Welcome!

[Brid Cerdwin]

Hogwarts was being hit with one of the biggest storms of the century, the winds rising quickly and steadily, knocking over trees, making branches fly and rattling the school's windows. Leaves billowed out everwhere outside, scattering across the front lawn in a frenzied dance of hell. Of course, the thunder and lightning were deafening & blinding, and the rain fell is sheets, like waterfalls cascading down and drenching everything.

Of course, the students inside of Hogwarts were sound asleep, not hearing a thing that was going on outside, for the professors had known that this storm was coming, and so for their houses to get a good night's rest, they had planted spells at each window, blocking out the sounds and lights created by the downfall. So inside, everyone was as snug as a bug in a rug, dreaming their stupid little dreams, completely oblivious to the world outside. Not that it really mattered to the Slytherin's, who slept in the basement of the school, but still.

Well, almost everyone was as snug as a bug in a rug, though the one student who was still awake in the entire school was just as oblivious as the rest of the students, though Brid was oblivious to a lot more than just the outside weather. For the past month or so, her friends had realised that Brid was oblivious to everything...school, classes, meals, friends, guys...everything. It was as if someone had pulled a curtain over her eyes, and she preferred that it remained there.

Truth be told, she felt more like as if someone had stuck her in slow-drying cement, and that every day it became harder to move, harder to speak, harder to breathe. Nothing was like it had been, everything obliviated from her world like a cat could take care of a mouse. Done, gone, crunch....

So, unable to sleep, or more honestly, not willing to sleep, Brid had made her way down into the Common Room to sit before the heating green flames of the fire, thinking back to when this couch had changed her life so drastically. Yeah, it was probably the worst place to be, but she was starting to realise that it really didn't matter where she was, she was going to feel like shit anyways, so why not have a good reason for it. Her long, black hair was loose and hung slightly messy down her back, and she was wearing her black yoga pants and emerald green tank top. No one was around, what did she care?

[Ioan Cyncad]

He had returned to the last place where he had felt nearly at home. Hogwarts, as for many others his age, was home away from home. To Ioan, however, it was this or hell back home, but now that his mother was ‘gone’, home was a quiet dark place. The House Elves were in better moods without the evil Cyncad witch around, but Ioan was never one to enjoy life among the lower magical species. He had no friends that came over, he had no more relatives, though his mother’s family was still around, but he didn’t dare invite them over. No, Ioan’s life was pretty much lonely, except for Hogwarts. Here, at least, he had something to do and someone to taunt.

Unfortunately, his return was met with quiet acceptance, except for those that dreaded seeing the Slytherin youth again. They were definitely not happy to see him, and well the rest of them didn’t really mind so much as Ioan left them alone. He wasn’t about to do that, however, no, Ioan was itching for something to do, anything, really, just to get his mind off his silent invisible prison. He had picked on a couple of first year students, those that didn’t know him, but it turned out less than fun. If anything, they were defiant to the last, until they ran crying to their rooms. Ioan had to admit that the next generation was being a bit dull, but then again, Voldemort and his troops had taken all the good ones and left the scraps for Hogwarts. Slytherin seemed a bit more dull now and there was really no one left around.

There were the same old habits though, and it wasn’t long before Ioan found himself hiding out in the common room at night smoking his usual clove cigarettes. If the headmaster or the professors ever found out he would be punished, but Ioan was smarter than that. He wasn’t the only bad boy that smoked anyway and they all seemed to back each other up. After all, the Muggles weren’t the only ones that smoked and the cloves were so calming. Besides, Ioan wasn’t much of a drinker, not after seeing his mother waste away with the spirits. He’d seen her so drunk she couldn’t walk, and so wasted she had actually puked on herself. Her loss of control was something Ioan feared for himself, so at no point would he allow himself to drink himself into a stupor. So there he was, instead, smoking in hiding and enjoying the quiet time alone.

It wasn’t long, however, before his alone time was interrupted though, when Ioan saw who it was, he was not annoyed in the slightest. He allowed the beautiful raven haired Slytherin girl to wander around the room a while, her eyes captured by the flickering green light coming from the fireplace. His smoke billowed around him as he had entrenched himself in a dark corner sitting on a large wing back chair. “Couldn’t sleep then?” He asked, his deep silky voice sounded loud against the quiet of the common room, yet his face was still masked by the dark. “Well I must say, you are still as beautiful as ever.” Ioan chuckled, his husky voice dripped with his rich posh British accent. He took another drag off the cigarette, the little light causing a slight reflection from his face, but then it was gone as Ioan blew out the smoke. The combination of grey plumes and dark shadows wallowed around the Slytherin boy as if he were a hidden dragon. Another chuckle came from the dark as Ioan continued, “Tell me, Brid. Did you miss me?”

[Brid Cerdwin]

Feet tucked beneath her, arms hanging loosely in her lap, if one had not seen Brid Cerdwin enter the room and sit down on the large, overstuffed couch, they probably would have missed her altogether, or thought her some lifesized doll. For it was if a trancing spell had been placed over her...not a muscle moved, not a hair twitched, she just sat.

The firelight flickered before, casting a greenish hue on her pale face, her eyes not needing to reflect the colour before her, for they matched in exact tint. Her emerald eyes, the ones that he had loved so much, or at least had said that he loved so much. Damn him to hell, for making her care, then making her feel like a fool. However, she couldn't surge her anger in that direction for long, for hating him hurt more than loving him.

It was surprising that she hadn't noticed the smell in the Common Room when she had come down, even more that the scent didn't trigger something from the past itself. But was it that shocking, since she hadn't really noticed anything in the last month.

So when the voice spoke up behind her, much in the same fashion that Eddie's voice had snuck up behind her that first day, Brid's loose body froze solid. Couldn’t sleep then? Then before she knew it, she was on her feet, spinning fast to face the voice, so familiar, so easy to distinguish now that she thought about it. Her back to the fire, it lit her up like some hellish light. But she herself could see nothing but darkness, though she had a good idea in which general direction to look.

Well I must say, you are still as beautiful as ever. The chuckle made her skin crawl, though she couldn't have said why. The guy in question had never been a threat to her, at least not as far as her own knowledge went. Still, it was unsettling that he was sitting in the darkness like that, without showing himself. So her eyes strained in the darkness, her voice light. "Ioan, is that really you?"

Suddenly, out of the pitch, a small red light began to glow, and Brid knew that it came from the clove cigarette that Ioan smoked. Again, the shadows chuckle. Tell me, Brid. Did you miss me? She swallowed the heavy lump in her throat as to not give her own sentiments away, before taking a step towards the small glowing read light. "Should I have!? You left without a word!" And it was true, and Brid realised that that was two people who had left her. Another gutwrenching kick was delivered to her stomach. Peering into the shadows, she crossed her arms beneath her breasts. "Come out of there, will ya? You're making me nervous! Why are you hiding like that, anyways?"

[Ioan Cyncad]

“Of course it is I.” Ioan responded from the shadows. “Who else could it be, especially at this time of night.” He had always been known to be a night owl by those that knew him somewhat, and of course there was his smoking habit which he hid from the administrators. The room now smelled like cinnamon and one would think someone was baking something or burning some sort of incense. Now that wasn’t illegal at all, but smoking was, which was another reason why Ioan liked the clove cigarettes.

He narrowed his eyes at Brid as she beckoned him to come out of the shadow. He saw no reason why he shouldn’t, after all, he was already finished with the cigarette. To make the bud disappear was a simple charm, one that sent the particular piece of evidence into a shower of fire sparkles that ended it with its complete elimination. That was how he destroyed all his evidence, after all, fire was the perfect way to destroy things, and magical fire was particularly useful. In an unvoiced spell, Ioan flicked the bud away from him and it burst into green sparkles and swirling snakes. The spell could form any images and any color, but Ioan preferred these to say, pink butterflies. The tangent thought made him laugh inwardly.

Ioan stood fluidly from his chair, almost like a prince would rise from his throne. He was a type of prince, in a way, one formed by the magic of pure bloods and wickedness. The tall, lanky Slytherin male made his way to the girl in a slow deliberate pace, all the while the deadly grin on his face remained the same. His eyes studied the girl as if dissecting her section by section. “Hiding!” Ioan chuckled which made the scar on his cheek deepen, “My dear, if I were hiding I can assure you that you wouldn’t be able to find me. No, I wasn’t hiding, just taking in a few moments of quiet time.”

His eyes searched her, “But why are you here this time of night. Don’t tell me you still have a thing for that moron? What was his name anyway? I haven’t seem him around.” Ioan gave her a knowing grin as he furrowed his eyebrows, “Don’t tell me he left school and you?” He tisked, snapping his tongue against his teeth, ’Well that wasn’t very nice of him, was it?” She was still so incredibly, heart wrenchingly beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that Ioan had done wicked things in order to keep her around, but of course if she learned of them she would not be happy. Some boys showered their girls with flowers, candies and gifts, Ioan, on the other hand, murdered, destroyed and made cunning plans. It didn’t mean, however, that he cared any less, perhaps, in a way, he cared more…

[Brid Cerdwin]

Brid's face lit up with the green light of Ioan's spell, the tinge the exact shade of her eyes, giving her a strange, haunted look that suited her well. It brought forth the girl she used to be, the hard-assed Slytherin bitch who didn't give a shit about anyone but her own, nor of anything but of those things she cared about. In that one brief moment, it was as if Eddie Vega had never existed.

But the truth of the matter was that the green flash disappeared as fast as it had come, leaving behind the broken Brid of today, though there was part of her that wanted nothing more than to forget and move on. But how did one do so when it always felt like her insides were caving in? There had to be an easier life than this!

How had she managed to get herself in so deep, so fast? She should have listened, should have paid attention, but there had never even been the slightest clue that Eddie had been unhappy. Actually, he had always been telling her how incredibly complete he felt.

For now, however, Eddie escaped her mind as Ioan stepped from the shadows, having not changed a bit in the time he was gone. There had always been a strange sort of connection between Brid and her classmate, not just a physical one, but another that seemed to run deeper, though neither had ever really spoken about it. It had been whispered through many lips in the school that eventually, the Cerdwins would have to deal with Ioan Cyncad far more than they wanted. But then Ioan had disappeared and Eddie had moved into Brid's life, so all of that had vanished like mist.

The evil grin that Ioan bestowed upon Brid made her shudder, and she was surprised to feel that same odd desire for the guy, like so long ago. His roving eyes took her in entirely. Hiding! My dear, if I were hiding I can assure you that you wouldn’t be able to find me. No, I wasn’t hiding, just taking in a few moments of quiet time. When his gaze rose up to lock upon her eyes, she could not look away. But why are you here this time of night. Don’t tell me you still have a thing for that moron? What was his name anyway? I haven’t seem him around.

Now there was the kick to the stomach, and Brid's slim form bent slightly forward with the intensity of it, a small gasp escaping her lips. Ioan had always been able to read her so well, but how was it possible that he could read her mind? Don’t tell me he left school and you? Well that wasn’t very nice of him, was it? It took everything in Brid's self-control to keep the tears down that threatened to jump into her green eyes. If Ioan saw them, he would never let her live it down, so she swallowed them as a hard lump.

Turning away from him so that he wouldn't see the pain in her face, she walked slowly towards the fireplace, staring at the flames as if she wished them to consume her right there and then. She shrugged, trying to act indifferently. "Does it matter!? He's gone, and I'm still here! It's not like I was anything important!" It was hard to separate the pain and fury in her voice. Turning her head towards Ioan, she smiled slightly evilly, the green of the flames having the same effect as the exploding cigarette. "What about you? Have you destroyed any conquests lately, or am I no longer trutsworthy enough to hear of your endeavours? Where the hell have you been?"

[Ioan Cyncad]

For a brief moment it seemed that the girl reflected Ioan’s own feelings. It wasn’t everyday that someone like him had fallen in love and that only meant that the heartache was stronger. He almost lost his stoic stance and comforted her with an apology, but he stopped himself. Ioan had vowed not to let his guard down again, but he had a feeling that it was not going to be easy. Here, before him, was a girl he had shared intimate moments with in pain, and although his heart wanted to hold her in his arms and make her feel better, his brain cried out a warning. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest defensively and studied her with an amused smile, but his bright blue eyes were moved.

The girl fled from his glare and walked away, turning and wearing a face of indifference now, though Ioan knew the topic of ‘Eddie’ wasn’t over. "Does it matter!? He's gone, and I'm still here! It's not like I was anything important!" Brid responded with defense causing the amused smirk on Ioan’s face to widen. He shook his head and responded, “I don’t care if he’s gone or not, but yes, I do care that you are here…” The Slytherin male licked his lips and took a few steps closer to Brid, “…I am very glad you are here, at least I won’t be alone.”

"What about you? Have you destroyed any conquests lately, or am I no longer trutsworthy enough to hear of your endeavours? Where the hell have you been?" Cleverly, Brid turned the subject to Ioan, knowing fully well how the boy loved talking about himself. Next to potions it was his most favorite topics, though Ioan played his cards very close to his chest, and he kept his most deepest secrets to himself. It was easier to distract people with shallow displays then to remain mysterious and cause people curiosity.

“Ah yes, conquests.” He sighed as if tired and looked at his fingernails, suddenly finding them interesting. They were all manicured and shined against the green firelight. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had time, since I’ve missed so much there has been so much to do.” Ioan turned his cold azure eyes at Brid and pursed his lips, “As for where I was…well, I had a family emergency.” He shrugged, not wanting to add more to it, his family affairs had always been private and things weren’t about to change, “Its been settled, so now I’m back. This is my last year anyway, after that, I’m taking over the family business.”

Ioan reached out and took a strand of her dark hair between his fingers and inspected it as a slave trader would study the new stock. “If you’d like…we… could…always pick up where we left off.” His blood red lips twitched into a smile, “Or start all over again?”

[Brid Cerdwin]

It was pure truth that for people like Ioan & Brid, falling in love had lasting impressions that seldom turned out in a positive way. When they found themselves truly in love, realising it with the shock of one who had been hit with a mighty force, the dove headfirst into it, giving it their all, even if it didn't always seem that way.

There had been many boys & men in Brid Cerdwin's life, though there had only ever been two times when it had been anything else but a good time. In Ioan, Brid had found a comfort and necessity of desire, a common want of the other. But because both of them were blind to the matter, it was hard to tell if love had ever even come close. Others had assumed it, but the pair had never looked behind that door.

But with Eddie, the door had been blown open, Brid's heart had become swollen with everything that he was and she had allowed herself to let his love fill the darkness that had always reigned inside of her. So now, with him gone, the love had disappeared, not leaving behind the darkness that had once been there, but merely a hole, a gigantic hole that seemed like it could never be filled.

It surprised the dark-haired beauty to see something flash through the azure orbs in Ioan's pale face, though she could not quite make out what it was before she turned away from him, not wanting him to see what the hole inside of her had done to her. She didn't see the smirk on Ioan's face as she looked towards the fire. I don’t care if he’s gone or not, but yes, I do care that you are here…I am very glad you are here, at least I won’t be alone. Brid looked very briefly over her shoulder, taking in his eyes for a moment before looking away. "You were never alone, but you left too!" And it was true!

Turning the subject towards him instead of her, uncertain on how long she could keep her composure, she turned fully towards the man, her arms still lightly crossed under her breasts. What of his conquests? His reaction almost made her laugh, though she was having a hard time remembering how to do it. Ah yes, conquests. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time, since I’ve missed so much there has been so much to do. As for where I was…well, I had a family emergency. Now she felt bad for having blamed him for leaving. Would it never end, this unwanted delivering of pain onto others?

She sighed gently, catching his gaze and holding it. "I'm sorry to hear it!" But she didn't press further, knowing Ioan desire for secrecy better than anyone else in this school. The man shrugged with an indifferent air. Its been settled, so now I’m back. This is my last year anyway, after that, I’m taking over the family business. Oh, it hurt to hear that, for she would still be here a year after him. But she didn't say a word, not wanting to drown him with her own self-pity.

By now, they were standing quite close to the other and Ioan reached out to tenderly grasp a strand of her hair, contemplating it closely. If you’d like…we… could…always pick up where we left off. By now, his words should no longer shock the Slytherin, but it had been so long that anyone had spoken to her in such a fashion. He smiled evilly with lips redder than her own. Or start all over again?

Brid didn't know why the old flame lit up so quickly, nor why her own lips curled up ever so slightly, as she answered him in a lowered tone. "And pray tell, where exactly did we leave off, Ioan!?" It felt almost alien to her to be speaking in such a way, though it illeviated a bit of the pressure upon her chest.

[Ioan Cyncad]

Her response was just as Ioan had predicted and now that ‘Eddie’ wasn’t in the picture he could get much farther. The boy had been a roadblock and Ioan was very efficient in removing roadblocks. He huffed a chuckled as Brid responded with pure sensuousness, . "And pray tell, where exactly did we leave off, Ioan!?" That was all the motivation he needed as he took her into his arms, holding her so close to himself that there was no way he could hide his physical reaction. The grin on his face deepened, as did the scar on his otherwise smooth pale skin.

“Oh I’m sure I could remind you.” His large hand smoothed down to the small of her back as his long fingers gently massaged her spine, sure to send shivers over her curvy body. Thoughts of her body made him react more, and it had been an awful long time since he had bedded anyone let alone Brid. He remembered every curve of her body and the near perfection of it. Her skin always glowed with warmth and if felt finer than the richest silk. She was the type of woman he would marry, whenever that time would come of course. Brid was not only physically perfect, but mentally as well, and her blood was pure. These were many of the necessities for a man like Ioan. Besides, he respected her to a point and her mind would be a grand edition to his family. He would be more attentive than his father was, after all, he wouldn’t want any of his sons going through what he did with his bored mother.

Ioan took a deep breath, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of the beauty against him and of the comfortable smell of the common room. He was grinning now, baring a row of fine white teeth as he did so. “Its okay if you play hard to get, you know I like games.” He leaned in closer until his nose nestled against the line of her jaw, where he whispered, his hot breath rebounding against her perfumed skin, “….but why kid ourselves, when we both want it…” He places a delicate kiss on her chin and ended his thoughts, “…and need it.” At that he began to kiss her neck, nibbling at the delicate skin and tasting her. Although it was driving him mad with want, Ioan was very much in control. His body didn’t tremble and neither did his hands. He grinned at his self-control as he was determined to make Brid loose control. It would be an accomplishment, but then again, Ioan was up for the challenge…

[Brid Cerdwin]

How strange was it to feel the flicker of desire rise up through her body, when since Eddie had left, not a single person had managed to catch the girl's eye or even get a rise in blood pressure? Then again, the history she had with Ioan was long and decorative, so there was a good chance that that had something to do with it.

Still, having responded the way she had surprised even her, though it didn't seem to surprise Ioan, who chuckled at her response. His hands reached out to grab her, pulling her close to his body, her own quite capable of feeling the reaction it brought to the lad. When he smiled, there was that same shudder that enlivened her. Oh I’m sure I could remind you.

Brid's eyes couldn't help but flutter closed as Ioan's hands softly travelled down her body. It felt wonderful to be touched again, to be desired, when most now looked upon her as a broken porcelain doll, no longer useful to their desiring ways. But Ioan had never looked upon her like that, and it was true that in so many ways, they matched perfectly. Their intellect suited the other, their looks seemed to meld well, not to mention that at one time, their two minds thought almost identically. And if it hadn't been for Eddie, the last statement would probably still be true.

She stood stock-still, though not rigid, unsure if this was truly reality, or if she was trapped in one of those dreams that come along to calm your troubled soul. Was Ioan truly there, or was this all her own imagination cooking it up? It was hard to think the latter as Ioan teased her. Its okay if you play hard to get, you know I like games... She laughed once, ever so softly, gasping when his nose touched the skin of her jaw, his breath dancing over her neck. but why kid ourselves, when we both want it…and need it?

His lips upon her skin were like fire, her head falling back gently with a deep sigh, lost in the talent that Ioan had and had used so many times on her. Her hands reached out to grab a hold of him, unsure whether or not she would be able to stand for long...when she caught sight of a mental image of herself, falling down this hole for eternity. Though it was the hardest thing for her to do at that point, she gently pushed Ioan away with a calm "Wait!" , trying to calm her racing heart, before dropping down on the overstuffed sofa before the fire.

"Oh god, I do need this, more than you can known, but I can't allow myself to be just another conquest anymore, just some chick to get some pleasure from. Look where it's gotten me? Look at me, I'm just some broken piece of trash now, useless and used." There was such a big part of her that wanted to grab Ioan, still so close and pull him down on top of her and let loose, but held back.

[Ioan Cyncad]

Ioan could feel Brid’s body giving in to his attentions and he was positive the night would end up just how he wanted it to. That was until she pushed him away. Ioan fought with her hands, his lips tried to snatch the last of skin, but he was never one to force himself upon anyone. It was so easy to do that, but much harder to get them to do it freely. The clever Slytherin male always preferred a challenge to whatever was easier. ”Wait!” Her protest came out breathless and very hesitant. There was still a chance Ioan could change her mind, but her next words made him frown.

"Oh god, I do need this, more than you can known, but I can't allow myself to be just another conquest anymore, just some chick to get some pleasure from. Look where it's gotten me? Look at me, I'm just some broken piece of trash now, useless and used." Ioan stared at her angrily for a few moments, his want for her diminished from his body as his mind tried to capture just what was wrong with her. He finally figured it out and it infuriated him.

In a calm elegant manner, however, he sat next to her, crossed his legs and took out another of his clove cigarettes. “Well, just when you think things can’t possibly change.” Ioan huffed and lit his cigarette and took a few calming puffs before turning to her with a frown, “I had no idea what that horrible boy has done to you. You know you sound like a bleeding heart Gryffindor, or worse, one of those sentimental Hufflepuffs. You should walk out of this dungeon and head for one of those towers.”

Ioan shook his head and took another puff, letting the clove numb him before he’d loose control and yell. Ioan never yelled, even with a broken heart, he vowed not too loose control; and he wasn’t about to allow Brid to do that herself. “Get a hold of yourself for Salazar’s sake.” He turned to her, his blue eyes darkening into a shade of deep green as they reflected the common room fire. He pointed a long finger at her, the one holding his cigarette, “Its nobody’s fault…you realize that. You allow yourself to be used, or hurt or whatever…so as you allowed yourself to be hurt, you MAKE yourself get over it. You’re a Slytherin, start acting like one.” He shrugged and leaned back, retreating his finger against his lips so he could take another puff of his cigarette.

“As for being useless broken trash.” He laughed and flicked some ash on the floor, shook his head and looked at her. His eyes had returned to their normal bright blue and he wore a warm smile on his face. It was strange to see it there, but that sort of smile happened, from time to time. It was definitely a rare and beautiful thing. “You’re nothing of the sort, Brid. I don’t consort with trash, as for being a conquest…” Again he shrugged, “I could say the same thing, my dear, for am I not one of YOUR conquests? I don’t see it that way, though, the way we are feeling.” He turned away from her, suddenly aware that he admitted that he too was hurting, “I would trust myself with no one else but a friend.” He turned to her, his eyes showing a hint of honesty, “…like you.”

[Brid Cerdwin]

Brid knew that she was acting stupid, pathetic & weak, but as the whole world had left her to fend for herself after Eddie left, there had been no one to kick her in the ass to rise back up the ladder. Instead, she was falling swiftly downwards in a deadly spiral that was seemed impossible to escape. So, she could only wallow in her own pain and suffering, slowly disintigrating before the eyes of the entire school. Already she had become a ghost.

Therefore, she was not expecting Ioan's reaction to her little outburst, though she should have remembered who he was. She felt the sofa bend where he sat down beside her, close enough for her to feel his body heat and swallow at the desire, but far enough to make it clear that that wasn't the issue right now. Well, just when you think things can’t possibly change. She heard his lighter click, and again the air was filled with that sweet, aromatic smell that always reminded her of him, and that always would.

I had no idea what that horrible boy has done to you. You know you sound like a bleeding heart Gryffindor, or worse, one of those sentimental Hufflepuffs. You should walk out of this dungeon and head for one of those towers. Brid's head snapped up quickly, turning to look at him with a hurt reaction. But very quickly, that hurt reaction disappeared, to be replaced by a look Ioan would know far too well...the bitch-look of yesterdays, her eyes narrowed, her lips pursed, her eyes darkening dangerously. Her voice dropped to a horrid whisper, full of wrath. "Don't you DARE even put me in the same sentence as those vapid idiots!" Ooooh, did it feel good to speak so vehemently!!!!

Ioan only puffed away on his smoke, staring towards the fire. But when he did speak, she was shocked by his words, though at the same time, she had to admit that they did affect her, in more ways than one. . Get a hold of yourself for Salazar’s sake. Her eyes went wide as Ioan turned to her, the colour of his orbs the exact same shade as her own at the moment, thanks to the fire before them. He pointed at her. Its nobody’s fault…you realize that. You allow yourself to be used, or hurt or whatever…so as you allowed yourself to be hurt, you MAKE yourself get over it. You’re a Slytherin, start acting like one.

Now, none of this was said with even a raised voice, but to Brid it felt like she had just been chastised like a child and slapped across the face. She merely remained dumbfounded and mute, though it was starting to sink in that Ioan just might be right. As for being useless broken trash. Brid winced ever so slightly as Ioan laughed, shaking his head as he turned to her. It stunned her to see a smile there, a true, wonderful smile, one that she had only seen on very rare occasions. You’re nothing of the sort, Brid. I don’t consort with trash, as for being a conquest…I could say the same thing, my dear, for am I not one of YOUR conquests? Right there and then, Brid shook her head quickly, for no, she had never thought of Ioan in that way. Others yes, him, never!

But he wasn't finished. I don’t see it that way, though, the way we are feeling. And he turned away, and for the first time ever, Brid saw through the brave and cunning sould of her friend/lover, to see that beneath, there was a pain that no one had ever tried to cure. Her hair raised up to reach for him, though she didn't know whether or not to lay it upon his shoulder. I would trust myself with no one else but a friend. He turned back towards her just as her hand fell to his lap. …like you.

Brid swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the closeness of the two, and of the deep silence around them. Even the crackling of the fire seemed to have stopped. "Ioan, I...." She dropped her gaze ever so slightly. "You're right, you know! I've been a disgrace to the colours of our House, and I never realised that you....well, can you forgive me for not thinking? For being a different kind of bitch than who I'm really supposed to be?" She gave a little laugh at that last remark, knowing full well that he would understand.

[Ioan Cyncad]

Ioan was lost in his thoughts and his silent pain. He licked his lips as his mind reviewed where he had went wrong and how he was handling things afterwards. He had done nothing wrong except assume that he was loved in return. What he had done wrong was that he left his heart open and allowed himself to believe that love really existed and that he was worthy of it. He could understand how Brid was feeling, but allowing everyone to see it wasn’t something he would have done. He had become, however, colder and meaner and the need to make someone hurt was strong in him.

"Ioan, I...." The Slytherin girl’s voice brought him out of his thoughts and he was, once again, staring at her lovely face. He said nothing, however, as she continued, "You're right, you know! I've been a disgrace to the colours of our House, and I never realised that you....well, can you forgive me for not thinking? For being a different kind of bitch than who I'm really supposed to be?" He grinned at her. Of course he was right, it was rare when Ioan wasn’t right. Ioan amused himself by proving himself right to people, no matter how much they hated him for pointing things out. The truth is much more painful than any old lies could ever be.

“There, there…” He cooed sarcastically as he leaned in closer and gently wrapped his arms around her. The grin on his face turned devious as he tilted his head and pouted at her. “No need for forgiveness, my dear. I’ll be more than happy to get you unto the right path, but first…” His long fingers ran through her silky hair exposing her neck to him. Ioan leaned in against her neck and whispered, “…we need to loosen you up.” He picked up where he left off and kissed her neck. “I know I can help there…then…” Ioan sighed and felt his hot breath rebound against her perfumed skin. “…then we can go from there.” Gently, he tasted her skin, his tongue and lips running up her neck and towards her jaw as his hands began to smooth across the curves of her body.

“There’s no shame in it.” Ioan continued as he tried to make Brid relax. “Its not like we’ve never done it before…” He smiled at her, his hands continuing to roam her body, “…and I’m still here am I not. I’m still your…” Ioan leaned in against her lips now, preparing them for a kiss. “…friend.” With that final word he kissed her so passionately all the air from the room seemed to flitter away. Ioan forced himself to forget everything for the moment. He would loose himself in Brid and he only hoped she would do the same for herself. After all, that’s what friends were for…

[Brid Cerdwin]

There were not many people in this world that Brid would apologize to, even in her weakened state. Apology meant that she was wrong, and she hated being wrong, but when it came to people she trusted and truly cared about, she had no qualms with admitting when she had strayed the wrong way. Which is exactly why she had no hesitation is asking it of Ioan.

He smiled at her, and she had to smile back, a soft smile that curled the ends of her lips very slightly, her eyes turning slightly impish. What was it about Ioan that had always felt so teasing, wanting to be that evil little fairy sprite you often hear about in fairy tales?

Wrapping his arms around her, Ioan pulled her close again and Brid didn't resist. It felt wonderful to be held again, for whatever reason, but Ioan had always known how to hold her and how to make her feel whole and well again.

There, there... Brid's heartbeat picked up a notch as her friend's smile turned darker. No need for forgiveness, my dear. I’ll be more than happy to get you unto the right path, but first… She sighed as Ioan gently exposed her neck, leaning into her once more. …we need to loosen you up. His kiss on her skin was gentle, yet it lit her up quicker than anything else he could have done. Already she could feel her body loosening and falling into the cushions around her.

I know I can help there…then…then we can go from there. Brid moaned ever so gently as her eyes closed, her own hands finding Ioan's familiar form as his hands trailed over her body. She grasped at his clothes, holding him close to her, sinking even deeper. There’s no shame in it. Brid shook her head, completely agreeing with him...there was no shame in this whatsoever. Its not like we’ve never done it before…

Opening her emerald eyes, she looked at him, her breathing deep. …and I’m still here am I not. I’m still your… Brid held her breath then as Ioan leaned close to her, his face merely an inch from her own. ...friend. Then he kissed her, his lips taking hers with a fire that almost burned, but that Brid would gladly burn for. It was as if the whole world around them disappeared, and her arms linked around Ioan's neck, pulling him down towards her as she hungrily kept requesting more with her actions.

When she broke away for a moment, breathing hard and heavily, she looked at him with shining eyes, finding it hard to catch her words. "Ioan...I....Oh god..." She laughed once, her skin flushed. "I'm so glad you're back! I did miss you, so much!" And she was slowly realising that it was so very true. His absence had somewhat been masked by Eddie, but the pain of his departure had still been there. She lifted a hand to trail her fingers across his face. "Promise me you're not going to leave again!"

[Ioan Cyncad]

"Promise me you're not going to leave again!" Brid spoke with a sincerity that shook Ioan to the core, and the look she gave him made him very still. Her words seem to bring a chill to Ioan’s spine. Although the dungeons were normally cold, the fire warmed it up, but her words made it all seem cold again. It made the Slytherin male shiver slightly, though he could have shrugged it off as anticipation. How could she ask so much of him. He was never one to promise anything unless it was a lie to get him what he wanted. Everyone knew he wasn’t a man of his word, which Slytherin was. They were meant to be cunning and do almost anything to get what they wanted, didn’t she know that?

Still he stared into her deep green eyes and saw just how frail she was. He forced himself not to frown, but the fact that she had been broken by that moron Edward caused a surge of anger so serious that it made his skin hot. Brid was lucky that Ioan rid her of that pest for she was not the strong sensible Slytherin female she used to be. She was a porcelain doll tottering on the edge of a high shelf and he was the only one there to catch her. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment as he relished her touch.

Ioan decided he couldn’t lie to her for he probably needed her as much as she needed him, but was not about to admit that of course. He opened his eyes and took hold of her hand. The moment seemed to linger, like dust motes playing in a ray of light, before he kissed her hand and responded, “I’m not going anywhere.” He smiled at her seriously and went back to his plain old selfish self, “Now get out of that dress before I rip it off you!” With a growl and a chuckle he brought her on top of himself, across his lap as he dug his face into her full bosom. He wasn’t about to dwell on that promise, for now it was time to loose himself in the only thing that could help him cope. Sex. Wondering, satisfying love making that for some reason made his entire body warm and relaxed. And after a good roll in the hay, Ioan could think clearer and he needed to plan…