Tear-Stain'd Letters & Pieces of My Heart (Closed)

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

Thoughts rushed through Taire's head as she thought more and more about the love in her heart for a man she was sure she would never see again. Her mind raced with an argument of owling him. It sounded like a good idea, and at the same time pouring her heart out to him in an owl sounded like a horrible idea as well. She couldn't just hold these feelings in any longer though; she had to find some way of letting him know that she was in love with him. She had to let him know that her heart was beyond mending without him, it was in pieces so small that even she was sure that she couldn't find them all. She had to let him know of all the horrible thoughts that had ran through her mind since he had left. He was the only one she could confide all of this in and know that he wouldn't think she was crazy. She found a piece of parchment and a quiet spot close to the entrance to the owlery and sat down to write her letter. She wasn't sure how long the letter would be but she was sure it would be worth the time, and tears that she was going to give it.

~
Dearest Dare,
Hope you are well. How is America; I’ve heard it was so different from here that it was almost fascinating. My sweet knight, I miss you so. Hogwarts just doesn’t feel the same as it did. I must admit I have tried keeping my promise to spend more time in the castle, but I always find myself sitting on the couch in the kitchens again thinking of you. Darien, I wish I could have told you this before you left, but I just did not have the courage to do so. My feelings for you are beyond friendship, and so strong that the only word I can find to even closely describe them is love. There’s no other way to put it Dare, I love you. I think I have since the day you showed me how to get into the kitchens. I can no longer hold in these feelings nor do I feel that I can stay in this castle much longer. Nothing feels the same anymore. I just can’t seem to find that happy feeling that I felt every time we were together, or every time you would owl me over the summer before you left. It almost feels as if there has been a dementor following me around taking away my happiness at every turn. I want to feel happy again Darien. I’m not sure how to do this though, how to go about finding happiness again. I have even tried my usual habit and tried working on race cars again, but nothing happened. No sudden rush of joy, no sudden burst of happiness. I do not think I can even look at my car again without thinking of you. I miss you so, dearest Dare. I can truly say my heart belongs only to you.
Yours Forever,
Vixen
~

Solitaire looked over the letter and noticed many tear stains on it. She had not even known that she was crying until it was too late. It didn’t matter to her that the letter was tear -stained anymore though. She hoped that it would help Dare be able to tell the sincerity in the letter, and give him some insight as to how she truly felt.

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

((Using Taire's account to post as Dare since guests aren't allowed to post here. Did gain permission from Dare's owner to do this as well.))


Ignoring the bustle of people around him Dare heaved his backpack with his things on his shoulder and with long purposeful strides exited the airport. Through the confusion his mind was swirling with he barely noticed to smile and open the door to an elderly woman with three kids in tow as he exited. Pausing behind the doors Dare looked around and inhaled, getting a lungful of exhaust fumes. Yet it was home again. Dare hadn’t lived in London but the UK English was much more different than American than he could have guessed before. Shaking these thoughts from his head before he would get sappy Dare headed towards the first taxi in line and slipped in the backseat. Giving the driver an address about a block from the Ministry Dare settled back and thought over what had brought him to England yet again as he pulled out a letter from his pocket, even if he had read it so many times he knew it by heart already.

He had been happy seeing a letter from Taire sitting on the breakfast table two days ago. But he had not been expecting the turmoil the simple words arouse inside him. Anxiousness, overwhelming joy, surprise. There just wasn’t names for all the emotions. Hurt upon seeing the tear-stains on the letter and secret joy that Taire missed him still. At first his parents hadn’t wanted to hear about him leaving. Upon reading the letter grandfather – surprisingly – had agreed first though. And after grandfather had called upon his parents to remember something, his parents had caved as well. Dare was mildly curious as to what memory it was he didn’t know, but it hadn’t mattered much. He had gotten his agreement and after a lot of paperwork and help – some of it surprisingly coming from an ex-Slytherin Dare had only known by reputation in school, but who his grandfather evidently knew – everything was settled and Dare was off to the plane to yet again travel the thousands miles back to England. “Sir.” The word was already carrying an impatient tone and Dare woke from his thoughts. Noticing they were at the location he had requested Dare fished out some muggle money and exited the car, carefully smoothing the letter back into his pocket to keep it close to him.

The taxi pulled away from the curb and shifting the bag on his shoulder Dare started the trek to the Ministry building to use the Floo Network. True, Hogwarts wasn’t connected to it, but it wouldn’t be a long walk from Hogsmeade. After just a couple of minutes of wait it was Dare’s turn and gripping a handful of the blue-ish floo powder he stepped forward into the flames, and a moment later was whoozed away to Hogsmeade. Stumbling out of the postal office of the magical village Dare didn’t spend any time hesitating or thinking as he set off towards where he knew the towers and thick walls of Hogwarts hid it’s treasures. One of them more valuable for him than others. His mind was whirling around future, past and present so much that the path disappeared suddenly. Checking his watch Dare noticed that he had reached the castle just in time for dinner. Good. Then he would know where to find his vixen who had him wrapped around her delicate fingers. Smiling lightly at the though Dare pulled the heavy doors opened and took the shortest route to the Great Hall, entering it after a big group of chattering second years.

Dare seemed oddly out of place in the midst of the numerous students in the uniform with his simple blue jeans and black jumper but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the girl sitting in the Hufflepuff table and picking on her food as she didn’t participate in the giggles and chatter of the girls around her. The dorm-mates his vixen didn’t particularly like as Dare recalled. Smiling at the girl – don’t worry, darling, I’m here now, he thought fondly – Dare headed towards her. The chatter around Taire died out as the other people noticed him and a number of eyes became attached to Dare, but his vixen didn’t seem to care about it as she didn’t turn around nor had she noticed him before. Stopping behind Taire Dare smiled at the curve of the neck bared before him, finding oddly attracting. “Vixen,” he said softly as he crouched and smiled as Taire turned around. Reaching out a hand Dare cupped Taire’s cheek in his palm, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb, “I’m most certainly not worth crying for.”

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

Taire sat playing with her food; she had officially lost her appetite. Why did she even go to the Great Hall anymore for dinner? It wasn’t like she actually at the food that was on the table. She knew it surely wasn’t to be around the giggly crowd that always seemed to surround her when she was at this table. Was it to hear if Headmaster Dumbledore had any new announcements to make? She doubted it. She wasn’t even sure why she had come back to Hogwarts this year, it was so lonely, and she no longer really cared about anything here. She had passed her owls, why was she even worried about her newts. Taire felt another tear run down her cheek as she began to think again about the things that kept her feeling so lonely and depressed again. She wiped it away carefully, knowing that if she didn’t another would soon follow and before long she would be rushing out of the Great Hall, trying to escape the feelings in her heart.

Taire began to think of the owl that she had sent to Him just days ago, and wondered if he would reply or if he had even gotten the owl. What did he think if he got it? Would he even care? Taire let her mind run wild with these horrible thoughts for those were almost the only type of thoughts she had anymore. Suddenly she noticed that the room had gotten quiet. The entire Great Hall at once, as if someone had seen a new ghost. Like a new ghost is a new thing around here. What’s the worst that could happen, another Death-Eater be here, and standing right behind me. Let him kill me. Taire almost couldn’t believe that she had those thoughts, but she realized that those thoughts were better than the broken heart that she was now suffering from. Suddenly, Taire heard the word she had longed to here, “Vixen.” It was said so softly, and she thought she was dreaming as it sounded as if it was coming from the only person she wanted to call her that any longer. She thought she had made it so very clear to everyone that she no longer wished to be called that while at school, that it was just too painful for her. Deciding to turn around, and preparing to give whomever dared to tease her so a good worthy piece of her mind about it, she lost all words as she saw that it truly was Dare coming to her. “Dare,” she said softly hoping that she hadn’t fallen asleep and this was all some sort of very cruel dream, “What, how...” Taire was just barely speaking, as Dare cupped her cheek, and told her that he was not worth crying over. As he said this tears began to flow down her cheek again, but this time not tears of sadness and despair like those that had once filled her eyes not so long ago, but tears of joy and happiness as she felt her heart already beginning to mend.

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

((Right. Taire asked me to write this for her and as she is one of the very few people who still have the right to ask me – here’s the post. All copy-rights belong to me and I wil not forgive any violations of them. Not anymore.))

His footsteps echoed in the empty hallways. Someone else might have been bothered by it, but he didn’t make any attempt to hide his presence or make it any less conspicuous, merely continuing to walk at a steady pace with his regular measured steps, the ebony walking cane swinging in his right hand. The one thing that did catch some of his attention was the mad cackling of Peeves as the poltergeist seemed to be racing his way down some hallway. He flicked his wrist slightly with a practiced move, making his wand slip out of his sleeve and touch his lightly curled fingertips. Peeves seemed to have spotted him mere moments later as the poltergeists laughter died. Tilting his head towards where he had heard Peeves Kris let the silence stretch for a brief moment before drawling out: “Lovely cackle, Peeves, they don’t teach it anymore nowadays.” His only answer was yet an other cackle and Kris threw his arm with his wand up, creating a magical shield over his head over which the contents of the bucket Peeves was carrying splattered onto the floor harmlessly. Morrigan gave a snort and both Peeves and Kris continued on their way, even if Kris didn’t have much further to go as Morrigan gently extracted her claws, signalizing to him that it was time to stop. Kris had always been arrogant and for a good reason. He had inherited a big fortune as a child and over years he hadn’t wasted it but rather made it grow even more so he had the respect of business circles. His family tree had always been strong and respected and Kris wasn’t any exception and in school he had shown that he had a good head between his shoulders. And now he had started his own family, his first child being born in just a couple of months. He had the right to look down to a lot of people in the world and the countless students – a lot of who had never even tasted real life on their own – were no exceptions. So Kris didn’t pretend to have any false shame as he placed his hands on the door-handles and shoved the doors open before him. Stepping into the Great Hall Kris paused as the doors slammed closed behind him, creating a frame behind him. Standing motionlessly, his head raised and his face expressionless, other than a small curve of his mouth-corner that could be taken as either a smirk or a sneer, Kris’s whole aura seemed to almost challenge for someone try and approach him or say anything to him. No one seemed to be willing to take the challenge and the stillness about him remaining intact Kris started to slowly saunter across the Great Hall towards where he knew the Hufflepuff table stood.

“Graas,” came the greeting from Fletcher, who Kris could already identify by his tone of voice as they had talked a couple of times about Fletcher’s future, and Kris changed his direction by a small fracture stopping near the ex-Gryffindor. “Darien,” Kris responded lazily, his lips twisting into a slightly amused smirk as by the shuffling being heard some of the nearest Hufflepuffs were getting away. Not being the least bit bothered Kris turned and leaned on the edge of the table, crossing his ankles before him as he picked up a croissant. Slicing it neatly into half Kris started to spread some butter on the halves: “Kieghley. I presume you have already spoken with this idealistic world-improver.” “My flight was late so we haven’t gotten a moment to speak yet as I just got here,” Dare interjected again as Kris shrugged merely shrugged a shoulder in response: “Not my fault you’re slow. Cleo asked me to forward a warm welcome to stay in our castle in Italy, should you wish to.” Kris recited the words dutifully, if a bit dully, but it wouldn’t do him much good to forget Cleo’s wish. “The plane is already waiting and we’re yet to see a lawyer in London nor Kieghley’s parents should it prove to be necessary,” Kris added absent-mindedly after taking a bite and swallowing it, not bothering to mention that it was a private charter-flight that wouldn’t take off a second before Kris’s word. Ignoring Dare’s cough as a hint to give them some privacy Kris didn’t move. He was a bit curious after all – information was power as all Slytherins knew.

((Posted by Taire for Dana, all copy-rights belong to her. Kris had to be in this plot))

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

((Once again I do have permission to post these here. I asked for help because Taire wants to leave Hogwarts, but had no idea of how to do so.))

Dare raised his other hand to Taire’s cheek as well, attempting to dry her tears as he smiled at the precious girl before him. And even if she was crying right now, Dare felt that something in his heart was starting to lift back into shape again. “Don’t cry, vixen,” Dare murmured softly to Taire as he let his backpack slide from his shoulders and sat onto the bench next to Taire, holding the girl close in his embrace. When Taire’s tears had started to dry Dare pulled backward a little bit merely looking into her eyes for a moment. Before he managed to find the right words to say the doors slammed over and Dare glanced over his shoulder to see Kris Graas sauntering in as if he owned the school and the whole universe for that matter. As he started to make his way over Dare spoke up to let the man – as the word boy really didn’t fit about him – where exactly to come. Kris seemed to be quite comfortably settled on the table-top so Dare merely sighed and turned back to Taire: “His presence most likely will give us even more privacy than we had before.”

“I’m not going back to America,” Dare blurted out before letting gout an almost apologetic sigh, “I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that, but I’m not. As it turns out Kris here is a distant relative. My great-great aunt married some cousin of his years ago so technically we are relatives, even if we don’t share the same blood. But he helped me get into auror training in Italy. I’ll be trained to join special forces one day. Sort of like a quick-reacting squad. So I can come and visit you sometimes when I get a moment off from training. If you’d want of course but after your letter I’m not letting you walk out of my life that easily, I should warn you about that.”Dare paused wondering how he could continue before simply plunging straight on, “I just wanted to invite you with me. Kris said he could arrange for you to continue your studies in some field and you could stay in his and Cleo’s castle until I can afford a place for us after I propose to you one day, but I’ll understand if you don’t want to because I don’t really have the right to ask this of you.” Dare looked a bit nervously at Taire, wondering what would happen.

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

Taire tried so to stop herself from crying but some of her tears weren’t those of sadness as they had been while she had sat playing with her food. She coaxed herself quietly into forcing herself to stop the seemingly endless flow of tears. This wasn’t a time for her to be crying, no matter how much joy the tears were filled with. This was a time for her to be savoring the moment for surely it wouldn’t be allowed to continue for long. Taire closed her eyes as she felt Dare’s other hand embrace her cheek. How could such a simple gesture make her feel so whole? Taire kept her eyes closed as she felt Dare sit beside her, she breathed in deeply as he held her tight. This was where she had longed to be for so many months since they had first met.

The sight of Kris coming through the doors of the Great Hall as they slammed shut behind him sparked Taire’s interests. She now understood Darien being there. That was now understandably her fault, she had led him there unintentionally by admitting her feelings for him. She couldn’t be happier to see Darien, but she couldn’t figure out what had brought Kris back to Hogwart’s as well. This was a mystery to her that she wished she could figure out. It didn’t stay a mystery for long though as Kris walked over toward them. “Not yet.” Taire replied softly when asked if she had already spoken with Darien. “Thank you for the generous and benevolent gesture.” She once again replied softly as Kris he told her of Cleo’s offer. Looking to Dare, Taire wanted to ask what all of this was about. The thought shown in her eyes, like the tears had been doing for months now. She couldn’t help but to ask. “Darien, my sweet knight, what is all of this about lawyers and staying with Kris and Cleo?” Taire said looking up to him with a lost and confused look in her eyes. Taire was unsure of what all of this meant.

Suddenly her questions were answered as Dare blurted out that he was not returning to America. This made Taire’s heart flutter. She listened as he explained the plan he had come up with. As she listened, her heart soaked up every word. Suddenly she felt as if the breath had been taken from her, her feelings for Dare were returned by him for her. This shocked Taire as she couldn’t believe that all she had to have done in the past was admit this. Here I was worried that he didn’t feel the same way about me. And now the opportunity to get away from all of this, and be with Dare. Taire thought to herself. She knew this wasn’t an opportunity that she would pass up. “I meant what I said in my letter. I can not and will not stay in Hogwarts without you. I just can’t do it. There is no happiness here. Sure I have made friends, but that’s all really in great Thanks to you. You were the one who made me promise to show more of myself outside the common room. It was you who brought me out of the darkness I was being surrounded with. You, who showed me that what house I was sorted into did not matter, but what was in my heart did. Dare, I will not try to walk out of your life. I want to be a part of it. I no longer feel as if there is a dementor following me around every corner, and this feeling has gone away just in the short time you have been here. You are my happiness, my life, my love. I would love to be with you in Italy, and being able to finish my studies there would just add to the pleasures.” She said as more tears ran down her face. She was hoping that Darien would understand that this time the tears were from happiness instead of sadness. “And as long as your heart is telling you to do this, then you have every right to ask this of me.” Taire said happily. “I’ll gladly go, and as long as Kris and Cleo will allow me to repay them one day, I will have no problems staying with them.”

After speaking with Dare, Taire turned her look to Kris, “Thank you for the opportunity to do this, and I will insist that you find a way for me to repay you one day.” She said softly. Smilingly at Dare, she spoke one more time, “So what’s next?”

[Solitaire Keighley H7]

Taire felt so ditz after asking what was next. Of course the next thing would be for her to run to her dorm, not caring who caught her or what they said for in a while she would no longer even be at Hogwarts. She would be near the one she was meant to be with. "I'll be back in just a few moments." She said as she lightly kissed Dare on the cheek and turned to take off toward the dorm. She felt as if her feet were no longer touching the floor, but she knew she wasn't floating nor flying. Her heart was a flutter, and she was light as a feather, or so she felt anyway. Her life was about to change, and Taire was sure it was for the better. She would insist on paying Kris and Cleo back for their generosity as soon as she was able. But that was a matter that would have to resolve itself later.

Taire made it to her dorm in little to no time at all, and seeing as how she had already packed everything that reminded her of Dare after he had left, she had very little left to pack. A few of her dark clothes, her school things, and a few little odds and ends that she had kept out. She had to be sure to call Apollo when she got outside the castle walls, but that would be no problem because surely no one had dared use him without her permission. Apollo would have bitten them enough to make them have to visit Madame Pomfrey, and there had been no mentions of anyone getting owl bitten that badly. She snickered a bit at the thought of someone having to go have a severe wound healed and explaining to Madame Pomfrey that it had come from Apollo. Taire threw the last of her things in her trunk and charmed it so that it would float behind her as she held it and made her way back to the Great Hall where she had left Dare and Kris.

Taire's trip back to the guys took her just as long as it had going to the common room, she still ran the whole way but her trunk slowed her down just a bit, so that she couldn't run as fast. Back at the Great Hall, Taire's heart began to flutter faster and faster. Her feelings began to overwhelme her, and she was unsure why. She knew that the only problems that might arise in the plans would be her parents. They would insist that she was too young. But that wouldn't matter to Taire. She would be with very responsible peers. Surely her parents could understand this. They were her age once. And it wasn't as if she would be missed around the house. They rarely paid attention to her anyway, and when they did it was only to berate her for her habit of muggle racing. They might be a bit more excited about the fact that she was in love with a wizard, and that she wanted to have their permission to be with him in Italy. They would be pleased that she would not be living with him yet, and they should be alright with her staying with Kris and Cleo Graas but she wasn't sure of this. "Do we go from here to my parents now?" She asked curiously, and a bit nervously as she reached Kris and Dare. She wasn't sure how she would discuss this with them. It wasn't that she feared her parent, but Taire didn't understand this feeling that she had at the moment.