could only be described as firm disapproval.

- What? – he said finally.

- You didn't mean to be a jerk... just now?

- I... suppose so? – he leaned down to pick up the fallen instrument and tried to smile as he finally sat down. – You might have trouble believing it, but I never try to be a jerk. Not really.

The guitar had a scratch or two, but thankfully no fatal damage.

- Somehow I seriously doubt that – he heard her say.

Daynen finally sighed in resignation.

- I suppose you are right.

He was about to resume playing, when he saw she was climbing back the few steps she had initially taken down.

- Hand it over – she said when finally standing in front of him.

- Sorry, what?

The girl only rolled her eyes, before shoving the gigantic book in his direction and practically pulling the instrument out of his hands, while at the same time saying:

- The guitar. Hand it over.

- I will get it back, I hope?

Ignoring him completely, still holding the guitar by the neck, she took out her wand and pointed to it.

- Cithara reparo.

A few bright sparks were launched towards the guitar and though it did start to smoke for a bit in the beginning, Daynen could clearly see that its original polished surface had been completely restored.

- Thank you... err.... Hermione, was it?

- Granger – she said while handing the guitar back.

- Yes, I heard.

She was staring at him again.

- What is your name? – Hermione insistently asked.

- Daynen. Daynen Tiberius.