So tired... (anyone)

[kristian]

Mikayla woke early.She always wakes up early but today she woke up especially earyly. For some reason, she just woke up. Her were eyes still adjusted to the dark. "Why me!" Mikayla said dreading having to wake up. Mikayla had difficulties with falling to sleep. Its like when she wants to go to bed, when she is physically worn out, her mind just wanders and it prevents her from getting much sleep. She always thought about things very deeply at night. She would try everything to go to sleep but she just couldn't control her thoughts. So she just decided to get up and prepare for the long day ahead. She got up, and showered while trying to be as quiet as she could. She looked in her droors to find something to wear. She finally found the perfect thing a cream colored shirt, a black over sweater, her cute tan pants, and her robe qith the Ravenclaw patch on it. She put her hair in to little braids and headed quietly to the common room.

She didn't want to wake anybody up upstairs, so she decided to take her notebook and pen and go sit and write in the common room. She headed quietly down the steps. When she reached the common room no one was there, so she just decided to sit on a little couch that was in there and try to rest a little so she wont fall asleep in her classes. She tried to rest, but like always her mind was wandering thinking about her parents, her childhood, and Hogwarts. She decided to open her notebook and write down the dream she had that night. She had dreamed that her mom and dad didn't have there busy jobs. And that they had time for her. She liked that dream very much it made her feel like they really didn't have their busy jobs.

And that they had time to do things with her that they had never done before. Like have a family dinner with everyone there even her cat Suspicious. Like going to the movies and seeing a family g-rated movie and laughing it up. Mikayla felt a tear roll down her cheek. "No.." Mikayla muttered quietly. "I can't cry." "I just need to think about something else..." Mikayla said trying to make herself sound strong. But Mikayla wasn't a strong adult she was a little kid with sleeping problems and a fat cat. And in the back of her mind she could feel it, the stress, the heartache wearing on her. She didn't know how much more she could take.

[dana]

„You’re still as crazy as always,“ Dana whispered at her cousin who – as always – didn’t seem to have any problems about wondering the hallways after curfew. She could almost saw the muscle in his jaw clenching for a moment and Dana smiled a bit grateully, knowing Kris had swallowed the first or a couple of first comments that most likely came to his mind.
„Just stay out of trouble,“ Dana told Kris pulling the big black sweater he had given her tighter arond herself as she reached up and kissed Kris’s cheek. Morrigan gave a quiet mew as they both slinked away into darkness more gracefulyl than you could expect from a blind person. Yes, Dana was supposed to escort people out of hteir common rooms after curfew back to their dormitories, but when it came to Kris – Dana’s conscience started to work in an other way. Blood was thicker than water after all, even if they were in reality only distant cousins. For Dana Kris was a bother and that was all that mattered. Besides the dungeons were spooky at night-time. Dana most certainly did not want to wander through them alone at night-time.

Looking at her wrist-watch Dana shielded a yawn behind her hand and was rather glad to see that she could have retreated back to her own common room and bed some while ago already. Turning on her heel Dana made a mental note to return Kris’s sweater to him at some point. But right now the thick and soft material felt nice and warm. The castle was chilly. Always had been and most likely always would be. Making just a small detour to avoid the room where Peeves seemed to be having fun Dana made her way to the Ravenclaw common room. Telling the password calmly Dana stepped into the warm and welcoming room which was empty today. Dana was used to usually seeing some people finishing up their homework or still reading when she returned from her prefect duties. Dana almost over-looked a small first year who seemed to be working one something.

„It’s getting late,“ Dana said calmly as she pushed one of the sleeves of the black sweater back so her fingers would reach out just long enough for her to be able to scratch her ear, „And tomorrow is a long day still and I doubt professors would like someone to fall asleep in their class. If you’re doing homework, then I’m sure it can wait up to morning, when someone older can help you with it, if that’s worrying you.“ It was true. Dana herself seemed to help younger students often enough – though only a certain number of them seemed to approach her for tutoring – and she did want to win house poitns for well done homework. While someone falling asleep would not only cause a disaster in Potions, but take away points. Dana would skin anyone causing Ravenclaw to loose the house cup alive. That had been her main idea as she approached the first year. It was only now that Dana saw the tell-tale misty eyes and the obvious trail of tears on her cheeks.
„And if you have any problem, then the school has lots of people who are good listeners and wouldn’t mind listening. Perhaps Flitwick could help if you go and talk to him. At the very least he might cheer you up again,“ Dana offered the first year a calm smile and not wanting to barge in while she was worried about something – she had wanted solitude at the beginning of the year – started to collect the books and things she had left spread out on one of the tables with her homework before going to do her prefect rounds.

((Feel free to tell me to delete this post, if you want to. )

[kristian]

Mikayla jumped a little, the older girl startled her. "Oh I'm sorry I couldn't get to sleep." "I was just going to write about the dream I've been having lately." "I will go back up to my room if I need to.." Mikayla said sweetly whipping a the tear trickles off her cheek."I have a bit of trouble sleeping. "I usually just stay in my room and just lay down until its time to get ready for class." "But for some reason I couldn't go to sleep at all tonight." "I go to sleep at the usual time but I it take me a while to finally get a little sleep. And when I finally do its time to get up and get ready for my first class.

"But..." Mikayla said trying not to sound whiny "Are you not supposed to be down here this late?" Mikayla asked the older girl. "Oh, I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself yet my name is Mikayla Killingraff." "Whats your name?" Mikayla was still a little scared that she was in trouble she didn't know what year the older girl was. "Well I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to be down here..." 'I was just bored laying in my bed wide awake.

[dana]

The girl started to speak and as Dana was gathering her books together. Throwing a careful glance behind her Dana didn’t lift an eye-brow upon seeing that the girl wasn’t crying. She wanted to be alone when she was sad and therefore she always gave the same option to others as well. The reason why Dana always cried at nights somewhere on the grounds while it was raining. That way the rain would mix with her tears and hide the evidence. Though she never had been able to hide her tears form Kris or form her grandparents. A lazy flick of her wand and Dana’s things floated nicely up the girls stair case to settle down on top of her trunk in the 6th year girls dormitory. Dana tilted her head hearing the silent creak of the door that closed a moment later as she slowly took a couple of steps back towards the first year again.

“It’s the common room. You can get down here whenever you wish. It’s the rest of the castle that’s out of bounds after curfew,” Dana replied simply stopping behind one of the armchairs as she leaned on of her arms on it’s high back-rest, “I merely stated my concern because I wouldn’t want Ravenclaw to loose points. I like the House Cup enough to try and make sure we get it this year as well. Wouldn’t want to see the outcome if someone fell asleep in McGonagalls or worse yet – in Snape’s – class. Not only would the professors punish the culprit severely, but most likely such a poor person would be crucified by the rest of the house as well.”
Dana tilted her head evaluating the first year quietly in her head. If she was stressed with 1st year work, then how would she handle the future yet to come? Or perhaps she just wasn’t used to Hogwarts schedule just yet. For her own sake Dana hoped for the latter.

“You have problems sleeping? Don’t stress I suppose. Or go and talk to Pomfrey for some Dreamless Sleep potion. I can walk you to her if you wish, so you wouldn’t get in trouble if you run into Filch or some of the professors,” Dana offered calmly as she nodded to the girl. She would have given her hand to shake, but there was some room, not to mention the arm-chair Dana was leaning on separating them, so unless one of them moved they just weren’t close enough to shake hands. Killingraff… the name didn’t call out any associations either, so Dana just shrugged.
“Dana Coran. Dana Gayle Cynthia Coran if you wish the full name. Prefect if you are wondering why I was out wondering the hallways after curfew,” Dana replied simply with a tilt of her head in greeting as she burrowed her fingers back into the sleeves of Kris’s sweater.

[kristian]

"Yes, I can see why you are worried about me falling asleep in class." Mikayla said remembering how she had said the same thing to herself in her head before she had came down here. "I have always had sleeping troubles... Maybe it runs in my family.. If my parents were ever around maybe I would ask them..." Mikayla said looking up at the ceiling trying to hide her watering eyes. "Well, if you don't mind taking me... Then I think that would be a good idea maybe now I can get some sleep at night..." Mikayla said giggling at the thought of the relief of getting some sleep.

"Nice to meet you Dana." Mikayla said glad to know Dana's name so that now she wouldn't be calling her "the older girl" in her head. "If that sleep stuff works maybe now I wont have these black circles around my eyes." Mikayla said kind of giggling because she did have black circle under her eyes. One her nannies once told her that if she kept waking up so early she would get black circles under her eyes but she hadn't listened but now she had them and she wished she would had listened to her. But then again that also was the nanny that was later fired by her dad's assistant for stealing my mothers jewelry and the wine out of their wine cabinet.

"How does it work?" Mikayla asked Dana curiously. "Will I be able to wake up in time to get ready in the mornings?" Mikayla said worrying that if she took to much on accident that she would miss her classes.

[dana]

Dana arched a lazy eye-brow at Mikayla turning her head to look at the clock hanging on the common room wall. It was getting close to the time where she was going to turn to sleep herself usually. She wasn’t feeling too over-bearingly drouzy today however because Dana had had a huge cup of cappuccino as she started the prefect rounds.
„It’s a boarding school. Rather natural your parents aren’t here. Haven’t seen my grand-parents around since after the first week of school,“ Dana made sure her face stayed smooth at the words, not wanting to answer any annoying questions as to why she had been able to see her grand-parents during the first week of school, „As for the Dreamless Sleep draught – you learn to brew it in an older class, though I wouldn’t suggest brewing your own Dreamless sleep potion. If you brew it yourself, then that will put you out for quite a long time. The one you can get from madam P makes you sleepy and makes sure you don’t see any dreams while you sleep. It shoudl last about 4 or 5 hours so in the morning there shouldn’t be any troubles waking up. At least I didn’t have any troubles when I used the Potion during OWLs last year.“

Dana simply looked at the black circles under Mikayla’s eyes. Her eyes lingered there for a moment, but Dana didn’t offer any comment. Sometimes silence was the most polite thing you could say. Mikayla was young enough so Dana didn’t want to teach her the glamour spells that would hide the circles. Dana herself had more than often used this charm on herself at the beginning of the year. And perhaps Dana was old-fashioned, but she did think that Mikayla was a tad too young to use make-up to hide the circles as well. Make up was an option that came as a regular solution to Dana’s mind from about 3rd year or 4th year. And even then now not daily. Dana herself didn’t use make-up daily.

„As for getting ready – I don’t have a clue how long it takes for you. 10 minutes is enough for me – a quick shower, brush my teeth and then pull on some clothes. I’m not that good at Potions – getting the high enough level in Potions was a pure stroke of luck and a good tutor, so can’t tell you exactly how or why the potion works. But madam P is relatively nice. Not as grouchy either as Snape if woken up during the night,“ Dana commented calmly shifting her weight a little while starting to undo the french braids on top of her head her fingers working through the air with practiced ease.

[kristian]

"Yeah, it doesn't take me long to get ready in the morning just enough time to get a shower brush teeth and put my hair up, and get clothes on." Mikayla said trying not to sound high maintenance. That sleeping potion sounds like a good idea. "Sorry, if I'm keeping you up.." Mikayla said feeling bad because Dana looked tired herself."If you want.." Mikayla offered. "We can just meet in the morning and get some?" "That way you can get some sleep." Mikayla closed her notebook and set her pen on top of it.

Mikayla was starting to feel her eyes water because they were so tired and at the point she just kind of slumped over, still on the couch. Mikayla was so physically exhasted but yet her mind still wandered. Mikayla just sat there and waited for a reply. Mikayla didn't want to ask too many questions to Dana because she knew that she wouldn't want someone to keep bugging her if she was tired, and well if she could get some sleep.

[dana]

Dana smirked lazily as her fingers managed to loose her hair completely from the restraining braid: „If I wanted to go to sleep, then I would go. Can’t see much of how you could stop me, should I wish to leave the room?“ Stepping aorund the armchair Dana settled herself into the soft seat while shifting a little before finding a comfortable enough. Leaning her head back around the head-rest Dana reached out her legs, leaning them on the high mantel-piece gentlyas she half-closed her eyes.
„And sure, I can walk you there in the morning as well if you want. Have Transfiguration first, so have to flee the Hospital Wing rather quickly afterwards as I refuse to miss my breakfast – I live to eat – and I’m not brave enough to be late for Transfiguration. The class is difficult enough as it is. I just hope McGonagall doesn’t turn our books into real parrots again. That was a bother. Though it did widen my eye-range. Almost threw the parrot-book at a 4th year Gryff while I was getting frustrated at it babying me. After a bit of an arguement... he wasn’t really that bad to talk to.“

Dana smiled with a bit of amusement thinking back at the one-time occurrance with a smile curving her lips. „I might as well could write out some orders for the Chirtmas presents I’m going to order for my friends from Paris. And have them be delievered to my cousin so the girls wouldn’t see the presents before the correct time. Besides considering the amount of things requested from me it is going to require a rahter nice number of owls to deliever them here. And owls able to fly over the ocean unnoticed aren’t that easy to come by. You ready with your Christmas shopping? How have you done it anyway, as you obviously aren’t allowed to Hogsmeade just yet?“ Dana asked curiously summoning a parchmet, a fancy quill and a thick catalogue a prestigous frnench sewing company had owled her a couple of weeks ago. Dana was rich enough to actually be able to afford the things from there and since she liked the style displayed in the store – she shopped there often. For herself as often for her friends, buying small trinkets or sweaters. Most likely she had been sent this as she was a rare visitor to the store – due to going to Hogwarts for the bigger part of the year – but the times she did buy or order something from there, Dana spent small fortunes. And Christmas always meant a shopping tour for Dana.

[kristian]

"Oh... My dad's new assistant will probably get my families presents." "And I'll probably send her a letter on what to get for my muggle friends who think I am in a boarding school." "But for my new friends that I have made here at hogwarts it will be more difficult. I don't know what to get them.. I don't know if they would want a muggle type present you know?" "But its the thought that counts I guess."

Mikayla said with a questioning look on her face. "I wonder that my dad's assistant is going to get me for Christmas this year?" Mikayla said thinking aloud. Her dad's assistant had a lavish taste for clothing. "One year she got me this fur coat from somewhere, it was really luxurious but so expensive. "But I never wore it. I don't like to think of what kind of animal was killed for that fur." Mikayla said aloud remembering that Christmas. They didn't have tree that year. It was just her and Kaitlynn the assistant. It was really awkward. Kaitlynn gave Mikayla the present and it was kind of over.

But then they did eat a very delicious meal. But than again it was just another awkward experience her hired shrink had to fix. "So, are your parents home for Christmas?" Mikayla said questioning Dana who was bound to have a normal Christmas. Mikayla always pictured it around this time... What it would be like to have a normal Christmas with no catch. To have the loving parents to be there and put the Christmas presents under the tree acting as Santa Clause. But then again it wasn't like that at all for her. It was always her and a nanny, or her and her dad's assistant who only did it because she felt kind of sorry for Mikayla.

[dana]

Dad’s assistant? Dana had to bit her tongue to keep from asking more about why Mikayla’s own parents didn’t get the presents. “I suppose every family handles Christmas their own way,” Dana answered slowly, not exactly knowing what would cause the first year to burst out in tears and what not. Was this why she had been crying previously? Dana twirled the quill between her fingers as she thought about Mikayla’s question. What would she be doing and where would she be at Christmas?
“My parents are dead,” Dana replied off-handedly at Mikayla with no trace of sadness in her voice, “Life with my grandparents. Quite frankly after reading my mother diaries, she doesn’t strike me like a person I would have wanted for a friend. So probably am better of this way, because my grand-parents are simply amazing.
As for Christmas – I suppose I’m going to our manor in France. Me, my cousin, Meredith and Julien – my grand-parents – will naturally be there. As well as Anna, Marie, Isabelle and Pierre. They are the servants. Anna will make her famous chocolate cake again as well as the regular 5-course meal while Pierre and Marie make sure the house is as festive as it can be. Kris and Meredith sing while Julien while smoke some fancy cigar as everyone shares presents. There is a bit of questions as to who I’ll home this year though. I absolutely refuse to EVER step aboard the Express.”

Dana smiled at the memories of all the Christmases she had ever had fondly, almost seeing the decorated out, the shining silverwear filled with red flowers while christmas carols were playing and the tantalizing smell of cinnamon and Christmas over-powered everything else. The complete feel of home.
„But that also means that I will be leaving all the presents I’m making in Hogwarts here. Ordering a friend this sweater and I already bought matching earrings,“ Dana said pointing to a nicely done sea-green sweater with a V-neck that was made to hug the wearer’s body comfortably, „I like making presents. Almost as much as receiving them. It’s the thrill of picking out the things, or going to wander around and have something catch your eye that so perfectly screams a friends name to you so you have no choice but to buy the thing. The only thing I did dislike was venturing into the shadier part of Hogsmeade after the Hogs Head restaurant to get something my grandmother might find amusing.
Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. It’s my favorite day of the year. Just hope I’ll actually see Santa Claus this year. Have never seen him before, but perhaps this year will be different? I know he can’t reach anyone every year, ergo the reason why so many parents try to take over his duty, yet no one could really compare,“ Dana said with a fond smile, without any trace of hesitation. She believed in Santa Claus. Always had always would. And everyone who would try to tell the other way at her, or be disrespectful towards Santa Claus would be very elegantly ripped into very little shreds.

„New years I’m probably going to spend at some formal event. At least I’m fairly certain my grandparents will request my presence in a way that I can’t say no to it. How about you? Any grand plans or are you staying at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays?“ Dana asked with a smile still gracing her features as her eyes returned to Mikayla.

[kristian]

"True.." Mikayla stated at that comment. Mikayla said her eyes examining the room. "I am so sorry." Mikayla said her eyes now went straight back to looking at the floor. Mikayla kind of new how that felt never knowing where her parents were.. She would to look at pictures of her parents often so that she wouldn't forget what they looked like in case they ever decided to come back. Mikayla had always hoped they would come back just for one day.

A tear trickled down her face. But this time it wasn't for her and her loss of parent figures. It was for Dana. She felt for her to they must have more in common than she thought. Thank goodness for her she had her grandparents. Mikayla thought to herself. "I'm happy for you, that you have your grandparents." "I know how it feels to have no one to get advice from or to be taken care of by." "My parents stuck me in Hogwarts but even then they didn't do it themselves they got the hired help to do it." "Though I love Hogwarts."

"It sounds like you will have an amazing time." Mikayla said regarding Dana's Christmas time. "Why wouldn't you ever get on the express?" Mikayla asked concerned. "Is there something wrong with it?" "Wow, you made that yourself its amazing.." "I love the color." Mikayla said admiringly. "I have never seen him either..." Mikayla said giggling imagining the thrill of if you actually got to meet Santa Clause. But that was something she had never really thought about because she didn't want to know the dreams she was missing out on.

"I'm going to my friend Danielle Pewter's house she was kind enough to give me the invitation." "I was going to just stay here..." Mikayla said thinking of all the fun she will hopefully have with Danielle. "This will be the first time I've gone away from home for the whole Christmas holiday!" Mikayla said excited to have to not be in her lonely house. "Aren't you excited to have a break and have fun with your friends?" Mikayla said excitedly to Dana with a big bright smile. Mikayla was so excited and was sure Dana was to so it was a bit of an obvious question.

[dana]

„Don’t be,“ Dana snapped at Mikayla shaking her head furiously most certainly not wanting any pity, „My mother was an imbecile. Meredith and Julien wouldn’t have stepped into her way of marriage, even my mother did marry a squib. They didn’t approve, but it was my mothers own fault for running away and marrying in secret and therefore not having enugh medical aid near by when I was born, causing her own death. As for father – he was a squib and a pahtethic one who coulnd’t handle this knowledge. He could have been a good busines sman, but instead he went and got himself idiotically killed by muggles in Iran, even though he had a 3 year odl child he was responcible for. But he wfound it easier to flee and try to forget his own problems in the muggle world. Quite frankly I’m much better off with my grandparents than my biological parents. So don’t you try and offer me pity over having the luck of being cared for by my grandparents.“

Shaking her head Dana banished the feeling of dissatisfication from her hed and took a calm breath, forcing her irritation back into her mind without displaying anymore signs of being displeased. Tricks she had learned form all the Slytherins in her life. They really were more than useful. „A lot of parents are scared of raising their kids correctly. Afraid they make too many mistakes and spoil you rotten, they leave you into the care of the nanny?“ Dana offered rather randomly at Mikayla’s commnet, not realyl knowing what to say. She had been raised in a loving and caring home all her life. Dana couldn’t really even start to imagine how different life might be for Mikayla.

„The Express,“ Dana repeated closing her eyes for a moment. It was all still too brightly embraided into her mind. The figures clad in black, Kris blocking her before he fell, the young Hufflepuff girl getting hit by the forbidden spell... It was all to clear even after months had passed. And Dana didn’t even wnat to think how often Kris would be reminded about his loss of eye-sight. None the less Dana hesitated for a moment as she opened her eyes and looked at the first year, wondering what to tell. Finally deciding on a half-truth Dana shrugged one shoulder: „Let’s just say that I was a tad too close to the attack on the Express at the beginning of this school year. I think we – me and my cousin – will be allowed to take some other way away from here. A portal key to the ministry perhaps or flooing to Hogsmeade. From tehre we have to take the plane from the muggle London. As for a break – sure, I like Christmas. Who doesn’t?“

[kristian]

"I guess you are glad you have your grandparents." Mikayla said longingly. "I never met mine." "I think my mom and dad ran away and got married." "Because I have never met of heard of them." Mikayla stated with a questioning look on her face. "Maybe I should find them.." "I don't even no of an aunt or anything." "But I assure you if I did I most likely would have been living with them." Mikayla said thinking if she had ever heard of any family a cousin or anything she couldn't find anything anyones ever said about her having family.

Mikayla looked at Dana. "You know we have been up a pretty long time." "Thank you for talking to me even though you just ask me a question to begin with." "I wonder what time it is?" "Yeah, maybe..." Mikayla said regarding Dana's comment about the nanny thing. "My best friend Maryn Lively was in that accident she got severe glass cuts but she is ok now." "She was lucky I heard that a guy got blinded." "And he is in the hospital wing right now."

Mikayla said feeling much sorrow for the boy. Though she hadn't ever met him before the accident. "Did either of you get wounded?" "I wouldn't want to take the train either my friend Maryn said it was really scary and she is hardly ever afraid of anything." "I couldn't think of anything worse than loosing eyesight after you have had it your whole life.." "Except for death that is.." Mikayla said trembling at the thought." "Did it happen on the way out of Hogwarts or on the way back in?" Mikayla asked she never did think of that question when Maryn talked to her about.

Mikayla felt terrible for anyone who witnessed the spell over the girl. Mikayla new it had to be the most traumatizing thing. Mikayla didn't even want to speak of what happened to her. "The most innocent people" The most innocent unexpecting people." Mikayla said with a sad look on her face. "What a shame" Mikayla thought to herself. What a shame all of those innocent kids who witnessed it. "Slytherins" Mikayla thought "Do any Slytherins ever get hurt in these little accidents?" "Do you know Mitch Collins?" Mikayla asked sweetly. Trying not to show any signs of excitement.

[dana]

How ever good Dana’s control over her reactions was, she couldn’t suppress a flinch as she listened to Mikayla’s words. The first year rambled on as Dana’s nails were cutting deeply into her palms as she tried not to scream out loud as the girls words just brought on more memories. Kris… it was always Kris. That time when Dana had gotten bitten by a snake in Australia when they were 9 it had been Kris who had yelled and talked to Dana forcing her to walk back to the village where she got help. When they were 11 it had been Kris who had helped Dana hop back to hope after she had broken a leg after a nasty fall. It had been Kris who had cleaned her scrapes and cuts after her numerous falls and it had been Kris who caught her, when she fell from her broom. And it had been Kris who had blocked the curse and paid with his eye-sight.

Harsh laughter made it’s way out of Dana’s throat at Mikayla’s question. Where they hurt? “I was gently floated through the rain to the front without a scratch on me,” Dana snapped bitterly as she stood gripping her wand tightly her eyes just a bit wild as she tried to get her shivering hand back under control, “You couldn’t imagine it? Well, you don’t have to live without your eye-sight! Could you imagine never seeing the sun before? Never seeing those you love, never being able to notice the first blossom of spring? How can you even offer comfort or pity to someone who has had a part of his life ripped way from him? How can you even begin to understand what Laura’s mother felt when she was notified that her only child had been killed? Don’t try to offer pity where you can’t even begin to grasp the terror of the situation!” Dana laughed bitterly grasping her wand tightly as if it was the only thing stable in her life: “There are worse things than death in this world. A lesson I and Kris learned the hard way.”

Turning on her heel Dana stormed out of the common room letting a sob shake her stiff shoulders only after she reached the roof top of the astronomy tower and stood there shaking out of the rage of emotions inside her as much as from the biting cold. Feeling a gentle touch on her shoulder Dana turned and buried her face onto Kris’s shoulder while crying out all her confusion while Kris just rubbed her shoulders comfortinly. Even Christmas didn’t bring the kind of happiness and pleasure it usually did. How could something this bad have happened to Kris?

((Sorry, for the rather hasty parting. It was rather entertaining post while it lasted, but Dana wouldn’t be IC (in character) if she hadn’t departed now at Mikayla’s word. And I need to Ryan to make sure my girl doesn’t catch a cold while crying alone on the roof-top – ergo the owl to Kris. Perhaps it cleared Dana’s words and actions for Mikayla as well while on that topic.))

[ryan]

Ryan stretched and walked down to the common room to see if Dana was perhaps still there. He had spent the last hours reading a book she had borrowed him and had became so immersed in the story that it was only now that he finally put down the book after he had finished it. Slipping a hand through his hair Ryan patted down to the common room barefooted smiling upon hearing the familiar voice of Dana. Apparently she was still awake so Ryan could give the book bag and babble on to her about how wonderful the book had been. Hopping down the last couple of steps into the common room Ran froze at hearing Dana’s words. He knew what had happened on the train and though they had never said anything to each other about it, Ryan knew it perhaps better than some others.

“Dana!” Ryan shouted out after the back of the retreating girl but the common room door already snapped closed making Ryan sigh and pull on his ear. He hated seeing his friend so down but there was nothing he could. Having heard the last few bits of the exchange Ryan sighed glancing at the first year as he quickly searched for a quill and piece of parchment. Scribbling a quick note Ryan hesitated for a few moments before casting a quick charm on the parchment to alter the hand-writing. Kris could be scary, even though Ryan knew that he would be the only one he knew who could make sure Dana calmed down and got some sleep tonight. But that didn’t mean Ryan would want to face the 6th year Slytherin should he ever discover he was near while Dana was hurt. Calling Dana’s owl to himself Ryan handed Dorian the note and told the smart eagle-owl to deliver it to Dana’s cousin before looking at the first year with a bit of hesitation.

“I didn’t hear anything about what was talked about here, but I think I got a pretty clear idea as to what happened. You know that Slytherin who got blind on the Express? He is Dana’s cousin and most likely her best friend. Dana herself sometimes refers to him as her brother. The rumour is that he getting hurt was in some way connected to Dana, but no one but them seems to know precisely and neither the aurors, the professors or themselves talk about it. So it’s a rather touchy topic for Dana and one that I would suggest you avoid near her and on the whole as his cousin wouldn’t be as nice as to let you go this easily. Heck, I’m scared of that guy as are some other people I know,” Ryan told the first year in explanation of Dana’s rather hasty exit as he turned and went back to the stair-case leading back up to the boys dormitories. Stopping there for a moment Ryan hesitated before glancing back at the first year.
“Try to get some sleep. And try to make sure your words don’t hurt others next time you speak about something so easily. Good night,” Ryan said simply before walking up the stair-case and turning out of view.

[kristian]

Mikayla was stunned at what had just happened. All she could do was just nod her head while having a blank face. She just couldn't believe what she had just said. And to his... Mikayla just couldn't believe it she was truly stunned. "I'm sorry I didn't no.." She blurted out as she watched Dana then the boy run out.

"How can I ever face her again or him?" Mikayla said to herself. Mikayla was in utter shock. "That was probably the worst thing I have ever said to a person. Mikayla looked to the ground. She actually felt tired and then her eyes started to water. She ran up the stairs and into her room. She laid down in her bed and cried. "So stupid she thought. And then for the first time in a long time she fell asleep.