Rushed meetings (Sadie)

[Gabriel Graas S4]

Gabriel looked up from his meal as a cross-countries eagle-owl swept in and landed gracefully on the table next to his table. Lifting the last bite of his eggs and bacon breakfast to his mouth, he placed his knife and fork on his table and pushed it away before dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. Only then did he accept that rolled up paper and the accompanying letter from the owl, who took off immediately after it. He had had the photo shoot for his signature picture – the fallen angel – just the week before and his agency always sent him the finalized poster a few days before it was presented to the public. Breaking the wax seal of the letter carelessly Gabriel skimmed the letter briefly. Learning that the poster would come on sale, with all the accompanying hullabaloo, on the next Sunday he folded the letter and standing up showed the letter into the back-pocket of his tight jeans that looked like second skin. He’d read it later on, but for now he was more interested in the poster. He knew better than to open it here in the Great Hall however. That would cause too much commodity, and it was more beneficial for his bank account if people bought the over-priced posters from stores. He got a fair per cent of the sales after all.

“The latest one?” Gabriel smiled at his youngest sister fondly and nodded. “Will be on sale coming Sunday. I’ll show you later on.” Knowing that full moon was coming meaning Morgana wouldn’t be feeling too great, Gabriel quickly squeezed her shoulder and continued on out of the Hall. Doing a few turns Gabriel wandered off in the general direction of the Charms classroom and turned into an empty hallway before rolling open the poster. Even without vanity he had to admit that it was a good picture. He was wearing ripped black jeans, a sleeveless black shirt – with a purposeful rip to show his stomach – and of course the black wings attached to his shoulder-blades, which really were more uncomfortable than one would think. A tousled mess of hair, chains hanging from her belt and the handcuffs and shackles on his wrists. The picture had been touching when he was a 6 and 7 year old child. Intriguing while he was less grown into his body. But now that he had acquired general body-tone, and felt comfortable and secure in his body – oh yes. This poster would be an even bigger hit than the usual ones. The poster-him smirked back at him cockily as Gabriel absently rubbed his forearm. His contract demanded that he always wear black and wear the jeans and some sort of a top… But the old walls of Hogwarts could get quite chilly. Even though he had grown used to it by now.

A clatter of footsteps alerted Gabriel’s attention and he looked up warily. But it was too late to sidestep the blur that rammed into him at full-speed, sending them both sprawling on the ground. The girl – after the collision Gabriel had been convinced that it was a girl – shivered for a moment and then simply lay still clutching the fabric of his shirt. Managing to regain his breath Gabriel eyed with some amusement his poster that had fluttered to the ground and smirked at his picture self – now missing part of a wing and a leg after the poster had ripped during the head-on collision – that was darkly scowling at the girl. Gabriel wondered briefly why she had been running – Saturday so there weren’t any classes after all – even as he tugged away an open book which corner had been poking his rib-cage quite painfully.

Peering down at the girl, who seemed about his age really, Gabriel calculated his options. He could go for the regular sneering snarky Slytherin act. Just shove her off and stomp way wordlessly. It would all depend on who the girl was, but she didn’t seem familiar and Gabriel didn’t see a house-badge anywhere. Deciding to start neutrally and see where things went – he was in a good mood after all and the girl smelled like cinnamon buns – he stated quite calmly: “Anytime you’re ready to stop groping me and let me get up.”

[Sadie Leila Rivers H4]

Sadie couldn’t believe that one of her most treasured jewelry boxes housed a secret drawer in the back of it, and inside that secret drawer was a book. A book once belonging to her mother. Sadie couldn’t believe that she had found hidden secrets. How could there be more about her mother that she didn’t know. It was as if the Luisa Rivers that Sadie grew up knowing no longer existed. Sadie wasn’t sure if she should be angry with her mother or happy that there was a way for her to learn more about her mother. Sadie took the book from the compartment and made her way in a hurry out of the Common Room.

Sadie looked over the book again as she decided where she wanted to go before she opened the book. She knew that there was no way she could contain her feelings if she kept herself in the castle. Looking at all the people and wondering what secrets were held in the book just wasn’t something that Sadie could keep inside. What if there was something in there that she couldn’t bear to read though. Sadie hadn’t really thought a lot about the books contents, but merely about the fact that she now knew it even existed. Rubbing her hands over the book, she drew herself into the details of it. A white leather cover, with sky blue letterings, French writings which Sadie would have to get translated since she had yet to study French. A gold ribbon making a bookmark in the ruby colored edges of the pages. This book, so curious and strange, also seemed very familiar. Sadie couldn’t take the pressure of the book’s contents though. She was sure that it held far too many secrets that she wasn’t ready to know just yet. Sadie looked around, of course the Common Room was empty this day as it was Saturday and most everyone had already gone to breakfast so that they could spend the day with their friends. She shook her head, she could always hide the book and read it later.

She had finally made up her mind, after pondering until breakfast was nearly over. Pondering was something Sadie did best while preparing for her day. She had donned a simple pair of stonewashed denim jeans which were ripped at both knees, and a light pink tee shirt that read BabyDoll across the front of it in what appeared to be diamonds. She had quickly grabbed which ever bottle of body spray fragrance she had closest by. After spraying it, she realized that she had gotten one that she had created over the Christmas holiday which smelled like fresh baked Cinnamon Buns. Sadie had loved the fragrance and had hoped that it would do good things for her. Sadie rushed through the Common Room, trying to get to breakfast before everyone was finished and everything was gone. She hated to miss the warm sticky buns. Why must I always want to eat the one thing that I smell like? Sadie thought to herself laughing.

Of Course in her dashing trot to the Great Hall to try to get some breakfast before it was all gone, Sadie was as usual, not paying attention to where she was going. Rounding the corner just feet away from the entrance that she needed, Sadie met with a blunt force that tumbled down with her. Not again Sadie thought to herself. She was certain that when she opened her bright blue eyes that there would be yet another professor toppled over by Sadie’s speed. For more than a moment, Sadie lay silent clinging to a piece of fabric. She wasn’t sure whom it belonged to or even if it was really there. She just knew that she had once again become the klutz that she had tried so hard not to be. She knew her mother’s diary had come out of her hands, but only hoped that it had come unlocked for she didn’t really wish to break it open. Hearing a voice, Sadie realized that she wasn’t holding her own fabric, nor the fabric of some professor’s robes. Quickly, she let go. “I do apologize for running over you like that, and for groping you.” She said softly and a bit embarrassed as she looked up to see that it was Gabriel Graas that she had pummeled to the floor with her. She looked around for her book, and glanced up at Gabriel. Sadie wondered if she should try to explain herself. Deciding that she would only if Gabriel seemed interested enough to ask, she passed off the thought.

Spotting Gabriel’s torn poster, Sadie blushed. “Such beautiful artwork. I hate to be the reason that it got torn. Maybe I can repair it and return it to you. “ She said softly, bending over to pick up the two pieces, and then turning to look toward Gabriel again.

[Gabriel Graas S4]

Gabriel peered down at the girl on top of him as he pondered a situation. She was clutching his robes as if her life depended on it, smelled of cinnamon buns, and didn’t seem to react. Why, it was enough to make a guy wonder as to whether his aftershave was as magical as commercials claimed or not! Well, it might have made Gabriel wonder about that if he had worn any aftershave today. At least his words seemed to bring some life back to the girl as she let go of his shirt and looked up. The smile and slight embarrassment that could be read out of her face were so common that Gabriel had to work to avoid rolling his eyes. He loved what he did for a living – even if he knew as well as everyone else that it couldn’t go on forever. There was always someone younger and more handsome growing and he would be too old for it in about 6 or 7 years. So for now he’d just make the money and enjoy the publicity, both of which would give him a head-start later on with his own private business. But just sometimes it was incredible annoying to have girls swooning to his left and right when he didn’t want to bother doing it.

Gabriel smirked at the girl as he listened to her apology. Apologizing for groping him? And he hadn’t even meant it seriously. Even if the girl, while having let go of his shirt, didn’t seem very inclined to get up. “I might even consider accepting the apology, if you stopped doing it and let me get up,” Gabriel drawled out in a mildly disinterested tone as he propped himself up on his elbow, letting his eyes take the girl in. Ripped jeans, pink T-shirt with fake diamonds. A sweet assembly all together. But dear lords in heaven, Gabriel pondered wearily, couldn’t anyone around his age wearing something that wasn’t filled with holes? Or something more sleek and classy? And girls wondered why he didn’t settle down with just one of them. Well, on posters his shirt was ripped, but that was a purpose and even then his clothes probably cost more than the dress-robes of some people. There he was a fallen angel escaping with his chains. But what on earth did a teenager with a proper home, food, family, friends, and all that, have to rebel against? “Babydoll,” Gabriel added with a lazy smirk, disliking the petname, “Why, I didn’t know you haven’t matured beyond the age of a baby yet. Or that you’re as lifeless as a doll would be. Do let me explain further then… If you stand up, and stop sitting on my legs, then things will be a whole lot easier. Why, you could even pick up the book you were carrying that way.” Gabriel threw an absent-minded glance at the white book, noticing hand-writing on the pages. Gabriel openly grimaced. It was silly to write your thoughts on paper when anyone could see it. Hadn’t this girl ever heard of blackmail? “Wouldn’t want your diary laying open in the hallway for too long after all, wouldn’t you say?”

Even if Gabriel had to admit it must have taken quite an amount of grace to reach for the poster-pieces from that position. But he was still glad as the girl finally seemed to realize the position and got up, allowing her to slowly rise to standing at full height as well. “Artwork? It’s a sodding picture, with the sole purpose of taking money from simpering little girls who can’t think better for themselves. And I’m afraid duck-tape doesn’t entirely cut it this time,” Gabriel drawled out in a bland tone that he knew was infuriating even as he snatched the pieces of the poster from the girl. The posters all had more magical protection charms on them than Gabriel oculd count to prevent some smarter fangirl from meddling with the image of the picture and adding herself… which wouldn’t be good for publicity at all. Not that he cared much. He wasn’t planning on hanging the poster up himself, he had just wanted to see it to know what it looked like this year. Discardign the girl for himself, Gabriel turned back towards the window and continued scruntinizing the poster critically.

[Sadie Leila Rivers H4]

Sadie didn’t show much embarrassment to the Slytherin boy who she now recognized as Gabriel Graas. It definitely wasn’t like her to not be embarrassed around a boy, but there was something about Gabriel that brought out the sassy, spicy part of Sadie that no one else ever got to see. She had never officially met Gabriel but knew of him all too well from around school and from his modeling. She hadn’t really liked many of his past posters. Not enough to have purchased them and had them take up space in her trunk anyway, but this new one, this torn one which she held in her hand struck her. It was different, and if colour had have been shaded into the picture in just the right areas with the proper hues of greens, the picture would have stood out so much more. “The shirt is old, I was expecting to do some painting later today and didn’t want to ruin any of my more 'Grown UP' clothes, as you might suggest calling them. The shirt is comfortable enough that it gives me the proper range of motion needed. Further more, it’s just simply a phrase on a shirt which to me has no meaning what’s so ever.” Sadie said with a bit of an attitude, not sure why she was explaining her choice of wardrobe to Gabriel.
Standing and moving to where the journal was laying, Sadie bent over carefully to pick it up. “This isn’t mine. It’s an insight to my family’s past. After seeing the things that can happen when stuff gets written down, my thoughts are better expressed on canvas with paint or on parchment in the form of a sketched out design, where only I know the true meaning behind them. Never would I give others the chance of finding out more about my personal life than they need to know by finding a book of secrets in my own hand-writing.” Sadie wasn’t sure what was coming over her, but she was feeling more alive than ever. There really wasn’t a need to defend herself against this boy whom posed no threat to her, whom she had pummeled over and still he had not jinxed her, even though she recognized him as a Slytherin and knew that they usually sought revenge on those whom insulted or embarrassed them in public. Sadie wasn’t in the mood to stand down this time. She wasn’t cowering regardless what it brought upon her.
Looking back at the poster that Gabriel was now holding, Sadie was sure that shading would make it look much better. “Yes, even if it’s sole purpose is to take money from girls who don’t know any better than to buy the latest photograph, it is still a form of artwork. It’s just a pity that the girls buy a black and white version when one with shades of green left in the eyes, and around the chains hanging around the jeans would make it much more interesting.” She said timidly. “And I believe I didn’t plan on just Duct- Taping or Spell-O- taping the poster back together. I have come up with a few fix-it spells that I was going to try before giving up hope on the poster.” Sadie sniped feeling somewhat offended that someone would even threaten the use of that horrible muggle Duct Tape on any type of photograph.
Sadie wasn’t sure if she should just turn and walk off from Gabriel as he turned back to the window and his own thoughts or if she should be more forceful. It wouldn’t be like her to just stay there staring out the window as well, but she felt as if there was something left unspoken, yet she wasn’t sure what it might be. “Like I said, I’m truly sorry I pummeled you down, and sat on you longer than what seemed appropriate. Name’s Sadie by the way. The ‘poster’ as you wish to call it really does look better than the past ones that I have seen, and you really should suggest to the photographer about shading a bit of colour into the photographs before they are printed.” Sadie made herself comfortable again on the floor, not so far away from the window and pulled out her sketchpad. She looked for the appropriate subject to sketch and even though she could see it perfectly, a young boy by a window, she wasn’t sure that would be the right thing for her to do. She decided simply to draw the landscape outside the window and that she could always add Gabriel in later, perhaps when she was alone and no one around to see it.


((sorry it's late, and that it's not the typical sweet Sadie everyone knows and loves. I warned that she was changing and I think this is just part of it. Wait until she reads her mother's diary))

[Gabriel Graas S4]

And while she wasn’t embarrassed, the girl rushed to justify herself. Gabriel could approve a little bit of character. He approved knowing when to temper character with good manners better. So he merely arched his eye-brows coldly, letting the girl prattle on: “Quite finished yet? And rest assured, I couldn’t care less about your wardrobe contents, however old and ragged it is. I’m definitely not giving you a make-over.” He interrupted with a bored tone at one point, not that it did anything to subdue the girl. And perhaps he was being harsh on the girl. He had been around the bold and the beautiful and the fashionable since he was a little kid. Most others had only their own senses and the opinions of their equally uncomfortable friends to go on. And such tops with glitter and torn jeans were both very popular and “latest fashion”. It was probably his own problem that they didn’t sit well with his taste.

Gabriel groaned audibly as the girl continued her self-righteous monologues. How come he had to find the feminist, wishing to be popular and accepted on the inside, today out of all times? “Sometimes I wonder if anyone but me and my siblings weren’t taught anything about manners, respect, honour, and family,” Gabriel stated glumly, looking the girl over quite glumly. “Don’t you know, little girl,” not that he was that much older than her, but sometimes he felt adult and so old among his peers, “that past can hurt far more than anything you would scribble. Secrets of ancestors are sometimes better to be left where they belong, as they hurt more… and damage more than the scribbles of a simpering love-sick pup like you ever could. You’re a fool. You say you understand who writing your thoughts can hurt. But you don’t understand that reading the some family heirloom will hurt much more and cause irreversible damage. Especially if left laying on the floor like you just did for a good couple of minutes.”

Lying had never been Gabriel’s forte. He was sold for an insolent punk and it worked. So he was blunt about his words: “And that is why I’m the model and you never will be. Green would ruin it. Rust. Soften. Turn it sickle sweet. There posters are black and white. They are angled and sharp and harsh and that’s what sells. You get a still or a moving picture. Fully coloured or black and white. Your idea is foolish, soft, and stupidly romantic, which is not what characterizes the Fallen Angel Gabriel. I’m the bid bad wolf, little lambs like you are warned about so you flee, no matter how much you want to taste the rebel.” A shade of green? He understood where the idea came from. But he didn’t like it. Toned eyes and shackles. It would teeter the balance of the poster, shift attention from where it had been brought on. The shackles were heavy and iron. No chains of imprisonment was decorated in the eyes of the prisoner. That heaviness on his shoulders and arms and waist, weighing him down, was what brought forth the effect of the picture.

“So naïve it’s almost endearing,” Gabriel stated, patronizingly patting Sadie’s cheek, “Do you really think anyone could hear the end of scandals if random fools could modify or cast magic on a poster just that easily? Or that I would ever bother to remember your name, darling?” Darling was easier. Only close friends and family and women he liked got the respect of their name. With everyone else being darling, Gabriel could always be sure he wouldn’t mix up names. Gabriel half-turned, letting the poster roll up, as he shoved the corner in his jeans pocket. A cold glance was all the girl – Sadie – was graced with: “Weren’t you on your way to somewhere just now? I don’t recall inviting you to share the hallway space with me.”