"Brother Dearest..."

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

Arion looked down at the thick magenta envelope, her lips tight as she stood solemly in the owlery. She hadn't spoken to her brother in about a month, and as he hadn't made any attempts on her behalf, there was a soreness there that disturbed her. Of course, she had been very busy anyway in regards to teaching and a certain professor, so she wouldn't have had a lot of time to write back to anything. Still, it's the thought that counts, and she would have rather been the one to blow him off than the other way around.
Passing her fingers over the golden seal and watching as the darker shades of reddish-purple swirled lazily across the surface, she thought back to the contents of the letter.
Dear Jordan...
Not so dear anymore, but, whatever.
Dear Jordan,
Sorry it's taken me so long to contact you...I've been really busy, what-with teaching and all.
But not that busy. You shouldv'e written. Chasing away the stray thoughts, she continued.
I've made a few friends...
Her thoughts switched to Liam and she flushed slightly, regarding him as much more than a friend, though she carefully left their steamy encounters out of the letter. It wouldn't due to entice Jordan's brotherly love into a full-blown rage.
...and you'll be glad to know most of them are my own age.
I'm having some trouble getting the students to turn in all their assignments, but I'll figure something out.
Hell, she was going to have to start deducting points before this week was over.
I know you're busy, so I'll make this short. I'm learning how to fly...
More like she was learning how to cling to a fast-flying stick, but that didn't sound quite so impressive.
I think you'd enjoy it, Jordan, I really do.
Yeah, he'd enjoy seeing her nervous breakdown as she fell. She'd made more progress with Liam than flying, something she couldn't really complain about, and in fact, she smiled a little at the thought, feeling slightly guilty though refusing to allow room for a full-blown pity-party.
School affairs haven't been very frequent...
She coughed a little, for some reason hiding a laugh as she noted the carefully placed pun. Her brother wouldn't notice it, but for her own benefits, at least she was sort-of telling him.
...but I've gotten pretty involved as it is.
Blushing, she continued running over the letter in her head.
Have you spoken to mom lately? I'm a bit concerned, since...well, you know, the accident.
She was reffering to the time a week before school started when a rather nasty garden gnome got her mother on the finger with it's teeth and spawned a nasty infection not commonly seen in the wizarding community. Later it was found that the creature had been cursed with some sort of disgusting poison that ended up killing it. When Arion had left, her mother had been putting up a brave fight and smiled and waved as she left the house with her good hand. The one that had been bitten had turned an ugly purple color.
If nothing else, write me about that, alright?
Hell, if she didn't hear from him within the next week, he'd be recieving a nasty howler.
Love,
Arion
Nice and simple. Deciding it was a good piece of work on her part, she gave a fancy little whistle that caught the attention of about ten owls, all of them having been cared for by her before and remembering the superb treatment. In a rush of feathers, about ten birds were squabbling in front of her, and Arion chose a large eagle-owl with black, glossy feathers and golden eyes. Tying the long-overdue letter to the prideful bird's leg, she stroked it's head, immediately recieving a gentle hoot.
"Fly safe."

[Chance]

cChance having found peace in the owlery from all the treats and set-ups looked over at Arion. e was next on the list to get framed for a set-up and couldn't help but fear that himself. He wandered over to her and say her sought expression. "Hey Arion. You alright?"

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

Arion looked over, a little startled. "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Chance, isn't it?" She hadn't really had many conversations with the students, though she had heard a little of this one as well as passing him in the halls. He looked fairly pale to her, his eyes holding a darkness she couldn't fathom, though she hardly realized the depth of her own blue gaze. "Delivering a letter?"

[Chance]

Chance shook his head knowing her could see right through the state he was in. "Just trying to find some comfort in this place. Too much has gone on for me not to try and have a little peace." His voice slightly shook and he knew he couldn't hide anything now. Talking to her would probably be best for him as of now.

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

Arion swallowed as she saw a look in his eyes that wasn't that unfamiliar. A little while ago, it had been all she'd seen staring back at her in the mirror. She looked at Chance now, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about something?"

[Chance]

Chance finally allowed himself to relax and nodded. "Yeah as of now, I think that'd be best."

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

She nodded, her eyes understanding and her heart aching a little for his condition. It was good that he could talk, because that hadn't always been her strong point and finding a better release for anxiety could be difficult. "Do you want to sit down?" She motioned just outside the owlery towards the steps. Outside, night had fallen and the stars were brighter than normal.

[Chance]

[coloe=Gray] Chance nodded and sat down. He seemed to be a loss for words or better yet filled with doubt from his own Head of House. Why he felt a slight irritation towars Liam he didn't know. He sighed and looked up[/color]

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

"So...what's on your mind?" She waited and watched him with interest, her blue eyes penetrating and watching carefully.

[Chance]

Chance sighed. "Well when Charlie and I got exposed to th school about being Death Eaters things started happening. Hannah was totally against us because she thought we killed her parents, we began getting strange threats from some unknown silence. It could be a professor or a student. I'm still trying to piece together the last threat. Anyways set0ups started happening that began to frame some of us. Charlie's brother, Davin being the latest case causing him to flee from getting put in Azkaban for what Aurors believe was a murder but was truly a set-up. i got a personalized threat note back up in the common room from someone and I'm next for the set-up framed whatever. Its a little late for Davin but I fear for myself and Charlie and I'm almost out of ideas." He looked up and continued slowly. "The first person here we told about Death Eaters was Professor Liam. He spazed at the first moment and has been slightly cautious around us since. Professor Kato was a lot of help until he disappeared." He leaned back and looked up. Would Arion disown him like everyone else or would she be willing to help?

[Martin]

''That's pretty shocking,'' remarked Martin dryly from his seat on the rafters above them. He'd finally found a beam that wasn't caked with owl excrement, and he'd been enjoying the drama ever since.

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

Arion felt a mix of emotions wash down on her at once. She felt immediately defensive of Liam's behalf and also amused by what Chance had called, "His Spazzing out." She could imagine how red Liam's face must have been, but didn't dwell on it. She looked at him now, not surprised by his stress though also not relating to it. She wanted to ask him what he thought he was doing, being a death-eater, but she regarded it as a choice he made and let it alone. "You Know Who" was dead, and she refused to believe in bad days when she was living something good. Still, Chance's bad day had just begun, and Arion was the person he had turned to. "Well, since you're telling me this ahead of time, I can back you up." Arion had just gotten her sentence out when she heard the snide remark. Looking strait up, she saw a lean, shadowy figure peering down on them. "What...?" Arion could feel her mind stop and her face redden in anger. "Get down from there! You could really hurt yourself!" What she'd wanted to say was, "Get down from there, or I'll jinx you," but being a teacher, that just didn't seem appropriate.

[Chance]

Chance grew slightly irritated by Martin's unwelcome pressence. "Nice to know you have so much potential." He hissed dryly.

He wanted to say back me up how and with what but held back. "I don't see how you're saying you can help. It seems kind of hard to piece together and yes Liam was anything but amused."

[Martin]

''My apologies.'' Said Martin, sounding anything but apologetic. ''I just.............couldn't help but overhear. Hello, Professor. He remarked to Arion.

[~*..::Arion::..*~]

"Professor Liam," she corrected, managing to keep the irritation out of her voice. He was on extremes here, and she could see how he was being violently pulled by morals and loyalties. She sighed, watching him struggle and eying Martin to ensure he was complying. "Sir, if you don't get down here right now, I'll deduct points." She looked back at Chance, feeling bad about snuffing him. "If you ever need to talk, come find me, ok? And don't do anything drastic in the meantime." She stood up, her back strait, and her glossy brown hair seeming liquidy in the moonlight.

((Sorry, I have to go. I'll be on most of tomorrow though, so any time then is fine to resume this.))

[Chance]

"Oh go kill an owl." Chance remarked anything but amused. "If I wasn't on probation I'd probably do something I'd regret and I sitll might." He kept his voice firm and clearly annoyed.

[Martin]

''Kill an owl? Good idea, but i'd probably get expelled.''
Chance didn't seem like someone to joke with (the pale complexion, the sour expression, it all screamed, Hi, I'm a juvenile delinquent and young "You Know Who" wannabe! I dare you to piss me off!!) but he couldn't resist. Dang Slytherins, Martin thought to himself. No sense of humor at all.

[Chance]

Chance sighed and leaned back. "I'm on the brink of being framed and thrown in Azkaban Martin don't you think it'd be wise to put my gaurd up?" He said slightly seeming to read Martin's mind. "Slytherins have their own sense of humor just in their own way."

He shrugged. "Besides jumping to conclusions might cuase you to fall." He said leaning against a pole beneith Martins' rafter.

[Martin]

Intriguing, Martin thought to himself. I wonder if he'll read that too. ''Azkaban? Any paticualar reason? I've never been there myself.....''
Though maybe I ought to be, Martin thought darkly.

[Chance]

Chance shrugged. "Someones trying to frame me and charlie's brother Davin for something we didn't do. Have no idea why though." He looked up. "something tells me you think you deserve some time their yourself." As if he'll say why. Chance thought silently.

[Martin]

''Well, alright, I commited a crime. But technically it wasn't my fault. I have a..........certain................Infection, I guess you'd put it, and was accidental. The crime, I mean. So really I guess neither of us really deserve the big house.''

Martin noticed Chance's proximity to the beam he was on. Maybe I ought to play it safe for a bit.

[Chance]

Chance nodded. "In a way you could say its the same." He stood upright again. "Though its slightly boring here for the night unless Davin perks up somewhere." He then leaned back on the beam for the heck of it.

[Davin Chase]

Davin came up around the corner behind Chance and without warning gave a slight hello. "Hey Chance." He called from behind him not trying to intentionally scare him.

[Chance]

Chance jumped slamming into the pole he was leaning on causing it to break and fall. "Lovely Dav just lovely. I won't be surprised if you have any other fantastic memories from this place. I'm surprised you even graduated two years ago."

[Martin]

Martin tried not concentrate his thoughts on his.....crime. He couldn't explain why, but it seemed Chance could read his thoughts. There was something odd in his eyes too...or maybe a lack of something.
The beam began to groan. Martin decided there were safer places to be. He stood up, tentaviely, and began to edge his way off it. To take Chance's mind of anything..........................unpleasant, Martin continued the conversation. ''So what were you discussing with the dear old Professor? Not secret crushes, I'd imagine.''

OCC: Let's just imagine this post happened before Davin showed up. In the next one i'll do the whole dramatic ''Me Falling'' thing.

[Chance]

Martin's words seemed to have him smrik. "Just a way of life and death for us "Death Eaters". Especially these unknown threats Charlie and i keep getting."

[Charlie Chase]

"Hey I heard my name." She said lightly smirking coming to stop next to the group. She'd seen Martin before but never really talked to him.

[Martin]

The beam vanished from beneath Martin's feet. The world became a blur.
The fall seemed to last a lifetime, giving Martin plenty of time to think.
Aww, bummer. And I was so close to the end of the beam, too. Ah well. Crap happens, I guess. Especcially when you associate with-
SMACK.

[Chance]

Chance walked over to Martin and smacked him lightly upside the head knwoing he was alright. "Sad thing is you only live once." He said sarcastically turning back to the others.

[Davin Chase]

"Sad thing is you already lost your chance Chance." Davin replied with a smirk and then walked over to Martin. "He should be fine if he's not weak like," He coughed. "Charlie." He coughed again.