Warm fire on a Cold Day

Ashleen grumbled as she paddled into the common room, her blond hair frizzing as she huddled over to the fire.

"Why the hell," she muttered to herself in english. "Does this place have to be so damn cold."

She shivered and sneezed.

"I. Hate. Russia."

Katerina was sitting by the fire, a book in hand, when a girl came in, complaining about the weather and sneezing.

She rolled her eyes and peeked over her book, taking a look at the girl, who seemed a few years older. "Maybe," she said, putting down her book, "they want some people to freeze to death."

Ash snorted at the young girls comment and looked her over for a few minutes.

"Well they are doing a damn good job of it," she responded grumpily. "If they haven't managed to get a student to do it yet, I think I can volenteer to be the first."

Running a hand through her long hair, she curled a little closer to the warmth, taking it in.

"It's not that cold," Katerina answered, rolling her eyes. Not for her, at least. She was used to the weather by now, she'd been in the cold ever since she was a child.

With nothing better to say - Katerina really wasn't one for small talk -, she turned back to her book.

Ash rolled her eyes, "If you're a penguin its not that bad."

She flopped into a chair near the girl, her 'I'm not in a good mood' pout still on her face. She was bored, and she was going to take it out on Russia, the cold, and this poor girl, and she could care less.

"Or wait.. were more to the north pole here? Aren't Penguins only in the South? Oh what do I care anyways. They're all cold weather."

"I think you've noticed by now that I'm not a penguin," Katerina sighed as she put down her book again, this time marking the page and closing it, because it seemed the older girl would be here a while.

"Penguins are mainly in Antarctica," she said, rolling her eyes, "And of course we're more to the North Pole, it's Russia."

Ashleen looked the girl over making a great show of doing so.

"Well, I suppose you aren't," she drawled with a laugh. "But there is an exception to every rule. I suppose you can be it."

She scowled slightly, "Yes.. Russia."

"An exception is usually the minority," Katerina pointed out, "And I would think the majority of the Durmstrang students and staff are not penguins. Or bothered by the cold."

She looked at the girl and stated, "I take it you're not from here."

Ashleen gave a little snort, "I most certianly am not. I would not have even dreamed of wanting to come here, if it had not been for... other people."

She gave a head shake and looked out the window.

"Well, this cold is far too unlivable. I'm going to take a book from a bear, and go see if I can hypernate through the rest of... ever."

Not even bothering to give a better departure than that, Ashleen pushed herself out of the chair, and strolled towards her bed.