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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 10, 2008 6:47:54 GMT 8
Edwin had been standing in the middle of an intersection of corridors, trying to figure out which way to turn. He was just turning one way when something collided into him from behind, something that felt very human. Edwin's reaction was instantaneous and instinctive, born of many years of attacks in darkened corridors.
Darting forward, Edwin spun and pulled his wand while taking three steps back. His wand stayed at his side, never raising but perfectly ready for a quick spell. His eyes instantly took in who he faced; a female Drachesieth from the looks of it. When she snapped at him, his lips automatically pulled into a sneer, and he was just about to drawl out that the dungeons were Katzenaugen territory when he remembered this was Hogwarts. Green and silver meant Slytherin here, an it wasn't until her muttered apology and introduction that he clued into it. Nonetheless, he did not relax. His wand remained at his side, and he kept the distance between them.
"Edwin," he replied slowly, as if he wasn't certain he should give his name or not. His next words came out in a polite tone that was a it more level then the first. "I was heading to my common room and got turned around. My apologies for being in your way." He gave a slight bow of his head, to indicate he held no ill will for her, the polite tone indicating he saw no need for a fight to break out. The fact his wand remained in view was another sign; he may mean no ill will, but he wasn't about to be caught unawares either. All of these signals were universal within Durmstrangs walls, but whether or not a Hogwarts student knew the signs was yet to be seen.
The last thing I need is to start my new school year by fighting... He thought blandly.
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Post by dani on Nov 10, 2008 13:18:26 GMT 8
Edwin had been standing in the middle of an intersection of corridors, trying to figure out which way to turn. He was just turning one way when something collided into him from behind, something that felt very human. Edwin's reaction was instantaneous and instinctive, born of many years of attacks in darkened corridors. Darting forward, Edwin spun and pulled his wand while taking three steps back. His wand stayed at his side, never raising but perfectly ready for a quick spell. His eyes instantly took in who he faced; a female Drachesieth from the looks of it. When she snapped at him, his lips automatically pulled into a sneer, and he was just about to drawl out that the dungeons were Katzenaugen territory when he remembered this was Hogwarts. Green and silver meant Slytherin here, an it wasn't until her muttered apology and introduction that he clued into it. Nonetheless, he did not relax. His wand remained at his side, and he kept the distance between them. "Edwin," he replied slowly, as if he wasn't certain he should give his name or not. His next words came out in a polite tone that was a it more level then the first. "I was heading to my common room and got turned around. My apologies for being in your way." He gave a slight bow of his head, to indicate he held no ill will for her, the polite tone indicating he saw no need for a fight to break out. The fact his wand remained in view was another sign; he may mean no ill will, but he wasn't about to be caught unawares either. All of these signals were universal within Durmstrangs walls, but whether or not a Hogwarts student knew the signs was yet to be seen. The last thing I need is to start my new school year by fighting... He thought blandly. Dani rolled her eyes, "Put it down before I decide I do what to hurt something" She muttered glowering at him. It faltered slightly, he looked new here but so fitted into the walls. She groaned. Durmstrang haunts your dreams lovey Her conscience cackled. She winced slightly and sat down in the middle of the hall eyeing the wand with nonchalance. They followed her it seemed. Her brother was on her tail 24/7....when he wasn't chasing other girls that was. But this guy...he reminded her so much of Sebastian.....minus the scars and screwyness. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Why couldn't she just curse them and walk off...it worked with everyone else. It had worked before! Your getting soft. Loosing your touch. Seems Hogwarts is turning your rock of a heart into something human. Seems someone's turning into...Shut up. She slapped herself inwardly. Her conscience was starting to bug her....alot. She smiled inwardly at his name, finding it awkward to be sitting underneath someone's wand. He had obviously deduced she was little threat and gave her the small respect of his name. At his apology, she looked up. urgh...that was unexpected....what do I say?She stuttered, totally out of character and managed to come out with, "No...mine. I'm sorry for encroaching on you" She replied trying to be polite. It was strange usually she automatically dismissed people before she befriended them. Melting...She shook her head in frustration and leaned against the wall looking at Edwin. "The Hufflepuff room is that way" She mumbled, pointing right. But maybe....just maybe if he stayed she'd be able to figure out why she was so messed up. |
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 10, 2008 14:49:41 GMT 8
Edwin simply raised a brow when she muttered, his expression changing in an instant when he did it. His brows were extremely expressive, and could raise rather high. The single brow arched above the other, awarding him a slightly catty look, as if he was silently asking her if she honestly thought he was stupid. His eyes flicked to the side, then back to her, his silent communications continuing. The middle of a dark corridor, with no witnesses standing by, and she wanted him to put down his defenses as though he had some apparent reason to trust her. The brow fell back into place, before creasing slightly with his fellow when she sat down in response. That was certainly not a signal he had seen before, but he seemed to adjust rather swiftly when she looked up at him. Her words seemed out of place for her, and he found he did not enjoy the feeling of towering above someone.
Instead of puting his wand away, he merely took another step back and sat down as well, legs folding with incredible ease. He kept one bent, as if sitting crosslegged, and had the other bent above it, his wand arm slinging over it. The wand itself hung very loosely, his hand completely relaxed and only barely catching the wood. Once he was face to face with her again, he smiled at the sight of her shaking her head as though frustrated. He had no idea how he was supposed to react to her sitting, but apparently this wasn't it. Stil, he found it rather bemusing to be sitting on a dungeon floor as if such a thing wasn't both dangerous and ridiculous. At her next words, his brows shot up, awarding him a genuinely socked expression before they fell once again, and he smiled. This smile was different from the last, which had been apologetic. It was perhaps the most open expression he had given her, one that showed more of his kindness then he generally offered or revealed.
"Thank you. It would seem this collision was just the thing I needed." His smile took on a slightly self-mocking air as he admitted dryly, "For I was most miserably lost before you showed up, and likely would have stayed as such for quite some time."
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Post by dani on Nov 10, 2008 15:32:05 GMT 8
Dani couldn't quite keep a laugh down. His expression was causing her stomach to tense. I'm not going to laugh, not going to laugh.......ohhhh damn She put her hand over her mouth, her face completely smooth despite her inner battle. Her eyes however, betrayed her as sparkled with laughter in the dim setting. She raised an eyebrow in response, slightly more elegantly despite his fantastic attempt.
When he sat down, she suppresed a sigh of relief. She hadn't exactly enjoyed sitting under someone's wand. Especially under the wand of a stranger. She let a small smile flit out through her expression. He seemed confused at the fact of sitting on the floor.
She cocked her head to one side and looked mysterious for a moment
"Trust me.....if you can" She added as afterthought. "It's quite safe here. No one walks this way.......unless they're lost or want to get lost" She told him simply.
She didn't understand the next smile. It was much less reserved than his previous expressions. She was trying to read into this too much....obviously. She looked down at her fingernails, mildly suprised than sitting on a floor for about 5 minutes could produce that much dirt under one's fingers.
Euk. They obviously don't clean -here-
She looked up confused as he went on, her eyes once again lightening to their usual warm brown. She laughed, the sound startling the air like a icy knife through butter. She stopped abruptly and let a small smile shine through. She uncrossed her legs swinging them to one side of her and watching him with a curious.....yet careful air.
"No problem. It worked both ways though" She replied genuinely. "You transferred here from Durmstrang didn't you?
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 10, 2008 17:19:14 GMT 8
Edwin gave a very mild blink as her hand covered her mouth, realizing with quiet bemusement that she was hiding a laugh. When her brow rose, he had to fight back the twitch at his lips that he knew would turn into an entirely out-of-the-place smile if he didn't watch it. Once they were both seated, he couldn't help the way his lips thinned at her words. Trusting others had never been something Edwin did easily, and for understandable reasons. She seemed either to understand this somehow, or to recognize that perfect strangers often didn't trust in one another as a basic principle. Her next words did make sense however, so he gave an understanding nod. Like most else he had done so far, it was fairly calculated and reserved, as though part of him was willing to believe her but the rest merely chose to humor her politely.
At the sound of her laugh, Edwin found himself momentarily confused. He was fairly certain he hadn't said anything comical, but apparently something he had said set her off. He was slightly relieved by the sound though; it wasn't a particularly nasty laugh, nor was it in any way obnoxious. If he had felt any lingering tension, that certainly smoothed it away nicely enough.
He gave a slightly confused smile at her 'both ways' comment, for he wasn't quite certain what he had done to merit it aside from amuse her. At her question, Edwin's expression closed faster then a slamming door. His eyes seemed to take in the very shadows their black turned so deep. The boy knew full well she had not entered his mind, for he would have felt her presence touch his walls. He knew there had been something in his manner that had told her this, which could only mean she had her own knowledge of Durmstrang. How she got it he did not know, but if she herself had attended the school then there could very well be some form of House loyalty left within her. Even if there wasn't, she would be well advanced with her curses what with the annoying and ever daunting fact that pretty much every class was taught several years ahead. Not a single first year received first year work, after all. Which, naturally, meant he had two choices. He could lay his cards down straight and take the risk of making a good and proper enemy on his first day, or he could lie through his teeth.
Sighing, Edwin already found himself looking away. If there was one thing he had always had a severe distaste for, it as lying. He would do it if he had to, mainly in cases of emergency, but he didn't enjoy it. Even rearranging small facts often troubled him. Closing his eyes, Edwin clenched his teeth a moment as his stomach tightened, before turning back to face her squarely.
"Yes, unfortunately." He admitted, his voice taking on the dark and silken quality he had inherited from both his parents. His brother used to say that they inherited the darkness from mother and the silk from father, who's ever present Spanish accent made everything he said come out more fluidly then Edwin or Claude could ever hope to achieve.
Voice still maintaining that, Edwin coolly allowed for the sneering condescension he had definitely inherited from his mother's family. "That school is nothing more than a demon's sordid dream. I have no wish to be compared to any of the twisted sadists that saunter through its halls, nor do I wish I was ever one of their rank. However, I cannot change the fact that I once attended Durmstrang, nor can I change the fact that my education and my past will always be tied to its depravity. I do, however, seek to keep the knowledge of my unfortunate association with that school as uncommon as possible. I do not wish to start my new school year off with that sort of disturbing stigma surrounding me." Edwin felt his lip actually curl into a sneer as he finished, "Because quite frankly I have had more then enough of bloodying up as many people as possible for popularity status." With that line Edwin revealed himself as a Katzenaugen, the house that was Durmstrang's equivalent to taking Slytherin and making it a dozen times worse.
Sighing, Edwin shook his head the hostility in his expression easing away with the motion, replaced with wariness and caution when he stopped. "And I've grown even more tired of spending my days in terror, skulking about as quietly as possible and hiding about in apparent enemy territory because its safer with them then within your own house. I came here to leave the hiding and fighting behind me. I was sick of living my life in terror of being murdered in my sleep, murdered in the halls, or in the middle of my Defense, Charms, or Dark Arts classroom by my overly sadistic teachers. I do not want to mark myself out as a target for testing battle skills on my first day here. Consider it cowardly if you will, but I'd rather the majority of Hogwarts remain ignorant of the fact they have a Durmstrang student in their midst."
He sighed then, realizing in the past five or ten minutes he'd spoken more words to a fellow student then he had in his past two years at Durmstrang. He wondered vaguely if it would become a habit.
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Post by dani on Nov 14, 2008 16:35:24 GMT 8
Daniele watched him curiously, analysing every movement like she was trying to understand him. He was so...curious. Her hand slipped softly to her lap as his lips moved slightly as if he was trying to hold back a smile. Something she thought would look quite pleasant if he tried. Trying to understand the simple nod she noticed how reserved his movements were. Everything was drawn back, pulled back to the point where it gave little to no indication to his current temperament. She didn't like it. It was like he was musing to the point of mocking her. The frowned indignantly trying to understand the reason behind all the expressions.
It cut through the air like wild-fire and abruptly ended at his confusion. But yet he seemed relieved. Dani sighed, totally lost at this point. One conclusion her brain drew up was distrust. She knew enough of the school to know it hadn't exactly been one happy place....but why the relief? Reservation, politeness, direct and small senteces all fit the theory. But she didn't understand the relief. She hadn't really done anything to warrant a gain of trust other than the slight downturn of his wand. He'd seen her as a threat....and the dungeon as a even more worrying one. It all fit the theory....he was threatened and mistrusted her. She perservered with the frown....trying desperately to understand.
She was about to ask him when he smiled. Despite the confusion it looked friendly to the point where she returned it, gratefully.
"I meant the fact that this encounter might work both ways" She offered. She physically pulled back, staring at him warily as he shut off. It had only been a question. And with both her brother and....ex-bestfriend as alumni she knew quite alot about the likes of Durmstrang. She had never heard of ....Edwin. But then neither Nathan or Sebastain looked to be his type of friend. Sebastian had been so reserved to the point of mute he wouldn't have made any friends besides childhood ones.
She could see how he was thinking through this. His eyes darkening mysteriously as each different example came through his mind. But he was looking intently everywhere but her. It was like...she didn't understand. He was so damn complicated! When he looked back at her, she barely hid her anxiety. But the sound of his voice, had a soothing quality despite the rather suave and dark quality. Mediteranean? She thought questioningly. She didn't think the Italian's had it in them to come up with a human being like this one. Moving across she stopped longingly on Spain. Now that fit like a glove.
This time Dani smiled, his disassociation was clear, very clear. He hadn't liked the school any more than Nathan had. But Nathan had just disliked the frugal variety in females. Rolling her eyes at the thought, she didn't even register some of his speech. But bloodying and popularity did quite clearly. She couldn't remember the houses, although her brother had explained in quite comical tones despite his distaste what each and every houses flaws where. But she knew each and every house's equivalent. But despite this, his voice seemed to wash away her slight reprief at his speech.
But it didn't stop there. Her eyes widened in shock, the only part of her face willing to show some of her emotion. She didn't understand the sudden change. Why had he suddenly entrusted her with so much information? It was evident by his expression that this was not a common becoming with him and that he was as unlikely to do this as she was to do the same.
"So you came here?" She asked softly, unsure whether she was moving past the drawn line between conversation and curiousity.
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 15, 2008 12:41:44 GMT 8
Edwin gave her a long look, before slowly nodding. "Yeah." He did not elaborate. He'd already explained fairly thoroughly why he was here, and had no wish to go into specific details. Not only or the memories that would arise, but for the fact that he barely knew this girl. All he wanted was to ensure that it was very clear he had never been a 'true' Durmstrang student, and that he wanted no-one to know he was from Durmstrang.
Giving his head a slight tilt to one side, Edwin's expression turned mildly curious. "I've said more here then I have in some time." He commented softly, head tilting just a bit more as though confused, before he turned away again. He wasn't really sure what else was left to say, really.
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Post by dani on Nov 15, 2008 16:17:16 GMT 8
Edwin gave her a long look, before slowly nodding. "Yeah." He did not elaborate. He'd already explained fairly thoroughly why he was here, and had no wish to go into specific details. Not only or the memories that would arise, but for the fact that he barely knew this girl. All he wanted was to ensure that it was very clear he had never been a 'true' Durmstrang student, and that he wanted no-one to know he was from Durmstrang. Giving his head a slight tilt to one side, Edwin's expression turned mildly curious. "I've said more here then I have in some time." He commented softly, head tilting just a bit more as though confused, before he turned away again. He wasn't really sure what else was left to say, really. Dani sat back slightly when he went on, she'd been hoping that he would go on. Yes, it was most definetely curiosity pulling her. She deliberated between making him tell her more and leaving. Her eyes fell awkwardly to her lap trying not to stare. But she could sense there wasn't much else to be said. She looked up cautiously and gave a small nod. She was trying to find some fine line of common area. When he turned away, she was left with still air, and a quiet tapping from a distant leaking tap. Sighing she looked up at him, "Where are you from?" |
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 15, 2008 17:00:24 GMT 8
Edwin turned back to her, expression blank. He was about to ask if she had heard anything he said at all, when it occurred to him she was asking something completely different. Once again, his father's accent picked him out as different. He was neither German nor Russian, which often made people's brows go up at Durmstrang, and though he was half British and had spent his life living with his British Grandfather, the majority of that time had also been spent with his father and his father's family. Many times he would go to them because his Grandfather annoyed him, though Claude never seemed as taken by the Spanish relatives as he was by the British ones. Edwin had insisted upon learning his father's mother tongue while Claude showed absolutely no interest, and had been speaking both languages fluently by the time he was old enough to attend Durmstrang. The accent had stuck to him ever since; not that he'd ever bothered to cover it up. His brother had always thought him a bit odd for it.
"I've lived most of my life here in Britain, but my father and his family are all from Spain. I spent more time with him then with my Grandfather, and was pretty insistent on picking up the language. Accent's stuck ever since." He offered, giving a touch more information then he had to, he supposed. He wondered why for a moment, before letting it go.
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Post by dani on Nov 16, 2008 6:58:04 GMT 8
It was a touch irritating seeing him turn back to her as if hiding from her and himself. And the blank expression was only adding to her anxieties. Should she go? Maybe he just wanted to be alone, afterall it had been her fault for not looking where she was going.
Watching him think to himself, Dani waited patiently and quietly. It was obvious from the way he recoiled that this was something he didn't do very often...talk. But it wasn't just verbally it seemed every action of his was toned down to the barest minimum. Sighing, she looked up as he began to speak, once again mesmerized around his speech.
She listened intently, putting everything to memory. She wanted to remember it...oddly she even wanted to know him a little better. She nodded enthralled and wondered if she was overstepping the line. But as always, her mouth was faster than her head. "What are you parents like?" It was a soft question her smooth announciation making it sound less like a curious question than a simple means of conversation. She waited, her facial expression smooth.
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 16, 2008 10:35:47 GMT 8
Edwin's mind reeled a bit, but all he did was tilt his head slightly. "May I ask why you want to know?" Oddly, there was no suspicion in his voice and he wondered for a brief moment why not. Then he came to the dawning realization that he felt no threat around her. This whole conversation had been oddly surreal for awhile now, and it wasn't until that clicked with him that he understood why. It was just that uncommon to feel comfortable with anyone; let alone in conditions like these. No wonder he'd felt slightly off.
In the meantime, he seriously pondered her question. His actual memories of his mother were very few and fairly vague, but he did have some. He also had a lot of stories from his Grandfather, and his Father, about what his mother had been like. As for his father...well, he had loads to say about him and it was all good. Without a doubt, Edwin loved his father a great deal. In an odd way, Edwin loved his Grandfather too. Despite the man's clear devotion to the Dark Arts, Alphard was...in his own crotchety way...a good man.
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Post by dani on Nov 17, 2008 14:49:51 GMT 8
Dani looked up, her eyes darkening. It was like she'd been expecting him to have drawn his wand or turned away. Yet he was facing her, and there was no suspicion.....or so she could tell. His tone was as if anything conversational. She stood up slowly, shaking the dust from her skirt. He seemed to be taking her seriously, presenting her with an answer that might actually let her understand him a little more, or at least give her a slight insight into the guy.
After a while, she looked right at him feeling rather awkward and raw. Wringing her hands she added, slowly and thoughtfully, "You don't...I didn't mean to pry"
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 17, 2008 18:48:48 GMT 8
Edwin made note of her expression, turning it over thoughtfully in his mind as she rose. The fact that she seemed as surprised as himself at the fact he was still there, answering her many questions indicated she was very perceptive. This was not the sort of thing he did often, if ever. With a slight jolt, he realized he'd been staring in the general direction of her calves now that she was standing, and languidly rose himself up to his own feet. He was just brushing off his pants when her voice reached him again.
Looking up, he noted the way her hands twisted, the awkwardness in her tone. Straightening, he rose a brow again, feeling a slight smile tug at his lips. "Oddly," he commented softly, "I find I don't mind so much."
A slight sound made him turn away, and seeing a rat his lips thinned. Wand flashing,his lips moved in a silent spell and the rat ceased moving. It wasn't dead, so much as it was Petrified in a more advanced manner. Generally, Petrified persons and animals were still aware of their surroundings; they could see, hear, smell. With this variation of the spell, even that was taken from them. Edwin recalled exactly how terrifying that sensation was before looking back at her, showing no emotion as he slid his wand back into his pocket. The reaction was instinctive, the result of one to many overheard conversations due to a secret animagus sneaking about.
"My mother died when I was young," he explained, "So what I know of her comes vaguely, and from stories. I guess you could say she was a beautiful, smart woman who was hung up on pureblood pride and the family name. Father says she was coming out of a lot of her darker traits when they got married, but.." Edwin's yes darkened, and he shrugged. "Things changed, and she went bad again I guess. As for my father," Edwin gave a genuine smile, "He's a quirky, smart-assed, overly kind and protective gentleman with a fascination for life and art, too much humility and not enough arrogance. He could use a bit of that, silly thing." Edwin added, almost as though in exasperation. His father's humility wasn't just a graceful modesty so much as it was a complete lack of recognition for his talents. It drove Edwin, and almost all of the Sierra's, mental.
"How about yours?" He asked, his voice slightly tentative. He was about as used t asking people for information about themselves as he was about offering his own. "You needn't answer, if you so wish." He added, acutely aware of his own nervousness.
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Post by dani on Nov 19, 2008 7:05:13 GMT 8
Edwin made note of her expression, turning it over thoughtfully in his mind as she rose. The fact that she seemed as surprised as himself at the fact he was still there, answering her many questions indicated she was very perceptive. This was not the sort of thing he did often, if ever. With a slight jolt, he realized he'd been staring in the general direction of her calves now that she was standing, and languidly rose himself up to his own feet. He was just brushing off his pants when her voice reached him again. Dani couldn't help but stare. His expression was like those 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles where they only gave you 750 and expected you to make sense of the picture. Although, she felt as if she was getting somewhere. Amazed as she was he was still there, talking to her as if they'd known each other for years she tilted her head confused and followed his gaze to her feet. Confused, her dark irisies followed him as he got up. Her skin was heating up as she looked back one more time, wondering why he'd been staring at her calves. He rose more like a fluid stream of liquid than a human. Her actions felt so disjointed and jarred compared to his languid stance. Feeling overly outdone she framed her question as best she could but her accent quashed all her trying might. Looking up, he noted the way her hands twisted, the awkwardness in her tone. Straightening, he rose a brow again, feeling a slight smile tug at his lips. "Oddly," he commented softly, "I find I don't mind so much." She looked up, pulling herself to full height. Her hands reluctantly slipped to her sides as she tried to make sense of his answer. After all his reservation and her theory he wasn't finding this difficult. She sighed and leaned against the wall with a small nodd. She wanted to ask him why, but his answer told her he was as much informed as she was. But the smile.....she bit back a reply watching him carefully. A slight sound made him turn away, and seeing a rat his lips thinned. Wand flashing,his lips moved in a silent spell and the rat ceased moving. It wasn't dead, so much as it was Petrified in a more advanced manner. Generally, Petrified persons and animals were still aware of their surroundings; they could see, hear, smell. With this variation of the spell, even that was taken from them. Edwin recalled exactly how terrifying that sensation was before looking back at her, showing no emotion as he slid his wand back into his pocket. The reaction was instinctive, the result of one to many overheard conversations due to a secret animagus sneaking about. Dani stepped back, her back scraping against the cold stone. The wand had come out faster than she could've watched much less explained. How could he move so fast? Oddly, she hadn't felt at all worried for her own safety she had been more afraid for the reason he had brought it out. Biting her lip nervously, she looked at him aghast, "Is it dead?" She whispered, not feeling brave enough to check herself. "My mother died when I was young," he explained, "So what I know of her comes vaguely, and from stories. I guess you could say she was a beautiful, smart woman who was hung up on pureblood pride and the family name. Father says she was coming out of a lot of her darker traits when they got married, but.." Edwin's yes darkened, and he shrugged. "Things changed, and she went bad again I guess. As for my father," Edwin gave a genuine smile, "He's a quirky, smart-assed, overly kind and protective gentleman with a fascination for life and art, too much humility and not enough arrogance. He could use a bit of that, silly thing." Edwin added, almost as though in exasperation. His father's humility wasn't just a graceful modesty so much as it was a complete lack of recognition for his talents. It drove Edwin, and almost all of the Sierra's, mental. Usually her automatic reaction to finding out someone had lost their parents had usually been pity, usually feigning sympathy she'd offer some sweet words and then move on. And yet watching him, she felt the need to say something real. Something she actually could back up with true emotion. Her father had left her mother when she was younger, but she loathed her mother for not caring, for moving on, dating other men, not even trying to get her father back. Realisitcally she knew her mother had taken it hard, but she was too proud to admit she was wrong to admit she had only made it worse, shouting, screaming, running away. She sighed staring right at him, right into his eyes. When he smiled, she relaxed, untensing muscles she hadn't even known had been locked. She smiled reluctantly, wondering where all her smart words and quick wit had disappeared to. She reminded herself of her mother. Urgh... She laughed softly and nodded, "You've got an amazing family.." She answered slightly envious. "How about yours?" He asked, his voice slightly tentative. He was about as used t asking people for information about themselves as he was about offering his own. "You needn't answer, if you so wish." He added, acutely aware of his own nervousness. She laughed at his tone. Despite her awkwardness asking him, it seemed exactly the same in return. She shook her head as answer, "I ....don't mind" She said with a small smile. She looked around the dungeon with a sigh. "My parents split up when I was like 5 or something. " She said trying to appear non chalant it was hard, when something was so close to your heart, "My mother's a teacher....here. She's like...she's used to always read to us, be with us and then.... " She shrugged looking away, "Dad left us, and Mum poured herself into work. She became like a Saint, volunteering everywhere and for everything. She's charming and can really give her heart away to things..." She paused wondering where all the bitterness had gone. "Nathan went to Durmstrang as that was Dad's school and Mum wanted me at a french school as that's where she went." She smiled slightly and shrugged, "My grandparents kind of disowned us when my dad left. Not that we really minded...both of them were a bunch of stuck up jerks living in castles over Europe" She went on icily. Looking up, she sighed apologetically. "My family.." |
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Post by metempsychosis on Nov 21, 2008 13:00:46 GMT 8
Edwin could tell that she seemed about as taken aback by his willingness to respond to her inquiries as he was. Once again her ability of perception struck him as admirable, which had of course been the reason behind the small quirk of a smile before he had answered her. Seeing the way she stood, the way her hands fell to her side...the leaning against the wall, he could tell he was confusing her just more then he was confusing himself. He had little time to decide if this was a good thing or a bad one when he had quickly taken action against the rat. Seeing the expression on her face afterwards, he stiffened slightly. It wasn't until she asked her question that he relaxed, and even gave a soft chuckle.
"No, its still alive. Just deaf, blind, and petrified until I lift the spell." He gave her a slow look, adding, "Animagi were one of the many banes of my existence back at my old school." Rather then hear her response to such a thing, he slid smoothly into their other conversation in order to distract the attention from the rat. Edwin gave no indication on how he felt about her stare, but he did keep his eyes level with hers. His smile became just a smidgen larger when she relaxed, glad that his words had eased the tension of the rats appearance.
With her answering smile and laugh, Edwin relaxed a bit as well. It seemed somewhat safe to turn her own table around and ask a question or two of his own. He was slightly curious about the girl now, and felt he wanted to know a bit more about the perceptive Slytherin before him. He had no intentions of pushing her for the answers and was unused to being in a position in which it felt even remotely safe to ask these sorts of questions. The newness of it all frightened him somewhat. When she shook her head, he would have made to back down had it not been for her words. Instead, he gave an answering small smile.
At the beginning of her answer, Edwin's face grew grave and quiet. He chose not to interrupt her, allowing her to go on. He sensed this was hard for her, as it was for him. To recall just how his mother had died was painful at the best of times, and he and his brother had been just about six years old when it had happened. He blinked, slightly startled at the knowledge her mother taught here. The information jarred him from his reverie, and he wondered at how awkward it must be to have your parent for a teacher in a public school. At home as one thing...Edwin was fairly certain he wouldn't like his father half as much if he taught him in the school itself. The two of them would probably end up fighting all the time about why teachers should not be biased...
Once again his train of thought was jerked back to the present by her words. "So that's how you knew," he stated softly. It was almost quiet enough for her not to hear, and when she went on it was clear she had missed it. He gave a slight smile at her comments on her grandparents, thinking of his mothers side of the family before giving a sober nod. "Your family is similar to mine in many ways," he provided softly, but granted no further elaboration. He felt that at this point, they had said enough. It seemed as though the subject was wearing towards the painful.
"Thank you again for the directions," he stated instead, swiftly changing said subject. "I am glad I ran into you." Slight smile. "I hope that we meet again." He added, only slightly surprised to find that he meant it. Stepping back, he gave her a polite bow before heading in the direction she had indicated. Just before he rounded the corner, he took out his wand and flicked it. The rat quivered, before darting into the shadows with its tail raised in an indignant manner.
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