Hurt so Good

Sarreaha:

The rain had abated a few days ago, however the streets of London still looked damp and muggy, as if it had just finished raining. However, many attributed this to the fact that there had yet to be a sunny day to dry the water from the shower. No, the sky had continued to be cloudy, however the plus was that it no longer rained.

Despite it not raining many people still carried umbrellas upon their person just in case. Sarreaha was no different; however, she only carried one because Olivia had pressed her to take one.

Olivia.

Sarreaha brooded over this. When she returned home from school she expected everything to be as it usually was. Was it? No. She entered her house to find a strange woman in the kitchen speaking, no laughing with her father. The very man who failed to pick her up at the train station! Sarreaha was usually light hearted and it took quite albiet to ruin her day. However, that morning had not gone well and her father forgetting to pick her up wasn't too unusual. No. The icing on the cake was the strange woman, who her father casually told her was living with them now, and he was dating.

He made no mention of this in any of his letters!! Why hadn't he told her? Sarreaha severly doubt that his job at the newspaper caused him to accidentally forget this information. She wouldn't have made fuss over the news. So why not inform her?

Suffice to say, Sarreaha and Olivia did not get off on the right footing and Sarreaha was now upset with her father. She could not stand it any longer to remain in the house and as soon as the rain was clear she was out and about. The last few days she had left early enough to avoid her father or Olivia. However, this morning the woman had been up and about making breakfast, probably to get on Sarreaha's goodside. As it was, Sarreaha had not eaten anything and had only zipped up her black sweatshirt and left the house, only to be stopped.

Manuovering her way through the streets, the umbrella bumped against her leg. She had tied the string of the contraption to the belt loop on her pants and had promptly forgotten about it. She wasn't rebellious or spiteful enough to throw the umbrella away, no she would carry the thing around. However, she didn't have to use it!

Sarreaha walked along the paved road of Muggle London until she came to the Leaky Cauldron where she promptly walked into the alley way. She watched as a few patrons left the Pub through the back door and opened the archway into Diagon Alley. It saved Sarreaha from having to do so. She followed the two witches and wizard into the Alley before she wandered off. Shoving her hands in the pockets of her sweatshirt, she slowed her step to look at the window displays.

Having little time this morning, Sarreaha's hair was not sporting the beads and strings that had been her trend towards the end of the school year. Instead the brown strands were twirled up in a ponytail with a few strands escaping to lay against her neck and shoulders. However, there was a difference to her hair, a bright green and blue streak was now visable in the strands that would make up her bangs, a few of said strands were resting comfortably against the side of her face. Dangly earrings hung from her ears, the earrings being small hoops with beads on wire hanging from them. As usual, no make-up adorn her face.

Besides the fore-mentioned black zip-up sweatshirt, Sarreaha also wore a black t-shirt with "Careful, I bite" in dark red lettering. A pair of faded blue jeans hugged her hips with tears in the knees and the cuffs being shredded and teared. Her normal bright orange shoes covered her feet. In away, Sarreaha was a specticle but not as severe as some who walked the streets were. However, Sarreaha' attire was what it was because she liked what she wore.

Looking at the store windows, a frown covered her lips. She had little money upon her person, another thing she had forgotten this morning, so she could not really shop but only broswe. Not that she would buy much anyway.

As she stopped infront of a window to look closer at the item in the center, Sarreaha was moved her spot brusquely by another person walking into her. She reached a hand out to keep herself upright, she fingers grasping the brickwork of the store.

Devon:

Devon had had enough. He was so sick of pretending, pretending to be just fine, he wasn't. After some excuses about meeting an none-existing friend, that had set his mother on fire with questions of who and where to meet, Devon had managed to escape his own mess and leave for Diagon Alley. Even though he felt as though he had had it with his family, he still felt guilty somehow, like it was all his fault. That is was his fault for being such a silent boy, never talking, that it was his fault for pushing himself further away from his siblings, this it was his fault that he was haunted by dreams.

The streets of Diagon Alley was still damp and as Devon walked in his usual laid-back slow phase, he felt the part of his torn and faded jeans that touched the asphalt, became wet. Devon's hair was as messy as ever, bed head as his sister at times called him, and he was wearing an off-white faded t-shirt with the words "Dream Catcher" printed on in curled, old gothic black letters. Even though he didn't feel cold, no matter how gloomy the weather was, Devon had taken his mother's advice to put on an unzipped casual black jacket. Not one made from demin, but just regular fabric. In his black converse shoes, Devon really had no destination set in his mind.

As he walked, he came to think about that last dream he had. It was one of the most disturbing so far, it didn't make sense, not at all. The act in the dream was crazy and did not seem to follow the plot line of reality. But as always, a masked, dark, hidden woman came and haunted him. Sometimes in the background of his dreams, sometimes it was her he was dreaming of, but always, always, was she there. Devon touched his forehead, whenever he though about his dreams they gave him an ungraceful headache.

Wrapped up in his own mind, Devon failed to notice a girl standing right in front of him, and he walked right into her. Devon's eyes snapped open and he grabbed one of the girl's wrists to prevent her from falling, it was as if he had know it was going to happen without realizing it himself. Time seemed to stand still for a second before Devon spoke with his usual dark, mysterious voice, his dark olive eyes that most people took for brown, held the girl's eyes.

"I'm so sorry."

Devon took the girl in, and recalled her face from some of his classes. Devon did know how to recognize a face, although his memory in names was not that clear. He slightly wondered if the girl would recall him, but came to conclusion that since he rarely spoke in class, that she would probably not.

"Are you okay?" Devon added, he suddenly did not want to seem as withdrawn as he always did.

Sarreaha:

As Sarreaha had stumbled slightly in the collision she felt fingers slide around her other wrist helping to prevent her from falling as well. It seemed both her attacker, term used loosely, and herself were in like minds about keeping her off the ground. For this she was thankful, she wasn't too keen about having a wet butt, the result if she had fallen on the wet cobble stones of the Alley.

Satisfied that she was still upright and her balance was in place, Sarreaha turned her attention to her companion as he spoke. If his voice invoked anything in Sarreaha it was intrigue. She turned her brown eyes to look at him, her eyes getting caught as his gaze held hers. Her brown eyes took his appearance in in a matter of moments, her memory flashing to find where she recognized him from. The boy wasn't completely correct in his thought that she would not recall him. As she did. However, she could only remember his face and that he went to Hogwarts, at least she thought he did.

She examined his appearance, taking a small interest in his eye color as she could not decide what color they were exactly and eye color was one of many thing she found interesting about a person's appearance, as each person's eye color was different in someway. Belatedly she realized that he had spoken again, asking her if she was alright. A slight blush tinged her cheeks for a moment. She probably appeared as an airhead for the amount of time it was taking her to respond and the fact she was staring at him.

Chastising herself for her thoughts and prolonging her response, Sarreaha finally managed to stammer, "Y-yes, I'm fine." She paused a moment to collect her thoughts. "Thank you," she then said. A confusing statement, considering he had walked into her. So why would she be thanking him. She seemed to realize this as she grimanced. "I mean, for keeping me from sitting on the ground..." she trailed off. She was digging herself a hole with her babbling as that was a babble. Sarreaha rarely babbled. Why was she babbling now? With her free hand, as neither of them realized yet that he had not released her wrist, she brushed her hair behind her ears, a nervous habit.

Devon:

She was pretty, it hit Devon. Very pretty. Brown glowing eyes and a small figure. Devon was taller than her, probably because he had grown remarkably much over the summer, making his just a tiny bit lanky, although he did not slouch. But it was her eyes that captivated Devon, as he suddenly took interest in them. They were deep somehow. Devon was not the one to read people like an open book, but he was not blind either.

Devon saw the girl's cheeks burn slightly and he smirked a bit at the girl's stutter and replies. It may have seemed as a rude gesture, but it was not like that in Devon's mind. He didn't mean anything about it. Slowly, the smirk turned into half a smile as she babbled. She was cute.

"Falling, must have been an awful embarrassing situation. I doubt anyone would have wanted it. I'm glad I helped to prevent it." Devon said.

He did not know where his sudden feeling of speech came from, but he suddenly felt as if speaking to her didn't hurt anyone, not even himself. As Devon rarely ever spoke in conversations, he had over time changed slightly. Both in good ways and bad ways. It seemed that everyone that attended Hogwarts changed slightly over time...

Devon still looked into the girl's brown eyes, he did not realize he was still holding her hand, but suddenly he did. As most guys probably would have pulled away abruptly, he did not, he merely let go of her wrist and let his hand fall to his side.

"I'm Devon Nutosk by the way." Devon said and offered his name. He wondered if she would exchange hers in return, and he found himself hoping that she would.

Sarreaha:

Although Sarreaha's mind was pre-occupied with her situation and such, her eyes still worked to allow her to see his responses to her actions and words. If it had been anyone else, they probably would have felt insulted as the boy smirked as she stuttered but Sarreaha knew she wasn't being that ... well for lack of better term, normal in her replies so she did not hold it against him if he found her responses amusing. However, it did nothing to help her outlook on her she was appearing towards him.

If anything, she was sure he'd remember her as the airhead he ran into who babbles. However, when he spoke, Sarreaha relaxed a little bit mentally. She wasn't sure if he was just humoring her or actually symphansized with her but at least he was not teasing her. Wait, why would she think that? Part of her mind remembered something about the boy, however she didn't think it was part of his personality ... house perhaps?

"I'd survive the embarrassment," she then said with a soft smile in response, "it's the wet bottom I'm happy to have avoided." Sarreaha attention was drawn to his hand when he released her wrist. It wasn't a sudden movement, it had a natural movement to it. She probably would not have noticed if she had not felt the release of pressure.

"Sarreaha Ailk," she said in response to his introduction. His name she stored away in her memory. She brushed away the vague recollection; she was somewhat annoyed with herself that she did not recognize him instantly, however she did not dwell on it as she knew she could not know everyone who went to Hogwarts. It was pretty close to impossible.

Devon:

Devon's half smile stayed in place as she replied. He didn't know why, but it seemed as though his previous troubles had just disappeared for the current time, and Devon did not mind at all. If anyone could take Devon's mind off his troublesome dreams, they definitely had deserved his attention as well as words. Devon kept his eyes on the girl's eyes, it seemed as if he could not take them away from her golden brown orbs.

Sarreaha...

Devon recalled the name as it had been said it class, next time he saw her, he would be sure to remember the name with the face. And at this point, Devon found it hard to imagine to forget a name like that. It seemed that Sarreaha had made quite an impression on Devon, for making him so sure that he would remember her, and it was not in a negative way, someone who could keep Devon's half smile on his face sure stepped right, so to speak.

"Sarreaha...quite unusual." Devon commented. "I like it."

Devon was shocked over his own words. Not only did he proceed on with his strangely found speech, but he was sharing his own opinion on a name, a girl-who-he-had-only-met-'s name. He told her he liked her name. Devon felt incredibly stupid.

I like it? Devon scolded at himself. Yes he liked the name, didn't mean he had to say it out loud. But, as most Slytherin's, his inner battle was not to be seen as he was as laid-back as ever. The only difference between the other Slytherin's and Devon was that they were hiding behind a mask, Devon was not, he simply kept most of things to himself. It was a habit.

Sarreaha:

She smiled slightly when he said he liked her name. However, she believed him when he said so. One could not always tell when someone is telling the truth. Very few people would be honest and say something that would hurt the person. Although Sarreaha's name was unique she hated it at times. Most times when people mispronounced it.

"Thanks ... I believe it's a mixture of French and English ..." she said, her voice holding a French accent telling of part of her orgins. "A play on the English name Sarah ... I don't know how my parents came up with it." Sarreaha wasn't certain if she had babbled again. She thought she did. Afterall, didn't she give more information than she needed to? What was wrong with her?

Despite her own embarrassment, Sarreaha was in a better mood than when she left home. Her thoughts had been moved away from her anger and hurt towards her father and his mistrust towards Olivia. Feelings Sarreaha was not used to feeling, let alone expressing.

Part of Sarreaha realized that Devon was not usually a talker, this may have been what prompted her next question, to save him from continuing the conversation. Howevever, after she spoke she felt her question may dig too deep or at least bring up things one wishes to forget. She knew in her case it was true.

"What brings you to Diagon Alley?"

It was silly question and also a common one, but it was something at least.

Devon:

Devon's half smile became a half smile, half smirk as Sarreaha started to babble again. He normally found blabbering quite annoying, seeing at it had little affect on him, but the thought of annoyance didn't even cross his mind as he was standing there with his eyes on hers.

"I could tell." Devon replied about her name being french-ish. He had never really come across someone with that type of name before, and it set an impression. At least it weren't as common as Devon, at least not in his mind.

"What brings you to Diagon Alley?" Sarreaha wondered.

Devon wondered slightly over what to tell her. The hurting truth was silly really and not really appropriate to tell someone you'd first met, Devon though. Saying I just wanted to get away from home wasn't really something you said to anyone, it wasn't common, was it?

"Nothing reasonable really." Devon decided not to lie. What good came from lying anyway? Instead he just didn't go into details. "And you?" Devon asked in return. And once again he was surprised by his own actions, it was as though he was not himself right now. Or perhaps this was a glint of the true Devon that would have talked if given a chance.

Sarreaha:

Once more Devon had set her at ease after her babbling mistake but she still felt stupid. However, she pushed it from her mind. It didn't do her any good to dwell on it since she hadn't been able to keep herself from babbling.

When Devon turned the question back on her, Sarreaha felt no qualms about saying her reason. "To get away from home," she said. Thinking over her reasons it seemed so childish the way she was acting but she rarely acted angry and felt she deserved this one time at least. "My father was, for lack of better words, a poo-head and didn't tell me something that affects my life as well as his." She didn't go into details but she gave enough that one could form a decent guess. On the plus she didn't babble and she did not press her troubles on to him. She gave enough information should he be curious but not enough to truly be called pouring her troubles.

She had frowned as she spoke. She had momentairly forgotten those troubles at home. Sarreaha had been wishing lately that the term had already started for school so she could lose herself in the happenings of school. It was so much easier that way. However she knew she couldn't avoid it forever and it would probably be better to get it done and over with.

Probably.

Devon:

Devon felt intrigued by Sarreaha as she talked, and he felt very surprised as she laid down her personal life for him. She had just only met him, and still she cold be this honest. Perhaps that was what people did these days, because just how much time had Devon spent round people really? Not much, so what did he know of how to behave and how not to, all he knew was that whenever he talked, he talked about what he felt comfortable about giving away. And giving out details, small or not, about his life, was not something he was comfortable about. Being the closed person he was, getting under his skin was hard enough by itself, and to make him talk...

Devon saw the small frown on Sarreaha's face and wondered if perhaps the whole get away from home deal was more serious than what it seemed. Looks are deceiving... yes, that phrase he'd heard too often. And than phrase went both ways, good and bad. Someone who was nice to everyone, could be a mean bitch on the inside, and someone who didn't really associate with anyone, could be the nicest person if only opening up...

"Sometimes..." Devon begun, he was slightly amazed by himself to keep his normal self on the outside when new feelings he'd never felt before ran inside him. "parents do mistakes that can hurt their childern... and sometimes without realizing it themselves."

Devon was speaking from experience, it wasn't such a big deal like this probably was, but it still hurt. Devon could imagine that whatever Sarreaha was talking about, probably had more effect on her than his past had had on him considering that he was only a child then.

"Although, it still hurts the same." Devon added and looked away from Sarreaha's open eyes. Saying what he had just said required that, because if Sarreaha was good at reading people, she would have seen the anger in his eyes as he said his last sentence, and Devon did not want Sarreaha to see that.

Sarreaha:

Although Sarreaha had missed seeing the anger in his eyes she still felt something was amiss. Many people talked as they find, from their own life experiences. Sarreaha knew this; she wouldn't spend the majority of her time observing people without picking this little tidbit up. She observed the side of his face silently, as he had looked away.

A moment passed briefly before she spoke again, "Pain is a big part of life ... and some have more than others." She was not speaking about herself in the latter portion. Despite her parents being divorced and her bopped between France and England and now this Olivia dealings Sarreaha could not say she had a painful life. She didn't have the happy-dappy one that some people could boast of but she had it decent.

"But in time, most of the pain does pass become only a memory," she then said. "If one lets it," she then added with a mild shrug of her shoulders. She knew there were flaws in her outlook but she still thought it.

"But my father knew what he was getting into, he just didn't know how to tell me, or so he said, for the past ... five months or so," she then said, scrunching her nose up briefly before she looked at the store window again. She had changed the subject smoothly back to her own troubles. Not because she wanted to dwell on them but because she felt the turn her comments had been taking would dig too deep into Devon. It was just the vibe she felt. She didn't know if she was correct but Sarreaha acted on her intuition and most times, note not all, she proved to do correct, if not always completely.

If anything, Sarreaha did not want to dig. She didn't want to be told anything unless one wanted to tell her. However, with Devon she didn't know that this was already the case. That he watched his words but then she would not be herself if she did not act on what she knew and felt.

Devon:

"If one lets it..." Devon let the words escape his lips in a whisper as he pondered over them. He knew how to let go, he just didn't think it was possible to let go of what was now, at home. Or at least in his life. But he was grateful that Sarreaha had not asked him anything about his actions, because we wouldn't have had an answer.

Devon slightly kept his small gaze on the people walking by, it was as if now, now that he had looked away from her eyes, that he saw his own actions from a new light, what he had said and the fact that he had said anything at all. He glanced at Sarreaha again, hoping to catch her eyes, his own not telling what took him so long to reply.

"So, you're father's a twit then?" Devon half smirked, half smiled in a jokily matter.

Perhaps the way things had turned out were a bit too dark for Devon's liking. He did not mind the dark, but Sarreaha seemed to be such a light person, and bringing her down could do no good. As Devon was comfortable in the dark, he doubted Sarreaha would say the same.

Devon wondered if Sarreaha always was like this, she seemed rather good with people. Once again, Devon knew it was all on himself for not being more social, perhaps it just came more natural to others than people like for an example he. And then it hit Devon, he remembered.

"You're a Hufflepuff, right?"

Devon figured, school should be a safe aria to talk about, school generally held so much, and had little to say of your personal life, that he knew. He being a Slytherin, knew how easily people could change, he bet half the people in his house weren't really the people they were at home. Or maybe it was the other way around, perhaps people truly became themselves by going to Hogwarts...

Sarreaha:

Sarreaha blinked when asked if her father was a twit then, she could tell he wasn't being serious and a light smile graced her lips. She was not offended. "Yes, I suppose you could call him one," she said. "Although since I live with him and from his blood, wouldn't that mean I have twit-ish tendencies as well?" She inquired with a slight smile. She knew Devon couldn't give a correct answer to that question. Afterall they had only just met.

As she spoke, she had turned her gaze back on him. It was nicer to speak to an actual person than to a store front window. The person, if one was lucky, may actually reply. Not that she had much practice talking to store front windows...

She arched a brow when he asked for confirmination that she was in Hufflepuff. "Yes, I am," she said slowly. "You're not going to attribute some of the Hufflepuff Stereotypes to me now are you?" she questioned, observing him wearily. Hufflepuff was one of houses that had received the worse of the stereotypes. Being called fluff brains and cowards among other things.

Sarreaha was happy to be in Hufflepuff but it was annoying to have those stereotypes proceed you, you as a person. A person was not their house, they each had their individual personalities. It just happened that one had more that fit with one house than the next.

She did not ask for his house; she had a fair idea which he belonged to. However, it just didn't matter to her. As one could have guessed by her response on stereotypes, Sarreaha didn't buy into the house classification. She waited to know the person before she formed any judgment to pass over them. What right had she to do that, to judge, if she did not even know the person past a passing glance?

Devon:

Devon, as well as Sarreaha, hated stereotypes. He didn't really judge people on what house they were in or what they wore or how they acted. Just look at Devon, he was a good example. Although he had some of the "qualities" of his house, he still didn't life by it as some sort of law. He didn't seem cold, perhaps withdrawn, but that had nothing to do with unfriendliness. No, Devon was probably one of the last people on earth to judge anyone that quickly and based on a house.

Devon had just suddenly remembered Sarreaha's face from class, and he could vaguely remember that she had been somehow connected with the Hufflepuff. When he had asked his question, it had been more like a statement that a question.

"No I won't, unless a fluff head is what you prefer." Devon smirked with a small light shrug as he knew how much the Hufflepuff house had been labeled. "Stereotypes are silly really." Devon added.

He watched Sarreaha carefully, he did not want to offend her, not that it had been what he had aimed for. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

Sometimes, when it came to houses, Devon wondered what made them all fit in where they were to fit in. Devon knew he weren't brave enough to land in Slytherin, or book smart enough to land in Ravenclaw, and it just didn't fit his personality to be in Hufflepuff...yet, it did not seem as though he fitted Slytherin that much either. But what did it really matter anyway?

The Slytherin half blood, the Slytherin quiet boy who doesn't give a damn about who he talks to, half blood, muggle borns... Devon knew what some of the other Slytherin's said about him. But, being Slytherin gave him one some ups, it seemed that people thought all Slytherin's were unfriendly if disturbed, therefore they left Devon alone, although Devon found that strange when he knew how nasty a Ravenclaw could be if disturbed in their studies.
That was just another crazy idea invented by the steriotypes...although his house kept him out of trouble, it made it even more difficult for him to actually meet someone. But it didn't seem as Sarreaha had cared whether or not Devon was in Slytherin, and Devon found that strangely reassuring.

Sarreaha:

Sarreaha gave a small sigh, "I'd rather be labeled for what I actually am," she said with a slight smile. "And if that happens to be a fluff-head then I guess it can't be helped." Sarreaha did not comment on what she was in reality. As in truth, she did not know. She did not sit down and critique herself as some might do, nor did she listen to the things people called her, if anything. However, Sarreaha was probably just a Hufflepuff. Plain and simple.

She did not draw attention to herself, much and nor did she go out of her way to meet and talk with new people. Sure, she would talk with those who talked with her but past that there was very little interaction. In this way she was a loner, a creature of dark. However, the dark always had so many levels to shift through and each depended on a person's perspective.

She then shrugged her shoulders, "But dwelling on it doesn't do anything," she stated. However, it was hard to to tell if she spoke more to him or herself.

When a drop of rain fell, followed by another and another to form a light sprinkle, Sarreaha merely glanced at the sky in thought. She didn't move to open the umbrella at her side. The contraption was indeed forgotten, although she would not have used if she had remembered it. No, the rain didn't bother her in the least. However, there was little bother to be had by a light sprinkle.

She turned her gaze back to Devon as she said, "Seems the rain had returned home." She did not expect it to be a long duration without rain. It never was when the dark clouds loomed above. However, it was always a question of when it would release and how hard.

But Sarreaha oddly found it a relief. She did know why. If it kept up she would be holed up in the house again, but strangely she was not bothered by this. Maybe because she tasted this freedom, and met and talked with someone new. Maybe. However, she doubt her mind would feel the calm long once she was there.

Devon:

Devon only nodded his head at her replies, he liked to listen to people, a quality most people didn't have, let alone boys. But as one must probably discover, Devon wasn't like most boys his age. Most boys his age would probably have left by now or said something incredibly corny. Devon liked to listen to people talk, only sometimes the person he was listening to, had no value of speech.

"I guess not." Devon commented to her odd comment. Devon weren't sure whom she was really referring to, but he decided to comment anyway.

Suddenly he could feel the rain fall and he smiled inwardly. He didn't mind the rain at all. It was as if time stood still where he could only see the eyes of the girl standing in front of him as they were both slowly being soaked.

"Seems the rain has returned home." Sarreaha said and looked at Devon. He caught her eyes as if in a trance. He was fascinated by them, they seemed like they were almost glowing.

"Things always seems to find their way home eventully..." Devon said mysteriously as he held her gaze. He was now being totally soaked, his slightly curly hair was much more noticeable to the fact now that it was wet. It was raining heavier and people by their sides were running, trying to get shelter from the rain. The rain sounded like drums as it hit the ground, and both teens were just standing, or so it seemed.

"We should get inside." Devon whispered barely noticeable, but loud enough for Sarreaha to hear. His wet hair hung in his eyes and droplets of water was running like small rivers on his back. Although what he had said, Devon made no effort in trying to move, it was as if he had grown into the ground. It was like a magic moment where the teens were the only ones not moving.

Strange when that happens. Yet, no matter how strange, those moments seems to be the moments that you'll somehow remember...

Sarreaha:

"Ah, but sometimes they return too late," she said in response to his own comment. The way he spoke, mysteriously, did not seem at all to throw Sarreaha. She just moved ahead and didn't dwell too long on how he said something but rather what he said and what it could mean.

She grinned turning her gaze back to the sky, she closed her eyes briefly enjoying the moist, cold droplets falling on her face. After he spoke again, Sarreaha did not respond right away, no she lingered longer with her enjoyment before she looked back to him. She noticed how he had spoken but did not move. The rain by then had started to come down harder.

"You can if you like," she said, "I prefer to stay out here ... the rain does not bother me." She removed her sweatshirt, tying it around her waste. Although, she would now become colder Sarreaha did not mind. She just did not want the sleeves of the sweatshirt to stick to her arms, limiting her mobility. True her shirt could also be assumed to do that but the shirt was not as heavy as the sweatshirt and hence easier to move in it.

"Do you like the rain?" she then asked, looking at him, as he still stood there. Her eyes took in his appearance and she found that she liked the fact that his curls were more accented when wet.

Sarreaha was bustled slightly from her spot when someone with an umbrella rushed by them. She did not fall, luckily, however, her shoulder received the blunt of the bustle as she was pushed out of the way. The person continued on without even one utterance of an apology. Sarreaha merely stuck her tongue out at the back of the person, or rather umbrella, and rubbed her now sore shoulder. Her actions were childish to an extent but in away she was also being mature as she did not insult the person nor try to get even.

She turned her attention back to Devon, who she now standing closer to thanks to the person with the umbrella. The person did serve one good thing, and not the hurting Sarreaha's shoulder part, it reminded her that they were on a busy street.

"D'you want to go somewhere less busy and crowded?"

Devon:

Devon glanced at Sarreaha and nodded his head slightly. He watched as she removed her sweatshirt, he would have done the same if he had had one too. Heavy sticking sweatshirts weren't something he preferred.

"Do you like the rain?" Devon's eyes looked for Sarreaha's as she spoke to him. He saw her glance on his curls and couldn't help but to wonder if he thought they were silly. Rather a silly thought all in one.

"I do not mind it, really." Devon stated. And he didn't. The rain was a relief really. Devon was about to say something else as a person brushed by Sarreaha, hitting her shoulder. Devon's hand shot up naturally and landed on her shoulder, almost as if it was meant to be there, it did not seem like neither Sarreaha nor Devon noticed his actions. For a split of a second, Devon wanted to curse the person. His eyes followed the person's neck until he was gone.

Devon's eyes glanced down at Sarreaha again to find her several inches closer, much closer. It make his heart suddenly skip a beat, especially as he suddenly realized that his hand was left on her shoulder, but even so, he still didn't take it away. He only kept his eyes on her with a almost soft smile.

"Jerk. Are you okay?" he asked mildly. The rain kept puring down harder and faster now, the streets seemed foggy as the rain slightly splashed back up as it hit the ground.

Pondering slightly over her question, Devon decided to take her offer. "Sure, why not, where do you want to go?" Devon asked and naturally let his hand slide from her shoulder and down, as he did so, his hand touched her hand, making his heart skip a beat again. What was this feeling he was having? Devon did not know, or maybe he did... maybe he was just scared because he knew.

Sarreaha:

"I'm fine ... nothing more than a bruised shoulder probably," she said lightly. "If I'm lucky maybe the guy will have something bruised as well," she paused to think before she shrugged it off with a "Probably not."

Sarreaha had received the blunt of the impact, so she found it unlikely that the other person would suffer more than a slight throbbing pain that would subside in a matter of moments. Fate always played such cruel jokes. Or then, maybe it was just human nature that made them wish that the other person received just as much, or more, pain than they had caused them. Fate, human nature, they could be considered one in the same depending on the situation.

Sarreaha had paid no visable attention to the fact that his hand had reached out to grab her shoulder in the collision with the umbrella jerk, nor when he removed his hand, it touching hers on the way. Although an open person, Sarreaha thoughts and feelings were not always worn on her sleeves for the public to see.

A grin graced her features when Devon agreed to go somewhere else. "Somewhere less crowded ... the park shouldn't be to crowded I would think. Come." Without much thought, she took hold of his hand as she started towards the small park that made its home in Diagon Alley. Sarreaha did not give thought as to whether he would minded her taking hold of his hand as such. Instead, in the back of her mind, she told herself if he minded he would break free from her grasp. It was not as if she was holding his hand in a tight grip.

The rain still fell in a heavy dosage and yet there were still people running through Diagon Alley, either with umbrellas or their coat collars up. It was to be expect. Businesses still needed to run and lives still needed to be lived. There were very few people who could afford the luxary just to stay home when it started to rain. However, the rain in London had become a way of life.

Devon:

Devon nodded slightly as Sarreaha suggested the park. He was about to reply as she took his hand and lead him with her. A image of a man flashed before his eyes by her touch, and it was gone as soon as it had appeared. Devon blinked slightly and realized that the streets were still a bit busy making it somewhat difficult to move if there were to be a gap between their holding hands. Naturally, Devon without realizing it, walked closer to Sarreaha and followed her. He didn't mind her small hand in his slightly bigger hand. Her hands seemed warm, while his hands seemed to be forever cold. Devon shrugged it off and let his thoughts drift somewhere else.

For being a rather shy, withdrawn person, Devon sure found this whole incident weird. Firstly, being social wasn't his thing... secondly, being with a rather pretty girl was not his at all and thirdly, being spontaneous about a situation was so far from his normal self that Devon hadn't even thought it all over.

As they came to the small park, Devon saw that it was still a bit green from the summer, although a bit grey. A small playground was there as well and the whole place smelled like wet forest. It was almost as Sarreaha had said, the place was in fact abandoned. But who wanted to have their children to play in the soaking rain anyway?

Devon glanced at Sarreaha and how her hair seemed to hang so naturally around her face, and how her brown eyes shined. He smiled inwardly. His day had turned from miserably to something unexpected...

Sarreaha:

Entering the park, Sarreaha noticed the distinct lack of people. She had not been completely sure that the park would be empty, even in the rain. There were crazy people who went out in the rain. Just look at her; she couldn't say anything about Devon, as it seemed to her that she had almost dragged him along with her. She wasn't sure why she stayed. It could not be comfortable staying out in the rain.

Sarreaha herself was already feeling the cold from being soaked and despite it still being summer, being soaking wet one still got cold pretty quick. It was odd how it worked. However, she did not let it get to her and she just kept moving. It was easier to keep moving than to dwell on the fact of being cold or any other discomfort.

Her brown eyes taking in the park, they rested on the small playground. She gave a grin to Devon before she released his hand and walked over to the swingset before she took a seat on one of the swings. She didn't swing but rather used it as a bench, she arms wrapped partly around the chains of the set to rest on her lap. She rocked lightly back and forth.

"Do you often stay out in the rain? Or is today my lucky day?" she questioned Devon looking at him with a smile. She was content to just sit on the swing. It would have been a rather pretty scene except for the fact that it was pouring rain instead of a bright sunny day that usually came to mind in such situations.

Devon:

Devon watched as Sarreaha walked over to a swing as seated herself down. It all seemed as a very pretty scene, even in the rain. As Devon didn't mind the rain, it didn't bother him nor disturb the scene in front of him. Devon saw Sarreaha rocking slightly back and forth, and he walked over to her and seated himself on the swing next to her. He however, did not rock back and forth, he only sat there.

Devon looked up as Sarreaha asked him if he often stayed in the rain. A small smirk spread across his lips. "Today is your lucky day." he said. He didn't say it to be cocky, it was just a joke. Although in Devon's mind it sounded a bit unlike him, or perhaps is WAS him. How could he really know? He rarely spoke with anyone, he didn't even have many aquintanced... so maybe. No, Devon shrugged it off. Why dwell on things instead of just do things naturally.

"What about you? Are you a rain-person?" Devon wondered, a hint of his smirk lingering on his lips with a small smile.

Sarreaha:

Sarreaha laughed softly as he confirmed that it was her lucky day. "So it is," she said with a smile. She fell silent until he spoke again asking if she was a rain-person. She smiled again. "Sometimes," she said, "it depends on my mood."

She walked backwards, keeping her legs straight as she sat on the seat of the swing. She wrapped her fingers around the chain of the swing as she looked at him. "Why don't you care for rain usually? Or just don't like being out in it?" she asked, continuing on the rain conversation. Sarreaha was usually fascinated by the rain. She didn't always spend time out in it but she loved to sit somewhere dry and warm and just watch the droplets fall.

The rain was rather soothing. Already, even out in it, Sarreaha had calmed down from her aggrivation towards her home troubles. However, if only that could work when she was trapped in the house with said annoyances.

"How do you view?" she then asked, curious. The rain symbolized so many different things to different people. It was always hard to pin point what people thought of anything.

Devon:

Devon smiled inwardly at all her questions, he had stayed still, even in her small pause. It seemed that this girl could keep a conversation running forever, and Devon didn't mind at all. He was intrigued by her and her curiosity. For Devon would never had thought that one person could ask him all these questions, that one person would bother to ask him. And if they did, he would surely answer them.

"I don't know why I feel so indifferent about the rain." Devon said after a small pause where he had just looked at her. "I don't really like the feeling of having wet clothes stick to me." he then continued. Perhaps that last statement held more than what he was letting on. He was not used to contact, not with other persons and certainly not clothes. A small smiled lingered on his lips with that thought.

"Yet again, I find some sort of comfort in the rain. I like to watch it." Devon said musing. He rarely mused out loud, but he found that he could in this situation. And he was glad. Perhaps he had found what he had been looking for. A friend?

"The rain..." Devon stopped. "I have different views on the rain for different situations." He finished with a mysterious smile. "Why do you care so much for the rain anyways? Does it fascinate you?" Devon asked, trying to ease his curiosity as well.

Sarreaha:

"Well, it does get very uncomfortable," she said in response to his indifference towards the rain. "I just don't like the cold that follows being soaked," she said with a small grin before he he asked her about the rain.

Turning her face towards the sky, her eyes concentrating on the clouds as she thought how to answer. "Yes, it does fascinate me," she said. That part was easy. "Although, in that case, one could say that water fascinates me as well, considering rain is after all only water..."

"But I don't usually make a habit of sitting out in it. I prefer to watch it from inside cozy sun room..." she then said. It was true, Sarreaha didn't need much to continue a conversation. However, like anyone she has her bad days and can't always keep a conversation going. That was starting to happen as her mind drew a blank.

Instead of saying anything further, she lifted up her feet, tucking them under her swing a few inches above the ground, as the swing swished forward. As she swung to a halt she replaced her feet upon the muddy ground.

Devon:

It seemed for Devon, that he couldn't help but to like Sarreaha's answers. Small talk. A usually avoided small talk, he saw no point of it, but it seemed now that his views were changing. Perhaps small talk was needed for getting to know someone. Devon let a small smile play on his lips as Sarreaha told him that rain was in fact water. She had her quirks.

"I like to sit in my room in the night and watch and listen to the rain. I guess that's when I don't feel so indifferent about it." Devon let a part of him slip out. Perhaps he should make a go for it. Why could it do him anyways?

Devon watched as Sarreaha seemed to become a bit withdrawn, or perhaps it was just him. Devon wasn't that good at reading people, he was just good at watching them. Sarreaha seemed to be so innocent, it hit Devon.

"So, you do speak French then?" Devon asked as he recalled her saying something about her name being a mixture. And her accent kind of gave her away too. Even though Devon might be smart kid, he still knew little about holding a conversation. So he stated the obvious and went forward slowly. People might find it funny, but that was just the way he was. Everyone had their quirks and personalities.

Sarreaha:

Sarreaha listened to ther ain in the small silence that had selttled over them until Devon spoke again. She looked at him as he asked her a question. She was somewhat surprised when he introduced a new conversation. Despite the facts he did not know him well, she had picked up on the fact that he didn't really seem the conversationalist type. If only for the fact that she had seemed to have been doing most of the talking and he only really speaking when she directed a question towards him or to make a comment.

"Yes, I do ..." she said. "Although, only for when I visit my mother and siblings. They live in France while I live with my father here in London." She shrugged her shoulders lightly. There wasn't really much she could say on the subject. After all, there was really only so much that could be said on any topic really until one started to repeat themselves.

However, Sarreaha didn't realize that she had shared another section of her life with him in her answer. Sometimes she spoke without really thinking of the implications towards herself. She was more atune towards other people other people than herself. However, it was probably just the way she was.

"Do you speak any other languages?" she then decided to ask, if only to keep the conversation flowing. However, she had a feeling she already knew the answer to her question.

Devon:

Catching her eyes, Devon found himself feeling rather stupid. Even he, someone without a social life, could see that his sudden change of topic was a bit unusual. Devon tried to shrug it off, but it stayer din the back of his mind with all the other things he had. Like his dreams. Devon half listened to Sarreaha's reply as he also thought of his dreams. He pushed them further back into his mind as he caught the words that came from Sarreaha.

If he had been more aware of the situation, he might have realized that she had given away information about herself, but for now he only took it in and didn't think of it any further than just to accept it. Quite fine actually. Devon glanced down and up again when he heard her return the question, it was rather obvious that it would happen really, so Devon weren't really surprised.

"Not really." Devon said slowly. "But I do know some few Russian words." Devon's said and led his small information to her imagination. She could probably imagine anything. That he had some sort of family there, or that he just wanted to learn the language, it really was all up to Sarreaha.

Because unlike Sarreaha, Devon did not give up information about himself that easily, and just as Sarreaha, Devon did it without realizing it himself. It was just the way he was. Withdrawn. Loner. Although he was a person like anyone else, he was just used to be in the dark. He wasn't like his family, he was different.

Sarreaha:

Sarreaha nodded her head slightly when he answered her question. She then remained silent, just rocking gently on the swing. However, her eyes were focused on him, observing him. Contary to belief, Sarreaha could recall seeing him around the school, however he did not leave a strong mark in one's mind. Almost as if he was just part of the background.

In a way that disturbed Sarreaha. There had to be a reason for such actions, hadn't there? There was always a reason behind everything a person's does. Whether for something they can't control the simple reason that they liked doing it. Even though Sarreaha could recall Devon, and more now that she thought about him, she did not place the two red-headed Nutosks as being related to him, however she didn't even know who his siblings were so it didn't help any. It was just ... odd.

"Excuse my asking, and you don't have to answer if you feel I have no right," she said, "but why do you always seem ..." she struggled for the word, "sad ... no thats not it," she muttered the last section. "Distant," she finally settled on. She was not satisfied with the word, but she was having troubles coming up with a better one. "Maybe not so much right now, but more so at school..."

Sarreaha knew she could be over stepping bounds with this question, hence why she had made it clear that he didn't have to answer if he felt she had no right to ask it. However, her curiousity was getting the better of her and it didn't help that she had the affinity to want to help people. An annoying affinity at that. It made telling someone no so hard and so guilt ridden in the end.

Devon:

It was like a bucket of ice cold water had been pured over his head as Sarreaha asked him about his self... his way of being. Personal stuff. Devon was speechless and slightly surprised. He did however not let his surprised feeling show on his face, a small pause hung over the two.

No one had ever really asked that question so directly towards him before. Why he was as he was? Withdrawn? Loner? Distant? Oh, how many times the thoughts had swirled around him. Why he was as he was? Why weren't he as his family? What made him different. Perhaps it was because he just inherited something else than looks from his family, or perhaps it wasn't really about looks at all.

It's all inside me...

Devon thought about his fascination to the dark arts, about his haunting dreams, about the way he thought, the way he expressed himself and not expressed himself. Was it all because he was simply afraid of being rejected? No, it couldn't be that. But what was it?

"I..." Devon begun. "I don't know how to answer you." Devon said and looked up into Sarreaha's eyes. He was doing it now, right now in that moment. He backed out? No, he was opening up. "I seriously don't know. It's just grown into me, and I can't express with words why." Devon said honestly. "It's a mystery..."

He felt as though he had said enough. He had let a part of himself go. He had acknowledged the fact that he knew that he was a loner and he had spoke his mind. More than that, he couldn't do, at least not yet.

Sarreaha:

As she waited for him to speak, she had watched him noting the subtles changes that had gone on in his appearance her question. She wasn't really sure how he thought of her for asking the question. She did not wish to think that she had gone down in his opinion of her for asking.

"Oh, I see," Sarreaha murmered in response. She didn't say anything further, in ways to get him to say more. She knew this was the best answer she was going to receive out of him. However, she did say, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't of asked; it's none of my business." She felt the need to apologise once more.

After her last words, Sarreaha let silence settle down around them. She didn't feel up to bringing a new subject up at the moment. She wasn't melancholy but rather reflective, not just towards herself but also on the boy next to her.

As she let her mind drift, she pushed the swing forward and backwards, larger than what she had been doing before. She did not swing fully and it was doubtful that she would unless someone were pushed her or something.

Devon:

Devon listened to her small talk and apologies, she had nothing to apologize for. After all, she had just been curious, and it had surprised Devon. That anyone could be curious about his withdrawn personality.

"You don't have to apologize." Devon said, barely noticeable. "It's my fault that I am the way I am, so you don't have to apologize for asking." Devon said with a small smile, although he wasn't sure if Sarreaha had seen it. He didn't know what else to say now. He felt empty, although full in a way. He didn't know if he was uncomfortable or content with where he sat. Nevertheless, he stayed put.

a silence built up around them, and Devon found it slightly awkward in a good way. He didn't know if he dared to break it, but he knew he had too soon. He was sure he had to get going, his mother would be freaking out. However, Devon wished to stay just a little longer, and what could it hurt anyway. If he was 5 minutes late or 55?

Sarreaha:

At his words, Sarreaha gave Devon a light smile. She still felt the need to apologize and she wasn't going to let his words quell that feeling inside of her. However, she felt better because she had apologized. Either way, it was already out and said. It couldn't be undone.

She turned her face towards the sky, letting the rain drops hit her face as she studied the sky. Although one could not see the sun due to the clouds, the feeling that it was later was still in the air. She wasn't really sure how much time had passed since she had left the house in escape. Either way, she felt better than when she left. Some how, she attributed that to the boy on the swing next to her.

"Thank you," she then said out the blue. She didn't care if Devon knew what she was thanking him for or not. Sarreaha just felt the need to say it and say it she did. Just from this meeting, Sarreaha knew she liked the boy and hoped she would see him more at school. However, she was hesitant to think she would see him any past classes. Slytherins didn't hang out with Hufflepuffs, and loners were called loners for a reason. She didn't like applying stereotypes but sometimes one cannot help the way one thinks. These thoughts just pop up unbidden at times.

Devon:

Devon did not know why Sarreaha had said thank you to him, what was there to thank for. Nevertheless, Devon didn't get too caught up in it. She probably had her own reasons for doing so and he didn't mind. He enjoyed her company, even though silence was placed upon them.

Devon smiled to himself as he glanced on the girl on the swing next to him. She was very pretty, he noticed again, but what caught his attention was her eyes. They had this shine over them, and he didn't like the feeling that he had to leave. But he had to. As time had passed more quickly than he had predicted, the hour had passed by and he was to meet up with his family yet again. Devon stood up and walked slowly over to Sarreaha. He stood a bit in front of her, not really knowing what to say until he spoke, "I need to get going now. But I hope I'll meet you again at Hogwarts, perhaps we can go to Hogsmead sometime too, if you'd like."

Devon weren't really sure what he'd proposed himself, what did he offer? Friendship? A date? Just the company? He weren't really too sure about it, all he knew was that he did want to see her again. Devon smiled slightly.

"Bye Sarreaha," he said and begun to walk away slowly, feeling a lot better than he'd felt in weeks.

Sarreaha:

Sarreaha listened to the rain, feeling as the droplets hit her skin. However, her thoughts were still contemplating the boy next to her. The silence did not bother her. The silence could be a person's best friend at times. However, some people found the silence disconcerting. Many would probably find the one between her and Devon that right now. However, Sarreaha didn't.

She blinked when she heard his swing move and then how he was standing before her. She observed him as he stood there, but she didn't say anything. Instead, Sarreaha waited for Devon to find his words. At least she assumed he wanted to say something. However, she had a feeling what it was he was going to say.

And she was right by the first phrase he said. However, what he said next gave her some surprised. How she quickly smiled at him when she replied, "I'd like that... See you later, Devon," she said. She did not say bye, that seemed to final. She wasn't really sure what to think of this meeting or even what to come, but she felt in a better mood.

She watched him walk off and she remained on her swing for a half hour longer before she too left and started the trek home.