Standard...Failure...

[Felicity Hjort]

"Expecto Patronum"

Nothing.

Short flick, elongated lateral wave, charm...Nothing. Checking the movement of her wrist, Felicity tried once more just like the book stated to. Nothing. The result was an endless, resounding, long nothingness. Silence, no spark, no shocking wave, no magic. How was it to be expected of the young blonde to learn if everything she tried ended in failure? The night before the blonde had waited until everyone in the den had gone to bed before she practiced. It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning she'd been alone, able to conduct a bit of experimenting on her own.

The common room now held a number of cushions destroyed by the blonde. Just the previous night she'd seared one, smoldered another, and still managed to accidentally throw one into the common room fireplace. Purely accidental. But she'd been so restless, and still exhausted, completely not a night owl, however she made herself stay awake to study. How else was she supposed to learn the spell Drew had been working on with her if she didn't try?

That afternoon, the blonde had managed to find an empty corridor, and decided to give it a whirl again. Drew could make such an amazing animal appear from the end of his wand and she was just as determined to do something on her own.

Standing in the hallway, she faced the endlessly long corridor, tapestries and pictures littering the way, thinking of a memory, trying to make something appear.

Why couldn't she make anything but a putrid smell, a foggy buttermilk cloud, and a poof from her wand with this particular spell?

[OPEN xD]

[alfonztytusjedynak]

The damn white cat had followed the former quidditch player everywhere, and Alfonz had had enough of it. Was it too much to ask to have a bit of time to oneself? Alfonz could only wonder. Of course, hadn't that all he really had since he'd gotten back to Hogwarts? Raynor seemed to avoid everyone and anyone, his sister seemed lost in herself... trapped, per say, in her own mind and not even he could help her at that point. And so, it was true that he had had time to himself. Too much time, really. Wandering the castle was probably the most excitement, other than the first year class, that he'd had all year thus far.

Quidditch seemed to be slower... classes seemed to be going no where... and as much as he thought about how he could help his sister break out of whatever their father had done to her, he kept coming up with the same damn answer he hated to even admit... Alfonz needed help, but not just any help.... help from a particular lad that Celina had liked previously. The Manning boy, or so Alfonz thought, was nothing of what he wanted his sister fraternizing with, and yet, it was the only time that he ever saw her with any emotion on her face. Even the sight of the half blood Hjort really didn't put as big of a smile there....

...well, on Celina's face any ways. As for the Quidditch Ref... the girl has some flair that intrigued Alfonz. He didn't know why, but her determination, when it was already proven that she was a dimwit, was interesting to say the least. However, though he gave her credit, he kept it to himself. The last time he had handled anyone who had intrigued him or interested him, well... neither one worked out well. Shay getting into his business, and Raynor keeping things "professional".... it only made Alfonz sick to think about how they all were the same. Every single last woman... an Anastasia.

Of course, as he pondered, and kept walking... the white cat followed. Pearl never left his side; her blue eyes glistening as she loved to explore and poke her noes into anything and everything. Such was the ways of a nine month old cat, Alfonz was sure of it. Damn thing... Alfonz didn't even like cats. Sonsof... Sniff... sniff... Stopping dead, Alfonz crinkled his noes. What the hell was that horrible smell? Alfonz was already sick from thinking about all of his failed tries with Celina and women, and now something in the air just made his gag reflex jump horribly.

Scratching at his scruffy neck, for he hadn't shaven in at least two days and the stubble had begun to grow once more, Alfonz rounded a corner only to find a particular someone he'd just been thinking about. He stopped, only looking around the edge and seeing her from behind. His cover, flawless however, was only as such until a particular nosey little feline decided to poke her noes in the air and try to find whatever was making the icky smell.

Rounding the corner, Alfonz at his six foot one inch stature tried to grab the cat before she rounded the corner after the blond, but in doing so, fell to one knee on the stone floor with a bit of a thud. The pain shot up his knee to his thigh, and yet Alfonz said nothing, gritting his teeth and cursing under his breath as he did so. Looking up, he'd hoped that Felicity hadn't noticed him, for it looked bad enough if she thought of him as spying on her, but the cat didn't stop so it was unlikely, with as dimwitted as she was, that she would miss him. Alfonz sighed, and just watched as Pearl rubbed herself up against Felicity as best she could, looking for the awful stench.

[Felicity Hjort]

Holding the thin piece of wood delicately, Felicity stared down the length of the corridor, ignoring the smell, the points from the pictures, the sounds around her, only focusing on a memory she could see. Once more it was of David, as determined as she was to get the spell right with a memory of her long passed brother, wanting to prove he was special enough to her that she could conduct the magic with him. If anyone in her family was magical, even more so than her mum, it was her brother. Who else had she known that could put a smile on anyone's face when they only had a fleeting thought of the young man? Who else could pull teeth on a child without making them cry while they were still fully awake and aware of the operation taking place? Who else had protected her so well as a young child?

The answer was no one.

Nearly eight years of being gone and she missed him something terribly. For the last two years she had missed visiting his grave, instead had chose to celebrate her birthday, but could never stop thinking of him. While he'd put a smile on anyone else's face, he made the silent tears crawl down her cheeks, blurred her vision with his form, tore at her heart at the thought of him no longer being there for her. He had been the one to understand so much, and now...well...she had her friends, she had Drew, but it wasn't nearly the same.

One more try, that's all she needed, and as she put her focus on the young man, Felicity was about to open her mouth and give the spell another whirl, but was stopped short. Instead, a short and surprised "OH!" was issued from her lips at the feel of the fur touching her leg, still in the school mandated uniform of skirt, the bareness not being her favourite and cats even less. At first she'd expected to see the black fur belonging to Celina's Emerald, the only cat that could make her smile rightfully, but at the sight of fur as white as snow, a shot went to her heart. The cat reminded her of Snowflake, which ultimately reminded her of Drew.

However, she tried not to think of the last Head Boy, wanting to continue with her lesson, but her brown eyes wandered down the corridor slightly, startled. Why would a cat come to her? She didn't even like them. As her eyes took in everything around her, she almost missed the crouched figure, but when she saw it, the blonde gasped and quickly pulled her wand in front of her, ready to fight if need be. The recognition didn't take place until she'd almost said the full incantation for the leg-lock curse...

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Everyone had their instincts.

Turning up, it was as if Alfonz predicted the outcome of the situation before it even happened. However, he didn't expect Felicity to act upon the instincts that he knew she probably had. Recognizing the beginning of a spell that would be directed at him, Alfonz could do nothing but fall backwards, hoping that the girl would miss him if she continued the spell, or that the wall would be his protection. There was no time for any offensive moves, seeing that his own wand was pocketed, and frankly, taking any moves would only cost him his job any ways. Not to mention, any hope to bring Celina out of whatever trance their father had put her into.

The cold hard ground, however, wasn't one to allow Alfonz any comfort as his built frame crashed upon it. The back of his head bounced slightly as it made contact, which only made the twenty two year old reach up and grab his head out of pure anguish. The more pain he felt, the more his temper flared and this time his curses could be plainly heard. It wasn't that he was swearing at the blond Gryffindor, but mostly at his own stupidity and shock that she would actually take up arms against him... er... anyone.

Just laying there, Alfonz rubbed the back of his head, hoping that there was no need to make a visit to the hospital wing for a gash or injury of any sort. Listening, Alfonz didn't even try to move his legs, unaware if he had actually gotten hit with anything as he fell backwards or not. He didn't talk, for he wasn't too sure exactly what to say, or how exactly it would come out. He was angry, in pain, and in a situation where the first words would be to blame the clumsiness of the girl before him. Instead... he just called for the cat.

"Pearl..." he croaked out as best he could without growling too much. The tone and growl of course were there, but he tried his hardest to be civil, if for anyone's sake but Celina's. "Get over here..." he commanded slowly and in a very deep and low voice. Every word said seemed to be more vicious than the last. "Damn it anyways, cat... sonofa..." he continued.

[Felicity Hjort]

Midway through the incantation, Felicity's mouth went silent, dry, and the warmth of her wand diluted to nothing but the cold piece of wood being held by her hand. Heart pumping like a madhouse, she couldn't believe she had almost attacked him, Celina's brother. What had she reduced herself to? The fear that ran through her very veins two January's before was back, every hair on her body stood on end, piercing screams through her head, and shivering nerves rippled down her back. Since when had she resorted to magic first? Fists, sure, but never magic.

Frozen to her spot as the man fell toward the floor, bouncing his head off of hard surface, swears coming forth from his lips. It bothered her, but she couldn't find it in her to move just yet.

As he spoke, calling forth to someone the lioness didn't know, as the cat moved, light brown eyes dropped down to watch the fluff of white stroll closer to the man she had come to know recently. And just as the animal moved closer, the blonde's feet followed, taking small, unsure steps toward the former Quidditch player who intrigued her and held a mesmeric aurora around him. What drew her to him? Felicity hadn't ever been sure, shy around him around others, but not so much alone.

"Alfonz?" she questioned uncertainly, in a voice timid as the waves without moonlight. Why would he spy on her? What reason had he to creep upon her without calling out to grab at her attention?

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Caught red handed in an act that he surely didn't commit. It was just the same as when Felicity has walked in on himself and his younger sister... what she thought she saw, was always further from any truth that Alfonz had ever dared to speak. And all because he was trying to get away, from not only himself and his thoughts, but the cat that was attached to him.

Sighing frustrated like, Alfonz closed his eyes, only to feel the light sniffling of a noes at his own. Peal stood above him, smelling at him as if he were some damned piece of chicken. If it wasn't that someone else was with the two of them, Alfonz would have smacked her away so hard her head would have spun. Felicity ultimately saved the cat, whether she intended to or not. "Move away, damned cat..." he groaned as he lightly pushed her back, the small cat mewing out of concern for her owner. His hands then went under him, pushing himself up, now realizing that he could indeed use his legs. The curse hadn't even been brought forth.

Alfonz?

His dark orbs looked intently on the soft brown ones that inched toward him. Not really knowing exactly what to say, Alfonz smirked, looking over his shoulder briefly to see that there was no blood left behind. Just a bump would be left on the Quidditch Ref's head, and again, he was rather relieved. Just as fast as he looked over his shoulder though, he was looking back at the blond... lifting a leg up to lean against as if debating whether getting up and towering over her was the feeling he wanted to give that day. He didn't, for would she near him if he did? Alfonz almost wonder what game they both played at. The rules were unknown... even to him.

"Impressive..." his smirk remained. "...Miss Hjort... do you always point your wand in such a violent manner at your superiors? Or do you leave such special treatment for me?" He snorted, shaking his head just slightly and dropping his gaze. A sigh escaped him softly, thanking Merlin that she really hadn't gone through with the spell... or rather, started to say anything worse than just a leg locking jynx.

"What are you doing any ways?" He lifted his gaze back to hers, lifting an eyebrow. "Surely there are better things to do than to just be wasting magic in a deserted corridor..." Alfonz smirk only widened as he decided to jest. "...I mean, books to be read... tests to be completed... letters written... " Shrugging, Alfonz went to stand, finding a sudden pain shoot in his leg from his knee. He'd banged it pretty good, and as he stood, leaning against the wall slightly, he flinched... gritting his teeth as he did so to help ease the pain. Looking foolish wasn't what he wanted to do right then. Not that it mattered though.

[Felicity Hjort]

The roughness of his voice didn't surprise the young lioness. They shared the same opinion of cats, though both seemed to take well enough to Emerald. However, why would he call out to a cat only to get angry at it? Or perhaps Pearl wasn't the cat, but then who was? Looking about the corridor, her eyes swept every nook and cranny available, but to no avail, who was Pearl? The distraction of the older male moving kept her rapt attention, watching his arms move beneath him, his face grow slightly taut as he reached to touch the spot on his head, every movement he made was entrancing to her. Why?

Rolling her eyes at his comment, she turned just enough to hide any discomfort that may have lingered on her face. Violence wasn't the way to go, though her history would show a different report. "I reserve such violence for those who sneak and creep as you had done. If you'd let me know you were there you could've avoided hitting your head," she retorted blatantly. But even with the bite of her tone, she moved closer to the man to double check his injury. While he may not have discovered anything, it didn't mean he was well and fine. But his words made her hesitate... "I'm just practicing for classes."

A simple response, honest and short. But it stung when he reminded her of Drew, wasn't it bad enough he was constantly on her mind all ready? Did Celina's brother have to remind her he wasn't there to protect her?

But when the man stood, the look that flitted across his face didn't go unnoticed, and the blonde approached him with little fear as she her five foot eight inch frame took on full height so she could inspect the bump on his head. "Sit down," she commanded softly, trying to ease him into letting her have a look-see.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Felicity, as most of the time Alfonz every examined the girl, looked confused and taken aback by something. Pearl mewed, catching his attention for a brief moment, and Alfonz only sighed frustrated like. Why couldn't Celina have just taken to his gift as she had so many times before? She'd even faked it for the broom he'd given her... but she was different now. Alfonz knew that. Looking back toward the blond Gryffindor, he was surprised to see that she'd moved a bit closer, and even more surprised when her tone back at him had bite. The smirk on his face only grew. Impressive... Alfonz wasn't sure, but he'd even argue that the blond had changed as well since the first time they had met.

"That's all fine enough, and said well, my girl..." Alfonz started, shifting just slightly. "...that is, if it were at all true." Alfonz crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall, mockingly shaking his head at her. "I wasn't sneaking up on you. I was strolling. The cat there," he pointed to Pearl "was following, and then she thought it'd be best to bother you while you were..." I'm just practicing for my classes. "...ah, then for your classes." He sounded a bit more defensive of his stand point than he meant to be, and after thinking about it could have kicked himself. Why did he care what she thought of what he was doing? Felicity Hjort was nothing more than a half blood twit that his sister was friends with. Or so, the last time he'd heard, his sister was friends with her. Alfonz almost wondered if in his sister's changes, she'd taken up different associates as well.

Her hesitation was noticed, and Alfonz only wondered. Yes. He had to remind her that she was by herself. Of course... how alone was she really? It made Alfonz wonder. "Have you seen Celina around lately?" he asked of her, trying to take his own mind off of how defensive he sounded, and his eyes off of the way the lioness walked toward him.

Commanded to sit, an eyebrow above Alfonz's eye rose. What did she say? The smirk twitched on his face, for Alfonz really wasn't sure exactly how to take the request. "Manner's much?" he whispered a question he'd asked other women before her. Smirking again, Alfonz crossed his arms... "I'm fine."

[Felicity Hjort]

Sniffing quietly when Alfonz called her his girl, she didn't try to hide the look on her face. It wasn't disgust, not even regret, but it was something of distaste. She was Drew's girl, not Alfonz's. Drew always called her his girl, and she didn't mind when he did it, but anyone else saying it was saying a lie because she wasn't theirs. Just Drew's. And when he said her words were a lie, she glared, unwilling to believe she'd state a full-out a lie, or even a partial one. Considering she couldn't tell a lie to save a life, she really didn't like that Alfonz was calling her a liar. Folding her arms over one another, the blonde stood there, doing her best not to make a mocking look with her face while she listened to the older man talk to her about what he was really doing. If he was making excuses, it was obvious he'd really been spying on her.

The change of topics made Felicity look the man over...twice. Why did he care if she spent time with Celina, he hadn't ever seemed to much care for her before, but why wouldn't he just ask his sister himself? Alfonz probably spent more time with her than she did with the girl. "Only in classes," she answered honestly. The slightly crazy Ravenclaw had gone completely crazy that summer, or so she thought. Wearing clothing that covered her completely instead of the tank tops she wore before, jeans were no longer on her friend, and Celina seemed to have taken an even more uninterest in the meaningless chatter Felicity used before.

Another glare. Felicity had manners, not the same ones Celina portrayed constantly, but she had them. And Alfonz pointing out that he didn't think she had any bothered her. But his refusal for her to have a look-see bothered her even more. Did he not trust her or her judgement? While the lioness knew she didn't seem like the most dependable for advice, especially medical advice, she also knew when a bump was more than just a bump. "Just let me look," she told him gently, carefully reaching up to touch his shoulder, willing him to settle down and sit so she could see the top of his head.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

It was with great pleasure that Alfonz watched the young blond fit and squirm with every word he said to her. It was as if she had to think ten times harder than the average woman to get anything of what he was saying to her. Or maybe it was that she was over thinking everything he said... either way, Alfonz knew that the girl had absolutely no idea of what he spoke of half the time he spoke. Her face twisted in so many unattractive but hysterical ways, it was hard for Alfonz to hide his smirk of enjoyment. Yes he'd hit his head, but the fact of the matter was, that even that wouldn't have made this any less worth it. He may not have been spying on her originally, but this outcome only came more amusing to him than if he really was.

"After all, dear lioness," Alfonz snorted, the obvious mock in his tone prevailing. "Why would I spy on you when I can learn so much more by just talking with you?" It was true. She wore every emotion on her face as if she couldn't help herself but tell him everything about her. Bending over a bit to her ear, he growled to her. "You're very much an open book..." he laughed, standing back up straight and crossing his arms over his own chest. He just looked down at her, almost curious to see what she'd do next... was she afraid of him? Felicity Hjort didn't seem to be... Alfonz wondered why that was. So, he continued to observe.

When she said that she only spoke with Celina in classes, her brows furrowed and a flash look of concern was on his face only long enough for him to wipe it away. There wasn't anything right about that. In the end, Alfonz got his wishes. He wanted Celina to stay as far away from her friends as humanly possible. In the end, he'd even done that by being there like he wanted. But now.... she was different. And it wasn't because of her friends.... Celina was different because the blood that flowed through her every veins were cursed and tainted by the hand of family. It disgusted Alfonz.... His stomach churned just thinking about it.

Why her closeness unnerved him, Alfonz would probably never be able to say. Her hand crept up to his shoulder, as if to bring him down to her level, and the girl didn't flinch away or shy to another side. She wasn't being forceful, but in a way, she tried. Alfonz could have admired her for such ways, if he wasn't already distracted by a sudden notion of what to do next. There were many options.... the hall was empty, no witnesses, and nobody whom would come after him in the end. No, everything was perfect.

Slowly, his hands dropped from their crossed position and as Felicity became more near with her hand aimed at his shoulder to push him down to the ground. It was as if he knew what he was doing the entire time, though he really had no clue. His hands now at his sides found their way quickly positioning themselves differently. One hand on her waist and around her while the other hand he held free grabbed on lightly, and yet tightly to the one that was about to place itself on top of his shoulder. Pulling her in near he kissed her arm gently and laughed softly. "And what would your boy-toy think? Helping me out? Merlin knows that he'd want you far from me, especially if I was hurt? And yet.... here you are trying to save my life?" He mocked, lifting an eyebrow and keeping his hold on her tight, but not keeping her there if she didn't wish it.

"How quaint..." Alfonz ended, snickering and smirking as if he'd just discovered some huge secret. He now watched her.... knowing her face would tell everything her mouth could not.

[Felicity Hjort]

A small glare flitted through her eyes when Alfonz spoke to her. He was quite good at making her angry, and this time was no different than any other. However, though he made her angry, he had a way about him that also piqued her curiosity. Whatever it was, this man was a puzzle beyond any other she'd ever known. Drew could be a puzzle to her, but this man was a seemingly never ending one. And on top of it, he bothered her in every way, and yet she found it unable to stay far from him most of the time. Either because she wanted Celina so badly, or because there was just something different about him.

"It's better to be an open book because at least there's a story, than to be a book full of nothing but blank pages. People eventually get bored when there's nothing written," she answered. Though, she didn't really believe Alfonz was a book of nothingness, it was just buried behind ages of yellow because no one dared to read it and so it continuously aged without anyone paying much attention. But even with his voice so near to her, she forced herself to breathe and relax, he wouldn't do anything to her. After all, she was his sister's best friend (or hopefully still) and she was a student, albeit one not appreciated by Raynor, but a student nonetheless, and he didn't really seem to be such a bad guy overall in her opinion.

The man stood still and Felicity knew he wasn't about to give in to her checking on his wound, but she wasn't about to back out of it either. As her hand continued to make its reach it was suddenly stopped a motion she hadn't planned on. Felicity thought he'd turn away, take a step to the side, gently push at her to back off, but she didn't expect him to latch onto her and pull her in closer than ever expected.

The rush was unnerving, she gulped and took a sharp breath in, unknowing of just what to do. There was the option of self-defense, but he wasn't hurting her. His lips on her arm sent shivers down her spine, but she wasn't scared, more surprised and concerned. Maybe he hit his head harder than they both thought. Everything was all right until the moment he spoke.

"Drew isn't my boy-toy," the pretty blonde spat out angrily. "Helping a person is what he'd want me to do, no matter who needs the help. And he's never said for me to stay away from anyone. He wouldn't, and even if he dared to tell me something to that affect, he knows I'd do what I felt was right. And at the moment, I think he'd agree with me that you need help."

And though he kept her close, she didn't fight to back away. As delusional as she believed the man to be, she thought it might be best to wait for him to realize something wasn't quite right, and if he went any further, he'd be feeling more pain by the way of her fist.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

The girl's reasonings on many of the points he'd given only made Alfonz's head hurt more. Being an open book was more interesting? Yea, when you were looking to be killed in the last chapter maybe. The twenty two year old had to restrain his mouth from dropping just slightly from his slight shock. Every time he talked to Felicity Hjort, he swore a few more brain cells he had left died. And yet he continued to talk to her.... he was in serious need of a good time with a cheap woman, that was obvious enough.

Even as he did what he did, and Felicity stood in his arms not struggling, and yet obvious by her facial expressions, she wasn't much enjoying the experience, she still defended her ways of doing things. She was helping him, even after still thinking he was spying on her, and trying to help the small bump on his head. Maybe she was asking for a death wish of some sort. That was the only conclusion that Alfonz could come up with.

"Thornton would agree with you that I need help, but unlike your heroic image that you make him out to be..." Alfonz stopped thinking that he knew exactly what Drew Thornton would love to help Alfonz do. Get himself a nice unpadded cell at Azkaban. Oh yes, Drew would love to help him. "...he'd be leading the pack to getting me into Azkaban, Miss Hjort." Alfonz let the blond go and shrugged his shoulders as he put his hands in his robe pockets. "Don't think your knight would do anything else. After all, who does he really care about? Are you sure it's you fully? Or do you come in where he himself already doesn't fill?" Thornton, if Alfonz had it correctly, had gone off to auror school... wouldn't it have been nice to finally convict someone of being a Deva and throwing them in jail before graduation?

"I mean, don't get me wrong," Alfonz snickered, his smirk appearing slightly. "You'd make an excellent trophy wife... well, except your not pure, but why get into the little details of things." Sighing he shrugged his shoulders one last time and turned away from the girl to walk away. His smile was definitely showing now, for he expected yelling back at him.... that's why when he took his steps, he slowly walked and waited for the girl's every word.

[Felicity Hjort]

Frowning, the young blonde looked the spitting image of her mother with blonde hair as she absorbed what the man before her said. That wasn't the reason Drew was in training, he'd wanted to become an Auror for so long and it wasn't just to place people behind bars, it was for justice and correct reasons... not to be a hero for anyone. And while he was very much a hero in her very own honey-graham cracker eyes, that didn't mean Alfonz had any right to abuse that image for her.

"And exactly what reason would he have to throw you into such a place? And just why do you believe he'd make that a top priority of a goal? You think you're that high on his list?" No, she had no idea just how he really felt about the man, though he'd told her a few times how he felt at certain moments. Shaw was the one he wanted behind the somewhat safety of the Azkaban bars, and for many good reasons. "Don't flatter yourself."

He let go of his hold on her, but she didn't budge away from his presence. Drew meant the world to her, and Alfonz, though she admired him and felt slightly for him as he was Celina's brother, had crossed a line. And as he mentioned her to be a trophy wife her eyes flared with anger. The fact he was talking about heritage lines hurt, knowing what Drew had said about his own mum's wants of a pure blooded wife for him, and the fact Celina was so worried about appearances.

"Just what happened in your life that you can't get over? And why are you taking it out on everyone else rather than dealing with it?" she asked angrily. There was something wrong with him, and she knew it, but he was pressing buttons she didn't like him pressing.