Rock'n'roll and coffee ((Arya))

[kris]

Empty. The dungeons were completely empty. True, most students only moved in big groups from the Great Hall to Snape’s classroom, but there were usually Slyths easily shifting their way through the shadowed maze of hallways and rooms down here. The dungeons under Hogwarts were truly practically the property of Slytherins. Then again maybe it wasn’t so surprising either Kris mused lazily as he gave the password and stepped into the abandoned SLytherin common room. It was midday after all meaning that everyone had classes. Kris had a class going on right now as well. But with him being blind what could the professor do? Kris could always say he was feeling ‘faint’. Then again he had always skipped most of his classes even before becoming blind, so quite frankly he didn’t really care either.

Kris slipped a hand with his fingers spread through his hair, wanting to remove any snowflakes that might be inside it only to find the snowflakes had already melted. Not really caring much Kris pulled the black string away from around his hair dropping the black silk ribbon carelessly in his pocket. Unclasping the heavy winter coat Kris let Morrigan jump onto a couch before he shrugged off the heavy velvet. A commanding flick of his wand and Kris’s cloak floated away to his dormitory while a thick leather-bound book about thestrals floated into Kris’s hand. As he had the common room all to himself – which in it’s reality was a rather rare occasion – he might as well enjoy it. One more flick of his wand and the room filled with quick, blood-bumping rock’n’roll sounded over the room the quick rhythms almost begging you to dance. Not that Kris was planning on dancing. While it was a fun way to spend time, he preferred dancing with a good partner. What was the point of dancing alone?

Letting himself drop into the couch Kris settled down summoning after a bit of trouble a cup of hot coffee from one of the house-elves. One of his hands holding the white mug of steaming drink Kris opened the book and leaned his head back his eyes closing behind the sunglasses. Throwing his feet up on the table near the couch he was sitting on Kris let his fingers dance over the Russian language the book was written in as he started to read in Braille. Braille’s technique was actually surprisingly easy so Kris had learned to read quickly and easily with his fingers. Even though it was never quite as fast as reading with one’s eyes. Feeling himself relax slightly Kris read while letting the music beat the rhythm and speed in which his fingers moved over the lines in the heavy book he had propped up in his lap.

[aryasillhouette]

Arya had stayed up in her dorm room when everyone else took off for classes. She was tired of having to sit through class with those mudbloods and halfbloods. Why do we Slytherins have to suffer by being forced to take classes with those others. Arya knew that it had been her choice to accept her invitation to Hogwarts and at the time all she cared for was learning magic. She was doing that, but she didn't think that she could look at another mudblood for a while. She needed a break from them.

Deciding that she would stay either in her dorm or in the common room while everyone else was in class, Arya laid down on her bed, and grabbed her favorite book. She had been laying there a while when she suddenly heard a loud drum beat. Trying to gather where the sound was coming from, Arya suspected the common room. Rolling off her bed, and walking out of her dorm room, she knew as the sound grew that she was right. Someone was playing Rock and Roll music in the common room, and playing it extremely loud. Arya liked the beat of the music, so it didn't bother her. It did however make her wonder whom was playing it.

Making her way into the common room, she saw the originator of the music. It appeared to be Kris. She had never officially met Kris, but knew of him from their classes together. She wondered what had made him decide to stay in the common room. She thought he would be in class with everyone else. But then again she realized that Kris did not seem to be the same. Walking over to him, trying not to startle him, she decided to say hello. "Hello Kris. How are you?" Arya spoke softer than usual, but kept her dignity.

((Sorry it's so short and sloppy. It just poured out, and I typed it the way Arya wanted me too.))

[kris]

Kris’s fingers danced over the lines quickly and effectively. Russian wasn’t one of the languages he was fluent in even though Kris could freely read, write and speak it. Reading was the easiest thing because then he didn’t have to think about the different endings of different declinations. So his reading speed was a bit slower than it would have been had Kris been reading French or Italian or English or German. Actually, Kris spoke enough languages to easily get by in every corner of the world. With Asia perhaps being the only difficult part. But then again, he didn’t stay in Japan or China or Korea for overly long anyway. Absent-mindedly humming along the chorus of the song Kris flipped a page and was raising his cup of coffee to his lips when someone greeted him.

Kris let all different possibilities he could think off through his head as he calmly continued to sip from his mug. Who was the girl? The Queens were crossed off the list immediately, Kris knew most of them. An older student to approach him this freely… perhaps a 5th year. It wasn’t Danika or Giselle… but the voice was faintly familiar. Maybe the girl with the long and a bit weird name? Raising his wand Kris waved it lazily as the music changed into quiet guitar-music playing in the back-ground. AS the flash of thought was the best he could have had Kris decided to play on it. “Calm. Or peaceful if you prefer that word. Not as sleep or bored as I might be in most of the classes,” Kris drawled lazily in reply feeling Morrigan jump onto his lap. Dropping his right hand from the book Kris lazily stroked the kittens back while taking sure to pronounce the name the correct way. He had heard the girl speaking a couple of times and fixing the pronunciation of her name, “To what do I own the company, Arya?”

[aryasillhouette]

Arya crossed the common room, and took a seat on the couch that was adjacent to Kris. She had passed him in the halls and had met him once or twice during class, but had never really gotten to know him. She took a deep breath, and reminded herself that Kris was not one to be taken lightly, nor would she want to make him made. She would rather befriend him.

Arya found her last thought unusual. She usually didn't worry about whom she befriended, but for some reason, she knew that she wanted to try to become Kris's friend. Answering his question calmly, Arya spoke again. "I couldn't bring the torture of having to politely share a class room with those.....," Arya tried to think of the best words to use at this part of her sentence," Other wizards." Maybe that won't offend him She thought to herself, thinking that as far as she could remember she had never heard of Kris befriending a mudblood or a half blood, but she wanted to be sure.

Arya hoped that Kris wouldn't mind the company, but she decided to ask instead. "If you want to be alone, I can leave." She said understanding that Kris's year had not been an easy one.

[kris]

Kris tilted his head listening to the light footsteps and then the quiet shuffling of cloth as Arya sat down. Kris let silence stretch – if you didn’t consider the quiet playing of guitar Kris had left in the background his eye-brow arching curiously form behind his black sunglasses. Since when did Slytherins pick their words about the rest of the inhabitants of this school so carefully? While not usually lowering himself to use the word ‘mudblood’ daily – really, it was so ordinary. He could come up with better insults – Kris wasn’t bothered really with other people using the word either. It had merely been curious to hear Arya picking her words so carefully around him that it aroused some curiousity within Kris.

“And witches. I’m sure there are students from both gender in those classes you so wished to avoid,” Kris drawled lazily snapping his book shut after his fingers had briefly brushed the page-number in the corner so he wouldn’t have any troubles finding where he had stopped afterwards. Kris never used markers – they could slip away from between the book leaves or they would damage the leaves someway. It was much better to just remember the page-number. And much easier, especially since now finding the book-mark he put to side somewhere while reading would have been an almost impossible task. “The question is rather whether the students or the teachers grated your nerves more?” Kris placed the book next to him on the couch not shifting form his comfortable position with his legs thrown up on the table other-wise, “And I don’t mind the company. It’s your common room as well. As Mary loves to say being a Sytherin is a priviledge."

[aryasillhouette]

Arya couldn't understand what made her feel so nervous around Kris. He's just a normal guy, nothing different about him. He's the same guy he has been for years Arya thought to herself. She had never really gotten to know Kris, but had heard marvelous things about him, and figured that was what made her so nervous.

"Of course, the witches too." She said with a light laugh. She didn't know what had made her only say wizards, she really was confusing herself. Relaxing a bit more, Arya folded her legs under her on the couch, after taking off her shoes. Shoes never belonged on the couch was what her mother had always taught her.

"It's a bit of both, to be quiet honest. Some of the teachers they allow to teach us, would be of better use as targets for spell casting practice." Arya found herself being very open about her feelings, something she rarely did. She told everyone what she was thinking at the time,when appropriate, but rarely ever completely told her entire feelings about subjects such as the professors.

((My apologies for this so called post. I'm sick, and trying to catch up on posts without any inspiration for them. I will do better next time))

[kris]

Kris nodded his head slightly as he heard and accepted Arya’s agreement about the witches annoying her in classes as well. It was a statement of fact that he understood, took it as knowledge and dropped the matter in his head. For a moment Kris toyed with different ideas as to why Arya would be so annoyed. There was always the fact about muggleborns and halfbloods. Yet for Arya to be annoyed this fully, wasn’t there some deeper meaning or secret behind this as well? Kris stored the small piece of information away in the back of his head. Really, he wouldn’t be a proper Slytherin, if he hadn’t. Small details like these could prove to be vital if you wanted to turn some situation for your benefit. You just had to know how to pick the time and the place. A task which in reality wasn’t overly simple at all once you came to think about it. All this manipulations, schemes, thousands upon thousands of bits of inspiration you kept hidden in your mind about others while hiding all of your own secrets. The power-plays of Slytherin really were quite a marvel.

Kris smirked recalling the DADA professor form his first year. He had used Lockharts portraits for target practice and accidentally set them on fire in one detention. “Accidentally” of course. But it had made sure that Kris never got any more detentions form Lockhart. He must have given up on trying to cure Kris from his personality mistakes.
“Some teachers,” Kris drawled out. It wasn’t exactly a question to explain further which professors Arya didn’t like. Nor was it an agreeing nor did Kris launch into a long story about the professors he personally despised. He merely repeated the words as if trying the thought for it’s taste and meaning. “So are you planning on accidentally misdirecting some curses in classes?” Kris asked easily in a completely neutral tone while tilting his head, easily prickling a polite some-what social compliment into his words, “However, the loss of your class-mates and professors benefits me with the pleasant company.”

[aryasillhouette]

Arya continued to sit across from Kris, but she was now trying to relax a little more. She began to let herself loose in the music more and more as it played, noticing the difference in each guitar riff as it played. Arya knew that music could soothe one’s soul if allowed. But Arya did not want to succumb to complete and utter relaxation. She needed to stay aware of her surroundings. It mattered not that she was in somewhat safety of the common room, and the only ones that could get it must know the password, even that safety could be broken by someone whom had a grudge against one for what ever reason.

While sitting there, Arya noticed a soft poke in her side. Turning, she found Shadow, her purple pygmy puff. “How did you get from the dorm?” She asked it in a whisper, trying not to disturb Kris in his thoughts. She heard him begin talking again and turned to look at him. As he asked her a question about classes, she couldn’t help but to let out a slight giggle, “Not really, although the thought has crossed my mind.” She said stroking her pygmy puff as it sat in the fold of her leg. “I do believe that I too am enjoying their loss. You are marvelous company.” Arya said smiling.

Arya fell silent again, listening to the music and her surroundings.

[kris]

For a moment there was only silence. Or relative silence as guitars were still telling their stories of heartbreak and love and joy and tears in the background. Yet no conversation took place between Arya and Kris. Neither had been a bit reserved, then again which SLytherin wasn’t when meeting someone new. Not being able to read body and facial language of his conversation partner anymore Kris had that to make him even more vary. Even though people usually controlled their voice a bit less as Kris had discovered after becoming blind. Morrigan snorted and a moment later Kris caught the whisper of Arya’s words. Her… pet? had gotten out of her dormitory? Definitely not an owl then. But Morrigan usually ignored other cats thinking they were lower than her and Kris just hoped no SLytherin had a rat or a toad for a pet. Yet Morrigan’s reaction had been clearly despising making Kris wonder lazily as he stroked the black kittens head with one finger as Morrigan was perched on his shoulder as always.

Kris arched an eye-brow as Arya complimented him. Ignoring the words all-together Kris smirked lazily: “May I enquire how long will we dance around with words? If you already compliment may ability to converse about classes which pretty much equals a stiff conversation about weather… then how long will we continue this? While I don’t mind the company I do mind the topic for any longer. So tell me – are you planning on sticking to it? Besides what would be the point of robbing them of your company if you didn’t enjoy it yourself afterwards?”

[aryasillhouette]

Arya sat petting Shadow, and thinking of what Kris had just said. What other topics of discussion could she come up with that the two had in common. Arya didn't really have a love for animals like Kris was known for. She was at a loss for a topic of conversation. After thinking for several silent moments. She came to the conclusion that she would just ask what Kris would like to change the subject to.

"Well, I am at a loss for new conversation peices, and in that case, I shall ask you if you have any ideas for anything new." She uncrossed her legs and sat straight on the edge of the couch seemingly to prepare to get up. "I am getting a touch hungry, and am thinking of slipping off to the kitchens. Would you like me to bring you anything?" Arya only asked the last question out of respect, and polietness. After all Kris had been nice enough to allow her his company.

[kris]

Kris smirked lazily at the long pause the greeted his words. It was almost as if Arya was nervous around him. But why? They had never had any disagreements in the past as far as Kris could remember. They had barely conversed previously. Was Kris’s reputation really that bad that Arya didn’t dare to socialize with him? Or did Kris really uphold such a bad set of ideals and guidelines he followed that Arya couldn’t find anything tolerable about them? Kris was curious, he admitted that much. Arya decided to turn the tables against himself however. Kris smirked lazily, not getting confused at all. While being more of a loner by nature and not preferring very big crowds, Kris could socialize and hold up a conversation from his part without too much trouble.

“Ah, there are always ideas. Perhaps a conversation over the topic of how a music may influence someone’s life, personal taste preferences. Latest fashion. Literature and how it educates people in it’s own way, introducing different ethics and moral codes and traditions to us, but making us think for ourselves to reach a final conclusion that satisfies us,” Kris commented while raising his book slightly, “The latest topics of the Daily Prophet and how media mirrors life in it’s ugliest side, while even media doesn’t dare to lie. The art that can be found in politics, the best philosophy to base your life on. Travels, trips, why you appear to be so nervous around me?” Kris asked suggesting whatever idea popped out in his mind inserting his previous ponderings as a question in the end. Letting the question hang almost forbiddingly in air Kris smirked and opened his book again.

“Last time I checked you weren’t my personal maid. No, you don’t have to bring my anything from the kitchens,” Kris said with a lazy smirk raising the volume of music with a wave of his wand once again hearing the common room door close after Arya while Kris returned to his book.

[aryasillhouette]

Arya had left the common room, and had went to the kitchens, but she was gone just a matter of moments. She returned to the common room, with an assortment of muffins and fresh fruits. Arya loved fresh fruits, she didn’t have a favorite fruit, but loved them all anyway. She made her way to the tables, and placed her fruits and muffins on a table. She did not sit on the couch where she had once been sitting, but in a chair near the table. “I brought back fruits and muffins if you would like any. I know I’m not your maid, but I was only trying to be polite by asking, which mind you, politeness is not one of my stronger qualities. Usually it’s considered a rarity from me.” She said to Kris, trying once again to be polite. Arya felt that if she could not be polite to Kris than there was no hope for her, she would not be able to be polite to anyone ever again. She knew that Kris wasn’t mean, and she knew that the two of them had never had a disagreement about anything, so it shouldn’t kill her to be polite to him.

“Now to think over that conversation topic list you laid out earlier. I don’t read the Prophet and therefore I do not know what the latest cover story was in it, I do not care for politics. Philosophy usually leads into heated discussions. I rarely do travel, considering I can not get along with muggles. I do enjoy literature so that’s an option, as well as music. I do not know why I am so nervous around you. It could be the fact that I rarely associate with anyone on a one on one basis like this, and therefore am nervous around any older Slytherin for there is good chance that no matter how mad they make me, they always know a way to counter what ever curse I could throw at them.” She had narrowed the list down and wasn’t sure which was still the best topic.

[kris]

Singing along to the chorus of the song he had playing in the background at the moment Kris turned the page of his book his fingers gliding upwards over the page to find the first line. Kris read with only about half the speed he had read before he was blinded, but his fingers danced across the letters printed into books with practiced ease already. Reading was vital as a source of information, as a way of staying on top of things, as a way of broadening once mind. Books were treasures for Kris, perhaps even more so than for some Ravenclaws. But there were hundreds upon hundreds of books he had read and enjoyed and even more to yet be read. He didn’t manage to read for much longer though as the common room door opened again as Arya returned.

Barely acknowledging the mention of muffins and fruits, Kris politely closed his book once again as well as lowering the music volume. She seemed to have thought about Kris’s words while she was gone. Well, it was perhaps a bit much to ask that everyone could counter everything on spot. Arya was far from being as thick as Goyle was. “And being old and mean like the big bad wolf I have deserved your respect? Especially so because I tend to go on rampages where I hex everyone, even in my own common room that is supposed to be like second home to me? And I tried so hard to hide the psychopath in me,” Kris drawled out with amusement evident in his voice turning his head towards the direction from where Arya’s voice had sounded.

Kris tried to recall everything Arya said as he sat silent for a moment: “Politics influence everyone’s life from a direct or indirect way, so there are benefits to knowing what goes on in the Ministry. Must admit that I haven’t read the Daily Prophet for a couple of days either. Philosophy may not always require arguing, however different music styles may bring on one. Literature is always a wide topic where you can’t really go wrong unless you claim to having read books you haven’t in reality. I think these were all the topics you mentioned,” Kris commented easily before blinking and nodding, “Ah, and traveling. Most people tend to enjoy it. I travel a couple of times very year personally. Like seeing new sights, besides it keeps my language skills from getting rusty. And there are magical communities in all countries, unless you wish to travel to poor African countries that might not be settled down that fully yet.”

[aryasillhouette]

Arya did revere Kris, which was something she wouldn’t refute. But it was not because of his big bad wolf persona, it was because he was admirable. He didn’t seem to be a big bad wolf to her, but she couldn’t describe how she actually took Kris to be. She didn’t know why she respected Kris; it was just something that had been there for a while now.
She yearned that she could get over the apprehension; just consume her own pride, so that she could have a good time in her escape from classes. She shook her head at the thought of classes, that topic was one that she didn’t desire to rematerialize.


Arya listened as Kris reminded her of his rampages, she had never encountered him while on these rampages but she had heard about them. “It is not your big bad wolf persona that has earned my respect for you, Kris. I do not believe that I would have had the strength to continue school, if I had been in an accident such as yours. That is commendable. I would have went insane, and not been able to keep my cool as you have done. And everyone has an evil side to them; some just maintain it better than others. I can not always hide my evil side, but I try to maintain my grace, and dignity.” Arya had other reasons for which she revered Kris so much but for some reason at the moment they weren’t coming to mind. Arya hated when that happened to her, she felt so senseless at times, when she knew better.

Although Arya had never really traveled, she wished that she could. She shamefully had read muggle books to learn about these countries. Though never leaving her house during the summer, unless it was for trips to Hogsmeade, she had sent her nanny, and since school, her maid to what they had called a muggle library to get her books. If they had been too busy, than she always had been able to count on her parents to go get the things for her. Arya snickered at the thought of her parents always willing to go into the muggle community and get her books, even though she had offered more than once. Her parents knew of her dislike for muggles, and expected that if she went out into the muggle world, than she wouldn’t be able to keep her tongue, or control her wand. Arya had never used magic outside of home, and hoped that she wouldn’t until she was old enough, for she did not wish to be expelled. No matter how retched this school was, it did teach her all she needed to know. “I have read about some other countries. I do believe that my parents are too frightened to let me travel though, because of the hatred I feel deep in my heart for muggles of all shape and size, and definition.” Arya did wish that she could learn to control the burning sensation she felt in her heart to curse all muggles. She did control herself at school, and in Diagon Alley, and Hogsmeade, but she honestly did not think that she could control outside of the wizarding world. “ I haven’t read about any wizarding communities in the other countries yet.” Kris had struck a curiosity in her. She now wanted to know more about the wizarding communities in other countries.

[kris]

Kris’s fingers clenched at the cover of his book. His muscles were so tense that Kris practically couldn’t feel the blood flowing in his fingers anymore. Even his knuckles were white. His ‘accident’? What did Arya know of it? What did she know of suddenly loosing the ability to see? What did she know of suddenly having a part of your world ripped from you and there was nothing you could do about it? What made her think Kris had came through the experience without any scars? He was just too proud to show how much he hurt to the rest of the world. Kris let the bleak mask that had covered his face drop as he simply snarled menacingly towards Arya with his nostrils flaring with fury: “My accident? Why won’t you do keep your mouth shut about things you don’t know, before we actually see just how far this wolf-persona can go when stroked the wrong way. As I do believe that you would be much more sorry about the consequences of that little test.” Kris closed his eyes behind the sunglasses ignoring Morrigan who was purring and rubbing herself against Kris’s stomach at where she sat on Kris’s lap as if she could sense his mood.

Counting backwards from 10 to zero Kris managed to get his voice back under control as he forcefully relaxed his fingers. Maybe the girl hadn’t meant any harm. But the way she had placed her words had been tactless. Kris took a deep breath dropping one of his hands onto Morrigan’s head the long fingers stroking the kitten’s back shockingly gentle despite the anger still coursing through Kris’s veins. “England isn’t the only country in the world. There are wizarding communities in France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Russia, Norway that gather together magical people from both Denmark and Sweden as well, Spain, China, Japan, Egypt, Hungary, Romania, Australia, Greenland, Brazil, Canada and naturally a couple in the USA as well. That’s the countries that I have visited the wizarding world in. My father and later on my legal guardians were firm believers of traveling as a way to broaden’s one mind so I learned about different cultures and different languages ever since I was a child and I do try to travel as often as possible as well. Even hough yes – I do travel by muggle planes and enchanted cars as portkeys don’t really tend to work without harming you over that long distances,” Kris replied his voice bleak of emotion as he still petted Morrigan to let the small kitten know he wasn’t angry at her, ”There are unique but at the same time quite marvelous places in each country I have visited.”

[aryasillhouette]

Arya refused to let Kris's temper get the best of her, she had not meant to offend him, but he had apparently taken that way. She just meant that she admired him for the strength he had. But since he couldn't take a compliment well, apparently, Arya decided not to toss anymore of them his way. She didn't respond to his anger, but just stared out the window of the common room at the grey storm-like clouds that were starting to roll in. She could almost feel the intensity of the storm as it prepared to strike. She could hear what sounded like the beat of a drum in the distance, getting closer and closer, until one would notice that it was the rolling of the thunder from the storm clouds ahead. She could feel the energy that would be coming shortly from the lightning and the power that the rain possessed over everything it touched. She felt that she suddenly needed to be outside, where she could be closer to the storm.

Not really wanting to leave because she was afraid it would make her appear to be timorous, and she wasn’t. She had no need to fear anyone, except the Dark Lord himself, but then she thought only the stupidest of witches or wizards would stand up to him. Arya felt that if she didn’t make her exit from the room, she would just burst. Not worrying about the rain or the storm coming, for it was what was urging her to be outside, she stood from her chair and crossed the room. “Pardon my rude leaving, but I feel as if I don’t find my way outside I will simply implode.” She said walking over toward the door where a small cloak closet was. She looked into the closet, making sure that she grabbed her green treated leather cloak. She did not want to accidentally grab someone else’s and she knew that her leather was the only one she had in that particular closet for it had been the one she had brought to the only class she had attended that day.

Arya did not wait for a reply from Kris, for she could feel the storm drawing closer and closer, almost as if it were someone shouting her name, she felt that she could no longer resist it’s call. Heading out of the Common Room, she ran toward the Great Hall to the large entrance doors, needing to get out, and feeling that no one would understand her if she gave them a reason.