Learning to deal

[kris]

((Eh, feel free to join if you wish as I won't mind, but I rather just needed this post for Kris to finish the episode for himself and Dana to start her plot.))

Kris was still as tense as ever as madam P as he had taken to call the school’s nurse finished cleaning and healing Dana’s bullet-wound. “She will need to drink this when she wakes up and she is rather surely in a shock, but she will be alright,” the nurse told Cleo who must have nodded as the nurse’s footsteps moved away leaving their group of three into silence. The nurse had tried to talk to Kris too but baring his teeth and simply growing had changed that idea. Kris was alright after all – the blood covering his still bare stomach and black pants had came from Dana’s shoulder from where the bullet had shot through. Kris was perfectly alright physically, even though his mind was in turmoil. He had already talked to Aurors once promising to return to one more questioning after the situation had been researched, even though it was mostly Cleo’s statement that kept him free even now. His fiancé had honestly told the aurors what happened so Kris rather doubted that he would be awarded a medal for heroism rather than being thrown to Azkaban. That didn’t change the fact that he had killed a man in reality. A Death Eater who had threatened Dana so Kris most certainly didn’t feel any sorrow for him, yet the did shook him more deeply than he could have guessed.

Kris heard a creak of the chair but was grateful that Cleo didn’t say anything. Kris would need some time to settle all of this in his mind before he could speak to her about it. Pushing himself off from the wall against which he had been leaning with his shoulder Kris left his cane be and handed Morrigan to Cleo wordlessly. Pushing off his shoes Kris walked soundlessly to the bed reserved for Dana and sat on the edge. Kris’s found Dana on the bed and slowly he maneuvered himself to sit on the bed so that Dana was leaning slightly against his chest. Smoothing her black hair Kris tried to find himself a comfortable position before continuing to smooth back Dana’s hair. Dana wasn’t a relative, though not an overly close one. It was rather the feel, the mental connection that had only grown closer over years of being spent together. Dana would rather classify as a ‘blood-sister’ or ‘mind-sister’ as the Indians had had. Kris would do anything for her. Well, he had just killed for Dana so it was rather evident. Yet Kris felt almost scared and a bit lost. He didn’t fear Azkaban as he doubted he’d end up there, but he was rather scared of Dana. What would she think? Would she be angry Kris had shot her? That he had wounded her, though there had been no other option? Would this be the last time Kris could hold her close and try to find solace in it?

Kris let his head fall backwards as he let out a sigh while almost cradling Dana in his arms. He knew that Dana would be fine. In his mind he knew it. In his heart – he was fearful. Kris had always been more upset over Dana’s injuries than his own. Maybe because he knew perfectly well how much he could take and he had tested his boundaries very well. With Dana… he wasn’t so sure. He knew that Dana was strong and would pull through this with only a small scar on her shoulder to remind her of today, yet in Kris’s opinion he would have gladly traded places and suffered through the annoyance of a bullet-wound himself. Then again, the girls were the ones who gave birth and that was considered to be the biggest torture and pain of it all, so maybe Dana was even stronger and had more endurance than he had? Kris wasn’t sure of the answer and quite frankly he didn’t care much either. While he displayed a cold front and perhaps wouldn’t recklessly race into fire to save someone Kris was rather protecting of those he held dear in his heart. According to Dana and Cleo he was rather possessive actually, yet Kris felt small and uncertain today as he held onto Dana.

[dana]

Dana was floating somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness. She didn’t see any tunnel nor a light in the end of it nor did she go to some dream land where she could prance happily on lush green fields and pick flowers without a care on her mind. She had always found such a display rather silly in muggle movies. Dana just felt as if she was floating somewhere cold where time didn’t matter. And while her thoughts were following each other randomly and moving rather slower than usual. She wasn’t exactly in this reality right now, yet she still felt someone stroking her hair slowly and gently. It as an almost absent thought but Dana felt the sudden urge to purr. A bit kitten-like perhaps, but Dana had always found it curiously pleasant when someone stroke her hair. It seemed to have a calming effect on her. Dana heard something and she wasn’t entirely sure if she had actually let out a purr or not before her mind floated farther away again, almost as if shying from the light crudely shining onto her closed eye-lashes.

Dana didn’t know how long it took before her mind floated high enough again for her to be able to form a coherent thought. She pondered lazily over opening her eyes, but didn’t quite feel like it. There was a sort of addictive charm to the floating sensation and doing nothing but just being. It was kind of nice and pleasant. Besides someone was still stroking her hair. Dana moved herself as if trying to get closer to the caress only to have a flash of pain shoot through her causing her eyes to snap open as she gasped for air. Wincing at the light now shining in her eyes Dana narrowed her eyes feeling grateful as the lights dimmed a moment alter. Turning her head Dana’s eyes fell onto Cleo who had obviously just turned some of the lights off as Dana gave a grateful, if a little it pained smile. The stroking sensation on his hair had stopped the moment she gasped so Dana craned her neck carefully al ittle. He was able to read out the worry from the small lines of strain on Kris’s face who was holding her much as if Dana was a child.

Dana blinked at Kris before gazing at her dully throbbing shoulder the events of what had happened coming back to her slowly. The Death Eaters, the Imperio, the shot. Dana looked at Cleo as she held out a goblet for her and quietly drank it empty. The potion had been bitter but Dan was glad she had had something to moisture her mouth again. Her eyes falling onto the pistol on the bedside table Dana started at it for a few moments before looking upwards at Kris again: “I was in a life and death situation and before shooting me you took care to decorate the gun with a filigree handle?” Kris who had been rather stiff tensed even more as Dana whispered the words out but after a moment he gave a true small smile of relief. “Only the best for you, darling,” came the reply as Kris bowed and kissed Dana’s forehead starting to stroke her hair again. Dana would have snorted if she hadn’t been so tired and sore so she instead turned her eyes towards Cleo. “How’s… Sapph?” She asked almost hesitantly fearing the answer. “She’ll be fine. Will have a sore throat and I don’t know about her feelings, but there won’t be any permanent damage.” Dana held Cleo’s gaze fro a few moment a silent understanding passing between them, before Dana closed her eyes again with a soft sigh.

[Edward Summers R6]

((Hope you don't mind me entering. Dana is a close friend of Ed's so I figured he aught to visit and see if shes alright.))

The rumors had been flying off the wall. The entire Ravenclaw common room was in an uproar. Mostly just first through third year student. But every single one of them was talking excitedly. The noise reached up into the seventh year dormitories. With a sigh Ed blindly grasped for his glasses which sat on his night table. Placing them on his face he quickly exited the dorm and stepped out into the throng that awaited him in the common room. "Hey! Hey!" He yelled trying to get the attention of the younger student's. Frowning he pulled out his wand and pointed it at his throat. "Sonorus" Still holding his wand to his throat he than yelled once more. "HEY!" Almost immediately the entire common room went silent. Removing the wand from his throat Ed moved into the center of the room. "Now, whats all this about?"

He had made a mistake, this open question invited the entire common to burst out into conversation again. It took him a few minutes to get everyone to quiet down. He pointed at a certain third year on his right. "You. Explain. Whats going on here?" The student glanced around as if looking for support, than stood up. "Th...There was another attack on the school by Death Eaters. The Professors just came around and ordered us to remain in the common. A couple student's were hurt. Dana included.."

The boy's words nearly made Ed's knees buckle. Another attack? Not again. Dana got hurt? Ed's head whirled, was Dana alright? Who else was hurt? Were they alright? What about the Death Eaters? Where they still at large? Ed shook his head clear of the thoughts. First things first. "Alright, I understand you are all worried, but there is nothing that can be done at this moment. Get back to your dormitories and get to sleep. Everything will be sorted out in the morning. Now, off you go." Ed said sternly. There were many groans but they younger student's soon obliged him. As soon as the room was empty Ed exited the common and made his way to the Hospital Wing.

The professors said to remain in the common room, but Ed couldn't follow that order at the moment. He had to check on Dana, had to see if she was alright. He made the trip in no time and entered the Hospital Wing. He found Dana's bed and made his way over. He slowed his approach. Kris Graas was there, sitting on the bed with Dana, who appeared to be awake and talking quietly to Kris. There was another person there, a Ravenclaw Ed recognized, Cleo. Ed approached but allowed Kris and Dana to be alone. Ed found a seat next to Cleo. "How is she?" He asked Cleo.

[cleo]

Cleo tilted her chair back and placed the toes of her heeled boots onto the edge of Dana’s bed watching almost pensively the closeness the two shared. Kris was close with her as well, yet it was a different kind of closeness. Cleo enjoyed spending time with Dana, yet at this moment Cleo was almost jealous of her. Not because of Kris, but because she had a brother, someone who loved her so unconditionally and would do anything for her. Cleo knew that Kris would do the same for her, yet this was a reminder of how much she had lost when her mother died in birth and as she had found out during Beltane celebrations that his father didn’t see her as any more as a device he could use to get him money. Not that he had succeeded in that. Cleo tilted her back and examined the ceiling for a few moments. She wouldn’t do that mistake. She wanted to have lots of kids and luckily Kris didn’t object so that her kids would always have siblings to turn to.

Cleo felt relieved as she watched Dana float on and off with her mind as she stayed by the side of her soon to be sister-in-law and friend, knowing there wasn’t anything better for her to do anyway. Cleo turned her attention to Ed as the 7th year took a chair and sat down next to her. Cleo glanced at Kris and Dana on the bed, before looking at Ed calmly. Dana wasn’t conscious all the time and Kris who was still cradling her form wouldn’t be disturbed by their conversation so Cleo didn’t move herself from her seat. She didn’t know Ed personally, though she had seen him with Dana and had heard comments from Kris about their run-ins as well.
“She’ll be alright. Madam P said that the bullet-wound in her shoulder would heal in no time with a little bit of help from magic, though she wants Dana to regain a clearer mind before she heals that,” Cleo replied after a moment of consideration as she looked almost pensively at Ed, “It’s rather her mental state that concerned madam P. That concerns us as well. I doubt Dana will take surrendering to an Imperius very lightly and having Kris shoot through her shoulder to get the Death Eater must have been quite a shock to her as well as she could see the gun pointing towards her. Though I suppose I’ll see thestrals now. Sapph will be alright too as I heard.” Cleo glanced out of the window for a moment. The death eater had died so by all rights she should see the thestrals that Kris so loved now. But that was for an other time.

“News travels fast though, I suppose,” Cleo commented as he glanced at Ed again while raising her eye-brows questioningly, “Do you have any more news of the attack? Or do you know whether or not any others we might know has been hurt during the attack? I heard a snippet of madam Ps words to Sprout – was there anything going on in Hogsmeade as well?”


((Nope. I don't mint you joining the least bit. I'll take it as a compliment rahter. )

[Edward Summers R6]

Gun shot? Ed definitely knew what a gun was, but here at Hogwarts? How did a gun enter this place. Ed glanced around and spotted the gun on the nightstand next to Dana's bed. Ed shook his head in wonder. A gun, something so completely muggle would stun and confuse any Death Eater who relied upon magic. Whatever Kris had done to get the gun was a complete move of genius. Ed watched Kris and Dana for a second, neither seemed to have noticed his presence yet and he didn't feel like breaking into their moment. He turned back to Cleo. He was shocked when Cleo mentioned that Dana had been placed under the Imperius Curse. Ed knew Dana was a strong person mentally with a lot of pride, but what would that experience do to her spirit?

Getting shot also wasn't a small matter. The Imperius Curse was one of the worst curses in Ed's opinion. Not only did it force the target to perform whatever the caster wants, but it also keeps the target completely aware of the situation and powerless to stop it. Having a gun pointed at you was scary enough, but that fright must of been multiplied do to the fact the she was unable to make a move to protect herself. Ed looked at Dana and had to wonder how this would change her. Ed considered Dana to be one of his closest friends, she had actually been the first one to actually be openly nice toward him. He couldn't begin to think about everything he loved about Dana being destroyed because of this.

Cleo mentioned Sapphire, another Ravenclaw. Ed knew Sapphire although he had never really talked with her much. Just an occasional helping hand with homework, but being the older student Ed had always looked out for and watched over the younger students. Ed glanced around and spotted Sapphire's bed, she had company at the moment so Ed decided not to interrupt. He turned back to Cleo and shrugged. "I'm sorry, but I do believe you know more than me. I gained my information from the view of many excited and animated younglings who in turn gained there information from the always explanatory faculty of this school." Ed didn't mean to try and make light of the situation, but in truth he really didn't know much. The staff never really explained much at this point in a situation, and he guessed that the story had changed when transfered from one student to another.

[cleo]

Cleo watched the emotions flitting over Ed’s voice. She had known that Dana knew the 7th year. She had even figured they were friends, but Dana had a lot of friends. If there was ever anyone who fit to the role of a social butterfly then it was Dana. No matter how fake her smiles could be sometimes she always managed to appear sincerely happy. It was only because Dana had accepted her to the family that Cleo had seen Dana’s merry masks fall as she rubbed her temples tiredly, took a pain-killer and curled up somewhere to rest. Somehow it had made Cleo herself feel better to see Dana display these so utterly human signs of weariness for the first time. Yet seeing Ed here told Cleo that the two had been better friends than Cleo had known. Then again, maybe Ed didn’t have very many friends so he appreciated the ones he had.

Cleo nodded: “Rumours are flying I take it. I don’t know very much either, I’m afraid. Just some of the situation between Dana and Sapph. They apparently had the misfortune to run into a DE. Dana was put under an Imperio, she used a strangling curse on Sapph.” Cleo paused for a moment. It had been a curse Dana had used, rather near the line to dark ones. Then again considering the number of Slytherins around Dana and her curious nature it was only normal that she read and learned about darker spells as well, wasn’t it? “I don’t really know if anything else went on there. As Sapph seems to not remember things overly clearly and Dana hasn’t really said much yet. Kris heard Dana so we went around and well… things turned quickly enough.” Cleo heard a quiet murmur coming from the bed and lanced over, noticing with some amusement that Kris was still stroking Dana’s hair. Or rather putting into a rather miserable looking braid, most likely on Dana’s request. They were peaking in Italian as Cleo deducted from the small words Kris had taught her of the language – a clear sign that the two relatives sitting on the bed were fully aware of their presence. Cleo observed quietly how Dana glanced over and sent a weak smile and a nod towards Ed.

“The professors haven’t spoken much here either. Others have been hurt too as you can see,” Cleo commented quietly to Ed gesturing around the Hospital Wing with her arm, “Doubt they got Wonder-boy. There are some first years here too. Shows that DE’s don’t care much about children either.” Cleo’s fists clenched for a moment, as she thought about it. She still thought that kids should be left out of such things and quite frankly – an 11 year old at most cases was still a child. Even she herself was quite a child sometimes.