Owl treats and bonfires (Lita)

[Jared Graas R4]

Jared finished revising Charms and closed his book with a snap. He would pass the exam. The only thing at stake here, in reality, was his pride as to how gloriously he would pass. But he didn’t even worry about failing. Practicing duels and wand-work in his family meant that you knew more than you would need. And of course, he was in Ravenclaw for a reason. He was smart. And, apparently, his timing was good, Jared decided, as he looked up and observed Rister striding towards him with yet an other blonde by his side and a relatively big package with a green bow in his hands. “A gift for me? How nice of you,” Jared stated, pulling his book away as Rister let the package – composed of the latest posters of Gabriel as Jared noticed – fall onto the table with a thud. “No. You just get to be the owl. Take these to Lita, will you? And tell her that she owes me. Little Slythies – sweep form 2nd to 5th year by the way – are annoyingly paranoid. You wouldn’t believe the amount of hexes and curses I had to go through to get them. Ta-ta, brother dearest,” Rister waved lazily and slipping an arm around the blonde who happily started charring into his ear sauntered out of the library for a dinner-date most probably. Jared eyed his brother back with some amusement and decided to avoid mentioning new hair-style, with its crimson locks.

Jared grinned and flipped through the corners of some of the posters. Seemed like the regular deal. Some glitter, some hearts, some green edges. Appearantly in England the posters had been specially designed for different houses with appropriate colour frames. He’d have to remember to ask Gabriel what it felt like to be surrounded by Gryffindor colours and his picture being hugged by Gryffindors. Surely it would work wonders for Gabriel’s appetite. Even if – Jared supposed – Gryffindors were quite secretive and far more limited in their appreciation of his little brothers looks. After all, Gabriel was a Slytherin. House pride would probably interfere. But who knows. The secret admirers were the more dangerous ones. But, he was finished studying, so he might as well take the posters to Lita. Would be intriguing to see what she would do with them, as Jared didn’t think she was that enamoured of Gabriel. She knew him too closely for that.

Taking the package up Jared sauntered off out of the library and towards the Ravenclaw common room. It was likelier to find Lita there than in some abandoned class-room. Or at least he might as well learn where the girl had taken of to. Whistling a quiet melody absent-mindedly, he shifted the package in his arm only to turn a corner and see the girl it was addressed to. “Lita,” Jared greeted with a half-tilt of his head to alert her to her present, as she had her back turned. “I’ve been degraded to playing an owl – a pretty talent one at that however – and I’m here carrying a gift and a message from Rister.” Stepping around Lita to her left, Jared dropped the package on the window-sill and tapped lightly on the bow: “As I recall you owe him, the 2nd to 5th year Slytherins are paranoid – I decided to let him enjoy his date rather than keep him with praises about his crimson locks – and that you’re welcome. Seeing that my owl-duties are now complete, do I get a pat on the head and a treat? If it’s a good treat, maybe I’ll even talk Gabriel into giving you an autograph onto one of these things.”

[Lita Hollows R6]

Tutoring was annoying but she supposed it could occasionally be rewarding. For example, the young first year she had been trying to teach Potions to had been obliging enough to send off for one of the books Lita had mentioned wasn’t in her possession. It had been a cute gesture, especially since the boy had been stammering and blushing as he shoved the book into her hands before promptly turning around and running into a wall. Rather than trek all the way up to the Hospital Wing with an unconscious first year bouncing along behind her, Lita chose to knock at Professor Hawthorne’s office and drop the child off there. There had been a few suspicious glances as the Professor dismissed her, glances which Lita took offense to. Yes, she had had her fair share of duels and fights in the corridors, on the grounds and even, at one time, in the middle of a classroom, but she didn’t attack first years. It was far more sensible to work out her agitation by arguing with or hexing Rister because that had the bonus of actually testing her sparring skills, whether verbally or otherwise. A first year with a crush on her just didn’t offer the same challenge as Rister or any of her other friends did.

Whistling cheerfully, Lita walked off with her newest possession in her arms, fully intending to claim an armchair in the common room and enjoy the book for a while. She had earned that book through hours of stupidity from the first year boy and endless patience from herself. Nothing was going to tear her away from that book for at least the next hour. Unless, of course, Gaenor decided to visit her for a while. That was perhaps an occasion worthy of leaving the book for a small amount of time. Lita tilted her head, turning on her heel as she heard someone call her name. “Jared. Another present for me?” Lita questioned in delight, peering warily at the package upon realising it was from Rister. With a mournful sigh, Lita tucked the book into her bag, resigning herself to her bookless fate. “Are we sure it’s not cursed?” Lita asked seriously, her eyes still trained on the flashy bow with no small level of wariness. “Or maybe it was meant for someone else. To my knowledge, your brother has never sent me gifts except for special occasions. Even then, I’m quite sure he didn’t think of it by himself.”

Tiring of the wariness toward the present – she was still very much a child when it came to gifts, as Rister and Jared knew – Lita tugged at the bow and then laughed and clapped enthusiastically. “Wonderful, now come with me.” Lita gathered up the posters and then latched onto Jared’s arm, pulling him along as she opened a secret passage and then tugged him into it so she could seal it behind them. “Hold them,” Lita dumped the posters back into Jared’s arms with a grin before holding up her wand as a guiding light. “Did your annoying, arrogant and simply lovely brother happen to mention what he wanted in return? Because really, after getting these for me, I could kiss him. I won’t because he has too big an ego already but I could.” Lita frowned, turning her head to look at Jared before stumbling and promptly facing forward again. “Crimson hair? Ah, his punishment for confiscating these posters, I’ll bet. Hah. As for your treat, you’re on your way to it now.” Her outstretched hand hit a wall and Lita smiled triumphantly, whispering a spell to open the wall and stepping out into an empty classroom. “I was originally going to show this room to your sisters only so that they had somewhere to escape to when they wanted to keep you and your brothers from interrupting their dates. It’s not an overly romantic place really but...a few charms and it’d be fine.” Lita levitated the posters out of his arms and onto a large pile of the same posters.

“This probably looks a little bit obsessed,” Lita admitted as she gazed at the poster pile thoughtfully. “I just can’t stand another month or five with idiotic girls giggling about how cute they think Gabriel is in the new poster. As if his ego isn’t big enough! Therefore, my cunning plan came into existence and apparently Rister is helping me. He just wanted to see the second years cry,” Lita decided, rifling through a desk to toss a chocolate bar at Jared. “Honeydukes finest, as promised. And, if you want an extra treat, you can meet me here next week and help me transport all the posters out to the gardens so that I can burn them in front of those obsessed girls. Maybe I’ll bring marshmallows,” Lita mused with a thoughtful smile.

[Jared Graas R4]

Jared laughed at Lita poking the bow and the present. Evidently she didn’t seem very scared however, seeing that she ripped it open without prodding the gift with spells and tests. “Oh, I’m quite sure Rister is quite used to making presents on his own too. He has to do something to keep all those girls satisfied and give him even more reasons to cash in kisses,” Jared joked easily, letting himself be pulled along as Lita latched onto his arm. Ducking his head and stumbling once as Lita dragged him into a passage Jared looked around curiously, not even knowing of this one. Accepting the posted Jared peered around trying to figure out where exactly this tunnel was taking them. It might useful when escaping Filch sometimes perhaps. “It’s Rister. He’ll pounce on you demanding payback a the most inappropriate time. That’s why we love the brat, don’t we?”

Jared chuckled and shifted the posters into a more comfortable positions in his hands. “Well, some Slythie probably had an appropriate hex guarding their poster. I wonder how Gabriel deals with all these girls.” Both Rister and Gabriel were the stereotypical ladies men. Damon… had his fair share of dates, but he was picker about his girls. And Jared – while having dated as well, wasn’t overly dedicated to the sport of hunting and dating pretty girls. Not that he ever had trouble finding a date if need be. Jared stepped into the room and looked around. It was a neat enough room, if a bit overly-full of Gabriel’s posters. “You know what you get when you’re just short of crazy? Not obsessed. Passionate. You must really like your marhsmellows.” Listening to Lita’s words Jared whirled around and crossing his arms over his chest scowled darkly at Lita: “My sisters? And why would you want them to know a place, their brothers don’t know about? A place where we couldn’t help nor protect them if need be?” Sure, Leandra and Morgana were smart and strong girls on their own. Didn’t mean their brothers shouldn’t be there to look after them!

Jared laughed merrily. “You’re going to burn the posters? You’ll be the most hated girl in the land. You are aware that they’ll by new ones quicker than you can burn them? And even then they’ll just gush over Gabriel and think of him all the more because the burnings keeps reminding them. I have no idea how he handles it, I tell you. It’s annoying even sitting next to him in classes at times.” Deciding not to comment on the possibly motives Rister might have over sending the present, Jared rifled through a couple of the posters, before catching the chocolate bar. “Thanks,” Jared mumbled, opening the paper and break the chocolate to pieces before opening offering some to Lita. Finding the harmonica from his pocket, Jared lifted it to his mouth and started playing the sorrowful tune of the death march. Removing the harmonica form his mouth for long enough to ask, “When are you going to have the grand event of burning them then? And where?”

[Lita Hollows R6]

“Oh please, Rister just has to look at them and they fall over in their haste to kneel as his feet adoringly.” Lita rolled her eyes in disgust. “One of them actually tried to threaten me in the hopes that I’d stay away from him. Why do his girlfriends always seem so suspicious of me? Do they really think my greatest desire is to ravish their beloved Rister?” Lita’s tone was openly disgruntled as she complained, still smarting from the accusations that had been thrown at her. Maybe she’d have to start the bonfire today, rather than next week as she had planned. It would certainly burn off some of her annoyance even if her irritation was directed towards Rister’s admirers instead of Gabriel’s. “Unless you, Damon or Leandra sneak him into the common room, he’ll never catch me at the most inappropriate time. After all, unlike him or Gabriel, I don’t carry out my private affairs in public.” Or at all lately, Lita added with a sigh. Gaenor made life difficult when she lost even the desire to have a good time on a date if her date wasn’t him. And they weren’t even dating!

She was still scowling into the darkness, only a hint of light from her wand highlighting her expression, when she replied. “I hope he sets them on fire and kicks them into the lake. Since he obviously doesn’t, I’ll take a guess and say that Gabriel picks out the best looking girls, treats them to a date and then breaks their heart by moving on to the next girl. That doesn’t explain why they still adore him, but obsessed teenage girls can be a bit idiotic.” The sight of the posters – cruelly confiscated from the most obsessed girls in Ravenclaw, and now Slytherin – lightened her mood somewhat and Jared’s comment about the room even made her produce a smile. “I’m looking forward to hearing the girls cry when Gabriel – the poster, not your actual brother - starts to burn. How many do you think will throw themselves in to rescue the posters?” Lita laughed and ruffled Jared’s hair playfully as she crossed the room, producing her own chocolate bar from a different desk. “Your sisters would have learnt to thoroughly protect themselves before I showed them this place. After all, I spent a lot of my time in here when I wanted to escape from Adrian, Gaenor or Rister for a while and it never did me any harm. I was younger than they currently are too.” Her smile softened slightly as she gazed at him calmly. “You can’t protect them forever, Jared. Not you or Damon or Gabriel or Rister. Not even your parents. But what you can do is be ready for them to tell you about their problems and then gather up your brothers and have fun with the idiot who was stupid enough to hurt your sister. And take a few photos,” Lita added as an afterthought, “to show other possible boyfriends exactly what you do to people who hurt your sisters.” Just because she was glad Adrian had never thought of such a thing didn’t mean she wasn’t going to pass the idea onto another protective brother. After all, it wasn’t her they were protecting so it was fine.

“I’m already hated just because I took the posters,” Lita informed him cheerfully. “Rister will escape the hatred because girls gush over him too. That’s a good point actually.” Lita frowned thoughtfully. “Do you think Gabriel will share the profits with me since I’m the cause behind them buying new posters? It wasn’t an easy job, trust me. If I didn’t know a few healing spells then I’d still be covered in scratches and bruises. Desperate, fanatic girls aren’t people to mess with.” The reminder of the girls made her shiver. Some of the younger girls had actually cried when she had enthusiastically plucked the posters off the walls. “The death march, how appropriate. I was going to burn them next week but I might move it forward because I’m in the mood to watch some idiots suffer. Do you think your siblings would want to come and watch or should we keep the fun to ourselves until they wander over of their own accord? As for where, the grounds should be sufficient. It would certainly draw enough attention to attract enough Gabriel fanatics.”

[Jared Graas R4]

“Maybe that’s why he doesn’t stay with any of them for longer, because they do just that? Or are calculating enough to know just what Rister’s inheritance will be one day. That’s a good enough motivation for some girls I suppose, the fact he probably looks acceptable might not hurt either though,” Jared mused lazily as he grimaced pack at the poster where Gabriel had leaned backwards against his wall, rested one foot on the wall and was sneering down his nose at him. “And do you really think he doesn’t know the password anyway? And my inappropriate time I was rather meaning a time when you were in a hurry to somewhere or in class. We both know he isn’t the role-model of an attentive student.”

Jared chuckled, admitting that Lita probably nailed Gabriel’s attitude towards girl. Sure, Gabriel also knew there were some better ones, but he had too many throwing themselves at him to care far too much. And of course he did have a wide choice. “The best looking girl. Actually he went out with two of them yesterday. Those blonde fifth year twins in Ravenclaw. I’m sure you’ve seen them around. Admittedly they look good, but I can’t help but wonder who Gabriel will manage to spread his time evenly between the both of them. And I would hope you won’t set my brother on fire. I’m afraid I might have to throw myself in flames then and I’d really rather not. That might be a little bit too close for comfort for my harmonica and it’s annoyingly difficult to acquire a proper one.” As if to prove his point Jared raised the instrument to his lips and played a few sorrowful tones to Lita: “2 Hufflepuffs jump in – they’re used to the whole side-kick drama and wounds –, 1 desperate Gryffindor, who will later claim that she was just trying to save the little Huffies, and 3 Ravens will attempt to use spells to douse the fire or summon their posters out of it.”

Jared let Lita ruffle his hair – it was messy anyway, so what harm would it do? – even as he blew some defiant chords on the harmonica, not agreeing with Lita. Meeting her gaze challengingly Jared straightened a bit while he didn’t smile back: “By the time all of us leave Hogwarts the students will know not to mess with our sisters, and they can look after themselves. Easier, however, if we do it for them. And I sure as hell will protect them for as long as I can and even beyond that.” A few more notes were played before Jared responded again: “Cat-fights? Why wasn’t I invited to enjoy the show? Why not use be calmer and take the posters while the girls were sleeping? Or in the light of the mildly disturbing thought that some girls might sleep clutching the poster, why not take them while the girls were out? At the bonfire they’d have figured out it was you anyway.”

As Lita seemed so satisfied over his choice of music, Jared returned to playing the death march for a few moments as he pondered over where his siblings might be: “Morgana is catching up on studying she missed during the poker-evening and the day before that. Gabriel is probably sleeping, Leandra and Rister headed to the Forest earlier and I don’t have a clue where Damon is. I can probably get hold of all of them quickly enough for you – they were Graas’s, if one needed, the others dropped everything and came – but I believe they can enjoy the story as much if you wish to start your bonfire without them. Near the lake before so the people in the burning pile could be left to cool down?”

[Lita Hollows R6]

Lita grinned slightly, secretly amused. None of the Graas children ever looked merely ‘acceptable’ and she often felt a tiny bit jealous over that fact. She was pretty and she knew it, had often used it to her advantage actually, but next to any one of the Graas siblings she looked positively rumpled and unkempt. No wonder she took such joy in duelling Rister sometimes. Lita frowned at Gabriel’s poster, somewhat amused by the accurate representation of his personality. “True, but I suppose that I can’t tell him off since I know the Slytherin password. And the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor ones actually. They are always useful. As for inappropriate times, I rather think he’s learnt that if he interrupts me on my way to class, I’ll drag him along with me.”

She knew Gabriel and his dating habits but that piece of news actually surprised her, which was a surprise in itself. “The twins? He went out with both of them?” Lita shook her head in bemusement, almost amazed by the younger boy. “Did he take both of them out at the same time or see one in the morning and the other later on?” Why did the girls never learn from others experiences? Gabriel had become somewhat of a heartbreaker over the years just as Rister had but rather than scolding him as she did Rister Lita secretly applauded his efforts. The brothers were in two different situations. Unlike Gabriel, Rister didn’t have girls chasing after him because he was famous as well as rich and attractive. “Fine. I’ll leave Gabriel alone but only because I’d rather not deprive you of your harmonica. That, and I’m not too proud to admit that part of me is scared of what he would do in revenge. But you think only three people will jump in? That’s disappointing. I was rather hoping for more. At least the Ravenclaws have enough sense to not jump in.”

Brothers. They were always so defensive and protective. Lita hopped onto the desk and tucked her legs underneath her, facing Jared silently. Nothing she could say or do would change his attitude towards Leandra and Morgana; only the girls themselves could do that and even then they wouldn’t be able to do much. “I don’t want to argue with you, Jared, so I’ll drop the subject. But you’re not showing a lot of trust in your sisters and one day they might rebel against that,” she warned seriously. “I’m quite surprised you didn’t hear the ruckus from wherever you were at the time. They were wailing and screaming quite dramatically. Leandra may have seen it since I ransacked the third year dorm as well. I didn’t want to take them while they were sleeping because I sleep little enough as it is and it’s far more satisfying to see their reactions while confiscating them rather than take them secretly.”

“We’ll let Morgana study,” Lita decided, unconsciously humming along to the tune contentedly. “Studying is more important than watching hysterical girls try to kill themselves just to rescue a poster. I’m quite tempted to kick Gabriel out of bed simply because no one should be sleeping at this hour and this bonfire is partly in honour of him but mostly to satisfy me. Rister and Leandra might see the smoke from the bonfire anyway so we’ll let them wander for a bit longer. Damon can miss the fun simply because he’s disappeared without letting you know where he went. He might be on a date and I’d feel awkward interrupting that. Speaking of which, why aren’t you on a date instead of plotting to destroy the happiness of idiots with me? Surely it would be more fun.”

[Jared Graas R4]

“If Rister doesn’t want to got o class, then he won’t go to class,” Jared said easily, merely stating a fact both of them knew, “And yes, the twins. Both at the same time actually. It had been their idea to go out together, but I’m not sure how it went. Haven’t seen Gabriel yet. I saw them leaving for that matter. Both girls were dressed to kill in small black dresses. The ones that are so adequately called handkerchiefs. It looked quite impressive I must admit. They even managed to kiss Gabriel on the same time on both cheeks.” Jared didn’t envy Gabriel for the attention he received. The girls had been pretty, but probably what a weaker person would call a man-eater. Jared didn’t need such complications in his life. He was happy to be left to his music and books. Even if had had his own occasional date, though he usually didn’t bother.

“What he would do for revenge? You wound me, Lita. And not a single thought of what I might do if my music or harmonica are harmed?” Jared clicked his tongue disapprovingly, “Or are you that sure of what I might have to throw on the table?” Jared grinned calmly at Lita watching her hop on the table and settle in comfortably. He listened to her words calmly enough. She had some reason, but Jared refused to believe all of it. “I do trust my sisters. I don’t trust the guys. And I was in the library revising myself.” Smiling quietly as Lita started humming along to the tune Jared stealthily corrected the register he was playing in and kept playing, improvising the tune on spot. Lita had a quite nice voice, as the tune seemed to mold even the way she claimed the rest of the facts. “Gabriel has had a harsh time with continent portkeys and the openings of the posters. He’d just sick your agent on you for troubling his beauty sleep, turn aside and fall promptly back to sleep,” Jared commented softly, as in not to break the air the harmonica had created, “Damon has a lot of his own matters to deal with. We call him the politician for a reason after all.”

Why he wasn’t on a date. Jared smiled lightly as he shifted the tune he was playing on his harmonica a quick prologue, before tilting his head back and letting his own voice ring, noticing with some pleasure how the sound pleasantly echoed back from the more distant corners of the room:
“Last of the leaves on a frozen tree
Like fire blown out by a harsh gust of wind
Children abandoned the doll that I am
Can’t shake this feeling from me

Seen clouds rising daily above all of us
Like warning from them sounds the call of the birds
My song will still fly throughout the long night
And my heartfelt dream will ring."

Letting the sound die out Jared felt glad for the grey dusk in the room, as it was only lighted by Lita’s wand. The music didn’t need a face. It just needed a voice. But it sounded quite acceptable. It was his latest writing. Despite the nearly melancholic start it was a quite hopeful song. And perhpas something that might be deciphred also as a secret yearning for a specific girl, even if that wasn't what he had been thinking of when writing it. Shrugging lightly Jared turned his attention back to Lita with a soft smile that always graced his features while singing: “Couldn’t sleep last night, so I trusted my guitar. I’m not plotting, you are. I’m just listening in as you double-check your plan and it’s execution. And I’m sure there are plenty of charming girls out there, which is why Rister and Gabriel can fully enjoy the attention. Could you imagine a girl picking on my guitar or spitting in my harmonica in a pitiful attempt to play or messing up my notes?” Jared visible shuddered. “No thank you, I’ll stay a happy single without such a nuisance in my life, thank you very much.”


((The song belongs to Nicole Flieg (won Eurovision in 1982, up on youtube if someone wants to hear). From there it was translated into English from there to Estonian. I claimed that it was Jared's song because I did the crude translation back to English from the lyrics in Estonian.))

[Lita Hollows R6]

“Amazing.” Lita snickered quietly. “Not only does Gabriel interest the two most popular girls in Ravenclaw but he’s dating them both at the same time and they know about it. Some girls have no shame when it comes to you and your brothers. It does mean that he’ll get slapped twice as much when he breaks up with them though. I do hope I’m there to see it because it’s generally an amusing sight.” The description of the girls made her frown slightly though. Neither of them sounded like the type of girl Gabriel would be happy with for more than a short period of time – hey, she had known the boy for years; she was entitled to feel ever so slightly protective of him! Though really, her apparent need to find suitable girls for her friends was slightly alarming. She knew that happy people wanted to see other people happy but she wasn’t even particularly happy, pining away after Gaenor as she did.

“You worry me as well,” Lita assured him with an ironic grin. Thoughts of their revenge weren’t the only thing that she worried about when it came to her friends, after all. “But Gabriel has a certain vindictive streak that you don’t seem to possess. Maybe it comes from being a Slytherin. And I would think that you would be smart enough to have protective charms on your harmonica, to be truthful.” The tune coming from the harmonica showed the talent that she had come to expect and appreciate from Jared. He truly was a talented musician. “Ah, I always forget that he always has so much trouble whenever the posters come out. It almost makes me think twice about burning them. Almost. And Damon always has his own matters to deal with. He should enjoy life more. I’m older than he is and I don’t have as many concerns...” Lita grimaced and stopped before rephrasing. “Okay, I didn’t have as many concerns as he does when I was his age. He has plenty of time to act the politician when he’s older.”

The song pouring from Jared’s lips and harmonica was absolutely beautiful and Lita closed her eyes to better enjoy it without outside distractions. Handsome and talented; it was a wonder Jared wasn’t as popular with the girls as his brothers seemed to be. Then again, maybe not. Her smile flashed quickly as she heard his explanation for not dating more than he did. “Then maybe you should date someone who has no interest in music or is actually talented, though probably not as talented as you are,” she suggested helpfully. It was tempting to scold him about calling girlfriends a nuisance, but she had to admit that he was probably right. If girlfriends were anything like the boyfriends she’d had then yes, he probably was all the more sensible for staying single. Gaenor wasn’t even her boyfriend and he was still troublesome.

[Jared Graas R4]

Jared laughed with some irony. He adored his brothers, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know their bad habits nor that he couldn’t laugh over them: “Two most popular girls in Ravenclaw? I’m sorry to break your bubble, but Gabriel has interested girls far more important outside this little slice of paradise we tend to call our school. Comes with being famous and handsome I suppose.” As for Gabriel being slapped. Jared decided not to comment. Some girls cried, some slapped, some attempted to spread rumours no know cared about cause other girls were already vying for Gabriel’s attention. Jared really didn’t know what the twins would do after being dumped without much ceremony. Not that the girls wouldn’t deserve someone cutting down their egos like that.

Jared smirked at Lita: “I’ll take the protective charms comments positively. But I have enough of my parents in me as well to keep up with my more notorious brothers. I would have been trampled over ages ago otherwise.” That and of course the fact that Rister had once had the misfortune of breaking one of his drums. Rister had ended up running and Jared had only been soothed after he had received a full new set of drums. That wasn’t info he was planning to share with Lita currently however. Instead he raised the harmonica to his lips and repeated the song he had played going onto the hopeful chorus part. He knew the tune. A few lines in the chorus would still need work though. And of course he wasn’t sure when the suitable occasion to sing quite this song would rise. He usually didn’t invite people to sing nor play with him. At least not outside his family. His parents could both sing and Morgana had a voice to be a lovely duet-partner. The rest of the crowd, while mainly able to hold a tune, weren’t that talented. And vanity and egos striking out, thereby didn’t sing that often either.

“There’s trouble. But that’s what his fame resides on. A similar picture was the first taken of him, so he survives the week of chaos and is later happy over the money earned,” Jared grinned at a poster on the opposite wall of him, where Gabriel had reached out the right wing and, in a bout of vainness probably, was fixing the way the long black feathers resided against each other. “Damon,” Jared tilted his head and continued playing while he thought. His brother was smart and very rational. He could make near anything sound reasonable and he probably wasn’t even in trouble. Just keeping up to date with all his contacts and dealings. “Well, at least he’s enjoying himself. It’s Damon.”

Jared chuckled merrily at Lita’s suggestion. “Why would I want to date someone who has no interest in music and therefore no interest in me? Or someone as interested in music probably wouldn’t have much care for me either. I’m not that willing to share my instruments nor notes.” A quick merry thriller of notes before Jared grinned wickedly at Lita: “I’m willing to strike a deal however. You go on a date – preferably with an older guy we all know – and fully enjoy yourself. And I promise you that I’ll ask out any girl that you point me towards and suffer through at least one full date.”

[Lita Hollows R6]

She couldn’t imagine Jared, or any of the Graas’ for that matter, being trampled over so Lita merely smiled quietly. She had been at their house, seen them in action against each other and seen them backing each other up. Despite the chaos that Lita had experienced every time she visited them over the summer, there had been times when she had desperately wished that she belonged to their family because they had a warm love that Lita’s own parents had been unable to provide. Both she and Adrian had suffered for it but he had survived his seventeen years with them and she would do the same. Adrian however, her mind muttered darkly, didn’t have his inheritance being tugged away by two jealous cousins, did he? Perhaps not but, as she told herself often, it just meant that she would be able to prove her worth beyond a doubt.

“Gabriel’s arrogant enough to enjoy the attention. If he didn’t like it, he’d stop modelling. His posters should be enough to show his fans what his true nature is,” Lita added after following Jared’s gaze to one of the posters. Heh, Damon. The smile currently playing at the corners of her mouth was one generally only seen when Lita was plotting or thinking about something that would cause trouble. One day, Damon would find someone who would confuse his rationality and attempts to reason through her. Hopefully it would end well.

“You’re not all about music, even though it is a big part of your life.” Lita sighed, admitting defeat for the moment. She wasn’t one to play matchmaker, no matter how much she wanted to see her friends happy. Lita stared at Jared suspiciously, her eyes narrowed rather accusingly. “Have you been talking to Rister about my nonexistent love life recently?” Lita inquired with interest. She was neither angry nor annoyed. Why should she be when Jared had just handed her revenge to her? She and Gaenor went out often whenever he wasn’t on a business trip and some of the time it was just the two of them. A date was, by definition, two people enjoying some time alone or an appointment for a particular time. Bearing that in mind, Lita smirked slowly. “I’ve already been on several dates with an older man we all know. So, who should I choose for you to suffer through a date with? I might consult your brothers and sisters before I make a decision, if you don’t mind.”

[Jared Graas R4]

“Gabriel’s posters and the character he shows there is exactly what makes them sell. They’re titled Fallen Angel and the wings are charmed to his elbows for a reason,” Jared countered swiftly as he nodded towards a poster. Gabriel had decided that he had enough scowling, and leaning his left shoulder against the wall had spread out the black wing to it’s full extent and, quite vainly, was fixing the order of the feathers there. “Have you looked around, Lita? Most princes are nice and light and charming and polite. He’s the much-rumoured bad-boy mothers warn you against and that is what makes him so desired. He’s the opposite of everything you’ve been taught to wish for, which is exactly why you want him.”

Jared blew a few tones on the harmonica as he pondered. He had performed before. At outdoor festivals usually, but he had a couple of time. He had been offered contracts before too, and for a reason. Even leaving vanity aside he had to admit that he had a good ear for music and writing as well as playing it. His voice was very-very good, even if not with the widest reach ever or the strongest ever. But he had learned and trained and had mastered every single detail about his voice which was what made him so good. He worked. “It is about music. And family and friends. But it is about music. The rest – is just the salad next to music, as that requires learning too. I will not sign a contract until I am satisfied with how far I’ve honed my voice, my fingers on guitar, and my songs,” Jared said calmly, which is what showed the passion and force behind the meaning of it even clearer. Music was what made him him.

“Sorry to break it to you Lita, but I’ve seen worst glares. A quite good imitation of mom though,” Jared offered with a grin, not bothered the least by Lita’s stare, “And no, I haven’t talked to him about your love-life. I can if you wish though. I’m sure we could figure something out to improve that, if we gather the family together. I even promise to keep Leandra’s knights away. The lack of it and the existence of Rister’s godfather shows quite clearly what’s going on to anyone who bothers to look really. And I’ve had plenty of time to observe.” Which was also true. Jared wasn’t very verbal. Something that often surprised those who knew he wrote songs. But he found it generally far more satisfying to be seated at the edge, drumming a tune on his guitar and wordlessly observe. He knew how to simply look at people, smile at them, and make them so uncomfortable with his gaze that they blurted out more than they expected to themselves.

Jared laughed and shook his head: “It’s Jared you’re talking to, not Gabriel, unlike what the room seems to suggest, darling. I won’t be caught that easily. You have gone out to eat or see something with Gaenor. But knowing you two it hasn’t had a romantic air to it. And that romance is my requirement for a date. A full-fledged passionate kiss will help too. So you are far from being able to set me out on a date just yet. I said one full date with Gaenor... if you jumped to conclusions without specifying my definition of full, then that is already your fault."

[Lita Hollows R6]

“Princes are absolutely worthless.” Lita stated firmly, a disgusted twist to her mouth. In one of her many efforts to avoid her feelings for Gaenor, she had dated the prince type and, had she been a bit weaker or cared even a bit for him, then she might have found herself nursing a broken heart. Princes were always away with some other maiden and knights just wanted to fight dragons. That had been the very first thing that Gaenor had taught her so many years ago and she had forgotten it while trying to forget him. She had been foolish and she hadn’t much changed. At the very least, Gabriel didn’t pretend to be anything he wasn’t. He didn't need to.

Lita glanced at Jared, her smile affectionate as her eyes rested on him. It had been a surprise for her to realise that she saw him, Rister, Gabriel and Damon as her own brothers and Morgana and Leandra as little sisters. Quite truthfully, she had just woken up one morning and the truth had hit her. The temptation to burrow into her bed and hide until her idiocy passed had been strong. She loved them. How utterly foolish. Rister was most certainly her closest friend in Hogwarts, Jared would always find her ready to help him or back him up if he needed her and she always kept a close eye on the two girls, no matter what she told Rister about letting them date without threatening boys away. But Damon and Gabriel...they seemed quite content to rely on themselves and their family. And Lita was most painfully aware that the only family she really had was Adrian and even he was out of reach most of the time.

The discontented look in her eyes faded into nothingness and was replaced by a laughing twinkle. “I suppose I can be happy with that. Your mum has an intimidating glare after all. Sometimes I’m not quite sure who I’m more uneasy around; your father or your mum.” Lita hesitated for a second, biting her lip thoughtfully. She had snapped at Rister for broaching the subject but she wasn’t as uncomfortable discussing it with Jared. Maybe it had something to do with Gaenor being Rister’s godfather, Lita mused silently before shuddering at the thought of talking to Gabriel about it. No, it definitely had something to do with Jared. He just made her feel more comfortable about talking about it. “I think I’d prefer it if you didn’t have a family meeting about my failures in the romance area, to be honest.” Lita flushed miserably, feeling almost ashamed. She was pretty enough and fairly popular even if she did get into too much trouble to be a prefect. So why did she have to fall in love with the one person who saw her as a little sister?

“The romantic air has definitely been there over the past year, even if only from my side,” Lita answered shortly. The reminder of what her relationship with Gaenor was like was similar to rubbing salt into an open wound; painful and highly unnecessary. “You’re too smart,” Lita murmured lightly. He was smarter than her quite a lot of the time but, rather than irritating her, it made her somewhat proud. She was silently protective of him, as she was with all of his siblings, but Jared was probably the one he worried about least.

[Jared Graas R4]

“Not worthless, perhaps… They might have their uses if you really are in a tight spot. At least you could feed them to the dragon to stall the beast while you make your swift exit,” Jared mused lazily, his eyes half-closing as he imagined the situation. Chuckling at Lita’s grimace Jared shook his head: “But beyond all other factors – my brothers, sisters, father, Gaenor, and YOU all have enough chivalry in all of you as well, to not leave someone in trouble like that. So in that sense it might be healthiest for you to just keep your distance from princes. Or maybe the Slytherin part of my family has been bad influence on you. That sounds a bit controversary but there you have it.”

“Mom needs to have an intimidating glare. How could she keep dad in check otherwise. He had brought home a wolf-cub yesterday he had found in the woods. Mom had set her foot down when he had attempted to organise a bed for Morrigan and the cub at the foot of their bed,” Jared shared a bit of his parents last letter, “The animals ended up sleeping before the fire-place in the breakfast hall. And I have no idea why. They both like you. Take it logically – you wouldn’t be so welcomed visitor with your own room there always ready and used by only you, if you weren’t.” Stepping forward, Jared easily wrapped his arm around Lita’s shoulder, pulling her into warm half-hug. “You know, the entire family will always be there if you ever need us.”

“We haven’t had any family meetings. But that doesn’t mean we can’t worry about you,” Jared stated softly, as he seated himself on the edge of the table, next to Lita. None of them were fools and they all saw the mutual interest between Lita and Gaenor. Or at least had started to see it ever since the time they grew old enough to understand it. He wasn’t entirely sure what his sisters thought about it, though they most likely were finding it to be very romantic, if they even thought of it. Hopefully not. Jared didn’t want his sisters thinking about couples of any sort.

“And you just had to still find a weak spot in my definition just when I started to feel victorious,” Jared pouted towards Lita, “I’m not admitting or saying anything, but I forgot to specify how many sided the romantic air in a date has to be. So, if – IF, as in a theorethic if –I might agree to let you set me up. Who would you even send me out with and what would you imagine ME doing in a date? Presuming the girl doesn’t have a so screechy voice that I’ll wring her neck and end up owling Rister and Damon to help me bury the body.”

[Lita Hollows R6]

“Not worthless then but using them as a distraction for a hungry dragon is their only real use. Being handsome isn’t exactly a use. If you want to stare at something pretty then buy a statue or a poster of Gabriel or another model.” Lita sniffed haughtily, pretending to feel offended. “That’s a ridiculous lie! If someone is stupid enough to get themselves into trouble then they can get themselves out of trouble too. Everyone except you, your family, Gaenor and Adrian, but only because you’re all Slytherin enough to know that you would owe me.” Lita added quickly. One of her rules in life was that no one got anything for free but she always seemed to end up breaking that rule when it came to the Graas’, her brother and Gaenor. They were her family, she was allowed to help them for free.

“A wolf-cub?” Lita grinned excitedly, wondering if the cub would still be there when she visited during the summer before remembering that she wasn’t planning to visit this summer. Adrian thought she was staying with the Graas’ for a week or two and Lita merely let him continue that assumption because it was easier to deal with their cousins by herself when Adrian wasn’t trying to interfere. Jared’s words as he hugged her only made her smile die quicker. “I know you’re all always there for me, but some things I need to do on my own,” Lita answered softly, not sure if she was referring to the situation with her and Gaenor or her secret problems within her own family.

Jared, though he wouldn’t know it since neither he nor any of his siblings knew about the problems Lita had been trying to puzzle through by herself, was starting to make her feel a bit guilty and so she stayed silent. She had nine people – including Kris, Cleo and Gaenor – who would fight for her if she asked them to. Her plan of using the situation with her cousins to prove her strength and worth was starting to seem a bit childish, even to her own mind. She was risking her in heritance and her horses just because she was too stubborn to admit that she might need help from the people she considered family. She would have distanced herself from them all summer – and the lies she was planning to use to cover her absence would have been easily discovered but she was too wearied to think of better lies. Maybe it was time to find a better strategy.

“I’d rather not imagine what you’d do on a date, Jared. You’re enough like a little brother to me for that image to not sit well in my mind. If you really want an answer to that question, ask Gabriel or Rister because I’m sure they would be happy to answer in full detail.” Lita answered dryly. Sure, she was encouraging him to date but that didn’t mean that she wanted to think about what he was going to do during it. “And I would pick someone entirely suitable for my own amusement, I assure you. Perhaps your brothers could give me the names of some of the more annoying girls that they have dated.”

[Jared Graas R4]

“Something pretty has it’s esthetical uses. It’s pretty to look at and thereby provokes thought or calms. Just the same you could say that dancing or singing or playing some sport is worthless,” Jared stated with a firm shake of his hand, “Tastes and styles differ, but the so called Beaux Arts and their outcomes all have a very clear and firm purpose.” Jared merely chuckled at Lita’s quite justification of why she never hesitated to help people. At least those close to her. And if someone were in real danger, Lita would most without a doubt whip out her wand and help, even if she might do so grudgingly. But all Jared said with a light grin was: “The Lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

“A wolf-cub. There had been some trouble with some loner female wolf getting too arrogant in the peace in the surrounding forests and attempted to attack some girl from the village. He failed, but it was enough of a reason for dad to track the beast down and shoot her. He seemed to have gotten rabies somewhere. But the cub was alright so dad took it to the castle,” Jared dutifully told the story, knowing that Lita liked animals even without the grin lighting up her face. “I know you do. Everyone does. Rister has to take over governing the castle and grounds back at home on his own one day, Damon has to deal with his life, Gabriel needs to navigate on his own in the modeling world. And despite all our hopes, Leandra and Morgana need to take care of themselves too. And I need to do things myself,” a slightly troubled accord sounded from Jared’s harmonica. He had received an offer. It was nearly too good to turn down as there wouldn’t be an other like this. But accepting? Would mean breaking his decision not to accept anything until before he was graduated and he wasn’t sure what he thought of that. “And you have to do things for your own. But the knowledge that there’s someone there when you’re done to celebrate or mourn with you? It surely helps a whole lot,” Jared concluded simply.

Laughing along as the topic turned to a merrier subject, Jared placed a hand on his heart: “I’m not sure what to be appalled over. That you think me so innocent I’ve never been kissed and not even be aware of what to do on a date? Or that my innocent ears could handle the descriptions from Rister and Gabriel? Both are equally disheartening thoughts in all honesty.” And possibly, Jared might end up having to go on a date. Rister had sent an owl to their parents, saying that it was stupid how Lita and Gaenor were circling the topic blindly. And his parents were a force to consider. “And what if I fall in love with the annoying girl and thereby force you to live through her visits and chatter for the rest of your life, as you’re too polite to not to socialize with me, due to my possible future wife. Besides – if you take someone from Rister or Gabriel, they wouldn’t agree to go out with me. But presuming oyu have connections, they’d pursue you with even more plans on how to get you to set them up on additional dates with my brothers. Thereby, protecting my sanity, will also do wonders for yours.”