A Second Encounter ((Dana))

[ryder]

Staying at Hogwarts over the holiday never felt quite right to him. It this would be his third Christmas at Hogwarts. Normally he and Luke went home to be with their father, but when work kept him busy over most of the Holiday, the boys stayed at school. This year happened to be one of those years. He never really minded having to stay, He still had his brother after all, and while Hogwarts felt off with out all the students and classes, it was nice to have the castle so empty for a change.

Today he decided to enjoy the now almost completely abandoned school by spending the afternoon in the lounge. Somehow the common room just felt out of place, but then he never liked to spent his time there, and the chilling December winds made the pitch less than desirable. When he got to the lounge, there was only one other student there, but he walked by then, and settled down in one of the chairs tucked into a secluded corner furthest from the fire, and opened up a well worn copy of Return of the King.

[dana]

Dana ducked rather skillfully seeing something that looked like piece of the table flying her way. The piece of polished wood crashed against the window after flying over her head, shattering the window into pieces, but luckily not falling outside the window from where a gust of rather chilly wind burst in. Dana raised her eyes from her book as she merely looked at the window before slowly turning her head and looking at the two blushing 4th years with raised eye-brows.
“Sorry. We were just practicing spells,” one of the boys answered with a wide grin, as Dana simply smirked waving her wand to the broken window, that flew into it’s place again nicely.
“Try not to take down the castle nor the common room while you’re practicing, alright? From where did you get the table-leg anyway?” Dana asked picking the mentioned piece of wood up and throwing it up and down in her arms, while the other boy blushed even more and nodded to a near-by table. “I was ‘accio’ing a book from on top it, but accidentally got the table-leg instead.” Dana grinned and with a couple of flick of her wand the table was repaired again while Dana shook her head with amusement: “Please learn those spells, will you? I wouldn’t want to be the one who explains to Flitwick why we are missing one wall from our common room.” The guys snickered and waved their bye as Dana exited the common room even though she had originally planned.

Shaking her head with amusement Dana descended the stairs, picking off a splinter of wood from her floor-length bronze skirt as she made her way towards the Student Lounge. It might be a bit calmed than the common room right now. And hopefully no one would be taking apart the furniture there. Offering a nod of greeting to a professor passing her Dana sauntered forwards the student lounge opening the door calmly and letting it close quietly behind her as her eyes took in the occupants of the room. One student she didn’t know and that Gryffindor 7th year who wanted her for Christmas. Smirking at the boy Dana calmly walked forward while speaking up: “Massa Ryd-ah, I was almost expecting you to be studying at the quidditch pitch yesterday with some young lady despite the sleet coming down. And where do I find you – curled up in front of the fire in student lounge with a book instead. The quidditch pitch starting to loose it’s charm for you?” Dana asked just a bit ironically while smirking down at the sitting boy as she stopped at the armrest of the couch he was sitting on while tapping her own book absent-mindedly against her leg.

[ryder]

Hearing a familiar voice he glanced up over the pages of his book and saw Dana standing near him. His gaze settled upon her, as if the rest of the world completely disappeared, and the left side of his lips formed into a one sided smile, which after their first meeting he knew she both loved and hated. It was rather entertaining to flirt along the fine line that divided the two. “Quidditch will never loose its touch; its too much a part of me by now. I do though, have a bit of common sense, even if I am a Gryffindor.” His smile grew slightly wider at his comment towards his own house. He was not above poking a bit of fun at his house, but then he thought that all the houses should embrace what made them different from the others – both the good and the bad. Gryffindors were known for the bravery, which on occasion translated to a lack of common sense.

He fell silent for a moment, though his gaze was still focused on Dana. Finally, he moved over slightly and motioned to the spot beside him on the couch. “Have a seat.” He had closed his book, but left one of his fingers pressed against the spot the was reading, and for a brief moment he left his gaze leave Dana and he looked down at it. When he glanced back up at her he was smiling again. “I was on the part describing the encounter between our favorite humans.”

[dana]

Dana smirked at the boy raising a finger: “I asked if the quidditch pitch was starting to loose it’s charm, not if the game was starting to become boring. Even with the horrifying weather there was yesterday, there were couples out there as I saw from a window. Made me really think about my own priorities. Which ended up me not bothering with my prefect rounds and instead going to the kitchen for a cup of hot cocoa. You however did say that the pitch was like a 2nd home to you.” Dana smirked at Ryder while shaking her head at his offer for seat and walking around the small coffee table in front of the couch he was sitting on. Seating herself in a big comfortable armchair instead that was facing Ryder Dana settled down comfortably, leaving her own book on her legs as she glanced at the title of the book Ryder was reading as he commented on it.

“Humans in the sense of that book. Fictional characters in reality,” Dana correct Ryder simply, while tilting her head, “Eowyn was a strong woman as I have already told you my opinion about her. Though the argument on the battle-field was a bit too dramatical. I t might have been much easier for her and everyone else involved to such kill the witch-king. He wouldn’t have needed to know that Eowyn is a woman before he died. Why brag and banter before acting? That’s why I preferred Faramir’s quietness actually. He knew what had to be done and made sure it got done quickly and silently. Must more preferable, though I’m not sure whether you agree with it in you mind, that’s filled with ‘common sense’.” Dana smirked at Ryder with a bit of amusement catching and noting his comment about Gryffindors often lacking common sense.

[ryder]

He watched her move to the nearby arm chair instead of sitting beside him as he had motioned for her to do. After a moment he shrugged, and adjusted himself on the couch so he sat comfortably taking up more than his half. He listened idly to her responses, his one sided smile forming again as he thought that she seemed to be in a mood to have her opinions heard today. Anyone could see that she was independent, and had her own thoughts and ideas, ones she had no reservations about sharing. Today though, she seemed a bit forceful on hearing her own voice. She just smiled at it, and let it slip. He didn’t mind, he liked that she was strong, but then he wasn’t one to get worked up over something like that. “I liked Faramir for that reason too.” Was his only reply to her comments.

After a moment he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand, placing a charm on the page he still kept with is index finger before setting his book aside, and once his wand was tucked back into his pocket he leaned back comfortably, his gaze still focused on Dana. “Now what has you so…vocal today?” He asked after a moment. He by no means meant that she wasn’t always up for taking an opportunity to share her own thoughts and ideas, but they seemed to come a bit more forcefully today.

[dana]

Dana sent an amused glance at Ryder watching as he marked the page he got stuck at with a quick spell. Vocal. Well, perhaps Dana was a bit more outspoken today than she had been at their first meeting. But then again – at that meeting she was cold, had on a wet sweater, had just been hit on by idiots and was hungry. As for today – today she just been almost attacked by a flying table-let in the Ravenclaw common room. Smirking Dana looked calmly at Ryder while arching an almost challenging eye-brow: “Well, let’s see if I can explain this properly. There is a thing called conversation. It usually requires at least 2 persons, but with the help of an enchanted mirror you can also have a conversation by yourself. However a conversations usually consists of words and sentences that are put together to either ask, state a fact, or express an emotion. Depending on what one of the people engaged in the conversation say the other is supposed to reply, ask, share their opinion or specify something. As such phrases are exchanged a conversation is born and people need conversations and chats help people socialize. I hope you don’t need a guide to know the meaning of socializing, do you?”

Dana, who had leaned her elbows on her knees while she explained the matter to Ryder winked wickedly as she leaned back in her armchair and saluted mockingly: “However I do hope you understand the concept of a conversation now. And since you seem to be not vocal at all, I’m the poor girl who has to keep up the conversation. Besides nothing has irritated me so far yet today as opposed to our first meeting. Well nothing besides the 4th years taking the common room apart while practicing, but for their sakes I hope everything is back in order by the time I go back to my common room.” Dana smirked at Ryder rather victoriously, actually feeling rather cheery today before adding as an afterthought, "Well that and the possibility of bunnies taking over the world, before I have a chance to rob the Swiss banks and buy a cruise ship for myself so I could enjoy the rest of my days safely in international waters."

[ryder]

His one sided smile remained on his face all through her explanation of how one holds a conversation, and showed a lazy variation of interest, as his gaze was intently focused on her as it had been almost since the first moment they met, but he did not lean forward to take in everything she was saying. Once she was done with her detailed description he simply stretched his arms up above his head and finally sat up straight again. "I know how to hold a conversation" he commented calmly, choosing now to lean forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I just think there are better ways to get the point across." Ryder was one of the few people who actually did believe that actions spoke louder than words. Words could so easily lack truth and feeling. It was easier to fake a conversation than it was to fake body language or the intent behind and action.

He brushed off her last comment bout the bunnies with an amused smile and a nod. She was an interesting girl, and at least she took his comment well. Not everyone did. "I'm sure you can bribe the bunnies to turn off bank security for a bit."

[dana]

Dana watched as Ryder stretched before both of her eye-brows flew up as Dana turned her head slowly eyeing the boy with an almost saccharine smile and just as sugary tone of voice. “Of course. Words and communicating have always been greatly over-rated, right? I mean, why not hit the girl over the head and drag her away by her hair. Gets your message across to her much more clearly, don’t you think? Perhaps a bit barbaric, but actions speak louder than words right? I’m sure that you and Conan the Barbarian would get on just awesome,” Dana offered Ryder a small smirk while she shrugged, “Prefer diplomacy in a lot of cases. Diplomacy is the only skill that lets you send the other person to hell and actually make them look forward to the trip. Actions aren’t always better than words you know.” Dana let her eye-brows settle back over her eyes as she stretched her legs in front of her lazily.

“And that’s the problem, don’t you see? When bunnies take over Swiss banks they are rich enough to not need my bribe. And in order to be able to afford to bribe them before they take over the banks – I need the money before I can bribe them. It’s a closed circle. Though perhaps I could toss you in their way and give myself some time to get away with the money. Sounds like a good enough plan for you?” Dana asked with a slightly amused smirk hovering over her lips, thought the comment about barbarians had still grated the feminine side in her, that in some wyas would be completely able to demand for equal rights in all parts of life for men and women. Though Dana most of the time just shrugged and understood that due to physical differences put into place by nature, 100% equality wouldn’t – and shouldn’t even – be ever achived.

[ryder]

Listening to her comments on their similarities between himself and some barbarian, he smiled, taking a long moment before he responded to her “I could always hit one of the bunnies over the head and start to drag it off. That should provide a reasonable distraction.” It seemed a reasonable connection between the two very different aspects of their conversation, and after it he stayed quiet for a moment, watching her before he spoke again. “Non-verbal does not necessarily mean there is no suability.” He for another long moment before he leaned forward again, and still smiling that one sided smile, he lifted a hand and with one finger motioned for her to come closer to him. He would show her if he had to, that gestures could be just as subtle and elegant as words. “Actions can be violent and abrupt, if that’s how you use them, but they don’t have to be.”

[dana]

“You can hit the bunny, but then that would simple be animal cruelty. Besides that wouldn’t make breaking into the Swiss bank any easier for me, so you have to come up with a better plan,” I’m afraid Dana answered seriously as she blinked at the motion Ryder did with his hand. A sarcastic eye-brow rose – what, she thought that Dana would jump at a crooking of his finger? The boy still have much to learn. Was he really naive enough to think that it would be enough to make Dana move herself? Did Dana really seem as a brainless bimbo who would jump in the presence of any cute boy to whatever master wished? However his next words stirred something in Dana’s mind as she grinned wickedly at the 7th year with her eyes flashing for a moment, while leaning forward and leaning on of her arms on her knees while raising her right hand to Ryder’s cheek.

“But of course, my dear Massa Ryd-ah, actions can mean much more. Who could resist the smooth caressing of mothers touch on your hair, or a friends hug on your birthday. Gentle touches can really light up your mood and make everything seem better,” Dana cooed gently at Ryder while her hand slipped upwards and slowly curled a strand of his hair while the index finger on her other hand rose to touch Ryder’s chin as if Dana was telling her something very important. While it had the extra bonus of holding the boys head still.
“However even the nicest touch can turn into something so adorably wicked, if desired,” Dana whispered before giving the strand of hair she had been twirling around her finger a sharp tug and leaning back in her armchair while releasing Ryder’s head rather abruptly. Snickering at Ryder with real amusement Dana crossed her legs defiantly while tilting her head, “And that is why you never – EVER – curl your finger at me and expect me to jump to fulfill your every smallest wish.”

Dana arched an amused eye-brow at Ryder almost wondering how the boy’s ego would take this blow while she continued on at the most normal conversational tone, like nothing had ever happened while she smiled calmly: “Though words can be twisted and twirled around making them cut much more deeply than any action ever could. Indifference in tone can be much more disturbing than a shrug of shoulders and the same way a good wish can be as comforting as a friends hug. Words and actions are both required as they balance each other. Without words no action would be complete, and without a movement words wouldn’t held value. You can’t have one without the other.”

[ryder]

He smiled in amusement when she commented on the bunnies again and how his suggestion on how to distract them wasn't a good idea. He shrugged slightly and shook his head "I will keep thinking on it." After the words he leaned forward slightly, looking closely at Dana as she leaned forward and tried to make her own point. He kept his gaze focus on hers as she wrapped a strand of his hair around her finger, her other hand making its way to his face. He stayed still, and silent, letting her make her point, and tug at his hair with out complaint.

"I agree they are both necessary for the existence of the other. We talked about the balance between different things making its existence possible before. I just think actions hold more power. And my action was asking you to come closer. No jumping was expected." He paused for a moment again, thought his gaze still remained focused on Dana, and after long enough to being to feel slightly awkward, he smiled that same one-sided smile. "If you wont listen to subtly, more dramatic is necessary."

He paused for another moment, though his gaze still remained almost too focused. Finally he pushed himself up and out of his seat and walked around the coffee table between them and headed for the chair that she had settled herself into. It would have been more convenient if she had sat on the couch, but having to work with what was available, he sat on the edge of the coffee table, close enough to her, that there legs were almost touching.

[dana]

Dana felt just a little bit edgy as Ryder walked around the coffee table that had offered somewhat of a barrier between them. There was something in his eyes that made Dana a bit wary. Ryder was… unpredictable… And for once the situation wasn’t wholly under Dana’s control and she had to admit to herself that it did make her a bit edgy though her upbringing kicked in here as she turned the book on her lap around and offered a cool smile at Ryder meeting his eyes calmly. “The point stays the same. It takes more than a crook of finger for you to expect me to follow an order,” Dana stated while lazily swinging one of her feet back and forth while she was a bit warily expecting for the something ‘dramatic’ Ryder might do to get his point through.

Before the time came a so familiar drawl cut into the conversation making Dana jump slightly: “I don’t know whether to be repulsed or amused.”
How on earth did Kris manage to move so silently? He was blind and had a cane and yet Dana hadn’t even heard him approach up to the point when he spoke. Dana’s eyes flashed with happiness as she smiled widely as Kris stepped next to the armchair she was sitting in.
“Kris!” Dana stated happily while turning her head only to gasp and blanche at the sight of blood running down Kris’s cheek. Jumping up Dana almost crashed into the corner of the coffee-table but barely noticed it as she hurried to Kris’s side her wand already drawn as she cooed softly while using the sleeve of her white sweater to wipe off the blood from his cheek. Luckily it was just a small cut this time as Dana was glad to see. The last time Kris had been hurt had been bad enough.
“It’s only a scratch,” Kris murmured comforting to Dana as she murmured the healing charm before wiping off the last bit of blood from Kris’s cheek and kissing it before switching easily into French, “Let’s just say that Cleo doesn’t show much accuracy with knives and healing spells aren’t her specialities either. She needs a bit slower and less practiced opponent for now, if you don’t mind?”

“Sure, no problem. I could use some practice as well,” Dana said leaning her forehead slightly against Kris’s cheek for a moment while silently whispering into his ear not the scare her again like that while Kris took her arm using a cleaning charm on the sleeve of her sweater Dana had used to clean off blood while seating himself on the hand-rest of the armchair Dana had previously sat in while Dana stood by his side smiling softly at Kris with her wrists crossed and leaned on his shoulder comfortably while Morrigan was sniffing the air and eyeing Ryder rather curiously.
“Ryder, meet Kris Graas - my cousin. Kris – this is Ryder Dallan. An acquaintance I suppose,” Dana said with a small smile and a nod introducing the two boys at Kris’s slightly arched eye-brow. As Dana threw a small smile at Ryder as well while only politeness held her steady at a place. Gryffindor and a Slytherin together? This might get a bit explosive but Kris could control himself. Hopefully Ryder could as well so everything would go nicely and with no one being harmed.

((Figured it's easier to write Kris' remarks and reactions here as well, so it it's easier tor ead and was easier for me to write. *huggles* His comments are in Italics. Don't worry, I'll use his character int he next post.))

[ryder]

His gazed stayed almost painfully focused on her, and with his new closer position he could almost feel how uncomfortable she was. All he did was smile that one sided smile in response, a when she moved her book, he reached a hand forward and laid it on the cover, and over her own hand, so that it was forced to remain still. He paused like that for a moment, his gaze still focused on her before his body tipped forward slightly, moving very careful and slow.

His upper body had barely begun to tip closer to hers when he heard someone, and he glanced over to see a boy he only vaguely recognized coming toward them. He let out a slight sigh, and almost instantly Dana said the boy's name and jumped up and toward him. Ryder straightened slightly, and placed one of his hands behind him and leaned against it. He eyed the newcomer, who he assumed was named Kris, very carefully. His gaze stayed steady, until Dana introduced them, and it flickered back to her for a moment.
"If we had a few more moments we'd be more than acquittance's." A one sided-smiled crossed his face and he immediately pushed up so that he was standing, facing Kris. "I don't think we have met before, but we can blame our houses for that."

[dana]

Smiling at the sight of Kris entering with his hand holding Cleo’s elbow Dana smiled at the sight of his cousin. Kris with his black pair of pants and an emerald-green silk shire with silver chains decorating the cuffs and collar. Matching silver thestral-heads held the formal black robe with silver lining in it’s place on Kris’s shoulders. True, the black sunglsses didn’t really fit, but they didn’t bother either as Kris moved with careless grace his family heir-loom ring sending out green flashes as the light caught on the big emerald and the walking-cane in his right hand touching the floor now and then while Morrigan was positioned on his shoulder as always. Cleo at his arm looked just as stunning. She had also chosen a simple-cut dress, but the colour stood out all the more brightly. The shining bronze outfit was also made to follow the body-lines as the blouse didn’t have any decoltee in the front, but Cleo’s back was bared to the waist with only three straps crossing on her back and the skirt widening as it neared the floor making it a fitting dress for a quick dance-tour.


Dana shifted slightly so that she was standing in a bit more comfortable position as Kris’s arm calmly rested around her waist. True, Kris didn’t usually care about displays of affenction, but he didn’t really argue either as Dana leaned on him now. He must have understood that seeing blood on his face – even if it was from a small scratch – scared Dana. The memories of Hogwarts Express were still as vivid as ever at nights when Dana happened to see nightmares. With Kris being permanently wounded at the attack – it was likely that the memories of it never would fade. After all Kris was one of the main pillars Dana’s life leaned upon. Besides it had been came rather painstakingly obvious exactly how close the relatives were this ear. Dana silently wondered if there was anyone who knew one of them and didn’t know that they were related. Well, Ryder obviously hadn’t, but then again he had met Dana barely a couple of days ago.

Both eye-brows arched sarcastically at Ryder’s statement. More than acquaintances? “If we have a couple of more moments, then you might have very well been sprouting boils or been out cold on the floor,” Dana answered sarcastically with the slightest scowl towards Ryder as he stood and faced Kris. Dana wasn’t exactly a feminist. But there were things that could irk her about males but more importantly statements like the one Ryder had just said grated her nerves. “I prefer to not have myself be bothered with invading my personal space you know,” Dana answered just a bit snobbishly, though she did have to admit that she had been edgy. And well… Ryder had been invading her personal space.

“Be nice,” Dana whispered into Kris’s ea offering a smile as Kris turned his head a little towards her at such a statement, even though Kris wouldn’t see the smile. “Be nice,” Dana repeated while tugging lightly on Kris’s ponytail as she silenced and let the two boys exchange casually polite phrases before she and Kris left the student lounge, letting Ryder get back to his reading.

[kris]

Kris sat patiently on the arm-rest on the couch letting Dana pamper the scratch on his cheek, before she simply leaned against him as if recollecting her strength. Placing his arm around her waist to offer comfort Kris wondered about the boy his eye-brows raising slightly at the comment about being more than acquaintances. Dana had always had boys circling around here and she had had her fair share of dates, but this guy was more frank than the guys Dana usually preferred. Perhaps Dana preferred slick guys because she could easily control them having a rather strong and stubborn character herself. Dana’s rather snappish reply at the comment about more private time was rather expected form Kris’s side. Dana was a big girl after all and 99.9% of the time could take care of herself.

Hearing the boy stand up Kris smirked lazily. Was he really that impressive and threatening that while he was sitting, Ryder didn’t want to sit? He did gave of an advantage with it, not that Kris would have needed it. Turning his head slightly at Dana’s comment about being nice Kris didn’t reply to it, Morrigan letting out a low purr instead.
“Blame the houses? But a house in itself doesn’t live. If you want to blame someone blame yourself. It was rather us that weren’t interested into meeting, none the less getting to know each other than our houses,” Kris replied with a slight sneer. He didn’t like it when people tried to push blame for their own actions to someone else or onto something that could have been easily helped if it was necessary. An axe in itself was a tool. You could use it to cut trees and it was an honoured and useful tool. But you could also use the axe to kill and at such a case it was a dreaded weapon. The axe itself however had no say as to what was being done with it, so it was the person using it who would have the blame – or honour – for the work done with the axe.
“I admit that I have never felt the smallest piece of desire to get acquaintances and perhaps get to know a Gryffindor in general, so naturally I have never been interested in meeting you specifically either. Really, why blame the houses when not knowing anything about the other is completely our own personal choices? What’s the point in trying to push blame away from yourself?” Kris drawled out lazily while turning and angelically innocent face towards Dana while raising his hand with her book that Dana had left on the arm-chair in his hand, “Your book, m’lady. I’ll walk you to your common room so you could change into something more comfortable for practice.”

Kris stood walking towards the student lounge door with Dana easily falling into step by his side not arguing with Kris’s suggestion – which had been logical – at all. Turning her head for a moment Dana touched her fore-head for a moment with her book-corner in a some-what salute towards Ryder: “Enjoy reading, Massa Ryd-ah. I suppose I shall see you again sometime over the school. Happy holidays.” Smiling calmly back at the boy Dana lisped under Kris’s arm who was holding the door open for her as the two relatives left the room.