Comfort from strangers ((Dana))

[illiya]

Tall blue-white peaks capped in the early snows of fall looked down upon the castle as they always did. Silent sentries who had regally watched the passage of time and innumerable students come and go from the great stone facade of Hogwarts. Fall was quickly on it’s way and the wind brought with it the distinct chill of winter’s kiss and the promising scent of turning leaves. Soon, the trees around the castle would begin to change color and Hagrid would have a new batch of huge pumpkins ready for the Halloween Feast. Though still over a month away, Illiya could almost smell the pies baking in the kitchens below the school. She sat now, curled up with her knees to her chest, gazing out over the magnificent scenery around her. She had chosen a spot on the lawn near the Whomping Willow but far enough away from it to avoid the irate tree’s impressive reach.

Illiya was dressed for the weather as best she could in hopes of catching the last warmth of the season. She wore a light blue jacket and olive drab corduroy pants which were a little too large for her. Her little black t-shirt wasn’t enough on it’s own to keep out the chill on the wind and the jacket seemed to steal just enough of the cold for Illiya to leave it open and fluttering softly around her. Her trainers were about two years old now and she looked down at them fondly. They had been broken in nicely and were comfortable enough to wear almost anywhere. She thought nothing of her choice in clothes and ignored the sneers and whispered words of the Slytherins as she passed them on the way out here. Illiya had never been considered an overly pretty girl and had long ago stopped trying to impress anyone with her appearance. Her curly hair hung in tangles around her face and danced in the breeze like ribbons whenever it whisked past. The majority of it was pulled up in a simple bun, held in place as usual with the only thing she had on hand, her wand.

Illiya had written to her father a few days before and her large brown eyes searched the azure blue above her for any sign of her owl. She sighed heavily and turned her gaze back out to the mountains around her. Quagmire, her owl, had more than likely gotten lost again and she knew it was wishful thinking to hope he’d find her this fast. Illiya was hoping for some cheer from her dad. She needed someone to tell her that she wasn’t a complete loss at this point. She’d only been here just a few short weeks and on her first day of classes, she’d cost Gryffindor 10 points. Illiya remembered the day and the looks on the other Gryffindor’s faces and, even now, she winced inwardly. She hadn’t meant any harm. She was just nervous. She always seemed to be nervous. Once again, Illiya questioned the intelligence of letting a sentient hat chose which house someone should be in. She certainly didn’t feel very brave. It had taken her four years just to work up the nerve to sneak out after dark. Heck, it was almost a Gryffindor tradition at this point to sneak out of the dorms, yet she’d never worked up the nerve before.

Illiya chewed her lip and was so engrossed in her own self-loathing and pity that she didn’t hear the soft foot falls of someone else until they were almost right behind her. She jumped a little and whipped her head around to see who it was, sure that she couldn’t be taking someone else’s seat, only to find her self squinting up at a young woman. She couldn’t tell much because the sun was in her eyes but Illiya hoped she hadn’t broken any new rule she wasn’t aware of by her choice of seating. “Uh…hi.” Illiya stammered as she raised one hand to try blocking out the sun, but despite her efforts, the person above her remained a dark silhouette against the bright light of the afternoon.

[dana]

Dana wandered out of the Hogwarts castle. She didn’t really feel like being stuck inside it one more day as she had been spending enough time in there during the start of the week. Why, with Kris being in coma from which he awoke only 15 days later only to discover that he would be blind forever. So Dana’s mood hadn’t been highest lately, but she was feeling a bit better now that Kris was at least awake.
Dana had finally gotten to the point of unpacking her clothes as well so she know had a wider selection of clothes to wear everyday, not just the things on top of everything else in her trunk. Right now she had decided on a full-length black skirt, beige top and a knee-length beige summer-jacket. Casual clothing for Dana, yet to someone who wasn’t used to it her cloths might look even fancy.

Dana made her way calmly from between small chattering groups of people that had gathered around the Grounds. A few people called her name and waved Dana to join them, but Dana turned down all such invitations with a shake of her head as she moved forward. She didn’t really care much about a group char right now. Perhaps a light conversation about absolutely nothing so to say would be alright, but Dana wasn’t feeling like up to something very philosophical. Not something overly fun either.

Sauntering over the grounds Dana noticed a girl sitting on an old bench that Dana was about to pass on her way. Her eyes fell onto a book sticking out from under the bench half-way almost randomly. Had the girl accidentally dropped her book there or had someone else lost their book? Dana hesitated for a moment as she stopped behind the bench. She did know that books deserved to be treated better than this one was being treated.
“Hi,” Dana replied coolly as the younger girl was squinting up towards her from the bench, “Is that your book on the ground or has someone lost it previously?” As she was speaking Dana grouched down and pulled out the book gently brushing away a few leaves from a top of it and turned it over in order to see that it was a story-book. Fairy-tales to be more exact as Dana discovered while flipping through the book pages quickly with a small smile. She had always liked fairy-tales.

[illiya]

Illiya stared up blankly at Dana for a few moments before the question actually rendered itself into her mind. She was waiting to be chided for something not questioned about the book she had entirely overlooked upon sitting down. Illiya’s eyes fell on the brightly colored binding of what looked to be a children’s book and she gazed for a moment at the little goose with a bright blue bonnet that graced the books cover. It seemed the goose was telling stories to the children gathered around it and behind the goose were the dream-like images of a princess, a prince, and what looked like the sad approximation of a dragon, drawn by someone who had obviously no concept of what a dragon looked like. Illiya suddenly realized she hadn’t answered the other girl’s question and she pulled her mind from its reverie. “Oh…uh…no. It’s not mine. I guess someone left it here. A first year most likely. Kinda sad though, the poor child that lost it is probably missing it by now.

As Dana had bent down to retrieve the book, Illiya had finally been able to make out more of her features. The girl was older than Illiya and was dressed rather well, her hair was luxurious and smooth and Illiya felt suddenly a little frumpy in front of such company. She frowned half-heartedly down at her own plain black tee and well-worn jacket wishing she’d thought to dress a little nicer. The thought was quickly dismissed though as Illiya realized she didn’t own anything as nice as what Dana seemed to be wearing. Illiya looked back up at Dana and pointedly scooted down the bench a bit to offer Dana a seat. “What story is it?” Illiya asked pleasantly as she looked back up at the cover again. She could only assume it was some childish fantasy involving heroics that she herself would never take part in, discretion being the better part of valor as far as she was concerned.

[dana]

“Hum?” Dana glanced up as the girl started talking. She had already loosed herself within the books as she had read every fairy-tale there at least once. Or more precisely – about 10 or more times. Dana couldn’t help it. She was still a child deep inside – fairy tales, Santa Claus – at one level she believed in all of them. How could something so obviously nice not be true?
“What makes you think the book belongs to a first year? I have a book on fairy-tales with me at school,” Dana commented with a small tilt of her head sending a curious look at the girl upon her words. Dana was childish in some ways, but for some reason no one had ever really dared to call her immature. At least not for years anymore. For that matter – no one picked on Dana. If people didn’t like her, then they stayed away. Perhaps it was one of the bonus of having a few friends in Slytherin? What ever the reason was, Dana liked it.

“I’ll give to some professor later on. I have to see one of them anyway before I start my rounds,” Dana muttered and noticing the girl had shifted on the bench hesitated for a moment. She hadn’t really wanted company. Not really – if she had, she would have went to one of her friends. Yet it would be impolite to refuse the offer so Dana stepped around the bench and sat down after brushing the bench cover once with her hand. Perhaps it wouldn’t do anything bad either. Talking to someone who didn’t know her yet.
“I think there are a couple of fairy-tales in here. Without illustrations which is good. I always hated it when there were drawings next to the fairy-tale as they never were the same as how I imagined the characters to look. I used to be completely smitten with long black hair. Still am actually.”
Dana turned her head while holding the fairy-tales book gently in her arms: “I’m Dana by the way.”

[illiya]

Illiya smiled broadly at Dana and offered the other girl her hand in greeting. “Hi. I’m Illiya.” She said brightly. Her other hand reached up unconsciously to push her glasses back up onto her nose. They quickly slid right back down within a few moments of her hand hitting her lap again but she chose to ignore them. “I don’t see anything wrong with fairy tales,” she explained quickly, “I tell stories to my brothers all the time.” Illiya certainly didn’t want to offend this girl already and she quickly worked to cover her slip-up. “It’s good that it doesn’t have pictures. My brothers always preferred it if I didn’t show them the images in their own books too. I don’t really know how they always picture everyone. Long black hair sounds nice though.” She said rather awkwardly. Truth-be-told, Illiya hadn’t given boys much thought and had long since given up trying to wish that she were someone else or looked different.

Grasping at topics for discussion, Illiya glanced around for a few moments and twiddled her thumbs. She had offered a seat to Dana without really thinking about it, her father had insisted she learn some basic manners, but now she was at a loss as to what she could possibly have to say to someone like Dana. Her eyes fell on the school’s great oak doors and she soon found herself asking, “So what house are you in?” The question sounded lame even to Illiya who was fairly lousy at small talk. She didn’t have many friends even after being her for three years as she was always studying or locked in her dorm room working on her wrist movements for Charms class. “I’m a Gryffindor.” She added suddenly as if it seemed rude not to announce herself first. Illiya managed a shy smile at Dana and hoped the other girl wouldn’t think her a complete idiot.

[dana]

Dana raised a curious eye-brow and repeated her name as if trying how it tasted. „Illiya. It sounds good. Rather unique name though. Something you wouldn’t hear every day, which only adds charm to it,“ Dana replied calmly while her eyes lowered to the book in her hands.
„Fairy-tales are nice. I was rasied a pure-blood so I have known abut magic my entire life. But I still dreamed – who doesn’t, really? Yet I never dreamt of being a princess in distress. I always disliked princess who never did anything but played maiden in trouble who couldn’t do anything but smile prettily. I wanted to a sorceress. Or a traveller. One of those mystical ladies about who no one knows where they come from, where they are going or even why they are doing what they are doing. Or perhaps be a little thief and somehow by coincidence steal from some military officer, who would catch me. He’d be nice in his own way, masculine, and rough around the edges, but he would win my heart and he’d love me wildly. I always wanted to be in the center of things as it seemed to... intriguing, so nice.“ Dana looked up at the sky with a small frown clouding her mouth-line for a moment as she thought of the train attack once again. Her next words were as much meant for Illiya as they were for herself: „But now I perhaps think that it might be a lot better to be away from the action. Safer for me, better not to have my friends there in the middle of danger to make sure they are safe as well. Now I don’t want anyone to have adventures with. I want some nice stabile shoulder do lean on, one that would always be there. I’m quite the coward actually and a life of adventures wouldn’t suit me.“

Dana shook her head as if trying to banish her thoughs and shited herslef lightly raising one of her legs over the other. Her hair had became partially loose from the furious head-shake so Dana turned her head side-ways combing through it absent-mindedly with her fingers, trying to sooth it to look passable again.
„I’m a Ravenclaw. 6th year and glad that the OWLs are behind me. Any teachers alreayd told you about the OWLs? „You are big now, you have to start thinking. You will have to be taking your OWLs soon, so stop goofing off“ – comments like that with McGonagalls glare. At one point it got annoying so I sometimes almost felt tempted to stop studying ust to spite the professors,“ Dana admitted noticing that Illiya didn’t seem to be very comfortable in a social conversation. Making one of yourself or telling something simple and pointless and neutral like this usually seemed to help, so Dana had taken on a light tone almost automatically.

[illiya]

Dana’s voice was cheerful and pleasant and Illiya allowed herself to relax a bit on the bench. The older girl went on about the fairy tales she liked most as a child and her own preferences for the strong female character. Illiya cast her eyes away when Dana mentioned she was pure blood and decided not to comment on her own birth. Her parents had been far from magical and all the strange occurrences she had produced throughout her childhood had been written off for most of her young life as an overactive imagination. Fortunately, Illiya’s parents had always been a very loving family and they encouraged her ‘imagination’ as she grew. Illiya missed her Father and brothers very badly whenever she was at school but they were all proud of her and she tried hard to keep her grades up.

Dana’s tone grew more solemn as she continued, she began speaking about worrying for her family’s safety and Illiya could well imagine she was thinking about the train attack. Illiya thought herself pretty lucky because very few people in the wizarding world knew about her family. Being muggles, they seemed fairly safe. Dana proclaimed herself a coward and instantly Illiya felt for her. She herself had never felt too awful brave and wasn’t quite sure why the hat had put her in Gryffindor. “I’m pretty bad at adventuring myself.” She said softly. A small bit of wind set the tendrils of her hair dancing again and Illiya seemed oblivious to them, though they hung in her face.

Dana changed the subject to the upcoming OWLS and Illiya’s heart sank a notch lower in her chest. “I got most of my lectures last year about them. I have so much to study for. I sometimes think my head is going to just explode right off my shoulders.” Illiya made a wide gesture with her arms, crossed her eyes, and made a silly little explosion noise, miming out the scene Dana would see should Illiya’s head actually explode. She then cast the older girl a broad smile and giggled softly before going back to biting her lip. Illiya had lived on a farm her whole life so she was fairly down to earth. Having two younger brothers meant being able to act silly if the situation called for it and she just hoped someone as sophisticated as Dana could appreciate silly base humor. Dana did like fairy tales after all so that should count for something.

Illiya looked back up at Dana and allowed a little smile to tug at her lips. “You see, you’re lucky, you’re a Ravenclaw. That means you’re very intelligent. You’re head probably didn’t even hurt during the OWLS. I pretty certain mine is going to just pop right off,” Illiya teased. There was something sad about Dana and Illiya thought that was a terrible shame. She seemed like a nice enough person, maybe Illiya could cheer her up a little. “So, what are you going to do after school? Do you already have a job all laid out?” Thinking about the future usually left Illiya pretty happy so she hoped this tactic would work on Dana.

[dana]

Dana turned to look at Illiya. Adventures were one thing courage completely an other. You didn’t see most Gryffindors running around in near-suicidal occasions that seemed like the only way to make them happy like Wonder-kid did. Nope. If you had too many adventures, they lost their charm.
„Well, define what’s courage? What’s bravery? For me courage isn’t about running around and playing chase with death every day. So how can you tell you’re not much of an adventure. Life itself is big adventure like some philosopher said. It was a philosopher, right?“ Dana mused out loudly smiling a litle while watching Illiya’s antics.
„You’re head is going to explode? Well, would you mind warning me about it first? I would like to step a little further away at such case. I rather like this jacket and I wouldn’t want brains decorating it. They would be near impossible to get off. Or like my... brother... once said – „I refuse to join a massacre. Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of silk?““ Dana stared off into space. Kris hadn’t been the friendliest person. But he didn’t deserve to have her eye-sight taken from him. It should have been Dana!

Forcefully unclenching her fingers Dana continued the conversation at a completely regular and calm voice. IT was wonderful really how much upbringing could influence your life. Dana would never let some stranger see her worries more closely. She had already given away more than she wanted with her clenched fist. „Now that’s prejudice. Me being in Ravenclaw doesn’t automatically make me smart or a genius. It just shows that I don’t mind studying awfully much. Actually two houses were suggested for me in my first year. Ravenclaw and secondly came Slytherin. Most probably wouldn’t have survived in Slytherin. I’m a bit too soft for that house.“
Dana smirked arrogantly at Illiya, „So don’t prejudice me for being in Ravenclaw. I had head-aches. I even fell asleep on my notes a few times. That was most certianly not good for my make-up as after it I could pass for a zombie.“

Illiya turned the topic to something random and Dana pondered about it. Future? „Most likely – take over family business. Perhaps travel a bit, see the world first. Politics might be interesting. Diplomacy. What can I say – I’ve always liked talking people’s ear off until they do exactly what I want. I’m spoiled. But diplomacy could give me a chance to do it legally and get praised for it as well. But in the long run I’m taking over family’s business. What about yourself? Any big and certain plans?“

[illiya]

Illiya laughed loudly at Dana’s joke concerning her impending explosion, and smiled broadly at her as she answered the other girl’s earlier question. “I don’t know,” she began softly, her smile fading to a thoughtful frown, “I guess I always thought courage meant not being afraid of things. I kind of have a lot to live up to, considering who I share a house with. I’m always scared I’ll get in trouble” she mumbled ashamedly, “I just know I’d get caught doing something stupid and I’d lose more house points.” Illiya looked back up at Dana and bit her lip, she had completely missed Dana’s far away look and the clenching of her fists.

As Dana turned the conversation back to their respective houses and the impending OWLS exams, Illiya listened with a half grin growing steadily over her features. She burst out laughing as Dana described her smeared make-up and then wrangled herself under enough control to reply. Illiya couldn’t even imagine anyone as perfect looking as Dana having smudged make-up and drool on their face. “I don’t ever wear make-up” she replied between snickers, “I study so often and so much that I fall asleep a lot on my notes. I learned early make-up doesn’t help me much anyway.” She smiled a little sadly at Dana then, and noted almost as an afterthought “I always thought the sorting hat placed me wrong. I don’t mind studying, I do it too often for that, and I just don’t think I fit the bill for a Gryffindor. Maybe I would have been better off in Ravenclaw.” Her voice trailed off for a few seconds.

She listened to Dana’s response to her earlier question about her plans for the future and nodded her assent, giggling at the funnier parts. As the question was turned back on her, Illiya managed a half-hearted shrug. “I grew up on a farm. I had always thought I’d just take over there. But now,” she shrugged again, “I don’t know. Being a witch is nothing anyone in my family has ever done before. I don’t really know much about what witches and wizards do for regular jobs. I guess it depends on my test scores. I’m pretty good at transfiguration. It’s one of my few strong spots. I don’t know what job would require much of that though.” Illiya had always seem herself as going back to their little farm, but more and more that option was slipping from her grasp. A muggle farm was no place for a witch. Moreover, going home could draw unwanted attention to her muggle family. Things weren’t safe for that now.

Illiya studied Dana for a few seconds and gave her a small quirky grin. “You’re awfully nice and, forgive me if this seems prejudiced again, but you seem like someone who must be pretty popular. How come you aren’t hanging out with a whole bunch of friends down by the lake? Not that I mind your company at all!!” Illiya quickly raised her hands in a non-threatening manner and offered a friendly smile, “I mean, I have enjoyed our talk so far, it’s just that I guess I expect someone as friendly as you to be absolutely surrounded by people.” Illiya looked down sheepishly, sure that she had said something stupid. Why, she’d practically just told the girl that she should have an entourage. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, “I shouldn’t have asked that. It’s really none of my business after all.” She waited to see if Dana would keep talking to stalk away.

[dana]

„Farm? Sounds intersting. Had a lot of animals there? Must admit that I’ve never been overly good with animals,“ Dana gave a msall and almost cruel smirk as she thought back at the last COMC class she had attended. The carekeeper Hagrid had brought dragons and it hadn’t really worked well with Dana’s nerves. In the end a few words that were obviously not thought through had resulted in Dana giving a right-hook to a fellow Ravenclaw. At least he had deserved it. And Dana had quit COMC on the spot. Luckily it wasn’t compulsory subject. A smile didn’t appear on Dana’s face however. It was one of the moments she had shared with Kris… just like with half of the school, but that was beyong the point.
„You don’t know? Well, your decision I suppose. But I’m sure there are some professions that require transfiguration. McGonagall should be having conversations with you all next year I think… where she suggest career choices for your strong sides. Ask her I suppose. Flitwick wasn’t overly pleased at first, when I told him I’m merely taking over family business, but he didn’t argue either.“ At least he hadn’t argued anymore after recalling who exactly Dana’s grandparents were.

Dana’s eyes flashed thoughtfully at Illiya’s words. Well, she was somewhat a social butterfly and not very settled on one group of people. She had friends from all years from all houses. Some were better than others and a lot of acquintances on top of everything else.
„Wasn’t feeling overly social. Besides I had some business in the Ministry. Had to clear some documents for my… cousin… so I just came back to the school grounds,“ Dana looked at her long skirt and high stiletto heels. Maybe a bit fancier clothes than the occasion had required, but Dana had liked the comfort the clothes offered her. Plus it had helped her look and feel superior and get into that role easier.
„It’s a free country, so asking isn’t allowed. However you must excuse me for not giving you a better answer than that I wasn’t feeling up to talking to my friends right now. Nor are my clotes very suitable for Quidditch practice or a ball-game by the lake side. But as you started I could probably do the same. Why aren’t you down there, laughing, having fun and socializing?“

[illiya]

Illiya shrugged a bit at the animal question. “Not too many,” she began thoughtfully, “Dad grows wheat for the most part but we do have 3 goats, 2 cows and 4 horses. I’m pretty good with them really. Mind you, nothing I’ve met so far in care of magical creatures even vaguely resembles any animal I’ve ever worked with.” The last statement was mumbled and Illiya rolled her eyes a bit. She already almost lost a hand during her last encounter with a magical animal and Illiya had decided she would have a lot more respect and caution when wandering through the woods by her home from then on.

Illiya looked carefully at the clothes Dana was wearing and nodded in understanding when the girl mentioned where she had been. Obviously Dana was from an older and well known wizarding family, as Illiya would never dream of showing up at the ministry. She couldn’t imagine what sort of papers anyone Dana’s age would need to file, but Illiya could only imagine they would be terribly important. Anything worth the Ministry’s attention had to be important. Illiya had the image of them as some great, huge, faceless benefactor that would swoop down and punish those who stepped out of line. Having to go to the Ministry was a terrifying thought, yet this girl was sort of shrugging it off as no big deal. Illiya was relieved, as well, that Dana had not taken offense to her question, and now the tables were suddenly turned on her.

Illiya chewed her bottom lip for a moment as a shadow of unhappiness crossed her face. Suddenly, the reason she had come out here to be alone came crashing back down onto her narrow shoulders. It seemed silly somehow when she thought about it but she couldn’t shake off the heavy chains that wrapped around her heart anyway, despite her internal protests. “I didn’t figure too many people in my own house would want to be around me right now. I cost my house some points on our very first day.” Illiya looked up quickly, desperate to explain so Dana wouldn’t think she was some random troublemaker. “I didn’t mean to.” The words rushed out, “I’m just…clumsy.” Illiya scowled at the ground and muttered, “According to Professor Snape, I’m a downright walking natural disaster.” Illiya slumped back against the bench dejectedly and stared back out at the mountain peaks. “I’m afraid I don’t have many friends outside my own house. I’m so worried about studying that I don’t do much outside of the library.” A small breeze ruffled through Illiya’s hair again but this time Illiya didn’t move to catch or tame the loose strands that danced around with it.

((So sorry for the late post.))

[dana]

“Horses? I like horses. Well, I like horses when I’m standing on ground. My cousin has a few – 8 now as one of his mares just had a foal this summer. I was over at his place while that happened with a friend of mine and it looked purely amazing. A new life being born. A nice little chestnut foal. Stallion. According to my cousin and his stable-keeper the little boy – Albion – will become a quick runner. Can’t ride myself however. Not for the life of me.”
Dana gave a sad smie thinking at the summer. The experience had been beautiful but with Kris once again being so vividly in her head as he had been before the attack – a lot of Dana’s memories had received a sad colour-gamma.

„Don’t chew your lip,“ Dana said almost off-handedly not noticing what she had done before the words had already slipped out of her mouth. She had been brougt up well – never to slouch, never chew her lips or nails and a lot of other things. Most of a few hundred little details that had been drilled into her head as a kid influenced Dana still. She was rather roud of it, but now she just shook her head: „Sorry. That was automatic, so never mind me.“
Turning her head slightly Dana listened attentively to Illiya’s words. And shrugged. Points seemed to be a big deal in Hogwats. Well, actualyl they were. Dana herself would skin anyone loosing enough points to make Ravenclaw loose the House Cup they had had for 2 years in a row.
„It’s the first day. You have the whole school-year to make up for the points, so why worry about it? It’s not like Gryffindors are overly famous for not loosing points. Gryffindor house looses points most often as it sometimes appears. I have to give that to Slytherins, even to those I’m not friends with. They can be a bitmean and not overly nice – but they never seem to get caught. A bit like rope-dancers. I have always found it a bit amazing. Very educating however when you can observe it at close range. I must admit that to one point I even admire the Slytherin Queens. Maybe because they have never troubled me. But because they know what they want and act to get what they want. Not that I fully approve of their behaviour – even though they have been quiet lately – but they are all talented.“
Dana grinned turning a ring on her fingers slightly as she thought off all the Slytherins she knew and conversed with. She had even had a few conversations with Goyle!

„Personally I like Snape too. He’s one of my favorite teachers, next to Flitwick and Hardy. He knows his subject and it must be pressuring for one of Europe’s best Potions Masters to deal with a bunch of idiotic students. Including myself into that idiotic bunch. But if you look pass the sneers and comments – which are rather unique – he can get the message through to you if you pay attention and know how to pick it up from his speech. Even though he isn’t particularly friendly with. My friends seem to take some kind of weird pleasure for dearing me sometimes to either hug him or declear my love for Snape in public or something in that style. I swear he’s going to give out a restricting order to my soon.“ But Dana still liked Snape. In his own snarky way he symphatized to Dana.

Reaching out her hand Dana snapped off the glasses from Illiya’s nose. Placing a finger under her chin, Ceo inspeced the younger girl. „Now, you have an intersting personality, you are obviously concsious and hard-working, intelligent and have a sense of humour. Nice hair and the general bone-structure you have is good. Slim, gentle and charming in it’s own way. A lot of girls would kill to be as slim. No out-crying facial-features that create disturbing effects and the glasses aren’t that bad on you. Add authority,“ Dana handed the glasses back to Illiya, as she leaned against the back of the seat and smirked, „So nice enough looks, not a bad pesonality from the little I have seen – if you don’t have overly much friends then it is because you hide in the library and don’t go out to let others enjoy your company. Studying isn’t everything.“
Dana paused for a moment before giving a calm smile at Illiya: „So get out and socialise yourself. I’m sure you’ll have friends in no time, but you have to take the first step. And I hope you don’t mind my words. They honestly weren’t meant critizising in any way.“