It Begins ((Aline))

[Wynd Lehane]

A sudden thought struck Wynd as he listened to Professor Trelawney droll on and on about the many ways her great Eye had helped this castle in the past. Class was basically over and the students knew it. They were restless as the heat of the late spring sun heated the tower. Heat rises they say. If you were in the tower you knew it to be true. The classroom felt like an oven and Professor refused to open a window for fear of losing the serenity of the space. More like she didn't want the smell of cooking sherry to change. It was the end of his sixth year and plans were moving more slowly than he would have liked. They only had one more year at Hogwarts to start their plan. They had to be careful for you could never be sure who had treacherous mouths.

Still, if he was too careful no one would ever know and that would be as bad as if someone did discover their true intentions. As soon as the bell rang he was out the door. He had no desire to mingle with older students. He needed to talk to some new people. The common room or the Great Hall? Choosing the Great Hall was the easy decision. One of the most private places for a conversation was in a public place. The hard decision was who to talk to. Wynd was unfamiliar with many of the younger students unless they were on the team. Kelvin or Adalia. Wynd didn't know much about either one but hopefully he would get to know more about their hopes and dreams today. He nodded at his sister as she continued to the Slytherin Common Room and he took a sharp turn to the Great Hall.

It was too early for dinner yet classes were done for the day so maybe he would find them there getting an afternoon snack. To his disappointment, in the Hall he saw neither Adalia nor Kelvin. With a sigh he searched the Slytherin table for a face that he did recognise. Blue eyes stopped on the form of a young girl. Neurons fired in his brain as he tried to recall where he had seen her before. She was in the Student Lounge late one night when he was on patrol. That reminded him he had patrol tonight. But somewhere else as well. She come to the Halloween party. Dressed as a.... as a... it didn't really matter. A.. Ali... Alicia? No. It would come to him. He approached the other side of the table from where she was sitting. "Hello," he forced a smile. "Do you mind if I sit here?" he said indicating the seat before him.

[Aline Le' Fountenelle S4]

Aline was trying to decide what the heck she was going to eat. She was feeling ill, but she thought if she ate something she would feel better. She felt all sweaty and needed something cold.

Fumbling around for the ice water, she heard someone approach her.

"Hello... Do you mind if I sit here?"

Wynd Lehane. There's someone she didn't see everyday.

"You don't have to ask," she said in a hoarse voice.

Hmmm. What had her Grandmother said about proper dinner conversation? Think, think! she told herself. Nothing. At all.

"Well, screw that..." she said under her breath.

She kept to herself, hoping that she would find a way to break the silence.

She was starting to feel dizzy and sick to her stomach.

What did I do to deserve this? she thought to herself. Thinking back on her day, she drew a blank. She couldn't think straight. She rubbed her head and felt the perspiration stick to her fingers.

"Man... I don't feel so good...." Aline said unconsciously.

[Wynd Lehane]

Eyebrows furrowed as the hoarse voice reached his ears. Although it wasn't a mean thing to say, the way she said it was less than inviting. Wynd took a beat and looked around before sitting down. He reached for a glass and filled it with pumpkin juice from a nearby pitcher. He did not have any thirst to quench but Wynd just wanted to do something with his hands. He was unsure how to broach the subject. Wynd knew nothing of this girl. The only thing going for her in his mind was that she was from Slytherin. If the Sorting Hat put her in that house she must have some sort of pride. She said something that he could not quite make out but instead of pursuing it, he let it slide. No good would come of making her feel uncomfortable within the first few seconds of the conversation. She looked pale and little uncomfortable. Maybe the very presence of this older boy had put her into shock.

"I'm so bad with names," he began with the charm. "I have forgotten yours. It began with an 'A' as I recall." She didn't seem to have heard what he said or maybe she didn't care for what she said next had no relation to his question. "I beg your pardon? What's the matter? You look a little pale. Are you feeling all right?" Maybe if he was nice to her she would become enamored and it would be easier to persuade her to join the cause. He took a sip from his glass, blue eyes watching her over the rim of the cup. Setting it back down he tried again, "Is there anything I can do?"

[Aline Le' Fountenelle S4]

"Is there anything I can do?" Wynd asked.

Aline thought on that as she felt really hot and dizzy. She wondered if he was truly concerned or not. He seemed to be, but looks can be all too deceiving. Should she ask for help? Hmmm. A tough decision. She wondered where the infirmary was. Or even her dorm room. She thought to herself about why Wynd was there in the first place. Surely he should have friends in here, right? So what did he want? She was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Um, I think I should go..." Aline rose, a little wobbly. Those few steps seemed really tiring as her heart rate increased.

She sat back down until she could find the will to stand up again.

She took a drink of pumpkin juice before she rose.

"I am sorry for leaving so soon. It was nice talking to you... I think."

She stood and left, but sat down right outside the door. She was getting too tired too easily.

She went back inside and finally said something to Wynd.

"Could you direct me to the nearest doors t outside?"

[Wynd Lehane]

Insulted. That would be the best word to describe how he felt. Insulted. A Lehane had just asked if he could help someone and they refused. Not only that, but she started to leave. Wynd felt himself gripping his wand under the table as he watched her stand up and quickly sit back down. He supposed a real gentlemen would run to her side and help her back up but he had already asked if he could help and she denied it. Deny the help of a Lehane? Wynd was quite good at silent spells now, he could curse her from underneath the table and no one would ever know that it was him. Keep it together, he told himself. Slytherin was so close to winning the house cup. He didn't need to ruin their chances by being irrational.

Blue eyes watched her as she rose to her feet again and slowly made her way out of the Great Hall. He took another sip from his cup and thought to himself what a waste of time this had been. She had no idea the opportunity that he was going to present her with and she had just walked out the door. Wynd swung his legs to the other side of the bench and was about to get up when he saw her coming back into the Great Hall. Had it been a ploy? Was she really sick or was she just fine and didn't want to talk to him so she had feigned sickness? Whatever the case may be she was back and headed toward him. He leaned back and waited for her to come to him. He had to take a deep breath when she asked him her question. He weighed the options in his mind. Should he be nice to her and maybe sway her back to his side or should be reject her like she had rejected him?

Sighing, he reached out his arm so that she could balance with it. "This way," he told her shortly. He lead her quickly probably too quickly for her but he was losing his patience. Exiting the Great Hall he took a sharp turn and pushing the next set of doors they were outside. It was a pleasant day outside. The sun was hidden by clouds but it was still warm. He looked at the younger girl expectantly as if she was going to thank him or ask him to do something else. "Better?" he asked flatly.

[Aline Le' Fountenelle S4]

He looked upset. He might not know it, but he was horrible at keeping a straight face. He must've noticed how much of a balancing act walking had become. He offered an arm, probably expecting her to take it graciously. That's not really her thing.Should she accept the arm? Of course. Don't want to make him anymore upset. Who knows what could happen?

The walk down the halls went by fast. Well, it didn't go by fast, it was fast. Better not trust him with a car, she thought.

"Better?" he asked, more out of manners than desire.

"Um, yes. I am sorry." Aline sat down on the pavement, feeling a lot better. Why do people always talk to her at the weirdest moments in time? Nobody ever seems to see her at her best. But then again, she's never at the best.... Oh well.

I should say something more, she told herself.

"Um, did I upset you? Are you mad at me?" Aline asked worriedly.

[Wynd Lehane]

The colour in her face slowly returned when he had brought her outside and she sat down on the ground. "Don't worry about it," Wynd answered rather unconsciously. It was more something he should be saying rather than something he would be saying in character. Some how or other, this girl had gained control over the situation and was dragging him along for the ride. Not anymore. He was going to take leadership of the conversation once again. This was supposed to all about him and some how it was all about her. No longer.

He took a deep breath before answering. It would be pointless to loose his cool with this girl. He could only make one first impression. Not that she would ever join the other side as she was a Slytherin but not all Slytherins were made the same. His mind flashed to his two roommates, Valmer and Jack. Valmer, who dated his sister (strike one), tried to get her to chose another destiny. Strike two. Then tried to talk Wynd out of it. Strike three. Jack, a boy from a well respected family, dated a Gryffindor. A Gryffindor. Enough said. No one could really believe that. Although, Julian Fallon had married Cassandra. No one really knew why.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong," he stated. "Now that you are in the fresh air, let me start over. My name is Wynd Lehane, if you didn't know. I believe we've met but I'm so terrible with names. You are...?"

[Aline Le' Fountenelle S4]

"No, you didn't do anything wrong," he stated. "Now that you are in the fresh air, let me start over. My name is Wynd Lehane, if you didn't know. I believe we've met but I'm so terrible with names. You are...?"

Good, starting over. Her Grandmother had always said that you never get a second chance at a first impression. This is where Aline would prove her wrong.

"I am Aline Le' Fountenelle. Luckily, I still remembered your name, so there was no need to reintroduce yourself."

Hmmmm.... Now, by starting over, how far back were they going to rewind and erase? Starting over was a vast subject that took a lot of planning in order to set things straight.

Aline was still recovering from the fact that he said he wasn't upset. Honestly, Wynd, I am not blind. You are a natural born Slytherin. Therefore, a natural born liar, Aline thought to herself.

"And so the silence begins again," Aline said. "Awkward Starfish" she added underneath her breath.

[Wynd Lehane]

The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile. He was right. It did start with an A. He was not surprised that she remembered him. He was a prefect, Chaser on the team, and one of the announcers for the games. It was hard not to know who Wynd Lehane was. Which was perfect. Ruby and he wanted their names to become common vernacular within the school. With popularity comes respect. Soon everyone would respect the Lehane name. Their mother would not be an aspect of shame but she would be legendary for what she did.

"I was never good at small talk," he told her as he glanced out over the lake. "I have no interest in talking about the weather, the Quidditch standings, or House Points. No," he then sat down beside her facing her. "What I want to know is more important than that. It deals with the fate of the world. I know its fate. The question is," his blue eyes looked deep into hers, "do you? Tell me Aline, what do you want to do with your life?"

[Aline Le' Fountenelle S4]

He was right. Talking about weather, well, it's been nice for a long time. Quidditch standings, well, quite frankly, Aline never really understood it well. And house points, it was obvious that they hadn't been doing too well. What else would you expect from Slytherin?

"Tell me Aline, what do you want to do with your life?" Wynd asked.

Aline thought it was an odd question, but she took the time to think about it anyways.

"Well, I... I really don't know. I guess I want to become a singer, or legendary. But that's pretty stupid of me to think, isn't it? Becoming legendary is kinda difficult. You have to think of something great to do, right? Well, with this head of mine, you can practically hear the rocks rolling around every time I turn my eyes upon something else. As for the fate of the world, I don't know it, and I prefer not to. If I knew the world was going to end in the next two days, well, I'd probably ruin everything I do because I'd be too busy worrying about it. But then again, if I did know, I guess that gives me the chance to fix it, therefore becoming legendary..."

Aline stopped talking.

"I think I just confused myself. Never mind. Um, so apparently you know the fate of the world. But what are you going to do with yourself until then?" Aline asked.

She still thought about it.

[Wynd Lehane]

Muscles in his face tensed but did not move from a smile as he listened to Aline droll on and on. His question obviously took her off guard as he meant it to do. Wynd had often found that people were better liars when prepared versus surprised. This was not the time for lies. This was the time for truth. Wynd wanted the truth from this girl. Unfortunately for her, if she wanted the truth from him she was not going to get it. He would have to tell her something but not all of it. If he expected her to be truthful than he would be truthful as well. Not the whole truth. Just the story that she would need to know. Information was not free. She would have to prove herself to the Cause if she wanted to know more.

"A singer? That's interesting, but not quite what I meant. What is a better way to phrase it? What would you like to get out of life? Do you want to be a singer who has to stay in the shadows for the rest of your life or do you want to be a singer who can perform in front of the entire world regardless of their magical ability? What a glorious sight that would be..." His smile slowly turned into an evil smirk. He turned his attention back to the lake. A brisk wind hit the two of them blowing their hair with it. "Tell me something. What do you think of a mudblood teaching Transfiguration?"

[Aline Le' Fountenelle S4]

"Tell me something. What do you think of a mudblood teaching Transfiguration?"

Aline thought about that. Usually, she would have thought that there was nothing wring with that, but she had never actually thought deep into the subject.

"A mudblood teaching Transfiguration... Well, because they're not a pure blood, they probably wouldn't understand the power to its full extent. Otherwise, they would know what they needed to know in order to teach the class. Why else would they be teaching it?"Aline said.

"Now about what you said before... I would want to be a singer who performs for the world. What else would I do? If I had chose the latter, it would be good talent gone to waste. Regardless, though, I would still want to be a singer who's music and voice would be life-changing. I would hope, someone who could help her listeners take a turn on a better path than the one they tread."