Seeking Resolutions PV Finished

It was that time of night again. The time a young fluffy brunette boy made his rounds across the school corridors. Only interrupted by the occasional gaze out a glass windows to survey the school grounds. Piercing blue eyes flickered across each sector with careful precision. Thomas Lestrange, ironically, was at his most vulnerable when in this predatorial state. It was not the hunt one would do with a weapon. This hunt altered from the traditional, to appease the veracity of his story.

Few would succeed in countering his will to understand. The poisonous seed roots collected in his mind, clouding his intellect, and corrupting integrity. Dark shadows trailed the boy’s every move, presenting hazards to those surrounding him. No, the boy was not your typical should-be 2nd year. That fact alone indicating the source of where a would-be predictable student’s path veered off the road, or in this case, a cliff. Not many looked for Thomas after last year’s Blossomfest. Perhaps it was for the best, they would not like what they might have found.

The boy pulled his frame away from the thick stone walls, the transfer of vision from his shoulder to his intended path met with a jolting collision, abbreviating forward movement. Various books scattered along the floors from the other’s hands below with a thud. The startled boy scanned over the girl with what was initially a contemptuous glare. The brunette in equal height muttered a few words, none of the apologetic sort. His lips slowly parted, intention to retort as she descended to collect her belongings, but her visual presence demanded hesitation. Eyes glazing over the girl’s features. The straight brown locks that meshed nicely with…were those blue or grey eyes?[Acknowledging ability - LC] Fortunately for Thomas, her view remained towards her belongings, allowing him enough time to press his lips together and rid of his staggered expression.

Thomas understood beauty to be a social hindrance. As made evident from a certain violet part-veela, it can be used to achieve one’s ends, and manipulate the perception others have of you. He consciously refrained to acknowledge the affects a one lovely creature may provide. However, it was just made clear his subconscious has other ideas—the presence from this girl opposite him has already altered the intended reaction. At least those ghastly red colors denoting house Gryffindor helped further away from any trending infatuation.

“Eyes forward, Gryffindor.” For a snake, the remark lacked in bite. His tone mostly flat, still rivaled by the presence provided. A presence finally interrupted when the boy descended to grasp a book that opened on his boot. A hand-drawn image accompanied several notes on the rough parchment. With his foot unmoved, Thomas came to a knee to closely examine a vaguely familiar image. He grasped the book with both hands, rising back to his feet. In the event the girl reached out to retrieve her property, he would turn his frame to the side.

Howard White. Aggressive eyes began scanning the text, threat level, visage, unsettling, strength, spee---It became apparent this was not your typical forlorn obsession. “You have this wrong.” Thomas turned back squarely across the Gryffindor, rapping an index finger at the portion that read identification. “Howard White is not a dhampir.” Without delay, he swiftly tore the page from her journal and carelessly tossed it in her direction. He folded the paper and placed it in his robe pocket, finding her bluish grey hues for the first time. “Who are you.” He demanded gruffly. Luckily for Thomas, her beauty would not outweigh his hunt. The hunt for truth.

@

@Aurelia Notrésvace

A run-in was not uncommon in the Scottish castle. Throughout her years, Aurelia had her fair share of hallway collisions that one would think she would have learnt by now given her seniority in the school. In fact, back during the days of her short reign as Gryffindor's female prefect, Aurelia took pleasure in after-curfew run-ins and the expressions of shenanigans when they see the bright red badge clipped on school robes. However, she lost that privilege after the last school term came to an end and this current situation was nothing more than an embarrassment to the fourteen-year-old. This would be her first and - she hoped, final - run-in of the school term.

She began recollecting the books, most of which featured that of beastly creatures on their rustic covers. Gather the books and she could be on her way, that was her plan. Any exchange of pleasantries was not necessary. But from her experience, interactions in Hogwarts most often than not had their setbacks. The last book had fallen open right on the foot of the boy which he had picked up. It took a few moments for Aurelia to straighten, her eyes finally inspecting the boy before her with a scrutinising gaze. Upon registering that it was not just any ordinary book in his grasp but her precious, confidential soft leather-back monster journal, Aurelia reached out to grab it before he divulged further into her secrets within its pages. To her dismay, the boy had reacted, turning and using his body as a barrier between the monster hunter and her possession.

"You have this wrong. Howard White is not a dhampir." The boy sneered, his features twisting into a sinister scowl. Turning to show the page containing the profile on Howard White, her first Monster subject, who then disappeared after it's first attack. So this boy knew who Howie was, he was unlikely a first-year if that was the case.

With a forceful rip, the page came off the spine. The action fueled a sudden aggravation within the monster hunter. Who did he think he was? The book was returned to her in a casual toss. What was once an alluring pair of blue-grey eyes now burned with a ferocity that bore into the others student's skull. Aurelia had encountered situations in which curious individuals pried too far into her personal information. A few examples being Reid Kovacs and Rafael D'Spacito, both unwilling, curious and stubborn. On both situations, Aurelia handled them by utilising her charm effortlessly. She was no veela, but many, especially hormonal teens at this age, were susceptible to pretty visages. However, this boy had the audacity to tear a page from her book as if she had not spent hours working and studying on. What his relationship with Howard was- had been was none of her concern and regardless, did not give him a reason to treat her journal with such disrespect.

It sure was infuriating, but the girl willed herself to calm down and collect her racing, raging thoughts. There was no reason for a conflict, it was only a misunderstanding on the boy's part, nevertheless, things would go her way as it usually did with her tactic of utilising charm. Patience was key, however, there was always a limit. Her eyes softening and a lovely but enigmatic smile crossing her features as the words tumbled out of her lips in a pleasant tone, "You cannot be sure what you have never witnessed."

A slender index finger raised as she pointed to the boy's robe which he had so courteously pocketed "Whatever your relation with Howie, that is not yours to keep." Her arm extended, palm facing upwards in a wordless demand for the page to be returned back to her. But if this boy was as stubborn as the others she had encountered, it was unlikely the barter would be an easy feat. "Aurelia. And you?" Aurelia answered, not that she cared at all the identity of the impertinent boy was, but if she was intending to avoid him for the rest of the semester, she would at least have to get his name.
@Thomas Lestrange

Out of his peripheral Thomas detected the urgent reach from the brunette. Aptly elevating the journal higher in cohesion with his turn was enough to avoid her grasp and collect Howard’s page, now serving as his bargaining chip.

Could he have taken a wiser approach to achieve this goal? Surely he could, but for an impulsive 12-year-old boy, instant gratification was far more appealing. Many unanswered questions revolved around Howard White. What happened to him the night of Blossomfest roughly one year ago, the source of screams that echoed across the campgrounds, and where he is present day. A steadily contemplated topic in the rotational wheel of conundrums, pulsating underneath that brown mop of hair.

Sleep is a rare commodity, with it came faulty decision making, in this case underestimating the repercussions that arrived after stealing and damaging her valued possession. The victim stared him down with a temporary huff, stiffened neck cords accompanied her piercing glare. Thomas turned slightly into a defensive stance. His fingers wiggled at his sides, ready to react if she launched herself forward in a physical assault. Fortunately,nothing came, on the contrary the Gryffindor recollected herself with an amiable smile.

Suspicious blue eyes narrowed, swiftly retorting her implications. “And what is it you have witnessed?” The dispersal of tension continued as she offered an open palm between them. Actions of a logical person, requesting for the return of her property before resorting to hostility.

Whatever your relation with Howie, that is not yours to keep. Aurelia, and you?

“Thomas. This way, Aurelia.” With a disappointed scoff, Thomas abrasively turned away, refusing to allow Aurelia’s charming visage to provide her desired results so effortlessly. Maybe if I just don’t look at her… Any advantage her pleasing visuals provided outweighed by the notion she has more to tell regarding Howard. He began a slow walking pace down the corridor, beckoning with his head for her to follow behind.

Trusting possession of Howard’s profile was enough to make her comply, eyes remained forward without a glance in her direction. “Rest assured, you will get it back.” He spoke sternly, mustering bass in his tone. If Aurelia walked at his side, he would glance over to briefly find her eyes. If she trailed behind him, he would look over his shoulder to view her peripherally. “When I understand your intentions for Howard.” Thomas turned his head back forward. “And that you are not a threat.”

Of course, he expected aversion to supply information on the heels of his thievery. Thomas understood this and offered some context for the brunette to explain his connection. Tone drifted away from stern, to neutral. “Howard, was an...ally of mine. It has been a year since I have seen him.” Hues flickered towards the stony floors while reflecting on the past. “At Blossomfest. Granted, after that night I didn’t see anyone for quite some time.” Thomas halted, turning to face Aurelia once more, gently tapping the robe pocket where the journal page remained. “What do you know about him?”

@Aurelia Notrésvace

At her sudden change in demeanour, the boy's eyes narrowed. As she had expected, Thomas did not comply with her demand, instead, he turned sharply requesting for her to follow him as he advanced down the hallway. Aurelia assumed that he was leading her to a more secluded area for both of them to continue their conversation without the potential risk of any eavesdroppers. Even though the boy before her seemed like just your ordinary Hogwarts student, Aurelia could never be too careful. Her right hand was in her pocket the whole time as she trailed behind the boy, the tips of her fingers against the magical instrument which she removed casually only when he stopped and turned to face her.

Clearly, what Thomas wanted were answers. Aurelia was not a threat, not to most humans at least. Those monsters were. Howie, Howard, was a threat. For Aurelia, answers usually came with a price, if not for the boy using a measly page of her book as leverage, the situation may have been slightly more lucrative for her. Consider her a spoilt pureblood child, but Aurelia usually got things going her way in most situations, regardless of what it took to produce the outcome. This was not an exception. "Is that so?" Aurelia trailed, her arms crossing as she analysed the best approach to this particular situation.

The boy had a page, Aurelia had answers. A piece of paper was not an ideal price in exchange for answers. Then again, the Dhampir's profile would contain answers to a few of the boy's questions. But then a thought hit her, she never did her journaling on the monster subject profiles. Which meant that most answers Thomas was seeking were in the confinement of the very book she held in her left hand. Aurelia flipped through the pages of the book briefly. At the sight of a page containing paragraphs of words in neat and cursive handwriting next to the ragged edges of paper which Thomas had thorn, the corners of her lips pulled upward into a smirk, one she did not bother to conceal. "I changed my mind." It seemed that within a matter of seconds, she had suddenly gained the upper hand. Thomas would soon realise his mistake, he should have used the entire book as leverage instead when he had the chance.

"You can keep it. Besides, I have it all here," her hand wandered up to her head as a slender index finger tapped the side of her forehead. Granted, she preferred all of the pages of her journal still intact but the profile did not matter much, she could always rely on her own memory to make another copy. " I don't owe you anything, Thomas. Now if you would excuse me, I should be on my way now, I don't want to be caught outside after curfew." she claimed. The journal was tossed casually into her bag. She pivoted on her heels, turning away from Thomas. The house of Slytherin were known for their determined for their determination. If this boy was truly determined for answers, the monster hunter might benefit from this encounter after all.

"If you happen to see Howie around, which I doubt, I'd advise you to take extreme caution." She warned.

@Thomas Lestrange

What separates the hunter from the monster? Looking past the differing genetic makeup, and the idealism that forms from one’s cultural roots. Survival. At the core of every being is this inherent will to live. Which leads us to do what’s necessary to continue on. But to continue on for what? Fear of the unknown, uncertainty of what’s to come when we cease to exist. When a time comes where what we love is taken from us, or we are deprived from what we need there is not much to divide the predator from the prey, or the monster...from the hunter. And as the hunter, Aurelia likely believed she was doing her peers a great service, a protector. In Thomas’ eyes, she was no different than the many subjects to be found in her journal. No different than the monster.

Not to imply a negative light arrived from this brief and largely incomplete evaluation. There was respect to be found for one that would willingly lay down their life for the protection of others. However, to seek out these various creatures with unprovoked attacks would do more harm than good. Many creatures have proven to live in harmony with their human counterparts. It’s the defensive minded approach that deters the prospect of peace. Where we meet with hostility as opposed to respect, all sourced from the aforementioned fear---ceasing to exist. A commonality to which we can all relate.

It’s how we handle our fear that determines where we go the rest of our lives.

There are exceptions. Some creatures are denoted with sinister qualities, a cycle you could not break with a peaceful approach. Unbeknownst to Thomas, as he’s delicately dawdled on a string to further a dark agenda of others. A willing subject driven by false promises. Aurelia would not make this connection that her new acquaintance brought immense danger going forward. There was no clarity, whether she was to be the prey or the predator.

The elder brunette crossed her arms, not enticed by Thomas’ demands. Why would she? After the boy not only damaged her property, but also stole what he thought was rightfully his. "I don't owe you anything, Thomas. Now if you would excuse me, I should be on my way now, I don't want to be caught outside after curfew." A level of arrogance was achieved as the girl delicately tapped a finger on her pretty head, rivaling Thomas. The boy tilted his head with a deferential nod, appreciating the way she handled herself. “No, you don’t.” Thomas agreed with the girl, knowing all too well he had for more information to offer than she.

"If you happen to see Howie around, which I doubt, I'd advise you to take extreme caution."

“Even if what you say is true, there is far worse to fear.” Thomas took a step closer, icy blue eyes locked with hers. “One day you may descend from your high horse, and I could tell you about them. Or better, show you.” His voice cold, yet soft, revealing a glimmer of dread for what he spoke. “Until then.” After allowing a moment for her to respond[if you want], Thomas would turn away to walk in the opposite direction, taking the route back to the dungeons. Without turning his head back, he would leave her with the parting words.[Unless verbally demanded or physically forced to stop.] “Be seeing you, Aurelia of Gryffindor.”