The Limitations Previously Set

[Stefan Archer]

Out of Character:

I'm sorry this took so long

The transfiguration lesson had gone oddly. While they had not really done much other than have a lecture, the lecture had given the SLytherin a lot to think about. He knew it was silly to think so deeply into something that would in the end mean little to him. Transfiguration was not the lesson he most like, or knew the most about. It wasn't one he ever thought he'd do after school finished. But this one lesson had set his mind spinning. And he was sure that was more than just his lack of sleep paired with the fact he was empty of all energies. He thought it funny that others could just so easily take the side of the limitations, having no knowledge of what having none would really mean for someone like Stefan. Having lost his mother at two years old, and having no memories of her at all, the Slytherin would literally do anything to just see her. To just see her smile. The way her hair fell. To here her laugh and just be told that she was proud of him. That she loved him. Something the SLytherin was sure almost all the others in his class had once heard said to them by their mother. The more he thought about it, the more he knew there was literally nothing he would not do to see his mother again. Well maybe one thing. But that was more because despite everything the Slytherin boy desperately hung onto life. It did not matter how bad things got when he was at home, he knew that he could not just give up and move on. He had to keep fighting. For Kate, for his friends. He had to fight so that he could spend another year at the school. With the people he called his friends. To create more memories that would get him through the darkest of nights. Or the coldest of days. It had been a cold winter in New Zealand. He had never felt so cold in his life than the night two days before getting back to hogwarts where, he'd been locked in his bedroom, with the window stuck wide open, with nothing but his clothes on his back and a thin sheet taken from his bed. It had pretty much been one of the worst days of his life. And while he had more of those kind of days than any other kind, that one had pretty much been the day he thought he just wanted it to all end. And yet here he was, walking from the transfiguration classroom to the library. Feeling alive. He was alive. And while it hurt now, in the end, when he finally said goodbye to his father, he'd be happy and everything would fall into place.

And there was his second problem with the limitations. Not being able to create money. Stefan didn't think the rich girls and boys in his class were in any position to say that creating money would be a bad thing. Stefan knew that even a tiny bit more money in his household would make the world of difference. There would be more food, more food that Stefan could himself be able to eat. Since there was so little food in the house, his father got most of it, and Stefan received something every so often. Enough so that he lived, but not enough to be able to function perfectly. Too weak to rebel, were his father's words. What he was. Stefan knew he was thin. His clothes were baggy on him. He had thin arms, it was why the bruises shone brightly, and the cuts lasted long and formed scars. And he could never gain enough weight over the year to be able to manage. Stefan was in a no win situation. He could understand why there were some limitations, but he hated that they all seemed to affect those worst off. And by worst off, he meant people that were in his sort of situation. Hopefully it was not much like his, but enough that things were hard and difficult and not much was ever too clear. Stefan entered the library. it was quiet, for that he was thankful. Stefan wandered around, picking up books and flicking through them. He had grown fond of the library. It was a good place to come if he just wanted to work. And work he did. Since the assignments set took him a lot longer than most, he was there until the curfew most nights and this year, despite the huge improvements he had made over the past years, there was still no deny that Stefan was still very much behind. It had no helped the cut on his hand in the previous year. Now in this one, his arm was bruised and it hurt to breath. His breaths were short and quick. It was odd, but it did at times hurt to breath. He was able to keep it in check when in the classroom, but now he could hear his own breath and it wasn't like most people's. It was just another reminder of where he was from, how his father had complete control over him when he was at home. If it could be called Home. The start of the term was always harder for him than most. And each time he returned his inurigies seemed worse. Whether it was the bruise just below his right elbow, that was dark in colour and hurt at the slightest touch. Or the one on his left shoulder, shaped like a hand from where his father had violently grabbed him, and pulled him, then just carelessly thrown him upon on the floor of the room. they'd been in.

The thoughts of his father and home, had made Stefan unstead of his feet, and he was quick to dump what he was carrying in his arms to the table before collapsing into a chair. He sat for a moment attempting to catch his breath again. Stefan Archer closed his eyes and leaned his head against the books he'd placed carelessly on the table. He was alone in the section which was why, he was acting as such. Had there been people around, Stefan wouldn't found the nearest empty area, and just sat. At least now he had a table to sit at. A wave of tiredness washed over him. He felt himself drift to sleep. One serious side affect of being as thin as he was, was that he was tired, all the time. With so little energy keeping him going and his lack of sleep due to pain and reoccuring nightmares he had no energy to really spare. Which was why hadn't bothered trying to reconnect with his other friends. Primarily Kate, Sara and Willow. It was not because he knew that they knew about him. Just that he had to focus all the energy he did have to his school work. But he missed his friendly greatly. He missed the way Kate smiled, the fact she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He had hated that she'd stopped eating, but even skinny she was beautiful to him. But she was back to her old self, and Stefan was still as skinny. He missed his heart to hearts with Willow. The only person who could understand what it was like to feel rock bottom. While she had less experience, he always liked talking to her. And then there was Sara. A girl he greatly admired. She was strong and she was what he wanted in a family. Ones that cared when the other looked thin. One that would stand by them no matter what. Even though they'd never really seen eye to eye on some things he could hardly deny that he help the situation. He didn't like talking about him, but all three wanted him to. He knew that they were the ones that saw the pain in his eyes with each movement. The ones who realised a boy as skinny as Stefan wasn't just skinny for no reason. But He couldn't keep up with them. School work was enough. Slowly he reopened his eyes and pulled the books in front of him, as well as the parchment to write the essay. Once he had enough information, The slytherin boy began to write. Slow and steady. Taking explicit care as he wrote each letter. Each word. He yawned every so often. But he didn't realise when someone entered the area he was in. Too lost in working, it was pointless to listen to the world around him.​

<i></i>
[/small]

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara was wandering the castle. She tried to avoid teachers, as they passed, because she wasn't out for any reason. She couldn't find anything to do. She didn't have any books that she was interested in, and her music didn't work. Plus, she was trying to avoid Kate, and all her friends really. She hadn't really talked to them much, since the start of last year. She didn't know why, but she felt that Willow was the only friend she was around, Kayden wasn't around much, and Stefan was probably still mad with her. She understood why of course, she had been terrible. And then there was Kate, her twin. Kate and Sara had argued, and Sara really didn't want to be around her, because she had always thought Kate was a wonderful person, someone she could talk to, someone she could try and help if they had problems, but within Sara's vision, Kate had become selfish, she liked people to like her, and she would do anything to make them. Also, she wasn't able to accept individuality, and used to give out to Sara. She wanted nothing to do with her sister any more.

She smiled, and greeted ghosts who passed, she had been at her first transfiguration lesson today, and if anyone asked, she could say she was going home, or back to the Ravenclaw tower-which felt much more like home now. She skipped along, hiding behind a curtain as a professor passed. she skipped back out and walked quietly along the path, until the professor was out of earshot. However, when the next professor passed, she decided to take another route, walking into the library, to look as if she had some purpose. She smiled at the librarian, who knew her by now, since she read her so often.

She walked around the isles, glancing at books here and there. She took out a copy of "Quidditch through the Ages"-it looked like an interesting read. She took it off the shelf and walked up to the librarian, asking if she could withdraw it. He nodded, and stamped the book for her. She decided not to return to her dormitory yet and she walked along the aisles, looking for a place to sit.

Was it so strange that she could no longer find solace in a place where she had always been at home-Hogwarts was where she belonged, and her siblings being there was what was changing it. Part of her didn't want to be here, because Kate was, but that would be letting her win, and she couldn't do that, she wanted to stay, because she would make this place her home again, she would befriend her friends again, and she wouldn't let her sister win.

She stepped away from her thoughts for a moment, and returned to her search for a place to read. She walked into an almost empty aisle, where a boy was bent over his work. She sat opposite him, before realising who it was. Stefan. She hadn't seen Stefan in quite some time. "Hey stranger." she whispered, trying not to make too much noise before the librarian noticed. "Long Time no See." she smiled, then after a moment added "Well, plenty of seeing, but no talking." she laughed, she didn't want to say anything to disturb his work, as it might annoy him.

 

[Stefan Archer]

</SIZE>

The library was a quiet place to work, and for a boy like Stefan Archer, it was also the perfect place to work. It was like a safer version of the Slytherin common room. While that place was feared by most, Stefan found it nice. It was quiet, and the brief arguements were taken outside to be settled, and the small amount of conversations he could easily zone out of. just a matter of closing his eyes and wishing he was in a better place and then their he was. Therefore able to then work. But he could hardly explain that to others. People would just not believe what they were hearing, Slytherin common room, a good place for a muggleborn slytherin. But Stefan was unlike most muggleborn slytherins. He was sure that if he had known how to read and write better upon arriving at the school, that he could be one of smartest slytherins in the class. But, Stefan did not have that kind of luck. His time, and his energy were more spent on the writing of the essay than on the actual quality of what was written inside it. This much he could be sure of, however all he had to remind himself of was that in time it would all be okay. That he would catch up with the others. He would be at the same level as they were all already. It would maybe not happen in the immediate future, but he was still learning, and time was all that was really required. But, apart from spare hours here and their at school, the boy had no time for things such as practicing how to write. And his sight was fairly terrible to begin with that it would take him forever to find a spot where even reading what was written would be easy. But this again, just reminded him that when it boiled down to it, life was just not a fan of Stefan Archer. It seemed whatever horror most saw little off, he had to suffer threw all of it. The hunger, the pain, the feelings of worthlessness. The lack of education, the lack of care. The lack of continuous company. But he knew he was to blame their. It was hard for him to keep up relationships with people who had spent the best part of a term trying to make Stefan confess to what was going on in his life, because he had indirectly caused a rift with his harshness. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that he still had been right all along. Without him in the picture his friends, Sara, Willow and Kate would be happier. In fact he'd be willing to bet a lot on that he was right. It didn't matter how much they told him that they wanted to be his friend, that they cared, he knew if it came down to it, they would be better off without him and they would not come to his aid. For the slytherin knew that it was more him that clung to their friendship. Who had needed the company and the memories. Now, that was gone.

The pace of the slytherin's work had slowed, until he was just staring blankly at the page in front of him. The word Limitations stared up at him. He had to admit it had been a lesson he was really thinking a lot more into than most others in his situation would. But he was Stefan Archer, and words like Limitation meant something more to him, than just in the context of transfiguration. Stefan knew there would be a limit as to how long he could go without eating anything. Stefan was almost positive that even his father had a limit, although chose to not show it too often. Because to him a limit was a great thing. It was a positive. There was a limit to how much of something could be had or done. His father knew it. He was the kind of man who knew the limitations of the human body. Which was why despite his father's cold and harshness, he was always given some sort of food, so that he would not be too desperate. Fight for the control of the household. Something his father desperately did not want. But it really was hardly enough. Literally just enough, but even at that, when he had eaten his stomach grumbled for more. A sound his father often heard, and replied with a powerful kick to Stefan's abondmen. Absent mindedly his writing hand stopped and his hand moved to sit on his stomach for a little while. A part of the teen told him that soon he would need to go. That dinner would be out and after missing lunch and having a tiny light breakfast eating something would be smart. But Stefan was glued to where he sat, much more interested in completing his work than eating. A bad attitude for someone of his size. Stefan became vaguely aware of someone taking a seat near him, but the Slytherin did not bother to glance up. Instead he just picked his quill back up and carefully finished the word he had been writing, and then the person spoke. It was quiet, so he did not jump back in surprise, but his blue eyes shot up to see the person. Exposing the nasty looking bruise at the side of his face. Sara. As she spoke then laughed, Stefan could not stop himself from returning the smile. An old friend. A close friend. Kate's twin, although they looked nothing a like. Maybe in the hair, but nothing else. It wasn't like he knew what Sara's eye colour was, so it was not like he could compare it to Kate's. To him, they looked nothing a like, but he envied the closeness they had. Or once had.

"Hi" Stefan whispered in reply. Dropping his eyes and slowly putting down his quill. He closed over his books with the bandaged hand and then proceed to look back up at the girl in front of him. "I'm sorry." He said, apologising for the fact they'd lost touch and for everything else that he had done. He smiled a little nervously at Sara. "How were your holidays?" Stefan asked, knowing it was the polite thing to do, though he wasn't much of a conversationalist. It seemed right to keep it friendly. He figured that forgetting all the times she'd yelled at him, or gotten angry at him, needed to be forgiven and forgotten. But, he still believed her words. He knew that she was right. about him, and everything else. She was the ravenclaw of the group after all. "Better than mine I hope?" Stefan joked lightly, already knowing that they would be, no matter how bad she would believe them to be. But this was just him attempting to make conversation.​

<SIZE size="50">

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara didn't really care that much about what people thought anymore. She didn't care if people lied about her, she didn't care about hurtful comments. At least that's what she told herself, she did care, but the easiest thing to do was show the world a strong, smiling face. She looked up at Stefan-he would know more about that than anything. In her mind, she knew he was having trouble, and someone was hurting him, but she wasn't going to try and push him anymore-she valued him too much, he was her friend, and when he was ready-he would tell her.

"Don't be-you had your reasons, and I didn't exactly help." she replied, with a gentle curving of her lips in a smile. She really liked Stefan, he was mysterious, but kind and he thought of other people, even though he had so many problems of his own. She felt bad though-she hadn't properly talked to Kate in months and though she had said nothing bad about her sister to anyone, and she hadn't said anything to Kate-she knew that as Kate's closest friend, Stefan would eventually know. She didn't want to make him choose, so she wasn't going to make a big deal of it. Also, she secretly thought he would choose Kate, and she didn't want to lose him.

"Alright." Sara lied. "How about yours?" she laughed, at his joke. She guessed that his holidays were probably terrible, but she didn't want to rub salt on the wound. She hadn't had good holidays. she felt like she was changing. she was afraid to trust people, and part of her didn't know why, but she felt worthless. however, no one would ever know.
"What did you think of the transfiguration class?" she asked, trying to keep the flow of conversation going. She herself had found it very interesting-for a theory class, and she hoped Stefan had an opinion on it, so they could find something to talk about, besides her sister. It was probably the only problem she had, and she wanted to keep it to herself-and maybe she'd stop caring. She waas strangely happy that she didn't have to deal with Kate anymore, but she felt guilty, for feeling happy.

She was glad to see Stefan, she had been scared for him, he'd talked as though he wasn't going to be around anymore, and that would be terrifying. Sara had never really lost anyone before, in death, or in disappearance. she knew Stefan had lost his mother. he had been through a world of pain that she had never experienced, in more ways than one. She could see the bruises, on his face, and she'd seen them on his arms before. She wasn't going to mention them-he never seemed to like talking about them and she didn't want him to be angry, but she wasn't planning on leaving today without some answers, or some reconciliation.

 

[Stefan Archer]

</SIZE>

As like with each of the three girls Stefan knew he liked them for different reasons. Willow, it was more the fact that she knew what it was like to lose someone close to them. Her parents. For Kate, it was more that she was just ready to accept him their and then with little questions asked. And then their was Sara. Something told him that Sara was not the kind of girl who easily backed down, and was the type to be able to pretend that she was ok with everything andn just put on a brave face. She was in some senses like him. Stefan Archer did not really see it as plainly as that. To him, Sara was still the one who had been pretty damn horrible to him. And he knew she had been right about everything. Everything and anything. Yelling at him, had done it's job. He'd pretty much backed down into his own little shell for the months that followed. And while he could hardly blame her, he knew that it had been her yelling that had helped him form his ideas on how he was going to make it threw the term. Right now what he was trying was just the easy method of playing it cool. Detached but nice. No longer throwing a hissy fit or using his anger against those that only wanted to offer their help. That and he really did not want to end up in any more fights. Not like the one against the elder ravenclaw boy. Stefan wondered if he would even be able to remember which one it had been. He didn't have a name or year, just that he was ravenclaw and that he was older. But, Stefan Archer also knew that the other boy knew just about as much as he did about him. Stefan wondered if Sara had heard about it. For some reason he thought she would not be interested in something as trivial as a fight. Stefan was at least glad that it she probably didn't know about it. There was something odd about Sara. He knew it was more his fault, and in a way, he'd almost expected her to not forgive him. But, this was a new year, a new term. A new beginning. Stefan met her eyes briefly and returned the smile. He wondered what was going on in her life. He wasn't exactly intune with everyone. He thought about how much he needed them, but never made any movement to rekindle everything with them. To hunt down, Sara, Kate or Willow. He hated that they were now slightly distant, it had never been his intention. He had wanted to distance himself from them. Not distance all of them from one another. He knew it had to be up to him to bring back the group. To reform it and make them whole once more. A whole group. Better united. Awful apart. But by the way that she seemed almost nervous made him wonder if something more was going on. And then he noticed the lie.

"Sara, we're friends," Stefan started, before stopping himself. Who was he to tell Sara that she should be honest with him. Sure, part of this years policy was to deal with other people's problems more than his own but he didn't have to force it out, or use the friends card for the truth. Because he had lied to Sara, and the others a million times over and would continue to. "My holidays?" Stefan took a small pause, wondering if some honesty from him would get him honest in return from Sara. With a small sigh, and the dark blue eyes glancing back down at his hands, he continued "Cold. My dad's not worked in a while, so money is pretty tight. More than usual. I didn't think it could be possible. So, for me and my dad it's the simple question, freeze or starve. And we chose freeze. Have you heard from Willow lately? I worry about her, because of her illness, you know." Stefan glanced up slightly. Knowing that the skinniness that Stefan had would show that despite it being food or heat as choices, he got little of the food. Stefan met Sara's eyes and smiled. a small smile. He knew that Sara wouldn't understand what it felt like to be in his situation, to have literally nothing. He living situation at home was pretty much dire. Why a place like hogwarts was such a gift. To Stefan it was literally like he'd stumbled into heaven. Going home each term however just was a strong reminder of how his father could just take it all away from him. IN the blink of an eye, it could all be gone. Looking to Sara he wondered if she could even grasp how thin the ice which stefan walked on was. He was glad when she then asked about the transfiguration lesson. And Stefan nodded approvingly. He had enjoyed it a lot more than he'd really thought. "It was interesting.......And unfair." Stefan leaned back slowly on his chair. Thinking over how best to explain it to Sara. It wasn't really an easy thing to explain. "I mean, I understand what she was saying, that Limitations are a good thing. They keep the natural balance, but they are unfair." Stefan paused, meeting Sara's eyes briefly. "It's hard to explain, but see I think it is pretty unfair to those with little. I mean for me, I would give literally anything to see my mum again even for a few minutes. If there was a spell that could bring her back, I think I would do it, because she's my mum, and I just want her to know who I am. SHe died when I was two. But, I would bring my mum back for selfish reasons, and the dead are meant to stay dead. They'd be unhappy. The natural balance distrupted. I'd know all this, before casting the spell, and yet I'd still cast it. Which means it's better to have limitations so the temptation isn't their."

Stefan knew he probably didn't make much sense. "It doesn't talk about all the limitations, so what about my eye sight. Could it be alerted, or just because I was born with it means that it would be a bad thing to alter. Stopping the natural cycle." Stefan somewhat concluded. Hoping that she'd been able to understand what he meant by his words. "I'm not good at explaining." Stefan did however realise that this was probably the most he'd ever said in the one go. His voice had been low and quiet the entire time. Not to mention deeper. But, he was unsteady with his words. Unsure of his own voice. "What did you think of it?"​

<SIZE size="50">

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara was glad Stefan was talking to her, she wouldn't blame him if he didn't. She knew people had probably heard things about her by now-things that weren't true. She had decided not to retaliate though. She really hoped Stefan didn't believe what he heard-she didn't want to lose friends over this. She looked up at Stefan, trying to figure him out. She knew parts of him. She knew he was only trying to protect his friends when he pushed them away, though she didn't know what from. He was hurting, but wouldn't talk about it. He showed a brave face to the world, and he had encountered worlds of pain that Sara never would. He had lost his Mother, and he hadn't much money. She knew she had made things harder for him, shouting and getting angry, and she was ashamed. At the time she thought she was protecting Kate, but her sister had never really needed protecting. She had been sticking her nose in where it wasn't wanted-she wasn't going to do that anymore.

"I know." Sara smiled, she needed to give him an explanation, so she decided to give the barest of details. "It's a small, childish problem, nothing important." she added, and it was childish-she and Kate hadn't discussed it, and Sara hadn't said anything-she didn't know about Kate. She didn't even want to think about Kate.

She knew Stefan wouldn't tell the truth about his holidays-he never did, but he was slightly more truthful, letting more show than he didn't before. She decided not to say anything about his holidays, she didn't want to touch a nerve-not yet-not when things were going well. "I haven't I barely see her, only in classes-I don't see Kayden or Amanda much either, though i see more of Vayne, he's in my house. Mostly I just see Willow in classes." she replied. "I am worried about her though, no one took any notice last year, when she was ill-we weren't there for her enough, I mean I hung out with her and stuff, but I didn't ask, I thought it would upset her to talk about it." she added, she didn't mention why she thought people didn't take enough notice, though she felt it was because people making a big deal of other things was what overshadowed it.

Once again, Sara wished Stefan would let them help him-give him money, let him stay in her house in England, but he wouldn't=either he was too proud, or he had some other reason why he wouldn't let them help. She thought it might have something to do with his family, but she never asked, it was a touchy subject.
She agreed with his theory on the limitations, but she had some thoughts to add. "Though, I think that they aren't really limits, they're more like rules, I mean-look in our history-Harry Potter was able to bring back his family, for a while, with the stone from the Deathly Hallows-why couldn't someone else. Also, why can't a wizard transfigure things into money-it would help so many people, people who need it-no one need be poor or hungry! And, why shouldn't we transfigure things into food-what's wrong with that? I don't think they're real limits, I just think people are too afraid to cross them." she repllied, and hastily added. "Now don't get me wrong, I think they're necessary, i mean who's to say the dead want to come back to life? People would use the money they make, not to help people, but for themselves, so I think they're more like laws-and they are there for a reason, but there's no reason they can't be broken." she looked up at Stefan, she was glad they had something they could talk about. She knew that she was lucky he hadn't walked away form her, but he had stayed, and now she was enjoying herself. It was funny to think that they were friends now, as she thought back to the first time they met, when she had almost blinded him in the sunlight. "You have a point though, like with your colour-blindness. Maybe there is a spell. Something that could cure it?" she mused to herself, it must be hard, living in black and white-she didn't envy him that.

 

[Stefan Archer]

</SIZE>

A small childish problem, that was an odd way of putting it. It was becoming clear to him, that in his distance something had happened between the Moon sisters. Instantly he felt responsible for it, despite not even knowing what it was about. He was sure that in the end it would just lead back to how he had acted towards them at the start of their second year. He had told himself over and over that, at the time, it had been the better decision, that he had not been wrong in not wanting them near his life. But, while this had been happening the Slytherin had become aware that he had been wrong. So very wrong. He had wanted nothing more than to apologise over and over about how he had acted, for the words that he had said. Or rather had not said. But, at the time, it was the single most logical thing he thought he could do. Cutting those people out of his life was the easiest thing to do. But, that was a small myth. He didn't have many people in his life. Not many that he was willing to openly trust, and it had been clear for a long while that Stefan needed them. Their company, the memories they created when he was with them. When as friends they did something. But, Stefan wasn't sure how to properly protect his friends. While he knew he needed them, it had never crossed his mind, that they needed him. That they would actually miss him if he was to disappear. But this was the hardest part would be the first few days. Stefan had kept his mind straight reminding himself that it didn't matter, since once the first week at the most had passed, they'd all just swiftly go back to their lives before he had ever entered them. "It's not nothing, if it's bothering you." Stefan told her, but his tone was not one that asked her to into further detail, instead it was almost saying that she didn't need to tell him. That he understood the need to keep some things from certain people. Stefan would be happy to back to letting his thoughts move away from the bonds he'd broken. But, it was in the back of his mind now, and something told him, that he was going to attempt to make things better for them. He had no idea how or what it would actually take to do, he just knew that it had to be done. Stefan had admired Sara for the way she had defend Kate. Siblings, family, that was how they were meant to act. Even the mere thought caused a smile on the teen's face. He knew that it was probably a hard thing to keep up, but, siblings were meant to be there for one another, even in the darkest of times. Stefan knew that it was probably a good thing he didn't have one, but it didn't mean that he did not want one. Someone to be with when things were too much to bare alone. Someone that would understand, know. But Stefan Archer knew that if he had a sibling, he'd be much worse off, if it were possible. LIke if his sibling had not been magical, Stefan could not have left them alone. Knowing now what his father could really be like, he couldn't imagine leaving the sibling behind. Looking back up at Sara and smiling he was once more reminded that siblings were just something he would've never been able to handle.

Nodding as she spoke of Willow, he had to agree. He barely saw her unless it was class, and in the previous term, Stefan had had only once class with the Gryffindors. It had been pretty hard. And they could hardly talk. As much as Stefan had wanted to ask her how she was doing, and if she needed help with anything, BUt Stefan knew he'd been selfish. Caring only about his issues and not once listening to hers. "I haven't spoken to Willow in a while. I've tried, but not really hard enough." Stefan gave a small sigh. "I just want her to know I'm sorry, and to make sure she's okay, you know. But, everything is just so busy that I can never get the chance." Stefan admitted. He knew he could've tried a lot harder with Willow, really tried to get her to talk to him. And when they did talk, he always felt better, but it didn't matter, not any more. It was hard for him to keep asking Willow how she was, when he would be distracted from his work. And considering a simple essay took him the majority of an afternoon, he didn't really have any time to spare. Hearing Sara talk about other things, her other friends, made him realise how truly out of touch he was. He could count his friends on his hands. But Stefan knew that it would be okay in the end. Since the friends he did have, were the kind he was sure, when the time really came he would be able to rely on. "It's going to be even harder this year. Elective classes can't be easy. Which did you pick? I had no idea what each really was." Stefan met the girl's eyes for a brief moment before looking back down at his hands. Two classes had been simple enough to understand. Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies spoke for themselves. The others were a little more difficult. And since there was no instruction manuel on how to pick the classes, and Stefan doubted his head of house would be of much use to him, considering he was muggleborn, Stefan had just picked what he thought sounded least weird. Which between the three left over subjects was hard to decide upon. He was however curious to see what Sara had picked. He struck her as the type to pick more than just two subjects. She was a Ravenclaw after all, and that made him think that she'd probably picked all five. But he didn't know. Sara was pretty hard to read at times. And when it came to school, Stefan had no clue about anyone. He just kept his head down, and did his work. The teenager listened as Sara spoke. Nodding along and finding it nice and interesting to actually hear what someone else thought of the entire matter. Considering she was the opposite of him, her opinion on the subject mattered a lot to him. But, he had one word on his mind as she spoke. Selfish. Not Sara. But people. The wizarding population.

"Limitations are like rules because our world is selfish. It's wishful thinking to think that the poorer would really benefit. If everyone created money, would it then not just make money invaluable. Of no use. It's inflation or something. It happened in Germany." Stefan took a small book off the top of his small pile. He'd been reading up on historical matters, and he had really figured that the money thing was because of what had happened their. To ever prevent it happening to the wizarding world. He turned the book over in his hands and handed it to Sara. "Germany printed more and more money, and the value of the money decreased, or something, Prices were rocketing and bread cost a ridiculus amount. There is story that in the middle of this, a women carrying a basket of notes, money. Had the basket stolen and not the money, since the basket was of more value than the money. Something along those lines." Stefan had taken a long while to read the book, despite it's small size, but he had enjoyed it. Stefan liked history. Muggle or magical. He loved how they interwined. It was all very interesting. "The deathly hallow thing, wasn't that just a projection of sorts? I don't know much about it." Stefan muttered quietly, surprisingly he actually knew little on Harry Potter and his adventures. He was working up to it. "Something that could cure it? It would be hard to tell. And if it didn't last. As much, as I'd love to be able to tell you what colour eyes you have, or the colour of your hair. What colour the grass is. As much as I'd love to know what colour is which, I wouldn't do it. I mean if it didn't last. I don't think I could bare it. Could you?" He wasn't sure if returning the question was the right thing, but it would be interesting to know what she thought about the entire situation. "I never thought Transfiguration would make me think so much into something." Stefan gave a small laugh before looking back up at Sara. A small smile on his face. As much as he knew this conversation with Sara would cut into the work he had to do, Stefan Archer was glad of the company that his friend gave.​

<SIZE size="50">

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara smiled, looking at the table. He was so hard to figure out. She was never sure what he was thinking. She understood him, a bit. He was much stronger than he seemed at first-stronger than all of them. He was a caring friend, even if he got his wires crossed every now and then. He did things, and though she didn't know why he did these things-like pushing them away-now she was sure he had been doing it for them. He wanted to protect them, from something, she wasn't sure what, and she wasn't sure why, but she was sure that he did it for his friends. Stefan had a much harder life than any of them, a whole other world of pain. Someone hurt him, but she didn't know who. She knew he lived with his father, and his mother was dead. Did he have any other family? Why did he seem so sure that they didn't need him, when in fact, they did. It was confusing, but she was sure she would figure him out eventually.

Sara smiled at his answer to her. "I suppose." she grinned-she liked that Stefan knew when to drop a point, and he understood the need to keep things from other people, though people didn't always keep secrets for the right reasons. Her hair fell in front of her face, and she blew it out of her way, her face in a weird curve as she flicked it. "So, what are you up to?" she asked, nodding at the sheets on the table. It looked like he was doing homework, or studying. If he was, maybe she should leave-maybe she was disturbing him?

"Me neither." Sara sighed in response-she did feel guilty, now that she thought about it-they had all neglected one of their closest friends when she needed them. Sara didn't feel too bad though, the year was young, and they could yet make up for past mistakes. "Maybe we should get everyone together, Is anyone's birthday coming up soon?" she asked, she knew her's and Kate's birthday was in May, and Stefan's was in April, what about Willow and Tara? She missed the group-and though she hated to admit it-she felt that they were all responsible for the break-down.

She thought for a moment, before answering. She counted her subjects on her fingers, and then named them out "Potions, Divination, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration and Herbology." she answered, ticking them off on her fingers. "All the subjects needed to become an auror, and one besides." she smiled, that was her ambition-become an auror. "What about you?" she asked, she didn't know much about Stefan's plans, or ambitions. He seemed to think he was in danger, every year he said goodbye to them, as though he'd never see them again-maybe he hadn't thought that far ahead. "I wasn't sure what classes to take so I just talked to my year head-he's really nice." she grinned, thinking back to her conversation with the professor.

"Oh yeah!" exclaimed Sara-these were the type of conversations she liked. "It makes sense when you say it like that-I hadn't heard about Germany before." she grinned, a typical Ravenclaw-she liked learning. "Yes, that's all Harry did, but the original Brother, brought back the girl he loved-fully, well that's how the legend goes." she replied, she liked the Harry Potter story. She had bought it a in her first year, and since then she had read it about seven times.

"No, I couldn't, but I can't imagine it either-a world without colour." she replied, looking at the ground. She couldn't imagine how hard it must be, not knowing what blue, or pink, or yellow look like. She pitied him, living in a world of black and white-like an old-fashioned movie. "Me neither." she laughed in return, she'd never really liked Transfiguration as much as subjects like Defence against the Dark Arts.

Out of Character:

Sorry for the Delay :/

 

[Stefan Archer]

</SIZE>

Knowing when to not push things, was something he had learned to do. Although at school Stefan was a lot more talkative and his questions increased, which most would believe to not be true, he still knew when to stop. Like when pushing them away. He had known when to stay quiet and keep his head down, and when to respond. He spent so much time watching his behaviour, his father's and those around him at school, that Stefan had become fairly good at reading people. His father was easy. He had anger, and fury. when he was drunk and angry, he walked fairly fast, but could not manage to walk in a straight line. Then there was the slight happiness that his father could feel. That was pretty easy to tell too, since the tone he used when addressing Stefan was not one that burned a deep fear within him. But one that made him feel at least a little safe. That in the end everything would work out. This mood was short lived. All of the time. But it was not like it wasn't sometimes their. It was these changes in mood, that made Stefan very reluncctant to ask for help. Sara and Kate, had once suggested that him and his father stay with them. Stefan had turned it down completely because he did not want them to meet him. He did not want them to see how the slytherin was treated by his father. How small and insignificant the man could make the teen feel. It would be weak, and it would be embarrassing for him. Being able to face them afterwards would not be good. Plus who was to say that his father wouldn't at times take his anger out on them. Something the colourblind boy could never allow to happen. It was not a matter of pride that kept him from accepting their help. But rather a fear, that they would no longer just see him as their friend, Stefan. But more as the guy with that father. In a way, the slytherin teen knew that turning down help he so clearly needed was not helping him prove that his father was a good and decent person. But, Stefan could not deal with being alone. If they called someone and his father taken away, he had no idea what would happen to him, and where he would end up. He just had to wait it out. Until the day came that he could graduate. If he did. All in all, it meant that Stefan knew when to let a subject matter drop to the ground. Like how Sara was really doing. And how things were with her sister. Glancing down at his work, Stefan gave a small half shrug, he had been working on homework. But his conversation with Sara was turning out to be a lot more interesting than the work he was meant to be doing. Sure it meant he'd be up fairly late to get it done. And while it was annoying that this had to be done, Stefan was happy to be talking to Sara. It was nice to just has a conversation with a friend about something as thought provoking as the lesson they'd just been too. Although he wouldn't mind a change in conversation either.

Telling Sara exactly what he was doing he knew would probably end up with her suggesting that she go and leave him to it. Which he didn't want to happen. So, he began to think about it more. How could he say what he was doing, so as to avoid lying, but also so that he wasn't giving her a reason to go. Unlike the previous year, where Stefan would've looked for a reason to get people to leave him alone, the slytherin boy no longer sought out the quiet and the empty places. A part of the teen realised that he had to keep pushing, keep making an effort. So that things when they got bad did not seem as dire. And more so, that if something did happen he had someone to fall back on. People who wouldn't mind giving him a helping hand. "Just finishing off the essay." It was a small lie. Partly true in that the essay had been what he'd been doing, but a lie since he'd just started it. Stefan gave a small short sigh. His ribs hurt from time to time when he breathed, so sighs were small, and laughing hurt. Both things he avoided doing for the time being. "Tara's, maybe. I can't remember." Stefan thought it still odd celebrating birthday's. He'd really only celebrated his twelve, and even that had not exactly been a huge celebration, just a small gathering of a couple of people. He hadn't even told anyone that it had been his birthday. Just a few had met him celebrating it by himself, and had joined. It had been one of the most perfect birthdays that he had ever had. "Maybe we could just try to get everyone together for halloween." Stefan hated halloween, but for the sake of his friends he would put up with them. "If we tell everyone far enough in advance about going as friends, then maybe people would really try to come." Stefan suggested. Wondering if people would even buy into the idea. Afterall, at Halloween what did it matter. And more to that, Stefan realised that even if they did all get together at halloween, people could bring extended friends, and they could for once be just a group of friends who were having fun. Stefan smiled a little at the thought. It would be nice, he thought. Plus he rarely spent any time with more than one person. And this year he was welcoming small changes. As Sara listed off the subjects she did, he smiled slightly. An Auror. He knew she'd make a good one. He wasn't sure exactly what they did. They helped against evil, and he had to admit, he really did think she was suited for it. As for himself. He was not so sure what he would actually do with his life once, and if he left school. Before hogwarts he had never had any form of future plan. It was one day at a time stuff. Never getting too invested in thinking far ahead. Hogwarts at least allowed him to do that. For which he was pleased. "I'm doing practically the same, only Care of Magical Creatures rather than Divination. I just picked random ones. I don't know what I want to do. Hadn't thought that far a head to be honest." a part of the Slytherin boy had begun to consider what he could do once he left. But most of the slytherin boy was pretty much sure that he wasn't going to make it that far. And that if he did, everything he would have to fight for. "being muggleborn and Slytherin means speaking to my head of house is a lot less friendly. That and I know he hates the very idea of people like me in his house" Stefan said with a small laugh, while smiling. Although it was not exactly a laughing matter, he thought it was odd that the sorting hat had even placed him in that house if they were hated. 

Stefan knew she'd probably not find it funny, or even something to slightly smile about but he didn't mind. She had ravenclaw and he had Slytherin. Stefan liked his house, but be knew other hated it and more so avoided Stefan because they thought he was just like the rest of them. The teen was not. However listening to Sara talk about not wanting to be colourblind, made his smile falter a little. He had always wanted people to know it was, how he saw. but he also now realised that he would never see colour. For two reasons, one because his genetics meant he could not and two because he would chose to not. "I'm actually okay with it. You know." Stefan took a breath and forced a smile. To reinforce the one he already had. Make it look better. "I don't like it. It makes things hard, but I don't mind it. It makes me different. I wouldn't change it. I don't wish it upon people, but I am okay with." Stefan's strong and clear tone accompanied his words. He was okay with it. No matter if it meant he couldn't actually see her properly. "Probably the first time you've heard that?" Stefan gave a tiny laugh. He glanced down at his stuff. His hands still both on the table.  "So, what do you do around the school? You're on the house team, right?"​

<SIZE size="50">

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara smiled at Stefan. he was so smart, and he didn't really know it. He knew when to drop a subject, and for someone who had been closed off for so much of his life-he could read people very well. She knew he could tell that she didn't want to talk about Kate. To be honest-she didn't even give Kate had space anymore. After their holidays, her eyes had opened. She had seen all the things about Kate that she had never liked, and had addressed them. She found that her sister wasn't someone she particularly liked anymore but it didn't mean she was going to do anything to hurt her. Sara wasn't that kind of person. No matter how much it hurt-she wasn't going to take it out on someone else. She would never blame someone else, hurt them to deal with her own problems. She used to be jealous of Kate sometimes how easily people took to her, but now she realized that sometimes Kate could be aloof and people didn't like that, but pushing the thought from her mind, she decided to think positively.

Sara looked up at Stefan and decided to change the subject. "You know, I didn't think you'd ever be able to forgive me-I behaved abominably last year. Shouting and losing control, but I suppose I've grown up a bit now." and she had. She knew now that she didn't have to change for other people. If they were worthwhile-they'd like her for who she was, and other people didn't matter. She had learnt that she could move past her insecurities and use them to her advantage. Sh could never tell anyone else, because she would seem vain, but she had finally accepted that she was a great person and life was too short for caring about people who didn't matter.

"Oh yeah, it was a hard one-I didn't really know how to answer it-I ended up contradicting everything the teacher said-somehow I don't think she'll like me much." Sara laughed, pulling out her chair a bit, so that she had more room. "Neither can I, I've always been terrible with dates, I can never remember my sibling's birthday's-it's lucky that I remember my own." she replied, resting her elbow on the table. "Yeah, that's be a good idea." she smiled, but the thought had occurred t her that if they had a gathering Kate would be there and she didn't particularly want to see her sister. To be honest-she hated Kate.

"I don't know why I picked Divination, I just like the idea of having some view of what might happen." she smiled, she had aways been a dreamer, and she thought the subject might suit her. "I know, not many people have, but after reading about them, I'd decided that I was going to be an auror-save the world and all that jazz." she smiled, her voice casual. She didn't want anyone to know how much she wished to make it, to get there to make a difference. She frowned as he spoke about his head of house. "Maybe you could go to one of the other teachers-anyway he shouldn't be head of house if he's prejudiced. There's nothing wrong with Slytherin, and no-one says there's anything wrong with being muggleborn." she said crossly, she didn't like the idea of prejudice in the school. She had secret ambitions for her time at Hogwarts, she wanted to do well, and the thought that the school was corrupt didn't sit well with her. All of a sudden she had horrifying thoughts, maybe there were teachers who were death-eaters? Maybe the student body was in danger?

She shivered and closed off any unpleasant thoughts, turning her face toward Stefan once more. "I suppose, I mean it's part of who you are, I mean it makes you Stefan." she smiled. "And Stefan's pretty cool." she added, with a grin, hoping she'd make him blush. She knew what he was saying, but she couldn't imagine not seeing the beauty of the world around her. "Yes, definitely the first time." she laughed, resting her head on her hand. Her eyes sparkled, she had missed being around her friends-people she could trust. She smiled at the mention of quidditch. "Yep, chaser this year, seeker last year. I like it, and of course classes-I've been pretty shut out for the last while, people might think I've been expelled or something." she laughed, quidditch was amazing, and she felt so alive when she played. "What about you?" she asked, looking up at him expectantly.

Out of Character:

Sorry it's so late, but I haven't had any internet.