"She told me that she and Aunt Camellia are really sisters. That they have the same father." He sat her down and hugged her. "It kinda makes me jealous that everyone seems to have some close biological family, but you know my mom's biologically my cousin." He tried to explain what he was feeling. Father's day was coming up and it bugged him that he couldn't wish his father a happy father's day.

Her bag significantly heavier than when she had left the common room that morning, Kurumi hurried down towards the stables wishing that she had the proper offering to give to the abraxans that resided her. Sadly, they only accepted single malt whiskey and there was no way that Twinkle, or any of the other house elves for that matter, would allow a thirteen year old like her to walk around with such a thing.

Leaning on the fence, Kurumi waited for Heather to catch up with her, and leaned on the fence. She hadn't been down her yet this term, although she had spent a long time here last term talking with Treyen. Her cheeks flushed a bit at the memory and her hands covered her cheeks for a moment in attempt hide the flush of pink. Kurumi then reached down for the small bucket containing some brushes that she had grabbed from the shed before heading over. Hopefully one or two of the black-eyed beauties would get close enough for her and Heather to brush and use whatever hairs they plucked for their assignment.

--OOC: Don't you mean Valentine's day? xD--

Oh that news. Heather remained smiling. She'd heard that already days ago from Camellia's letter...now why didn't she tell Connor? Guess being distracted by a couple of chocolate frogs, having a cat she got from transfiguration class and thinking of the quidditch match made her forget. Heather is an easily distracted child.

Not unless, she really puts her mind to it. "Oh that...I know...Camellia told me in her letter days ago...i wasn't able to tell you, sorry...i was distracted..." her cheeks turned pink. She really did forget. "look at the bright side...we're one big happy family, right?" REALLY BIG.


"KURUMI~!" Heather ran towards her friend, panting and out of breath... "Wow...y-you w-walk r-really fast....." she took a deep breath and stood up straight. "So......what are we going to do next? I'm so excited!" must be the sugar rush. Had she been eating chocolate frogs on her way again? The chocolate on her lips and even on her cheek was a dead giveaway though.

"S-S-Sorry," Kurumi giggled before handing Heather a brush. "I am hoping that some of the abraxan will come over and allow us to brush them. We can use the hairs that get caught in the brush for our assignment." Kurumi wasn't entirely sure of the magical properties in abraxan hair, but she was sure it was something amazing. After all, any magical creature was brilliant. The creatures themselves were very strong and proud and required a VERY study hand to tame, so it was entirely possible that some of these traights were passed down in their hairs. Perhaps they could be used as a strengthening component in potions - both literally thickening it and having the side effect of the drinker of whatever potion it was used in to gain superhuman strength for a period of time. Or, perhaps if combined in a potion with the hairs from all other winged horses it allowed a person to fly.

What? A girl could always dream, right?

While she was deep in thought, Kurumi failed to notice one of the graceful creatures approach where Heather and her stood. She covered her mouth to prevent herself from gasping too loudly and scarring the abraxan off. "H-H-Heather...don't make any sudden movements..."

Hearing kurumi tell her not to make any sudden movements, she stood quite still, afraid, panicky or just plain, confused of what to do. "I'm not moving....." she said with such a small voice, looking at the abraxan that approached them, but then she eased up a bit.

This creature was lovely. really lovely, that she approached it as if enchanted by it telling her to approach the creature and stood on the fence, reaching for it. She was able to touch the creature and the abraxan let her do so, even moving a bit closer so she could pet it. "aww...look Kurumi! he's such a sweet heart, don't you think?" she said.

"It's ok Heather. It's just really hard sometimes. I miss my Dad so much. I've got so much I need to talk to him about." He sighed softly. He was so confused about girls, about life, about everything. And he didn't have anyone to talk to about these things. He didn't feel like he could talk to James or Luke or even Dan about all this. "Yeah we're one big happy family." He smiled as he petted Thunder. "I just wish sometimes that I had my Dad."

Kurumi stood very still herself as the creature got closer and closer. She was almost too afraid to breathe but she knew holding her breath for too long would cause her to pass out. She would probably hit her head on the fence, get another concussion, and frighten the abraxan away. Kurumi nearly gasped when she saw Heather reach out and pet the creature, but found her breath again when she saw that it didn't buck or run away.

"Wow...I've never been near a full grown abraxan before," Kurumi awed as she too took a step closer. "Last term I came here with Treyen and we were able to get close to some young abraxan, but none like this..." She trailed off for a moment before bending down to pick up a brush for herself. "I-I-I suppose he'll let us brush him..." Kurumi slowly comb the brush through the creature's golden mane until it was smooth and silky. She then took a look at the brush and found that she had removed some loose hair along the way.

Time to brush some more! Kurumi continued to brush and comb the abraxan over until she had collected a fair amount of hair which she then tucked into one of her remaining empty vials. She peered over the winged back of the creature to check on Heather.

"How's is going for you?"

Heather felt really lucky. She had her father. Camellia found hers...but life isn't fair to everyone, she knows that. One of the examples of that is Connor. Still, she smiled. "You know...you don't have to always look for your dad." she said. "If you truly love him, he's always in your heart."

She looked at her wrist watch. She pouted. She still had a lot of studying to do and she promised to visit Sythe at the owlery at this very hour to give him biscuits. She looked up at Connor. Guess she'd scout for photography places later after her obligations. "I have to get going, big brother. Lots of school work and my owl needs to be tended to." Turning to the abraxan, she waved a hand." bye thunder!" she said, and turning back to Connor, gave him a quick hug and turned to leave the stables. "I'll see you around!" she said.

So the abraxan is friendly, yes, yes. Heather was having too much fun, petting the creature. "He's really friendly." she said and gave the animal one last petting. "aww...he's such a sweetheart!...a magnificent sweet heart at that too..." And turning to Kurumi, she saw that her best friend had collected enough hair and placed it in the vial. She smiled. "Where to next?" she asked.

"Maybe you should go into a field with magical creatures too," Kurumi smiled as she set the brush against the abraxan's coat once more. Kurumi blinked at her own comment. She wasn't entirely sure she was going into that field, in terms of working in the Ministry, but she knew that she was really gearing towards working with magical creatures - especially dragons and griffins and phoenixes and winged horses and sphinxes and...well...every magical creature there was to be honest.

Her bag was feeling especially heavy now with all the ingredients she had gathered so far. "Hmmm...where shall we go next," she mused as she swatted away something that was fluttering around her head. One of the flying things landed on the fence and her eyes widened. "Heather! Lacewing flies!" she squealed as she pointed to them. "They are used in polyjuice potion!"

Heather blushed a bit. Her in minsitry work under magical creatures? She was afraid of some, but most are not bad...and she still had not thought of actually working in the minsitry. In fact, she had not been thinking of what to do after she graduates. up until now, she was unsure of what she wants to really be after she graduates...other than take pictures and be a photographer.

It was more likely for her to be going with her father traveling abroad as a photographer-and perhaps inherit his company...but she was also thinking of keeping in touch with her witch side for her mother's sake and do witch work. "I...i think i can consider that." she said, smiling a bit, when she heard Kurumi flail about lacewing flies. "WHERE?" she asked and looked at where her friend pointed to. "Wow! Let's catch them!" she said and taking a handkerchief and using it as some sort of net, went about to try and catch the lacewing flies, but failed at her first attempt. She groaned. "wow, they're fast!"

standing up once more, she saw a couple more fly past her and she tried once more. Failed attempts. She tried again, this time landing on the ground. Did she catch some?

Luckily she did! "Kurumi!" she said happily, bundling the handkerchief gently so the lacewing flies won't escape-or crushed. "I caught some!" Luckily. she and kurumi can share it now.

Kurumi darted around the area with Heather chasing after the flying bugs, which were surprisingly more nimble than she had expected. She had forgotten to throw her bag down on the ground, and was only reminded that she had it slung over her shoulder when it caught on one of the posts and nearly choked her. Kurumi sprawled backwards, landing on her back looking up at the sky, but everything seems to feel better when she hear Heather speak again.

“Excellent!” Kurumi chirped pushing herself up off the ground and making her way towards Heather. She then pulled out her last empty vial and uncorked the top. She held it out for Heather to let some of them crawl into her vial. “And with this, we have all the ingredients we need for the assignment.” Kurumi smiled and was reminded just how heavy her bag had become over the course of the few hours they had been out searching.

“I reckon we can head to the potions storeroom now,” she nodded as she placed the cork back in the vial and held it up to the light to observe the bugs that were fluttering around in it.

Christopher walked down to the stables, going over to the Abraxan Horses. He pulled out an apple and some sugar cubes from his bag and the littlest Abraxan came over to him, nuzzling his bag for more. He smiled weakly at the little guy and fished around in his bag for another apple or two. But he froze when he hit a crumpled up letter. He pulled it out slowly reading it for the eight billionth time. His father was gone. And he still couldn't believe it. He three the apples to the horse and sit down against the wall, not caring how dirty he got. He leaned his head back and sighed. Imagining how he would say farewell to his school and his friends, and what he would do when he had to go home for the funeral. Where would he stay? Certainly not at his Mother's. He'd just received a letter from her saying that her new boyfriend would be staying at the house. It'd been less than a week, and she'd already moved onto some new creep before she lost the house and her car and everything else his dad had left them that his mum would steal. She'd probably just ship them off to an orphanage right after the funeral. At least maybe his new parents would be nice. If he ever got adopted. Or what if he and Elyon where split apart? He didn't think he could bear to lose anyone else. The more he tried to close his mind, the more the thoughts flowed. He sighed again, hoping maybe Selina and Violet would agree to his invitation, though he'd doubted they would.

And speaking of which..... The little red head had been at the stables all along, watching him from across the stables sympathetically. He looked at her sadly bit remained seated, not sure whether or not he wanted to be alone. Either way, he still had their (Sely and Vi's) late Christmas gifts awaiting them.

Heather was just about done placing the flies into her vial when Kurumi suggested for them to go back to the potions storeroom. She nodded her head as she corked the bottle and put it back in her bag. "Okay then!" she said to her best friend.

Selina ran down to the stables with a bag full of apples. Ever since she and Violet had discovered the abraxans their first year all alone in the stable the two always made a point to head down and see the little things. Upon entering the stable she saw a boy who looked distraught. She looked closer and noticed it was Chris. Her face automatically fell and she walked over to him. Without another word she just hugged him tightly.

The two stayed like that for a few moments and then she pulled away. Her eyes scanned the room for the bag that she had dropped. It was across the room so she jogged over and opened the bag. She looked for the letter in tha bag until she found it. Once it was in her grasp she walked back over to Chris and handed it to him.

"This was for me, but I think you should read it."

Christopher hugged Selina tightly. He hadn't hugged someone in a long time, and it felt so nice. Like for just a moment, the world was being lifted off of is shoulders.

She got up and sprinted towards a bag pulling out a letter. The young lion squeezed his eyes shut; a small groan escaped him. He really didn't want to read anymore letters right now. He'd read his own letter enough times for a lifetime, but this seemed urgent. Selina must've been showing him something either to make him feel better, or to tell him something. But first..... He pushed the letter back towards her, leaving her with a confused look on her face while he fished around in his own bag. He knew her present was in there, but now wasn't the time. Not yet, anyway. He pulled out a letter of his own, this time in a sickly pink envelope covered in beautiful, fancy writing. From his mother. He thought she should read it before he asked her a big question. So she would know what she would be dealing with if she agreed.



He sighed. The look of shock on Selina's face made him unable to stare at anything but his shoelaces. "Look, I know you probably won't want to, for safety reasons and all, but I was wondering if you and Violet..... maybe.... wanted to come with me.... to... well...." He fiddled with his thumbs, choking out, "Would you come to the funeral with me? I don't think I can stand it alone." There was no way he wasn't going to that funeral. Maybe he'd just find an old suit at a thrift store for very cheap and just go to a homeless shelter or a church or something? It'd be better than a big chicken house.

Selina took his letter that he had handed her with shaky fingers. She was confused as to what he was giving her to look at, but she had a hunch it was from his horrid mother. Part of her wanted to stomp on the letter without reading it and shove her letter back in his face. His father had just died though so she didn't want to do anything that would upset him. Trepidation overtook her as she opened his letter. The more she read the more upset she became. If she wasn't in the stable with all of the beautiful horses she would have thrown something. Christopher's mother was such a WITCH! And not the good kind.

Once she was done she threw the letter on the ground, "Your mother is a horrid person. The only good thing she has ever done in her life is give birth to you and Elyie! Why are you even thinking about listening to her and loosing everyone you love?"

But then very quietly he asked her a small request- would she go to the funeral? She was taken aback and took a few stumbles to her right. Finally regaining her posture she said, "What?" A funeral? That would be difficult being that... the last one she had been to was a horrible experience. But Chris needed her, "Yeah I think we can both go Chris. That would be good for you and it would be nice to see him. He sounded like a good man."

Then she handed him the letter and said, "Please read mine. I know you don't want to, but I am not taking no for an answer." Her blue eyes looked up into his almost identical ones, "Please..."

Christopher watched Selina nervously as she read over his mother's letter. At first he had just worried that she was going to make him read hers instead and refuse to read the grotesquely bright pink letter. Now, he almost wished she would've have. Selina's expression changed from horrified to furious as she read his mother's manuscript. She (his mum) wasn't exactly the nicest woman in the world. And Selina look livid. That kind of really scared him.

He flinched as she threw down the letter, looking ready to kill. She could be rather frightening at times, Selina could. He scrunched himself against the wall, trying to disappear. It didn't work. "I know she's bad..... It's just.... Well, no matter how awful she is and how much I can't stand her, she's my mother. I feel like I have to listen to her. And I promised her I'd listen to her. I gave her my word. If not, she'd just hurt us again." He sighed. "And I can't stand it when Elyon's in pain. It's worse than being hurt myself."

His face fell even more if it was possible. "You don't have to of course, it's just, every time I came to the hospital to visit him each day, he'd ask me about school. And I told him about you two. He always wanted me to have you over once he got better. My dad really wanted to meet you, and learn about all of these wizarding things. He would've wanted you to be there." Christopher sighed. He wasn't trying to make her feel bad, he just wanted to get across how important this was to him. To his dad.

He reluctantly took the letter from her. Even if he could live with her, her father didn't want him there. He was just another inconvienence, another mouth to feed, a pitied child with nowhere to go. He was nothing. "Sel... I couldn't..... No matter how wonderful it sounds.... Even if my mother allowed it...." He closed his eyes. "Your dad's right. It'll be too hard. It just can't be. Your parents don't want me there anyway. It'll be too much of a hassell on them. They're only letting me stay out of pity Selina. I just can't." He sighed again, this time putting on a small smile. "But thanks for trying."

Selina let out an eerie laugh, "You want to stay with your mother who took your money, is sending you off to an orphanage, will take your sister away from you, and take away your education. Really, Chris? How does that even make any sense? I love you and care about you like a brother. My family wants you there. They do, but this was unexpected... you know that better than anyone," she said sensitively, "But Chris how could you do that to Elyie? You're making her decision for her. I don't want you to go with your Mom, but the choice you make will ultimately be Elyie's choice. She couldn't leave you and you know that. Besides what about Violet? What about me? What about school and everyone here who loves you? Cass... Kurumi... everyone. Please don't give up. Your father would want you to fight and you know that better than anyone."

She put her hand on his and said softly, "She's your mother, but by definition mothers are supposed to love, care, and cherish you. She isn't doing any of those things... please don't go. Don't be Adam who made the same decision as you are making now. He decided to listen to his parents and not take up anyone's offer to stay at their homes. I haven't heard from him, Kurumi and him are done and he has no one now."

Then a softness that she was sure only ever appeared in her eyes rarely arose out of the depths of her being, "Chris please don't go. For once, break a promise."

It was a shaky start but for some reason, Orlando was sure he had gotten through KT. Her words made him smile. True, there was certainly nothing small about him. A fact, that he got reminded of, often these days whenever he ran into a certain Ryden Di Marco.

He waited, patiently. He knew she had something to say, she was not resisting his hug, his comfort - his obvious care for her. He didn't mind the pause really, he was glad to just hold her. However, she spoke sooner than Orlando had anticipated. With her words, came tears - Orlando had never witnessed in his six years at Hogwarts, Kaitlynnh Mae crying. It tore him apart, it saddened him greatly. His own chest felt the loud thudding of his heart - he hated seeing tears in her eyes. Hated it immensely.

"Oh KT .. " he whispered softly, squeezing her yet again. It was so complicated. He didn't like the fact that she had been holding it all in. She spoke of that kiss again. The kiss which Legend had told Orlando about. Legend had been quite nonchalant about it all but KT .. he really could not imagine what must be going inside her all this time. He felt her hide her face inside his chest and he tighten his grip on her, rubbing her arm comfortingly. Gathering as much courage as he possibly could, Orlando asked what he perhaps already knew the answer to. "Do you still love him?"

He listened to Selina, so very torn. He wanted so badly to listen to her, to agree, to except the offer. But that was something he simply could not do. He knew she'd never understand, but he had to obey Victoria James. He gave her his word.

"Sely, Elyon can choose for herself. She's not a baby. She's just odd. And I know she feels the same way as me. We must've talked about it thousands of times." He sighed. "Neither of us want to break that promise. Any promise at that. I want to more than anything, to accept your offer. I hope Elyon can. She'll try not to break her promise. Perhaps we could ask our mother at the funeral. We may be able to find an abandoned barn to stay in instead of that dreadful coop at my mother's new 'friend's.'"

He stared at his hands, his mind still at war. He just wanted to make everyone happy! Including himself. But that probably wouldn't happen. He'd be off, far away. Never to see school, or friends, or El again. His situation was a hard one. He was sure that Selina would be able to help him find away around the promise. She was clever like that. And he was very tempted by her nice parents and their clean, wonderful, three room broomshed.

Selina looked at him in shock. Part of her knew that he would decline, but she seriously wished that he wouldn't. It was hard to listen to him rationale that he should stay with his mother when they both knew that it was wrong for him and his life. He couldn't through away his entire life just because his mother willed it so. But he was grieving now, she wouldn't push the issue... but she would scheme. Selina rarely lost when she put her mind to something and as of now this was her main priority. Besides she had a lot to lose if Chris left. She loved him like a brother and she had already lost Adam. She would NOT lose him too. Not if she had something to say about it.

"I know that Elyie isn't a baby anymore, but you're her brother. Love makes you do crazy things because you don't want to lose that person. And love is a two way street. You wouldn't want to leave her either. So you both think listening to your mother will keep you both together. But I want you to know that my door is ALWAYS open. I just hope you don't have to find it. It'll be open for you this summer. Take it then, please Chris. 'Cause once you're gone, that's it. You'll never be able to escape and you know that. A part of you knows that."

She looked deep into his electric blue eyes that matched hers almost identically. "I know I'm not Violet, but I hope that I can convince you to stay. You love her... she loves you. Don't leave her, I have a feeling that you two work out for the better." She had a vision, not really a feeling. But if he deviated from his path right now that future would dissipate, "Chris? Stay, please."

He nodded solemnly. She was so beyond right, even though he didn't want to admit it. "I can't lose her Selina. She's my family. The only family I have left. And even if I break my promise like I so badly want to, she won't. She's still dreaming that Mum really does care. Her head is always trapped in the clouds, and I'm afraid she'll never come down. No one can convince her to reason with us. She'd probably have listened to Dad......" He trailed off, and felt a lump in his throat. "I don't know how to fix this."

When his blue eyes met Selina's, he realized for the first time how similar they looked to his own family's. It was like she was a distant cousin. And then some weird epiffany struck him. His own family was either dead, or cared nothing for him, would leave him, would hurt him, had already abbandoned him. Even worse, they'd done it to Elyon too. But Selina was his real family, even if she had magical blood, and his was nearly fully Muggle. She and the rest of the Skylars (other than Nathan) would be the ones who would love him, care for him, be his real family. And that was just nearly enough to make him stay.

He sighed, finally making his decision. "I-I'll stay." He looked at her pleadingly, holding up a hand. "But first, before anything is official, you have to help me convince my sister."

OOC: Team Potter isn't on going to come on Snitchseeker anymore. :[ She left to focus more on her school work now that she's in college, so we'll have to pretend Elyon's on board with it. D: I do hope she'll eventually come back.

Selina kept her head down as he spoke about Elyon. For some reason her heart hurt at the thought of loosing them both. It was true she guessed- they were family. That made her happy and sad. For Selina had no siblings and Chris was the closest she had ever had with the exception of Kurumi. And because Chris loved her Selina could feel her heart go out to Elyon. "I know she's the only family you have left. And I'm sorry about your father, I am. You loved him and anyone you love must be a good person. But now that he is gone, you need to make Elyon understand she has options. Please Chris, at least try... Because you're both my family."

Then when the two met eyes the both had a shocked look on their faces. Since when had their eyes been the same? Since when had Selina wanted them both to stay at her house so bad? Since when did she gain a brother and a sister?

He spoke.

He would stay.

Selina gasped like she had been shot in the stomach. It was unexpected to say the least, she had thought she'd have to meddle far more to get him to see the light. But the light was in the two of their eyes. Because they were family now. It was done, the bond was there now.

"Y-you'll what?" He just gave her a look. It then registered and she jumped on him to give him a hug, "You crazy kid! Ugh I love you Chris, welcome to the family! And I promise we will get Elyon to see the light. Wherever you go she'll surely follow!"

Then it hit her, "...how are you going to tell your mother?"

OOC. Sounds like plan

He stared at his feet. When she said Elyon was his only family, he cut in, for this really wasn't true. "I have two sisters. Elyon, and you." Selina may have been born an early child, but she would leave Hogwarts that year with two siblings at the least. He nodded as she spoke about his dad. "You're right. He was the bravest man I ever knew. But Elyie still has options, and she'll know that soon. You and I both will see to that," he said with a slight smile. It was probably the second time he'd smiled since recieving that dreadful letter. The first being carefree and peaceful and happy as he and Violet kissed in the Terrace.

Their eyes were the same. Their hearts were in the same place. They were best friends. They were brother and sister. Fate had made it this way. It was truly just meant to be that they'd become friends on that train nearly a year and a half ago.

"Woah, Selina, are you okay?" He asked worriedly as she gasped out loud, sounding near pain. And then she answered his question by engulfing him in a hugattack. He laughed, feeling happier than ever. He would have a home, a family, he could stay at school, with his friends, his books, and his studies. All in all, he'd been truly blessed to have walked into Selina and Violet's train compartment. He'd found he'd noticed that quite often during the past week.

His laughter nearly died at once. He hadn't thought of that. What would he tell his mother? Surely she would say no. Technically, she already had. But perhaps he could ask her? If she beat him and said no, he'd go off to an orphanage with Elyon all bruised, but he could just meet with Selina's family there or run away or something and she'd never know. He didn't have much hope that she'd say yes, but if she did, she'd do it to torment Selina's family. Which was highly unlikely, as she hated anyone with so much as a single drop of magical blood in them. His dad must've had the magic passed through his veins from centuries ago. After all, Muggleborns did have atleast some magic in their blood, despite the difference of time. "I don't know. I'll figure something out and ask her at the funeral. If she says no, I'll just run away from her house, or the orphanage if she sends us there early, and then I can go to your house. She won't know." He hoped she wouldn't anyway. Which was rather inconvienient, as Victoria James knew everything about anything. It was freaky. She was freaky. It all fit!

When he said that she was his sister she had to refrain from pulling him into a tight hug. She was so glad that she was not the only one who felt that way, of course she would never tell him that. Selina Skylar never admitted, ever, that she would or could feel foolish and the thought of her being the only one who looked at the other like a sibling made her feel foolish. Now that he had said that the two were like brother and sister she wore a smirk that was on the edge of a bright smile. So she gave affection the only way Selina knew how- she punched him in the shoulder, "Good, you better you think that I'm your sister. I'm pretty awesome Christopher James." When he spoke about his Dad she got quiet and said sensitively, "I'm sure he was a great man Chris."

Then the hug attack occurred and the two kids broke out into a fit of giggles. It was nice to just laugh and be carefree for a moment. It was like they didn't have to deal with deal, an evil woman, or exams. The last bit was extremely daunting. But when he stopped laughing she knew their special laughing moment had been shattered. Life had decided to start up again.

"You won't have to run away. My Dad would never let you run away from home. He'll talk to your Mom and if she wants money for you two, I'm sure he'd spend it. After all Chris, you're part of the family now. I know that you will always be a James... but would you and Elyon like to be a Skylar too?"