Mind meld

[Saffron Ironsong]

A few days at Hogwarts and Saffron was still getting used to everything. She liked her classes, so much so that she was excited to nearly bursting about being a part of Astronomy though she thought since the class was at midnight those that took it should have gotten to sleep later in the day. The grounds where beautiful though there was no Great Tree. Then again the Great Tree was replaced by the Great Hall a place that she decided she would be avoiding as much as humanly possible even at meal times like now. It was dinner time had popped in just to collect a bit of whatever was on the table then went up into a place she had yet to set foot in. The North Tower. She had heard of this place as a place where people went to meet when they wanted to talk alone. As Saffron had expected for the time being the place was deserted. Saffron curled up in a corner, took out her Astronomy book and started to read up on the names of the planets while making herself a sandwich out of the turkey and bread that she had reasently kidnapped. This was more like Saffron, alone with her learning though she didn't mind when she bumped into people. Olivia for one had proved to be an interesting person to know even though she didn't consider her a friend yet. Emerald Bones had quite a lot to say and had been useful in proving that names here did not reflect an attribute of the family. Leaving the book to the side so as not to stain it with turkey grease, she wrapped a napkin around the bottom of her sandwich and started to nibble on it.

Her own house was proving to be more intrasident. She got along well enough with her dorm mates even through she hadn't spoken more than two words to three of them. The fourth being Nozomie and Saffron didn't quite know what to make of the girl. Forgetful to a fault and Saffron learned that it was best to keep anything fragile well away from her. Her new cat Repzion had issues to take up with the girl as well seeing as the girl had trodden on the kitten's tail not but the other day. Still she was pleasant enough to be around and once taken off her feet reminded her of her little cousin Cassandra without the flame on temper. She let it go for now knowing that judgement on the girl would pass the more time she lived with her. After all she had a whole year to decide whether or not she liked her room mates.

Her thoughts turned to what she left behind once Ravenwood was deemed no longer safe for students to reside in. She wondered if the danger would ever pass as Saffron would allowed to take her place or if Hogwarts was her new future. She was looking forward to completing seven years here if she were allowed to do so but there wasn't as much competition here. In her old school she had been placed in a house in which not many girls where accepted, proud and forever determined she had stood two weeks of bullying before the school had been closed, before Saffron had had her chance to show everyone that she was more than a match for the boys. Finishing the last crumbs of her sandwich she cleaned her fingers on the napkin and threw the now useless thing away and went back to her Astronomy book seemingly trying to cram the entire text in her head before class started. She hadn't realized that said thrown napkin had landed on someone that had come up the North Tower landing.

 

[Damianos Styx]

Hogwarts New Zealand. That was a school that Damianos Styx never thought that he would receive his education. The young Ravenclaw figured that he would be going to another school like Durmstrang. That would assist with his specialized training more so than this school. However, he did see the reasoning behind him coming here. His father taught here, and had been since before he was born. Damianos knew nothing else. He felt somewhat regrettable that he did not earn his way into the Slytherin house, but his father appeared to be proud regardless. Now, his twin brother, Nicolas, ended up in Gryffindor for some odd reason. He was named after his uncle, Professor Hensel, and he was once a Gryffindor. Perhaps, Nicolas was exactly like the uncle. Nicolas was also the surprise child when Kalif and Nicolette decided to have more kids. There was a pretty large age gap between the girl twins and the boy twins, well, the older girl twins, Alessine and Kailie. Damianos thought about asking why, but truth be told, he did not really care. He was chosen as the next Head of the Zhefarovich Family once his uncle came to power. That was all he cared about. Well, that and reading. That would explain why he was walking up the steps into the towers. The library was a tad bit loud for him, so he sought an area where none would disturb him. So, he prayed that no one would venture up here for some unknown reason. He really wanted to be alone.

Somehow, during all of that thought of being alone, Damianos pulled out a book he snaked from Ivaylo a few days ago, one over the Death Eaters and such. Some of his relatives were bound to be mentioned there, so he would love to read more about them if it were possible. As soon as he opened the page, a napkin landed on the book, and he looked up to the source. Of course, there had to be someone up here, and someone who did not know where a trashcan was. "Excuse you," Damianos' cold voice cut through the air like a dagger yet the tone carried meant no harm, "perhaps your parents did not teach you any manners, but at least try to aim for a trashcan when you throw away used items." Not a single emotion flickered across his stone cold features. Seeing Professor Styx and then looking at Damianos, there would be no question asked. This was his son, in every aspect. The only difference was the fact that Damianos was sorted into Ravenclaw. The colors on his tie and his robe signal that perfectly. He aimed to rival his father's accomplishments while he was in school. Perhaps he would earn straight Outstandings too, and join the dueling club once he had more spells under his belt. His father was one amazing duelist, and he could duel with two wands. Damianos would receive that pleasure in just a matter of years. The Ravenclaw was fairly patient, but his intentions in the school were nothing short of a mystery.​

 

[Saffron Ironsong]

Her strange yellow eyes shifted to where she had heard the voice and saw that her napkin had landed in his book. "Sorry. Usually my aim is not quite so off." She said while she nodded her head pointedly next to him. Her voice was flat and emotionless as his expression. Her own face was impassive as she looked the boy over. She had seen him at sorting but no where else. She assumed because of his tie and robe that he was a Revenclaw. From there she realized that she hadn't class with the Ravenclaws yet but that would be fixed today if she remembered the schedule that she had been given correctly. She was wearing the robe and tie of the Slytherin house partly because she would be going up to Astronomy when the time came and partly because she had no other clothes here aside from her skull cloak which was always with her for the time being.

"Thought everyone was at dinner also." She thought to explain before shifting her legs so that the book she had was closer to her. She was about to return to her reading when she noticed that he also had a book with him. "What's that about?" She asked. She hadn't seen that one in the library but with the sheer size of the library she could not boast to having all the books properly categorized in her head. She never stopped to think when it came books either. If it held information she wanted to know it. She made no move to get closer though she had the good sense to read from his lack of expression that an action like that would not be welcome.

 

[Damianos Styx]

The first thing that Damianos noticed about the girl was her eyes. Yellow. Similar to his, but his were gold that looked intense, depending on what emotion he was showing, which was usually none. Damianos doubted that the girl would be one of the few that did not get on his nerves, but it was hard to tell by this point. She did apologize, and normally her aim was not quite so off. He bit back a sarcastic remark, so he remained as silent as the stone cold statue he appeared to be. She was a Slytherin as well. He could tell by her robes. Her Head of House was his father. He felt somewhat sorry for her. However, either way, he did not want to endure the punishments his father could deck out. It was somewhat obvious that he was not at the dinner in the great hall either. A bunch of people made his appetite decrease instead.

It seemed as though she would not stop talking, either. He looked down at the book that he was holding, and she asked what it was about. Damianos cocked his head slightly to the side, wondering if she was expecting an answer from him or not. She did ask, but that did not entitle him to have to supply her with an answer. Instead, he thought over the responses he could give her before he said simply, "Death Eaters, before their extinction." That was the best that Damianos would supply her with. He had more important affairs to attend to, such as reading this book. If she stuck around, that would be great, but any sort of conversation may be one-sided unless he saw her as someone worthy of talking to. That was a tricky call in and of itself.​

 

[Saffron Ironsong]

Saffron took very little notice of the strict rule of the head of house because her father was nearly the same. He had the highest expectations of all his children and he was exceptionally hard on her for being the youngest and the only girl. She had only just realized that seeing as he more often than not called all her efforts cute. She saw the same sort of emotionless state that only years of a certain upbringing could bring about in a person though she very much doubted that he came from the same place she did. Saffron would have at least heard of him before school if he had. She tucked her head into her book and started to read again only half paying attention now that he didn't seem to have anything interesting to say or rather want to say. He reminded her a lot of the boys in her former school only less haughty.

Saffron heard what the book was about and immediately took out a quill and parchment. "Death Eaters. Interesting enough subject to look up. I just hope my father will agree to send me the books. I doubt I will be able to find anything in the school library about them aside from minor historical foot notes." She commented while starting at on the letter which would explain what wanted and why she wanted it. The Death Eaters had never spread to her little corner of the world she knew next to nothing about them. She had heard of the name though and had wondered just what the organisation had been about. She knew more about the new ones but they didn't capture her attention the way the old Death Eaters did. She put the feather end of her quill between her lips in thought. Writing to her father was harder than any essay she had come across so far.

 

[Damianos Styx]

The golden eyed boy did not expect the girl to stick around like she was. She even pulled out a quill and a sheet of parchment. Surely, she was not about to take notes over what he was saying, which was very little as is. Damianos looked down at the book before mentally agreeing that they would not find anything worthwhile in the library. Some of his family might be mentioned in the books. After all, he was from a prominent pure-blood family that believed in the extinction of anything less than pure-blood. "Indeed, the library's alignment is obvious. They will only let us hear one side of the story." He was obviously more interested in hearing the side that he more than likely aligned with, but that was because of his very strict and private upbringing. Damianos' experience now was a rare one, one that he did not know how to do; associate with those not in his family.

Yet, there was still the discomfort that he was feeling right now, with this girl in front of him. Surely, she did not expect them to become friends or anything equivalent. He had other matters to worry about, such as reading all he could. Damianos shifted uncomfortably before his cold expression lingered on another object in the room, the window. He did not think that the girl had anywhere else to be and that was why she was still here. "Do you have somewhere else you need to be besides here?" Damianos walked by her to gaze out the window, to look at the other beings below as he opened his book once more. He had much he needed to learn, and he did not want to be interrupted. "As interesting as the Death Eaters are, I'm afraid I don't know as much about them as I want to, so the conversation isn't going anywhere." Bluntly honest, Damianos turned his cold eyes toward the girl once more. He did not even know her name, and it seemed like he was dismissing her completely.​

 

[Saffron Ironsong]

Saffron kept writing, taking little notice in the nervous shifting of the young Ravenclaw next to her. It was funny to encounter someone less comfortable with social situations than she was though at the moment she wasn't even cracking a smile. She had shifted through the library books on more than one occasion and found that he was right. For it numerous books they all reflected the opinions on one side of the coin and not the other leaving those that are curious to learn from not so reliable resources. "A pity really. This is meant to be a controlled environment so where better to let us explore all sides. How are we supposed to learn what to avoid when there are questions that are being refused to be answered." She said more in musing than in conversation. She was not totally here at the moment, more focused on the letter in front of her than in anything anyone had to say. There was knowledge at stake after all.

More nervous shifting and Saffron started to lose focus. "It's perfectly alright to sit down and read. I'm rather absorbed in writing home at the moment. If I make even one weak argument my father will refuse me and there will be little point in asking for the books again. And no I have nowhere else to be at the moment." She said the smallest note of irritation lining her flat drone. She put her quill in the ink pot next to her and drew it carefully trying to become focused on the task at hand again. She noted by his tone that the boy was trying draw the conversation to a close "The name is Saffron Ironsong then. And it was a pleasure talking with you however short the conversation was." She said. For anyone else the statement may have sounded sarcastic and rude, for Saffron, her tone or lack there of made the statement almost nice.

 

[Damianos Styx]

The girl continued to talk, and it was giving the Ravenclaw a headache. No wonder his mom and dad fought all of the time. But they loved each other. Damianos didn't like this girl, nor did he dislike her. He did not care for the girl. Whatever the girl wanted to talk about, it was all one sided. All he wanted to do was to read. He did not need anyone or anything. She seemed like she was not all there either. Was there something up with her? He decided that she was just some other whack job that wanted to appear smart or something equivalent. He could not decide on something but the first impression did not go well. Damianos chose not to respond to that bit since he knew that she was not talking to him. She would have more of a chance with someone that was not trained like he was to deal with people. He was unable to as of the moment. Being thrown into this world was a cold slap to the face.

Damianos sat down on the window sill and he started to read some, since he was no longer really listening to the other girl. The change of emotion did not go by noticed by the Ravenclaw. The son of the Slytherin Head of House had a book to read an that was all he needed, and he wanted this room alone. It seemed like he was going to get what he wished. She said her name, so Damianos replied as he absorbed information, "Damianos Styx." He said nothing on how he thought how the conversation went. If she were to leave, that would be her decision. He just wanted to keep reading about the Death Eaters. Perhaps another time, he might be more approachable. Right now, it did not seem very likely. Damianos was definitely his father's son when it came down to socializing.​

Out of Character:

Damianos wasn't nervous. He was uncomfortable.

 

[Saffron Ironsong]

"Your father must be a very great and powerful wizard to have the honer of teaching a subject as important as Defense Against the Dark Arts as well as be chosen as the Head of House for Slytherin." She commented then went back to her writing. It had finally clicked in her head. For someone who had a history if this school or his family it might not have been that impressive but Saffron was completely new to this world. Not magic. Her family had been magic for ages. The world outside her home was what she was new to and was learning how to interact with other every day. It was different and strange but she was coping. The structure of his face told her what she had needed to know as well as his sir name. His demeanor was also another clue, emotionless and cold, at least on the outside. It was interesting for her to meet the child of one of her professors in her same year.

For the next few minutes only the scratching of a quill and the turning of pages could be heard inside the tower room. Saffron was grateful that no one else had decided to join them or her train of through would have been entirely lost. She finally finished the letter feeling that she had made a strong enough case for why she needed the books of Death Eaters when it was nether part of her lessons here or part of the extra lessons that she was sent in from her father. Silently she put everything away then got up, She took a book out of the secondary compartment in her bookbag and placed it on window still next to Damianos. The book was bound in black leather and stamped in fading gold with the title 'Bewitching Death By Asmodaus Drake' under it was a note saying simply Thanks. Without a word Saffron left the strange golden eyed boy to find Isabelle and see if she would do her the favor of sending the letter for her. The less contact she had to have with owls the better off she would be.

 

[Damianos Styx]

Damianos barely looked up when Saffron mentioned his father must be a great and powerful wizard to teach a subject and to be chosen for Head of House. She truly had no idea how great of a wizard that Professor Styx was. No one in here knew of his dad as much as he did. Damianos was molded to become like him in several different ways. And, best of all, he did not have the traditional Halloween birthday, which meant that he would never be Patriarch. Head would suit him just fine. Damianos said nothing, as he implied that he agreed. His father had been here since before he was born. It is only natural that he earned such a title. A welcoming silence finally held through as he could read, then only to be interrupted by footsteps coming closer. Damianos failed to look up, but he heard someone putting down an object. Once he was finally alone, he looked down, and there was a book there. Bewitching Death. Now, that was impossible. He took the book into his hand and set it next to him. And a note. What was she thanking him for? Without dwelling his mind on too many matters, he continued his reading, in peace. This was what he craved.​

---

Fin​