Detention 101 (Tag - Al)

Moonlight peered through the rustling branches of the tall trees that surrounded the students. His eyes lifted to watch as shadows crept across his face. The small breeze raised his hair and touched off a slight chill on his exposed skin. He inhaled the air sharply, and let it run cool through his nose as he tried to remain calm. Al wasn't scared. In fact, they were rather close to the small little tree house he had built last year within the nestling branches of a smaller tree. He knew this area well, but well enough to know it wasn't exactly safe.

This exhilarated the younger student as he moved within the shadows of their raised wands. It was an adventure, and one he was sharing with another person instead of his normal wanderings in the forest alone. He had never thought he would be moving through the tall, dark trees with the girl whom he called Bayleaf. She was tall, thin, very pretty; everything about her made small flocks of butterflies dance in the pit of his tummy. Of course he had seen her before, during meals in the Great Hall mostly. Having her appointed to be his tutor had almost made him light headed. His fingers had been so nervous when he tried to set up his Potions kit. She had brushed his hand when she helped him and he had stepped away a bit too quickly. Baylee might not have noticed that movement, but she was well aware that he was trembling when he tried to follow her directions.

His distracted mind played over the scene as they walked deeper into the forest. He had cut the roots quickly and dropped them into the golden water that bubbled under his lit cauldron. His eyes danced for the thousandth time over to her as he attempted a small smile. It had been obvious to him that she didn't like him in the least. He had no idea why that hurt him as it had, but he swallowed and tried not to let it show on his blushing features. He was so flustered listening to her voice as she instructed him on the best way to stir. Her tone was like music that played a charming spell on his heart strings. His mind couldn't clear as he tried to figure out why she wouldn't like him. He was trying to be overly nice to her, and she was really cold to his attempts at small talk. He sighed and tried to stir his cauldron as she had done when the Professor spoke directly behind his back.

Al had jumped sending his wand up in the air to flip before his eyes. He reached to try to catch it, but had been so befuddled that he missed horribly. The tip fell to touch the smooth surface on the edge of his cheap cauldron. Another attempt to catch it missed as his eyes drifted to see what Bayleaf was doing. It had been only another half second until the wand tipped into the cauldron and touched the liquid within. The explosion sent the hot oils over Al's head and onto the new robes of their teacher. The boom sent Al to the floor in a ball of confusion. He had destroyed his cauldron, and splintered his wand. When his eyes lifted to see if he had hurt anyone his glance connected with the girl...

A news brought him out of his thoughts and he aimed his wand at the rustling foliage. He sighed lightly as the small animal moved across their path with only a passing glance. He hardly had time to notice the reaction of his detention companion before she had jumped away from him. His lips moved into a small smile, and he shook his head lightly. "No, don't apologize. I mean, after all, it is all my fault we are here. If I had been paying more attention to my work than I was to you, we would-"

He slowly lifted his gaze as the shadows around them grew deeper. It was reassuring that she didn't completely blame him for getting them into this mess. He smiled when she mentioned almost giggling. He thought it would've been worth any trouble they'd share just to hear her giggle. He lost himself in her soft voice as the walked. Al blinked when she smiled at him. She was so dazzling.

He needed to get his head in check. There was no way a girl... a woman two years his senior, would have any interest in him whatsoever. Before he could say anything she continued speaking. She seemed hesitant when she spoke the last question, and he tilted his head trying to think what he might answer. Al was not used to anyone asking about him, or even being interested in what he was like. Then a small thought occurred to him. He darted ahead softly setting his feet on the path. He glanced around swiftly until he found a small palm-sized rock. He looked back up to her and then glanced back to the rock.

His hand began to circle slowly as his wand moved around the rock in his hand. His eyes almost glistened in the low light as he began to whisper softly. At first nothing appeared to happen, then the rock began to fld in on itself. One half elongated and sprouted what could only be a stem with leaves. The second half bend, twisted, and shifted into the form of a rose. Al lifted the stone rose up to examine it, and then he smiled. He slowly moved to where she was standing and presented it to her. His lips had parted into an almost child-like grin. "I think, sometimes, actions speak louder than words. I could tell you over and over again that I am a nice guy; but, you'll never believe me unless I show you. See, even an old rock can be something more than it seems... For you."

Liaz smiled when she took the rose. He couldn't help but feel a little patter in his chest as his heart decided to speed up more than it should. He blushed a little more when she talked about the little trick he performed. When he was younger his family wouldn't allow toys in the house, Liaz spent most his life playing with sticks and rocks. His imagination was strong, and that translated well into Transfiguration spells. It came easy to him, even if his father called it a useless ability. He didn't think turning a rock into a rose was much of a talent, but he was pleased that she thought it was. He almost let a giggle escape his lips, but kept his excitement in check.

His heart slowly began to sink as she continued to speak, and he almost tripped over his feet to start walking when she did. He caught up with his eyes downcast and his brow furled. Al was disheartened to think she doubted his intentions. Was she so afraid to get to know someone that she would push him away before getting to know him? Was she so untrusting of people that he had no chance of getting to know her? Or, perhaps, it was simply that he was a Slytherin. That seemed really judgmental, and she didn't give him the impression that she was that sort. He had tried to tell her that you couldn't judge a book by its cover. Had he judged her by her cover in thinking she would be a nice person, and someone he would love to be able to talk to beyond Potions and Detention?

He blinked and frowned when she asked her final question. Al, like he usually had done in the past, thought quickly and acted fast. He stepped in front of her to halt their movements, and drew out his wand. His nimble hands pointed it at her as he looked into her eyes. Al remained silent for a moment to allow her to actually see him. With a small sigh he twirled the wand and offered her the handle. Al was handing her his wand. This was something no Slytherin would ever do, especially in the situation the two students were currently facing. Not having a wand would leave the younger student defenseless in the forest. Al never thought twice.

"I have no plan. I don't really know what I am doing from one moment to the next. I've lived all my life one day at a time, and I have no reason to be clever now. I don't think I am all that cunning. Hell, I can't even pass Potions without someone to hold my hand. I don't want you vulnerable. I would be really upset to think you're afraid, especially of me. I am not your enemy. Here, take this. Hold on to it for me until we get out of detention. Go ahead. Please." He looked at her and smiled softly. The butterflies moved around in his stomach even though his heart decided to slow down while he watched her. Al didn't know a person could have such an effect on him, but this older girl -woman- made him feel... different. He had no idea if she would believe him, and Al didn't know if he had the words to comfort her.

His heart paused for a moment when the silent span between them passed, then she began to speak. He voice floated through the air and seemed to instantly lift his spirits. He reached out a shaking hand and took his wand. He placed it away without thinking about it. A smile lifted his lips as he thought about this beautiful girl being as awkward around people as he was, and she was an adult. He blinked and turned to begin walking with her again. He didn't really know what to say to her, nor had he owned the words that might comfort her in the moment. It seemed that handing her wand was the right thing to do, and he had never done the right thing in his life.

Not to say Al was a bad person, he just normally expected the worst to happen when he was trying to talk to the opposite sex. He could be friends with anyone that took the time to get to know him. He was open, honest, and friendly. Liaz never judged anyone, and this was one reason he was an outcast in his house of Slytherin and at home with his family. What would the girl at his side say if she knew that his father locked him in the basement when he had to go home for the summer vacation? Would she even understand why Al was told to remain at the school for all the holidays? What would she think of him if she heard about the fact that his parents hadn't got him a present for his birthday since he started Durmstang? Did she even know he had started school there? He pressed such questions down and suppressed the idea if ever having to tell her such embarrassing things. He was ashamed of his life away from Hogwart's. He barely could stand going to his own common room while he was at school. Al pushed his hands into the pockets of his robes.

A sharp breeze rushed through the trees and fluttered his hair around his face. His robe lifted in the wind and the air seemed to howl around them. He inhaled sharply and put his head down against the current as the howl drowned out his thoughts. The breeze passed sending leaves flying around them as the trees blocked any light from the moon high above. Liaz glanced up and caught sight of it, a half moon; no danger there. However, the howling didn't die down with the breeze. He glanced to Baylee and then back to the small trail they had been following. His mind barely registered the thought that something was wrong before another howl joined the first. Wolves! A trap! Neither of the students were given a goal for detention, and Al had wondered what was in store for them. He guessed that it was merely a ploy to scare them into towing the line and going along with whatever those in power wished. Then the thought struck him and he put words to them.

"Bayleaf? I think they mean to murder us." Just as the words left his cold lips the two wolves moved out of the trees and unto the path. Al was quick, having taught himself that being fast made him less of a target. In a flash his wand was out and he reached into his other pocket to produce a small ball of clay. Another thought hit him as the two wolves watched them from down the dirt pathway, "They hunt in packs." It was almost a whisper and the creaking of breaking branches popped behind them. Three more of the large animals appeared down the path behind them. Liaz moved closer to Baylee, and held up his wand. His body bent almost into a crouch as he started to run his thumb through the clay. He almost stopped breathing as defensive spells started to form in his mind, his lips moving silently as he prepared to do anything he could to make sure Baylee lived past this night. Even if it meant sacrificing his own life, Baylee would be alright!