Lifes a party and I will be your host. (Faith)

[Dustin Hemingway]

“Why the hell am I even here?” Dustin said as he wondered down one of the streets in Hogsmeade and looked in the windows. Most of the shops seemed closed but that didn't surprise Dustin, it was passed seven seeing as he left work only a few minutes ago and Floo traveled himself right to Hogsmeade. He didn't even know why he bothered to come to Hogsmeade, it wasn't that interesting to Dustin unless he had some shopping to do. That's all this town seemed like, just a big mall with houses around it. Dustin yawned as he looked into another dark shop window and thought he saw figures moving around inside. No he was certain that there had to be someone in there the shadows were moving to humanly to be just his eyes. He laughed slightly to himself as a thought crept into his head and he just allowed himself to give in to the idea. Dustin tapped the glass rather hard and watched as the shadow jumped and he just burst out laughing even more then before. He could see the figure now making it's way to the front down, he heard the lock click open and the head of a rather upset older man pop out. “We're closed! What do you want?” The man said in a stern voice his eyes fixed right to Dustin.

“Me? Oh, I didn't want anything. I was just testing if your windows were sound proof. Good news, there not!” Dustin said trying his best to keep a straight face as the man mumbled, rolled his eyes then slammed the door shut and locked it. “Your welcome!” Dustin yelled laughing as he just walked on before the man come back out, which he didn't. With a smile on his face now he kept walking down Hogsmeade's main street with all the friendly (Beside the one Dustin was just at) stores. Down some of the darker alleys were the more seedier shops. Shops Dustin was well accustom to because of his families background and more darker jobs they did. Dustin laughed slightly to himself as he thought of one store down one of those darker alley's where used to supply him with a number of things back when he was still in Hogwarts. Those number of things were the reason he was expelled in the first place and he had never turned to that store since.

Dustin was in a bug every store owner he could kind of mood as he went to any store that still had their lights on and their sign saying closed. Dustin just tried to open the door of them, one of the store owners was priceless. He tried to open the door to her shop but it was locked and she just looked at him like he was crazy. “Can I come in?” Dustin said with a smile as she just walked to the door with a confused look on her face. “Can't you read the sign?” She said in a confused tone pointing to the sign on the inside of the door. “No... I never learned to read.” Dustin said trying to say it in an almost depressed tone as the ladies face soon turned into a look of pity for Dustin. “Also I wanted to ask about the sign up front about buy one sweet get another half price? Is that still going on?” Dustin asked as he laughed from watching her face turn red and storming off into the back of the store. “Is that a yes or a no?” He said laughing still, then walked off as the lady didn't look like she was returning any time soon.

He looked around and laughed as he came up to a very familiar sight and couldn't help but stare at it for awhile. “You haven't changed much.” Dustin muttered to himself as to stared at The Three Broomsticks, he hadn't even bothered to look at this place since he had been kicked out of Hogwarts. From what he remembered it was always full of students but seeing as how all the students were on summer break it probably had to be pretty empty nowadays. Which didn't bother Dustin, He would rather it be empty then full of student, as he thought that he made his way to the door while at the same time looking inside from the window in the door. It was actually quite full but it seemed to be more shop owners and other adults then students. As Dustin walked in he started to remembered all the times he had come here as a student and how loud it used to be, nothing like it was right now. Sure people were talking and having a good time but nowhere near as loud as the students did.

Dustin toke a seat at an empty part of the bar and looked around at all the people talking and enjoy themselves, just as he did the waitress seemed to appear out of nowhere and ask him if he wanted anything. “Umm... Butter beer I guess, I haven't had that in a while.” Dustin said with a smile looking back to the lady as she soon walked off to get his drink. “The last time I had one was....” He thought to himself out loud as looked on to the other people enjoying themselves. “I can't even remember.” Dustin said with a laugh as the lady soon returned with his drink then smiled at him and walked off. “Oh! Can you do me a favor?” He said as the waitress slowly walked back to him and nodded. “The next beautiful girl to walk through your door, I'll buy her drink as well and tell her it's from me.” Dustin said with a smirk as she looked at him awkwardly but nodded again and walked off. Dustin was in a really good mood for coming here to Hogsmeade for no real reason, it made him happier then he was before he came.

[Faith Ellison S7]

It only happened every so often that, even for Faith, music was simply not enough company to satisfy her. She hated those times more than anything else, when she felt the need to pack her violin away in its protective case, put down the lid to her piano with gentle care and then proceed to venture out into the streets of Hogsmeade. Perhaps once or twice a year she felt that need, and most usually during the summer or winter holidays when she wasn’t surrounded by the masses of students that made up the majority of Hogwarts’ population. Not that she enjoyed the company of her fellow students, even those who shared her House and dorm. At the most, she felt a mild disdain towards those who deserved it, and had a strong distrust of every single student and adult that inhabited Hogwarts. Life had taught her that people just weren’t to be trusted. People lied, cheated, and bribed and so much more; they were just generally corrupted. The only person to keep her for his own had left before she was capable of living under her own means, and Faith hated that she couldn’t even blame him for it. She could never expect someone to keep living in the sordidness of this world unless they had something to live for, and Faith obviously hadn’t been enough of a reason for her uncle to stay and fight for life. That was fine. Faith didn’t need him either. She had her reason; she had her music.

Her fingers delicately dragged along the wooden top of her piano with a feather-light touch as Faith walked past it to the doorway of the room. Out of habit, she turned before exiting the room to survey it with a connoisseur’s critical gaze. It was a large, spacious room with numerous instruments spread across it. Her violins – the genuine Stradivarius that had belonged to her uncle and was now hers, the very first violin that had been created for her by a luthier and the one she had received for her eleventh birthday – had pride of place on the far side of the room, the very first thing that Faith saw when she entered her music room and the most-played instruments she owned. Her single viola, a Tertis model that had caused Faith much exasperation when she first started playing it, had been placed next to the violins, a few feet away from her collection of flutes and piccolos. There was a harmonica mixed in with the flutes, simply because it had seemed like a fun instrument. Her piano, clarinet and three guitars were also safely placed in the correct places (not that the piano could really have moved far without a lot of effort) so Faith smiled, genuinely pleased and happier than she ever was at Hogwarts, lingering for a moment longer before stepping away and locking the door.

The majority of her collection of musical instruments, all of which Faith knew how to play, hadn’t been purchased by her. Her uncle had bought them during his lifetime, except the harmonica, the viola and some of the flutes. Oh, she had the money – or rather, her parents did. Money had never been a problem for Faith. She had that of her parents’ at her disposal for, as much as they didn’t want their daughter, they had no issue with shamelessly trying to buy her loyalty. No daughter of theirs would become a simple musician if they had their way. Fortunately for her, Faith had never paid much attention to what her parents wanted. She simply gave them the same regard that they had offered her during her childhood: none. On top of the money her parents threw at her in the hopes that she would conform to their ideals, Faith had the money her uncle had left to her. She was probably a bit too rich for a seventeen year old, when all aspects of the situation were considered. Faith had never had a job, never had to work for her money. She was a reasonably responsible teenager, just highly indifferent to the people around her. It probably wasn’t fair that so much money had just fallen into her lap, metaphorically speaking. Of course, the world had never been fair and Faith didn’t care at all for what other people thought of her.

With a doubtful feeling, Faith glanced at The Three Broomsticks, which was apparently where her feet had led her during her aimless wanderings since she had left her house. She might have felt the need for more company than she could ever find in her mostly empty house but this hadn’t been what she had been thinking of. A quiet café, perhaps, or just somewhere that wasn’t usually filled with students. At least, Faith thought with a quietly resigned exhale of breath, not many younger people frequented The Three Broomsticks during the summer. They were all too busy having fun in the sun somewhere. Hogsmeade was just a school-time treat to them. Most of the people who worked in there knew her by sight anyway, which wasn’t something that Faith particularly relished but it was a bad idea to be on bad terms with her neighbours. It was hard to find new places to visit in Hogsmeade after living there for a while so Faith was generally stuck visiting the same places.

With such classically bad timing that Faith dryly wondered if it had been planned down to the last second, a waitress popped up seemingly out of thin air the second that Faith walked through the door and thrust a butterbeer at her with enough force that the liquid splashed over the edge of the glass. “Let me guess, some idiot pulling the ‘buy a pretty girl a drink’ scam?” Faith asked sardonically, unsurprised when she received a nod in return. It happened more often than most people would think. It was usually a ploy undertaken by tipsy older men being egged on by their rowdy and equally drunken friends though, not a younger man sitting by himself. With a shrug, Faith accepted the drink and sipped from it as she took a seat next to the boy who had apparently paid for it. It was just rude to turn down a gift, and Faith had been raised to have manners. Her uncle had been a gentleman, in some ways. “Thanks for the drink,” Faith acknowledged the boy grudgingly. She might have manners but that didn’t mean that she enjoyed other people’s company. Especially if he was going to clumsily try to flirt with her.

[Dustin Hemingway]

“The inside hasn't seemed too change much either.” Dustin said speaking to himself as he sat in his bar stool and looked around The Broomsticks. Most things seemed to have remained the same, which shocked Dustin slightly. It had been four years since he was allowed in Hogwarts or even bothered with most parts of Hogsmeade aside from the random trip to pick up something or meet someone. Even with all that time that's passed it still felt like the same place he enjoyed when he was little, almost made him feel depressed about getting kicked out of Hogwarts but he couldn't say he didn't deserve what happened to him. He had it coming and he had to be honest with himself, getting kicked out wasn't even as bad as some people thought it might be. His family had plenty of money so home schooling wasn't a problem and they also had plenty of connections in the ministry which allowed Dustin to use magic sooner then any simple Hogwarts student was able to outside of Hogwarts.

He sighed as he toke another big sip of his drink and looked forward still lost in his own thoughts. He started to cheer up on his own, thinking about the many benefits of being outside the Hogwarts wall. Freedom was a big one, freedom to do whatever he pleased at anytime and no one to punish or stop him but his mother and even she wasn't much of a threat. Sure she could be a threat when she was around but that was the thing, she was never around. Dustin couldn't help but laugh out loud to himself which made a few people look at him funny but he didn't care, what just popped into his head as worth all the strange looks in the world. “At lest I win the house cup every year” was the thought that made him burst out laughing.

His laughing slowly quieted down and the few people that were looking at him slowly returned to whatever they were doing. As he went back into his thoughts after paying attention to the people who were looking at him a bit he heard the door open. Out of curiosity he turned his head and saw a girl walk in and the waitress from before walked next to her and handed her the drink Dustin had paid for. Dustin just sat there with a smirk on his face as the girl toke the drink from the waitress then proceeded to walk his way. Dustin watched as she sat down next to him and soon thanked him for the drink but he couldn't help but notice the vibe he got that the girl didn't seem to care much for him already. “No problem, to be honest I didn't expect the waitress to even do it.” Dustin said with a laugh as he turned back to his drink and toke another sip. “ I just assumed she thought I'd be some crazy loon and just ignore what I said.” Dustin said with a smile as he turned back to the girl that now sat next time him.

“I guess I owe her more of a tip then I was expecting to give her.” He said with a shrug as he toke another sip of his butterbeer. The waitress did do a wonderful job at doing what he asked her to do. Then again it wasn't that hard beautiful girl check, first one through the door check. Most of the hard work was left up to fate and good luck and both seemed to be on Dustin's side at the moment. “Well I guess I should introduce myself at this point in the conversation.” He said taking one last sip then turned smiling to the girl next to him. “I'm Dustin Hemingway and the first drink is free but after...” He paused as he shook his head slightly with a laugh. “Ah who am I kidding, I'm just a sucker and foolish enough to buy the next couple of drinks too.” Dustin said finishing off what he started to say just moments ago. “Well that is if you don't run off before then, beautiful.” Dustin said with a smiled as he looked back to his drink and finished it off.

[Faith Ellison S7]

With a subtly criticising gaze, Faith flicked her eyes to the right. The boy wasn’t unattractive, Faith had to grudgingly acknowledge even if she wasn’t impressed at all. Dark hair and a nice enough face; from the little knowledge Faith had of her cousins – and it really wasn’t a lot, because they had always resented her temporary place in their lives – she reckoned that they would have just adored him. True, she was a bit biased. Faith hated her family more than most people would think possible. She hated them too much to even want to kill them. Over the years, fierce hatred had settled and diminished into sheer indifference. As long as all of the members of her family stayed far, far away from Faith, she would be perfectly content with her life. The fact still remained that the majority of her cousins were so different to Faith that they exaggerated their interest in men just to distance themselves even further from Faith, who typically showed absolutely no interest in anyone at all. People didn’t bother her in their existence, she just wished that they could exist somewhere else.

“You paid the waitress for a drink that you didn’t even expect her to deliver?” Faith raised an eyebrow slightly, too apathetic about the situation to arch it entirely. It just didn’t call for such a reaction. So there was a boy who wanted to waste his money on the possibility of a waitress handing a drink to a hapless patron of The Three Broomsticks. Except for the fact that Faith just so happened to be that person, it had absolutely nothing to do with her in any way. It did, perhaps, suggest that the boy either had too few brains or too much money in his pocket but that still wasn’t Faith’s problem or even any of her business. He was just another person, and she didn’t recognise him as one of the cretins she shared the corridors of Hogwarts with so the likelihood was that she wouldn’t ever see him again anyway. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t bother Faith in the slightest.

This was more company than she had been expecting, which just proved the old idea of ‘be careful what you wish for’. When she had unwillingly ventured outside and into the realm of the rest of the world that lurked outside her front door, Faith had thought that this time would be no different from the other occasions human company was called for. Usually, she sat in a corner by herself, surrounded by irritatingly noisy people, and nursed a drink or two for an hour at the most before deciding that she really couldn’t handle any more idiocy and returning home. Never before had she been the almost entirely unappreciative recipient of a drink paid for by someone else. If it weren’t for the fact that James had drilled some semblance of manners into his sulky, abandoned little niece when she had first arrived on his doorstep then Faith would have been entirely unappreciative of the gesture and probably unbothered about telling the boy about it without any hint of tact whatsoever. “There tend to be a lot of...’crazy loons’ after a few too many drinks. It’s quite common for men to try to find company through such a conventional scheme. The only possible surprise would be your age. They tend to be, or look, older than you.” There, she had made the effort to be sociable, and her social skills were quite obviously rusty. Unless she took up the habit of talking to her instruments like they were human, which would be an insult to the instruments, Faith would probably be forever socially awkward, and she would always be dismissive of humans in general.

Temporarily sociable, temporarily pleasant, temporarily very much not herself. It was like her mantra whenever Faith left the comfort of her music. Music was familiar, it was safe. People weren’t be trusted; she hated that. Faith rarely took notice of the people surrounding her but when she did, she really hated that she would never be able to bring herself to trust even just one of them completely. She knew too much about how corrupt people could be. When a family didn’t even want to take in a young child, there was something wrong with society. Music, at least, had never turned her away or mocked her or rebuffed her search for companionship. “Faith Ellison,” she offered neutrally, eyes unwaveringly cool as she flicked a glance at Dustin before sipping from her drink. “And I can buy my own drinks. I’m not interested in your false compliments or any flirtation you might have in mind. So, to clarify, don’t call me ‘beautiful’. I have a name.” Albeit one that had been picked out by a hospital nurse because her parents hadn’t been interested in their daughter when she had been of the wrong gender. A male heir was useful; a girl was good for nothing but marrying off in the interest of securing alliances. Faith had lost every last illusion of being useful to her family when she had made it clear that she would have nothing to do with the sons of the men her father associated with.

[Dustin Hemingway]

A smirk ran a crossed his face as the girl question him about ordering a drink for someone and the waitress not doing it. He didn't expect her to deliver that much was true, he just expected her to return with his money at the end of the night and give some excuse about it. He wouldn't have even been bothered if the waitress didn't do what he asked her. “Yeah, I know it sounds weird.” He said as he looked over to the girl. “I was just in that kind of mood.” He added with a laugh as he looked forward again, looking for where the waitress might have gone off to now. His drink was getting low and he was ready for another, maybe one or two more butter beers before he was ready to move on to the harder stuff he normally drank. He looked over his shoulder and saw the waitress was all the way over at the other end of the room, so it would awhile till he got another drink.

Dustin just smiled as he looked at his mug and listened as the girl spoke about why someone might try to buy someone a drink. It seemed to be a solid argument, most people did try to find company while they drank and if that company was of the other sex then it made it that much better. “The problem is no one really likes drinking alone, well unless that was the whole reason they came was to drink alone.” He said as he smiled and looked over to the girl again. “In my case I guess it's true but I wasn't that worried if someone came or not, I've always found ways of entertaining myself when I need to.” He added as he laughed to himself slightly as he thought about it for a second. Most times when he was bored he would make up random games or some nonsense like that.

He was just starting to think he might have gotten a friendly girl for a change till she introduced herself, as she went on saying she could by her own drinks and that she didn't need his 'false' complaints and flirting with her. Dustin just sighed slightly and as he did the waitress appeared with another mug of butter beer, which confused him for a second because he hadn't even told her he wanted another one. He just shrugged and toke it from her and smiled then toke a sip as waitress toke his old mug. “just when I thought luck was on my side” He thought to himself with with a slightly smirk. “O well when like gives you lemons and all that...” Was his last thought as he turned back to Faith with a smile. “On what grounds do you have that my complaint was in anyway false?” He said with now a slight smirk as he toke another sip of butter beer, he was now certain this would be his last mug of this. It was great for relieving the old days but something stronger was needed to finish off this day. “From my point of view I think it was actually very fitting.” Dustin said with a laugh as he looked at the list of drinks a quick second.

The list actually represented the fact that most of this places customers were children under the age and still in school. Though part of it did have the few over the age drinks that Dustin was looking for, he shrugged at the list unimpressed at what was on it. “As for the flirting, I'll try to hold my tongue the best I can but I make no promises.” Dustin said with a smirk as he looked down at his drink. “ I'm just way too honest for my own good.” He said with a laugh as he toke another sip, then went into his thoughts yet again. “What is with people lately, I haven't had one girl who like complaints in forever it seems.” He thought as he turned to Faith again with a smile, just because she didn't seem to like him at all that didn't stop him from at lest trying to have a conversation with the girl. “Well Faith if I must call you that then the ten to fifteen other names, which I might add are in no way false.” He said with a slight laugh. “Well anyway it's a pleasure to meet you.” Dustin said taking another sip of his butter beer, thoughts of what to ask for next passed into his head. “So what brings you here anyway, any reason or did the nightlife call you too?” Dustin said with a smirk as he looked around The Three Broomsticks, then laughed. “It's not that lively it appears tonight.” He added while he laughed.

[Faith Ellison S7]

Faith eyed the boy doubtfully, starting to seriously ponder just how bored or lacking in common sense he truly was. Faith had more money than most people her age, thanks to her uncle and her uncaring parents, and she had never bought a stranger a drink. She hadn’t even bought a friend a drink, though that was most likely due more to the fact that she had no friends to buy drinks for rather than a sense of thriftiness. Faith had never been frugal. If she wanted something and she had enough money to purchase it then she would buy it. What was the point in depriving herself of something that she wanted without a good reason? Faith had never been forced to live without anything she truly wanted. Affection and love was beyond her parents’ capabilities but material possessions were given all too readily, as was financial support. She had never lacked anything. Why should she? Her family wasn’t poor or struggling in any way. Economic reports boasted just how well her family’s businesses were doing and how wealthy they were becoming. They owed her, they might as well pay off their debt in cold, shiny galleons and sickles.

“I don’t mind drinking alone,” Faith informed him mildly, her blue eyes cool as she gazed at the boy with passive contempt. The implication that she would much rather be drinking alone hung in the air for a moment before Faith lifted one shoulder in a careless, half-hearted shrug. “Still, a bit of company can be preferable to some people sometimes. I haven’t yet decided whether drinking in your company is preferable to a peaceful and quiet little corner without little but my own thoughts to bother me.” For a moment, her hands lingered around the mug serenely before Faith adjusted her grip and raised it to her mouth to finish the remainder of her drink. She had never found the taste of butterbeer appealing – it was far too sweet and cloying for her to truly enjoy it - but it wasn’t in her nature to be so impolite as to refuse a drink that someone had already bought for her.

Faith exhaled gratefully when the waitress appeared. She could get rid of the lingering sweetness of the butterbeer on her tongue. After silently perusing the list of drinks for a moment, Faith opted for one of the milder red wines. She wasn’t interested in getting drunk and losing her wits. Especially not in someone else’s presence. Faith didn’t have a lot, or any, conviction in the integrity of humans in general. Her tolerance for alcohol wasn’t as high as it would have been had she been the type to go out drinking or partying with friends but she could hold her alcohol well enough. She had never once made a fool out of herself because of alcoholic intake. “You want proof that your compliments are false?” Faith laughed lowly, the sound completely lacking in any hint of mirth. “I could be wearing a glamouring charm to make myself appear more attractive; my true appearance could make you cringe away in disgust and horror. The definition of ‘beautiful’ changes from person to person, so your compliment would most definitely be false. Now, what am I forgetting?” Faith tipped her head to the thoughtfully, her eyes emotionless and mocking. “Oh yes, that’s right. I’m not interested. That makes your compliments worthless and annoying, regardless of how close to truth they may be or not.”

Her usual curls were missing from her hair, which was instead still slightly wavy from the braid she had pinned it into earlier in the day to keep it out of her way. Faith raked a hand through the wavy blonde mass carelessly, blowing at a particularly irritating strand that seemed intent on landing across her eyes. Maybe she should just have it cut shorter, she considered reasonably, casting her eyes upward for a second as if she could actually see the hair settled on top of her head. It would be logical. Her hair was forever getting tangled and falling across her face. She spent too long trying to tame it into submission in the mornings and at night. Faith did like her hair though, to the extent of being foolishly attached to the length and thickness of it. Practicality and common sense aside, she couldn’t cut it without an excellent reason to do so. The glass of wine was delivered by a different waitress, Faith noted idly as she accepted her drink with courteous appreciation. “I live in Hogsmeade,” Faith answered after a moment, following his gaze around The Three Broomsticks with well-hidden confusion. It was never really lively during the summer. The business thrived during the school year, when the students and professors were present to provide custom. Why would he expect it to be buzzing with people when the pupils of Hogwarts were on summer holiday? It just wasn’t rational. “I suppose I ventured out for more company than I could provide myself, in a way.”

[Dustin Hemingway]

“I wonder if somewhere on this earth, someone is having an easier time then I am with women lately?” Dustin thought to himself with a slight laugh. He sat there wondering what he did to deserve such a string of girls who hated his complements and quite possibly his existence to a smaller extent. That's all his nights out seemed to be but at lest they were still fun to him in a way. Dustin didn't need anything to really happen with the person he talked to, sometimes he just enjoyed talking to people. If a decent conversation was all he got out of tonight then that was just fine with him but anything more wouldn't been seen as a bad thing. Dustin just laughed slightly again as he drank his butter beer, Faith didn't seem all that bad. Just like any girl he had talked to recently, an attitude and not in the mood for anything Dustin had to say.

He wasn't surprised to hear that she didn't have a problem drinking by herself, she didn't seem like the type who liked company all to much. Then again she could just be having a bad day today or something along those lines. He then laughed as she added that she hadn't decided if she enjoyed his company just yet. “Yeah, I figured you for the type to enjoy peace and quiet more.” Dustin said as looking at his drink then toke another sip, then looked forward over the bar. It wasn't really as interesting at he remembered, probably just that fact that he was little when he was here made it interesting. “I'm glad you haven't decided just yet, this would get boring fast if you hated me already.” He added with a small laugh as he looked over to Faith, she wouldn't have been the first to dislike Dustin in just under a few minutes. In fact it would have been a nice long list if Dustin had written down all the names, he laughed a little more as he thought how long the list would have gone on for.

As the waitress appeared and handed Dustin his second drink he listened as Faith ordered a glass of wine, he didn't bother to offer to buy it seeing as she had already told him she could pay for herself. The thought of wine being his choice of his next drink crossed his mind but he just shrugged it off, he wasn't much of a wine person. The same went for Firewhisky, he didn't care for the burning feeling it gave him on the way down. That still didn't leave much for Dustin to pick from but he had awhile to think of something the waitress was off getting Faith her wine. Dustin just laughed as she challenged his statement about her being beautiful in a way he wasn't expecting. He was expecting her just to take the complement but she seemed to be fighting it to the bitter end and Dustin planned to argue right back.

“Well I doubt you would be wearing any kind of charm, seeing as how you really don't seem that in need for company.” Dustin said as he looked down at his drink then finally toke a sip. “The people who use those charms are normally seeking the company of someone else for a certain purpose or looking to deceive someone.” Dustin said with his ever present smile as he looked over to Faith. “And you seem to be neither of those.” He added with a slight laugh then glanced around the room, nothing much had changed since he had last looked around the place. She didn't even have to bother telling him that she wasn't interested in his complements, it wasn't like he was surprised to find that out. “Well I wouldn't say my complements are worthless if there true. As for you not being interested, well there isn't much I can do about that.” Dustin said with a shrug as he returned to his drink and toke another sip.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the waitress coming, or at lest he thought it was the same waitress till he turned to looked at her. She wasn't the same lady but was carrying Faith's drink as she placed it down it front of her. “Excuse me?” Dustin got out just before the waitress was about to walk away, she turned back and looked at Dustin but didn't say much. “A glass of mead please.” He said with a smile as the waitress just turned around and walked off. It wasn't Dustin's favorite drink but it was the only thing he could think of on the menu that he felt like drinking at the moment. Dustin soon laughed a little as she explained why she had come out tonight. “Well I'm glad I can be of service, at lest till you decide on my how company is.” Dustin said with a smirk as he looked over to Faith and at the same time tried to see where the waitress went and if she went to go get his drink. “Me, I don't even know why I'm in Hogsmeade. I guess I was just bored and this was the first place that came to mind, so far I think I made the right choice.” Dustin said with a laugh then just smiled over to Faith while he waited for the waitress to return.

[Faith Ellison S7]

“How incredibly terrible that I’m so transparent in my partiality for solitude and isolation,” Faith drawled slowly, every inch of her subtly hinting at bored sarcasm. From the sweep of her lashes to her almost insultingly relaxed posture as she sat in the chair and the idly disinterested expression on her face, Faith was every inch the bored rich girl who wasn’t receiving enough amusement and entertainment to satisfy her. It wasn’t a usual expression for her and the mockery felt similar to an uncomfortable twinge that refused to abate without interference. Faith had never really had the opportunity to become bored ever since she had discovered music. Her uncle had kept her busy learning notes and practising symphonies until she understood how to piece together notes and chords so that they flowed perfectly and without a hitch in the sound. Even after he had died Faith had continued to seek more knowledge and a better understanding of her craft. The last time she had been really bored, not counting History of Magic classes because she could just distract herself with the strains of Mozart or Chopin, had been before James had taken her in, over a decade ago. It was an interesting sensation and Faith eyed Dustin with renewed interest. Boredom was just one feeling, could he provoke anything else from her or was he equally as useless and unreliable as everyone else?

Socialising didn’t come easily to Faith. It just didn’t seem to be necessary in her life. When she disliked her family and was otherwise apathetic to the remainder of the human race, friends and acquaintances weren’t a matter of importance. With the exception of a few temporary girlfriends, and the little child that had once been Faith Ellison, her uncle had also lived his life alone, with only music, fellow musicians and his instruments as company. It had been his own little rebellion against his family; cutting himself off from them and flaunting his lifestyle in front of their disapproving gazes. Faith was more obscure in her approach to essentially telling people that she didn’t care what they did or what they thought of her just as long as they weren’t anywhere near her. She was a Slytherin, with all of the subtleties and mind-plays that came with belonging to her House. Rash and reckless behaviour was for the Gryffindors, and they could keep it because Faith wanted no part in idiocy.

“That could be precisely what I want you to think, meaning that you have just fallen right into my hypothetical trap with even realising it,” Faith countered without needing to pause for thought. This type of exchange or debate (Faith absolutely refused to use the word ‘banter’ simply due to the connotations of friendship and amicability that the word contained) was easy for her. Her tongue might be rusty, and her social skills were practically nonexistent but her mind was as quick as ever. Faith wasn’t naturally passive, though she certainly appeared to be to everyone who didn’t know her well, which was precisely everyone. Her temper had once been fiery and short. Then she just stopped caring, and everything seemed to lose the glimmer of life and vitality. There was no longer the drive to snap back or lose her temper because nothing was worth the effort. “If I was indeed wearing a charm to make myself appear more attractive, would I truly want anyone to realise how pathetically desperate I must be in reality? Therefore, wouldn’t I appear standoffish and maybe even antagonistic to give the exact opposite impression to any potential interests?”

Was he truly planning to argue with her about his absurd and outdated predilection of handing out meaningless compliments to every female unfortunate enough to cross his path? Faith didn’t think that she was foolish for her belief that his intention was precisely that. Irritation and reluctant amusement warred for domination within her for a split second before frustrated exasperation won the battle with the ease of years of practice. “There is nothing you can possibly do about my lack of interest,” Faith agreed cordially, pleased to see a spark of intelligence for the first time. “I only hope that the knowledge means that you’ll stop trying to interest me all the same.” People tended to be stubborn when they were denied something that they wanted, for whatever reason. Neither waitress appeared to be overly fond of Dustin’s presence either, Faith noticed with the quick suppression of a furtive smile. There had to be something wrong with the boy, she surmised with ease. Not being liked by Faith wasn’t an unusual occurrence. To not be liked by two other women was an entirely different matter. He had to have a talent for aggravating other, unwitting people.

With what felt like infinite patience, Faith lifted her wineglass to her mouth and sipped at the red liquid like it could provide her with the serenity she lacked. The wine was pleasantly tart and nearly bitter in her mouth, but failed to grant her any form of tolerance. It wasn’t even strong enough for the alcohol content to affect her. Setting the glass back on the table, albeit with a mildly rueful glance for the indulgence that she could have had if not for Dustin’s intruding and distrusted presence, Faith sighed and altered her position on the seat slightly. Getting tipsy was never wise anyway so Dustin’s company could be considered fortuitous. Faith could handle her alcohol just fine; it was the morning after and the hangover that made her regret any indulgence the night before. More people had entered while she had been talking to Dustin, Faith noticed, the tips of her fingers automatically beginning to tap against the wood of the bar. She was by no means claustrophobic but neither did she enjoy being in a crowded place. That was why she avoided The Three Broomsticks during the school year. “I suppose you aren’t completely intolerable company,” she conceded with a careless shrug, “I could have been stuck with someone worse sitting next to me and trying to buy my drinks with misguided gallantry.”

[Dustin Hemingway]

“Yeah I'm surprised I didn't have to use Legilimency to figure it out.” Dustin said with a slight laugh, he was used to her tone of voice and demeanor at the moment. He lived with a sister who seemed to be constantly in that mood and if she wasn't bored she would normally be upset about something. There didn't seem to be much of a middle ground with Damara and if there was she never showed it. He sipped his drink as he kept thinking about his family, something he didn't care to do very often. He loved them but not the business they were involved in and would slowly try to drag him into. “Then again I don't even know Legilimency but lord knows how my mother tried to force that at me during home school.” He said with a dry laugh as his thought were drawn to his mother.

“I learned Occlumency just to get her off my back.” Dustin said as he removed the glass from his lips and put it back down. “It's a terribly boring thing to learn but I guess it's kind of a must.” Dustin said looking forward, his thoughts still on his family. He had already spoken a bit more then he should have but then again Dustin wasn't very careful, he didn't really see the point. All he had to do if someone kept asking questions was just act like he was talking big and then everyone would forget what he said. Sometimes when people asked what his family did he actually just told the truth then said he was kidding, he found it funny to watch the reactions on the persons face. Most times the person just didn't believe a word he said, which worked out in Dustin's favor. Dustin laughed as he listened to her argument about wearing a charm, if she wanted to fight about this then he wasn't going to stop her.

“That would mean that you've followed me all the way here just to trap me for whatever reason.” Dustin said with a smirk as he looked over to Faith, she obviously didn't follow him here he would have noticed it. Dustin wasn't one to be careful about much but he knew when someone was following him, he always kept an eye out for things that like. With the enemies his family had he was sure someone would still come after him even if he wasn't apart of it. No one had followed him in months and the last time was someone who borrowed money from The Entourage and begged Dustin for more time. How the man knew about him and where to find him was a mystery Dustin didn't even bother to find out. “Taking into account all your hard work in following me and going unnoticed I'll consider myself trapped for the time being, hypothetical of course.” Dustin said with a slight laugh as he returned to his drink.

“Your right I guess you would act that way to throw me off but I don't think someone who needs to be under that charm could pull it off so well.” He said with a slight smirk, he looked over to Faith a quick second but soon the waitress finally returned with his drink. Dustin was glad to finally lose the taste of butter beer and move on to something stronger, not that he wanted to get drunk by any means but a little alcohol never hurt anyone. Dustin finally toke a sip enjoying the fact of how different from butter beer it was. “Well I wouldn't say nothing, I'm sure I could do something of interest.” Dustin said with a slight laugh as he placed the drink down on the bar. “Also I don't try to interest people, it just naturally happens.” Dustin added with a slight laugh as he turned slightly and looked at the rest of the room that he had seemed to have ignored for quite awhile.

He hadn't been looking around much, aside for where the waitress went, so he was slightly surprised to see how many more people had entered since he had last looked around the room. As Dustin just looked around the room and to all the people that had came in recently he was drawn back to Faith as she spoke again. He just smiled as he listened and turned to face her slightly, he was shocked to here it was a compliment sort of. It would probably be as close to a compliment as Dustin would get and he had definitely heard worse things about himself in the past. “Thanks, I pride myself on not being the worse person to be around.” Dustin said while laughing slightly as he said it. “I'll try my best not to mess it up.” He added laughing slightly as he picked up his drink and toke a sip. “Also your wonderful company even if you may or may not be wearing a charm of some sort.” Dustin said kidding as he put his drink back down on the bar.

[Faith Ellison S7]

“I suppose you’re just so intelligent that you didn’t need any magical help to figure me out,” Faith commented sarcastically, one finger absent-mindedly skirting around the rim of her wine glass rapidly. In contrast to the obvious sardonic nature of her words, Faith’s face was perfectly blank, revealing not even a flicker of emotion or thought. She had a most impermeable mask; she had to. When a person was but a part, albeit a rather important part at time, in machinations spearheaded by their family, that person learned quickly to hide what shouldn’t be shown to those who couldn’t be trusted and to pick up on the unspoken subtleties in life. Faith knew how to do it, but that didn’t mean that she took pleasure in doing so. There was a small adrenaline-filled and giddy thrill that came from outwitting and disobeying her family. Had she the opportunity, Faith wasn’t entirely sure where she would draw the line; would she stay in the realm of legality or break laws just to push her parents even further towards the edge? Would they even care? About her, probably not, but they would most certainly be concerned about their reputation.

The look Faith pinned Dustin with appeared nothing more than purely idle curiousity, one pale hand pausing for a fraction of a second before resuming the careless trail through her hair, heedless of the blonde strands still wrapped around her fingers once the hand fell back onto her lap demurely. “You know Occlumency?” How...interesting. Yes, Faith decided. Interesting was definitely the word for it. Occlumency was indeed a ‘must’, if that was how Dustin wanted to phrase it. Not particularly something that Faith had given much thought to or really something that she was in desperate need of but doubtlessly a useful tool to have in her arsenal. She simply hadn’t given the idea much thought. Perhaps it was time that she did. After all, Dustin couldn’t be much older than herself; perhaps a few years, since she didn’t recognise him from the past year at Hogwarts at all. Her education was lacking. How shameful. “Was it hard to learn, or simply something that required too much concentration for you?” The smallest hint of utterly forced teasing entered her voice as Faith asked the question, a few blonde locks shifting forward slightly to obstruct one blue eye and be ruffled by her steady breaths.

“You’re just so irresistible. I couldn’t stop myself from following you. My apologies,” Faith deadpanned without a flicker of light-heartedness entering her expression. The two of them had been sitting together and conversing long enough for Dustin to be capable of grasping her sarcasm by now. If he lacked such intelligence then he could just struggle with the possibility of him being stalked relentlessly by a seventeen year old Slytherin girl. That wasn’t her problem. Faith didn’t exist in this world to offer counselling and reassurance to those being followed by strangers. The very idea of that being her life’s purpose filled her with immediate distaste. “Perhaps I’m just an excellent actress, even if I’m not the best looking girl after the charm is removed,” Faith suggested idly, raising her wineglass to her mouth to finish the last few swallows of the red liquid. “Talent and beauty are not mutually inclusive.” Her blue eyes were openly disbelieving as she glanced at him dismissively. “How young are you to have not yet learned that? Foolish boy.”

“It just naturally happens?” Faith repeated mockingly, leaning back in her chair to survey Dustin with clearly critical eyes. “Your charisma must be failing you then, for I can honestly assure you that I do not find you attractive or appealing in any way whatsoever. May I suggest that you work harder on your charms.” The Three Broomsticks was getting too crowded. There were too many people, and it unnerved Faith slightly. She didn’t feel closed in or anxious; she just didn’t enjoy the company of too many people, or of any people at all for that matter. Just as they had circled the top of her glass and raked through the blonde strands of her hair earlier, the fingers of her right hand began to drum a silent, steady rhythm against the dark fabric of her trousers. There were too many people, leaving her with too little space. Not anywhere near the amount of people that piled into The Three Broomsticks during the school year, of course, but Faith avoided it during that time for a reason.

“As wonderful as my company may or may not be, I’m leaving.” Faith snapped the words out curtly, counting out the money she owed the waitress for her drink before storing her purse away safely in her bag once more. With her bag securely on her shoulder and the money in a neat little pile on the table, Faith rose to her feet then sighed at her own fractional hesitance. She wasn’t rude, even if she did appear to be so at times. “I’m going for a walk,” she informed Dustin neutrally. “I’d prefer for you to accompany me than follow at a distance. Alternatively, you can stay in the crowded warmth and not venture outdoors. I can’t say that I actually care which option you pick.” That was the closest to an invitation to join her that Dustin would ever receive and so, her good manners soothed by the mildly begrudging offer, Faith turned and strode out without another word. The cool night air hit her bare arms and she shivered slightly, rubbing at her arms futilely as she hunched her shoulders and picked a haphazard route for her feet to step along. She would end up sneezing in a few days if she didn’t cover herself with a cloak soon but the chance to be away from the crowd was too satisfying for Faith to regret the soft wind whipping at her hair softly. It was still summer; the wind wouldn’t be unbearably cold for another few weeks at least.

[Dustin Hemingway]

Dustin sipped his drink as he listened to Faith talk, she appeared to always be in a sarcastic tone of voice it seemed. He didn't mind it at all in fact it was quite enjoyable it helped the conversation roll on. He just laughed slightly as she finished speaking. “Yes, I'm just so intelligent. That explains why I was kicked out of Hogwarts. I was too smart for my own good.” He said with a laugh as he returned to his drink and thought to himself. The opposite of that statement was really the truth, he was just too stupid when he was a student and messed up everything but it all seemed to work out. Dustin was happy with his life the way it was he didn't need Hogwarts to learn anything and it gave him freedoms that no other student had. His only real regret was that he couldn't talk his mother into getting him an animagus instructor, she said she just didn't see the need in turning into an animal when being a wizard was good enough. Dustin just guessed it was her way of revenge for him getting kicked out of Hogwarts.

He just smiled as for once Faith showed some interest in something he had to say, so far she just seemed bored. Dustin was about to answer her but she spoke first about Occlumency as she teased him. Dustin just laughed slightly as she teased him, he didn't mind it was all in good fun and she seemed to be getting a little more friendly at the moment. “No it's just so bored.” He said as he then toke a sip of his drink then put it down and smiled toward Faith. “It's all about hiding your thoughts and emotions, then placing something else in your head.” Dustin said with a slight laugh as he remembered what his instructor told him. “Once your mind is clear of all thoughts someone can't find anything when they using Legilimency and once you get skilled enough you can place thoughts in your mind that help you lie to a Legilimency.” He said with a smirk as he quoted word for word what his instructor once told him.

“It's still just so boring, you need to be ready at all times because you just don't know who could be trying to read your thoughts.” Dustin remarked one last time, he never was ready for it and barely ever used it unless he actually suspected someone around him knew Legilimency, like his mother. She knew Legilimency and she would always test Dustin to see if he was on his guard at all times. Sometimes he could lie to her and get away with it and other times she caught him. Dustin just laughed as she sarcastically agreed that she had been following him this whole time. “I'm sorry, being this irresistible is really a blessing and a curse sometimes.” Dustin said laughingly as he played along with her sarcasm. “Then your one of the greatest actress of our time.” Dustin said with a laugh and smiled over to Faith who was still fighting his compliment from when they first started talking, she then called him foolish and Dustin just laughed some more. “Well life's a learning experience I'm sure I'll learn it sometime but for you it seem to still be that way.” Dustin said with a laugh as he teased her slightly and complimenting her at the same time.

Dustin just laughed as she went on about his charms failing and her not being interested saying that he might want to work on his charm a little. “Well I could work harder but would you really want me too? I thought it would be impossible to interest you?” Dustin said teasing her slightly as he watched her looked around The Three Broomsticks and then he did the same. It seemed the place was starting to get a little more crowded, it wasn't too bad but if anymore people came it might have reached that point. He didn't care much for crowded bars, of course he still enjoyed them but not as much as the ones where there were still tons of room for people to move around and actually talk.

He was surprised to hear Faith all of a sudden say she was leaving, he watched as she payed for her drinks then stood up. He started to wonder what to do next, he could follow her out but that would have made him the one following her now but also he didn't feel like going home. Dustin just guessed that he would hang out here a few minutes more by himself till he left and finally went home. Then he was even more surprised to hear Faith invite him to go for a walk with her or it seemed like the best invitation he would ever get from her. “I thought you were the one following me?” He asked with a smirk as he teased her slightly then stood up. He pulled out the right amount for his drinks plus a little extra for tip then placed it on the table. “Well seeing as how your the most interesting person I've run into tonight I guess I'll follow you for a little while.” Dustin said with a smirk as he followed her out the door and felt just how cold it was. It wasn't too back but it almost made him wish he had worn something with long sleeves today. Dustin followed beside her as she started walking and just smiled. “Sorry I'd offer you a coat if I had one.” he said with a small laugh as he looked over to Faith.

[Faith Ellison S7]

“You got kicked out?” Faith asked curiously, some slight flicker of interest showing in her features. She was conversing with someone who had been expelled from Hogwarts. Her parents would be infuriated. Their only daughter, the girl that they delighted in manipulating, having a conversation with such a bad influence? How very delightful. Faith always did take pleasure in riling her parents in even the smallest of ways. She was the quiet, understated rebellious child. She wasn’t ever noticed unless she had an instrument at her fingertips. Faith liked it that way though. Attention didn’t make her uncomfortable but she had never been the most talkative or excitable person. Perhaps it stemmed from a sheltered and lonely childhood, or just from her own personality. Either way, it didn’t matter. “It sounds interesting to me,” Faith dismissed Dustin’s claim that Occlumency was boring with a graceful shrug. It didn’t matter to her what Dustin thought. He admitted himself that he had been thrown out of Hogwarts. That most likely meant that he had been a troublemaker, concerned mostly with causing havoc for people wherever he went instead of paying attention in classes, as he should have been. His opinion meant absolutely nothing to her.

“You have a pathetically short attention span,” Faith deduced wryly, thoroughly unsurprised by her judgment. “I’m pretty sure that Occlumency isn’t supposed to be fun or exciting. It’s just another tool to be utilised in the best way possible. And the best way possible to use it,” Faith expanded mockingly, even the tone of her voice implying that Dustin was perhaps slightly less intelligent than even the glass he was sipping from, “is to keep your mind guarded at all times.” It probably would have also been wise to not advertise his proficiency, or lack thereof, as an Occlumens but that was Dustin’s choice and none of her business. It wasn’t that foolish, not really. Faith wasn’t going to tell anyone. She didn’t have the inclination, the interest or even the audience to gossip to. All in all, the piece of knowledge was safe and it wasn’t Faith’s place to inform Dustin that he had been an idiot by sharing that information with a veritable stranger. The boy obviously hadn’t been a Slytherin before being expelled from Hogwarts.

Faith rolled her eyes expressively, her gaze as cutting as words could sometimes be. “For you? Yes, it would be impossible to interest me. I would apologise for damaging your male pride if not for the small fact that I really don’t care.” The tips of her fingers felt bare without the touch of an instrument to ground her so, absent-mindedly, Faith rubbed her left hand against the smooth fabric of her trousers. The skin on her hands had long ago been hardened into faint calluses from too many years of trying to master the art of music in all of her instruments. She hadn’t been born with the knowledge of how to pluck the strings of a guitar to produce the best melody or how to glide the bow across the violin strings; knowledge had its price and the price of her musical talent was written across the no longer delicate skin of her fingers. She would never again have the smooth, untainted hands of the idle and wealthy but it had been worth it.

Typical. He just had to accept her reluctant offer for him to accompany her. The wind, judging by Dustin’s words, was obviously bothering him as well and so Faith deliberately turned down a particular street until she came to a stop outside her own house. “Stay.” With unhurried movements, Faith extended her arm to point a finger, complete with callused skin and practical short nail, at Dustin before unlocking her door and stepping into the lingering warmth of her home. There was a small temptation to leave her unwanted companion outside while she walked up the stairs and into her music room but that would mean having him outside until he decided to leave, and Faith wasn’t entirely certain that Dustin had the sense to realise that she wasn’t going to step back outside until the next morning. Instead, she lifted two cloaks off their hooks in the closet and shoved the generic black cloak in Dustin’s direction after stepping back outside and locking the door behind her. “If you developed hypothermia, I’d have to take you to St Mungo’s. It’s easier to just give you a cloak,” Faith offered as a brusque explanation, fastening her own light green cloak as she waited impatiently for Dustin to finish fumbling with the fabric she had pushed at him.

[Dustin Hemingway]

Dustin laughed slightly to himself as he noticed her reaction to when he said he had been expelled from Hogwarts. Someone being expelled from Hogwarts wasn't a very common thing, they had plenty of rules but only a few were worthy of expulsion and Dustin had found one of them during his fifth year. “Yeah but you wouldn't want to hear about it.” Dustin said laughing slightly as he slowly smiled over to Faith. “Plus what good is being a man of mystery if I give up all the good mysteries so easily.” He added with one final laugh then returned to his drink in front of him which at the moment was half full. “Funny how I can joke about one of the darker moments of my life.” He thought to himself as he toke another sip of his drink then looked down at it as Faith started speaking again. “That doesn't surprise me to be honest, probably all depends of the persons personality.” He said with a shrug as he toke another sip. Faith so far seemed like a private person so keeping people away in another all new way might have seemed fun to begin with for her.

“Really you think so?” He said with a smile as he turned to look at Faith not surprised one bit by her comment. “ Normally my attention span is just fine. School, both before and after I was kicked out, Quidditch, conversions and you, I can all keep focused on easily. It was probably because it was forced onto me by a woman I'm not to fond of at the moment.” Dustin said turning back to his drink. He toke another big sip as he thought to himself quickly about his mother, she forced him to take the class for his own good she said but that wasn't true and he knew it. She was more worried about someone reading Dustin's thought and using them against The Entourage. Lately she was proving to be more of a mob boss then a Mother, Dustin and his bother and sister barely even saw her anymore besides when she was saying goodbye before she left. Dustin was too busy thinking to himself that he missed most of what Faith was saying but judging by her tone it was her mocking him again which he just laughed off.

“Oh you don't have to worry about my pride, I've heard worse things in my life then someone not being interested in me. Now my heart on the another hand aches with disappointment.” He said with a laugh as he then smiled toward her. He didn't really mind that she said she wasn't interested him him, as of yet she didn't seem to totally hate being around him and he was having fun just talking to her so it worked out just fine. Dustin only slightly regretted accepting her offer to join her for her walk when he got outside, Dustin actually loved the cold but only when he was covered in something to protect him from it at the same time. He knew it must have seemed odd but that's just how he was and he accepted it. Dustin just followed her as she led the way, he had the urge a couple of times to ask where they were walking too but he decided to just wait and see. Soon they came up to a house and Faith surprised him a little by pointing at him an telling him to stay. “This is how a dog must feel.” He muttered to himself as soon as she told him to stay, then she walked into the house.

“Well I'm half tempted just to follower her cause she told me not to.” He said to himself as he looked into the house from the street. While the other half at the same time told him not to because he didn't put it past Faith to kill him for intruding. He also wouldn't put it passed her to leave him out her in an attempt to get rid of him, he planned on giving her ten minutes to return maybe fifteen if he found something to hold his attention while he waited. He didn't have to wait long though as she soon returned with two cloaks and then throw one at Dustin. “Thanks but I don't get a treat too?” He said with a laugh as he tried to get the cloak on, he didn't know when the last time it was worn then wondered who the cloak might actually belong to. “I was a good boy and stayed just like I was supposed to or do I have do more tricks.” He said laughing kidding with her as he finally got the cloak on. Dustin was sure Faith would love the new window of mocking he opened up to Faith but he didn't really mind.

[Faith Ellison S7]

Being expelled from Hogwarts, or from any school really, was most certainly not something that anyone should feel proud of yet Dustin was actually joking about the experience. He was being positively flippant! There were some people that Faith simply could not understand at all. Despite her immediate impression of Dustin, he was turning out to be one of those people. At first glance, there was nothing incomprehensible, or even profound, about the boy but that couldn’t be the entire truth. Faith herself was a pureblood; one of the petty and privileged even to her own eyes. As a result, she had a fairly good guess at what was customary and what was slightly more atypical in the pureblood family circles. Occlumency and Legilimency were not standard lessons for anyone. Maybe they had been once, back when danger had still been rife but no longer, surely. Then again, perhaps she was wrong. It wasn’t like Faith’s childhood had been particularly average. “Occlumency would be useful,” Faith affirmed with a careless shrug of her shoulders. She had no extensive desire to learn how to occlude her mind and protect her thoughts from intruding probes but she wouldn’t deny that it would be a useful trick to have in her arsenal, should she ever need it.

“If your attention span was truly exceptional then you would be capable of paying attention even when you don’t enjoy the company of the person speaking,” Faith responded calmly, her flickering smile taking a momentarily odd twist before disappearing coolly. She didn’t have a superb span of attention herself. It was rude and discourteous to not listen to people but there were just some monotonous tones and, indeed, people who simply could not hold her interest for a lengthy duration. It didn’t happen often, unless she consciously decided to cut the conversation short. Faith didn’t have much patience where people were concerned but manners and conscientiousness had been drilled into her by her uncle. Some habits were hard to break. “You, or your family, must have a reason to make it necessary for you to learn Occlumency. I’m not asking, so don’t feel like I’m prying. Your reasons are your own and I don’t particularly care.” Faith assured him disinterestedly, her blue eyes haunted by some lingering curiousity nevertheless. It wasn’t a lie; Faith honestly didn’t have the inclination to care about anyone’s life but her own. She was just...inquisitive. She always had been, especially as a child.

However reluctant the subtle gesture was, Faith’s half-smile was somewhat genuine as she ducked her head with a soft breath of laughter. To counter the mirthful expression, her tone was abnormally cutting as she snapped at him in reply: “Your heart will heal, I’m absolutely certain. In perhaps five seconds or less, most likely.” Faith wasn’t comfortable with the prospect of honestly enjoying someone else’s company; it just wasn’t a situation that she was used to. She didn’t have friends, she barely even had acquaintances. She didn’t want them. They brought nothing but pain and betrayal and hypocrisy; same as any other human inhabiting the world. It was just less painful to not get attached. To anyone. With that in mind, Faith stalked at least one or two steps ahead of Dustin even as she altered her route to halt the journey at her house for a few moments. She wouldn’t get attached, wouldn’t even border on friendly anymore, but that didn’t give her the right to let him shiver in the brisk wind. Cruelty was not a trait she was accustomed to in herself. “I never had a dog,” Faith commented with a sly smile upon walking through the front door to be greeted with cold air and Dustin’s comment. “I had a kneazle once though, when I was younger. She died.”

“A treat?” Faith arched an eyebrow, her sideways glance at Dustin betraying the roll of her eyes at the thought. “No. Your treat is being allowed to wear that cloak. Not to mention being permitted to wait outside my house; I could have just grabbed a cloak for myself and laughed at you, after all.” Well, she was apparently being left to take the lead, so where to take her new shadow to? Faith paused for a second of thought before falling into a steady stride, quick steps leading them away from the shopping part of Hogsmeade. The village wasn’t just to provide entertainment for idle Hogwarts’ students; families and parents lived here, and they had to have somewhere to take their young children. During her first week of exploration, Faith had stumbled across a small park, complete with mini playground. On occasions, late at night, when the park was empty and her thoughts wouldn’t quiet, Faith wandered out to sit on one of the swings to relive some moments of her childhood. For her, it was a somewhat clichéd place of isolated reflection; for Dustin, it would hopefully be enough to hold his attention for longer than two minutes. “Do you like climbing trees, sitting on grass or playing on swings?” Faith asked idly. Dustin’s answer wouldn’t necessarily change their destination, but she might reconsider if she felt the urge to.

[Dustin Hemingway]

“It's useful from time to time but I'd gladly trade it for being an animagus.” Dustin replied with a small laugh before returning to his drink, which was almost gone at the moment. Dustin had always wished he could have been an animagus, it was his second biggest dream right after being a professional Quidditch player. The idea of turning into some kind of animal just seemed to amazing to him and he always wondered what he would possible turn into. Dustin had always assumed he would turn into something small like a mouse or spider just because it would be the best form for sneaking into places he really shouldn't be. Yet at the same time he wanted it to be something big and dangerous and he couldn't really decide which would be more exciting. Yet after getting expelled from Hogwarts there was no way he could talk his way into getting classes “for something so ridiculous” as his mother put it.

Dustin laughed slightly then smiled towards Faith as she spoke more about his attention span. Even though he told her his attention span was fine on a number of things, he could think of plenty of times where he would drift off into his own thoughts while he should have been paying attention. “What were you saying? Sorry I wasn't paying attention.” Dustin said making sure to say it in a tone that made it clear he was kidding, the last thing he wanted was her storming off thinking he was being serious. Dustin finally finished off his drink and decided against getting anymore not that he was getting anywhere close to intoxicated, he just didn't feel like drinking heavily anymore. He turned back to Faith as she started speaking again about Occlumency again and his families reasons for learning it. They did have they're reasons but Dustin was sure that his mother just toke great pleasure in forcing Dustin to take it.

“Well I was going to share all my secrets but now that you said you don't care I'll just keep them to myself.” Dustin said in a playful tone as he then smiled toward Faith. “Also I don't want to run the risk of getting you interested in something that involves me. The world might explode for all we know.” Dustin added laughing slightly as he teased her a little. Dustin did wonder what it would be like if Faith did find something about him interesting enough to actually act it but he just let the idea pass. If she found him interesting or not didn't really bother him at the moment he was having a good time and even though it was a selfish way to view things he didn't really care. Dustin looked at his empty glass and yet again considered one more glass but turned down the idea yet again thanks to the help of Faith going for a walk and him accepting her offer to join her.

Dustin laughed slightly when he noticed the smile of Faith's face then she laughed a little at his comment he said seconds ago. He laughed again as she snapped right back at him about his heart. “Well five seconds is about how long it takes for the disappointment to pass if you were a normal girl.” He said smiling as he looked around as they walked. “I've counted, you see.” Dustin added laughing slightly as he followed her while still getting used to the cold air outside. “Sadly your different from most so it might take five to ten minutes for it to really sink in, for all I know it may never recover.” He said smiling, the complement was so obvious that it might as well have not been hidden in a sentence to being with. He knew she would probably snap back about what he just said but he didn't really care. Dustin's personality couldn't let a perfect moment to slip a in complement pass by even if it wasn't welcome. It seemed as he finished talking they made it to her house and he was stuck waiting as she went in.

He laughed as she questioned him about his comment about getting a treat then looked back to her house and laughed again. “Your right, thank you for allowing me to stand outside your house in the cold. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, but all kidding aside thanks for the cloak I'll try not to get it too dirty.” Dustin said with a laugh as he looked down to the cloak he now had on. The curiosity of who it might actually have belonged to was coming back up again as he waited for Faith to continue her walk. He couldn't help but check the cloak for pockets or a name tag but the pockets seemed to be empty luckily, he didn't need to get bit by some spider who made the pockets home. Dustin kept looking over the cloak but soon gave up as his attention was drawn back to Faith as she asked him something. “So I can't pick all three?” Dustin said with a slight laugh as he though about his options in Faiths seemingly random question. “Either sitting on the grass or the swings, actually the swings it would be the most like flying out of all the options.” Dustin said with a smile wondering why she asked which one he liked.