Pick Up The Pieces ((Tristan))

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane sighed softly and sat back in her empty compartment, head rolling against the cold window and eyes staring glassily out into the countryside streaming past. It was certainly the summer now, the bright sunshine dancing everywhere with delight that Ariane had to say she didn’t share. The sky was so blue it was almost blinding to look at, and not a puffy white cloud marred the scenery. One hand fingering the bandages under her robes, Ariane tried not to wince in pain from even that slightest bit of contact. Whoever knew that a knife wound would kill so much. Cursing herself, Ariane tried to forget the incident, about her father still in hospital because of her, and focused on the forest trees flashing past. Closing her eyes, she imagined the upcoming summer with Aurora’s family, wondering what would happen. Only a small part of her was looking forward to her future. How different it would be now, living with Aunt Jenny and Uncle George. Oh, and Leo, Aurora’s Gryffindor brother; the little tyke would be in his second year soon, as Ariane and Aurora would be in their sixth, and Harmony her fourth. At least the OWLs were over, Ariane told herself comfortingly, though it didn’t make much difference to her pessimism.

It had taken Ariane forever to find an empty compartment, somewhere far away from Aurora’s laughing, Harmony’s sad eyes and Leo’s partaking in his sister’s incessant joking. Aurora would’ve happily stopped for Ariane, as not to annoy her cousin, but Ariane knew she just needed some time on her own. A little time to stop, think, and pick up the pieces of what was left in her head, and in her life. She was still trying to make sense of everything. Staring at a particularly large tree that disappeared before she had even time to observe it properly, Ariane realised this was the first time she was on her own on the Hogwarts Express, returning home. And this was the first time since entering Hogwarts she wasn’t going back to that house in London. Currently Jenny and George was sorting out the will of Vanessa and Lorraine, but Ariane didn’t really want to know their death wishes yet. Although her recent incident with her father was weighing the most on her mind, her painful injury ever a reminder, the fact her mother was dead continued to stab at the back of her mind. Hearing her will would just make it seem evermore real. Ariane had never taken so long accepting something.

Putting a hand to her head restlessly, Ariane tried to listen to the silence, but was greeted with ringing laughter and noise coming from the other compartments. In annoyance, she struggled to pull her wand out, with her stomach hurting her every move, and proceeded to perform a simple spell which meant no sound penetrated her compartment, unless the door was opened. Sighing in relief at the peacefulness she was now feeling, Ariane tried to block the guilt of not staying with her friends. Aurora and Leo wanted nothing more but help Ariane and Harmony, and here Ariane was, blocking them off like she did everyone else. They were letting the sisters into their family with open arms, had carried them with their support, and here Ariane was giving them the cold shoulder. Despicable. And Harmony too. Ariane knew she should really be helping her sister through this, but she couldn’t even help herself at the moment. Just looking at Harmony’s empty eyes made Ariane die inside. She had to get away from them all. Harmony included.

Ariane had been musing for another ten minutes or so, when the compartment door suddenly slid open, letting loud noises slip in along with the intruder. Looking up sharply, Ariane came face to face with a familiar face whilst the boy was shutting the door behind him, thankfully blocking out the irritating sounds with it. However, now Ariane had company, and she couldn’t say she liked what she saw either. Tristan MacCay, a Slytherin in her year, who was so cocky you could smell his arrogance from a mile away. Ariane had always done well to avoid the guy, and the thought of sharing a compartment with him was horrifying. She thought about getting up and leaving, but that meant returning to her family, and that just made Ariane choke on buried tears. She could yell at Tristan and order him to leave, but Ariane came to the conclusion that he would just find it all very amusing and stubbornly not leave just to annoy her. Sighing silently, Ariane sat back and watched as Tristan sat down, not knowing why the boy had chosen to seat himself in a compartment with a Gryffindor like her. She could tolerate his presence though, for now. It was better than having to return to Aurora, Leo, and Harmony.

What had the world come to?

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan made his way to the train from the platform at Hogsmeade station, Katya tagging along behind him. He looked over his shoulder at his best friend. The girl had grown so much since he had first met her. What with all she had gone through, who wouldn’t’ve grown so much? She was taller now, of course because she had grown older, and she was gorgeous as ever – but there was something about her that had appeared at the end of the year after she had gone through the stalking thing. She walked with an air of confidence, quite similar to Tristan’s, and held a look on her face like anyone except Tristan wasn’t worth her time. Not that that bothered Tristan in the least, because it didn’t; but he was worried a bit on how that would effect her social life. “What social life, MacCay? I’ve never had a social life…” So, even after all that had gone on and even with Katya’s new sense of holier-than-thou… she still was a pessimist through and through. “Tristan, slow down, will you?” Katya reached out and plucked at Tristan’s robe, pulling him back so he was walking with her. He couldn’t help it if he was anxious to get on the train. It was never because he was looking forward to going home, no, Tristan loved Hogwarts too much to want to go home – but it was because he figured if he didn’t get on the blasted train fast enough; he’d end up staying in Hogsmeade. It wasn’t like his parents would care any.

His parents were never really the kind of parents you would see obsessing over their children’s homecoming. The MacCay’s were more like send-a-limo-to-pick-up-our-one-and-only-son. They never met him at the train station, because Merlin forbid they might be spotted by those filthy muggles! Tristan scowled slightly and looked over at Katya, taking his frustration out on her with his glare. “Hey! Hey! Don’t you look at me that way, Tristan. I just can’t miss this train.” Katya raised her eyebrows expectantly as she looped her arm through his. “Are you sitting with me, by the way? Or with those cronies that you call ‘friends?’” Tristan smirked at Katya’s question. She never really did like his ‘friends.’ Then again, who would? They were brainless oafs who only thought about food and what would make Tristan the most satisfied. Which, granted, was something that Tristan enjoyed – but still… they had no intellectual stimulation. They were mindless, annoying, and a complete waste of life. Katya was the only person Tristan could tolerate to have a normal conversation with. She was the only one he trusted, too. But she also refused to be around him when he was around his ‘cronies’ as she called them. “Yep, probably. I’ll come find you if I get too dulled down by their constant idiotic chatter about what kind of cream puff is better.” Katya laughed quietly and kissed Tristan’s cheek before she boarded the train and left him standing alone on the platform.

Tristan sighed slightly and continued the walk to another car before boarding. He honestly didn’t want to sit with the bunch of oafs he would end up sitting with, but he knew Katya liked to sit alone. She liked to collect herself before she returned home, and Tristan always respected her space. Why wouldn’t he? Katya was someone really important to him, and although he was certain he didn’t feel anything more than a strong friendship toward her – she was someone he would do anything for. That was big, too, because Tristan MacCay never did anything for anyone unless they were doing something in return for him. Katya had never done anything for him except to help him with his video, and that was awhile ago. Now, everything that he did for her… she accepted gratefully but never paid him back for it. Tristan knew that she would if she could, but Katya was completely incapable of doing anything Tristan would like her to do. Besides, he never asked for her to do anything in return – and that was something he was happy with. Tristan walked down the car, looking into the compartments for his followers. They had said they’d be on this car, but of course he shouldn’t have listened to them. They never knew what they were talking about. So, he wasn’t surprised when he saw that they weren’t anywhere on that car. Tristan rolled his eyes, not even bothering to look in any of the other cars – if the thick headed oafs couldn’t even get on the right car he was not going to spend a whole train ride with them.

He also didn’t want to go searching for Katya, and besides she was doing the pre-home thing. So, this led Tristan down the car once more and peering into the compartments to see who he could bother while sitting with them. Most of the compartments were full, but he finally came upon one that was empty save for one person. Ariane Chan. She was a Gryffindor in his year, and although he had seen her around often – he hadn’t really ever made an effort to talk to her or video tape her. She wasn’t very interesting to him, but then again there were things that Tristan was sure he didn’t know. He liked to believe he knew everything, but he knew he didn’t. Tristan slid open the compartment door and stepped inside before sliding it closed behind him and taking a seat. The girl didn’t say anything to acknowledge his entrance, though, he knew she knew he was there because she had looked at him. She simply looked out the window like she had been before and that was that. Or at least, that could have been that – if Tristan wasn’t Tristan MacCay, “How is that you’re sitting alone?”

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane tried not to growl in frustration at the sound of Tristan’s smarmy voice. But quite honestly, what did she expect from the guy? He was bound to make conversation, it was just such a… Tristan-like thing to do. Not that Ariane could say she knew the boy well, but it was hard not to with his reputation. She wasn’t that stereotypical and judgemental, but yet again, it was hard not to with him. Tristan MacCay was exactly the type of guy Ariane wanted to avoid. But Ariane found it difficult wondering why Tristan was asking about her solitude. He even sounded caring on the issue, if she hadn’t heard wrong. Why should he give a damn about an insignificant Gryffindor like her? They had never spoken. Plus Tristan, knowing that he knew literally everybody (Ariane hadn’t liked the sound of the fact he videotaped people, that horrified her to the core and forced her to stay away from him more than ever), should know well Ariane Chan didn’t socialise with anyone save Aurora, her cousin and best friend. Tristan should also know that Ariane was renowned for being more like a Slytherin than a typical Gryffindor, because of her almost arrogant, aloof nature and cold attitude. Ariane had often been compared to the likes of him, but she of course could never be as conceited and smarmy as Tristan; she was glad to be sure of it.

Giving in for politeness’ sake, Ariane looked momentarily away from the window to send Tristan a firm, steady glare, one that wasn’t filled with a Slytherin’s malice, but was unwelcoming and definitely sent a “stay away from me” vibe. “Because I want to be alone.” She spoke clearly, her gaze unwavering. She emphasised her last word; did he not get the fact she needed some solitude, and that meant him leaving her? Obviously not. Ariane refused to let this boy scare her though. She wasn’t scared easily. “Why are you on your own, MacCay?” Ariane asked icily, somewhat surprised the Slytherin was alone. He was usually seen being surrounded by a bunch of buffoons Ariane didn’t like much either. Their bunch were disliked by her. They were always sniggering about something probably very immature. Ariane looked around again, losing interest quickly with her companion, and turned her stare back out of the window. Currently they were going through a tunnel, so suddenly the whole carriage was plunged into momentary darkness. Feeling comfortable and invisible in the blackness, because no one, especially Tristan, could see her, have their imploring eyes on her face and judging it every second, Ariane relaxed back into the chair again, hand feeling in the dark for Atalanta’s cage, before gently feeling through the metal bars her soft feathers. Ariane was not about to let a Tristan MacCay ruin her peaceful journey back to her new home.

Suddenly, the lights streamed on again, the train having lit itself up to combat the darkness. Ariane found herself seeing again, her irises adjusting immediately to the sudden change in light, dilating and contracting. Blinking a few times, Ariane’s eyes reached Tristan’s face; he hadn’t answered her yet, and Ariane wondered how he would reply. There was no doubt in her mind he would give her an answer, just in what manner, and in what way. Whatever he said, Ariane was prepared for it. Confrontation was difficult to avoid with Slytherins, especially of his calibre. Ariane couldn’t help a small smirk reach her lips. His calibre. When did people like MacCay have “calibre”? No… In Ariane’s mind, they were just jerks. Jerks who, though currently feeling they were raised on a high pedestal above the world, would find themselves crashing down again sometime soon. They would learn their place in the world the hard way. Ariane could hardly believe that Tristan filmed inoocent students and then showed them to his "friends" for a kick. It was sick. Not wanting to think too much on the matter, Ariane looked out of the pane of glass again, beyond the scenery and at the pale blue sky. Such a beautiful day.

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan raised his eyebrows at Ariane, a smug smirk on his face, when she answered his question. She wanted to be alone. Well, there was nothing wrong with wanting to be alone, that was for sure. Tristan, for a fleeting moment, wondered if he was intruding. But then again, when had Tristan ever really cared if he was intruding? Absolutely never. Well, unless he was intruding on some of Katya’s alone time, but that was something completely different. She asked why he was alone and Tristan smirked again, sinking lower into the seat and putting his feet up on the seat across from him, his hands behind his head, not even bothering to answer her question immediately. He wasn’t one to answer questions. He asked them, but hardly ever answered them. It was just the way he was. If he was asked a question, he took his time answering it. It often drove whoever was asking rather insane and Tristan enjoyed that. He enjoyed testing people’s patience and that was something he was certain would never ever change. Yes. Tristan MacCay was an arrogant, annoying, and very trying young man. But that was the way it was. As he thought about his arrogance and how he loved to annoy people he became aware that the lighting changed. Tunnel, he thought without much care.

Finally, after a couple of minutes Tristan looked over at Ariane and smirked again. He wondered if she was thinking that was all Slytherins did was smirk. He spoke with a smugness about him, an ‘I don’t really care’ attitude as he answered her question; “The bunch of oafs I’ve decided to allow being my friends told me the wrong car to get on, and since I have better things to do with my time than to go from car to car looking through every compartment for the overgrown baboons… I decided to come in here and alas…” Tristan smirked at her before closing his eyes, “…here we are.” Many people hated Tristan. He knew this. He knew he wasn’t a well liked person at school. He wasn’t popular with many people outside his house mainly because of the things he did. But no one really cared to get to know him, either. Even Katya had hated him from the beginning – only to grow closer and closer to him and see the real Tristan. He didn’t expect everyone to see who he really was, in fact, he didn’t want everyone to see who he really was. But there were times like these that he wished people would give him a chance to be who he was than to immediately start to judge him. Yes, Tristan was smug, but that didn’t mean he was a complete and total jerk. He knew that from the glare of Ariane, she thought he was a complete and total jerk like everyone else. And it was because of that that Tristan played the smug and arrogant card immediately.

“Alright,” Tristan opened his eyes and looked over at Ariane again, “so why do you want to be alone, Chan? There’s got to be a reason, after all. Most people don’t go and sit in empty apartments alone, even if they are Gryffindors. Granted, who would want to sit with a Gryffindor, that’s a question that has boggled my mind. But you aren’t exactly very Gryffindor-ish from what I hear. Just don’t act on a hero complex around me, and we’ll be fine.” He closed his eyes again, relaxing once more into his seat, wondering if he should just shut up. But, again, that wasn’t Tristan’s way. He never shut up. He always had something to say whether or not it was appropriate for the moment or nice. It was just how he was and if people hated that, then people hated that. There wasn’t anything he could do about it and he knew it.

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane watched Tristan spread himself about the compartment as though he owned the place, and sighed to herself inside. He was a bit creepy… but something about him also attracted people, she supposed. Maybe it was the good looks, the twinkling eyes, the easy smooth talk. But at the same time, he oozed danger and darkness. Not that Ariane couldn’t understand the latter. She was pretty dark herself. For a split second, Ariane wondered if Tristan used arrogance as a front to cover up his true emotions, like she used coldness. The thought scared her a little. She didn’t like to think she had been misjudging people. But it was hard not to at times, not after what Ariane had faced in life… She wasn’t as forgiving as Aurora; Aurora could see people for what they really were. Often she would lecture Ariane about how Slytherins had feelings too, despite their fronts. Ariane wondered if she should give Tristan the benefit of the doubt or not. Everyone should deserve a chance to define themselves before the other person did…

Okay, Tristan certainly did a lot of smirking. It was starting to get on Ariane’s nerves. Although her eyes were mainly glued on the outside world, she could observe her companion out of the corner of her eyes, and his constant smirking and staring at her was unnerving her, though she didn’t show it. Ariane didn’t like being scrutinised, picked to pieces before somebody. She liked to keep to herself, don’t let anyone too close, lest they hurt her, or the other way round. Finally, Tristan decided to grace Ariane with a straight answer, and she listened despite herself. There wasn’t much else to do. As she had anticipated, Tristan gave her a very typical answer, and looked over at him with a smirk similar to his she couldn’t stop. Sometimes she wondered if she was better in Slytherin… “So… choosing to be me with rather than your… ‘friends’. What an honour. I should feel flattered, hm?” Ariane almost laughed, but chuckled bitterly instead. “I’m sorry to say my company won’t be as… enlightening as your ‘friends’. I’ve never been good company.” Ariane stared Tristan straight in the eyes at this point. She continued to wonder if there was anything more behind those clear eyes, which seemed so innocent at first if you didn’t know about him. ”But you don’t know about him.” Ariane’s inner conscious spoke up loud and clear. Shifting her weight uncomfortably, she let her eyes rest on Atalanta as a distraction. Her black feathered owl was currently dozing in the morning sun, and she resisted a fond smile in front of Tristan.

Ariane couldn’t get to know Tristan even if there was more to him. They would, could, never get to know one another. She couldn’t learn to define him, he couldn’t learn to define her. Neither would try. Or… neither should try.

Ariane replied to Tristan’s answer immediately, not one to delay replies. She liked to get to the point, not dilly dally and drive her companion insane. Granted, she wanted to do that to Tristan, but she didn’t want to play the same mind games as he did, lest to look like she wanted to be drawn into the competition too, like she was copying him. Ariane was herself, she didn’t follow others, copy others. “Hero complex?” Ariane found herself scoffing quietly, eyes slightly amused that was how he saw her. “Hm… Is that how I seem? What do you know, MacCay?” She continued, smirk adorning her lips. “No… I’m not very Gryffindor-ish at all. But if you know that, you should also know I am a very isolated person. Hence…” Ariane gestured around the almost empty compartment with a lazy hand, before pondering for a while, eyes fixed on her lap. She found herself smiling a little in irony, before looking up at Tristan and tilting her head a little. “But the main reason I’m here, MacCay… Is also to get away from my friends.”

[Tristan MacCay]

“No, you shouldn’t feel flattered in the least, Chan. It just means you’re a bit higher on the social scale than the buffoons I have following me day in and day out.” Tristan replied with a small shrug, wondering how she would take the fact that she was even on the social scale. From what he knew about her (which wasn’t much), Ariane Chan wasn’t very social at all. She was rather introverted. Which would most likely be the largest reason she wanted to stay in a compartment on her own. However, Tristan did know she had a sister in Hufflepuff (Poor girl, having a sister in that dreadful house.) so he wondered why she hadn’t been sitting with her. He didn’t know why he was wondering, but he did know that it was no use in asking her why. She probably wouldn’t give him an answer anyway. Tristan had been matching her stare without unease. He was good at keeping eye contact, even with those who were sending him go-away vibes. It was one of the ways he got what he wanted immediately when he wanted it. His parents couldn’t break down when he looked them in the eye because after awhile his stare got so intimidating they just had to break it, and they knew that Tristan considered that weak. Weakness was something Tristan couldn’t tolerate, but it was something even he had. He just never let his weakness show. Though, recently, his strongest weakness was Katya. He would do anything to make her happy. Stupid girl, Tristan thought with a scowl, making it completely difficult for me to stay strong.

Tristan had looked away when Ariane had, but now he looked back over at her when she spoke again. He merely raised an eyebrow when she asked if that was what he thought of her. Honestly, Tristan didn’t think of her in any way. She was just some Gryffindor that he was sharing a compartment with. He really had no reason to think anything more of her. If he hadn’t found an interest in her before, there wasn’t a huge possibility that he’ll gain an interest in her now. When she said that she was sitting alone mostly to get away from her friends, Tristan raised his other eyebrow too, “Not feeling very friendly are you, Chan?” He knew the question could be turned around on him. She could snap and tell him no, and then force him to leave the compartment, so before she could even do that, Tristan continued; “Are your friends buffoons like mine? Or do you just think their incessant chatter to be rather annoying? Or perhaps you’re just going through a rough time and wanted to get away from the probing questions of others?” Tristan smirked as he realized that he was asking questions like a shot gun. But did he care? No, of course not. Tristan never cared about anything like that.

He was never one to wonder if he was prying, because honestly he was raised without ever being told some questions were just too personal to ask someone you just met. He never cared about whether or not he was asking questions that shouldn’t be asked, or prying into something that could hurt the person if they spoke of it. He never had a reason to care. He didn’t know how he would take it if someone dove into his personal life, though, because no one had been stupid enough to try it. They all thought Tristan lead the life of a rich snob who always got his way. Only Katya knew how he really was and she did that without asking questions, she did it merely by opening up to him in turn. But Katya was different than anyone else. She was special and she was someone that Tristan wouldn’t be able to lie to directly, not unless it was absolutely imperative.

[Ariane Chan]

((Aaaah, I know it's long... Izy says I should never apologise, but I'm going to do so anyway! Don't feel you need to write as much. I know I'm quite a burden to have to deal with alongside your other busy posts! XD))

Ariane couldn't help but laugh a little, turning her gaze away from Tristan's. This conversation was becoming more entertaining, more amusing for her. This may be on interest yet. So Tristan found her higher on the social scale than his "friends"? He was more of a loner than she thought, and certainly not particularly loyal to his minions. Then again, like he said... They were buffoons for following him like a dog in the first place. Tristan was just using that to his advantage. Ariane felt some pity in her stomach for those Slytherins, yet sympathised (if that was the correct word) with Tristan for having such companions. She would never manipulate people like that... Though if she were as lonely as Tristan, perhaps she would...? "Do you really see me on the social scale, MacCay?" Ariane pursed her lips a little, rather amused at his comment. Actually, she found it extremely hilarious, she just wasn't laughing like mad in front of him. Ariane had always wondered how she had appeared before her fellow students. "My classmates really do see me in such a funny light." Ariane found herself smiling... or rather, smirking at Tristan. His smirk was quite infectious. She was finding talking to Tristan more fun than hoped. Ariane didn't, couldn't, find it in herself to like the guy yet, but as for random banter... It was entertaining. More so than other Slytherins. It was probably Tristan's allmighty attitude, yet she could still have a decent conversation with him without resorting to fists and wands. Ariane preferred word play more so than brawls, but if need be... she wouldn't hesitate.

Ariane was about to answer Tristan's next question snappily, before he reeled off another, and another, and another. Quickfire pace, to the point. "You're curious." Ariane found herself smirking again, turning away from Tristan and beginning to play with a strand of long black hair. Something about conversing with Tristan made Ariane feel playful, want to strike back, but not in too a vicious manner. She'd keep up this ball game because it was in her own interest, and currently the ball was in her court. "To answer your first question, MacCay, I never feel friendly." Ariane smiled a little at the thought. She was being honest, she rarely did feel like that. It was because her friends brought out the best in her that she acted like herself, but never did she feel friendly... It wasn't something Ariane did, which was another trait that distanced herself from fellow Gryffindors and edged her nearer to Slytherins. Not many people in her house were loners to her extent. "And no, my friends are not buffoons like yours. On the contrary, unlike your "buffoons", my friends choose to stay with me because they actually like me rather than follow me to be cool. We enjoy each other's company. Most of the time." Inside, Ariane's face wavered, but she showed nothing outwardly. "I have a great deal less friends than you do, MacCay. I'm not so popular." She graced him with a patronising grin, before her eyes lost contact again, "I technically have one friend at Hogwarts. And she turned out to be my cousin." Ariane gave a low, ironic chuckle. "My other friends consist of my sister, and my friend's brother. And I like it like that. If I had 'friends' like yours, I'd rather not have friends. I can take loneliness. Actually, it's been a good friend over the years. I've been lonely all my life."

Ariane trailed off for a moment, hoping she didn't sound too much like some emo girl. She didn't want pity or sympathy, but she was never one to lie, and here she was, answering honestly. Suddenly, she remembered that that wasn't all of Tristan's questions, and with a sigh, answered them too. She wasn't sure if he particularly cared... But she guessed for both of them, this was something to relieve the time. Something to do on this long journey. Even Ariane admitted, chatting with Tristan was more interesting than sitting alone in a compartment, staring out of the window. Ariane appreciated solitude, completely and utterly, but... sometimes a little bit of unfriendly, no strings attached banter was good. Stretched her mouth muscles. It wasn't like she'd ever talk to Tristan again because of this one conversation... "I have to agree with your last two guesses, MacCay. You're more attentive and intelligent than I thought." Ariane answered truthfully with a smirk, hands crossed on her lap now. Her fingers came to a rest, entwined with one another as she spoke, and she quickly lost the smirk along the way. Eyes lidded as they stared at her hands; still, unmoving. "Incessant chatter is annoying. Probing questions more so. When I go through rough times, I prefer to battle my way through on my own. I don't need to stand on someone else's shoulders. Like I said, loneliness is my friend." Ariane smiled wryly to herself, knowing how macho that sounded, but that was truly how she felt. She wouldn't let anyone else carry her burdens. No one. They were hers, and hers only, to shoulder, to carry. Ariane realised she had just confirmed to Tristan that she was going through a rough time, but she didn't know if he was smart enough to cotton onto that. She doubted he'd send his condolences, and hopefully no questions would roam into that area. Ariane didn't know if she could answer those ones as openly, as willingly, and as truthfully. Perhaps though, she should turn the tables. All along, Ariane had literally asked him one question. All the enquiries had been made from Tristan to her. Yet that suited Ariane, because she preferred to answer rather than to ask. She wasn't in the least bit interested in other people's lives, so wondering about them wasn't something she usually did. Ariane was not so curious concerning others, and she respected privacy. Tristan perhaps, did not.

Ariane began to think that the compartment was too stuffy, the air too polluted for the two of them, and longed for fresh air. Perhaps it was a psychological thing in her mind, but nevertheless... Deciding to do something about it as her eyes flickered to the small windows at the top of the pane of glass, Ariane slowly stood up, shaking out her school robes, and walked a step forward to face the outside world. For a short moment, her intense eyes lingered on the passing trees, blurred against the unchanging blue sky. Ariane was distracted however, and she couldn't help but wince at the pain that throbbed in her side, and remembered the large knife wound still probably seeping despite the many stitches the doctor had embedded into her skin. Thank god for bandages. She'd have to change them later. Ariane was glad Tristan couldn't see her facial expression right now, the pain etched onto her face, but realised he might just notice her reflection in the glass. Quickly removing her frown, Ariane raised one arm to open the window, and stretching, just managed to push it open, though not too wide. Ariane had never been to tall. However, she was forced to fall back from a stab of pain that erupted in her side having moved her stomach muscles, and gasping, fell backwards a little, almost hitting Tristan's outstretched legs. Grasping her injury with an arm immediately, Ariane swore lightly under her breath, before letting her head hit the window and rest there. She didn't care that Tristan was watching this moment of weakness right now. She just pretended he wasn't there, that he couldn't see... This would pass, but at the moment, the pain was too sharp, her judgement clouded by memories of the incident from not so long ago. Perhaps her uncle and aunt had been right in trying to persuade her to stay home for the last week at school, but Ariane had been stubborn, claiming her injury as nothing more than a scratch, and Harmony had been secretly wanting to come as well. Feeling the coldness of the pane of glass seep into her forehead, Ariane relaxed a little with a soft sigh, her black locks falling against her cheek. She just had to calm herself, that's all. Physical activity was virtually impossible for her at the moment. Ariane knew that.

[Tristan MacCay]

“Social scale?” Tristan pondered the term in his head a bit, “Nah, probably not the social scale. But you’re on some type of scale, Chan. And, pathetically enough, it’s a better scale than my followers are on. Still, it’s an accomplishment, you should be quite proud of yourself.” He smirked and settled lower into the seat, growing quite comfortable with the conversation that was flowing in between them. It was a friendly type of banter that Tristan hardly ever got to partake in unless it was with Katya. Though, with Katya that was more of her calling him an idiot and whacking him over the head with a book or a shoe or whatever she had handy at the moment. It was funny to have arguments with the fifth year because all she did was glare, insult, and hit. Katya wasn’t one for witty come backs, not like she used to be. Whenever Tristan would ask her about that she’d simply say that they’d gotten her in trouble last time, why would she want to risk it happening again? Tristan would frown at that and hug her awkwardly for as long as he could before she pushed him away, called him a foul name, and stalked off. That girl was so temperamental it sent Tristan’s head spinning, but he learnt to deal with it. It was Katya… there wasn’t anything he could do about it, although he wished he could.

Ariane smirked after Tristan had fired questions at her, stating that he was curious. Tristan shrugged, “So what if I am? It’s not a crime, is it? If I’m going to share a compartment with you I’ve got to make sure that you aren’t some crazy axe murderer and that’s why you aren’t sitting with your friends.” He smirked back at her, knowing she might like that response. Ariane seemed like the type of girl who could take a funny insult like that and see the dark humour behind it. Sometimes, though, insults like that hit too close to home. Tristan hated when things like that happened. It put him in quite a bind. He waited as Ariane answered his questions and when she mentioned his friends following him to be cool, Tristan let his smirk slide back onto his face; “Oh, so you think I’m cool then, Chan?” It was an amusing thought. For Ariane Chan to see him as cool. Tristan didn’t even think of himself as cool. He did think of himself as better than everyone else, and although he was fairly popular in the Slytherin house – no one else seemed to like him. He was perfectly okay with that, really, but the fact that someone else saw him as popular and cool was something that boggled his mind. “You know, Chan, I’d much rather prefer only having a few close friends to the large group of followers I have now. They really do nothing for entertainment. If I had only a few friends like Katya, I’d be perfectly content. Give or take a few more bruises.” Tristan chuckled to himself. He was growing far too comfortable with Ariane and he noticed it, but he didn’t do anything about it.

“Well, thank you. I like when people realize my head isn’t full of hot air.” Tristan replied to her comment on him being attentive and intelligent, more so than she thought he would be. He really hated when people judged him on his hobby and house. There was so much more to Tristan MacCay than what people saw. Katya was the only person who really saw him and he was perfectly happy with that. But when someone judged him to his face by what he did, Tristan really felt resentment toward the person who did the judging. “I think that’s a good thing,” Tristan told her with a nonchalant shrug, “To be independent, stand on your own. I wish I could say that I do that as well, but I don’t. Unfortunately, I tend to lean on Katya a lot more than I should. I’m not afraid of admitting it; anyone who’s seen me around the girl knows I go to goo whenever she’s by me. Not because of something you’d think; it’s not like I like her in that sense, Katya’s just…someone who knows me to the core.” Tristan looked at Ariane, wondering how she’d take that bit of information. It was rather amusing to think he was telling this Gryffindor things he wouldn’t normally tell anyone else except Katya. He knew, though, that Ariane wasn’t going to go around and tell everyone about this conversation. She didn’t come off as the type of girl to gossip.

He watched as Ariane stood to open the window; watching her face in the glass of the window. A small frown appeared on his face at the sight of the frown on hers. She must have realized that the window reflected her, because she stopped frowning and reached to open the window. Tristan continued to watch her and when she stumbled back in pain, he let his legs down and stood quickly to balance her. He had no idea what was going on, why he was helping her, but he figured it wasn’t something that he should really question. Ariane moved and rested her head against the window, and Tristan removed his hand from her back. They stood, silent a moment, and then Tristan spoke in a quiet tone of voice; “Are you okay?”

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane smirked. She was on a scale? “I’m on a scale?” She found herself voicing out loud in humour. “Oh dear. After all this striving not to be acknowledged, and you go and tell me I’m on one.” Proud? Ariane questioned in her head. Uh huh, she was not proud that Tristan MacCay approved of her, but she supposed she should be. That was quite a feat in itself, someone like her, to be somehow accepted by a guy like Tristan. Oh, many people would be so jealous. “Hm.” Ariane looked at Tristan with a playful smirk. “I should be, shouldn’t I?” Perhaps her sparkling eyes instigated a challenge, she wasn’t sure. But it was entertaining, bantering with MacCay like this. It wasn’t often Ariane could have a strings-free conversation, and she couldn’t believe it was a Slytherin of all people she was somehow socialising with. Fate had its odd twists and turns. Ariane let a slender eyebrow raise above her left eye at Tristan’s next reply, gazing at him with her usual expression. “Axe murderer? What makes you think I’m an axe murderer, mm? Do I look like one to you?” Ariane’s lips curled up in amusement. She’d never been described as an “axe murderer” before, ever, but it was an interesting remark. One she didn’t find offensive. “So what is your conclusion, MacCay? Do you deem me an axe murderer?” Ariane smirked playfully.

“Oh, don’t let that get to your head, MacCay.” Ariane smirked, rolling her eyes at his typical behaviour. “I don’t understand the meaning of ‘cool’. But your cronies seem to think you’re cool, no?” She shrugged carelessly. “Everyone is equal to me, no cool and no uncool. But if I had to say which one you were…” Ariane thought for a moment, pondering and rolling the answers in her mind. “I’d probably say the former. You’re too…” She struggled to find the correct word, her brow creasing in concentration. “… you.” Finally, Ariane’s hand flicked her answer, her shoulders shrugging indifferently again. “But like I said. Don’t let that get to your head, MacCay. That’s the best compliment you’ll ever get from someone like me.” Ariane grinned derisively, before it slowly faded away to intently listening to her companion’s words. It was rather hard to believe this was coming from the Tristan MacCay, but then Ariane realised… this boy was probably sick of people seeing him as what he seemed to be like on the outside. She could feel a longing for someone to look at him for what he really was, and this Katya girl sounded like his saviour of sorts. Perhaps his girlfriend? Then Ariane remembered a flash of seeing a brunette always accompanying Tristan. He really wasn’t what he seemed her was like either, was he? “Would you now?” Ariane found herself mouthing softly, eyes falling to her lap.

Ariane’s soft expression was wiped away as she replaced it with a small smirk again, looking up with her usual tone and expression. “I used to think your head was filled with helium. Minus the high, squeaky voice it normally produces, along with other symptoms.” Ariane joked lightly, knowing Tristan would know not to take offence to that. She’d give him that benefit of the doubt. Ariane was rather convinced that the brunette girl Ariane had seen Tristan with many times before was this Katya, and that she was no doubt his girlfriend (she was rather surprised he’d gotten one so dedicated to him), when he shot that down with his words. Ariane was a little shocked inwardly that Tristan was revealing all this to her, but perhaps his need of wanting others to see something more was overwhelming him. She gave a short nod of understanding before looking at him straight, a soft chuckle reverberating in her throat. “Women can do that to men. It’s a skill of ours… One which I don’t possess. Not that I mind.” Ariane’s half grin lingered a little while.

Warm arms closed around her frail body as she almost fell, but didn’t have the strength to push them away from her in disgust. Breathing in and breathing out slowly, Ariane finally felt Tristan’s hands leave her back, and she tried not to shake in exertion. These attacks were often, but… they really took it out of her. In the back of her mind, Ariane wondered why Tristan had stood to help her, and why she had let him, but blamed it on her body and didn’t think of it again. The coldness of the window seeped into her like ice, and Ariane gratefully removed her forehead again, Tristan’s voice snapping her back to painful reality as she turned to face him, noting silently how close they were physically, but didn’t make a move to get away, because she couldn’t even if she really wanted to. Ariane was trapped against the glass by Tristan’s taller, broader body. “Um… Yeah. I’m fine.” Ariane bit out with a weak voice, arm clinging to her injured side in pain. “… Thanks.” She found herself whispering, before an awkward silence enveloped the two of them. Itching to break it, Ariane didn’t bother to sit down and move away from Tristan forcefully as she slowly pushed a trembling hand through black robes, tucking her shirt upwards to reveal a slither of smooth, pale skin, bandages tightly wrapped around her waist and stomach. The once pure white of the material had been soaked red again, the patch of crimson spreading gradually until it was blossoming like a bullet wound. Eyes widening just a fraction, Ariane stared down at it helplessly, not sure what to do. Swearing under her breath, she rested the back of her head against the window, feeling the train moving beneath her feet and letting her eyes rest on Tristan’s face. What would his reaction to her injury be?

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan had merely smirked when she talked about being on a scale. Everyone was on a scale; whether or not they really saw it. Everyone was being watched by someone else. Sometimes they realized it and sometimes they didn’t. Nobody’s life was private with how the world was today. Everyone must know everything about everyone else otherwise life gets dull. Tristan knew this all too well and…well, he doubted Ariane really saw that. When she asked about looking like an axe murderer, Tristan couldn’t help but laugh; “I don’t know, Chan, I’ve never met an axe murderer before. If I had I doubt I’d be sitting here basking in your joyous company. However, I will say, I don’t believe you’re an axe murderer. It was just a thought, an explanation as to why you prefer to be alone.” Tristan raised his eyebrows at her and smirked again before stretching his arms out in front of him in a leisurely sort of way and yawning slightly. Tristan really did hate train rides. He found they were either far too dull or far too entertaining for his taste. He liked to have a happy medium where he could be entertained without having to listen to the rambunctious laughter (more like snorts) of his followers. The kind of entertaining that kept his mind stimulated and kept him on his toes because he would have to think of a witty comment. The kind of entertaining that Ariane was providing him at that precise moment.

“I’m me? Well, I say, that’s an accomplishment! I think I can now die a happy man. After all, all I’ve ever wanted was to be me…and if it made me cool in the process, well, that’s definitely just a bonus!” Tristan smiled at her. Not smirked. Smiled. A bright smile before he chuckled and turned his attention to the window that was beside her. He could feel himself getting far too comfortable in his surroundings. He was starting to feel the way he felt when he was around Katya. As if he could let all guard down and just be. Of course, Tristan knew that if he did let his guard down completely – things could backfire, seriously. Katya was a year younger and in the same house as he, and not only that but she considered him her best friend – her closest ally in a sense. Ariane was in his year and was, unfortunately, a Gryffindor. This meant, if she so chose to, she could go around telling everyone that Tristan MacCay really did have a heart of gold instead of lead as he let everyone believe. Again, though, Tristan doubted Ariane was like that – and even if she were…she was a Gryffindor and he a Slytherin; he could easily discredit anything she said. Tristan sighed slightly to himself. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but perhaps he should start watching how comfortable he became around the girl. It might show just how human Tristan really was.

Tristan eyed Ariane as her demeanour seemed to soften, but he couldn’t quite catch what she said because she didn’t say anything. Her lips did move, however, and it was this way he knew she had said something. He didn’t ask her what she said, though, and besides he didn’t have time to because by then she had looked up and talked of always thinking he had helium in his head. Tristan laughed again and shook his head; “If I had helium in my head, I’d be floating away. With a big head like mine? How could I not, eh?” He smirked and rested his hands behind his head, his fingers linked together. He knew he looked so comfortable, so alright with the surroundings of the train but in truth he wasn’t. He didn’t quite like confined spaces and he hated them more when they were moving along land. Tristan looked over at Ariane again when she spoke of women’s skill to make men turn to goo and become dependent upon them; “You don’t possess that skill? Surely it comes in handy, wouldn’t you like to possess that skill? I would think most women enjoy seeing a man go to goo and become overly dependent upon them…and you don’t? Why, that’s mind boggling.” Tristan looked serious at his words. It was mind boggling. But then again, Ariane was boggling him more and more as he talked to her.

By now, Ariane had stumbled back in pain and Tristan had nearly jumped up to make sure she was okay. As she realized that he had stood, she slowly began to regain as much composure as one could while in pain. She told him she was fine, though he didn’t believe her, and then said thanks. Tristan shrugged nonchalantly; “Don’t mention it.” He nearly whispered as he watched her. Slowly, she moved her hand and pulled up her shirt slightly. Tristan’s eyes widened at the sight of the blood and the bandages, “Merlin…” he breathed, not quite sure what else to say. Tristan wasn’t easily grossed out. He wasn’t the type to faint at the sight of blood, but the sight of her wound made him slightly light headed. Slowly, he took her hand and led her to the seat, “Erm…um…lie down. I’m not a doctor or anything, and I’m not going to pretend I am – but perhaps…perhaps lying down would be best.”

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane smirked at Tristan’s reply. “Glad to hear it.” She replied with a lick of her lips. “But not the right explanation, I’m afraid. It’s just my personality, wanting to be alone.” Ariane admitted, a fact about her which most people knew and were aware of. And didn’t naturally assume it was because she was an axe murderer. Suppressing a chuckle at this thought, Ariane observed her companion in silence, watching him stretch again. Was he bored? Tired? Ariane didn’t know why she was feeling even the slightest of concern for Tristan, but did honestly wonder if she was boring him. She didn’t feel obliged to entertain the Slytherin, and had never cared what people thought, but… Ariane felt it necessary to fill the sudden silence. “Bored?” Ariane found herself drawling softly, the same smirk on her face. “Am I boring you, MacCay?” She chuckled wryly, shaking her head.

“Yes, of course you’re you.” Ariane snorted quickly, her smirk turning into a genuine smile as she rolled her eyes. “Tristan MacCay, what else would you be?” She asked incredulously before turning to him again with the same smile on her face. For a second, Ariane felt rather awkward, a blush threatening to flare onto her cheeks, what with Tristan smiling at her so weirdly, but she quickly turned away, coughing in the process. “I’m me and you are you. Nothing, or no one, should change that. People should love and accept us for what we are.” Ariane declared softly, staring out of the window with a calm expression. Finally she turned back to him with a piercing gaze, steady and firm. “Or are you going to let someone else define you now, MacCay?” Ariane smirked again. “People should see past everything, no? This whole house crap in particular… Though some of it is quite well-founded concerning your house sometimes.” Ariane gave a soft sigh, wondering if Tristan was indeed pondering their houses in his head. He was a Slytherin. She a Gryffindor. Though it shouldn’t, Ariane got the feeling that would always be an important issue.

Ariane’s smirk returned inevitably at Tristan’s next words, before shaking her head in disbelief. “Your ego is unbelievable, MacCay. I’m surprised your head hasn’t exploded yet.” Ariane joked playfully. At least he acknowledged he was pretty arrogant. There were some people who had no idea they were being jackasses… But perhaps they were better people than guys like Tristan. Yet Ariane admired people who admitted their flaws and understood them. She watched as Tristan made himself comfortable again, noting how much he had moved since the journey began, and how still she had remained. How much did this say about their personalities? “Nah. I don’t.” Ariane smirked a little proudly. “I would never want to manipulate someone, or have the opportunity… ‘Do to thy neighbour what you would wish be done to you.’ I would hate someone to be able to control me. I… don’t want to fall in love. Or anything like that.” Ariane frowned at the thought. Harmony could make her do anything, she supposed, but she was different… She was, after all, her sister. “To be reduced to ‘goo’ because of one person… I’d feel weak.” Ariane was admitting something true here, something she wasn’t even sure she really comprehended about herself either.

Ariane heard Tristan’s barely whispered “Don’t mention it”. Felt the tears that automatically began to well up in her eyes, but blinked them back with such ferociousness, desperate not to cry in front of this guy. She was still not sure what to do as she stared at Tristan almost helplessly, like a baby deer caught in headlights, like a forgotten, lost bunny rabbit in the middle of nowhere. This face of hers was broken however when Ariane burst of laughing at Tristan’s one word. She didn’t know anyone that said “Merlin”. “Hahaha… Merlin.” Ariane found her choking, but then gasped in pain and drew in a deep breath, ceasing her laughter. Goodness, she felt faint and crazy. Suddenly, she felt Tristan take her hand, and almost jerked back in surprise. “What… What are you doing? Oh, I’m fine, MacCay… Honest, look, I’m totally…” Ariane bit back another hiss of pain as a barrage of hurt and ache hit her stomach. Forgetting any pleas she had, Ariane let Tristan sit her down slowly, listening to his words with a numb expression. Finally, she gave a soft chuckle at Tristan’s behaviour, and looked up at him calmly. “Tristan… I’ll be okay. I don’t need to lie down. I’ll be okay in a minute… Sorry about that. I…” Ariane shook her head dizzily, looking down at Tristan’s chest, which directly faced her. “Damn.” Ariane murmured under her breath. “I think I’m burning up.” She finished faintly, before leaning her head forward and letting it fall against Tristan. “Damnit. I’m sorry… Damnit…” Ariane muttered incoherently over and over again. “I’m such a fool, Tristan, I really am…”

[Tristan MacCay]

“Boring me? Nah, it takes a lot more to bore me. I must say, I’m a little tired, though. Early morning and all with Katya yapping in my ear.“ Tristan made a show of rolling his eyes. It was how he woke up nearly every morning. She’d walk into his room, throw open the curtains around his four poster and nearly screech at him to wake up. Tristan couldn’t count how many times he had woken up this way and fallen off his bed onto the cold hard wood floor. Katya had no mercy for Tristan; at all. It was actually quite different to be sitting in a compartment and having a conversation with this girl who wasn’t Katya. Katya who was literally the only girl Tristan spoke to as if she had a brain. Now, he was sitting there and talking to Ariane (a Gryffindor!) as if she…was just like Katya. But she wasn’t. Tristan had to keep reminding himself that she wasn’t. This was someone completely different; someone who didn’t know him as well as Katya did and someone who wouldn’t know him as well as Katya did. Ever. Comparing everyone to Katya is not something I should get into the habit of doing, Tristan thought to himself with another small sigh.

He turned to Ariane when she spoke again; listening to her and thinking over what she was saying before seriously giving her a reply back; “It’s rather difficult to be yourself in the world I’m involved in. People have expectations of you that you must follow. It’s all you can do to not lose sight of who you really are. The division in the houses does it make it harder, and there are so many stereotypes that it makes my head spin. In the end, however, it is all rather difficult.” Tristan shrugged nonchalantly. His views on blood, houses, and other things like that were opposite of most Slytherins. He just never let them show. Tristan put on an appearance that everyone else thought he should put on. He was rarely ever the person he was with Ariane at the moment unless it was just him and Katya. Oh, here we go with the Katya thing again… The point remained that Tristan was showing his true colours to Ariane. Still arrogant and sarcastic beyond belief, but fully capable of being understanding toward just about anything and everything. “I don’t think I could ever find someone besides Katya who would accept me for who I really am. People have this idealized vision of me and it’s hard to break out of that vision especially when so many people have it. Honestly? If I sat down to have a conversation with my followers…they’d look at me like I was a statue and then make some crude comment or other.”

Tristan laughed when Ariane mentioned his head exploding. The image was quite funny, but of course the arrogant Tristan replied with; “Not my beautiful head. It takes hours to get it to look this amazing.” He smirked and batted his eyelashes at her as if he were proving his point. It was amusing to Tristan to be able to be arrogant and yet be joking about it. He was only just joking. In truth, Tristan really didn’t think much of himself. He knew he had flaws, and he knew that there were lines that he couldn’t cross. He knew he wasn’t perfect and he knew that he would never be perfect. Tristan just liked to put on the appearance that he was perfect. It just took talent to see through that disguise as Katya had. He shook his head and tuned back to the conversation as Ariane spoke again, about not wanting to be weak; not wanting to fall in love. That struck Tristan dumb, “Even I want to fall in love, Chan. I think it’d be nice to have that kind of support, but in turn I don’t want to feel like I have to lean on her completely, you know?” Perhaps that was a bit of character for Tristan to say, but by now he had come to the mindset that it probably didn’t matter because he had already given so much of who he really was away. He was just there, out in the open. She could take a stab at him and poke at him if she desired, but in the end Tristan was perfectly fine with it.

“Don’t argue with me, Chan,” Tristan said sharply but with some concern in his voice as he led her to the seat, “You are not fine. I’m not stupid.” He rolled his eyes and took a seat beside her, still holding onto her hand loosely. Tristan wasn’t one for physical contact. He really wasn’t. The only person he ever let touch him was Katya. She was the only one who he had ever hugged or whatnot. The shock didn’t hit him that he was holding Ariane’s hand until she started talking about how fine she really was and then saying she was burning up. Next thing he knew, she was leaning against him. Tristan’s eyes widened and he panicked on what to do. She was calling him by his first name now and that for another moment threw him, but he recollected his calm and patted her – quite awkwardly – on the back. After a silent moment, he spoke softly; “Why do you call yourself a fool, Ariane?”

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane smirked, though inwardly smiled at the genuine affection Tristan seemed to harbour for this Katya. They were obviously very close; even someone like him had somebody there for him, and he had somebody to care for. Didn’t everyone have someone who could see right through them, into the real person that lived inside? A sad smile graced Ariane’s face at the thought of her mother, of Harmony, and of Aurora, but quickly dispelled them from her mind. The point of her sitting here and conversing with Tristan was to take herself away from them, for only a moment. Ariane was grateful to them, but one could have too much of a good thing. No, she would not let her guilt consume her. She did not prefer MacCay’s company to her friends’ and family’s. Ariane thought to herself how tired she was too, though she wasn’t going to voice it aloud, and nor did she let her body feel it. It was probably because of her injury anyway. Ariane was usually physically fit. Frowning a little at the thought, her hand went subconsciously to her stomach, a gentle hand caressing her bandages under the black robes she wore. Ariane blinked as Tristan returned his view on the subject with surprise. He sounded so un-Slytherin like for a moment, and that threw Ariane, to say the least. She felt her inner defences crumbling a little again. There was something about unravelling this stranger, the one stranger Ariane would never have socialised with if it hadn’t been for pure fate, that was so fascinating she couldn’t stop, couldn’t help but want to know more. Ariane was actually quite certain if Tristan didn’t put up this whole front, he’d be so likeable she’d be his friend. And that was a scary thought. Not because he was a Slytherin (didn’t help he was one), but Ariane didn’t want any friends. She could imagine the looks on people’s faces if the other students found out that Ariane Chan and Tristan MacCay were friends. Oh the uproar, Ariane thought with amusement to herself, her lips quirking. She’d be the biggest gossip of the school. How interesting. “Ariane Chan is even more Slytherin like than we originally thought!” She had to refrain a roll of her dark eyes. How pathetic people could be. They may even mistake them for a couple… Urgh.

“Well,” Ariane began steadily, a defiant glint in her eye. “If you want to be yourself, you’d better start fighting the establishment, right? I’m not going to let some stupid stereotypical people drag me down.” She snorted derisively, before smirking at Tristan. “I may sound foolish to you, but I’m never going to be anything but the way I am. And if people bother trying to discover what’s underneath – not that I’ll let them – they’ll see the reality. I don’t care what people think. I don’t care if they try and drag me down and stamp on me. In the end, at least I’m not like them. I’m not fake, and I’m certainly nothing but me. What you see is pretty much what you get. Isn’t that how the saying goes?” Ariane smirked. “But… I get it. The pressure of the world is heavier than people think.” She nodded in all seriousness. Ariane didn’t like that Tristan made himself into this… person. She certainly didn’t admire him for it. But it was his choice, not hers, and it wasn’t her life either. If he was happy that way, then… she could do nothing to change him, right? “It is difficult. But… if you ever want a breath of fresh air… I’m always around.” Ariane didn’t know what she was offering. Her company? She almost laughed out loud. She somehow doubted Tristan would accept. Plus he had Katya, right? “Masks and costumes are for children playing a sadistic little game.” Ariane finished softly, sending Tristan a small, genuine smile. A smile of understanding. “Do you really care what those idiots think?” Ariane then asked quietly, tilting her head to one side to stare fixedly at Tristan’s face.

Ariane resisted a humoured hmph whilst Tristan batted his eyelids, knowing he was joking. She wondered inwardly how far his real ego ran. Perhaps he had no confidence at all. It was a funny thought, an almost near impossible one, but one which somehow made sense to Ariane. Tristan’s next words made her feel she was creeping nearer to the truth. “Do you now…?” Ariane mused softly, thinking with misted eyes. “Hm… I think I do. I just don’t want to think I do.” Ariane gave a light, dry chuckle, not really believing she was admitting this to Tristan of all people. But then he had already confesses something Ariane was sure was so personal that someone like her shouldn’t have heard. She owed him. “I need people too. I just know from experience if you fall in love, in any way, you’ll get hurt. Real bad.” Ariane gave a soft, regretful sigh, before turning away from Tristan. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t fall in love though. It’s inevitable. I just attach myself to some people and I can’t tear myself away. I end up getting hurt anyway, whatever I do. I will always lean on other people, whether I want to admit that or not.”

“Yeah.” Ariane relented weakly as Tristan snapped at her. “I know.” She didn’t even realise she was still gripping his hand rather tightly, and felt a hand softly, warmly, caressing her back. Blinking back another torrent of tears and biting her lip in emotion, Ariane closed her eyes and savoured how comfortable Tristan was. Though she was not about to admit that out loud. She’d probably just deny it all afterwards and blame it all on her… dementia. Yeah. That. Half of the student population thought she was crazy anyway. Tristan shouldn’t be any different. Though the way he was rubbing her back right now would’ve made Ariane think otherwise. “Because,” She gulped after a moments’ silence following Tristan’s question, “Because… I just am. I tell myself I’m strong. But I’m bloody not! I always rely on other people, just like I’m relying on you now!” Ariane choked out as she felt another spasm of dizziness. “People like Aurora, like Harmony… Like my mum, but now she’s gone too. They drop like flies around me. And yet I still end up making bonds, and feeling the pain of breaking them. I’m not strong at all!” Ariane’s hand around Tristan’s clenched tighter. “I’m not strong.” Her voice was but a whisper now. “I can’t stand on my own two feet, ever. And I almost killed him, Tristan. I almost killed him.” Ariane’s other hand was still holding her stomach, and she looked down at it whilst tears began to drip down her nose, falling from her eyes and to her lap. Shamefully she buried her face into Tristan’s arm even more, horrified that she couldn’t stop herself. “I don’t deserve to be here. I should’ve died.”

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan watched Ariane as she spoke about being yourself. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he really should just let everyone see who he really was. But didn’t that make it easier for him to get hurt? Tristan didn’t really deal with pain that well and he wasn’t about to let someone trample all over him because they knew his weaknesses. He was about to say something along those lines when Ariane made an offer that caught him off guard almost completely; did she just basically tell him she was there for him? Well, it would appear she had. Tristan smiled and looked away, locking that in his mind. He didn’t know what to say to it, because there wasn’t any part of him that could offer her the same thing. It was one thing for him to find her and ask for a conversation, just like this, but it was another to have her approach him. As much as Tristan hated admitting it, he did have a reputation that he tried to keep intact. Knowing him, though, he could probably tell everyone that he was just toying with her – although that’d be very far from the truth. Ariane asked if he really cared what his idiot followers thought, and Tristan shrugged in response; “Not particularly. I care more so what their parents think. Everything gets back to my parents one way or another. Not that they’d care any.” He rolled his eyes and let them land on Ariane again, “But if it threatens their reputation? You can bet I’ll be lectured or what have you.”

He stretched his arms over his head as Ariane spoke again, this time about knowing from experience that love only allows you to get hurt. Tristan let his arms drop to his sides and he let his eyebrows rise; “Who’ve you been falling in love with, Chan? Obviously not a decent guy if he’s hurt you. Love is chance, it’s all about finding the right person. The person that complements you the most is the person you’re safe with. You mightn’t believe in the other half, soul mate, type thing – but I do and after awhile I’m sure you will, too. I have this…feeling. And most always my feelings are right. It’s in my blood.” He smirked at her, hoping that his arrogance which was returning to the conversation would throw off the fact that he was speaking of some personal things. Tristan normally kept up this wall that people couldn’t get passed; but sitting in this compartment with Ariane kind of allowed him to let his wall down a little bit at a time. A part of him knew that by the end of the train ride, he’d be freaking out a bit more – wondering how much she’d go and tell people. Then the other part of him told him that Ariane just wasn’t that type of person. This calmed Tristan a little bit, but not nearly enough to keep him settled for a good ten more minutes. “Falling in love is inevitable, you’re right. But it’s changeable; fixable, too. Keep that in mind.” He eyed her a moment longer and then looked away.

When she had stumbled back in pain, and Tristan had become concerned – he didn’t expect himself to get comfortable enough to rub her back as comfortingly as he was; nor did he expect himself to really care as much as he did. Tristan listened to her a moment and when she was finished, he had to gather his thoughts past the last bit she had said. Of course, he wanted to know who she had almost killed – but he wasn’t going to ask straight out. He started with the obvious, knowing that his words would probably not help much at all; “I think you’ve got the wrong idea of what ‘strong’ is, Ariane. Strong doesn’t mean you can stand on your own completely. Strong means you’re willing to admit that you were wrong, strong means you’re perfectly capable of admitting that you need some form of support in your life. No one can stand on their own completely, Ariane. Even the greatest people in the world have to have someone to lean on.” His voice was soft as he spoke, and he slowly began to get more accustomed to comforting her. Tristan was never one to comfort. The only person he had ever comforted was Katya during her stalker problem. That was different, though.

He stopped rubbing her back and just held her, closing his eyes in thought about what to say next to the crying girl in his arms. When he figured he had something in his mind to say, he spoke still in that soft tone; “I don’t know what makes you think you don’t deserve to be here, Ariane, but I can tell you right now - there is a reason why you are here. If you were supposed to die, you would have. I know that mightn’t be too comforting, if it’s comforting at all, but it’s the truth. If you died, where would I be on this train ride?” He smirked weakly, “Trapped in a conversation about cream puffs. There’s a reason you’re still here. Let’s make sure that reason isn’t made to be a reason in vain, yeah?” Tristan smiled a light smile, not asking about who she had almost killed. If she wanted to tell him. She would. Even though, he’d admit, he was curious. Tristan was usually curious, though.

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane absorbed Tristan’s view on his parents with a slight frown. He didn’t seem to get on with them very well, she noted, and wasn’t sure what to deduce of him from this. Ariane hated people who didn’t appreciate loving parents, because she knew the pain of losing one all too well. However, she could also understand the pain of enduring a parent who didn’t show you any love, and hating them because of it, because she had also suffered that treatment. Looking over Tristan’s expression, Ariane decided that she probably couldn’t hold it against him. From what he had revealed, The MacCays didn’t seem to be the most loving of parents, and if they’d reared a son with an outward personality like this… Well, Ariane thought, they hadn’t done a very good job. She didn’t think she’d very much like to meet Tristan’s parents, but she also had a feeling they had no idea what their son was like or did. The way Tristan made it out to be, there was a huge gulf separating him and his mother and father, and although they were both alive and well, that didn’t necessarily make Tristan happy. Ariane sighed to herself. If only her mum was alive still. “People care about appearances too much nowadays.” Ariane shook her head rather bitterly.

Ariane stared at Tristan long and hard, a blank expression on her face after his little speech concerning love. She was quite honestly rather surprised at his passionate response, and didn’t know he could feel this way. ”Man, he’s more feeling than I am.” Ariane thought sadly to herself. ”And they say Slytherins are unfeeling jerks…” After an awkward silence, Ariane broke it with a slight smile lingering on her lips. “I’m sure it is.” She gave a quick smirk in relation to his cockiness, not making a big deal about it having gotten used to Tristan’s typical behaviour, before letting it slide back into a more genuine, sad smile. “I haven’t fallen in love with a guy. Yet.” Ariane stated in admittance, not sure what was making her tell Tristan this. Somehow, she wanted to put it across that Ariane Chan did not fall for guys. Perhaps she’d like them… but nothing more. She wasn’t ready for that yet. “But there are many different types of love. Love for your parents and love for a sibling. For a friend and for family.” Ariane gave a casual shrug. “And I’ve been hurt from that. I can imagine a betrayal of a man would strike me even deeper, so at the moment… I want to avoid that at all costs.” Ariane’s gaze lingered on Tristan for a moment. “But one day, I kind of… do hope I find that guy. My other half. Soul mate. Whatever.” She gave a quick roll of her eyes, not wanting to sound too sappy. “And I will keep your words in mind.” Ariane concluded with a soft smile.

Ariane’s eyes were shut tight, her heart was hammering painfully against her chest, and her injury wasn’t helping much either, but she could still hear Tristan’s soft voice through all of this, and somehow it helped to still her, though the tears still came and her voice stuttered like never before. Silently, Ariane fought for control as she absorbed all of Tristan’s words, suddenly overwhelmingly grateful for the truths he was telling her. Because Ariane knew that what this boy was telling her true. She knew it somewhere deep down in her heart, but she didn’t wish to admit it in case someone like her father came along again and shattered all her hopes and dreams. Ariane didn’t know if she could possibly take that again. Burying her face deeper into Tristan’s arm and inhaling his unfamiliar scent, Ariane felt her fingers fumble against material, clutching helplessly as her other hand rested in Tristan’s. She felt weak, trapped in his arms, clinging to him as though her life depended on it, but it also made her feel warm inside, as though she was so full she might burst. Ariane’s brain was telling her what she was doing was wrong, but her heart was screaming the opposite, and for once, she simply gave in. Especially after hearing Tristan’s words. Ariane felt her tears ebb little by little as Tristan continued to talk to her, comforting her, and her shoulders gradually ceased their shaking. Breathing heavily, Ariane felt her heart clench again as Tristan voiced words she never thought she would hear be said to her, or be said from this person’s mouth. She wanted to look up and stare him in the eye, see what he was feeling right now, but didn’t dare to, so she clung to him still, listening, absorbing it all. Closing her eyes, Ariane let them crash onto her like waves of the ocean, almost laughing out loud when Tristan mentioned cream puffs, though her quivering shoulders at that point probably gave her away. Right now, Ariane felt utterly transparent, yet it felt right too. Slowly, Tristan’s final words and her laboured breathing gave way to only the sound of the two of them breathing in unison, but Ariane didn’t pull away from Tristan. Not yet. She still wanted… needed, that warmth, that protection, if for now. Only for now. After a calm silence, Ariane’s voice cracked, muffled, through Tristan’s clothing, but still, she didn’t pull away. “I… hope… I can find my reason… in somebody.” She whispered quietly, thinking back on the conversation she had had previously about love. “Because that is the greatest gift of all.”

Slowly, Ariane began to pull away from Tristan’s arms, immediately feeling the lack of warmth that receded from her cold body. Refraining a shudder and keeping her head low, black hair falling against wet cheeks, she stared at her palms silently, until she began to talk again. “I almost murdered my father. Out of hatred. Out of fear. We left him when I was nine, and I thought I’d never see him again, but then I thought he was the one… the one who had killed my mum, and I found him. And after that, I’m not even sure what happened. I have yet to find out, because he hasn’t woken up yet.” Ariane’s voice was trembling, quiet, and she looked to be on the verge of tears again. “He’s still lying there. Lifeless. Cold. He looks like my mum. Dead. And I was the one who did it to him.” She shook her head wildly. “I almost killed myself too, and I don't remember a thing.” Her last words were whispered, and after a short silence, Ariane looked up hesitantly to see Tristan watching her, staring at her. Wondering how he’d take her words, Ariane lowered her gaze shamefully, her eyes darting to stare at his throat instead. “I’m a sinful person. I have blood on my hands, Tristan.” Ariane insisted quietly, before her gaze lingered to his robes, and realised she’d dampened them considerably. Swearing, she leaned forward, forgetting for a second what had just transpired. “I’m sorry, I’ve gone and…” Looking helpless for a second, Ariane shakily took out her wand and pointed it at Tristan’s clothes, drying them with a simple spell. Withdrawing her wand, Ariane sat in silence as her fingers began to uncrease Tristan’s robes with slender fingers, her arm reaching over the small gulf that separated them. Caressing the soft material calmly, almost fondly, Ariane found herself apologising again. “I’m sorry.”

[Tristan MacCay]

“I’m sure you will, Ariane.” Tristan’s voice remained soft as he held Ariane to him, not tight enough to hurt her, but tight enough for her to remember that he was there. This was so out of character for Tristan that he was shocking himself. His eyes looked to the now opened window and watched as the scenery rolled by slowly although he was certain the train was moving fairly fast. They would be reaching King’s Cross soon enough (Tristan estimated within the next ten minutes) and there was no way things would stay the same between him and Ariane after the train ride. He knew that they would both go their separate ways for the summer, and perhaps even forget about any of these soft moments that they shard while sharing a compartment on the train ride back to civilization. Tristan rested his head on Ariane’s as his eyes stayed glued to the passing scenery. There was something inside of him that didn’t want to go and return to the person he was when he was at home with his parents or at parties with his followers. He was more open in this small compartment with Ariane than he had been with anyone else (besides Katya) and Tristan enjoyed that. He enjoyed being able to let his guard down even slightly and for a few seconds, because it reminded him that he was human like the rest of them. This moment with Ariane was just a shocking one, because he was being this way toward a Gyrffindor. Early into the conversation, though, Ariane had made it obvious she wasn’t like most Gryffindors.

He let out a small sigh when he could see King’s Cross in the distance. It wasn’t a very loud sigh, so he doubted Ariane had heard it, but there was a sigh. He smoothed Ariane’s hair as she pulled away from his arms and he sent her a small smile. Not a smirk. A smile. He had smiled more on this train ride than he had the rest of his life. But he wasn’t about to admit that to Ariane. She was talking now, quietly, telling him about what she had meant before. He listened with confusion at first, but when she started to explain more and more, Tristan felt his teeth grind together (though they made no noise). He let out a lengthy sigh when she had finished by saying she had blood on her hands. And then he did something quite out of the ordinary for him; “These hands?” he asked as he took her hands in his and looked them over carefully. He turned her smaller hands over in his larger ones and looked at every inch of smooth skin, “I don’t see any blood. Ariane, things like that…they happen. It’s whether or not we do something to learn from those types of things that make us a good or bad person. You did something terrible, yes, but…” Tristan looked at her hands still and put both of them in one of his and covered them with his other, “it seems to me you’ve learned your lesson about it – you regret doing it; and that alone, Ariane, makes you far better than most people.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them softly before smiling at her, “You’re too far an amazing girl to hate yourself like you are.” Perhaps he was being too kind to her, but he found it incredibly hard not to be kind to her. He found it incredibly hard to be anything but kind or…sweet even. And that was something that bothered Tristan a little, but only a little.

It was then that she dried his robes and then smoothed his shirt. He shook his head at her, “Don’t be sorry.” He smirked here, trying to lighten the mood, “This just means when I have a problem you have to be there for me to cry on.” He wasn’t poking fun at her break down, he wouldn’t do that – but he was just trying to lighten the mood. Really, he was. He hoped she saw that. He didn’t know why, but the thought of her thinking he was making fun of her really made him frown. After a silent moment, Tristan looked out the window again and then let out another sigh – this one more audible than the last. “We’re nearly at King’s Cross,” he mentioned off handedly, his tone returning to its usual smugness. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to leave the train in the same attitude he had been in earlier. He would probably return to the arrogant façade he usually wore around people who didn’t know him and even those who did. He tucked a strand of Ariane’s hair behind her ear and then stood from the seat slowly, ever so slowly to make sure she didn’t get hurt in his moving. He reached up and took down his trunk before moving to the opposite side and taking down hers as well. Leaning on his trunk, he avoided eye contact with Ariane as the train began slowing down. They were almost there.

Without looking at her, and still in that indifferent tone of voice, Tristan said; “You be careful with that injury, okay, Chan? I don’t want to come back from the summer hols and find out that you’ve gone and died because you didn’t know your boundaries when it comes to that wound.” He smirked and looked at her fleetingly before standing up right and kicking the bottom of his trunk so it leaned back toward him. He gripped the handle and looked at Ariane a moment longer as the train came to a full stop. He was about to say something when there was a knock on the compartment door and then it slid open to reveal Katya with a look of annoyance on her face; “I thought you were going to join me you insolent buffoon…” Tristan sighed heavily and rolled his eyes to look at the annoying fifth year, “What did you do the whole train ride, then? Stay with….Oh you’re kidding me, Tristan. A Gryffindor?! Ugh!” Katya glared with disgust and turned on her heels as Tristan started to drag his trunk, following her; “Remember what I said, Chan. All of it.”

[Ariane Chan]

Cling. That was all Ariane could do. Cling to him. It was somewhat right to feel so helpless in his arms, the sensation of safety and being protected calming Ariane’s thumping heart. Tristan’s head touched her hair, and Ariane buried her face in his neck even more, inhaling what she supposed was his smell… and it was nice. Ariane tried not to wince at this romantic sounding thought, and decided not to complain. She was honestly sorry when she chose to pull away, but didn’t voice that either. Looking up, Ariane couldn’t help but smile back too, if only faintly; there was something so genuine in his eyes… in his smile. He was like a different person. This boy, smoothing out her hair so kindly wasn’t that boy from before, right?

Ariane let him take her hands unresistingly, staring down at the close contact of skin on skin. His fingers smoothly glided over hers as he spoke, and Ariane was lost to the gentle lulling of Tristan’s soft voice and his soothing touch. His hands were larger than hers, and fit into his well. And then he surprised her completely with his next words and actions. Tristan lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them tenderly, and Ariane couldn’t find the heart to pull away in horror – even though she had guessed what he was going to do. His lips ghosted over her skin, and Ariane resisted a shudder, though pleasurable tingles were running down her spine. “T-Tristan.” Ariane managed to stutter in a whisper out loud as he retreated with a smile. Her hand still quivered. “Don’t say these things.” Ariane whispered softly as tears pricked at her eyes again, referring to his statement. “I’m not amazing.” She wasn’t. No one had ever told her that. And Tristan had only began to know her for a few hours. How could he say that with true, genuine meaning? Ariane didn’t know, because she found herself believing his every word. She clung to them just as she had clung to his physical body before. She sought that comfort and safety that was Tristan.

He was trying to make light of the situation now, Ariane could tell. She stepped away quickly, tears blinked away in a moment. She coughed, collecting herself, her sore eyes turning to look out of the window in wonderment. They widened a little when she realised they were near King’s Cross Station; they were almost home. Her time with Tristan here, in this dream-like world, was coming to an end. Almost regrettably, Ariane turned back to Tristan with a sad expression she didn’t bother hiding. He’d seen a lot of her now, and Ariane hadn’t the strength to pull any facades up. Finally, after a short silence, Tristan stated they were nearing London, and Ariane nodded her affirmation. She immediately noticed the change in his tone; gone was the gentle voice, replaced with unmistakable smugness. Ariane’s heart tugged painfully again. Why did people have to be like this? If she wasn’t so spent, she would’ve thrown Tristan against the wall, demanded him to drop his masks and cry for him to be himself, because it was okay to be yourself. It was, wasn’t it? But Ariane knew the truth, and that wasn’t it.

Suddenly, Tristan’s hand was at Ariane’s cheek, and before she knew it, he had tucked a strand of stray hair away with a fleetingly soft expression in his eyes, which Ariane would’ve missed had she blinked. Maybe there was hope yet, she thought inwardly. Maybe there was hope yet for Tristan. She blinked as she watched him get up, dreading his departure but knowing its inevitability. He moved slowly though, and Ariane realised he was being considerate towards her. Gently tapping her sore wound, Ariane stretched her body a little to prepare to leave the train too, with as much a blank expression as she could muster. Tristan’s previous gesture wasn’t mentioned again as he went to retrieve his trunk, along with hers. Ariane muttered a soft thanks, but noticing Tristan’s silence and lack of eye contact, she kept her distance too as she shuffled her heavy case closer to her feet.

Tristan finally spoke again as the train slowed to a halt, and Ariane gripped onto the side of the compartment door tightly, knuckled turning white under the pressure as she clung to Tristan’s changed words. He was trying not to sound genuine, but somehow Ariane detected it in his voice. She hoped she wasn’t just wishing this was the case. She was going to answer, and noted he was about to speak too, when the compartment door slid open, revealing a brunette from the year below. Ariane tried not to stare, but she was sure this was Katya, Tristan’s closest thing to a girlfriend. She tried to ignore the pang in her heart as she turned to Tristan and spoke with familiarity to him, though felt slightly flattered and touched that Tristan had chosen to spend his train journey with a stranger rather than his best friend. Finally Katya seemed to notice Ariane, and her obvious disgust caused anger to well into Ariane’s heart. What right did this girl have to judge her just because she was a Gryffindor? So there were distinct boundaries between certain houses… or every house. But Ariane didn’t completely discriminate against any. She tried not to anymore, especially with the Slytherins. This experience with Tristan MacCay had taught her that. Katya was gone in a flash before Ariane could voice her thoughts though, and Tristan started to follow her. Ariane resisted the sudden urge to reach out to stop him, to tell him to stay with her, until he spoke. Then he was gone, leaving Ariane alone. She needed to find her own friends.

“I will, MacCay. I will.”

((The end! Yay! I just thought I'd give Ari closure on this too... Though if you read that huuuge post in Maelstrom, you'll see where her feelings have developed. Hah. Great posting anyway. Yay to us!))