Just a quick dip ((Brennan))

[kris]

Kris yawned and stretch finally raising his head from his homework. He was far from having finished the homework essays – he hadn’t even started them actually – but he had finished reading it and it was all he was planning on doing. Homework was pointless anyway. Those who wanted to would learn anyway and those who didn’t could easily copy the homework. So Kris merely never bothered. If the professors wanted to know the limit of his knowledge they could quiz him about it. “I’m off,” Kris told the two girls in the room hearing only a muttered oath in response from Cleo making Kris smirk. Dana and Cleo both were catching up on homework because unlike Kris that could take his way out of not giving in any homework they couldn’t. They were Ravenclaws so it would take the world to stop for them to not worry about school, even if both were good students. Kris sauntered out of the small room with Morrigan prancing on his shoulders yet again as the small black kitten directed Kris towards the big doors.

Not bothering to accio his cloak Kris merely stepped out in the crisp January air his head tilted slightly as he made his way towards the general direction of the Hogwarts lake. There were sounds and voices out here, yet obviously not overly many. Which was perfect for Kris’s purposes. He had always had an amazing knack for animals but that didn’t mean he liked to flaunt it. He wasn’t overly social so he much rather preferred to relax alone. Most other people had long ago learned no to dare to question him about it. Especially after the fits of rage and curses he had put the school through in the beginning after waking from 2 weeks coma only to discover he was blind. Finding a spot he liked Kris quickly shed his black blouse, shoes and socks bowing to let Morrigan run down his arm as the black kitten curled up on top of Kris’s blouse. Leaving his walking cane and his black sunglasses with his things as well Kris didn’t walk any closer than before towards the edge of the small cliff he was at. He liked a bit of chill. Always had and he was used to it. Really, England wasn’t that overly cold besides Kris was used to being out daily – and at nights too – ignoring the weather that might occur. Reall,y he was the one who had lost tons of points for Slytherin over years - even if he had always made up for it – with being caught in the Forbidden Forest. Kris sometimes wondered what had saved him form Dawn taking off her head.

Grinning at the thought Kris jumped off the cliff his body turning reflectively into a perfect arch as he plunged into the water shattering the water in two. The icy water was enough to take Kris’s breath away for a few moments as he dived easily forcing his body to move before returning to the surface to breath deeply again. His body starting to work properly again in a few moments. Swimming Kris made his way towards the center of the lake feeling the smooth tentacle wrap around his leg in a few minutes. Grinning Kris took a breath of air before plunging down into the water. It had taken him 4 years. 4 years of feeding and talking with the giant squid in the lake before the shockingly shy creature had started to trust him. Trust him enough to play with Kris this way. Sure, its blows could be a bit hard but Kris didn’t mind overly. It wasn’t anything bone-cracking after all. So Kris enjoyed himself playing with the giant squid, sometimes being pushed under water, sometimes lifted above it. Kris laughed quietly as his body arched backwards as he flew into the lake from a few meters above the water diving deep into the lake for a while before his lungs merely couldn’t hold anymore which forced Kris to rise to the surface once again.
“Enough!” came the sharp order form Kris because his body started to feel numb enough signalizing that it was time to get out of water again. Understanding the giant squid raised Kris to it’s head on one of it’s tentacles where Kris murmured and scratched the smooth skin for a few moments before being dropped back into the water.

Swimming towards the shore once again with quick strokes Kris felt goose-bumps raising all over his skin as he climbed to shore. Morrigan meowed loudly pointing Kris to the correct direction as Kris pulled out this wand form it’s secure hold in his pocket. A quick spell and Kris was dry again with his pants looking dry and pressed. Throwing his blouse on his shoulders Kris dropped himself on the ground starting to pull on his socks again before pulling on the first shoe and starting to tie the lace quickly as Morrigan ran up his right arm to take her regular position on Kris’s shoulders as his eyes were once again covered with the regular black sun-glasses that didn’t let any hint of his cursed eyes show.

[david]

Brennan stumbled carelessly along the shore of the lake, scowling at nothing in particular and kicking up sand with the toes of his black school shoes. How he loathed those shoes, with their shiny leather uppers and stiff black laces. Grandma made him get them when she took him school shopping in Diagon Alley. She said they looked "smart." He thought they looked boring and stupid, but they were the only shoes he had after Grandma scoured his wardrobe. "Jeans and trainers are for muggles," she scorned, tossing his clothes into a small pile on the polished hardwood floor. There wasn't much--just a pair of jeans, two shirts, torn socks, and an extra pair of underwear. His dirty, blue-canvas trainers followed shortly, and the pile was incinerated. Brennan watched as the only things he had left from London died in a burst of flame. He let go of them, just as Dad always taught him to. Material things didn't matter. He still had his memories, and no one could take those.

Still, he couldn't help but morn the loss of his things. Grandma's idea of a proper wardrobe included stiff white, collared shirts, pressed black trousers, and polished black-leather shoes. When they were added added with his Slytherin school robes and neatly combed hair, Brennan became the perfect little pure-blood, the grayish/green of his eyes matching that of the green and gray on the Slytherin insignia where it was sewn to his lapel. He hated these clothes, hated the shiny shoes and the ironed trousers. They were stiff and rich and stuck-up--everything he was not.

And what was worse, was he couldn't ruin these clothes. On the first day he wore his new shoes, Brennan scuffed both toes beyond all recognition, earning himself a firm scolding from Grandma and lecture on how he could not treat his nice things in such a manner. He was forbidden to go outside for three days, made to sit in his room and read until an early bedtime. Naturally, Brennan tried to find a way out of his prison, kicking at the door and throwing things at the window. Nothing worked. Grandpa had made sure that everything was secure and unbreakable, so he could not get out. The windows were spelled shut, with an unshatterable charm placed over them. The door hinges had been securely fashioned and the heavy oak of the door itself could not be broken. The room was impenetrable and dark. He couldn't stand it.

Brennan looked down at his shoes again, biting his lip. Surely lake water couldn't do much damage to them, and Grandma wasn't here to see anyway, was she? Without giving a second thought to it, he bolted for the lake, wading fully-clothed into the chilly water, shivering happily. The water was refreshing and cold, a nice change from the dry winds that seeped through his robes. A splash farther along the lake caught his attention, and he looked up.

An older boy was just getting out of the water. Brennan watched as the boy dried himself and put on a pair of dark sunglasses. There was a cat on the boy's shoulder, and that intrigued him. He liked animals, especially owls and cats, and sometimes dogs. Getting out of the water, he shook himself and walked briskly in the direction of the boy, eyes glued to the creature on his shoulders. The water in his shoes moved around with each step, making soft squelching noises. He payed them no mind, his attention now fully on the boy and the cat.

"What's its name?" He asked loudly, eying the cat.

[kris]

Kris murmured softly to Morrigan as the kitten purred and rubbed her back against his chin, tickling Kris’s skin with her soft fluffy fur. Which did remind Kris of an other pet. A small vixen cup he had rescued from some over-grown spider in his 3rd year when he had just started his trips to the Forbidden Forest. Kris grinned finding a soft silver whistle – much like those muggles used to call dogs – and blew in it. No sound was heard but from the way Morrigan jumped a little Kris knew that the whistle worked as properly as it always did. Wondering if the small vixen who had used to follow him around all the time as a cup would still come Kris blew once again before concentrating on tying the shoelaces on his other shoe.

Well at least he tried up to the point when footsteps caught his attention. Hios head snapping up and towards the direction from where the sound came from. Not one of the 4 girls who often seemed to make everything possible to make him go crazy. Even though Kris loved them all none the less. But no, Cleo’s, Dana’s , Mary’s and Samantha’s footsteps he could tell in his sleep. The slight breeze didn’t carry any perform either as Kris let his mind slip through different options as to who might be approaching him so easily. A moment later a loud voice cut the air and Kris lowered his head once again wordlessly taking his time to finish lacing up his shoe. The voice was young… young enough to be about a 1st year and male. Hufflepuffs were immediately crossed off the list, Gryffindors would rather give their right arm than to approach a Slytherin, especially one that much older. Ravenclaw or Slytherin… Kris had friends in both houses.

Finishing the tying of his shoe-lace Kris sat back pulling out a black string and tying his still dripping wet hair into a loose pony-tail at the nape of his neck with skilled hand-movements. He had had shoulder-length hair since his hair had grown long enough for it to be worn that way, so being blind didn’t bother Kris at this small aspect. “What on earth makes you think I would appreciate such rude interference with my privacy?” Kris drawled out lazily as he picked up his ebony walking cane the silver thestral’s head slipping into his left palm easily, “And I don’t have a clue what ‘it’ you are talking about.” Rising to his feet Kris smirked lazily in the general direction from where the footsteps had first came from. Actually he did have a pretty good idea of what the boy was talking about. Seeing the small ball of fur on Kris’s shoudler had caused many comments. Yet Morrigan wasn’t an ‘it’ but rather a she with a very strong character. He small kitten had jumped at the face of a girl Kris had gone out with her claws extracted drawing blood, as Morrigan apparently hadn’t liked the girl. Then again, as Morrigan was still here after the girl had given Kris an ultimatum – whether her or the kitten – so maybe Kris’s liking to the small kitten wasn’t that surprising after all. Morrigan did seem to understand the boys words as well as Kris could feel the tips of her claws at his shoulder-blade as the small kitten hissed furiously.

[david]

Brennan shrugged, unperturbed by the older boy's unfriendly demeanor. He was used to people trying to get him to go away. The older boys in London hadn't liked him very much either. They were always making fun of him or threatening to beat him up if he didn't leave them alone. He had gotten to the point where such things simply rolled off him, going in one ear and out the other. He was persistent, and probably more than a little stupid. If he had been smart, Brennan would simply have walked away when the other boy first spoke. Unfortunately, his people skills weren't the best, so he didn't know how to take a hint when it was slapping him in the face.

"Well, I didn't know if it was a boy or a girl, and I didn't want to be rude by calling erm....the cat a he if it was a she, or a she if it was a he." He paused, glancing at the small creature on Kris's shoulder. "So, what is it? A he, or a she?"

Brennan raised his eyebrows, looking over the boy and his cat. Something was....off. He first thought that maybe it was the sunglasses, but it was quickly dismissed. It was perfectly normal for a person to wear sunglasses outside. He frowned, trying to figure out what was strange about the older boy. His eyes returned to the dark sunglasses. There was just something about them, something that drew his attention. He shrugged and gave up, continuing to stare at the cat. It didn't look very happy. Maybe it was constipated? Maybe it wanted to get down. It never crossed his mind that there was a chance the little thing didn't like him. Brennan's mind didn't work that way. Mum had always said he was good with animals.

He looked at the count again, fighting the urge to pet it. His shrink said he needed to control his urges. Nothing could be fixed if he didn't know how to control himself first. It made sense, and he was doing his very best to try out self-control. It was hard, though. Brennan was used to doing the first thing that popped into his head. If his mind said to jump from the second story of someone's apartment, he did it. That was what happened when he ruined Grandma's flower bed. He had been jumping from the balcony on the second story, the one that was attached to the reading room. Her gardenias were squashed, and the roses were beyond repair. Grandma said he was lucky it was only his arm that broke, next time it would be his neck. He simply laughed her off and ran out to the yard to climb the big oak tree. She just shook her head and went to the library.

Grandma was always in the library. She liked to read, and she said she had always wanted to write a book as a little girl. She tried to get Brennan to read, but he couldn't sit still long enough. Go figure. Grandma gave up, and Brennan raced outside. Grandpa, on the other hand, was always in the parlor. He liked to sit in his armchair and drink whiskey and smoke his pipe. The parlor always smelled like tobacco. He never asked Brennan to join him. Grandpa like to be alone, he said. Grandma gave him gray hairs, and he was sure Brennan would too. The parlor was his special place. No one else was allowed inside.

Brennan's special place was the attic. There were tons of boxes and thing to keep him occupied. He found pictures of Mum from when she was a kid. They were wizard photos, the kind that moved. He was fascinated by them. Having been raised in a very muggle environment, Brennan was amazed at all of the wizarding things he found in Grandma and Grandpa's house. The pictures were the best to him. He missed his mum. He didn't want to. Mum and Dad always told him not to mourn people when they died. "When they're gone, they're gone. There's no coming back from there, and missing them won't do you any good. The best you can do is move on with your life, Bren. Move on and forget." Dad told him that when his pet sewer rat died. He had only been six years-old, but the lesson stuck. There was no use in mourning.

He still looked at Mum's photographs.

He still missed her.

He liked to look at his Mum when she was little. She still looked the same, only a lot younger. She had big green eyes and light brown hair--the same as Brennan. Actually, she looked a lot like Brennan did when he was a kid, only she was like the girl version. He wouldn't really know, though. Mum and Dad never took any pictures of him. Mum said they should just live life in the present. Photographs were just another excuse to dwell on the past. Live for the now, not the then. Brennan still liked photographs. He liked to look at them and imagine what was happening when the picture was taken. In a way, he saw his mum every day, through her photos. He knew, looking down on him, that she would not be proud.

[kris]

The boy didn’t seem to take hints. Kris blinked lazily behind his sun-glasses listening to his rambling. “Doubt she would have been insulted by comments about her gender. And her name is Morrigan,” Kris replied lazily. He had ran into Morrigan by accident this summer at his estate actually. He had found the kitten with a broken paw and one broken rib, but yet the small ball of fluff had had the guts to scratch and hiss at Kris when he picked her up. That has been what partially propped out her name and the black colour of her fur without any lighter spot the other. Then again Kris always named his animals after either mythological creatures or from characters he liked from books. So the name of an old English fairy-queen who in reality wasn’t that nice at all, as she was rather bloodthirsty had sounded fitting. The following had days had only proven that the name of the raven-haired queen was perfect for Kris’s small kitten as well.

“Morrigan, cane,” Kris told the black kitten who stopped hissing as Kris’s index finger had absent-mindedly been scratching under her chin. Skillfully half-jumping, half-running over the back of Kris’s neck Morrigan moved herself on his other shoulder. Obediently Kris turned until feeling Morrigan’s claws at his shoulder for a moment. Having learned to trust the kitten Kris started walking forward until Morrigan’s claws were pushing at his shoulder again making Kris stop. Reaching out one of his legs Kris hooked the toe of his shoe under the black ebony wood of his walking cane and threw it upwards caching the cane in his right arm with skill coming from years of martial arts training.
Morrigan purred proudly rubbing her back against his chin as Kris took the cane into his left hand his hand coming to rest easily over the silver thestral’s head adorning the top of the walking-cane.

“Who are you anyway as I can’t give much bonus to your upbringing as by the little I have heard just today you have about the same social grace as a chainsaw. Though maybe a chainsaw would be more subtle,” Kris asked in a not overly polite way who the kid was. Without waiting for an answer Kris turned on his heel and slowly started walking away down the lake-side his knees slightly bending at any step to keep his steps soundless as the tip of is walking cane touched the ground from now and then as Kris slowly started to saunter further away.