Worth my time? ((Massa Ryd-ah))

[dana]

Dana wasn’t in a good mood. Who would be? The position of being Ravenclaw’s quidditch captain had landed in Dana’s lap rather unexpectantly. But she had the position so Dana had to work to make sure she deserved the title. So despite the cloudy sky, cold weather and the rather icky slush coming down form the sky Dana had forcefully dragged herself out to the Quidditch pitch to see what the two 5th year Ravenclaws were capable of as they wanted to join the team. The whole thing had been incredibly disappointing however. The guys were even less talented with the quaffle than Dana and that was already telling something. Dana had just been pondering how to let them down nicely when one of the boys tried to hit on her and this had added the final twist to Dana’s nerves. Giving the boys a piece of her mind rather harshly Dana had put the quidditch balls away and tromped back to the castle.

Stomping her high-heeled black boots – perhaps not the best shoes for Quidditch practice, but they made Dana’s legs look long and nice – Dana tried to get rid of most of the slush she had carried in from the grounds. She succeeded somewhat but in fact Dana didn’t particularly care right now if she would leave footprints on the floor or not. She was frozen tot he bone during the half an hour spent outside so she really did only want to get to a warmer corner in the kitchens, curl up in front of a fire-place and drink a cup of hot chocolate to get some warmth back into her body.
Opening the clasps holding her quidditch gloves in place Dana frowned at the soft leather. The slush and the cold had done it’s work and even the clasps were rather frozen together. Raising her left glove Dana used her teeth to open one particularly nasty clasp before finally pulling of one of the gloves.
„Idiots should have made sure they are even worth my time before dragging me outside in such weather,“ Dana grumbled angrily while flexing her finger, scowling at her red finger-tips that hadn’t been protected by the leather.

Glancing up idly as she was coming to a corner Dana turned to the correct passageway that would take her to the kitchens by the shortest route before turning her attention back to right glove. The first clasp non the back of her hand opened easily so Dana turned to work on the clasp at her wrist that supported the wrist as much as protected it. A bonus of special-made quidditch-gloves. Her grand-fathers present for being made team-captain. Even though Dana still wasn’t able to see the logic in that decision. But what was done was done – so not paying overly much attention to where she was going Dana merely concentrated on getting off the gloves and trying to stop shivering with cold. The thick dark-blue Ravenclaw sweater pulled on a pair of tight faded jeans was warm usually, but right now it was wet. The waist-coat Dana had pulled over the sweater hadn’t protected her very much against the rain-like substance falling down.

[ryder]

A mix of rain and snow had been falling most of the day and the ground was no covered with a thick layer of icy slush. When the weather was more agreeable, he spent a great deal of his free time at the pitch doing his homework on the Gryffindor bleachers. It was perhaps an odd habit, but he liked the time alone, and the pitch was a second home to him. Everyone excepted him to play for the Gryffindor team from the moment he came to Hogwarts, it was more than expected when you were the son of the man who put together the Quidditch World Cup, but he never tried out. He loved the game, and he played with his younger brother Luke when he was home, but he never was the competitive type. He preferred to be on the sidelines than in the game, helping where he could and rooting for his team. Today though, there was no match, which was probably the best thing considering the weather, and for that same reason he did his studies inside. His attention was never at its best when he had to stay inside, and after hours of trying to focus through the noise and commotion, he decided that he needed to escape from it all and he headed off towards the kitchens.

He turned down one hall after another, retracing the steps he had traveled time after the six and a half years he had spent at Hogwarts with out ever having to think through the motions. His path was so automatic that he was almost startled when he saw that he was not alone, and that a girl was walking a few strides before him. She was soaked, and looked half frozen, and he caught a quick glance of one of her gloves as she unfastened the buckles and he placed it immediately with quidditch. He walked behind her, silent, and tried to place her to a house team before he said anything. Finally, with the painting passage way to the kitchens in sight he recalled exactly who she was and he jogged forward the few strides until he was at her side.
“You look like you could use a hot drink and someone to complain to.”

[dana]

Someone was following her. It was as simple as that. And at the same time he walked rather silently as if to not draw Dana’s attention... or to not bother her. Passing a window Dana glanced at the mirror reflection on there analyzing the boy following her with a quick glance. Boy. Perhpas a 7th year, not bad looking really nd he seemed almost pensive. Quick eliminating process worked and Dana crossed out Slytherin and Ravenclaw immidiately. She knew all odler Ravenclaws and this uy just dind’t give off the vibe all Slytherins did. Dana pondered silently who the guy might be... didn’t he have a brother or someone in the school as well? Dallan or something? The boy didn’t seem very threatening however so Dana brushed away the knowledge that he was walking behind her and merely continued her walk finally tugging off both of her gloves.

Hearing someone running Dana looked up calmly as the boy who had been following her caught up with her. Arching a curious eye-brow at the rather original way of starting the conversation Dana smirked lazily. „Hot drink I was heading towards already. Hot drink and a big armchair in front of the fire in the kitchens. As for complaining? Don’t think it would help me much. Unless you can go and turn back time and convince the two idiots that using try-outs for team at such weather is not an option to make me feel much friendlier about being hit on? SO the reason why I AM half-frozen wouldn’t exist?“
Dana glanced at the boy curiously wondering what exactly had made him run up to her. Just the similar direction?

[ryder]

As they walked he glanced over at her, and found himself smiling slightly first at her expression, and then at her reply. He had a feeling she was in not exactly in the mood to be play friendly with some totally stranger, but he knew the feeling. He had been played enough himself and watched enough games to know the expression I player had when things were not exactly going perfectly. He stayed quiet for her explanation of the events, and waited until they reached the fruit bowl painting, and he reached forward and tickled the pear and after it giggled, grabbed the doorknob, but paused for a moment before he pushed it open. “Sometimes it’s not about making things better, its just vocalizing frustrations.” He smiled at her after he spoke, the left corner of his mouth curving up while his right side stayed the same, before he pushed the door open and holding it there for her.

“Afraid I haven’t mastered time travel yet, but I’m sorry for the lacking intelligence of my gender, and the fact we have no sense of timing, myself included.” He could have continued to elaborate on his reason for including himself, but it seemed obvious. They were heading toward the same place for the same thing, and interaction was unavoidable, no even if she wasn’t in much of a mood to make friends.

[dana]

“Vocalizing frustrations,” Dana repeated the boy’s words with a hint of a smile before letting out a rather undignified snort. “How do you do it? That right there. Smiling while only one lip-corner moves up to smile? My brother can do the same and it’s absolutely infuriating. How come other people can do it while I can’t?” Dana pulled her hair out of the pony-tail she had put them in for the practice. Shaking her head moodily halfway to shake her complete ignorance about the skill of smiling with one lip-corner, halfway for making her hair fall normally onto her shoulders again Dana stepped through the door the boy was holding open for her.

“Cappuccino. Extra-strong. And some raisins and peanuts with fruit-pieces,” Dana ordered from the house-elf who rushed to greet them while squeeking out his… or hers?... willingness to serve. Dana glanced calmly at the Dallan-boy as she made her way towards the couches and chairs in one corner of the kitchen. Choosing a seat rather near the blazing fire, Dana stretched her legs out calmly while she nestled herself comfortably into the couch. The boy had decided to stick around after all as it seemed as Dana gave her a rather curious look.
“As for vocalizing frustrations… I think that I actually got more satisfaction from slapping one of the boys. Even though giving them a rather harsh piece of my mind certainly helped a bit as well. At least they should no better than to waste my time anymore.”

Dana observed the boy with clear amusement shining from her eyes as she listened to his words. „Well, I don’t say all of the male-gender is completely hopeless. But as for your case – admitting the problem if part of the way to solving the problem, you know,“ Dana replied easily with just a hint of amusement shining from her eyes making it know she wasn’t completely serious about her words. „I know I have seen you somewhere around the school. I can even place you into 7th year and Gryffindor and if I’m not overly mistaken then your last-name sounds something like... Dallan? Care to share your first name?“ Dana reached out her hand for the boy to shake calmly as she crossed her legs, „Dana Coran.“

[ryder]

He gave her that same one-sided smile, and tipped his head toward the door, motioning for him to go inside. Still smiling he watched her to inside, and followed behind her. He walked across the room, in between the rows of house tables toward the fire, not ordering until he was almost there. "Just plain coffee, black is fine." He reached over to a fruit bowl that was on one of the tables and grabbed an apple before settling down in one of the seats further from the fire. He watched her for a moment, as she chose a seat and settled down. He had already made himself comfortable, his legs stretched out in front of him, and one arm up on the arm of the chair so he could rest his head on his hand.

He smiled when she mentioned slapping one, that same one sided smile he gave her before. "Sometimes actions are better than words" he commented before biting into his apple, not speaking again for the long moment while he chewed the piece. "They hold a power that modern language took away from words long ago." He took another bite of his apple, but hi eyes never left Dana. After her introduction he nodded, and finished his bit before he responded. "Ryder, and you have the last name right. You have probably seem he around the pitch. I don't play, but its home to me."

[dana]

Dana scowled at Ryder lightly as he kept giving her that one-sided smile. It just seemed so familiar and relaxing... friendly. Yes, most people rather connected it with Slytherins, and coldness and keeping one’s emotions under control. But while living with Kris for years Dana had learned to read such small twists of one’s face and the one-sided smirk she had grown fond of. So the light scowl towards Ryder wasn’t really that much minding of the grimace, but rather the wish to be able to smile this way herself.
„Massa Ryd-ah,“ Dana stated with a small grin curving the corners of her mouth as the boy finalyl introduced herself, „He’s a character from a children’s book I read. Rather liked him to tell you the truth. Good guy trying to be bad, but not really succeeding. He wasn’t the main characterbut in the end he main cahracters got away with a happy ending thanks to him. Was a rather intriduing character really.“

Dana eyed the Ryder thoughtfulyl as she pondered about the statement. „The pitch your second home? Dunno... during practices I don’t really have the time to see arond who sits at the stands. At the games I have even less time. Couldn’t even fly a broom before my 5th year and even them I was practically just put on a broom and pushed away. So I don’t think I have seen you at the pitch. Don’t love it enough to sit out there in all kinds of weather. Somewhere in the hallways rather. But why aren’y you playing if you like the game that much?“

[ryder]

His one sided smile grew only more obvious as she scowled at him, knowing full well his expression was its cause. There was a slight bit of harmless pleasure in her frustration in his abilities to smile the way that he did. He would have kept it in mind to use in random moments when a moments aggravation was called for, but it was simply how he always smiled. He continued to watch her, sitting comfortable in the chair on the opposite side of the fireplace from her own. He raised a suspicious eyebrow when she referred to him as Massa Ryd-ah, and leaned forward his arm now resting on his knee as he listened to her describe the book character his name seemed to have reminded her of. When she was finished he smiled again, and at that moment one of the house elves presented a large heavy mug of black coffee to him. For the first time since he sat down he pulled his gaze away from Dana, and glanced at the elf, taking the mug in his own hands and giving the elf a thanking smile and nod before glancing back at her. “At least I reminded you of a character you found intriguing.” There were worse things for him to remind her of, he though idly, as he took his first sip of his drink, and he thought for a moment if anything other than just the similar name would remind her of the character from her book.

As the topic switched to quidditch he leaned back again, and stayed silent for a painfully long moment. Quidditch was always a complicated topic in their house, and no one spoke with out deep thought when referring to the game. Her concentration was of course understandable, and he made no reference to that, it was her question at the end that needed to be addressed. “I like the game, not the competition.” He shrugged after his answer, and sipped his drink again, his gaze still focused intently on Dana.

[dana]

Dana glanced calmly at the house-elf who handed her the cup of steaming cappuccino and a rahter merry-looking green bowl filled with raisins, peanuts, almonds and small squares of fruits. „Thank you,“ Dana told the house-elf easily as she placed the bowl next to her after seding a pondering glance at the table. Surely, she could always leave the bowl on it, but that would mean she would have to sit up every time she wanted a peanut or a raisin. Much easier to leave the bowl on the couch by her side.
„Help yourself,“ Dana told Ryder before throwing an almond in her mouth and taking a sip of her cappuccino after closing her eyes to fully enjoy the taste. Sweet, bitter, rich, strong. There were so many words to descripe the taste of coffee. It took a bit to get used too butin Dana’s opinion the time spent was fully worth it. Dana offered a lazy quirk of her lips in a resemblance of smile still not bothering to open her eyes.

„Massa Ryd-ah was most certainly an interesting character. Still like him as a matter of fact. I spend a suprisingly big amount of time reading literature for children. It’s unique and beats grown-ups books in many ways,“ Dana opened her eyes none the lence answering Ryder’s steady gaze calmly. There was a bit of curiousity in the back of Dana’s mind why the guy was so keen on keeping his eyes trained on her. Perhaps he just dind’t know what to think of Dana and was wary. Apperantly she had scared osme young Hufflepuff lately without she even noticing it. Or was it a Gryffindor she had scared? Dana didn’t know really and as she hadn’t scared anyone on purpose didn’t really bother herself much to find out either. She merely arched a curious eye-brow at Ryder calmly picking up a small piece of pineapple and eating it.

„But it’s the competition that makes the game interesting. Without the competition it would just go on for ever and no one would care to play or watch the game. Before joining the team I didn’t care enough to watch the game while it was played. Always figured that the time could be spent more practically. In a lot of ways I actually still believe it. Even though I don’t care much about Potter’s flying style at Quidditch. He always either falls on the snitch, swallows it or does something either in that style. Tehre was a bet the other day among Slytherins as to whether he would find the snitch in his pocket, the snitch would get stuck in his hair or in his glasses in the next game,“ Dana smirked at the idea, never having cared much, even though something more deeper and darker than just quidditch flickered through her mind and perahps even through her eyes, even though it was quickly controlled. Nope. No-no-no, Dana didn’t like Potter. Death Eaters wouldn’t ahve been on the Express where Kris got hurt, if HE hadn’t been on that train. So partially Dana held Potter to blame in some eep part of her heart. That wasn’t something she would want to share with Ryder however.
„But that’s besides the point,“ Dana mused calmly as she shifted slightly on her seat, pushing off her boots and curling her legs under herself as she wrapped both of her palms around her coffee mug.

[ryder]

He was leaning forward, with is elbows resting on his knees and his mug of coffee resting in his cupped hands as she spoke of the book character she reminded him of, and let that face into her feelings for children's literature over adult. He also had very distinct taste when it came to reading. He waited a long moment after she was finished, taking a deep sip of his coffee, and his eyes still focused on her. "I tend to lean toward Tolkien, his talent and intelligence is...awe inspiring." His gaze was still on her, and he took another sip of his coffee.

He sat in silence, her gaze still on her as she talked about quidditch, and the competition. One corner of his mouth curled into a smile as her comments on the competition in quidditch drifted into a slight rant about Harry Potter. There wasn't a witch or wizard who didn't know about the Gryffindor seeker, and it was not his playing that made him so famous. "Yes, Potter is lucky, very lucky, but he isn't completely lacking in talent, no matter what your personal feelings for him are." He paused again, taking a sip of his coffee, and his eyes dropping down to the dark steaming drink for a moment before returning to her with the same deep intensity. "And I think the reason why I never cared for the competition is overexposure. My dad helps organize the world cup, and I've never missed a match."

[dana]

“Tolkien. I never liked Frodo. Without Samwise he would have never gotten as far as he did. He would have broken down or died of hunger only half the way. Yet no one seemed to recognize Sam’s silent bravery that made a much bigger difference than Frodo’s. Faramir was one of my favourites though I have to admit. He was the classical knight figure,” Dana mused with her eyes half-closing as she thought back at the Lord of the Rings triology. She had read the book. Quite frankly Dana read everything without a choice. IT was rather ordinary for her to read through some romantic and rather unrealistic love-story and sigh at the happy end and then go and pick up a half-scientific book about the psychological factors that form a murderer. It was just her.

“Yes, I don’t really like Potter much,” Dana simply stated before throwing an almond and a piece of pineapple into her mouth at the same time as she locked eyes with Ryder arching her eye-brows with amusement. After all it was better to take things with humour rather than start feeling uncomfortable under Ryder’s steady gaze. Sure, Dana had talked to a lot of boys before and talked to good-looking guys as well. But then again – most guys didn’t felt the need to keep staring at you. Though for Ryder’s bonus Dana had to admit that his eyes stayed on her face and kept eye-contact most of the time.
“Now, Massa Ryd-ah, would mind either telling me if I have something stuck between my teeth or in my hair or explaining why you feel the need to keep staring at me without any pause?”
Dana threw Ryder a small amused smile as she nestled into the seat already being comfortably curled up as Dana moved her toes in the bright red-white striped toe-socks.

“And organizing the World Cup? Must be a lot of world. Does the World Cup take place every year or is it every other year like the winter Olympics? Haven’t really ever thought of it. And how long does it take to set up one big game like that?” Dana asked calmly taking a sip out of her own cappuccino before leaning the cup on her knees.

[ryder]

He took another sip of his coffee, and gave his usual one-sided smile to a house elf to held up a coffee pot to see if he wanted a refill. He held out his mug, his eyes leaving Dana for a moment as he did, but returning to her almost immediately. He took another sip before nodding in agreement to her comments on Tolkien. "Faramir is my favorite character, though he is over under rated, as Aragorn gets to play the hero of the human race." He had spent a considerable amount of his time reading as well, even thought it had not been the focus of his childhood. He had taken a liking to Tolkien mainly because he was attracted to his idealism. Tolkien created deeply moral characters with a strength that was so rare.

He let her comment about Potter hang in the air, instead his gaze remained silently focused on her, and when she vocalized it, he smiled; that same one-sided smile he had been giving her since the first moment he spoke to her. He wasn;t looking at her mouth, or even her hair, which was still heavy and dripping from the unpleasant weather, his gaze was focused on her, at her eyes, taking in her with out really seeing anything in particular. "I'm taking you in the only way I can." His one-sided smile grew slightly more dramatic and after a moment of silence he took another sip of his coffee.

"The World Cup is annual, and yes, it keeps my father very busy, but there are perks." He took another sip of his coffee and smile at her again, that same exact smile. "We get the best seats in the house ever year." There were of course other perks as well. They got to go to any of the really important matches they wanted, and meet the players. It was because of his dad job he had the job offer he did for after he left Hogwarts.

[dana]

‘I'm taking you in the only way I can’. Dana almost choked on the almond at these words but managed to stop herself form choking. Taking a gulp of cappuccino Dana almost burned her tongue as she looked at Ryder her lip-corners twitching as Dana tried to comprehend what exactly Ryder had meant by that comment. Giving up after a couple of moments of pondering Dana smiled cheerily and let out an amused chuckle. “I don’t think there is a correct answer to that comment, so I’m not going to say anything,” Dana grinned a bit wickedly storing the comment in the back of her mind liking it.

“Faramir… true, he was underrated a bit. But then again he was the pillar – if he hadn’t existed then Aragorn wouldn’t have a city to come to, a city where he could raise to be king and the hero of human race. Without one hero – without the deeds of Faramir’s soldiers – Aragorn simply wouldn’t have had the means to become the leader of human race. And if I recall correctly Faramir in the end would look over Rohan. Besides romantically Faramir got the better deal than Aragorn did. Sure, Aragorn got the elf, but Arwen was ready to leave already. While Eowyn stood and fought for her home and family, Eowyn forged her own destiny. That what symphatizes to me about the sword-bearer of Rohan. She had the same kind of silent courage to do what was needed to do instead of staying back and letting others do the fighting for her. She participated in the way her life would go,” Dana mused calmly thinking back at the book before shaking her head to banish the thoughts only to wrinkle her nose as some droplets of icy water from her head soaked through her sweater.

“What are the best seats at the game? And aren’t the seats a tad different, cause not every game is held at the same station. Who are competing for the World Cup this year anyway?” Dana asked Ryder offering the bowls with raisins, pieces of fruits and peanuts to Ryder lazily.

[ryder]

Entertained by the fact she seemed caught off guard by his response, he took a deep sip of his coffee and leaned comfortably back in his chair, his eyes still focused intently on Dana, continuing to take her in, just as he said he was. When she finally spoke about his reply he smiled again, that same half sided smile that she liked so much it drove her crazy. He didn’t expect any less of an answer from her.

The topic remained lazily on the characters of Lord of the Rings, not that he was complaining on the topic. He had after all brought Tolkien into their conversation. He smiled again when she commented on Eowyn, and after sipping again at his coffee he nodded in agreement. “The most important characters are always the ones in the background. The main characters are the ones we notice, but no one stands alone.” He saw Tolkien as a prime example of how a hero needed to lean on someone for support. After all, there was Faramir and Eowyn for the Human race, and the irreplaceable Frodo depended on Samwise. He paused for another moment, taking a deep sip of his coffee again.

“The World Cup is held every year, normally in different stadiums in a neutral location, but the layout for the stadiums is always the same.” His gaze drifted away from her and he looked down at the bowl of snacks she offered him, and took a few pieces, rolled them around in his palm for a moment. “They are still in the preliminary games, but Ireland looks good again this year. We wont know the final two teams until May.”

[dana]

Dana stuck her tongue out at Ryder, wrinkling her nose slightly. He just had to have that adorable smile, did he? Well, perhaps sticking her tongue out at him wasn’t the most mature thing to do… but didn’t care enough to really act as an responsible adult just yet. Besides her 17th birthday wasn’t until spring and May. She wasn’t even legally adult until then, so why act as one already? It was much more fun sometimes to be a kid. Much more useful financially as well in a lot of ways. Besides Ryder would just have to deal with it. As Ryder hadn’t really wanted the peanuts Dana placed the bowl in he lap chewing thoughtfully on a raisin as she eyed the boy back just to see if she could irritate him a bit. Replacing the bowl on the seat next to her Dana emptied her cup and then leaned her chin on her knees, returning Ryder’s steady gaze with her own.

“Not always in the background. Without Gandalf or Aragorn there would have been no leader for the men. Everyone has some bravery in them. Most people just need a charismatic enough leader to give their souls wings and let them evolve into heroes. While there were a lot of important men in the background, then leaders were extremely important as well. There isn’t any army without a general. But without a general there won’t ever be an army either,” Dana argued lazily raising her chin merely an inch higher than her knees so she could talk freely, “Given the proper motive, most people could become heroes. Or at least do one heroic deed. That how the hero manages after his actions is an entirely different matter, because in every heroic deed for greater good there is still always someone who does get hurt none the less. The parents, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters of the so-called bad guys. Sauron was also Iluvatars creation, so with killing him, wasn’t part of the creator of Midlde-Earth destroyed as well? In the absence of evil there is no good… Sauron’s existence was what made the difference between good and evil evident, that thought humans and elves alike to appreciate valour and kindness. There is always some good coming from every evil did as well. A matter of choices perhaps?”

Dana knew she had gotten a bit carried away perhaps, but Ryder had started the topic. Besides the world wasn’t just black-and white. There were tons of other colours between those two extremes, but it was often that those other colours were side-looked. It was much more easier to just classify everything as “good” or “bad”.
“As I have never gone to the World Cup to explain to me. Ireland was part of the last World Cup competition as well, right? Well, Ireland most likely but who do you suggest for the 2nd competing team at the World Cup this year?” Dana asked before leaning her chin back on her knees while gazing calmly at Ryder.

[ryder]

His gaze was still on her when she stuck her tongue out, and in response he made the same face, sticking his tongue out at her. He thought idly for a moment that if he had something small and harmless at his disposal he would have thrown it at he, just for fun. He may be considered an adult in the wizarding world, and he may act older than his true age on some occasions, but that did not mean he did not have a lighter side to himself.

He sat for a long moment in silence, resting his chin in his hand as he listened to her reply. Their conversation of Tolkien was quickly turning philosophical. “One could easily argue that none are more important that the other. Life can never be judged like that. Someone might do something greater or more important with their life, but as you said, most are capable of being a hero, whether they choose to be or not.” He paused for another moment, sipping at his coffee. “And I could not agree more with your statement of the relation between good and evil. Everything has to have a balance, or else the other could not exist. Without knowing evil, we can not know good. Just like…we can not know true feminine energy without knowing the male, and vise versa.”

After another sip of his coffee, and yet another one sided smile, he let the topic drift to quidditch with out objection. “The Irish played 5 years ago, and the year before last. They have a good team—strong chasers. No one is sure on the second team yet, but there is a South American team that looks strong.” He paused again, his gaze focus on her. The silence seemed to hang a moment too long before he spoke again. “We will have to change that though, that you have never been.” He smiled again, that same exact smile and he emptied his mug of coffee, leaning back he placed it on one of the long tables behind him. When he settled back into his hair, his gaze once again settling upon her. “Lets talk about something less serious. How about…the approaching holiday?”

[dana]

Dana threw her head back and laughed at Ryder through a peanut at him as he stuck his tongue at her. “Very mature,” Dana said with a slight smirk twitching at the corners of her mouth, very conveniently forgetting that she had done the exact same thing before. Snickering quietly at Ryder Dana turned her head pondering about Ryder’s answer. Perhaps she was a bit stereotyped sometimes. Well, a lot of times. But that statement Ryder had just made sounded a lot more open-minded and a lot more tolerant that Dana usually expected Gryffindors to be.
“I think that’s partially why I like Slytherins. Partially the self-control and relative in the house – my grandmother was a Slyth as well – but partially because they seem to always know the worse and yet they smile coolly and balancing on a thin rope walk away untouched from every trouble. Yet a lot of people in the school have made Slytherins the role-model of Evil. No without a reason at some cases, I must admit, but perhaps I have just never been on the end of their nastier pranks. But they are intriguing to talk to. Yet without Slytherins Hogwarts wouldn’t stand as a complete school. And without Slytherins – who knows, maybe then the Gryffindors would get most of the blame for everything that goes around in this school, as these two houses are relatively similar,” Dana stated simply watching Ryder through half-lidded eyes to see his reaction. Perhaps that would give Dana a bit more understanding about the boys character. He intrigued Dana but she couldn’t really fully read him either. What would he say about Slytherins? And Dana being friends with a couple of them?

Dana listened as Ryder talked about quidditch and was just raising her coffee mug to her lips when Ryder changed the topic to Christmas holidays. Dana’s arm gave a small involuntary jerk at the idea as he eyes widened slightly with her pupils dilating. Christmas holidays usually meant a happy party at her home-manor in France with everyone here. But that meant a train-ride. Dana stared off into space for a second feeling a chill run down her spin at the mention of the Express. The once friendly red colour had only reminded Dana of blood as she had seen the train for a fleeting moment in Hogsmeade once. And Kris… the image of Kris hanging in the air for a moment before collapsing still haunted Dana’s nightmares.
Deliberately slowly Dana placed her coffee on the table, loosing all desire to drink it right now, as she dabbed her lip-corner. The silence was rather uncomfortable, yet Dana made sure her voice didn’t waver and was emotionlessly neutral as she replied to Ryder’s question.
“I suppose I shall be staying in Hogwarts for Christmas first time in history. And I think my grandparents organized a portal-key for us to take us to the flat in London on the 28th. I suppose Julien raising his voice at Fudge and his incompetence might have been enough, still we can’t really get home before 28th, and even this way we get the portal-key thanks to a rather generous payment to the local ministry from my grand-parents and cousin,” Dana avoided mentioning the train. There were too many painful memories connected with it. Dana rewrapped her arms around her waist, hoping Ryder had enough tact not to ask. Dana wasn’t entirely sure Ryder could actually make the connection between her and Kris being related, but that was beyond the point, “However we are all invited to the New Years Party held at the Ministry. Not much excitement waiting for me this holiday. So tell me about your own plans rather.”

[ryder]

His one sided smile changed to a grin and he moved to the side of avoid the peanut she threw at him. He returned it by taking a nut, still resting in his palm from when Dana offered to share, and threw it back at her. It was important to never let yourself be too immature, but then, never to mature either. His grin faded after a moment, and he leaned back comfortably, listening the always well debated topic of the feud between Slytherins and Gryffindors. After a moment, he nodded, agreeing with most of what she was saying. “Your right, with out Slytherins, Hogwarts would seem incomplete. I am also one of the few Gryffindors who does not see Slytherins as the ultimate evil, even if our houses are rivals. They just have different goals than the other houses—but then I see that as the reason for any house division. We all have the same qualities, in varying levels of course, but its our goals and what’s most important to us as individuals that puts us in different houses. Beyond that its all stereotypes.” He paused for a moment, intently watching Dana. He had a suspicious that she had placed him into her stereotype of a Gryffindor the moment he admitted his house. “I also see most of the houses as having a self fulfilling prophecy when it comes to Slytherins. They see them as evil, and treat them as evil. It makes it easy for Slytherins to become that, or to them at least.”

Leaning back again he watched her behavior changes as he changes the topic to Christmas, and she seemed to be trying very hard to not let herself change to obviously. He did know better than to press the subject, but he was aware that there was something surrounding it. “Well, you wont be staying alone. I’m here for the Holiday as well. My Dad’s busy this time of year with work, and its just easier. It suits me though; I never know what I want for the holiday anyway. It also seems though, that we have been invited to the same holiday party.” He smiled again, returning to his now almost constant one sided smile. He had a feeling that it would be a very interesting New Years party.

[dana]

Dana was slightly surprised at how easily Ryder handed the question about Slytherins. Dana clicked her tongue thoughtfully while eyeing Ryder with newly-found curiousity. Dana half-closed her eyes again before commenting lazily: “The Sorting Hat offered Slytherin for me as well. Slytherin and then said that Ravenclaw is the house for me. Would have been breaking the family traditions actually, if I had gotten into any other house actually. But I take being told that I would survive in Slytherin a compliment. They seem to have the most complex power-plays of all the houses in there, not to mention the ability to never seem to get caught. The slyness and wit of Slyths I appreciate, though it does mean tolerating some not overly popular character-traits as well. But who of us doesn’t have mistakes?”

Dana smirked lazily at Ryder wondering once again about the boy. He was… interesting. “Who ever said I was staying alone? Not to mention the fact there will be numerous other people staying, I will also have my brother here,” Dana paused noticing the word she had just used, so she shrugged and explained to Ryder, “My cousin I mean. My grand-parents are – were, as he’s of legal age now – his legal guardians since he was 10, so we were pretty much raised as a brother and sister, so I sometimes call him cousin, sometimes brother. He is my best friend though so even as we won’t be able to carry out the traditions we normally did due to… ah, various reasons, I’m sure we will figure out something. Or more precisely he might figure out something and just pull me along with his plans.” Dana shrugged, knowing Kris would work something out. He always did and always would. He was one of the pillars holding up Dana’s world after all. And he had given his eye-sight for Dana, so it was partially her fault for the traditions changing so abruptly, but Dana forced the sadness out of her eyes, meeting Ryder’s look calmly as she smiled: “And are you planning on going to the party? I was most likely merely added to the quest list, because I doubt Fudge would want to infuriate my grand-parents any more considering they were ready to literally feed his guts to street-dogs at his last mess-up at the Hogwarts Express that was supposed to be secure. However how can you not know what you want for Christmas? There is always something. I know I always make myself Christmas presents. I like making Christmas presents to people as well.”

[ryder]

He continued to watch her as she replied, and thought for a moment that he could see her as a Slytherin. While Slytherins were his house rivals, and he had far from become friendly with any of them, he admired them to an extent. Slytherins were strong, they had to be. Weakness could be tolerated and accepted, in the other houses, but not in Slytherin. Dana had that same Slytherin strength about her. It wasn’t something that could be faked, or mastered, it just surrounded her. He gave her a one sided smile in response to her own thoughts on Slytherin, and let any verbal reply brush off. He had stated his feelings on the house already, and now Dana was simply replying with her own. He did not speak again until the topic drifted to holiday plans. He stayed quiet when she spoke of her cousin, who he did not know, but had a feeling he would be encountering very soon. Instead he just smiled again.

“I normally go to the party” He started, skipping over the other topics that were mentioned. “My Dad is expected to be there, and since he has no wife to bring, my brother and I attend instead.” He say for a moment after he replied, his gaze still focused on Dana, even if he was silent. Finally he pushed himself forward and closer to the edge of his seat. “That’s nice, that you make things. Its more personal that way, and that’s what the holidays are really about.” He paused another moment, before finally pushing himself up. “As much as I have enjoyed this, I need to get back. You have inspired me though. I think I do know what I want this year.” He stepped closer to her, much closer than he had been before and he leaned in toward her. He got close enough that his lips were right against her ear, and whispered “All I want for Christmas, is you” and as he pulled away he let his lips brush against her cheek. Once he stood upright again he smiled, that exact same one-sided smile, and with out saying anything else, he turned and worked his way through the long tables and sea of house elves, and left the kitchen.