Changed, But Still The Same ((May, Wendi, Zach))

[Myn Katrenya R2]

"Myn? Myn... Aw, come on! Wake up!" Mark shoved his cousin forcefully, irritation flashing through his expressive eyes quickly, before stepping back and gasping in terrified shock as Myn rolled off the bed and banged her head against the floor. "You little brat!" Myns voice rose into a shriek as she rubbed her head gently, tears darkening her green eyes. Mark took one look at his angered and hurt cousin before making a hasty retreat - or, as Myn would later call it, running away. Luckily for the young boy, he ran straight into his mother and cowered behind her fearfully. Kerry frowned in confusion and lifted an eyebrow in silent question. After hearing a loud thump and several loud yells, Kerry and Myn's dad, Karl, had flipped a coin to decide who would be dealing with the latest argument. Unfortunately for Kerry, she was the one picked to separate the two cousins. Myn appeared in the doorway, tears still in her eyes, rubbing her head gingerly and sniffling pitifully. Kerry immediately swept forward, picking up her niece and hugging her comfortingly. "What happened?" Myn's eyes flicked to her cousin quickly before she answered. "Mark was trying to wake me up. I was startled and fell out of bed and hit my head." Mark grinned at his cousin gratefully, knowing the extent of trouble he would have been in had his mother discovered that he had injured his cousin - however unintentional his actions had been.

Kerry eyed her son suspiciously but shrugged and let Myn drop to the ground lightly. "Your friends are coming over in a few hours or so, sweetheart. You need to get ready and your father and I need to disappear. We'll only be gone for an hour - he needs to visit a friend and I have to drop into work for a while. You can take care of Mark, right? And your friends will help you and not cause trouble?" Kerry's brow furrowed in concern when Myn nodded hesitantly. "I could always stay home, child. I don't really have to go..." Myn arched an eyebrow sarcastically, "Of course you don't. That's why you're willing to leave four irresponsible eleven year olds and an immature seven year old alone in the house for roughly an hour. Kerry, you have to go and you know it. I can handle my friends." Myn answered firmly, reassuring her Aunt with a confidence that she most definitely didn't feel. Mark lifted an eyebrow at his older cousin doubtfully, silently deciding that he would keep out of her way if she asked him to and help her if she needed it. Basically, he would do all that she ordered and read between the lines if she didn't ask him to do anything. It was the least he could do after injuring her and making her cry. "Breakfast!" Mark grinned cheerfully, grabbing Myns hand and pulling her down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Pancakes!" Myn grinned eagerly and reached for the plate, rolling her eyes when her dad smacked her hand away gently.

Breakfast ended quicker than Myn would've liked and it wasn't long after breakfast that her dad dropped a kiss on her head and ruffled Marks hair fondly before leaving. The two cousins shared a dismal glance before standing up and heading to their rooms to get dressed. Barely five minutes passed before Mark knocked on Myn's bedroom door quietly, waiting for an answer before walking in and sitting on the bed comfortably. Myn arched an eyebrow curiously but didn't turn around until she had put the last clip into her hair, brushing a curl behind her ear impatiently. Much to her surprise, she had discovered a liking for having curly hair, despite her original protests, and both Kerry and Mark had assured her that she looked pretty with curled hair. "You look great, Myn. Now stop being vain and get ready to answer the door. Mum left while we were getting dressed and your friends should be here soon." Mark grinned impishly, letting his hand hover above Myn's curls and withdrawing it quickly when his cousin raised a hand threateningly.

Myn waited until her cousin had left her room before standing up and brushing at her clothes firmly. It was a relief to be back in her usual faded blue jeans and black sleeveless top with a complicated, twisting pattern on it, made up of purple satin. Purple-edged black converse and the necklace that Mark had found in the family vault and presented to her only a few days ago completed the look and Myn grinned in satisfaction, glad to be out of the skirts that Kerry had bought for her. "Doorbell," Mark yelled to her, earning a roll of her eyes and pointed look. "They're your friends! I'm not answering the door to them." Mark replied defensively, suddenly feeling out of place. Which was silly, surely. This was as much his home as it was Myns. Myn rolled her eyes and hugged him tightly, sensing his fears easily and comforting him with that simple gesture. "Now, lets introduce you to my friends, eh?" Mark nodded in assent and followed Myn to the door shyly, watching as she opened the door and grinned at the first of her friends to arrive.

[zach]

'And this girl is in Ravenclaw?' his uncle questioned for what must have been the hundredth time. Zacharias nodded, reaching up absently to flatten his hair and peering into the looking glass. His gray eyes were red-rimmed from a night of missed sleep, but a splash of water could cure that instantly. He had never visited someone's house before, at least not for himself. The other Pure-Blood families were always holding parties and balls and fancy dinners, but they were boring and full of old people who talked and lectured all night. This was different. This was a . . . friend? Zacharias supposed Myn must be his friend. It was odd. He had never had a friend before, and he didn't know quite what to expect. Was he supposed to bring something? What were they going to do there? What did eleven year-olds generally do at the houses of their friends? What did her house even look like?

'Eat you breakfast,' instructed Uncle Phin, snapping his fingers at the house elf, Hoppity, for more milk. Zacharias stared gloomily at his food, his appetite gone. How could he possibly be expected to eat on a day such as today? It was nearly impossible.

'I don't want it, Uncle. Can we leave now?'

Uncle Phin appeared to be deep in thought for a moment. Today was one of his calmer days, which was good. Zacharias was almost afraid of what they would say at Myn's house if showed up with an eccentric, purist Wizard. They would kick him out, probably. Just as they had when Uncle Phineas decided the inkeeper at L'Hotel De Magi in Paris was a filthy Mudblood and did not deserve to run such an establishment. The man was sixteen gerenations pure, and he didn't take kindly to a raving young man trying to kick him out of his hotel. As Uncle Phin explained later, the man stunk like a Blood-Traitor, and it was a poor government system that would allow such filth to run places innocent people were exposed to on a daily basis. What if Uncle Phin decided Myn's family was not worthy of their house or something?

As though he had been performing Occlumency on his nephew, Phin said slowly, 'This girl is a Half-Blood, is she not, Zacharias?'

Zacharias nodded, his stomach sinking. 'Yes, Uncle. She's a Ravenclaw and she's Half-Blood.' This was it; he wouldn't be allowed to go. Uncle Phineas was going to say 'no', and Zacharias would have to stay in his room all day reading books he had read ages ago and wishing he could have gone.

'Alright. I suppose we'll be off. You aren't eating, anyway, are you, boy?' They stood, Zacharias fidgeting with his clothes. He was going to a house that had Muggles in it, which meant he would most likely look foolish in robes, so he had opted for Muggle clothes instead. Surprisingly, Uncle Phin decided Muggle clothes suited Zacharias better anyway, and they ended up spending quite a sum on new outfits. 'What sort of a house are we going to, though, if it doesn't have a Floo?'

'They have a door bell,' Zacharias explained patiently. He had learned all about dooor bells at school. 'You stand by the door and push a button, and then a bell rings in the house to let them know you've come. Muggles use them.'

Uncle Phin nodded, looking as though he hadn't comprehend a single word. 'Ah. So, we have to ring this bell to let the Muggles know we have arrived?' Zacharias nodded, but his uncle paid him no mind. 'Bit like a servants' bell, isn't it? But then, what can you expect from Muggles?'

Deciding it would be wiser if he did not answer that one, Zacharias followed his uncle outside to their aparating spot. They use side-along aparition to get to Myn's front door, and then they would use the Muggle bell. He felt overwhelmed by it all, but there was no time to dwell. Before he knew it, Zacharias felt as though he was being pulled through a tube, and they had landed in someone's doorway. This must be Myn's house. That was the little button she told him about that activated the Muggle bell. He reached out tentatively to touch it, but was slapped away by Uncle Phin.

'I want to do it,' the man scolded, looking anxious. Zacharias shrugged. He could always come out and ring the bell another time. Perhaps on the way out.

[coolasice]

May stared into her window. She didn’t do anything else, just stared. Gazed at her scruffy, bed-head features. Her expression was unreadable and plain. Her mouth was set into a straight line, neither smiling nor sad. Her eyes were just the same, though slightly puffy and red-rimmed. From one look at the little Ravenclaw you could tell something was wrong. The usually happy, chirrupy little girl with the big smiley face had gone. And in its place was something May couldn’t stand to look at, couldn’t stand to be around, and couldn’t stand to be. She so badly wanted to change and go back to her before state, but she just couldn’t. She just… couldn’t. Watching herself think in the mirror made her eyes sting as yet more tears began to tumble from her eyes. She squeezed them shut, trying to stop the flow of salty water running smoothly from her blue orbs. And she watched herself in the mirror as she failed even that tiny task miserably. The tears still fell as she opened her eyes and let them do so, her white-blonde hair messy and unkempt.
“Katie-May? Katie-May?!” A soft, gentle, but amazingly irritating voice came through the door. It was pushed open and the tall figure of May’s mother stood there, face set into a sad expression but eyes hard.
“MUM! I told you to KNOCK! For the last time, I don’t want you coming in here without knocking!” May exploded suddenly. Her mum was constantly opening the door and walking in without knocking. Although, before the incident, she didn’t mind anyone coming in her room apart from Leon. “That’s all I ask! I’m never ever allowed in your room, so why you get to strut into mine without even tapping to door first is ridiculous!” She shrieked, trying to wipe the signs of her sadness from her face.
But her annoyingly annoying mother merely gave her a pitying look and walked over to stroke her messy hair. “Now now sweetie.” She tutted, making May scowl and bat her hand away forcefully. “I am your mother and I can come and go in this house when I wish to. You mustn’t let the event ruin your life darling.”
That did it. How could she say that? How could she!? Glaring hard at her mother, May stood from her chair facing her mirror and ran into her bathroom, slamming the door hard. “I’m sad because my brother died! You SHOULD be sad because your best son died! But because you’re so heartless and obsessed with that brat of a baby Matt, you hardly even notice that he’s not here! So just go back to that annoying, idiot boy and LEAVE ME ALONE!”

When May emerged from the bathroom, dressed in some black jeans and a dark green jumper, her hair fixed but her eyes still puffy and red, her mother had gone. The Ravenclaw walked downstairs to find no-one there and upon the table a note.

Katie-May,
Here is some money for the train to get to your friends’ house. I hope you are still going. As I said, you shouldn’t let this event ruin your life and shouldn’t be apart from your friends. You will need them right now.
When I return from the doctors (Matt hasn’t been eating lately, we fear the worst) I hope you will cease talking to me like you have been today.
Love, your mum. X

May glared at the paper. Her eyes hurt again she glared so much. How could her mum say that? Her son had just been killed by one of those stupid muggle cars, and she was only concentrating on taking Matt to the doctors? Sure it had been a few weeks- almost a month now- but May sure hadn’t gotten over Leon’s death, and she knew it would be a while before she did. Leaving the money, she pulled on her shoes and strode out of the door after slipping her spare key in her pocket. It would be an hour and a half walk to Myn’s but no way was she going on a train just yet.
May had walked briskly and by the time she arrived at Myn’s, it was only an hour and ten minutes past the time she left, but she paused when she came in sight of Myn’s house. Other people were there. People May recognised… well, one of them. Zacharias- a Slytherin at Hogwarts. Great. May was… still unstable. She was ready to break down and cry at any minute now and she knew that with Myn there it wouldn’t be so bad. But she’d forgotten that Zach was coming. Walking slowly up to the Slytherin and his older companion, most likely a dad, she smiled a little for first-impressions. “H-hey Zach.” She greeted, and then nodded respectfully to his father. She didn’t trust herself to say anything else, merely wondered what they were thinking of her puffy read eyes and drooping features. Not much, probably.

[wendi]

"C'mon Jami take me!" Wendi begged her older brother. Jamison stared at his sister and shook his head. "Ok, Wendi how am I supposed to take you when I can't apparate you there nor do I know how to drive?" Jamison asked Wendi. The little girl looked up at him and shook her head. "I dunno, but I still want you to take me." Wendi said calmly. "I'll take you Wendi-girl." A voice said walking into Jamison's room. Wendi's eyes lit up looking at her cousin, Jonathan. "Jonathan!" Wendi shrieked. "When did you get here?" Jonathan had been back in the city for days, but Wendi hadn't seen his since the Paris Trip with Myn. "Just now. Mum and me will be staying her for a month or so. Gram and Gramp just added two new rooms onto the attic for us." Wendi smiled. "Cool!" Jamison looked at Jonathan. "How come we always miss it when they do cool magic? We only see them clean and cook with it. Nothing more." He asked. Jamison knew his grand-parents were great wizard, but he had never actually seen them do any hard magic. Jonathan shrugged. "I dunno." He said calmly. Wendi looked up at Jonathan. "So, how much longer will you two be in the city?" Wendi asked referring to Jonathan and Auntie Bell. "We will be leaving about a week after you to go back to H ogwarts. It's off to Indonesia for us." He said smiling. Wendi gasped. "Lucky!" She called at him. Jonathan smiled. "Well if I'm gonna take you then you need to eat and get dressed in clothes that aren't pink pajamas with lolly pops on them." Jonathan laughed. Wendi looked down at her current clothes. "Oh yea." She said laughing. Wendi then turned around and left the room as Jonathan joked with a cat call behind her.

Wendi hopped down the stairs as usual. It was just something she always did. Wendi ran into the kitchen. She smiled at Gramp and Gram. They were fixing breakfast just like they did every morning. Wendi looked over at the table and smiled. "Auntie Bell!" She said laughing. Bell took a sip of her pumpkin juice and then smiled at Wendi. "Hey Peter Pan. Where's the army?" She asked referring to Jami and Jonathan. She pointed to upstairs. Wendi turned to Gramp. "What's for breakfast?" She asked. He pointed towards Gram. "Bacon and eggs." She said calmly. Wendi nodded. "Yum." She smiled. A few moments later Gramp handed her a tray with the food on it. Wendi put some of it on her plate and then put the tray back on the counter. She took her seat at the table. "When will you be ready?" Jonathan asked entering with Jamison. They were more friends than cousins and Wendi loved it that way. "After I eat and get dressed." She said taking a bite of egg. Jamison made a face. "Ha! Do you know how long it takes this child to get dressed?" Wendi made a face at him. "Not that long." She called. "Yea, right." Jamison said sarcastically laughing. Jonathan looked at the two. "Yep, their defiantly related." He said laughing and sitting down. "So, pumpkin where are you going anyways?" Gramp asked Wendi using his nickname for her. "Myn's house." She said taking a sip of her drink. "The one we took to Paris?" Bell asked. Wendi nodded. "Done!" She said putting her fork down. "Good. I'll clean it up. Now go get dressed. I can take you right after I eat." Jonathan told her. Wendi smiled and ran up stairs laughing.

Wendi's clothes hadn't changed much over the years. She loved anything bright and colorful. She loved casual clothes mainly, but there were several occasions in which she would have to dress up. Gram and Gramp attended wizard functions that Wendi would have to attend. The Parson's bloodline traced centuries, but Gram and Gramp never really cared about that. These events were prestigious, but not as prestigious as most Slytherin Family events. For those events Wendi would wear appropriate dress, but she much preferred casual clothes. Wendi searched through her dresser. She finally pulled out a yellow skirt that hit just above her knees, a white beaded camisole, and a yellow cardigan. Wendi's look was always either old fashion prep or just cute colorful new stuff, but today she wasn't exactly in the mood to wear her pink and brown polka dot capris. She wore her hair down and put her gold dragon fly clips in it. Wendi smiled at her real gold heart necklace that read Parson on it that was her mother's gift from her father. Wendi sometimes felt sad wearing it since her mother put it on Wendi when she was a new born. Wendi had basically worn it everyday since except the days when she had to get a longer chain for the pendent because she out grew the old one. The necklace borough mixed feelings for her as she had never really known her parents, but Wendi still wore it. She slid on her gold sandals and then put her wand in her creme messenger bag that went with everything. With that, Wendi went out of her room to find Jonathan.

"Ready?" Jonathan asked. Wendi nodded walking into the living room where Jonathan was listening to Jamison play guitar. "Jamison play Drive for me when I get back!" Wendi called smiling. She loved that song by a muggle band called Incubus. Wendi and Jamison both had very odd tastes in music. "Fine." he said while he continued to play some old guitar solo Wendi had heard for year. "Ok, let's go." Jonathan said getting up and walking to Wendi. "Yay." She said smiling. "Hold on tight." He commanded. Wendi held Jonathan's hand. She had apparated before with an adult. Jonathan of course was old enough to apparate. He had graduated Hogwarts only a few years before. Everything swirled for a moment. Then, it was over. Wendi smiled looking up at Myn's house. "Thanks." Wendi said smiling at her cousin. "No prob. I'll be back later." And with a pop Jonathan was gone. Wendi walked towards the door. She saw May and a boy she knew to be Zach. Wendi knew Myn was friends with him and Wendi had seen him before, but she had never really met him. He was with an older man that Wendi guessed was his father. She walked up to May. Wendi knew her friend had recently lost her brother Leon. Wendi had met him once at the Zoo. "May, how's it going?" Wendi asked calmly. She had lived life without parents so Wendi knew what not to say to hurt May in any way. Wendi then looked at Zacharias the adult with him. "Hello Zacharias. I don't believe we have properly met before. I'm Wendi." Sure, he was in Wendi's year so she had seen him, but she knew that it was proper manners to introduce herself. Wendi and Jamison were both raised as pure-blood. They knew every manner trick in the book. Wendi was usually all play, but with an adult present, she couldn't help but be more than polite. "Sir." She said to the adult giving the traditional bow. She knew what do. Wendi might be a Hufflepuff, but she wasn't that inpolite. Wendi then waited for Myn to answer the door and for the others to respond.

[zach]

Oh, great. The others were here. Zacharias vaguely fond himself wishing he had just stayed home, but he knew it was no use now. Uncle Phin would never take him back, and he would look like an idiot anyway. He held out his hand stiffly to Wendi, greeting her with a curt, 'Nice to meet you.' Behind him, Zacharias could feel his uncle's steely gaze boring into the back of his head. With a polite not to May, he said coolly, 'This is my uncle, Phineas.' Uncle Phin took a few moments to regard the girls, appraising them. They were not Slytherins, that much was obvious. It was curious that his nephew would choose to befriend such an . . . odd . . . group of girls. The one with the red-rimmed eyes had not even greeted him properly, a fact that lowered her standing in his eyes. Perhaps she was not in a proper state of mind to be greeting people? She did look rather upset. He would let her lack of manners slide this time, decided Phineas rationally, moving his gaze to the second girl. While she was obviously not in Slytherin, Phineas was rather pleased with this girl. She had manners. Where had he seen her before?

'Phineas Burdgemagus-Domingart, at your service.'

Grimacing, Zacharias stepped back a few paces. He loathed formalities of every kind. It was boring being so polite to one another, but he knew what Uncle Phineas would say if he disobeyed the oh-so-important waste of time that was protocol. Or rather, he knew what his uncle would do, and that was not a very pleasant thought. In this vein, the boy turned to his uncle, whispering, 'You don't have to stay, uncle.'

Phineas frowned. He did not want to leave his nephew alone without meeting the people who resided in this house, nor was he planning to. Glaring into the boy's stern eyes, he said quite loudly, 'I want to meet these people, Zacharias, and I shan't be leaving until I do.' Bowing his head in defeat, Zacharias turned his attention to an ant on the ground, watching its slow progress toward May's feet. He did not like his uncle staying with him while the others were obviously alone, especially considering the fact that Phineas could be extremely biased at times and might make an embarrassing comment about someone's family. Besides, he had always been somewhat uncomfortable with other people knowing he lived with his uncle. These girls might not yet know, but Uncle Phin was sure to let it slip in somewhere. He always did, and it was horribly humiliating to Zacharias who had always been rather jealous of the other students at Hogwarts who lived with their parents. Ector and the others got off easy, thought the boy sullenly. They didn't have to listen to their uncle's tedious explinations of how it was he became the guardian of Zacharias.

'Ahem, Zacharias told me there would be others arriving. You do look rather familiar,' he addressed Wendi, scrutinising her. 'But, I can't place you. Have we met? Or perhaps, have I met your parents?'

[Myn Katrenya R2]

The doorbell rang and Myn leaned against the door stubbornly, suddenly dreading the appearance of her friends. "Myn!" Mark hissed quietly, casting a nervous look toward the door and pulling his cousin away from the door gently. "What iswrong with you Myn? They're your friends and it was your idea to invite them! Did you not have a good time with whatever her name is, in Paris? Don't you always talk to me about what good a friend May is and how glad you are that you invited whoever the other one is?" Mark demanded firmly, cocking his head curiously. "Wendi and Zach. But yes. And I don't know what's wrong with me. I just...Mark, this is stupid." Myn nodded firmly, lifting her chin defiantly. "I had a wonderful time in Paris, May is amazing and Zach amuses me. This is all going to be fine. Whatever were you worrying about?" Myn walked over to the door confidently, not seeing Mark rolling his eyes and sticking his tongue out at her childishly. Right. Because he had been the worried one. Sure...

Myn opened the door silently, running a quick scan over the people on the doorstep. Zach and who Myn guessed was either his father or uncle. May, with red-rimmed eyes and a fairly obvious lack of sleep. Myn frowned slightly, flicking a look to Mark, who was behind her and hiding beind the door, and silently informing him that, once inside, he would have to entertain the other two while Myn found out what was wrong with May. And Wendi, Myn smiled slightly. The hours of training in pureblood ettiquette indicated that Myn should bow and so she bowed nervously, hoping that she hadn't messed up. Well, a few weeks wasn't nearly long enough to properly memorise all of the pureblood manners. "Sir," Myn greeted the adult first before turning to her friends and smiling gently. "May, Wendi, Zach. Would you all like to come inside? I'm sure a house-elf would be delighted to bring up refreshments for all of us." Myn held her breath after she had stopped speaking, flicking a quick look at her cousin and being reassured by the quick grin and nod of the head from him. She had done well and not messed up. Hopefully.

[wendi]

Wendi looked at the adult as he introduced himself. Names, names. In the world in which Wendi was born into they were important. Names determined everything. Everyone could tell the status of people by names. Wendi's name revealed that she came from a pure background, she was raised well, and yet she wasn't in Slytherin. She wouldn't exactly call her family blood-traitors. Her grandparents had a tight knit group of wizard friends, Bell and Jonathan worked with muggles, but Wendi rarely saw them. Wendi's parents, well Wendi didn't know what they believe, but she and Jamison would be friends to all. Wendi would would treat everyone with respect if they treated her with it. She smiled slightly at the man. What a long name! Of course Wendi's name was pretty long herself. "Wendi Eden-Grace Parson, sir." She said calmly. This wasn't that difficult for her. She had done it some many times over her life, that it was just a normal every day thing for Wendi. The man hadn't asked for her name, but Wendi felt it necessary to give it to him. Wendi was a social person so none of this greeting stuff intimidated her. Wendi's eyes traced over to May. How she must be hurting. News traveled fast to the Parson house. Especially since Leon was in Ravenclaw with Jamison. It was through him that Wendi had found out. Wendi knew how to talk to May, but that would wait until later. She of course, had adapted to her parents being gone, but it would take time for May. She had lived with Leon her whole live and now he was gone. Wendi didn't think she could ever handle loosing Jamison like that.

Wendi's eyes traced back over to the adult with Zach. He asked her a few things and Wendi forced herself not to frown. Wendi listened to his questions. He said she looked familiar and asked if he had ever met her parents. Wendi was used to this, but it was a bit hard. She didn't think Zach knew about her parents and Wendi didn't know if May did either. But, she kept up the appearance that life was good. Wendi needed to be strong for May. She shook her head slightly. "I do not believe we have met sir, no." She said calmly in a rather unWendi like calm tone. "I'm not sure you have met my parents either. See, they were killed when I was only a year old." Wendi took a breath. "I live with my Grandparents, Norma and Bernard Parson. My parents were Arnold and Louise Parson" The man could of heard of Wendi's uncle, but she didn't mention him. Keith Parson. Death Eater. Wendi thought in her head. It had never been proven, but Wendi knew it was true. She knew that Jamison was right and that Keith was the one who had murdered their parents. Keith always tried to gain custody of the two and Jamison was convinced that it was really Wendi he wanted. Keith wanted something with her, but no one knew what it was. Was it that Keith saw much of his own brother, Arnold in Wendi? No one except Keith knew, but Wendi did want to know.

She smiled as Myn opened the door. Saved. She thought. Wendi wasn't afraid of the adult, but she had no desire to talk about her parents any longer. She looked at Myn thoughtfully. She hadn't seen her since Paris and Wendi was glad she had been invited. Wendi smiled nicely. Wendi nodded as Myn asked if that wanted to come inside. Myn then said that the house-elves could bring them refreshments Wendi smiled. She looked over at May. Wendi looked at the man with Zach not knowing if he would be coming in. Wendi would let him go first if that was the case, but she really didn't know. So, she walked into the house and moved out of the doorway so that others could enter. "Sounds great." She said to Myn's comment about the refreshments. Wendi waited for the others to enter as she looked around her.

[coolasice]

May stayed fairly quiet while Wendi, the man, and Zach made pleasantries. She didn’t respond much, only moving to lift her foot and stamp on the ant that had made it's lonesome way towards her feet. However she noticed how impolite she was being and after Wendi introduced herself May pulled up a weak smile and introduced herself also. “Katie-May Harrow, sir.” She said, looked the man with the long name. ‘'Phineas Burdgemagus-Domingart’ was certainly an unusual collection of short titles and May, if she was in her normal state of mind, most likely would have nudged Wendi with a small smile at the man’s high standards he seemed to reek of. But she didn’t of course
’ See, they were killed when I was only a year old’ The words reached May’s ears. She flinched, and felt her eyes moistening slightly. Blinking furiously she cursed herself in her head for being so week. Killed. Oh god… She wondered if she’d survive this ‘friendly’ visit without crying once. Unlikely.

Not looking at Wendi, Zach, and Phineas, she wondered if they’d seen her flinch at the word. Most likely. Hoping Myn would answer the door soon, she almost started as the door opened wide to reveal a rather nervous Myn. That made her smile inside. Myn would find a way of getting the old May back, if anyone could. At least, May hoped she could. She greeted Myn, mustering up yet another poor smile as she followed Wendi into the house, then stood aside to let Zach and his uncle through. As Myn spoke, May let her eyes wander over to a young boy standing nearby. Who was that? She didn’t know, and brought her mind back to Myn’s polite voice to catch the last sentence.
Katie-May nodded. Refreshments. She badly needed a drink, a quick splash of water on her face, and some good, pointless chatter with her friends. She still wasn’t sure if she was glad she’d come after all. To her it hadn’t been a good idea to come, but she wouldn’t show weakness to her mother by sulking alone in her bedroom. Although she sincerely wanted to.

[zach]

'Wonderful, really. Pleasure to meet you.' Zacharias turned his head; they would think he was odd now, with an uncle like that. 'Parson, you say?' Phineas carried on, looking thoughtful. He vaguely remembered news of a death, but it was another Parson that came to Phineas Domingarts mind upon mention of the name. Phineas prided himself on being a knowledgeable man, and part of that knowledge entailed being aware of who was a Death Eater nowadays. He was too old, he told himself, to join now, and there was always Zacharias who needed caring for, but knowing the Death Eaters was a lovely way to be a part of the excitement without half of the danger required in being a member of the Dark Lord's inner circle. Of course, this was hardly a good topic to discuss with a child, especially a child who did not seem to sympathise with the cause. Not to mention they were currently standing on the doorstep of a Half-Blood. No, it would not bode well, he decided.

'Zacharias also lost his parents at a young age,' he said graciously, pushing the boy's head up with his hand. The manners on that one! 'I am truly sorry for you loss.'

No more could be said on the matter, however, for at that very moment, the door opened. Zacharias straightened almost anxiously, ignoring his uncle's whispered intructions on the proper way to be a house guest. As soon as Uncle Phin left, the better off he would be. Could his uncle not see what he was doing? He was embarassing, and he had shared a secret that Zacharias would rather not have told a couple of perfect strangers. Well, almost perfect strangers. He had, after all, seen them in school a few times, but that was hardly a friendship. Nodding politely to Myn, he followed his uncle inside. Now Uncle Phine had to introduce himself, take his quick glance at the house, and leave. Leave quickly, he pleaded mentally. Leave now, quickly. Just go. Say hello, introduce yourself, goodbye, and leave. I'm fine now. Have a look and get out . . . .

Holding his hand out to Myn, Phineas offered her a slightly forced smile and gushed, 'Lovely to meet you, Ms. Katrenya. I am Zacharias's uncle, Phineas. He is very pleased to have been invited today. Unfortunately,' he glanced furtively around the interior of the house, 'I must dash. I will be around to collect Zacharias as soon as this little get - together is over. Pleasure to have met you. Good day.'

Relief washed over Zacharias like a cold shower as he watched his uncle bow out before apparating away. Finally . . .

Clearing his throat, he said uncertainly, 'Sorry about my uncle --- he's . . . .'

There really was no way to properly describe Phineas Burdgemagus - Domingart in Zacharias's mind. He was certainly uncomfortably unpredictable, wasn't he? Well, at least he was finally gone away now and would most likely forget to come and collect his nephew, in which case Zacharias might have the chance at a nice, peaceful ride home aboard the Knight Bus. He sighed, swiping the hair from his forehead with a pale hand.

[Myn Katrenya R2]

Myn closed her eyes in silent relief when Zach's uncle - Phineas Burdgemagus-Domingart - apparated away. She was never any good with adults, excluding her own family, and that particular adult both scared her and irritated her. His smile had so obviously been forced and he had definitely thought less of her because of her blood. Never had she been so glad to close the door behind an adult and turn to her friends, her smile slowly becoming less forced as she looked at them. Myn flicked a look at her cousin and Mark stepped forward obediently, inclining his head to May and Wendi politely and offering them a small smile before turning to Zach, who received merely a quick glance and an almost painfully forced smile. Myn glared at her cousin sharply, the hard fire in her eyes warning him to be polite to the three people whom she considered good friends, before flashing a smile at her friends. "This is my cousin, Mark." Then, Myn hesitated, opening her mouth as if to add more to her introduction before closing her mouth once more and closing the subject. They were her friends but that didn't mean that they should have the history behind him and Kerry moving in. Family business stayed in the family.

"Right," Myn grinned easily, allowing herself to relax no that she had no one to make a good impression upon. "Zach, I'm afraid that I lied to your uncle. I'm not going to bother the house-elves. Mostly because they annoy me. So Mark will show Zach and Wendi to the kitchen while I take May upstairs. I promised to show you a book, didn't I?" Myn quirked an eyebrow at May questioningly, reckoning that her fellow Ravenclaw knew her well enough to figure out that Myn wanted to talk to her. "I'm glad you all could come though," Myn smiled softly, passing her gaze over all three of her friends. Zach, whom she presumed would be both wary and curious about a muggle-styled house - even if some parts were magical. Wendi, who perhaps was trusted the most for the moment. After all, they had shared an adventure in Paris. And May, whose red-rimmed eyes were worrying Myn enough to merely grin at Wendi and Zach slightly before arching an eyebrow at May and leading her toward her bedroom. Once in the room, Myn sat on her bed patiently, knowing better than to ask questions just yet. If May wanted to share then she would. "The bathroom is that way," Myn tilted her head to a door, "if you want to wash your face first."

Meanwhile, Mark rolled his eyes at the retreating back of his cousin before observing the two guests before him. The girl - Wendi - was the one who had whisked Myn away to Paris, right? And Myn had returned safely so she could obviously be trusted. Not to mention that Myn often talked about both Wendi and May. The boy however - Zach - Mark wasn't sure about him. Sure, Myn talked about him and she obviously respected him enough to warn her cousin to be polite. But his uncle was a different matter. He had shaken Myn enough for her guard to slip when she had looked over at Mark and he had seen the mixture of annoyance and intimidation in the green depths. Still, he couldn't judge the older boy by his uncle. "Refreshments then," Mark tilted his head slightly, indicating for the two to follow him, before leading the way to the kitchen, noting the absence of the few house-elves that they kept in the London house with relief. They didn't unnerve him, they just irritated the young boy. "What do you both want?" Mark arched an eyebrow, the motion showing his resemblance to his cousin. If they had to, then Myn and Mark could easily pass for brother and sister, rather than cousins. Relief flickered through his dark eyes when Myn entered the kitchen. "I know, I know, Myn. You want butterbeer." Mark rolled his eyes. "Childish idiot." He muttered playfully, keeping his voice quiet enough for only people close to him to hear.

Myn grinned as she entered the kitchen, easily identifying her cousins dark head and seeing the small gestures that showed his nervousness. Small enough gestures for only people who knew him well to notice them - which Myn did. The two had become close enough for one to recognise fairly small gestures from the other. They had even worked on communicating through looks and gestures. It had taken a while but they had managed it and were fairly pleased with the result. "Wendi, Zach, May. Do you want anything else? Or shall we decide what to do?" Myn grinned and waited to deal with any requests before continuing. "Alright then. We can go outside, go shopping, play a game or watch a DVD. Which do you prefer?" Myn glanced at her cousin impishly, both knowing that all three guests were pureblooded and so would have no idea what a DVD was. Which was exactly why Myn had decided to add it to the list of choices and had dragged out some of her old DVDs. The Lion King should aptly amuse everyone for two hours, Myn snickered quietly.

[wendi]

Zach's uncle soon apparated away and Wendi took a breath. He didn't really scare her, but Wendi didn't even want to know what he thought of Myn. Sure, she was a half-blood, but so what? Wendi's uncle was a pure-blood and yet he was the lowest creature on the planet in Wendi's opinion. Wendi didn't like most Slytherin pure-bloods. Well, the weren't exactly fond of her either. Wendi had to interact act with some of them at events, but she mostly just stuck near trusty Jamison. Why talk to someone who hates you more than you can grasp? Wendi didn't even want to bother with it. Zach's uncle seemed much like Keith except for the fact that Keith Parson would never leave Wendi's life no matter what. He needed something from her. Wendi and Jamison both knew it. They just didn't know what. Was it something mental or an item? Wendi shrugged to herself. Amazing how Zach's uncle made her think of all of this. Wendi watched as May and Zach entered the house and the door was closed. Good. She thought. Now the fun can begin. Wendi smiled at Myn's cousin. She had never met him, but he couldn't be bad. Wendi's eyes searched over to May. This was too much for her. May was in deep mental pain and it would take awhile for her to get over it. Wendi knew all about that.

Zach said something about his uncle and Wendi only shrugged. She wouldn't judge. Well, she already assumed he was just like Keith, but she wouldn't judge beyond that! Or would she? Wendi smiled as Myn introduced her cousin. Mark was it? Wendi just smiled nicely not saying a word for once. Myn said something about taking May upstairs to look at a book and Mark handling Wendi and Zach. Wendi nodded calmly. May was in pain and obviously she needed some comfort. However, that would be hard with Zach there and everything. Plus, Wendi didn't want to push a topic on May and hurt her. Wendi knew too much about death. True, Zach's uncle was he? Well, he said something about Zach loosing his parents at a young age. Hmm, it seems that the Hufflepuff and the Slytherin do have something in common after all. Wendi shrugged to herself entering the kitchen. Mark said something about refreshments and asked what they wanted. Myn soon entered and Mark knew she wanted a butterbeer. "Um, make that two. Please." Wendi said calmly. She did liked the taste a butterbeer. It wasn't a common drink at her house. So, she didn't get it much especially since she wasn't allowed in Hogsmeade. So, Wendi couldn't pass this opportunity up.

Myn then looked at the three and gave a list of things they can do. She also asked if they wanted anything else. "I'm fine." Wendi said nodding. Wendi smiled at the options. "You know me I'm flexible." Wendi laughed. "And I just know that Zach loves to shop." Wendi joked smiling. "But, whatever." She smiled at the thought of a DVD player. She had never used one, but she had heard about them, but Wendi didn't know what they did really. She smiled at Myn. Wendi raised her eyebrow comically. She laughed. "What exactly does a DVD player do?" She asked out of curiosity. She really didn't know. Wendi loved muggle things, but she wasn't much on muggle technology. She just liked their toys and random items. Well, and food and candies of course, but that was it. Wendi looked at the others waiting to respond.

[coolasice]

May let out a true smile as Myn said about how she wasn’t really going to get the house elves. It was so Myn and for a moment May was glad she was there. May shot a little smile towards Mark, wondering why she’d never heard of him before. When Myn said about the book May nodded a little, trying not to look on the verge of tears. She followed her friend up to an unfamiliar room, and then nodded once more as Myn pointed out a bathroom. She locked the door behind her and looked into the mirror. The sight that looked back at her made her even more upset. Her eyes, as she had seen that morning, were pink in colour and slightly bloodshot. Her hair, although neater than she had had it in the morning, was still limp and messy. She stared at her reflection in disgust before splashing her face repeatedly with water, trying to wash away the unfamiliar little girl who had occupied the space in the mirror.
There’s no pulse…
The voice cut into her thoughts and she literally growled loudly. Those three dreaded words which she’d stood to witness with Flo had constantly been haunting her these days. That was the moment, she decided. The moment when everything fell away. The moment when she turned into that hideously tearful girl in the mirror. The moment when she lost her brother.

When May re-reappeared Myn was sitting on the bed and May went straight away and sat beside her. She stayed silent for a moment, watching the silver clock on the wall tick away slowly. She even counted the time. Two minutes and thirty-nine seconds went by before May spoke. And when she did, it was in a calm and collected tone- which surprised May completely. She supposed it was ok because it was Myn, and the two minutes and thirty-nine seconds had indeed helped her gather her thoughts. May kept her focus point as the clock and stared as it as she spoke calmly. “Leon died.” Was all she said.

((Sorry it's so bad. I'm not doing a Myn and going downstairs in this post hehe, sorry if it causes complications.))

[zach]

'It plays DVDs, of course,' said Zacharias almost arrogantly, surprising himself. He had no idea what a DVD was in the first place, or what a DVD player would actually do, but surely it must play DVDs if it was called a DVD player? He shrugged and couldn't help but think, 'Muggles'. Muggles were always making odd things, weren't they? Automobiles and aeroplanes and DVD players --- Zacharias didn't know what to make of it all. Were they really going to watch a DVD? What was it anyway? Would it be insufferably Muggle? What if he offended everyone in the room by making an off - colour remark? Zacharias was rather known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, especially around Uncle Phin's Purist friends, an Muggleborn students at school. He had once told a joke, Uncle Phin's favourite, about a monkey. Monkey, among the Purist Wizarding population, was a more durogatory word for Muggle. What if he made the same mistake here? They would hate him.

Not that he cared, really. They were a bunch of Mudbloods and Muggle - Lovers, after all. A complete waste of his time. Why should he care what they thought of him, anyway? They were beneath him, right? They didn't matter to begin with. On the other hand, friends were more entertaining to have than enemies.

'So . . .' he began awkwardly, fists shoved into his pocket. 'What sorts of . . . er (he racked his brain for the word again) DVDs have you got?'

(crappy post, sorry)

[Myn Katrenya R2]

Myn waited patiently for May to emerge from the bathroom, guessing that something terrible had happened. It had to be terrible for May to be acting so...unMay-ish. And it unnerved her. May was always hyper and playful; it wasn't like her to be so unhappy and lifeless. The door to the bathroom opened and Myn's eyes instantly snapped to the door, watching May carefully and feeling slightly more secure when May took a seat next to her. It was a sign that she was willing to talk, which was good. A few minutes passed with them both sitting in silence, Myn occasionally glancing at her friend worriedly. Finally May spoke and Myn's eyes widened immediately, processing the information before even attempting to gather her thoughts. Leon...dead. She had never met May's brother but it was still shocking. Myn pulled May into a hug silently, offering comfort in the only way she knew how.

Myn accepted the butterbeer from her cousin silently, draining the glass quickly before gesturing for him to refill the glass and hand one to Wendi and Zach. Mark raised an eyebrow at her in faint concern but obeyed her, figuring that it had something to do with May. If she wanted to tell him then she would. Myn closed her eyes slowly, half-turning away from her friends silently. Mays news had shaken her more than she'd like to admit. Sure, she had never met Leon but it had affected May, who was one of Myns closer friends. Seeing May so hurt was almost painful really, when Myn had only seen May as a happy girl. Both Wendi and Zach spoke so Myn turned around again, smiling at them brightly, fakely. "Zach, you are completely right. But...can you tell me what a DVD is?" Myn teased gently, placing a hand on Marks shoulder reassuringly, silently telling him that she would be fine. It was May that they had to worry about now. Myn led the way into the lving room, glancing over her shoulder as she answered Zachs question. "I have quite a few, but I think the The Lion King should amuse everyone for a while." Myn grinned lightly, swallowing a laugh. Mark pushed her into a chair gently before switching the DVD on and sitting at her feet, leaning his head against her legs gently. It was such a brotherly and utterly trusting gesture that tears shimmered in her eyes for a few seconds before Myn blinked them away furiously.

((The first paragraph is obviously for May only, since Myn and May are the only two upstairs, and the second is for Wendi and Zach. May, you can post that you stayed upstairs for a while and came down during the movie or something. Your choice.))

[wendi]

Wendi rolled her eyes at Zach's comment. Geez, was he really going to be so arrogant? Wendi wasn't in the mood for that. She wasn't at all. Wendi just gave him a look putting her hand on her hip and moving her head in a cocky manner. "Well, excuse me for not being a muggle electronics magician." She said sarcastically to Zach. Wendi didn't think that Myn had ever seen that side of Wendi before, but she couldn't help it. Wendi had never had a soft spot for Slytherins no matter what the situation. Keith had hurt the family way too much and he of course had been the only Parson Slytherin. Wendi just associated every Slytherin with Keith in her mind. It was just a habit and something that Wendi was pretty sure she could never bring herself to change. Wendi smiled at Myn. Where was May? Probably upstairs Wendi assumed. Of course, May wouldn't exactly be great since her brother just died. Thinking about it was hard for Wendi too. She had met Leon once at the zoo with May and Jamison, but that was a long time ago. And she had seen him with May at Hogwarts. Wendi felt so sorry for May. She sort of understood how the girl was feeling since Wendi had lived a life without two people in her life she loved dearly. But, Wendi was thankful that she was only a year old when her parents were killed. True, she had little memories of them, nut she didn't have to go through the pain of loosing them. She was too young for that then. Wendi had a sad look on her face looking at Myn.

Wendi walked over to the room where Mark was starting the DVD. She smiled curiously at the TV Oh, so that's how the DVD player words. Wendi felt silly not knowing such things. Yes, she did love muggle items, but she wasn't very familiar with muggle electronics. That stuff didn't interest Wendi very much at all. Wendi took a seat in an empty chair smiling lightly. "Oh, cool." She said happily. Wendi glanced over at Myn. "I don't understand why they don't have DVD players for sale in places like Diagon Alley. That is just too cool. Muggles can be so much smarter than wizards technology wise." Wendi didn't bother looking at Zach not knowing what he would say in response to that, but she didn't really care. She just glanced at the flickering screen smiling at the images of lions and other wild creatures. Wendi laughed lightly. Yes, this was just too cool. Wendi had never seen a cartoon before. That is what this thing was called? Wendi was pretty sure she was right. She looked over to smile at Myn for a moment, but she noticed something odd. Wendi gave a concerned look to Myn. "Myn? Are you okay?" Wendi asked seeing tears in her friend's eyes. However, Myn was trying to make them go away. Wendi gave a brief glance over to Zach to see if he had noticed too and then she looked back at Myn was a sad, concerned face.