Closed Skipping Stones pv Irina Sousa

Dialogue: X | Thoughts: X

How could he? Irina thought feeling numb. She walked down the corridor, arms crossed like she was hugging herself searching for comfort. Her heart felt heavy and she hadn’t been able to put a smile on her face since that wrenching night. He had said “Half-blood” to Ava in such a spiteful manner, she was also a half-blood, what does he think and feel about that?

When they first had talk at the library, she thought he was interested about the muggle world, about half of her world! She had told him about the things she liked…movies, football and other things. What were he’s intentions back then, if he despises the non magical? She was a fool to believe he cared or that he was actually excited about going to the movies with her over winter break. Suddenly she felt ashamed for had showed him how to play football that day…had he been mocking her all that time? Had she been just a joke to him?

Irina wasn’t feeling like she wanted to go to flying class and see him there again. It had been enough for one day. Enough of Lucian trying to catch her eyes every god damn time! Trying to find an excuse to talk to her…she doesn’t want to talk to him or look at him, or anything to do with him! So she decided to go to the lake, catching some fresh air always helps to clean her mind and thoughts when she’s feeling overwhelmed. It was December, so the grounds were covered in snow and a cold breeze was blowing. Her nose and cheeks were getting so cold that now she couldn’t even feel them.

Tightening her robes against her body she was looking at the lake’s surface, when she felt him. First, his familiar scent of pine trees and wild rivers, brought to her nostrils by the wind. Then she could heard his steps getting closer, but not even then she turned to see him. Next, his voice came to her earring, “You know that apparently a squid lives in there? Or lived. One of the two,” Was he trying to be funny? Did she asked him anything? She thought as anger came in to her, as a slow shadow taking over her heart. But she kept quiet and still with her gaze stuck at the lake’s small waves and bright reflexes.

“Can you?” Lucian asked while was picking up a pebble and throwing it to the water. It fell immediately to it with a “ploop” sound, “Cuz I bloody can’t,” She was watching him out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to feel out of place with his shy attempt to call her attention. She felt her heart melt a little with his persistence but she couldn’t understand him yet…what did he wanted from her.

She crouched down and grabbed a small stone. She turned it in her fingers before making her attempt to make it skimming the waters, but like him, she failed it completely. She sighed when the small stone just dived to the bottom of the lake. “Aw that sucks luv,” He declared with a sad smile and nudging her softly. Her heart sunk at hearing him calling her luv. It felt painful and she felt her eyes getting warmer when tears threatened to show up. “It is so hard! Me and Bax having been trying for ages!”

He made for another try, throwing another stone…but that launch had been even worse then the first one. “Ouch…I think I killed a fish?” She knew he was making everything he could to make her talk, to make her have some kind of reaction to his words. But all she felt was her wounded pride and her insecurities. She was feeling nervous now, her heart was beating faster and faster at every attempt he made to interact with her. She was afraid of breaking down, that she would end up showing him how much all of that was costing her.

He was looking at her now, despair written in his expression “Ree… please, why have you been ignoring me? I want to hear it from you. What did I do?” She felt surprised when tears started to fill his eyes…his beautiful dark brown eyes. She could see them getting wet behind his glasses while he was getting down on his knees. She gasped at the sight of it, feeling confused and at the same time her breath caught in her throat. She felt her eyes sting and tears started to slowly roll down her cheeks. “You…” she sighed again trying to find her words, her voice was weak and trembling, “You called her half-blood in such a despicable manner…Ava? Remember?” She asked, now her voice getting stronger when anger spoke louder, “Were you insulting her? Huh?! By calling her that?” She asked while drying harshly some tears with the back of her hand, “Because I’m also a half-blood and you know that!” She almost yelled at him as her aching feelings were being released from her with every word she was saying. “What about those questions about the muggle world? All that interest was for what? To make me some sort of a joke? For your own entertainment?” She was looking at him her hands clenched on her sides, her eyes full with tears and pain. All in her was showing how much all of that had affected her and she was no longer ignoring her feelings, no longer ignoring him! But she was afraid…afraid that he would confirm her suspicions, afraid of losing him, her best friend! But silence was no longer possible between them, it had become impossible not to speak about what had happened that night.

@Lucian Mornstern

"Seriously, you have to stoop that low Winchect?! Really?” I hissed, I was protecting my pack. My family. “You didn’t have to blackmail us, Half-Blood!" I spat; I was so angry!

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Dialogue | Thoughts

Her walls were crumbling as she yelled at him, telling him what had hurt so badly that night, that had made her keeping her silence around him and even avoid eye contact with her best friend. Probably she was showing to much, since if had been another person she would have ignored it, those words had not been directed to her and she wasn’t feeling really nice towards Ava at that moment too. But calling her 'half-blood' the way he did it...she could never forget it. The disappointment she felt when she realized that maybe Lucian was just pretending to be nice to her, just pretending to like her for some reason, that… that broke her heart. Irina was also a half-blood...so how does he feel about that? Because is something she can't change about her, it's something that she never choose! And if in fact, she had the chance to do so, she would never do it! Her muggle family was where she had always find love and care. Her funny and kind grandfather, always playing around with her. And her sweet and lovely grannie, always making amazing and delicious pastries with her. No, she would never exchange her muggle family for anything in this world!

“Well, yeah. I know that. But you’re a good one, Ree. You are- are the unlucky one! You’re amazing and smart and- and nice! But Ava? She- she wasn’t! I mean, apparently she isn’t even a Half-Blood! Failed at even having one magical parent!” She couldn't believe in what she was hearing. Was he being serious right now? "A good one?" Irina pronounced indignant "Failed? So you judge people by their blood status?" She was feeling incredulous with what she was learning about the dark-haired boy in front of her. "My muggle grandparents don't make me less than the others! You're joking?! You think you better because you're a pure-blood? In what does it make you better? Arrogance and haughtiness?"She asked shaking her head in denial, "You're delusional! I...I can't believe you right now!" She finished looking again at the lake, her sight landing on the freezing water but her mind some place else. She was thinking the moments they had passed together, sharing her muggle favorite things...those were her favorite moments at Hogwarts too...fun and cheerful moments with him! Did they meant the same to him? Or had he been bored all those times?

“No! Of course not! The times we spent together about that were fun! Playing that weird game with the ball of clothes! Fun!" Lucian started to argue. "Football! That's it's name! And has I told you at the time it's usually not played with a ball of clothes!" She intervened irritated and annoyed with him.

"Hearing about how they can make stories with pictures and paintings, fun! Although slightly unnerving! I am interested! Muggles are- are weird and- and dangerous! Ree, I want to help you! I would never hurt you!” He snapped at her. Irina couldn't stop her ironic laugh at his statements, "Movies and videos! Art in movement, memory keepers! If that unnerves you and makes you think muggles are dangerous, then you're pretty weak for a 'pure-blood'" She said, almost spitting the last word in distaste. "You want to help me with what?!" She asked turning to him, narrowed eyes and mouth slightly open in surprise.

She watched as he approached, his dark eyes wet in tears, never leaving hers and it took all of her strength not to look away from him, “Irina Sousa, you are… I don’t know enough words to describe you. Ich… Ich liebe dich, I love you” What did he just said? Was Irina's only coherent thought at that time. Her brain got to a blank space where she was just listening his last words on repeat. He...He loves me? Is that possible? A unworthy half-blood as he thinks? In German...why would he said it in German? She was frozen in place, enable to move or to mutter a single word, What does that mean? She was incredulous looking at Lucian, while seeing him dry some of his tears behind his glasses, What the hell...She thought taking a step back from him and swallowing hard feeling her mouth now dry. Does she love him back? That's why she was feeling that way? Yeah...No? Maybe... She was so confused!

“What I said to Winchect had nothing to do with you. Don’t you see? I was trying to protect you! And Colin! Why can’t anyone,” She saw him grab another stone and throw it at the lake like he was throwing away his frustration “SEE THAT!”

He came to his knees again yanking his glasses and started sobbing. She saw as his shoulders started shaking, “Idiot! Of course she wouldn’t understand! They never do.” Irina felt the need to go to him, to hug him and tell him that he doesn't have to cry. That everyone can be wrong and make a mistake. She hesitated with her hand hovering his shoulder not sure if she should touching him or not. Not sure if she was ready to forgive him without making him understand first. Irina quickly removed her hand that way when Lucian met her gaze again, "I’m sorry if I hurt you, Ree. I only planned on hurting one in the time and that- that backstabbing traitor!” he yelled. And she felt sympathize with him. She also wanted to hurt Ava that night. She had threaten to bite her...had she been better then him?

“I’m sorry,” Lucian's voice came in a whisper, “How about I make it up to you? Erm, on- on the 1st of January my grandfather is hosting a Wesley Ball! It’s sort of Pureblood only but we can invite someone to come too. Would you like to come with me?” A pure-blood only? "With people that thinks like you? To what? Feel less? Feel unwanted there?" She asked with a hurtful expression. But he seemed desperate with his pleading eyes locked on hers, “Please. I will do anything!” he said getting up again, gently holding her hands, he was freezing but his hands were still warmer than hers. Irina looked down at her clasped hands feeling her cheeks turn pink and not just from the cold winter breeze. “Ree, let me make it up to you,”

Should she say yes? Should she feel safe with him and trust him again? A chance to make him feel and think differently? "I..." She said squeezing his hands a little tighter feeling nervous and unsure of what to say, "Okay...I guess..." She sighed, "Promise me you will think about what you've said. People are not define by blood status!" She begged him with sad and pleading eyes, "I love my muggle family!"

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@Lucian Mornstern

"Remember Michael, Muggles are more dangerous than your wizard brothers and sisters. They have set more of our kind on fire - mainly our women - than they have ever been nice to us," Lucian read in one of his letters, "Muggles are dangerous you should never trust them. They will kill you before you even get a chance to get your wand out. You hear me?"