Ammunition ((Payton))

[Tristan MacCay]

[Set before school got let out.]

Tristan was walking along the corridors, getting a feel for Hogwarts before he ended up becoming a seventh year. It was strange to think it was his last year at Hogwarts. He had changed quite a bit, and he was still trying to convince himself that it was for the better. Tristan ran his fingers through his blonde hair as he turned the corner that led to the front double doors. He remembered when he had first entered those as a first year, thinking he was the best out there – right up there with Lord Voldemort himself. Then, Voldemort had been killed his fifth year, and Tristan realized that being as big of a hot shot as Voldemort probably wouldn’t do him much good. Actually, it was Ariane who had changed him – but he wouldn't admit that. If anyone got him to admit that, he'd deny it – probably not out right, but in an offhand way.

His Prefect badge gleamed on his chest. He would have to take it off for a whole summer. Thank God. It was like a bloody burden on his shoulders to wear the thing. It meant he had to stop fights, protect the innocent, blah de blah. Tristan had changed, but not that much. He still hated having to do things he didn't enjoy. He wasn't paying much attention to where he was going as he rounded another corner and headed down some stairs. He just knew that it was the familiar route to the Slytherin common room. He didn't expect anyone to be up and about in the corridors, most were in the Great Hall saying goodbye. He should be doing that, too, or at least finding Katya; but he had decided that he would probably see her over the summer hols and he'd sit with Ariane on the train for at least a brief second.

With his head elsewhere, Tristan ran into someone who was coming toward him in the opposite direction. "Bloody hell." Tristan muttered as he steadied himself. He looked down at who had walked into him and shook his head, noticing the Slytherin robes; "You should watch where you're going, you know. Someone bigger than you could trample all over you." Tristan smirked here.

[Payton Laslie]

Payton had been walking from the dungeons thinking about the match against Hufflepuff and how they had lost both the cup and their pride to Gryffindor, it was a terrible blow to Slytherins everwhere and he was sure the Hufflepuffs where laughing about it now when he ran into somone "Hey watch it you filth....oh, a Prefect, and a Slytherin at that" he bowed a little "Well I didn't know it was against the rules to walk around the dungeons, being a Slytherin, your majesty" he said looking him over "Those robes aren't the newest I can see" he chuckled at the state of his robes "Get them from a foster home?" he laughed, waving his blond hair out of his face

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan raised an eyebrow at the younger boy. He didn't do well with rude younger years, mainly because he had been one. He folded his arms over his chest and looked down at the boy, not trying to appear intimidating really, but rather trying to show the kid that he couldn't talk to Tristan that way. Especially when the kid mentioned his robes. He looked down at them and frowned. They weren't worn, or torn; they were in as good a shape as any. He had bought them over the summer, and he hadn't grown anymore. Whatever this kid was talking about it made no sense, however, that didn't mean Tristan was going to let him by; "I'm sorry, are you a bit colour blind? I'm wearing your house's robes. You don't need to verbally attack me. I didn't insult you in any way."

Tristan raised his eyebrows at him slightly, wondering what it was with third years that thought they were better than everyone else. If he could count how many third years he ran into that thought they were better than certain people he'd lose track of the numbers. As a Prefect, Tristan met some snarky students, some egotistical ones, some downright stupid ones, and some smart ones that thought they were better. He always shot them down, though, by making them feel like they were being stupid by even talking. Tristan didn't like witty commentary, he didn't like when people beat around the bush. If they were going to say something, they should just say it - forget pleasantries.

"And besides, what would you know about decent robing? You look like you just stepped out of a muggle thrift store with the cheapest things," Tristan leaned against the wall now, a smug grin on his face, "I would suggest making sure you don't look stupid before you call someone else it."

[Payton Laslie]

Payton gave a harsh laugh at this comment and said "Oh I do? and who did your hair, Professor Trelawny? Because she is the only person I know that can completely warp something beyond repair" He spat at him "Just because your wearing a shiny badge dosen't mean you can go around boasting it off in everyone's faces, you twit" he said "this is a dog eat dog world my friend, and I could help you there" he said extending his hand to the Slytherin, he knew he wouldn't take it seeing that he just insulted him all over the place, then he waited

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan snarled slightly and stood up again, looking at this boy as if he were nothing but a bug; "You listen here, mate, just because you're in your third year doesn't mean you can go around and act like you rule the world. At least I came into my own, and I'm not prancing around as if I'm some Draco Malfoy clone." To make his point, Tristan flicked at the boy's blonde hair, a sneer settling over his face. "Malfoy...what a shame on the pureblooded world...quite like you are, I'm sure." Tristan let his hand dropped and crossed his arms again, not really wanting to deal with this kind of time wasting filth. Really, if he had half of a mind he would turn around and walk off - find someone that won't try to impress the bigger and older seventh year. Because that's all this kid was doing. Trying to impress him. He may think he's better than everyone else, but he said it himself; it's a dog eat dog world. If Tristan really wanted to, he could ruin this kid's entire life at Hogwarts. He had that much power compared to a younger ickle third year.

"Besides," Tristan replied with a steady smirk, "Girls like the hair, and I'm not about to take some style advice from a third year who doesn't know his place in the world." Tristan often thought about how strange it was to look at things from a different perspective. For instance, if this third year was smart enough - he'd think about what appeals to older women, not other third years. His hair, definitely a turn off to older women. Tristan's hair, definitely a turn on. It was simple. Probably too complicated for this daft boy, though, and Tristan wasn't about to hurt his head with complicated thoughts.

He eyed the boy's hand uneasily, but then decided to take it briefly. There was no harm in being at least semi-pleasant, and they were both in the same house. Of course, if Tristan had his way - he would never see this arrogant jerk again and then he'd be fine. Good God, Tristan thought was l this way back in third year? He hoped not. He knew he was arrogant, but he thoguht it was at least a tolerable arrogance - not one that made people want to throw him out the nearest window. Well, Ariane had wanted to do that surely, but look where they were now.

[Payton Laslie]

Payton looked confused at the hair comment "What are you talking about? we have almost the exact same hair you idiot" he said lowering his hand "You know you should be a hufflepuff, HA! you think wemon like Your hair? not quite, at least mine is well dressed he spat at him "Now I can't mingle with you, I have to be somewhere because I have a life unlike you" he said starting to walk away from the scene

[Tristan MacCay]

Tristan shook his head sadly at the younger boy as he 'insulted' Tristan and then walked off. Whatever. Tristan had better things to do anyway. Like packing, or finding Ariane or Katya. He watched the small boy who thought he ruled the world walk off, and chuckled to himself; "He's in for a rude awakening when he hits his sixth year." It was true. Even if Tristan hadn't met Ariane and even if he hadn't started to feel for her, he would have been awoken by the fact that the world didn't revolve around him. It didn't. The world revolved around no one. And the sooner people realized that, the better.

Tristan shoved his hands into his pockets and continued walking to the Slytherin commons, wondering if Katya was in there and if she was, whether or not she would talk to him. She had been avoiding him lately and it had bothered him at first, but he knew why she was avoiding him. She didn't like Ariane, she didn't approve of her, she didn't think she was worth Tristan's attention. Tristan was half tempted to call her out on her jealousy, but if he did that it would result in a fight and as much as Katya got on his last nerve – she was a rather good friend.

She had been through quite a bit. Tristan chuckled again; Katya would have torn that kid to shreds if she had come in contact with him. She was good at doing that. Hell, she tore Tristan to shreds – and that took some doing. Now, Tristan felt a bitter disappointment that she hadn't been with him when he encountered the third year. It would have been worth watching.