Music boxes and fountains ((anyone))

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne packed up her stuff and walked out of herbology relieved it was over. How she loathed that class. Her parents were so intent on making sure their little girl was the best in her class that they had pushed every subject on her at a young age. That wasn't a bad thing most of the subjects she learned were useful and she actually enjoyed learning. Unfortunately herbology was her fathers first love so he had pushed that subject on her more than the rest. The result was that she already knew pretty much everything there was to know about the plants they were studying so herbology was one big bore.

Breathing a sigh of relief that her classes were over for the day Rayne made her way to the courtyard so she could sit by her favorite fountain in the unusually warm weather. Generally speaking she didn't like the outdoors, but it was such a nice day out that it seemed a shame to waste it sitting in her dorm room or in the student lounge alone.

Rayne was happy to see that no one had claimed her fountain and she rushed to sit down before anyone else had the same idea she did. The fountain wasn't much in fact it wasn't any different then the other fountains that were in various places around the courtyard. The only thing that made this one special to her was the location it sat right next to very pretty weeping willow. The Weeping Willow was her favorite tree and she loved how it would cast a shadow on one part of the fountain while leaving the other half in the sunlight. This particular day she decided to sit in the sun it was December after all and by tomorrow it would probably return to snowing. She might as well enjoy the sunlight while it lasted.

Rayne set her bag down and reached into the left hand pocket of her school robes. She withdrew a very tarnished silver music box. This music box was her most prized posession as it was given to her by her favorite grandma. Her Grandma was more of a mother to her then her mother was. While her Mum would give her books and other learning materials for her birthday and christmas her Grandmother would make sure she gave her the things every little girl wanted. This music box was especially dear to her as it was given to her the day before her Grandma passed away.

Rayne had just opened the box to listen to the beautiful yet mournful tune it played when a shadow was cast on her and the box. Rayne slammed the lid shut and shoved it back in her pocket. "You make a better door then a window love." she said glaring at the person casting the shadow.

[hakhuraziel]

Vlad was passing through the courtyard on his own. Strike, his black kitty followed him by foot, so small and fragile to be trod on would probably squash the little fella. Vlad had found him at the canal in a sack and pretty much saved his life, their bond was immense.

He walked in the usual fashion, head pointed down not paying much attention to those around him. Today had been a regular day with nothing special to think about, his mind was plagued with writers block and the sheer concept of his mind being so empty yet so many thoughts at once, at the same time, it was giving him a headache. He was pleased with the warmth of the sun, for a December day it wasn't bad at all... he could still see his breath when he exhaled, but he liked that feeling of winter, and christmas just around the corner. Even for a place like Hogwarts, it made life that bit more magical.

He continued on the central path through the courtyard, past many of the fountains and approached the willow tree where he froze, and his ears picked up the faintest twinkling of music. He adored the tune and deconstructed it in his own musically-abled mind, it was incredible. He followed the sound across past the willow tree, he saw a fountain and knew it was coming from nearby. Just then, the music stopped instantly, obliterating the moment and its beauty. Still ridicilously curious, Vlad approached the fountain and he saw Rayne sat there with a towering figure over her, she was glaring and the boy was clearly not wanted there. He appeared to be mocking her music box, this boy seemed to be from the year above and was giving her a hard time. She didn't look like the helpless type, and seemed to be holding her own just fine against this moron, but nevertheless... Vlad needed to hear this music, and it was in his nature to make sure everything was okay.

The boy was from Slytherin, that's about as much as he could identify from seeing him around. He seemed to be purposely blocking the sun from Rayne's seat and gesturing his clear dislike for the music box. Someone of such little appreciation deserved none of Vlad's respect, and wasn't about to get any. He knew he had seen Rayne around somewhere, and he knew she was always alone, and he hated it when people were made to feel left out. This further angered him, he pushed the other boy off of his spot and the sun shone over the fountain again, glistening and sparkling as it were before, Rayne too looked much warmer Vlad was impressed infact, for a girl who doesn't socialise much. The boy stumbled and regained his balance, he squared up to Vlad who didn't back down in the slightest. Stupid bravado, but atleast for a just cause, or so he thought. Rayne could turn out to be not a nice person, but it was the music box he was interested in, it had inspired him. He stared at the Slytherin boy and was ready for a scuffle if he wanted one, he wasn't scared of fighting ever since he was young, and growing up in a poor area, cast as an outsider it was commonplace for him to be on the end of some kind of hostility. The moment seemed to be not going anywhere, he knew he'd lose house points if he fought, they both did, perhaps the only thing stopping them. It looked like Rayne had something to say.

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne glared at the Slytherin a year above her as he mocked her and her music box. She continued glaring up at the boy. Someone as simple minded as this bloke didn't deserver her full anger so instead she stayed seated. The boy stood there for a good 5 minutes saying pretty much the same things over and over. Her hair was messy she was a disgrace to all pure bloods basically the same things she'd been told by all slytherins trying to boost their egos told her. Even though the sorting hat told her she would do very well in Slytherin she was glad her brains won over. She hated how stupid the slytherins were and how the boys couldn't get it up unless they made someone cry. And she told the boy so. This made him very angry and it looked like he wanted to strike her. She hoped he would then it would be self defence and she could curse him to high heaven.

Sadly he didn't strike her instead Vlad came to her un-needed rescue though she was thankful just the same. She was surprised to see that Vlad had guts. He seemed in better spirits then he did when she first met him in the Student lounge. Then he had been stressing over a piece of music now he was pushing a higher year away from her so that she could have her sun back. Both the boys had a face off for a moment to break the silence and get rid of the Slytherin for good Rayne took out her wand. "I think it's time for you to go love." She said her tone of voice matching the icy blue of her eyes as she continued glaring at the Slytherin. The boy swore at both of them before running off.

Rayne turned to look at Vlad her eyes a much softer blue then just moments earlier. "I was hoping he would hit me you know so that I would have had a reason for cursing him." She said twirling her wand in her fingers before repocketing it. "Anyway, thanks for the rescue. What brings you to the beautiful outdoors? Surely there aren't that many damsels in need of rescue."

[hakhuraziel]

Vlad watched the guy run away and smiled as he swore at the pair of them, Slytherin... nothing but mouthpieces and bad attitude, somehow congealed into human form from a sewer somewhere.

Knowing this scum all too well, it wouldn't have been long before it had turned to violence and though Rayne was ready with wand in hand, it was something chivalrous about doing the right thing and he couldn't have just watched a fight go on and walk off, he wasn't passive like that. It didn't matter now, the situation was defused. Rayne seemed almost displeased that he had intervened, referring to herself sarcastically as a damsel in distress belittled Vlad's actions or that is how he interpreted it. With a quiet flat tone he replied, 'you're welcome' being ambiguous enough that she wouldn't know if he meant it or was being sarcastic himself. He turned to walk off feeling a little out of place and too 'involved' where he shouldn't have been, but remembering her from the Lounge he knew she was friendly underneath, and at the same time still achingly wanted to hear that music box again. He turned back and looked over at her, still looking at him probably expecting some kind of reply he couldn't deliver, some clever, smart or funny conversation maker to settle the mood, what should he say? His sharp brown eyes canned her pockets and he saw the lump where the box had been stuffed away, it was kind of obvious that's where his interests lay, but if she had been so quick to hide it... chances are it was something personal, and he turned to leave again feeling he would be out of line, maybe even as bad as the Slytherin boy if he continued on his selfish quest.

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne wasn't a very angry person generally speaking but that Slytherin really got on her nerves. To say she was aching for a fight was a major understatement. She was ashamed to admit it but that Slytherin really got to her especially insulting her Grandmas music box. Then Vlad had to come and intervene taking away her only chance to send that boy to the infirmary for days. She knew curses that most people wouldn't learn till 6th year. Deep down she knew that Vlad had only meant well. After all he seemed to be a nice guy and if he was as much like her as she thought then he was just trying to make sure nothing bad happened to an innocent. What Vlad didn't know however is that Rayne was far from innocent and didn't need any protection what so ever.

Vlad's response only fueled the anger that was building. The way he said you're welcome left it open as to whether he was being sincere or not and the way he turned to go like he didn't really want to just irked her. She knew it wasn't him she was mad at but in that moment she wasn't sure she cared. She noticed his eyes kept flicking to the pocket where her music box was kept. Smiling devilishly she pulled the tarnished silver box out and held it up so he could plainly see. It made sense that it would be the music that made him intervene in the first place. Made sense he was a musician after all. "You know it's one thing to be nosy and intervene in a place where you weren't needed but try not to make it so obvious that the only reason you were around is because I have something you want." She said opening and closing the box so it would only play a snippet of the song. She knew she was being mean and it might even cost her a friend but she didn't care. After all there was a reason the Sorting Hat seriously considered her for Slytherin.

[hakhuraziel]

Vlad was stood a few feet away from Rayne, and the mood was now bitter. In a way it was like the weather, a lovely sun and perfect sky but a biting cold that was making everything just that little uncomfortable.

Now the tides had turned and it was time to stick up for himself, he was glad he had not opened up to this girl in the lounge the first time they had met as anything he'd expressed or shared had just now been thrown back in his face.

'Well next time i'm alone and not at my best, like in the lounge for example, don't stick your nose in where it isn't needed either'. He found himself petty and trite, and this wasn't how he wanted her to be with him, but it was just another case of not having high expectations of people, because chances are they will let you down or fall short of what you'd hoped.

His kitty tugged on the rim of his trousers, and he scooped Strike into his hand and slid him into his pocket, he felt cold to the touch. His head poked out the top with two paws resting on the seams. Strike reminded him of all that was innocent in the world, all that was worth fighting and living for. 'Come on mate' he said quietly to Strike, 'let's get you inside'.

'You have something very beautiful there Rayne' he said, referring to the music box, he was being genuine and everything he was feeling at the time was in his voice. 'I guess i'll be going now'.

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne sighed and she looked away from Vlad to look at her music box. She stopped opening and closing the box to torture him like she had originally wanted to do. But all the fight had died out of her at his words. Yes she had been wanting a fight but it wasn't worth loosing a possible friend and anyway it wasn't him she was looking to fight. She didn't even bother to retort to his biting comment about her sticking her nose into his business when they met in the Student Lounge. To open her mouth about that would just result in pushing him away and she would spend the rest of the year alone. She didn't mind being alone but she would regret pushing away someone as interesting as Vlad. Instead she kept her mouth closed and continued staring at her music box. She prayed to her Grandma for the strenght to apologize. Rayne was very high strung and apologizing wasn't something that came naturally to her. She would bite the bullet and do it anyway. It was this reason along with her brains that the Sorting Hat decided Slytherin wasn't for her after all.

"I'm sorry" she muttered eyes still on the music box. "I'm sorry I snapped at you my fight isn't with you." She remembered what he said about her music box that it was something very beautiful. To make it up to him she opened the box so that it would play the song. The song was very beautiful slow at first mournful it spoke to her of love lost and death. The tempo increased a little as the song played on but it was still just as mournful. She'd never heard anything like it before her Grandma had given it to her. She was pretty sure he hadn't either. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees its beauty." She said looking up at Vlad.