Time to Heal((Alex))

[Pyro Blackfire S5]

It was a cold day at Hogwarts. A fresh blanket of snow covered the ground and the lake had been turned into a fine sheet of ice. Pyro both hated and loved the cold. When everything was blanketed in snow and ice it was beautiful and peaceful looking. The cold made his body shiver and limited his movements, but at the same time it motivated him to keep moving, or be frozen to the spot. He always enjoyed to practice in the snow and today had been no different. His session as of late seemed to drag on forever as he lost all track of time. When he was sparring, practicing, all his worldly worries floated away and he was locked in the moment of his current move. When he had finished he was drenched in sweat. The small area he had been in was nearly cleared of snow when he was done and now he sat complacently in the branches of a nearby tree and looked out over the lake. He sighed, the past few weeks had been, interesting, to say the least. He shared a dorm with Kennedy, that made sleeping a bit of a hassle for himself. Alex was avoiding him and he couldn't truthfully blame her. He had lied to her and he deserved her treatment. Fiona was also no where to be found and Pyro desperately needed to speak with her. Kennedy knew about her affiliation with the Chosen and had no doubt confronted her about it. Pyro had been confident in front of Kennedy, but truthfully he had no idea where Fiona's alliance lay. If Pyro had the choice, he would have chosen Alex over the Chosen, would Fiona do the same?

Pyro heard the approach of footsteps and glanced down and spotted Alex making her way toward him. It didn't seem like she noticed him. Pyro's heart dropped at the site of her, he couldn't let her pass. He had to speak with her, find out how she felt, if she could forgive him. Or if today was the day they parted paths never to see one another again. Pyro rolled off the branch and landed in front of Alex. He stood up straight but couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. He sighed and cleared his throat. "I...I lied to you, and I have no excuse for it. I've always wanted to tell you, but I didn't want to drag you into that cloak and dagger world. I didn't want you to find out the way you did and I know I've hurt you." He dropped off and bit his lip for a moment. "Just, unload." He said quietly, finally managing to look her in the eyes.

"Just say everything thats been on your chest. After what I did I deserve to have all your anger unloaded on me?" He held his arms out wide as if to give her a better shot at his chest. "I want to move past this, I'm done with the chosen. I want to leave it in the past and move on with you by my side." He sighed once again. "I know its too much to ask, but......C...Can you ever forgive me?"

[alexandra]

The dormitory was warm, quiet, and devoid of any light. The lack of windows made the dungeon dormitories seem like a prison and to the 15 year old girl, laying awake on her four poster bed, it was a prison. How often had she left the room except for classes? She could only remember once. So that she could eat. The recent 'adventures' with the Blackfire off-spring had caused a deep hurt in Alexandra Ricci's feelings. She had avoided her boyfriend, whom had hurt her the most and locked herself away in her dark dormitory. It was her habit, really. Separating herself when she was melancholy. Ever since she was a little girl, she found her only comfort in the dark of her attic room. It was her shelter.

For the months that she had been with Pyro, she had felt that he was her shelter. Then The Chosen happened. That society and that book ruined what was between them. They hadn't talked since that night and Alexandra still wasn't sure what she'd say if they'd had. Alexandra didn't like to blame Pyro for what happened. It was really his fault. The Chosen had been responsible for the secrecy between them, but the hurt had been Cassandra's. She had done everything she could to bring out this secret and destroy her and Pyro's relationship. At least, that's how Alexandra saw it. Cassandra's own personal greed seemed to blind her to her Gryffindor ideals and become just like a true Blackfire.

With a sigh, Alexandra rose from her coffin-like bed and lit a small candle, filling the entire dorm with flickering, soft light. Her body seemed like it was made of rubber. She wanted nothing but to lay back down and sleep, but her mind was racing. Racing with questions. Racing with thoughts. Racing with assumptions she didn't want to think. She slammed her eyes closed, trying to force the thoughts from her mind. Thinking about it would just hurt her further. Another sigh came from her pale lips and she stood. She bit her lip, pondering the action she knew she should make. Finding Pyro would be the best thing for them, to talk about their problem, but fear spread through her like wildfire. She didn't want their relationship to end. She didn't want to lose him. She had to keep him, but this wasn't working either. She took a deep breath, knowing she had to speak with him.

She put her dark brown hair into a pony tail and wiped her face of old make-up, renewing the eyeliner and mascara. Her make-up had become less dramatic as of late and her make-up usually only consisted of soft eye make-up. With a shrug at her appearance, Alexandra moved away from the mirror and toward the dormitory door. She took up her winter cloak, throwing it on over her white blouse, Slytherin tie and black pants while slipping on some shoes.

Her heart was quickening as she rounded each corner in the castle. Just the thought of seeing Pyro made her heart quicken even more. She was constantly biting her lip, worried of what she'd say if she spotted him. After searching the Common Room, Great Hall, and Library, Alexandra found herself giving up. She felt exasperated from the half-heart, fearful search. Her heart beat slowed and she made her way out of the castle, toward the iced-over lake. The snow crunched under her feet as she walked, contemplating her latest problem. Her thoughts began to race again, her mind shut off from what was around her, though all she saw was snow. The lone tree beside the lake was covered in snow. She made her way toward the large tree, looking as lonely as she felt.

Her eyes remained on the ground as she continued toward the white-covered lake. A surprised cry came from her lips as someone jumped from the tree branches above her and landed right in front of her. She looked up only to feel the blood drain from her face at the sight of her boyfriend. Her heart jump started as she stared at his face. He seemed just as upset as she felt, which made her feel a bit better. He sighed, clearing his throat and announcing that he lied and had wished to tell her of the Chosen. Alexandra felt emotion overcome her at his words. She looked down, shyly, when he bit his lip, looking nervous. Then he asked her. He wanted her to "unload", to tell him of her feelings, everything.

Once he'd finished, Alexandra felt vulnerable, put on the spot even. She bit her lip, staring at the ground. After a few silent, uncomfortable moments, Alexandra let her eyes look up at the face of her boyfriend. Tears welled up in her brown, nearly black eyes and and she took a deep breath, her heart pounding.

"Pyro... I..." she sighed, the tears causing her voice to crack, "It's never too much to ask." She smiled sadly up at him, "I forgave you the day Cassandra outed you. I'm just hurt that you didn't tell me. You hid it from me with lies and..." she looked down again, trying to force the tears away, "I regret the silence between us..."

[Pyro Blackfire S5]

Pyro braced himself. He didn't know what was coming, but he knew that whatever she did, he wasn't deserving of what she was willing to dish out. He was prepared for it all. For her to just explode and rant about how what he had done was wrong and insensitive. But Alex never really was that kind of person. Perhaps she would be more mellow. The silence was agonizing and it seemed to stretch on and on. He could see tears welling up in Alex's eyes and he dropped his gaze, it seemed like she was about to begin. Pyro tensed and waited for it, but she said knocked his breath away more effectively than a punch to the soloplex. Pyro's eyes blinked open and his gaze returned to Alex's. She had already forgiven him?

He sighed sadly. "Yea I know it's just." How could he explain it to her? "I..I didn't want you to be sucked into that world. It's all cloak and dagger, hide in the dark like crap." He said in disgust. he looked up at her. "I couldn't let you get involved into that kind of world. Also, I didn't know what the group would do if they found out you knew about us. I had to protect you the only way I knew possible, and that was to keep you ignorant of it all." He sighed and moved closer to the tree he was standing by and placed his back on it, leaning and looking out of the lake. "If you can still trust me, I want you to know that, the only things I have lied to you about are The Chosen. Everything else I have ever told you was true and I have kept nothing from you."

He pushed off the tree and looked at her. It was at that moment that he decided what he was going to do. "I'm done with them. The Chosen aren't going anywhere. I'm leaving that group and setting out on my own." A smile slowly crept onto his face and he extended his hand toward Alex. "That is, unless you would care to remain by my side?"

[alexandra]

After her soft announcement that she had forgiven him, Alexandra retreated into a shell of silence. She lowered her gaze, bit her lip and waited. What would be his reaction? Would he be surprised? Shocked? Disappointed? Doubts seized her, suddenly. Was she being too haste in forgiving him? Should she be angry? Any other girl in Slytherin would have taken his offer and been angry, upset, hurt and screamed their heart out, but Alexandra wasn't that sort of girl. She was grateful to Pyro. He was there when everyone else shut her out. He cared for her when everyone would rather hurt her. He loved her when no one else did. He was the only one who really cared, the only one who showed it. Why would she yell at someone who meant so much to her.

With these thoughts floating about her mind, she waited for Pyro's reaction breathlessly. She looked up at him just as his eyes searched for her gaze. Her earlier tears had caused a glassy look in her brown eyes, but she held nothing but hope in the brown vaults of her gaze. When Pyro sighed, Alexandra took a breath, her nerves causing a record heart beat. Once he began to explain, Alexandra held her breath. Her attention hung on every word, she watched his face as he explained why he kept the Chosen from her.

A momentary pang of annoyance crossed her emotions. She had assumed the Chosen had forbidden him from speaking to her, but he was letting on that he chose not to tell her, but the annoyance vanished when he spoke about worrying what the Chosen would do if he told her. She nodded, her assumptions confirmed. Her tears wished to fall yet again when he spoke of trying to protect her. She suddenly wished to reach out and take him in her arms again, everything forgotten, but he sighed, moving away from her and leaning against the tree. She retreated yet again, letting the silence engulf her.

He seemed to be pondering something as he looked out at the frozen lake. Alexandra kept her eyes on Pyro, wondering what he would say or do next. He confessed of lying about the Chosen, but nothing else. Alexandra felt relief wash over her, but also a small bit of doubt, which she shoved to the back of her mind. He was good to her, despite a small lie about the Chosen, she shouldn't doubt him now.

Suddenly, he looked at her, his eyes determined. His next words made a smile cross Alexandra's lips. He was quitting. Quitting the chosen. He wanted to go on his own. Alexandra felt a small joy spread through her, the first she'd felt in days. Then he also smiled, holding out his hand to her. She looked at his hand and then at his eyes. He wanted her by his side. She felt herself smile, her eyes glittering, but she paused, biting her lip. He was asking her to trust him again with her heart, but could she do it. She knew she wanted to. She wanted more than anything to go back to loving him with everything she had, but something told her to think about this. To be sensible about it. She looked at him, her eyes showing the same feelings that she's always had, but in the back of her mind she still held those doubts. Those doubts about whether to trust him so soon after being hurt.

She took a deep breath, her eyes twinkling, "Pyro... I want more than anything to be by your side, but I need you to know that you hurt me. You did and there's no way to undo it. I just know we can get past it." Her smile suddenly matched the feelings she had for him and she pushed past his outstretched hand, wrapping her arms around him.

Then, with her face inches from his, she whispered "I'll always be there for you, Pyro. You should know that."

[Pyro Blackfire S5]

Pyro stood there, his hand outstretched toward Alex and he realized something at that moment. This was the most vulnerable he had ever been in his life. In his past he had always distanced himself from people, if you allowed people to get to close to you. They'd be able to drive a dagger into you at any time. To protect himself from this he had put great distance between himself and people, even those he had called friends. Now he stood here at this moment. In a situation Pyro never would have thought he would be in. His eyes scanned hers for any sign and thats when he realized it. She was hesitating, doubt was edging in her eyes.

Pyro felt a twang in his heart as he looked upon Alex. Could this be it? Could this really be the end between them? For once in his life, Pyro wasn't sure of the answer, and he was afraid. Alex began to talk and Pyro found himself searching desperately in her words for a positive response. Her first words made Pyro's heart drop and his hand wavered a bit. He knew he had hurt her and there wasn't any way he could undo the past or what he had done.

All he could hope for was forgiveness and that they could move on. He was about to quit, drop his hand and walk away from the situation, when to his surprise she continued to talk. Pyro felt joy overrun his body at her next words. She wanted to get past it as much as he did. Before he knew it his hand was being brushed aside and he felt her arms envelope him. Surprised Pyro backed up a step but wrapped his arms around her, even twirling around to keep their balance. He looked down at her face, mere inches from his own and smiled. "I know that. I'll always be there for you."