The Front Gate
 

Eirian walked up to the Front Gates to Hogwarts and stared up at the wrought iron. Was it really here two years ago that she had met her best friend? Whoooaaa... That was a long time. Oh God... So many things had come full circle. She was afraid of what would happen next. Strolling forward until her nose brushed over the cold metal, Eiri turned around and sat down, pressing her back against the bars and closing her eyes as she thought. Why was she so afraid?

Striding over to the one place he wanted to be right now, Jayce of course, got sidetracked. How he ended up on the grounds, and not in the owlry was beside him. He had no clue, there was really no explanation for it other then the fact that his feet carried him away from Buzz and towards.. the Front Gate? But.. why? What was the point of this? Merlin.. He wanted so badly to turn around and go back up to the towers but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He felt as though something were leading him here. But what? He didn't have a clue.

But as he drew closer to the gate, he saw a figure standing there, looking up at it. Maybe they were lost? OH! Even better, they must be insane. Walking up slowly behind them, he tapped them on the shoulder. Now, who could this be? WAAAAIT. Why did the back of her head look so familiar?

"Lost, ma'am?" He asked once the name registered in his mind.

Eiri's curled up against the gate, but h'okai xP
 

Eirian glanced up. Jay and his stupid bird. She wasn't sure if she was angry at him or not still. Decided to put off the decision, Eiri kept her face neutral as she stared up at her adoptive brother. "Not quite," she murmured, wrapping her arms around her legs protectively. What was her problem? Urgh, she couldn't even tell at this point... "I miss her," Eiri murmured instead, hoping that would explain her mood equally well. It wasn't the entire truth, but...

Mani <3
 

Maxie ♥
 

Sylvie could have swore the door to her office was closed and her precious Josette was safely in said office, but she had a sinking feeling that the little monster had escaped. One should never trust anything that adorable. She should have known better as the kitten did like to eye her office door so. She did take after herself and she couldn't really be all that mad at the kitten. But really did she have to run all the way out here?

She could hear the faint meows of a feline and she only hoped it was her kitten. In fact, she really hoped Josette was playing and was in fact safe in her office.

Stepping out from the shade and into the light of the sun, she shaded her eyes with one hand and moved a branch with her other. She knew the meows were close and she needed to keep her eyes open.

With her head down, she hardly noticed that she wasn't alone. Stopping just short of the front gates, she finally looked up and jumped slight.

If she hadn't stopped when she did, she would have surely ran directly into the person before her and that would have been rather embarrassing to say the least.

"Excuse me, but have you happen to see a feline by chance?" she voiced as she moved her hand from her face and craned her neck a bit.

How did I miss your post? *pokes side-bar*
 

Footsteps. Jared had not expected students to be outside, in the grounds, around this time.

Perhaps a colleague?

"Professor Welton." He inclined his head, the action carrying his usual touch of grace, acknowledging her presence before glancing towards the sole feline he had seen, this morning. "Perhaps that is the creature you are looking for?"

Posts are sneaky little things ^_^
 

"Professor Descoteaux." Sylvie smiled as she recognized just whom she nearly collided with. In her rush to find her kitten, it hadn't completely registered that she would find a colleague out at such an hour. Of course, it was too early for any of the students to be venturing this far from the castle.

Returning his acknowledgement with a small curtsey of her own, she allowed her eye to settle on the feline he glanced at. Kneeling down, she shook her head. "Yes, I believe you have found her." she replied as the kitten ran toward her and purred innocently. "You are a little demon, you know that?"

Returning to her feet, she looked back to Jared. "I must thank you, I really feared that I would be out here looking for her for hours."

xD My baad. Buzz isn't with him :P
 

Jayce down at her sheepishly. Was she mad at him? Merlin, he didn't know anymore. But hey, what he did at the feast wasn't exactly.. nice. He didn't "play" well with others. Okay, maybe it was only one other, but still. He wasn't exactly.. nice to Eirian's original best friend and stupid head lover. <__<

"Didn't think so," he replied simply. Something was.. off about her. But he wasn't completely sure what it was just yet.

Sighing, the Gryffindor took a seat in front of her, and stared into her eyes. They were so pretty... "I.." She missed...? Who? With a confused expression, he was about to ask her who she meant but of course, that's when it popped up in his mind. Oops.

Taking her hands in his own, he squeezed them gently. "I know you do," He spoke gently. "But you know, she's in a better place now," he added. She was probably torturing people and making them clean up or something.. but still. It was better... for her.

"Sylvie." Jared smiled, a polite half-smile that might or might not have been real, though it did not lack in warmth.

"I rather think she found me," He said, a lazy little grin on his lips. He had the sudden desire to pet the kitten's little head, but refrained from doing so. "Quite an irresistible demon at that."

Yes. The kitten could take that as a compliment.

"De rien. Don't mention it." He laughed, a good, almost silvery laugh. "It has been a delightful coincidence."

Evangeline was rather intent on having explored everywhere, so now she walked down towards the front gate of the castle. She looked out past the front gate that lead towards Hogsmeade. Out of everywhere, she was looking forward to going there, the most.

Arabella-Marie was exploring and looked at the front gate and sighed she couldnt wait to go into Hogsmeade and saw and older Slytherin girl standing at the gate and said "You looking forward to going to Hogsmeade"

Evangeline turned when she heard a voice, and she looked at the young girl that had addressed her. "Yes, I am rather. I've never been before." She said, giving the girl a smile.

Arabella-Marie smiled and said "Well you are going to love it when you go, I am Arabella by the way" Arabella-Marie held her hand out for the girl to shake

Returning his smile with one of her own, Sylvie allowed Josette to curl herself in her arms.

"Oh don't let her fool you, Jared." she laughed softly. "She a little demon to the core. She'll charm you with her ablity of being so cute, then once her claws are in, she'll surprise you." Yes, her little kitten was more than meets the eye. A handful to be honest, but a great judge of character as well.

"Well, I owe you nonetheless. I would have been very put out if I hadn't found her," she replied as the kitten in her arms purred again.

The little thing had just wanted a bit of air and new people did interest her so. Poking her head back out, the kitten looked up and purred again. "I do think she is rather taken with you."

"It has always been my opinion," Jared said, smiling faintly. "That creatures are not as different from us as most of us assume."

"Pas de -" Jared paused, remembered to translate his thoughts into English, and offered her a mildly apologetic half-smile. "I'm sure she'd have returned. She seems fond of you."

That might, Jared reflected, be because of how much time he had spent tackling and tending to creatures. He had learned to handle them, both harmless and deadly, a long time ago. He inclined his head. "I'm honoured," he said, a lazy little grin on his lips. He'd have scratched the kitten behind an ear under normal circumstances, but that might come across as impolite, right now.

He glanced at the path that led away from the front gate, a mildly interested glance. "I assume you've been to Hogsmeade, mademoiselle?" He asked, green eyes genial.

"This little one is too similar to myself, I'm afraid," Sylvie said, with a soft laugh. If she was a kitten, she would definitely be very much like her own kitten. "I do think she is more of my twin than my own brother is."

Giving the kitten another rub behind the ear, Sylvie tilted her head slightly. "She always comes home, but I think she thinks it a game to worry me so." she sighed. The little demon was a handful for sure. She was always worried about where she would find Josette next, but still the kitten was fun to have around. "Oh, I know knew she is fond of me as much as I am of her."

Turning her attention back to him, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "She usually doesn't take to most people, she must like you." she replied, a small smirk on her lips. Her kitten did always tend to gravitate to the most interesting things and people.

Following his glance, she nodded. "As a student, I used to look forward to those trips to the village." she answered, thoughts of her times there running back in her head. "It's a quaint place, have you visited it?"

Jared had never found a pet similar to him, but hearing Sylvie admit that she and the kitten rather reflected each other caused him to smile. "I suppose twins are only as alike as any two, random people, as far as habits are concerned," he offered, sounding politely interested.

"I've heard that before," he said, grinning lazily. If he had had a goblet, he'd have lifted it to her.

"Kittens are fantastic creatures." He looked at the small creature in her arms, a fond look in his green eyes. "I'm afraid I've never been able to find the time to keep a pet for a long time." He gave a light, broad-shouldered shrug. "Perhaps I should, now." Being here meant patches of rather lazy leisure.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I haven't been in England for that long a time. I plan to, however." He smiled faintly again.

Sylvie again shrugged a shoulder as another smile graced her face. Being a twin wasn't all that exciting, but now that she thought about it. Being more similar to a kitten than her own flesh and blood was a silly thought. "I've always thought it was odd that my brother and I were like day and night. Twins are supposed to share similarities, or so I was always lead to believe," she voiced. It did always make her wonder about the true dynamic of twins and all.

Hearing that the new wasn't completely a new thing to him made her smile. He did appear to be a likeable person and it wasn't completely elost on her the attention she had seen being shown to her new colleague at the opening feast.

Hearing the sound of voices again, the kitten looked up at the two and purred. "Fantastic, yes and a handful as well," she laughed softly. "Combined with my puppy, I have little time to myself outside my lessons." The constant company of her pets did make her happy, but it was lacking at times as well. "I never thought I could have the time, but you'd be surprised how things just work out." Josette wasn't difficult to care for, it was the puppy that consumed the most time.

Hearing his reply, she shook her head. "Well, I'm sure you will enjoy the village soon. It's rather different for me than it was before, but I do appreciate how quaint it is now." There was a simple beauty to the place.

With his mention of not having been in England long, it dawned on her that she really didn't know all that much about the man before her.

"I cannot get lost after these years," Eirian muttered simply, staring at her feet. Merlin were these school shoes ugly... Why was she wearing them? That wasn't like her... And she didn't even realize it. Neither did Jayce or Thiago... Maybe they already knew she was off? Probably.

Oh, great. In a better place... How many times had she been told that when her mother died, then her father, then her bleeding grandmother? She hated that phrase. It was such a lie. What place was better than the world they were granted life in? "Whatever," Eirian snapped. She hadn't meant for it to be mean, but by Merlin, she was angry at Jayce! And she was angry at life for fleeing from the carcasses of all those she loved. And she was angry at herself for letting it happen. This rage had taken over her so entirely! She couldn't get rid of it for more than the moment she would gaze into the eyes of a friend or her love, the moment that she would see a loving smile meant for her. How was she so engulfed by this minor loss of hers?

Perhaps it was because no one wanted her...

Sighing, the boy turned his partner in crime's hands in his own, tracing her fingers up and down because of how bored he was. He didn't take notice of anything really. If her nails were painted, it would have been news to him. He simply liked the feeling of her soft fingers and palms in his own rough ones. Why? Who knew. He was an odd one.

Wait what? She.. snapped at him? What had he...? Oh, right.. the feast. Merlin, it hadn't been that long ago and he had already put it in the back of his mind. But hey- seeing Thiago wasn't the light of his day. Seeing.. Eirian was. Thiago.. her.. 'Fiance' was totally not on his good side. Was it just because of his relationship with Eiri? That, he didn't understand himself. Blue eyes glancing away from her hands and into her eyes, he let the fall, feeling a little bit like a weirdo for holding onto them for so long. He allowed his eyes to fall again, but this time, to his own hands as he stared at how scarred and tough they were. Going camping had done a number on them, but he didn't mind all that much. It made him look.. tougher somehow. Well, only if you looked at his hands.

The Gryffindor glanced back up to his best friend, unsure of what to say next. Of course, 'sorry; would not be the next word to spill from his mouth.

As Jayce took up her hands, Eirian felt a jolt of excitement shoot through her stomach. She looked over him in confusion, and closed her eyes as soon after he dropped them once more. There was a moment of silence, and then Eirian sighed. Things between the two of them were so broken. She couldn't stand it.... She really couldn't. Sometimes, Eiri thought it would be better if they weren't friends at all. It would at least be... less painful.

But why did she care what he thought?

"Jayce," Eirian murmured. "Jay, meu filho, please just tell me everything is okay between us." Things were difficult... How could they be? She needed a lie. "I cannot lose my best friend as well... It would kill me." Silence followed, and it took entirely too long for the Brasileira to realize her poor choice of words. Oh well... It was already out there.

The Gryffindor watched his best friend's reaction as he dropped her hands. Merlin, if he were confused before, he was at least doubly confused. What was going on here? He allowed his blue eyes to graze over her, and then away, staring down the dirt pathway and wanting so desperately to give in to his guilty pleasure. Whenever faced with an uncomfortable situation, and being outside, Jayce tended to rip the grass out of the ground, and sprinkle the little pieces around himself, like a child. The sixth year allowed himself another peek at his best friend before laying his eyes back on the pathway where they would stay.

Well, they'd stay there unless he was distracted, which would probably happen rather quickly.

And there it was. His distraction. He peeked over at Eiri from his peripheral vision, not daring full eye contact. He knew better. And he knew he was... in trouble? Yeah, that's what it was. The boy sighed, hearing the voice he secretly loved to listen to. Was everything- What? "Of course everything's okay.. Why would you think otherwise?" He asked her curiously, taking her hand in his own again. "You would never lose me. How many times do i have to tell you? I, Jayce Peter Cannon, will never leave you, Eirian Nerys Vaughn. Not now, not ever. So, get use to my company." He grinned.

Eirian listened to his words; they made sense. It wasn't often that they did, but right now he really did make sense. Sometimes, that was how she could tell that he was serious. But then again, she usually knew when Jayce meant business; he was far too easy to read. It was only recently that he had gotten confusing and weird and mysterious. Eiri assumed it was because he was hiding something, though she couldn't be sure what. The last time he was like this, it involved Hayley... and guilt... and love. Eirian just couldn't stand it if he were to get another damn girlfriend.

"I do not know anymore," she muttered, shaking her head. Multiple strands of hair fell into her face, but she didn't mind; it kept her from showing her depression so easily. "Those words... They mean much. But I cannot believe them... I can never believe them. Everyone leaves me... They always leave me." Soon, she would be left alone, wouldn't she? There were only two people left that really had the ability to harm her with their departure, and one of them was sitting right in front of her. Jay would leave her; she knew it. Eirian aimed to marry Thiago as soon as she was old enough... That was the only way to guarantee his presence in her life. But... how could she do that with Jay?

Eiri gazed up the gates as they disappeared into oblivion from her viewpoint. It was as if they reached all the way into the sky this way... These gates that kept them all in at Hogwarts, that kept the death and despair out. If only they could stay here forever... But this was Thiago's last year, and she and Jayce were only one year behind him... "I cannot believe it," the Brasileira murmured softly. "It will be two years ago that we met here... Two years. Has time passed that fast? I wonder if we were ever not friends... But I also wonder if we befriended each other just yesterday..."

Oh, gosh. Was she really getting to that point? It wasn't even her last year and Eirian was getting... sentimental. Eurgh. What was the world coming to?

The Gryffindor sighed. He couldn't take this. He couldn't take seeing her like this.. so down, so upset and so.. so vulnerable. The boy had been with her all summer and she hadn't been this upset, but she was still pretty sad and depressed. But now? Things had changed.. He had.. more feelings for her. Different feelings. Ones that.. if possible, made him more susceptible to her feelings. If she was upset, he was too. He always knew how she was feeling and his feelings always matched. Being there for the highs and lows of your best friend did that to you.

Jayce scooted closer to Eiri pulling her closer, wanting to do more to comfort her, but he wasn't entirely sure what else to do. Well, there was another thing in mind, but he didn't think it would exactly help. But instead, he took a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. It.. it totally wasn't weird because they were.. friends and stuff.. Yeahh.. "They should, because i mean them and i'm not going to ever let you go," with that being said, he hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go, and just embrace her until she was all better again.

The sixth year then pointed to himself. "This person right here is NOT like everyone else. You should know that above anyone else in the world. I don't care what happens, i will always be in your life," he smiled softly and released her from the hug. He stared out across the path, watching the students play, and walk together and just have fun. It.. upset him that his life along with Eirian's had gotten so complicated that they no longer had simple times like that. They no longer got the chance to just.. be.

Blue eyes wandering back to Eirian's own, he listed to her as the words flowed from her tongue. Had it really been that long? Two years? Surely not.. They had only met.. But of course it was right. "Two years," He stated. "It's been.. too long. It doesn't feel right," he murmered, knowing it to be true. "It's absolutely insane. And it.. it was in the exact spot too," he breathed, staring into her eyes, then looking away awkwardly.