Burning ((Fiona))

[India Nightingale]

If India wanted to get something done, the Library was no doubt her first choice. It was quiet and peaceful, a place where she could concentrate fully on her work. She hated company in general, but even if she did have to share a table, the people around her were also working hard, meaning no conversation would occur whatsoever. In the Library, everyone left India to her own devices, plus the books and resources were at her feet, just probably a few steps away. It was the perfect study for someone so inquisitive about things, and usually it was at India’s full disposal. However, it seemed today it was so full she couldn’t even find one seat, let alone a whole desk. Never one to give up on her homework just because she didn’t have somewhere to go, India told herself she’d have to bear the Student Lounge for today as she left the Library in an irritated mood. For only one day she’d tolerate the Student Lounge. Next time she’d make sure she got herself a place at the Library, even if it meant she had to blast someone out of their seat. India hated the Student Lounge. So many friends went there to hang out together and have a good old chitchat, when the place was, in her opinion, meant to be for studying, and studying only. Sometimes the noise coming from that place was unbearable, and India couldn’t understand how people could possibly work in such an environment. A part of her was tempted to go to the Slytherin Common Room instead, because both places were similar, except that the Common Room was filled with Slytherins only, and all students could inhabit the Student Lounge. However, at the end of the day, India wanted the second best place to study, and that was probably the latter, seeing as all people generally did in the Common Room was make a ruckus and cause trouble.

The moment India entered the Student Lounge, she was immediately reminded of the biggest factor of why she hated the Student Lounge. The big bright fire that crackled in one end of the room almost burnt out India’s eyes even from such a distance, and she had to look away immediately just to stop herself from overreacting. ”It’ll be fine.” India convinced herself firmly as she made her way to the back of the room, where the place was shrouded in more darkness, and where there was little people hanging around. It took everything within her to not run away from the Student Lounge; in her daily life, India hated going past the Slytherin Common Room mainly because of that stupid fire. Why did wizards like fires so much? One thing India loathed about the wizarding world so much was the Floo Network. The moment she could learn how to apparate, the better. Duke didn’t own any type of transport, and they usually used the Floo Network to get around. India’s fear was at least shared with Skye, though she often wondered if this was a comforting or infuriating thing. Sitting herself down and dropping her materials to the table, India quickly scanned the room with narrowed eyes, careful to avoid looking at the fire lest she was scared out of her wits; she’d never admit to anybody just how afraid of flames she was. Thankfully there weren’t many pupils hanging around, just some doing work like her, and others chilling. Glad they weren’t making any noise, India settled down to do some proper work. If anyone so much as distracted her by making a din, she’d hex them.

Fives minutes into a long essay for Potions, India stood up purposefully and moved her chair around so her back faced the fire. It had been flicking in the corners of her eyes every now and again, and it was driving her insane. Her phobia was so pathetically stupid, and India hated being so weak, but there was nothing she could do about it. Just looking at fire brought on buried memories, terror from the past, and if she ever had to near it, India would freak. It was a godsend Duke had managed to convince her to step in a fireplace when there was nothing burning in it, but he was the only person in her life she even mildly trusted. He could make her do things other people couldn’t possibly consider. India didn’t realise it, but her life was manipulated mainly by Duke. It was a shame her pet cat, Devil, didn’t feel the same way about him though. For some strange reason, Devil had always stayed away from Duke, hissing and spitting whenever he came within a metre of him. The black cat was like that with everyone, but he was worst with Duke, which was ironic, as he was the one who had bought Devil for her as a birthday present. The first birthday she had spent with Duke. India was sure if Duke tried to touch him, he’d be scratched or hurt even more than that, because Devil was no doubt more capable than just a simple scratch. India didn’t understand Devil’s vendetta against her guardian, but let it rest after a while. Everyone had their preferences, and it felt nice that the only person Devil didn’t really act hostile to was her.

A while later, as India’s head was buried in her piece of parchment, diligently ignoring all sounds and noises, plus the fire that burned behind her, somebody sat down at her table, causing India to glance up with a glare in her eyes. Recognising her immediately as a girl from her year and house, Fiona O'Reilly, India refrained from groaning out loud. Great. Company. India didn't know that much about Fiona, apart from that she was meant to be going out with a boy in their house and year, Kennedy Valak, somebody else India didn't know much about either. Recently though, she had heard some rumours going around with a girl in Skye's house, Gryffindor, but India hadn't paid much attention to it. India couldn't say she was fond of Fiona (she wasn't fond of anybody), and she felt their personalities may probably clash if they ever met in a fight. Still glowering at her companion, India cursed her luck. She was in no mood for conversation, if that's what Fiona expected. Was India ever in that mood? Didn’t people know to stay away from her? Then again, Fiona didn't strike her as too talkative, which was good. But that didn't mean India accepted having to sit with her. Looking around with an annoyed expression, India was about to direct Fiona to another table, when she realised they had all filled up, unbeknownst to her all along because she had been so preoccupied. Well, she couldn’t exactly ask Fiona to leave now, this was a public place, and there was nowhere else to go. India made a mental note to ask her not to speak to her if she tried, and if she honestly persisted, it’d just give her a good excuse to be rude and chase her away. India just hoped Fiona wasn't that chatty, and if she wanted to talk about something, it'd be about homework. Even fighting with Fiona would be better than making sweet talk. Ducking her head low, India continued nonchalantly with her essay, trying to dispel distracting thoughts in her mind.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Pit...Pat...Pit...Pat... was the sound that echoed through the corridors as Fiona's feet rose and fell upon the stone floor. The sound was loud and uninviting, but yet Fiona did not pay any attention to it whatsoever. No her eyes were instead fixed on the parchment in front of her and her ears were no longer absorbed in the world around her. How could they be when she held this in her hand? The words written by her own hand gleamed up at her in the dark black ink that she used. A harsh breath of air escaped from her lungs and caused a small wet drop of saliva to fall upon the parchment. She quickly wiped it away as she folder the letter back up and pushed it into her robes, hiding it from the eyes that seemed to follow her around the empty corridor. Everything seemed like it was conspiring against her as her blue/green eyes stopped on the knights that lined the hallway. Every now and then she actually caught one following her movements with the turning of his head, but why? Why was she being watched so desperately? She had done nothing to anyone and she was no doubt the only one that would be blamed for what was bound to happen in the future. Sometimes life was just too unfair.

Fiona's feet stopped at the staircase that led up to the Owlery. She had to be quick. No one could see her here and no one could find the letter which she had between her fingers. If someone did then all would be lost and her life would be in mere shambles, if it wasn't already. Her eyes drifted back over the parchment as she pulled it again from her robes, her eyes drifting over the fine penmanship as she stared at the addressee on the letter, Pyro Blackfire. This was it. The last meeting between the two of them. Kennedy and herself had worked out the time and date. He'd be there to protect her if anything went wrong, but some where deep inside she wondered if he'd actually protect her in the end. Of course he would. After all they had been through, he would be there to protect her. At least she hoped he would, unless he truly had begun to fall for that Logton girl.

Fiona quickly pushed the thought from her mind as she stepped quietly into the stairwell and began a quick pace up the stairs. Her feet still echoed off the stone walls, but at least now she was somewhat hidden in the dark expanse of the stairwell. Her eyes adjusting quickly to it's mere candle lightings. It seemed forever before she reached the top, her breathing somewhat irregular as she found herself jumping at every little noise that sounded near her. What a change that had been brought in the last few minutes. First too afraid to let anything bother her and now too afraid to let someone see her or to know what she was up to. The second her feet touched the floor of the Owlery she quickly moved to the school birds, grabbing up the tie on it's leg and fastening the letter to it. "Go, take it to Pyro Blackfire," her voice commanded the owl and within seconds the bird took off, beating it's gigantic wings as it lifted out of the tower.

Fiona sighed as she pulled the strap of her bag up on her arm. Now that business had been taken care of she had some studying to do. The wave of relief settled in so quickly around her as she moved from the tower and started a rather slow and steady pace to the Student Lounge. She wanted to be far away from the Common Room when the owl found Pyro. He would no doubt think something was up, but she couldn't face him, not yet. She might just give away her deception if she did see him. So she moved through the corridors once more, slightly happier than before, but with a bit of a load lifted off her shoulders. Yes, she still had to wait for night to fall, but at least she was safe from harm until then. Safe from a lot of things until then really. Her feet followed her eyes as she turned into the Student Lounge. Of course every table was filled with students, some making more noise than others, but Fiona ignored them as her eyes fell onto India Nightingale, a girl from her house and year. She moved to the table and took a seat, catching the girl's scowling look out of the corner of her eye.

"Forgive me Nightingale, but as you can see there are no other places open. And watch that glare of yours, someone could take offense and strictly speaking you do not want to offend an O'Reilly," Fiona said with a bit of venom lacing her voice. She was in no mood for someone's foulness, least of all someone from her own house.

[India Nightingale]

India had been minding her own business, ignoring Fiona as though she didn’t exist pretty well. India was like any other Slytherin in the sense that she could be very nasty and spiteful in her words, but unlike some students, Fiona O’Reilly for example, she did not go out of her way to incite a fight. India was welcome to such things, but that did not mean she ignited them. Usually other people came onto her first, and she responded with the same attitude. India just was not one to naturally inspire hatred and violence, despite reciprocating it. So when Fiona began to bate her with arrogant words, India looked up with an equivalent glare. Now she remembered why she preferred to stay away from Fiona; no doubt their personalities would’ve clashed, making them dead enemies. Funny how it had taken them this long to finally have a head on meeting. India dropped her quill to the table whilst Fiona was still speaking, trying to restrain the need to punch that “perfect” little face in. That proud smirk was starting to drive her insane; at least India didn’t wear that on her face all the time, usually a cold unwelcoming line adorned her lips. Staring back defiantly, India responded with icy malice in her voice. Unlike many Slytherins, India kept her arrogance in check, despite having a huge ego buried deep down inside. She preferred being evil than egotistical. Arrogance could be one’s downfall.

“Take offence if you wish, O’Reilly. It doesn’t bother me. I welcome the challenge.” India spoke calmly with threat laced in her voice, ignoring her essay for now. India was certainly not in the mood to take such words. She wasn’t planning on having a major argument with Fiona, but no one treated her like dirt and got away with it. At least, India would not back down from such a confrontation. Who did Fiona think she was, queen of the world? Then again, many Slytherins thought that. India almost smirked to herself. She herself thought that. She just didn’t thrust it into everyone’s faces daily. “And you may sit here if you wish. I have no control over where you choose to sit. Like I said. It doesn’t bother me.” India continued, rolling her eyes to the ceiling coolly. “Just don’t complain if you cannot tolerate your company. I obviously am not good enough for you, not that that really bothers me either.” India tried not to smirk as she leaned back into her chair, forgetting momentarily about that fire burning behind her. Whatever Fiona O’Reilly was, she couldn’t possibly ever be better than India academically. She never failed anything in that matter, India. You could say she was a genius, but that wasn’t the case, and India knew it. It was merely because she studied so much; so much that sometimes she collapsed from exhaustion, so much she neglected anything else in life, like her nutrition. Studying was another way to forget the food, to become thinner. India subconsciously flexed her fingers, eyes wandering down to her next-to-nothing stomach. Nope. She really didn’t need Fiona O’Reilly’s up-your-arse attitude right now. India had better things to think about, to go up against, to do.

“Oh, and O’Reilly,” India added, as she picked up her quill again, fingering it lazily and letting her gaze travel gradually past Fiona’s face, “It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ll offend who I wish to offend. Don’t think your blood will save you.”

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona felt the hot Irish blood boil inside her as she stared at Nightingale. How was it that the littlest of arguments got her so fired up. She could almost feel the red of her original color pulse through the blond strands that now adorned her locks. How much more was there in her to become angry about? How much more could she really take before finding herself face to face in a match to the death? She knew it wasn't far away, especially if things with Pyro didn't go over so well, but she had no time to give that thought...not now, not when she was being insulted by a Slytherin whose blood was by no mean purer than hers. She was an O'Reilly, pureblood that reached back hundreds of years. In fact she was the last of such a clan, unless her father decided to have another child, but she had not seen or spoken with him in months. It was a rare occasion when he'd send her an owl telling her of his journeys and hinting at the plans he was working on. Now that the Dark Lord was gone her father had gone into hiding from the world, not that anyone still believed him to be alive. In fact only two people knew of that, herself and Kennedy. Fiona forced her thoughts to stray away from her father and Kennedy. Her blue/green eyes focused intently on Nightingale.

"You must take me for a fool Nightingale. You may outwardly admit that you do not care where I sit, but your own eyes deceived you. For being a Slytherin you're not very quick on keeping your true thoughts hidden. I guess we can't all be good deceivers. Then again with the name Nightingale what can you expect? And as for you not being good enough, you've got a point. I hate lowering myself to your sort of standards, but it was better to sit with you than someone with no standards at all. But really Nightingale you should try to raise them a little bit, thinking your better than everyone else. I mean academically you should have been put in Ravenclaw, we all know how much you study. How does it feel to know someone like me that hardly ever studies still gets some of the highest marks in the class, while you, someone who studies all the time, just barely beats my marks? Must hurt to know that if I did even an ounce of studying I'd probably blow your marks out of the water. But then again why would I want to do that? I'll still be accepted wherever I choose to go when I graduate from here," Fiona said as she leaned back in her chair with amusement.

"And by the way Nightingale. I'd watch what you say. You should know by now that my reputation paints me as a hothead and one not to be messed with. I suggest you listen to that unless you want to find yourself hurting. And that's not a threat...it's a promise," Fiona said as she folded her arms, her eyes cold and threatening.