Just Don't Kill Us

[Andromeda Zhefarovich]

Skipping the Yule Ball had always been on Andromeda’s list of things to do every year. The fourth year did have plans this time, just not to go to the ball. Andy had a stroll in the darkness of night with a friend of hers. He was a pure-blood too, which only made it so much easier for her to talk to. She even stood near him now, which was a huge accomplishment for the no-touchy Hufflepuff. And, Alistair didn’t seem to judge her for being a Hufflepuff. Andy walked along side of Alistair, with her hands tucked into her pockets of her robes. She still wore the girl’s uniform, but didn’t have the tie on because it isn’t the best thing to wear. It was tight and she felt like it would suffocate her when she put it on too tight. She didn’t mean to. The tie was just not her. She sighed and looked to her friend, “Ali, the forest has a ton of scary stuff in it. Sure it is a home to rabbits and stuff? And that we have to do the divination trick out there?” Andy was a little skeptical, but at least put her trust and faith in a Slytherin. Others might have told her not to, but something about him made her want to be around him. She didn’t know what it was.
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[Alistair Lancaster]

The Yule Ball was just another one of those events that Alistair didn't feel comfortable attending. There were too many people all congregated in one place, and he needed his space and fresh air. It was fortunate for him that he hadn't been the only one averse to the Yule crowd, to at least have the company of one other was better than none at all, even if Andromeda hadn't initially been too keen on his idea to spend the night in the forest instead. With all of the students and staff distracted by the ball, it was the perfect opportunity to, and the young werewolf didn't want to pass up the chance. It was difficult enough trying to get into the forest most nights without being caught.

The boy was dressed in his formal robes, which he'd put on so he wouldn't stand out in his attempt to slip out of the castle. Only, he felt silly now to be walking with Andromeda, who still simply wore her uniform from earlier in the day. Alistair was certainly well overdressed for a walk in a forest, but he was stuck with it for now, even if it meant stopping every so often to untangle himself from a wild tree branch. "There's nothing to be afraid of, it's all rumours. There's no snakes, bears, or wolves in New Zealand, just lots of birds. We're scarier than birds are." He told the girl confidently. If they were in Arizona, there'd be giant Thunderbirds to worry about, or Hippogriffs in Europe, but Alistair couldn't recall any species of dangerous avians here. "It's better that we do the Divination tricks out here. Hogwarts clouds our Third Eyes because there's so much going on, and so much magical energy blocking it. We need the space and open air to do it better." None of this was any actual fact, but so far he'd been unsuccessful with his divining from within the castle, and that was the only rational explanation for it. "If we see any centaurs, we could ask them to help. I was told they're naturally good at Divination. Even better than wizards."
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[Andromeda Zhefarovich]

Andy thought that she was being led on with a lie, but surely not. Andy could hardy believe that Ali would lie to her about the forest. With a pitiful sigh, she nodded, "Okay, I trust you then." Andy walked a little closer to Ali, almost as a shield or equivalent, since she halfway did not believe him. This was the closest she had ever been to someone that wasn't her family, but since their relatives were together, or something, it was like they were family without blood. What he said about divination did make sense though. Hogwarts did have a lot of drama. "As long as we don't use fire. Apparently, one of my relatives got expelled for setting the forest on fire." Andy shrugged, though she didn't remember the whole story. She did nod toward the whole remark about centaurs. She was slowly becoming more open to creatures at least. Especially those with intelligence. It said a lot about her development over the years.
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[Alistair Lancaster]

Once Alistair was sure they were far enough out of sight of the castle, he reached into his robes for his wand, noting with some surprise that Andy had come closer to him. It was a weird friendship to have with someone, who always kept such a distance, and he'd learned not to mind it anymore since realising it wasn't because she didn't want to be around a werewolf. The only reason he wasn't suspicious of her catching on to his condition was the fact she treated everyone else with that same distance. It meant something, a small something, for her now to come a bit closer and breach that invisible barrier they had between them. It showed an amount of trust, even if he still couldn't trust her, or anyone else, with his secret.

"Lumos." Alistair whispered, igniting the tip of his wand so that they could see better in the dark of the forest, and so he'd have an easier time dodging stray branches. "Your relative set the forest on fire? Is that really true? It doesn't look like its been burned down." Al responded with clear skepticism. He didn't doubt that at least one of her many relatives had been expelled, but he didn't believe her story, to that degree. There'd be more burned trees, surely. "Ok, no pyromancy. The smoke could have given us away anyway." He nodded his affirmation. They didn't need to use fire, there were plenty of other ways to divine in the forest. His cousin had practiced pyromancy more often than not, but apparently fire had taken someone in her life, so it was safer to avoid it. Al wasn't about to bring this fact up, as he was pretty sure it was another of Andy's relatives who had died. Perhaps the same one who had been expelled? He didn't know, he had a hard time keeping up.​

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[Andromeda Zhefarovich]

Andy reached into her own robes, grabbing her wand and lighting it up as well, following her friend deeper into the darkness of the forest. "Yeah, well, sorta. He tried to kill some mudblood and hit a tree. So, he set a single tree on fire. From what I was told." She shrugged her shoulders, not really caring for what happened to the kid. After all, her cousin or relative, whatever, was only doing what he should have done anyway. But, he should not have missed at all. "Sounds like a good plan to me, Ali." Practicing divination was not something that Andy was not well-versed in, but she was only doing this to really hang out with Alistair, and to get away from the others from the boring dance. She looked ahead and found a small clearing. Maybe that would be a good area to practice? She pointed ahead of them, "Maybe we should stop there. Just because we won't get caught. Anyway, if pyromancy isn't a good way to start, what method do you have? Tea leaves and tarot cards?" Andy teased, and stuck out her tongue. Her fake courage was working out well for her, for right now.