living just isn't hard enough. [ebony - open]

It was only the second day, the first week always dragging by slowly for Ebony. A slow morning of lessons, only breaking up the day with lunch, people were still inside eating but Ebony hadn't really wanted to see Jeremy in lunch. She'd had enough of him, him and his stupid smart comments, and he annoyed the hell out of her. Ebony had instead, decided that it would be best if she took a walk around The Courtyard, and then walk down towards The Field. No one ever ventured down there, the younger years afraid of being yelled at, and the older years not even bothering.

Her slow footsteps treaded through the soft swishing grass, Ebony was thinking ,all sorts running through her mind. First and foremost, she couldn't work out why on earth Jeremy Halpsen couldn't get out of her head, why had she never met him before, if their grandfathers were such good friends. They had founded Braedan Institute, so Ebony should at least know something about him. It wasn't even that she ever would want to communicate with him ever again, unless it involved pouring a glass of strong firewhisky on his head. He intrigued her.

Ebony heard twigs snapping, coming from The Woods. She frowned, it was probably some dumb animal venturing out towards the fields, then she heard muttering, talking? Ebony turned her head, listening out for something, anything. Drawing out her wand, from the wand pocket in her skirt, the customary seven inches, and no shorter. She started heading towards the woods, her footsteps quickening, as she reached the border, where The Field ended and The Woods started. Slowly, she stepped over the border, swallowing nervously, "Hello?" it echoed beyond the trees, spreading through the mist-filled air.

Another crack emmitted from further down the path, she held her wand out in front of her, Ebony spotted a deer in the distance. She frowned, it was lying there, not moving at all. Not realising she had stopped walking, Ebony picked up her feet and walked towards the creature, staring down at it. It was covered in blood, all matted, it was disgusting! Ebony looked around her, that animal was probably around, she didn't exactly want to be next. It was probably a silly werewolf.. except it wasn't the full moon, and it was during the day. So what the hell was in the Woods at this time in the day?!

Ebony heard someone walking towards her, turning around, she saw none other than Jeremy Halpsen. "Fancy seeing you here” She rolled her eyes, still holding up her wand, "You're not even supposed to be here" Ebony looked from him to the deer, was he just wondering around like she was? Or was there more to it? "What are you doing here?" Ebony stepped towards him, away from the deer, he was only a few feet away.

She was staring at his face, it was strange, Ebony wondered if she would've liked being friends with Jeremy when they were younger. That is, if they got on, seeing how she felt about him now, Ebony couldn't see that being possible. Her eyes darted from side to side, should she tell Jeremy there was something in the woods? It was probably a good idea, he didn't even have his wand out.

"I suppose, you ought to know. There's something in the woods. It killed the deer, so you know, it could be pretty dangerous. I'd hate to see it take away my fun, of pouring that firewhisky down you" Ebony smirked, that thought reminded her of what had happened in the Main Hall. He was 'looking forward to it', as if! Jeremy just made it sound, ugh. As if she'd ever do that with him. Ebony had standards. She was just a foot away from him, having to tilt her head up to look at him. Why did Jeremy have to be so annoyingly tall, he had at least a few inches on her.

"I like coming out here to think” Ebony didn't know how he did that, in a creepy wood, named after her family name. She still didn't understand though, did he come out here all the time? Not once had he been caught? How long had he been coming here? People had been found out here, so why had he not been found and sent to the Headmistress... ever?! “I’m sure I’ll be fine” Ebony shrugged, "I warned you" the rest was on his head.

At least she'd warned him, Ebony couldn't exactly shove him out of the woods. Hopefully he would get in trouble, just so long as he didn't mention her being here. Ebony looked at Jeremy carefully, “However, if you’re so worried, perhaps you shouldn’t be here.” a slight smile gracing her lips, "Why worry about me? I can look after myself!" Ebony spun on her heel, folding her arms, shuddering as she passed the deer.

Whatever was around, it was pretty gross, the deer looked like it had struggled and just been overpowered. She had stopped walking, looking down at the floor wondering if she should leave Jeremy here. Ebony didn't really want to care if Jeremy was in the woods with an animal about. Some part of her, was a little worried, he didn't even have his wand out. Firmly shaking her head, Ebony continued walking, she was being ridiculous.

This was just, Jeremy Halpsen.

Ebony frowned, stopping directly in front of him. “You could always stay in here with me. I promise we won’t get caught. And at least with you here with me, there’s no way whatever’s in here will take away your fun.” She rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. He would protect them both!? Ebony wasn't even sure she trusted him with a pygmy puff, there was no way she'd stick around here with him. But. There was something stopping her from saying now, Ebony wanted to know what was going to happen, she was far too curious.. but curiosity did after all kill the cat.

"Alright" Ebony smiled, looking up at him. "I'll stick around for a while" She rolled her eyes, turning around, her hair flying across her face in the slow breeze building up. So long as he didn't annoy her again, what exactly would they do anyway? They had only just met, yesterday and already Ebony was with him, by herself, in the WOODS!? Where they weren't even allowed anyway. Just so long as he didn't go telling her mother she was with him, in the woods, that wouldn't look good for either of them. The Headmistress would immediately assume the worst, and she'd get an extra lecture for even being in the woods!

Ebony had no idea what she would do. What if the animal did come after them? Jeremy would probably run off to save his own skin, his was far more important than hers. Of course, Ebony would always do the same in return, to Jeremy. "If you do one thing!" She held her wand out, "to annoy me, I'm leaving. I'll leave you here for that weird monster, thing too" Slowly withdrawing her wand, and putting it safely away back in her skirt pocket.

Ebony really wondered if she needed to go St. Mungos. Really. She needed help!

Ebony rolled her eyes as he chuckled at her, she didn't understand what was so funny, whatever she was doing she wasn't purposely doing it. He lifted his hand to his heart, promising he wouldn't annoy her. "Yeah, yeah" Ebony waved her hand, that stuff didn't matter, he was after all a Halpsen, greedy, skilled and ambitious. Her eyes narrowed, as he touched her back, making her walk the opposite direction to her exit path, walking deeper into the woods.

“Have you ever explored the woods before?” Ebony frowned, did he think she hadn't? "Of course I have!" She replied indignantly, just because she was the Headmistresses daughter didn't mean that she didn't break a few rules here and there. Ebony felt his eyes on her, what exactly made him want to talk to her, they had only just met yesterday.

Jeremy was too curious for her own good, she couldn't understand what he was doing out here at such an early time in the year, it was always the worst time to get caught. Not that there ever was a good time to get caught, but it was easier to not get caught in the middle of the year, when exams were going on. Professors were always too busy to properly check the woods, they were wasting their time anyway.

"So.. you're grandfather was a Halpsen then?" Ebony asked, it wasn't as if she'd heard anything about him. They were talking slow steps, walking over twigs and tree roots, not in any hurry. "Did you meet him?" She looked up at him, meeting his honey-brown eyes. Ebony had to admit, she was a little curious to how she had never met him, even if he wasn't in her house. Ebony knew plenty Halpsens and he was even in her year! She took a deep breath out, she had never met Raghnell Braedan, just heard many stories of him.

Ebony watched him carefully as he quickly apologised, shrugging “Not many people have, and after the way you got so worried about whatever had killed that deer, I kind of assumed you hadn’t. My bad.” Her head sinking to face the ground, listening for his answer. It was silent, apart from their talking Ebony couldn't hear a single thing. Silence. It was nice in a way, Ebony was so used to the hustle and bustle that even just being just outside the woods her head didn't feel all mushy. She could actually think for once, without people getting in the way of what she wanted to do.. or think.

“I think I may have, before…” Ebony lifted her eyes, her head still in the same position, looking up at at him, what was he meaning to say? Before? Before what? Was she a mind reader? “What about you?” She shook her head, "I don't think so. He was too..." Busy. "Old", Ebony shrugged, she had spoken to her grandmother many a time, she was always telling Ebony what she should and shouldn't do, but they had always held each other at arms length, just like everyone else in her family did the same.

Ebony wondered what they were doing, walking through the woods, it was completely overshadowed by the tops of the trees. She looked up, her head tilting back, as she watched the trees slowly sway. It was midday, and the sky wasn't even blue, the sky was white. Covered with clouds, but surprisingly mild. She was glad for the robe covering her arms, ending right at her wrists, and not a little longer. "Do your parents work here too?" Ebony asked, this was beginning to become a bit of a mystery.

Ebony took a step to the side as he narrowed his eyes at her, clearly she shouldn't have asked that question. Eventually, Jeremy shook his head, his words were covered with loathing, but she didn't know who at. “Don’t you read?” Ebony raised an eyebrow in return, was that a rhetorical question? Of course she read! She didn't see the need in responding, Jeremy started talking a few seconds later. “My father, an ex-professor here brutally maimed a student and was sent to Azkaban. My mother, the ex-model, spends most of her time planning parties and ignoring her only child.” Ebony gulped. "Wow."

She remembered reading about something, it was when her mother was so busy, that whole month she was running around. Ebony watched her deliver owls daily, whenever she sent one to her mother, it would take at least a day if not more for a reply. Ebony eventually would walk over time after time, and her mother would be out, at the Ministry of Magic, or say she was busy, talking with people. She felt a little neglected during that year, but soon she understood that her mother was too busy sometimes for her, Ebony had to deal with it herself.

Jeremys eyes were on her, hers reaching up to his “And everybody knows your parents are both here. But do you have any brothers or sisters? Ebony laughed, quickly shrugging. "I think my parents thought I was enough to handle. They don't exactly have time for two kids." She wondered what it would have been like, less lonely perhaps. A little sister would have been perfect, they would've played together and they could've gotten ready for balls, Ebony would've taught her everything she knew. Every spell. What to say to stupid bloodtraitors and all. Except, she didn't have a sister, Ebony was an only child. As quickly as she add thought up a sister in her mind, it disappeared just as fast, in a poof of smoke, she was gone.

"What about you? A brother? Or sister?" Ebony smiled, she hardly thought he would have siblings, if she hadn't heard of him, one person fair enough if a little strange. Two, and something was up.

Ebony nodded, of course, the whole 'son' thing. Luckily, her father didn't exactly worry too much about it, but she didn't know what would've happened if she had had a younger brother. They would have spoilt him way too much. "A tradition" She slowly repeated, those were fun, only for a while and then they just get boring. Family traditions, of passing heirlooms down in the family was a good tradition but Jeremy's 'tradition' was.. boring. Ebony didn't know what it would be like to have a relative in azkaban. She had a couple of deatheaters higher up in the family line, from the old days, but they hadn't been caught, luckily.

“So what’s it like having your mother as the headmistress?” Ebony's eyes widened, very good question, but she had no idea how to answer. It most definitely had its ups and downs, but was she willing to share this with Jeremy. Would he go spreading it around? She could always threaten him with expulsion and a permanent stick shoved up...."Um. I'm not always sure. It's good and bad. All of the professors know you, and I mean I am her daughter, so they don't exactly like punishing me. Which is fun."

Ebony shrugged, trying not to laugh. "Yes and no. I mean, what alot of people.. students see, is a perfect student" She paused, how could she say this? "The people in our year, or at least, in my house know a little different. If I'm in here with you, am I a perfect example of a student?" She shrugged, "I don't think my mother expects me to be, all the time anyway. People just don't exactly treat you like everyone else, but that's good and bad too" It was a long debate, Ebony still had a question in the back of her mind.

"What's it like having a father in Azkaban?" Burst from her mouth before she could change her mind, Ebony stared up at him waiting for his answer. She had asked a difficult question, was his just as hard?

Ebony knew she had gone a little far, by the look on Jeremys face, he didn't look to pleased. He had asked for it, she hated asking that question about her mother. It was always difficult, and Ebony hated having to explain herself as well. “It sucks, to put it simply” Ebony frowned, she was surprised to hear that, but it was his father after all. She slowly nodded, of course it would be difficult having people judging you on the basis of your parents. She was shocked that he had turned into the talk of the school for a while, Ebony was probably two preoccupied, but to not hear anything about Jeremy?

It would make sense, people not wanting to be around him, some people thought murderers were in the genes, and it was terribly ironic, considering pureblood deatheaters, did run in the family. However, it was strange for his father to maim a student at Braedan Institute, especially another pureblood. Had Jeremy ever asked what the student had said to him? Her eyes grew soft, as he mentioned his mother, getting no reply from her friends.

It would have been lonely, having your husband taken away and your friends abandon you, with just your only son with you. “Sorry” Ebony gave a small smile in return, he had opened up a lot, in a weird way it made her relax a little, the barriers loosening. "You didn't bore me" She didn't know what Jeremy had done with his little speech, but it wasn't exactly boring, it was for Jeremy most likely. Ebony began thinking what it must have been like for Jeremy, having to cope with his mother crying herself to sleep, growing up without his dad around.

“What are your thoughts on the Dark Mark?”

Ebony stopped thinking for a moment, rewinding the words in her head. Had he just said.. He must have. She looked at him weirdly for a second, maybe he had hit his head when he was in here by himself, tripped over a tree root. "Excuse me?!" Her eyes were wide, and Ebony was more than a little shocked. You didn't exactly go up to someone and ask how they felt about the Dark Mark. Ebony shook her head slowly, Jeremy was beginning to become a little baffling, what harm would one more question do? Even if it was a little dangerous, to answer such a question, Jeremy was probably going to answer the same, if not. Ebony would just curse him into oblivion and have done with it.

"I'm a little excited" Ebony admitted, "Just a bit..." She took a deep breath, "Scared" Ebony quickly breathed out, "I'm looking forward to it though. It will be so amazing, finally up there with HIM. The mark part though?" She shrugged, "I'm not sure. Part of me thinks it will be ..the best thing that has ever happened to me and the other" Ebony sighed, "Doesn't really see the point" She whispered, swallowing as she moved her head to look at the ground.

"The whole thing, it's quite terrifying" Ebony frowned, "People have said it doesn't hurt.. but from the stuff going around, it hurts like nothing else. I suppose that's not even as bad as.. once you've said yes, there's no turning back. You're in for life" Ebony finished, deciding to perch on a rather large tree stump, laying along the ground, thick and bulky coming up to her mid-thighs. Looking up from the stump, she blinked at him before opening her mouth.

"What about you?" She asked, like for like, right? Ebony had no idea what he would say, but she had answered as honestly as she could, and that was something she never did. Jeremy had alot of explaining to do.

Of course, with her question came the uncomfortability factor that Jeremy seemed to be experiencing. He simply said "I don't want it" after that short answer, Ebony was at least expecting some sort of explanation but he fell silent. Her mouth falling open, "What?" Ebony frowned, she couldn't understand why he didn't want it. Of course, that was slightly different that having to receive it, but not even a small part of him? Was he that repulsed by it. "I don't... why?!" She burst out, jumping up from the stump, sharply turning to face him.

It was, for her anyway inevitable, there was no avoiding it. It was in her blood, and her parents would make sure she received it, Ebony supposed, she preferred not thinking about the choice of refusing it, because she only had one way to go. "What's so wrong with it?!" Ebony raised her voice, she wasn't angry, but it was difficult to understand. He was probably in a different situation without his father there maybe? Or was he still receiving the mark?

Ebony took a step towards him, she knew it was a stupid question. She knew there was plenty wrong with it, but ultimately it was ridding the world of the scum that didn't deserve to walk the Earth. Mudbloods and bloodtraitors alike. Even if it wasn't their fault.. she hated thinking of it that way. Ebony liked putting a light cover over everything she preferred not to think about, smudge it so she didn't quite have to focus on the bad things, an optimistic view, however sick it seemed.

That was the other thing, they would be expected to kill someone. To receive the mark they would have to do something to prove their loyalty, Ebony would be quivering in her boots with that one. Still. It was better than being on the other side, cowardly but it wasn't exactly winning brownie points with anyone other than the dark lord. So what exactly was the point? As Ebony had asked earlier. There was no fighting it, you would simply lose.

"Why not just accept what you can't refuse? Ignore..everything else?" Ebony hadn't meant to say that, she knew one day that would get her into trouble, just blabbering on too much about something she shouldn't be talking about in the first place. Just steps away from Jeremy, Ebony slowly looked up, her eyes reaching his, "Would you?" She bit her lip, "Would you be able to ..kill someone?" Ebony shivered involuntarily, she hadn't exactly meant to say something to that particular wording, soon they would be best friends the way she was going!

Everything Jeremy was saying made sense, but she couldn't listen. That would be going against everything she was forced to believe in, her parents had drummed it into her ever since she was little, and no way was Ebony going to turn around now, turn her back on everything just because of one little wizard. Ebony didn't want to think that it was just the deatheaters minds believing he were still alive, abd have that passed down to each generation. It couldn't be all for nothing, they would at least finished what he started. Jeremy was wrong, there was no guarantee he would end up in Azkaban, he could be a fugitive, or worse, dead anyway.

Noticing how close they were to each other, Ebony averted her eyes, Jeremy was ranting and raving about something that was very dangerous territory. If there was something else in this forest, anything, they'd probably both be dead for their confessions. She frowned, "Let them want me dead. I’m already dead, they can’t do too much damage"

Ebony took a step back, "What! You're not already dead!?" She looked him up and down, what was Jeremy talking about. At least he answered her question, Jeremy wouldn't be able to kill someone. Why were they even talking about this? No one ever spoke about such things and here they were shouting at each other in the woods. They were breaking about five rules, altogether.

“Though I suppose it’s inevitable that I’ll kill someone, given what I am…”

What was Jeremy getting at, "Inevitable? What do you mean? You've always got a choice" Here she was getting all goody goody on him, who was she Ginny Weasley? Argh. If anyone heard her talking the way she was, Ebony would be the laughing stock of the entire school, she would die of embarassment. She took a deep breath in at Jeremys question, Ebony wasn't sure if she could.

Could she imagine herself holding her wand out and saying those two terrible words to someone else. Someone that she wouldn't even know, even if she did that would make it worse. Ebony would want to block her ears, drown out the sound as they begged, as she heard they always did and shut her eyes if she ever managed to utter a word. "Yes. I would." Ebony knew if it came to it, it would be such a struggle.

It would be so painful, but if she didn't, she would be dead and so would they anyway. Better one life than two? Ebony didn't want to die. She'd regret it her entire life, Ebony was always good with faces, to have theirs running around her head forever. She would go mad, would it be best to live through that?

Ebony frowned, he didn't believe her? How did he know what she was thinking. If the time came to it, he might, he didn't know. Ebony would, to save her own skin, but the casual shrug of his shoulders as he said it, angered her. How could he say that, he didn't even know her. "I wouldn't!? Of course I would. One life is better than two" Ebony shook her head, he didn't know what she was thinking, they'd only just met and just because he wouldn't he thought she wouldn't. Well. Jeremy was wrong.

Change the subject? Why on Earth would they do that, when they were not even finished with that one. However, Jeremy wasn't exactly giving her much choice on that front, he would probably just walk away when Ebony still had plenty unanswered questions. "It can only head in one direction, I suppose" Ebony slowly agreed, returning to her seat on the tree stump. He didn't exactly suggest the next topic of discussion, merely standing there, close to where she had previously stood, silent.

She noticed how he brushed her questions away, ignoring her 'how can you be dead' and moving on. Slyly watching him from where she sat, Ebony slid up towards him, "I'm sure you knew about me. It's odd, I didn't know about you" She muttered, looking him over, "What did you mean you were already dead? You look alive to me" Ebony stared at him, he couldn't back out now. The cards were on the table all he had to do, was take the next move.