After the Incident (( Dana))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass walked around gloomily for several days after what happened to Pyro. She couldn't help it. She felt totally responsible for what happened to him. She even inadvertantly started riot almost in her common room because of it. She didn't want to get revenge on him, she only wanted him to make a good decision for him. However, still considering him as a friend was going to be hard.

She walked into the library, finally finding a quiet spot to be alone and miserable, she pulled out the book she had been reading. ' Alice in Wonderland' had always been one of her favoriate books. She pushed her glasses up, which she hadn't worn since January, back on her face. She had decided it was probably better to go back to the way things were.

She was quiet, didn't hang out with Slytherins, and really didn't have any friends at all. She pulled her glasses off. There was only one problem to that theory though. The problem was she did have friends now, and she was fiercly loyal to every single one of them. Yes, even Kris and Pyro. Even though she wouldn't admit that to the two of them.

Not really sure what to do, she placed her glasses back on and began to read her book. Resigned to the fact that her life was a complete and total mess now.

[dana]

Dana smiled while finishing reading the letter her grand-mother had sent her and since she had parchment and a quill at hand, Dana decided to write an answer immediately. Dana loved her grand-parents. Actually Meredith and Julien were more like real parents than grand-parents so Dana had never missed anything really important in her life. Meredith and Julien were her parents, Anna, Marie and Isabelle – their maids and cook as well as the gardener Pierre were like uncles and aunts, Kris was a brother and Mary practically a sister. Dana was social and outgoing and a rather good student and on the whole she was content with her life.

Entering the library – thanks to owning so many books Dana was a rare visitor here, but today it would offer a quiet place to write a letter. Noticing Cass sitting at one of the tables, Dana smiled and moved over, plopping down at the table as well: “Hey, Cass. Studying?” Dana smiled at Cassandra and waited for her reply.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass grimaced a bit when she saw her friend arrive. She was really hoping for a bit of privacy this day. She placed the copendium of 'Alice in Wonderland' on the table. " No, just reading 'Through the Looking Glass.' A bit apropoe for me today. I'm starting to feel like I'm in Wonderland everyday."

Looking up at her friend, she realized she still had her glasses on. She took them off. " Life is just sucking right now." A sniffled escaped as she tried to hold back the tears that had been coming for days. Several 1st year students across the room looked at her, waiting to see if any drama ensued.

Cass finally broke. Telling Dana all. Everything from the night in the Hospital Wing were Pyro told her they could never be together, the note in the Great Hall, the huge confronatation on the grounds, and now how several members girls in her grade wanted to take out any revenge they could on him.

Sobbing a bit, she continued, " I don't want to cause anymore trouble for him. And you know how Gryffindor's are, once you wrong one of us, you've wronged all of us. I'm really afraid if it gets out to anyone else....Oh God, Dana, I've made a damn mess of things. The rejection was hard enough but now all this!"

Cass placed her head in her arms, overwhelmed about all that she had just emoted. " And I just can't help but thinking that all this with his father is my fault. It didn't seem like he was having any problems till after he met me."

She let her head droop back over the chair. " First my father, then Pyro, and to top it all off, two months of detention with your cousin." She couldn't help to giggle morbidly at the thought of all her recent bad look.

She moved to place a photo in the book. The photo was of her father and Cass as a young child. Young Cassandra was playing with what looked like a small, stuffed dragon. Before placing it in the book as a page marker, she showed it to Dana. " Daddy always said every princess needed her own pet dragon to protect her."

[dana]

Dana smiled and was about to comment on Cass’s book, but as she launched into an explanation of what had been going on, Dana just listened quietly. And was silent for a few moments when Cass ended her talk.
“Now, as it’s easiest to comment on – I’m in no way sorry you got the detention with Kris,” Dana said with a small smile, “You were caught in the Forbidden Forest, so you deserved it as did Kris. Even though I’m surprised he let himself get caught.”<br>
Dana fell silent for a moment and glanced around with a frown, causing the first years, who were inching closer curiously to back away quickly. Dana had a reputation for hanging around Slytherins so some younger and more fright-ful students had started to walk around her in the hallways as well. Dana figured that if they were stupid enough to judge before actually getting to know her, then she wouldn’t let herself be bothered with it.
“Now, I’ve heard what was going on from Kris, Mary and now you, so I have a pretty clear picture already as to what was going on. However it puts me in a rather hard position – you are my friend, Pyro is my friend, and Kris and Mary are like brother and sister,” Dana stated slowly pulling at her hair thoughtfully thinking on all the facts Cass had pointed out, “But I think I can ease your mind at some points.”<br>
“At first – Pyro had problems with his father even before you and not very small problems, so maybe things will work out best this way. But you certainly don’t have to worry about you causing that trouble for him,” Dana stated calmly, “AS for the relationship. Well, I was not there and didn’t feel it myself, so I don’t really even have a right to offer advice, do I? But try to take it day by day and maybe you’ll find some so intolerable points in Pyro’s personality, that you are glad it didn’t work out. Or find some other absolutely amazing guy.” Dana said comfortingly and smiled touching the edge of the picture Cass had shown before quoting:
“Somewhere there’s someone who dreams of your smile,
And finds in your presence that life is worth while.
So when you are lonely, remember it’s true
Somebody somewhere is thinking of you.”<br>
Dana sighed and rubbed her arms as she looked out of the window, thinking about the whole situation for a moment, before looking back to Cass and smiling almost sadly: “I doubt Dumbeldore had an up-roar of students and a war between the houses in mind, when he talked about the unity of the school. You are my friend and a rather good one actually, but when I saw Gryffindors circling around Pyro and the fight is un-fair – I will step in and help Pyro at that case.” Dana hoped Cass would understand what she had been trying to say – Dana hated when someone was being unjust and would step in then. However it took two to make, build and hold a relationship, so otherwise Dana wouldn’t try to mess in or ask about things Cass didn’t want to share, even though she would be there for her.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass massaged her hurt shoulder as she heard Dana speak. " I don't blame you. I would probably protect him too. Dana, its just a mess!"

She shut the book she had been reading. " I just wish I could call of the dogs, you know? But I guess its too late." She pulled her black, curly hair into a ponytail. A few loose strands escaped and hung around her face. " Yeah, I probably do deserve the detention as well, but I blame the cat." She said, trying to put humor on the situation.

She swallowed at the words she was about to say. " Kris is a really great guy. YOu should be really lucky to have him as family. For some funny reason, I'm on a streak for learning how to trust Slytherins this year. First Pyro, then your cousin."

[dana]

Dana smiled as Cass complimented Kris. It was almost as a compliment for her: “I’m lucky – it may be a bit difficult to get along with him from time to time – he is a Slytherin for a reason – but I love him despite his mistakes. And I never have to worry about finding a knight in shining armor for myself , as I’ve already got a brother to fill that position.”<br>
Dana looked at Cass with a small smile: “Trust Slytherins and like them. But don’t forget to check. Have you ever thought how much alike Slytherins and Gryffindors actually are? They are both brave, cunning, a bit sly and reckless when it comes to rules, have strong personalities and beliefs that they are willing to fight for. And that’s just the beginning of all the list Slytherins and GRyffindors have in common. Different is probably how far either house is willing to go to get what they want.”<br>
Dana let out a breath after a moment of silence and looked at Cass: “I wish I could do something for you. DO you have any clue as to what to do about all of this?”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass chuckled almost maniacally. " If I knew what do do, I wouldn't be asking for everyone's opinion. The only thing I can think of is for him to go hide in a hole for a very long time. Me for that matter too."

She shrugged her shoulder. " Maybe with my extra Transfiguration lessons I won't have time to worry about it, but I will you know that. I still worry about Pyro. I don't think that is going to change anytime soon."

She crossed her arms and sunk down in her chair. " Maybe we could forget any of this ever happened. Yeah, that would fix things."

[dana]

“Well, I know a memory-charm,” Dana said with a wink going along with Cass’s half-joke, before getting more serious again, “I don’t think hiding is such a good idea though. Then it would look like as Pyro dumped you. Why give the rest of the Slytherins free material to laugh about – go on and about as always. Makes everybody think it was a mutual agreement or that you wanted to finish the relationship. Maybe it’s just me, but my pride wouldn’t allow me to act any way differently. I can laugh, dance, tease the world, but I’m never able to show it to the world, when I’m hurt inside.”<br>Dana looked out – Dana was a very prideful girl. She was usually seen active, smiling, laughing, dancing trhough hallways and life. But naturally she had her own hard moments. But Dana never allowed herself to cry in other company besides Kris or when she was outside in the rain alone. That way the rain mixed with tears and people couldn’t tell which they were – rain-drops or tears. It just made things easier in some way for Dana.

“I heard about those Transfiguration lessons though – congratulations! That’s awesome! Must be tough hough,” Dana said with a smile towards Cass.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass looked up at her friend at the mention of the transfiguration lessons. " Your telling me. The first evening, McGonogall has these four huge books on the table. I have more homework than I can possibly think about!"

She chuckled. " We could divy it out! You could do half and I could do half and we could both reak the rewards? But, no seriously, I'm really glad she taking the time out to do it. It must mean she thinks I have some sort of talent. Honestly I don't think McGonogall would waste her time if she didn't."

[dana]

Dana laughed as Cass told her about the books and homework McGonagall had piled on her: “Honey, you have been in this school for 3 years already. You should no better than to complain about something like that to a Ravenclaw, as I have the traits of that house as well. Reading, learning and homework aren’t half that bad. Especially if you have a worthy goal for what to learn – like now. If you ever are in real troublethough, then let me know and maybe we can think something out together. Or get Kris – go and bang on the Slytherin common room door as far as I care to get him. He wants to be an animagus as well, so he could probably tell you more information from the top of his head than I could after a bit of research.”<br>
Dana tilted her head and smiled softly at Cass: “It’s an awesome opportunity though. Good for you – I bet it’s tough though with McGonagall. She only accepts the best and nothing but the best.”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass smirked. " I don't really think I'll be banging on the Slytherin Common Room door anytime soon. I could see that travesty. You would be scraping me up off the floor."

" YOu know, I could really go for a girl's night out. I haven't done that in a long time. The girl's in my grade had this huge bonding moment a few weeks ago. That's been about the extent of socializing. Hey, we should get together our entorage and hit Hogsmeade. Maybe cause some problems?" She smiled slyly. " We can even invite Kris and Pyro. We need someone to carry our bags." She winked mischeviously.

[dana]

Dana laughed out loud at Cass’s words: “I have done that. But hten again – things are different for me a bit, as I’m not a Gryffindor and most Slytherins seem to tolerate my house. I didn’t end up with a so-called queen or Malfoy and one of his cronies, so I got off without any trouble besides a comment from Kris. Then again – a surprisingly big part of my friends are Slytherins.”<br>
Dana tilted her head and pulled on a strand of her hair thoughtfully: “Girl’s night out. Might work nicely. Cause some trouble in Hogsmeade and later even have a girl’s night at the prefect bathroom. I know the password and where it’s situated. The baths are the size of pools there and I absolutely love that place. Great for some pampering yourself.”<br>

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

(( For the girls night out, do you want to move to a differenty post? We could even invite some other people."

Cas smiled at the mention of a large bath. " That sounds heavenly. Anything is better than those awful showers in the Gryff house."

" You know, I could really go for another hair color. Kari did it in red, but I got bored with it really quick. Think I would look good as a blonde?"

[dana]

Dana grinned: “It’s not even that much the showers but all the people trying to reach them in the mornings. It’s maddening really. Almost makes me decide to get up earlier in the mornings. Nah, I love sleeping too much for getting up earlier.”<br>
“AS for blonde,” Dana eyed Cass thoughtfully, “I’m not sure. I don’t really imagine yourself as a blond to tell you the truth.”<br>

((Dunno really))