Square One

[Robert Kain]

Robert came out of the owlery after sending a message back to his brother. He and Robert's future sister-in-law were gettingg marrid soon, and he had replied he was attending. Rhianne was also invited, but after recent events he chose not to mention it to her, there would be no point.

Walking back down the corridor, intending to go to the great hall, he turned a corner and jumped. It was just a miracle he didn't scream. "Sorry" There was a girl straight in front of him. He'd been out of it and she'd made him jump. He gave her a small smile before heading round her.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

Overjoyed at the photograph she had just received of her beloved dragon Kino, Shalamar had gone in search of Artemis to show her. The photo had been taken the day they had arrived in Mongolia to the dragons reserve but her grandmother had only recently had them developed. He looked so small in it that Shalamar could only small as if she were doting on a tiny baby. Indeed that was exactly how she had been behaving to him all vacation long much to the exasperation of the other dragon keepers, the more experienced dragon keepers who had wanted her to be firm and strong with him from the start.

But something inside her simply knew that this was not how she was supposed to be with Kino, he was after all hers by choice by fate and not because it was a job she had chosen to do as her career. Her mind was so preoccupied with the photo that she did not see the boy at first coming around the corner and he did not see her until he was practically upon her. She smiled at him apologetically, her features brightening as she did so. Shalamar walked and held herself with great poise, elegant and gentile she always looked though she was as tough as anyone else she knew. People simply didn't think it possible for her to be anything other than gentle because of how she looked. Clad now in her Ravenclaw uniform she recognized the boys face from some of their classes though she had never spoken to him.

"There is nothing to apologize for, you did nothing wrong" her smile did not falter once as she observed him.

Spoiler: photo of baby dragon

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert paused before going on, studying the girl without saying anything. Where did he recognise her from? "You're a fourth year arn't you?" he asked her, now coming to the sence he knew her from classes. They was she spoke made her seem small, yet strong in her mind if not physically. "I'm..Robert" he introduced, still not sure about her. He wasn't too keen on the whole shakey-hands thing, it was too formal, but he reflected the smile she gave him.


(*Squeals* naw Btw, sorry it's short don't know what else to write )

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

The longer she smiled, the more she felt the boy stared at her until her smile faltered and she began to wonder if she had something on her face. His scrutiny of her felt nerving. Until eventually she put a hand up to her face to make sure she had nothing there. A slight crease on her brow as she checked.

"Yes I'm a fourth year, like you" she told him once she was absolutely certain there was no gunk of any kind masking her cheeks, chin or temples, "Robert!" the exclamation was exulted with a bright smile, she had contemplated the names of the Gryffindors in her year and that had been the last one she could remember.
"I am Shalamar. I did not mean to scare you, I don't think I've ever scared anyone before actually" she thought about it for a moment and knew that she did not have the countenance to truly frighten anyone, so it was definitely the way the two had stumbled upon one another.
"Did you have a nice vacation?" she felt strange speaking to him, not having done so before now but Artemis would be very proud of her for the effort she was making.

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert found Shalamar rather strange. In a good way of course. He nodded and smiled to her. "Yes. I suppose it was alright. Although, i stayed in the castle this time. With my.." he paused, what were they now? "Ex-girlfriend." he finished. It was strange saying that after so many years.
Robert gave her a small grin when she began to act as though she had something on her. "Are you okay?" he asked kindly. "Oh, and don't worry. You, don't scare me. You just seem to be different from most people i meet." he said.
"What about you? How was your..vacation?" he asked her back politely.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

Shalamar moved slightly to the side glancing up and down the corridor as a few students passed by them, she gave the smallest of smiles and a gentle tilt of her head before turning back to Robert once more.
"You stayed all winter vacation long here at the school?" she pondered a moment on the last word that had seemed as if he had to drag it from him, "I am sorry for that, it is a big school though so I am sure there were plenty of places in which to stay away from one another."
She knew herself that if it wasn't for classes she would never see Henric, knowing now the places to avoid whenever possible. As much as she had loved her dungeon walks, she did not go anywhere near there any more. A smile beamed from her adorable face as she shook her head.
"I thought you were staring at me because there was something on my face. People don't usually stare so hard at me" with a slight wave of one of her hands she indicated which way she had been going which was most likely in the opposite direction to him, "would you like to walk?"
she amazed herself that she had even asked him, a step up for sure.

"My vacation was .. exhilarating" she handed him the photograph of her dragon moving closer to him as she peered at it again herself, "this is Kino, he is a Chinese Fire dragon and he is mine to train. My vacation was spent in Mongolia at the large dragon reserve learning how to be a dragon keeper. He does not breath fire yet another two months at least."As her face turned to look at him then, not minding how close they stood near one another she looked at him quizzically once more.
"Is different good? You said I was different to most people you meet, sometimes different is not a good thing" Shalamar felt suddenly as if she were on tender hooks awaiting his answer.

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert smiled, "Yes, there were places we could have gone. But we are in the same house, and at the time, well, at the time we wanted to be in the same place" he explained. He was going to move onto another topic hastily, and was glad when she changed the subject. "Oh sorry" he smiled again. He hadn't expected her to think that. "Of course" he replied, begining to walk down the corridor.

He took the photo carefully. By the sounds of it dragons meant alot to Shalamar. He looked at the photo and realized he didn't know anything about dragons. But why should h? He'd only known he was a wizard nearly four years ago. "He's tiny" he commented, before cursing himself in his head for pointing out the obvious.

"Different good yes." he gestured to the photo. "Like this for instance. How many people do you know who get to train baby dragons" he smiled to her. She had a very pretty face. "You're unique, not to mention interesting" he added, turning back to the photo before handing it back to her.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

Shalamar was anything if not sharp and she noticed the boys reluctance to discuss his ex-girlfriend. She could not empathise with him at all there as she had never dated anyone but she could empathise with the feelings involved, for she had quite hopelessly been attracted to the same boy since her first year if she were to be honest. From the first moment she had seen him on the express train if she were to be more truthful. She swallowed a sigh, angry with herself for allowing her thoughts to stray to him so easily.

Watching his expression as he took the photograph, her mind inevitably began to make distinctions between Robert and Henric. It was madness but it seemed impossible to stop. At Roberts comment she wanted nothing more than to snatch the photograph back, she was extremely protective of her Kino.
"He was two days old in that picture. He is much bigger now about the size of an average dog. In another three months he'll be the size of a pony. Kino is constantly growing, he won't be able to start breathing fire until he is six months old though. Then I'll have to be very careful when I'm training him" her arms wrapped about her waist as they continued to walk. The sunlight streamed in through the few windows they passed and she felt almost guilty for being inside of one of the few nice days that they had so far.

Shalamar blushed crimson at his words.
"Thank you" her voice was barely a whisper, as the old familiar shyness stole over her. She had been told she was alot of things but unique had never been one of them.
"Dragon keepers run in my family, every second generation one is born" she told him very matter of factly, "What are you interested in Robert?" graciously she unwrapped her hands and took the photo back from him with a smile. Looking at it once more before putting it into the front pocket of her blouse.

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert listened to all Shalamar had to say about the dragon, about training him and being carful. "You're welcome" he added to her, before thinking about what he really did like. "Well. I.." he paused, "Ive only known about the wizarding world for just over four years now. I'm muggle-born. My family is huge, as i have 5 siblings, and currently i'm the only magical one." he said, they didn't get know about his younger twin sisters and younger brother.

"I guess i just like finding out new things. Like exploring, or making new tricks.." he said, wondering what Shalamar would think of that. He remembered some of the things he'd done when he'd first been sorted, how he and Hoshi once sat in a corridor throwing bitting bugs at passers by. "I guess i like flying too." he admitted. No one he'd talked to had actually asked what he liked to do..until now. Larissa had, he thought just used him, and Rhianne, well he never had chances to speak to her anymore.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

She was beginning to relax more in his company as they walked along together. He was easy to talk too, there was nothing malicious about him and though he had complimented her, he was not overtly flirting which helped ease her tension somewhat. Robert mentioned he was from a large family and she chuckled lightly.
"I am too" she told him, "I have four brothers older than me and two brothers and a sister younger. Daniel and Isamu are twins they'll be graduating this year, Maggie and Chiaki are also twins but they are only eight years old. They are all being home schooled but my eldest brothers work within the family business now."

She hoped she was not boring him with details and grimaced slightly as she glanced at him.
"I am speaking too much now aren't I?" grateful that he told her what he liked she could not help but smile at him. Shalamar was not used to attempting anything new really, though this year had so far given her plenty of new things to occupy her time.
"New tricks? what type of tricks?" she refrained from telling him that she suffered from vertigo that if it had not been for Henric Lee's help she would never have survived flying at all.

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert listened to what she had to say, nodding the in right places. "That's the first time ive heard someone with a bigger family than me" He smiled, "Do you ever get irritated with your siblings?" he asked her. He smiled when she said she was talking too much. "No, no i like to find out the grounds works of a friend. Makes it easier to talk to them later on right?" he answered.

"What do your parents do?" he asked, wondering if they had jobs to do with dragons too, or wether they were more the family sort, looking after so many children.

"My older brothers getting married next month." A thought came to him. He had been going to take Rhianne but things had changed since then, "Do you want to come with me?" he found himself asking. He'd shocked himself, although dispite only knowing this girl for a few minutes, he thought if they would be able to become friends.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

As big as her family was and as annoying as they sometimes could be, Shalamar would never disparage them publically it simply wasn't how she was raised. She was loyal to them no matter what, they weren't truly that annoying anyhow. Her older brothers tended to be extremely protective of her but since she became the next dragon keeper, they had discovered a new found respect as well.
"They are as any brothers are I suppose. My sister does not wish to attend school either but would rather stay at home and enjoy being homeschooled" she told him as they walked on. Shouts from outside drew her attention and she moved with an almost regal air about her to the large bay window and looked out over the lawn below. There were some students playing some type of muggle game and having fun doing so. She smiled before turning to look at Robert once more.

"My family own a silk business. There are chains all over the world. My father is the chairperson I suppose but my mother stays at home. My grandmother lives with us from time to time, she is like me or I am like her. A dragon keeper." she felt seriously like she talked too much when she was with this boy, something she really never did much of at all. Always happy to be the one to listen to others. As he told her about his brother getting married she smiled, weddings were really beautiful providing they were not her own. She had been bethrode just the year before and it was only the fact that she was now a dragon keeper that had been able to get her out of it. His next words shocked her and she turned to face him completely, the look of surprise was surely etched all over her face though she did her best to hide it. She didn't know him but she knew she liked being around him, he was easy and comfortable and for some mad reason she talked extensively around him. Smiling she nodded her head.
"I would like too, as sudden as it is" she grinned broadly at him, "I would like too very much. Who does he marry?"

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert grew more and more curious when he heard her family owned a silk business. Shalamar had a very interesting family. He was pleased when she accepted his offer to attending the wedding. "He is marrying a girl called Leah. Leah Nevada. Both of them are 18. However my brother is a muggle, and she knows that. Leah is a seventh year prefect at Beauxbatons school." he explained. "My brother Alex knows about her magical ability, as he does mine too." he added. He wanted to tell her more about Leah. Her story was also interesting. "She has a sister. Her parents couldn't take care of her. he is currently trying to find out who her sister is. All she knows is that she hasn't seen her before." he said, remembering the story she'd told his family. "She's nice. You would like her" he smiled. "So, what to do you like to do? Apart from training dragons" he grinned. They were coming up to a door. He opened it and held it for her to walk through.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

Shalamar turned to look out the window once more but smiled as Robert began to speak but soon they were walking onwards again. She had been at this school a long time but had never actually met someone who was a muggle born before. She had of course known that they existed and that there were plenty out there but this was a first for her. She could not help but look at him as if seeing him now for the first time. Knowing it would be rude for her to reach out and just touch him, she restrained herself but only just. As they came to a door he held it open for her and this rare show of chivalry made her pause for a moment before walking past him to the other side. They were now on the tower steps, a long laborious walk downwards and somewhat narrow as well. It took two peoples width no problem but three and it was a bit of a squeeze.

She liked that he thought she would get on with this girl Leah and found herself very interested in what had happened to her sister. What did she like to do? Thinking about it for a moment she honestly wasn't sure.
"I like being with my friends, studying?" she grimaced knowing he would probably think she was a right swot or goody two shoes, "I like many things. What about you?"

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert gave a small laugh when he heard she liked to study. "What house are you in? Ravenclaw?" he asked. He couldn't really see her in any other house. He looked straight at her and smiled. Walking down the stairs he continued, "Well, i spend most of my time outdoors. Esppecially in the summer." he said, remembering his previous years here. "In winter, i go out for the snow ball fights" he grinned. He ran a hand through his blonde hair. "So who are you're friends? Do i know anyone of them?" he asked her curiously.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

Her foot faltered on a step as he mentioned which house he thought she was in, her gaze shifted to him wondering if he had a thing against people from Ravenclaw. She seriously hoped not, she liked Robert and found him as easy to talk with as Artemis or Austin.
"Yes I am Ravenclaw" he looked at her though with a smile on his face and the worry she had felt a moment before vanished, "what house are you?" she tried to remember if she had seen him in any of her classes but she didn't pay too much attention to those about her when she entered the classroom, so she was not sure at all.

She liked that he was an outdoors person, Shalamar loved the outdoors herself though she was an avid reader. On the mention of winter her face lit up considerably as she turned to watch him run his hand through his hair.
"I love the winter too, I made my first snow angel this year and I made ice shoes for skating on the lake but ..." she hung her head slightly embarrassed, "I kept falling."
As they walked on side by side he asked her about her friends, she wasn't sure if he would know them but still she offered up their names.

"Artemis Blackmore-Yearling is my bestfriend ever and Austin and Lucinda are also friends though more house friends I think. I need to spend more time with them I guess. What about you, do you have any friends?" she could imagine him with quite a few actually but did not say so.

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert smiled, "I'm a Gryffindor." he said simply. He held out his hand when she faultered slightly. "I don't know that many people from Ravenclaw. Or any house to be honest." he said truthfully, he'd never really ever been able to get out much. "I know Larissa and Hoshi from Slytherin. Libby from Hufflepuff. Rhianne, and Willow from Gryffindor, and well now just you from Ravenclaw" he smiled. It was true he made better friends with girls. Guys always bored him.

He gave a small chuckle as she said she kept falling when she tried to ice-skate. "Well if you keep at it there's nothing to say you won't become good" he encouraged, not sure if he'd try to skate knowing his coordination. He moved onto a new subject. "Isn't Artemis the fiance of that boy? From the forest?" he asked, not wanting to pry too deep it she was, but after hearing the news a few weeks ago he couldn't help but ask.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

She would have guessed him to be a Gryffindor, there was just something so easy going yet sincere about him that though these qualities would have seemed ideal in Hufflepuff, she could not picture him in that house at all. She was grateful that he held out his hand but was certain she would not need it, until he mentioned he was friends with Hoshi. She faltered on the next step and this time she reached out and took the hand he offered. Blinking back the wave of emotion that swamped her she thanked him for his hand but soon released it though it pained her to do so.
"You are friends.. with Hoshi?" the girl who had threatened her very life because of a boy, Shalamar stood still for a moment trying to get her breathing under control. She could not be friends with anyone who was Hoshi's friend. How could she trust him?

He continued to speak and she tried to listen but now she was too busy contemplating how best to say goodbye to him.
"Ehm Artemis? yes.. yesh she is, was. Yes" her speech was now fractured by the need to leave him, she was loathe to do so for she felt so in tune with him as she had done with Artemis on first meeting but knew that she could not bring their newly formed friendship any further.
Turning to face him she looked at his blonde hair that flopped over his forehead slightly, tempted as she was to push it back from his face she didn't.
"I .. I don't think I can go to that wedding after all. I.." she looked back the way they had come, "I best be off."

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert noticed she was almost backing away from him. Wen she caught his hand she pulled her up again, before giving her a strange look. Why? What had he said? "Well, in my second year i was talking to her. I can't really remember about what. And i haven't since." he said truthfully. "But she and Larissa are just the only two people i've spoken to." he added. "Why?" he asked. He wasn't sure why Shalamar was trying to get away from him, but he looked slightly hurt when she said suddenly she wouldn't be able to come along with him now to his brother's wedding. "Shalamar?" he asked simply. He wasn't just going to let her run off. "I don't know that many people..." he said quietly.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

It was the tone of his voice that made her stop moving and look back at him. Her brown eyes took in everything and she felt instantly alarmed that she may have hurt his feelings.
"She wants me ... it will sound so dramatic and stupid aloud but" she sighed and recounted then for him the story of how Shalamar had fallen for Henric Lee, how just about every girl she knew did at one time or another. She relayed the incident on the cliff edge on Henric's birthday and the strange girl dressed up, how they had made their way to the forest and what had transpired there with the centaur. It wasn't so very long ago and it still sent shivers down her spine.
"She wants to kill me because I had the unfortunate luck to have once liked the same boy as she did" it really all did sound so overly dramatic now and she was so sorry for visibly upsetting him. Her hand reached for his and she squeezed it gently.
"I did not want you to feel you needed to choose between a friendship that already was and one that was just beginning. I would never do that to you. I cannot be near people who are loyal to her, I am sorry but that is how it is, call it self preservation".

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert listened to what she had to say, about how Henric had been the center of two girls violence. "Ok, so you liked a guy Hoshi did too. Since when had that given someone a right to hurt another?" he asked her. "I don't take "sides"." He said, "I go with the now. If you know what i mean. People have to earn your trust, your loyalty. I have no buisness in what Hoshi has said, only that i yes have spent a very small amount of time with her. But does that mean we can't be friends? Seriously?" he asked her, looking into her eyes. He squeezed her hand back. "Besides" he carried on, "Since when have i said i was loyal to her?" he grinned. So yes should Hoshi ever want to speak to him, fine, but it wasn't as though he would do anything. He hardly even knew the girl.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

It seemed the most natural thing in the world to stand there holding his hand, she did not once feel tempted to move her hand away but smiled as he squeezed hers back.
"I am not violent at all, I can defend myself but I would wish no harm on any person. I too think it foolish for someone to wish to cause harm to another because of feelings they can not control. I do not like him like that any more, so the issue should be finished but I don't think Hoshi wants to let it lie. So I avoid her at all costs just in case".

Her gaze moved to their joined hands, looking at her fingers locked within his.Shalamar looked back at him, into brown eyes nearly the same shade as her own and smiled at him.
"You want to be my friend?" she inhaled deeply for a moment before continuing, "It is probably foolish of me but I fear her, so ... when you said you were her friend. I panicked but if you are not all that close then I see no reason for us.. not to be..."
why was telling him that they could be friends so hard?

A first year attempted to squeeze past the pair standing holding hands on the steps and sighed. Eventually she shoved her way passed when it seemed as if neither had noticed her enough to move out of them way. Shalamar fell against him, her other hand coming up to rest on his chest to steady herself. As she looked now at him, a hairs breath apart she gasped at the closeness but felt no anxiety by it.
"Sorry" she muttered attempting to step back once more.

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert understood why she would be so scared, and nodded when she asked him about them being friends. "Of course" he added. He'd never known anyone to be so calm around. When the first year tried to get through, he suddenly found it very difficult to glance their way. His free arm wrapped around the back of her when she was pushed forwards, pulling her into a hug.

After a moment he realized what he was doing and let go of her, allowing her to step back. "You shouldn't worry about it." he started, "Esppecialy if i'm around" he grinned. "You know of Larissa? She attacked my..." he thought, "friend once. Purely out of jealously for liking the same guy too." he finished, "me." he finished. "I know she keeps out of her way now too. But i wouldn't let anyone hurt my friends" he said. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing to continuation of walking.

 

[Shalamar Ovanisse]

As their bodies got jarred together, she felt his arm go about her holding her close as if they were embracing. As their eyes locked she could only smile, he released her and both seemed to step back from each other at the same time. As he spoke she listened carefully, it seemed as if she needed to concentrate a little harder on the words because the brief close contact with him had startled her more than she had thought it would. Shaking her head when he mentioned a girl called Larissa, Shalamar looked horrified that something similar had happened then too but Robert was the guy in question then. As he finished speaking she could not help but smile brightly.

He seemed so honorable and loyal to his friends, how could she not but like this boy? She was sure she would feel privileged to be called one of these friends of his and nodded once again as he asked if they should continue. One foot followed the other as she began to move down the steep steps once more, her fingers seemed to twitch now and her palm felt as if it ached to hold his hand again. This was all so strange to her, considering the only boy she had ever wanted to hold hands with, or embrace or do anything with was abjured from her heart forever. Casting a glance in Robert's direction she wondered briefly what it was about this boy that made her feel comfortable holding his hand, that made her feel when he hugged her to him and not once did she feel offended by any of the physical contact.

"It seems there is a lot more of it going around than what I could ever have imagined. Was your friend hurt?" she had noticed the pause he had created there and wondered at it briefly, had this particular friend been more to him than he was letting on? Was she still?

 

[Robert Kain]

Robert felt strangly comfortable, he didn't really have to try, but just be himself. He recalled the events of the day by the lake over in his head. "I know what you mean. Every corner you turn there's something new happening." he added, looking straight at her, and smiling. "Rhianne Delle Clivey. She was my.." he scratched the back of his head, "girlfriend. Larissa she too was with me once. Anyway, Larissa got jealous, tried to stupify Rhianne. But no she wasn't hurt. She might have been shaken up but no" he finished.

He wasn't sure what he'd do if he saw Rhianne again. Or Larissa. Last time he'd bumped into Larissa in the forest, things hadn't quite gone to plan. But they were on good terms, he thought. He knew Rhianne ws angry at him now, and apparently there was some sort of revenge being planned on him. But he didn't mind too much. He thought he deserved it.

They were coming to the bottom of the steps, and as they walked out onto the seventh floor he cast another smile in Shalamar's way.