DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own many of the background characters. Some of the characters (Taseia, Faellen, Kairn, Seth and now Sienna as well in particular) I am the creator and owner of. So hands off please. The rest are copyright to J. K. Rowling.

Author's Note: Wow, I never thought when I started this that I would be getting this much support from everyone. You guys are the ones keeping me going, you know that right? I'm writing like a machine and loving every minute of it! Thank you for all your support, and I'm glad you liked Seth! This is a more Taseia oriented chapter cause she has to get through some crud before the story picks up, okay?

Mystixnight

Chapter 4 You're Not Who I Thought You Were

Taseia pushed the scrambled eggs in circles around her plate, full to the brim from another abundant Hogwarts breakfast... Seth had yet to drop that jovial grin on his maw, which wasn't a bad thing... She liked him. He had a pleasant, easy-going and more than a little mischievous manner. But it was all meant in the best of ways, she found.

Kairn kept making jibes at Faellen, all in that indifferent manner that only made it even more aggravating. Faellens hair had blazed thrice already, smoked five times and she had snarled twice. Kairn had noted with a mild bit of pleasure though, that he had found a balance between drawing out the anger and having textbooks chucked unceremoniously at his head.

Taseia found herself stuck in the position of mediator. She had to keep Faellen from losing it by taking her side in the arguments but do so subtly so as not to throw Kairn off and make him feel as though he might as well leave. Seth helped in this... He could side with Kairn with a little less rational planning to back his theories, therefore letting Faellen keep a slight lead. Taseia giggled. Yes, Seth wasn't the brightest light on the street, but what he lost in brains he made up for with an incredibly magnetic disposition and quick tongue.

"Good god... I know you're used to being on your own due to sociability problems, but must you cram that food in your face all at once?" Kairn's face twisted in a rare expression, this one displaying revulsion.

Seth and Faellen's heads both snapped up at the same time. Seth had been eating almost without utensils, face inches from his plate. As he paused a string of meat dangled precariously from his brimming mouth, which he snapped up quickly with a toss of his head.

Kairn had once thought Faellen as a light eater due to her thin frame. He had been wrong it seemed. The femme ate daintily, sawing small pieces off of the whole and placing them in her mouth with proper utensils. But this all took place in seconds, and she appeared to forget how to swallow. And so it built up and built up and built up... Not a pleasant sight, to put it neatly.

Seth looked over at Faellen who returned his quizzical glance with a shrug, and then back to Kairn, gesturing with a shake of his head. "'Er or 'e?" He mumbled through a mouthful of food...

Kairn shook his head in disgust and pushed himself away from the table... "Both..."

Taseia nearly fell off the bench laughing, hands clasped to her stomach, eyes welling with tears of mirth as she gasped for breath through the bursts. Through the haze of watering vision her eyes met a glance from the RavenClaw table.

Sienna's face displayed both hurt and anger... Taseia choked on her giggles and stumbled off the bench; mouthing an 'I'll be right back', to her friends.

As she drew forward Taseia noted the table was empty for all but Sienna sitting in the middle of it.

Her lips parted to express an apology, but Sienna spoke first. "I saved you a seat... But I guess you found a better one, huh?" Her words stung with bruised emotions, but a hint of anger as well.

Taseia shook her head, meaningfully, reaching out to her friend who backed out of her grasp. "I'm so sorry, Sienna... I bumped into a friend and my mind blanked. I'm really sorry about that... How long have you been waiting?"

"What does it matter? I can see you were having fun over there, sorry I ruined the party... I'll see you back at the common room, unless of course you find another house you like better." Brows furrowed and lower lip jutting the second year pushed herself back from the table and jogged out of the Great Hall.

"Sienna! Come on, Si!" Taseia's calls fell on deaf ears, as her friend was lost from view.

With a sigh of bitter regret and self-annoyance she slumped onto the bench, head in her hands. How did she forget? She had specifically asked Sienna to save her a seat, too... "Idiot!" She muttered to herself.

"You a'right?" A gruff, rather awkward voice questioned. Taseia smiled half- heartedly.

"Not exactly, Seth, but thanks for asking..." She didn't look over as he sat down 'side her.

"I dun' mind... What's the matt'r?" Brow moved in expression of concern 'hind the shaggy, unruly mass of hair that fell over his eyes.

"Nothing, Seth... Nothing," Taseia said, trying to keep her shoulders from sagging. "Just a few misunderstandings, that's all..."

"Oh, ok, then..." He muttered, avoiding her gaze. She smiled slightly. What an odd one... She noted his hand as it rose for the umpteenth time to scratch 'hind his ear.

"Why do you do that?" Her head tilted to the side, azure orbs reflecting her question.

He blinked, rubbing the side of his head. "Do what?"

Taseia laughed lightly. "That! Scratch behind your ear like that!"

He blinked again, jaw pushed to the side to give a quizzical, though eager expression as he dropped his hand and looked at it, 'fore avoiding her gaze again, looking up at the gold and royal blue hangings of RavenClaw above them... "Erm. Dunno."

Taseia's gaze was caught by a sudden flaming from the Slytherin table. She grinned again, shaking her head in half amusement and half reprimand. She got up from her seat, hooking her arm in Seth's elbow and pulling him up with her. Her other hand pointed to the Slytherin table, where Kairn had a plate held up in front of him as protection from the various eating utensils that were being chucked in his direction. "I think our mediation kills are needed back there..." She flashed a grin to her new friend, while still lamenting the current situation with an old one, and made her way back to the other table, leading Seth along behind her.

* * *

The night was a restless one for all four of the children.

Taseia's pillow was tear stained after a particularly nasty encounter with Sienna after she had returned to the common room that night, which had ended in tears for both involved.

Faellen burnt her pillow thrice, still steaming from her encounter with Kairn earlier that evening when the group had headed out for a walk around the grounds. He had a sharp tongue that one.

Seth was mentally pre-occupied with rather personal thoughts, tangled up in the sheets, head burrowed under his pillow and one arm dangling over the side of the bed.

And then there was Kairn who probably slept the worst of all. He shared a trait with Taseia that night, for thought none would have noticed it, as he stared up at the ceiling, flat on his back, that tears spilled silently down his face. Mouth was set in a firm grimace, chest rising and falling in smooth breathing, face impassive for all but the ever-flowing tears.

His chest burnt with the repression of the sorrow, lungs stabbing their protests at him for halting the sobs. Sobs for what? Or, more appropriately, for who? Who else...?

He chuckled dryly, throat hoarse. For what reason did the tears ever sting his eyes? His father.

* * *

Taseia woke late the next morning, rolling over on her back. Her gaze flickered out to the rolling hills beyond the windowpanes. The sun was already high in the clouded sky. A swim was out of the question then. She sat up groggily, focus falling listlessly over random aspects of the dormitory. It was empty but for one or two other students, taking advantage of the weekends late mornings.

She dropped her feet onto the floor and dressed in silence, emerging into the common room. She cringed inwardly at the sight of Sienna and a few others chatting pleasantly on the many couches that encircled the fireplace.

She moved silently, hoping she could pass out into the hallways unnoticed and be spared further hurt.

"Taseia!" She stopped, and with a sedated sigh turned around, knowing already who had called her and waiting for the beration to follow. She spun around in time to find herself, instead wrapped in a friendly embrace from Sienna.

"We've been waiting for you to wake up! You sleep like a rock, you know that? I couldn't have woken you up for love or money... Come on. We're starved. Ready for some breakfast?" She grinned jovially, shortly cropped brown hair tucked neatly behind her ears.

Taseia blinked, caught off guard by this warm welcome. "What? I thought you were... Weren't we...?" She blinked again as Sienna gaze her a questioning glance.

Taseia melted into a sense of relief, returning the grin. Sienna had chosen to forget about it. Why argue with a good thing? She nodded. "Ya, I feel like I haven't eaten in ages."

Walking companionably astride Sienna they made they're way among the group to the Great Hall.

* * *

Faellen caught a glimpse of a pointed hat and silver hair and waved over Seth and Kairn. "Found her!"

With a grin she loped over to her friend, smiling politely to the brow haired femme she was walking with. "We thought you'd gotten locked in the toilets or something! Didn't think you were the kind to wake up late..." She laughed. Kairn and Seth had caught up to them by now. Kairn had simply looked at Taseia's companions with vague acknowledgement, whilst Seth had grinned and given a slight tip of his dial.

Taseia turned to Faellen with a grin, laughing aloud. She opened her mouth to reply but all that came out was a startled mumble as Sienna pulled her to the RavenClaw table with a renewed burst of speed. "Ooh! Look! We have flapjacks this morning! And fresh maple syrup! The kitchen staff have outdone themselves again!" Her jaden eyes didn't even spare a glance in the way of Faellen, Seth and Kairn.

Taseia regained her breath as she was forcefully plopped down on the bench and had multiple strawberry's piled on her plate by an eager Sienna. "What's the rush, you never even got to meet them?" She queried. She searched the crowds in time to spot the receding figure of Kairn, scowl imprinted on his features as he followed the other two out the doors.

Sienna had a look of both disbelief and condescending pity on her face. "Come ON, Taseia...? Do you really want to be seen with people like 'them'? Really, Tai, you've already got us," she said while gesturing at the crowd of RavenClaws around them. "Who needs them... Besides, even if you did want to make some new friends, which is totally all right, does it have to be them? I mean look at them! That girl is an absolute freak! She burnt the Sorting Hat for crying out loud! She's a mess! I heard the reason she's so screwed up is because her parents thought she was such an absurdity that they shipped her off to some boarding school... I don't blame them."

Taseia looked at her 'friend' with disbelief. Was this really Sienna saying this? Petit, dainty little Sienna? Her jaw had dropped in shock and a portion of disgust as well. Sienna appeared not to notice, scooping syrup onto her pancakes as she continued on with her jabbering, incredulous to Taseia's expression.

"And then there's that Kuro, Kino-"

"Kairn," Taseia corrected automatically.

"Ya, that's right. That Kairn guy. What's his problem. I swear, he is the most messed up kid I have ever seen! He must be such an idiot! He looks so dull, I don't think a single intelligent thought has ever been inside that head. Rumor has it that his family got mixed up with You-Know-Who somehow and his dad got blown to pieces or something of the like. Ya, ya, so your dad's a pile of ashes, don't know how to crack a smile?" Sienna sneered and giggled as though she had said something incredibly funny or witty, piling a fork load of food into her mouth and cleaning herself with a napkin before continuing.

Taseia's jaw had dropped even further and her lips were curled in disgust, but once again Sienna continued on completely oblivious...

"And let's not forget that Seth kid! What a mess! Can you believe his hair? It's everywhere! Have you ever heard of a comb? And I heard he came late so he doesn't even HAVE a house, he just sleeps in the Hospital Wing! What a lark! I can just see him up there, getting tucked in by Pomfrey at night! What a riot!" She burst out into another round of giggles.

Taseia fought the urge to wretch as she watched Sienna, once her closest of friends at Hogwarts slowly turn into the most mentally sick person she had ever come in contact with.

"And what's with the ear scratching? I bet you he has fleas or lice or something and that's why he sleeps in the Hospital Wing, because they're afraid he'll spread it to the other students. Nasty!"

Taseia was hardly hearing her anymore, shocked into a state of immobility. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Sienna continued on her malicious tirade. "Now I know you're not too much of a prize yourself, Tai, I mean the silver hair was fun at first, but when it starts to grow out, let it. Dying your hair such passe colours is fun at first, but it wears off, honey..."

"My hair's not dyed..." Taseia murmured thickly.

Sienna rolled her eyes and contineud eating. "Sure it is, Tai..." She muttered as though just to shut Taseia up, The verbal abuse began again...

"And the hat? What ARE you trying to say with that? Is it some sort of a fashion statement? Once again, fun at first, but it just gets tired."

Taseia snapped slowly out of her disgusted reverie, standing up with such force she almost tipped the bench. Sienna seemed to notice her former friend for the first time since she had started her ranting. "What is your problem Taseia? Where do you think you're going?"

Taseia's face crinkled in revulsion. "Anywhere away from you."

She clambered over the bench and started for the grand oak doorway. But stopped as Sienna called over to her. "You're not going back to those freaks, are you? Who do you think you are? Without me you're just as much of an outcast as they are! I won't take you back you know!"

Taseia gagged and kept walking not bothering to reply. A last snarling shout was directed to her from the RavenClaw table. "If you're going to walk away from me, you're not who I thought you were, Taseia!"

Taseia turned slowly, gaze bitter, already smarting with tears. "And ever since that whole in your face started spewing those sick, twisted thoughts, I knew that you would NEVER be the person I thought you were again..."

Still fighting the tears that threatened to spill Taseia ran full-speed from the Great Hall, breathing ragged and eyes burning, before she fell to her knees as the lake's edge outside and let the tears come. Just as the rain broke through the clouds and fell to the earth in reflection of her misery...