||RAIN&&brooms,,

[caradoc]

Great. Once again it was raining. December had brought nothing but coldness and snow, and it didn't look like January was going to be any better. But there was no way he could slack down on his training schedule. Nope, rain, or no rain, Caradoc Dearborn would go out to run a few times around the Quidditch court before jumping on his broom to practice his beater-skills. So with some reluctance he put on his tracksuit, one of his dorm-mates calling him nuts for going out in a weather like that to practice. But, he needed to. Ravenclaw needed to win the Quidditch cup this year.

He walked out of Hogwarts Castle, rain hitting him instantly. His hair, though rather short fell in wet in front of his eyes. In a mild jog, he went to the Quidditch Pitch, tracking a few laps with various speeds. The first one had been at a slow pace, letting his muscles get used to the idea of running after a resting period of three days. The second had been quicker, yet he tried to keep his breathing and heartbeat under control she he could finally mix his laps up with sprinting. A small half hour passed and he stopped. His hands rested on his thighs while he caught up with his breath, feeling his tracksuit cling to his body.

Cursing to himself for being an idiot, he went towards the Ravenclaw locker room, taking the jacket off. He was supposed to keep the jacket dry, so he could wear it when his training was over. Now, however, it was a wet as the water in the Lake. The jacket went off immediately after he'd set foot in the locker room, putting it to dry on a chair, hoping it would be ready to wear when his practice was over. Caradoc then went to his own locker, taking his broom out, refusing to wear his protection gear- cause, well, it was only a single-man's practice... -, before taking a bludger with him, neatly put in his cage so it couldn't harm anyone until necessary.

Stepping out in the rain again, in only his pants and a black t-shirt, he shivered. If his mother saw him like this, she'd make a fuss all over him to get into more clothing cause he would get sick. Honestly, chances were pretty high that he would get sick after this training, but well, he couldn't care less. His broom was lifted in the air beside him, hovering under his hand, waiting for Caradoc to mount. And so he did, the blond got on his broom and flew off, feeling the wind in his hair, and the rain on his shoulders... but at that same moment, nothing could make him happier than what he was doing now.

[tanith]

Everybody made New Year's Resolutions in January, right? Well actually, Tanith never had before. It was a predominantly muggle tradition and she'd never even heard of it before she came to Hogwarts. It was a good idea though, and it was something positive to come from dreary depressing January. Tan's New Year resolutions were to be more confident, more punctual, less clumsy, less awkward. Unfortunately though, actually following through with her promises weren't as easy. It was a only a week into the new year and the new term, and Tanith was already in trouble for not paying attention in Herbology and subsequently knocking a Mandrake off the table and killing the thing. Which meant she had to take an extra class this morning from the livid professor. Tanith was equally livid, of course. It was a Saturday, and early, and she had been trapped inside the greenhouse, freezing in the chilly January weather, for an hour and a half. Finally, after Tan had repotted and cared for at least twenty of the nasty little buggers (the Mandrakes, that is), the Herbology professor had grudgingly released her.

Stepping out into the rainy grey morning, Tan grimaced and checked at her watch. It was an awkward time, too late to go to breakfast (which she'd forgotten about this morning) and too early to go for lunch. She briefly entertained the thought of working on her Charms essay in the libary but after working all morning she really needed a rest, some peace and quiet. As she mulled the thought over leaning against the greenhouse to shelter from the rain Tan spied the Quidditch stands and smiled. She loved the Quidditch pitch in the rain, even though she hated the sport itself and very rarely went to the games. She didn't like the idea of cheering on the Slytherin team, when she found most of their players annoying and didn't enjoy crowds. But in the rain and cold weather like this the pitch was always deserted, and peaceful. So, quickly waving her wand to cast an impervious spell over her head, Tanith trudged across the grounds towards the Quidditch stands, staying relatively dry.

She dashed up the stairs to sit in the deserted stands near the Slytherin banner and leaned back, coughing slightly in the cold weather. Tan's immune system was pretty awful and she seemed to have a constant cold for as long as she could remember. In fact if her mother saw her out here in the soaking rain she'd have a fit, but that was the best thing about coming back to school after the Christmas holidays. No overbearing parents. Tanith smiled to herself, pulling her sweater closer around her and pulling out a copy of her latest reading material. She was just about to relax and read until lunch when she felt a sudden gush of wind and turned to see a boy on a broomstick whoosh past her. She groaned, wondering if that meant that a team was practicing today, but you'd have to be crazy to schedule a practice in this weather, even she knew that and she was practically Quidditch-inept. Tanith squinted, pushing back some damp blonde hair from her forehead as the boy (who was even wetter than herself) circled the pitch. Her frown quickly dissapeared as she realised it was Caradoc, and she smiled brightly over the top of her book.

Tanith waved briefly in Car's direction over the top of her book, wondering if he could even see it from where he was flying. Tanith was er .. picky, about her friends and who she talked to, but she liked Caradoc's company. They had been friends for a while now, and it was nice having someone to talk to, even if she did feel as though he babied her sometimes. She leaned back against the stands and watched Caradoc zoom around the pitch contently, trying to ignore the way her stomach twisted slightly as she watched him fly. "You're crazy to fly on a day like this!" She yelled hoarsely over the rain as he flew past her stand, leaning briefly over the bar and smirking.

Notes- I'm not normally this crap, but this post sucks xD
Outfit- Here

[caradoc]

The pure delight of Quidditch made Caradoc dream off for a little while as he zoomed across the stadium. He smiled, this was life, so much better than sitting in a library and studying, though of course, being a Ravenclaw he had nothing against studying... but if you let him choose, he'd rather be on his broom day and night then somewhere locked up reading where you couldn't feel the wind gush through your hair. Even in the rain, this sport was a great waste of time. His teammates of course would call him crazy, after all who in their right minds would go out on a time like this, when all you got from it was a severe cold and some soar muscles the day after.

Of course, Caradoc didn't mind in the least, he was a true Quidditch Player, one that didn't back down for a drop of rain.. So he continued, speeding up, flying through the air until he saw someone waving at him in the far distance of the Slytherin side. He squinted his eyes, hard as it was to see with a weather like this and from this distance. Course, it couldn't be just anybody. There were few Slytherins that Caradoc really talked to. It wasn't that he had something against the other houses, but Slytherin students normally didn't interfere with what they called 'mudblood' lovers. In Caradoc's eyes, every witch or wizard was alike, whether they came from the long aristocratic families, or from the most un-wizardish family in the world. After all, nobody could help how they were born... Few Slytherins liked his believes, or his strong opinion about them. Still, there were a few ladies who looked beyond that. Whether that was of real friendship or just plain lust that was left in the middle.

However, of one Slytherin, he knew that she'd be there for him through and through. She wasn't just interested in his clothes, or the way he looked or what he had done on the Quidditch field. She truly cared about him, and of course, Car cared about her as well. A grin spread across his features while he flew closer to that one single Slytherin who would always stick with him. "You're crazy to sit outside, reading like that.", he yelled back at her, hoping the wind carried his words far enough so that she would hear as he sped up until he hovered right in front of her.

"Tanith Malfoy.", he said with a slight mock in his voice, teasing her like he always did. "Aren't you supposed to be inside, reading by the Slytherin fire with all your lovely snakes?" The grin on his face was plastered there, "You might want to watch out, you'll catch a cold in a weather like this.", he softly reprimanded her, though it was all in good fun. And it was not as if had anything to say about it, he himself was sure to be going to Madame Pomfrey rather soon. After all, Flying through wind and rain was not the best thing to do...

[tanith]

Tanith grinned, allowing herself a small chuckle as Caradoc roared back at her over the rain. She felt her mood lift slightly, deciding that she'd been right to visit the Quidditch stands - itwas the peace and quiet she needed, and there was the added bonus of running into Caradoc, who always cheered her up. For most Slytherins, it was considered taboo almost to breach house-barriers for close friends, but Tanith didn't pay much attention to that particular unwritten rule. Car was certainly a lot more fun than many of the gloomy buggers who hung around the dungeons, and he liked her, whereas she knew that many people found her eccentric and quiet. So Tanith could, as she often teased him, just about put up with the fact that Caradoc was a Ravenclaw. His views on blood status were probably a less lighthearted issue to tease about, although Tanith quietly agreed with his views on equality, she was a little reluctant to agree openly just yet - Skeeter's mention of her in her nasty column was quite enough warning to scare her off. Tan hated the idea of being called cowardly because of it, but that was a good thing about being friends with Car, she supposed, he seemed to understand all that.

Pushing her soaking wet hair from her pale face, Tanith grinned at Caradoc, pretending to attempt to whack him with her book as she flew nearer for his jibe. "At least I'm wearing a jacket Dearborn, you'll catch a cold before me." She pointed out, raising her eyebrows at the black t-shirt that was sticking to his torso. Again Tanith tried to ignore her stomach as it flipped and fluttered suspiciously, averting her eyes from where Car's shirt had shown off his rather Quidditch-ripped body, and picked at her nailpolish, adding quickly with a smirk. "Besides, stop telling me I'm going to get sick you sound like my bloody mother" Tan had suspected for a little while that she had been developing somewhat of a crush on her friend, but she had pushed the thought to the back of her head, and tried to ignore it, telling herself she was just being silly. She'd be horrified if Caradoc found out about it, naturally. It would wreck any friendship they had, and plus, she knew he thought of her as his little sister or something, much as she resented it (Tan liked to think defensively, and often incorrectly, that she could take care of herself fine) - and people didn't fancy their little sisters. Tanith quickly shook the thought from her head. It was because she'd missed breakfast, her stomach was just grumbling, that's what it was right?

Instead she leaned back leisurely on her seat, feeling more comfortable than her usual awkward jitteryness, rolling her eyes slightly. Tan hated that, people using her full name. It always sounded so pompous. But instead of reprimanding Caradoc she shrugged and smirked coolly. "And why aren't you studying in the library with your little Ravie nerds, I mean, er friends" Tanith had deliberately teased him about the supposedly 'smart' reputation about Ravenclaw. Although she supposed she couldn't really tease him about being a nerd - she was the one reading on the Quidditch pitch after all. She shifted slightly, elbowing the edge of his broom that was closest to her, and looked up at him slightly testily. Caradoc was taller than her in general, and hovering on the broom above her she felt uncomfortably feeble and small. "Are you going to get off that thing or am I not interesting enough to stop your practice for?" Tan grinned, hoping it was the latter, and added politely "Nice Christmas?" hoping to draw him away from Quidditch at least for a little while.

[caradoc]

With a quick pull on his broom, Caradoc flew a few inches away from Tan, just about succeeding escaping her book that was about to hit him. The broom flew forward again and he quickly caught her wrist. "Careful with that, you might hit something I don't want you to hit.", he teased her before softly letting go of her wrist as he winked at the blonde Slytherin. He grinned at her next words, unconsciously flexing some of his muscles. "Oh, what could you expect... I was hoping to see such a lovely lady as yourself, can't blame me for wanting to look good when I do, can you.", he joked, knowing that Tan didn't really like his womanizing characteristics.

Truth to be told however, Caradoc only appeared to be a womanizer on the outside. He was good-looking, no doubt about that, and he knew how to threat a lady, and that eventually had landed him up in the 'ladiesman' category. But, yes, it had to be said. Caradoc couldn't stand guys who were nothing but sex and dumb-muscles with nothing in their brain. Cause, really, call him old-fashioned, but he honestly just wanted to find that one girl who could be his world. He'd probably become like this because of his parents. They'd been each other's first lovers, broke apart when they were in their sixth year of Hogwarts, dated a few others...but them both being a Prefect had gotten them back together in their seventh year. Eventually after many years of trying, they got Caradoc, completing their family as one whole. But of course, if getting to that one girl made you have to test a few others, so be it.

Widening his grin as she told him he was starting to sound like her mother, he flew yet a little closer, hovering only a few inches away from her so he could whisper in her ear. "Nope, I don't, if I sounded like your mother, I'd tell you to keep the hell away from me. Don't want that to happen."

His hand moved towards his heart, mock hurt appearing on his face. "Nerd? You dare call me a nerd?", he stammered with fake disbelieve before his crooked smile burst over his lips. "You out of all people should know that I'm not a nerd like most of my fellow Ravens.", he grinned pushing his hand through his soaking hair, hoping that it would fall immediately back into his face. She leaned on the end of his broom, he lowered himself a little, making it easier for her to lean on it. "Honestly, what you girls got against Quidditch I don't know. You all seem to like the players, but when the balls are involved." He shook his head, offering his hand to the girl. "Yes, you're interesting, more interesting than a broom, but I need to practice too... So, wanna join?", he said while extending his hand a little further so she could grab a hold of him if she desired to.

[tanith]

Tanith jumped slightly as Caradoc caught her wrist, and it took her a moment to set her startled face back into it's usual cynical smirking position. Car certainly had quick reflexes, that was for sure. Tanith supposed it was something to do with being good at Quidditch, and she tried to convince herself she was merely impressed with his skill but try as she might, Tan couldn't completely convince herself that her stomach had flipped over as her friend grabbed her wrist, just because of his Quidditch skill. With a shake of her wet hair, Tan pushed the thought from her mind and drew back her wrist feigning a scandalised expression and folded her arms to hide her pale goosebumped skin where he'd caught her. "Oi, watch it, you could have broken my arm!" She was kidding naturally, Tan knew Caradoc wouldn't really hurt her. Tanith teamed her smirk with a playful roll of her eyes as Car teased her about meeting a 'lovely lady'. It was typical of him to plan his day around meeting a pretty girl, even if he was only joking. He seemed to get through a new girlfriend every week, much to Tan's displeasure. It wasn't that she was jealous or anything, she just ... didn't want to see him get hurt. That was it.

"Well I think the 'lovely ladies' will prefer a man who's actually warm and dry, Car" Tanith joked, snorting slightly and flicking at his dripping t-shirt. She had deliberately ignored the part about 'a lovely lady such as yourself'. Well it was clearly a joke, he was always teasing her like that. Besides, it wasn't as if Tan actually knew what the 'lovely ladies' preferred. She didn't have much expertise in that area herself. The Slytherin enjoyed her own company, although she liked being with Caradoc and her other few friends. She told herself she didn't need a boyfriend, and for the most part it was true. The girls who hung around the likes of Caradoc and Amos Diggory, the giggling idiots who always flicked their hair, made Tanith feel rather ill. If that was being somebody's girlfriend, she'd pass thank you very much. Suddenly Tanith jumped slightly. She hadn't realised how close Car had hovered to her ear whilst she'd been daydreaming (as usual), and his warm breath against her cold skin startled her. She shoved him quickly, chuckling shakily, and rolled her eyes again. "Well actually I don't think my mother would make me stay away from you, she'd be pleased I'd found someone to tolerate me!"

Tanith was only half-joking of course, and she paired it with a dramatic pout. She didn't go in for sob-stories much, but it was true that her mother would be over the mood if she saw her daughter talking to Car. She'd probably jump to the wrong conclusions of course, but Tan couldn't blame her. The only friend she'd brought home to their Cambridge estate in her whole life had been a rather confused muggle boy from the nearby villagewhen she was seven, and needless tosay that hadn't gone down well. She plastered a smile on her pale face but raised an eyebrow skeptically as Car extended his hand to her. "Us girls have against Quidditch? Probably the idiotic players like you, Dearborn" Tan teased him, but really she was just stalling. If possible, she wanted to keep her feet firmly on the grounds. Tanith was terrified of flying, she'd been useless during lessons in first year and her attempt earlier in the year with Waldemar had ended with a nasty fall as well. She shook her head, trying to look casual but unable to stop herself blurting out "I'll fall" Quickly, Tan corrected herself. She wouldn't want to sound weak or scared, just too bored to waste her time with something as sillyas flying. "I mean - er, I'll just watch you practice. I've never.. enjoyed it very much"

[caradoc]

A grin was spread across Dearborn's face as he saw the mock outrage on Tan. Of course, if he had wanted to he could have hurt her, but never in his clear mind would he ever hit or hurt a girl on purpose, certainly not Tan. She was one of those people who honestly meant the world to him, and hurting her would make him feel even more terrible than that day when he'd blacked-out on firewiskey. He'd sworn never to drink again after that particular morning, yet it needed to be told that only a week afterwards, he had already broken that resolution.

"Dry and warm hmm..?", he said with a slight frown upon his face, before shaking his head so that his wet hair made the water fly towards Tan. He grinned. "Nah, you know what, " he added teasingly "Girls only come to the matches and practices to see all the guys sweaty.. Beats me why, but they love a body that's shining with sweat.. So that's probably the only reason you came over in a weather like this, isn't it.", he teased, knowing fully well that Tan didn't fancy him in the least. They were just good friends, best friends to be honest. And nothing in the world would ever change that for him.

Car rolled in his eyes to her response. Of course her mother would not be too happy about Tan spending some time with Car. After all, though he had never seen the woman, he had heard more than enough about her and the other Malfoys to know that they weren't much into what they considered 'bloodtraitors'. Luckily their conclusions about him and his family hadn't rubbed off on Tanith.

"We both know she'd rip my skin of without anesthetics," Car joked though there was a small part of him that thought Tan's mother would really be capable of skinning him alive. He shook his head, not a very happy thought to keep in mind. The thought of Tan's mother was quickly pushed away though as Tan started to speak to him again. 'yes, you girls," he answered her. " Auch, now that hurt, Malfoy... The Only reason you're really watching Quidditch, is because those - idiotic- players, as you call them, are your every dream and fantasy", he joked before getting if his broom and seating himself down next to her.

He knew Tan didn't really life flying, she'd rather keep her feet on the ground, but still, she hadn't been on his broom before - no pun intended - so perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all. "You won't fall, I promise" he said as he put his hand down on her thigh, squeezing it in a friendly manner. "And you haven't enjoyed flying yet, cause you haven't flown with me... but I'm not pushing you, once you're ready we'll take off, sooner or later." he winked before relaxing down in the seat next to her, letting the rain hit his face as he pulled his hand back from her thigh.

[tanith]

Tan chuckled to herself, recoiling as Car shook his hair and soaked her face and pulling a face. She was already soaked of course, and shivering slightly from the rain. Ever since she had arrived at the stands and been startled by Caradoc's presence she had forgotten about the impervious charm she'd been using to keep warm and dry. Now that she noticed it, she plucked at her own damp clothes discerningly and shifted backwards, trying to shield beneath more of the Slytherin green and silver banner. She was momentarily glad that she didn't wear make-up, as during rainy weather she often smirked at girls wandering in from the grounds with mascara running down their faces. Tanith rolled her eyes for what seemed like the millionth time since she'd met Car that day - it wasn't that he truely irritated her, she cared a lot about him in fact, but his teasing her did make her exasperated. Particularly as it was usually about his favourite subject. Car seemed to have a one tracked mind. "Mm, sweaty boys. Sweaty Caradoc Dearborn. You're absolutely right, you've caught me - I just couldn't bring myself to stay away" Her tone was as usual, dripping with sarcasm. It was true that Tan had a slight attraction to Caradoc, but she wasn't the type of girl who would come out in the rain to watch sweaty boys play sports and try to flirt with him - partly due to the fact that was was rather inept at flirting.

"Besides, you're not even sweaty you disgusting boy. You're just soaking wet" Tan could give as good as she got with the teasing, at least with her friends like Car. When it came to people who were teasing her in a vindictive way, she tended to freeze up and stammer like an idiot. It was, she supposed, why she got little respect in her House, but she was at least trying to come out of her shell. And she only acted like a jibbering idiot with people she didn't know - not with her friends. Not with Caradoc.

Tanith felt her sarcastic smirk slip slightly as Car brought up her mother, and a slight frown line appeared between her eyebrows. She knew, of course, what her family would think of the Dearborns. Their stance on blood equality repulsed families like the Malfoys, it was traitorous to them. "I wouldn't let her rip your skin off Car" She smiled, earnestly, her tone slightly softer and less sarcastic than before. Tanith knew her mother was snobbish, she'd grown up in an upper class French family and married a Malfoy, it was her way. Not that Tanith was making excuses for her snobbery. She wasn't close to either of her parents, with their money they'd been able to have Tan brought up by various nannies and house-elves. But, Tanith supposed, she'd rather excuse Camille's snobbery than her father's demeanor. Car talking about her mum made Tan feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, but anyone mentioning Porcius infuriated her. "It's not mother you need to worry about, it's Porcius that's the brute --" Tanith added darkly, but she quickly returned to her usual brisk sarcasm. "But I might rip off your skin if you don't stop making lewd innuendos about my fantasies"

She was grateful that he'd got off the broom, and stopped pestering her to fly, so that she didn't have to make up any more feeble excuses for why she wasn't going anywhere near his broomstick. Quickly she relaxed, leaning back on her seat. She was about to pull her knees to her chest in her usual position of relaxing when she felt Car's surprisingly warm hand on her thigh and was startled yet again. Temporarily dumbfounded, Tan could only nod as he comforted her on not flying and squeezed her leg. She was unable to take her watery-blue gaze from his hand, and she felt strange when he removed it. Grateful that her heart had stopped beating erratically, not grateful that it was gone. She wondered what on earth was the matter with her, and quickly tried to shake the thought from her head with a shake of her own wet hair. She smirked shakily as he leaned back on his own seat. "What makes you think I'd trust your promises Caradoc Dearborn?" She teased softly, and then smiled a little more widely. "I missed you over Christmas" She said, and wondered why she suddenly felt awkward for saying it. It was a throwaway remark after all, and you were allowed to miss your friends over the holidays - right?

-- Bleh, I rambled, sorry!

[/blockquote]

[caradoc]

Grinning from head to toe, Caradoc Dearborn put his arms protectively around Tan's shoulder. It was a gesture he did rather often when in the company of someone that he liked, whether it was a girl he actually fancied, or in this case on of his best girl-friends. "What is it with you Slytherins and sarcasm?", he asked curiously, lifting his right eyebrow while he looked at her. To a few people it might be the question why a Quidditch star like Car even hung out with a person like Tan. Too many she might seem like the anti-slytherin, the girl who was clumsy and shy, and who knows what else they thought about her. But exactly those character traits had made him want to be her friend through and through. It didn't matter to him where she came from, or that cuts and bruises were probably with her wherever she went... She was a sweet girl he could always count on. Even if he needed to talk about girls - which was quite often... You see, Caradoc Dearborn, though hitting on almost every girl that passed his way, was really looking for that one special lady that could rock his entire world... And every time he broke up with one, or met another one, Tan was the first to know.. Sometimes even before the girl in question, cause whatever happened, he knew she was the one he could always lean on.

Caradoc himself did try to be there as much for Tanith as she was there for him. But, though she was good-looking, she'd never really talked to him about guys. Strange, he figured, cause well, if you looked past her clumsy nature, she was one adorable girl... Her Clumsiness even added more to her character in his opinion.. But well, it had to be said, some guys were really not that smart, were they? He squeezed her shoulder gently as she talked about her father. Caradoc had never met the man, but of what he'd heard of Tan, he would never really like her father. In his eyes the man was a dictator, he was probably the reason why Tan was so shy when you first met her. Luckily, once you broke through that shell, or so it seemed to Caradoc, she could talk to you freely, perhaps not about anything, but if the case mattered, she eventually would fill you in.

He grinned at her responses. Not in a million years would she rip off his skin. She was far too nice for that, well, to him at least... That was perhaps another reason why he thought she didn't really belong in Slytherin. How could someone so nice as her be in a house that had produced more dark wizards than any other of them. The question still bugged him at times, but he refused to think about it too much. "Cause I always keep my promises.", he said with a smile upon his lips. "At least, I keep the promises I make to you."

The smile resided on his face. As she spoke again, he nodded, feeling the exact same way. "It was strange not being able to talk to you except by owl.", he admitted looking at her with his piercing blue eyes. "Christmas was okay though, spend the entire vacation at my parents', got some nice presents.. did you get the bracelet I send you by the way?" he asked her curiously, if she'd liked it. It had been a silver charm bracelet, with only one charm on it, the others would come in due time. But the first one, he hoped, would be the one she liked most, a silver star with a T engraved, so that she would always remember, that no matter where, he would always look over her.

[tanith]

Tanith smirked and shrugged coolly as Caradoc asked about Slytherins and sarcasm. "It's just a given that we're horribly sarcastic. Like Ravenclaws are usually pretentious gits like you Dearborn" She was slightly pleased at the jibe, to be honest, her sarcasm was one of the only Slytherin-esque qualities people perceived Tanith to have. The other fifth year Slytherin girls were nothing like her. They partied hard, they had a different boyfriend every week and never got hurt, they were sexy and tough and er ... well, un Tan-like, at least at first. Tanith was quiet and eccentric, she'd never had a boyfriend, not least had sex, the only thing that would make her fit in was her witty sarcasm and her cold demeanor. Cold to everyone but her close friends that it, like Car..

Tan jumped slightly as Caradoc casually draped a muscular arm over her shoulder, leaning closer to her. It was a totally platonic gesture for him, which Tanith had to admit pained her slightly. Whilst Caradoc was just relaxing, leaning against his friend, the person he thought of as a little sister, Tanith felt her heartbeat speed up slightly as the heat of his body radiated towards her. She was suddenly very conscious of her collarbones, which jutted out the top of her shoulders. That couldn't be comfortable, she inwardly worried, but then again Car didn't seem to mind. Tanith tried not to show her slight discomfort and pulled her knees to her chest, letting her head rest in the crook between his neck and shoulder. She snorted slightly at his 'promise' comment, . "I- I know you keep the promises you make to me" She agreed, stammering slightly as he shifted against her, and she felt the muscles of his Quidditch-strained arms twitch. Tanith smirked, regaining her usual sarcastic composure. "But from what I hear in the girls toilets you don't tend to keep them to anyone else"

Tanith had deliberately shut up about Porcius, as it was an uncomfortable topic, but talking about the other girls Car messed around with was not much less uncomfortable. Just the other night Alecto had teased her about Car, about seducing him. Tanith had been horrified at the thought, it made her feel ill to think of Car having sex with a girl, and she was quite sure it wasn't just because he was supposed to be a platonic 'big-brother' figure to her. "Speaking of which, who's the lucky lady this week?" She smirked, teasing him as casually as she could manage. Tanith thought she hid her true feelings about his girlfriends pretty well actually, just as she had down with Alecto. She had suspected the Slytherin brunette was mentioning Car to try to tease information out of Tanith, to try to get an admission that Tan fancied him. The blonde did nothing of the sort naturally. She stuck to her usual line, the one that was supposed to be true. He's my friend, he's my best friend, I don't like him like that.

Once again, Caradoc's deep tone broke into Tan's reverie and she blinked, her pale face breaking into a grin as she pulled up one of the sleeves of her damp sweater. She shook a skinny wrist at him, the silver charm bracelet dangling from it - she hadn't taken it off for more than five minutes since Car owled it to her over Christmas. It had brightened up the otherwise gloomy holiday, and she especially liked the 'T' with the star. She wasn't particularly sentimental, but the thought of Car picking out something so special for her sent a rush of affection for the boy opposite. "It's beautiful.. It's my new prized possession, I feel like my present was crap in comparison" Tanith was slightly flushed, and she shrugged with a sheepish grin. She had sent him a leather bound first edition of 'Quidditch Through the Ages' accompanied by a little photo she'd taken of them together earlier in the year. Taking moving photographs with her magical camera was Tanith's favourite hobbies. In fact she'd have loved to do it for a career after Hogwarts, photography, but her mother had laughed when she mentioned it. No career for a nice little pureblood girl like here - marriage and children as soon as she was of age as far as her mum was concerned.

Still, the photos made her smile, particularly the ones of her and Caradoc. The one she'd sent him for Christmas had been one of Tanith's favourite, she'd taken it herself on one of the first Hogsmeade weekends of the year so one of her arms was cut out of the frame. They were both grinning, pulling funny faces, and if you looked at it long enough they both collapsed with laughter. Neither looked particularly attractive pulling the faces, but that had never mattered to Tanith.

[/blockquote]

[caradoc]

Caradoc Dearborn was suite relaxed with his arm draped around the shoulders of his best friend. He figured that if he ever found someone he would truly love forever, it had to be somebody like his best friend. A person who he could share his whole world with, joke with, have fun with... someone with whom he could truly be himself without having to care about what reputation you had to uphold. Not that Caradoc cared anything for his reputation. Half of the things that were said about him weren't even semi-true. Of course, he was a ladies-man. He loved almost every woman and girl that walked the earth. But the way most people let it shine out he had a different girl in his bed every day... That wasn't true in the least, he only had a different girl every other week or so...

"Why should I keep any of those promises I make to them?", he said more to himself than to Tan as he stared into the distance before turning back to her with a slight frown. "After all.. they mean nothing to me.. unlike you.. And well, there's no way you can deny that within a week those girls will probably have forgotten all about the promises I made to them because their draped in the arms of another Quidditch Star.", he said with little flair. Truth was, he didn't really like the fact that most girls slept around so much, but well.. that was just the way girls were these days, wasn't it... of course, not everybody, not Tan. He pulled her even closer, leaning with his chin on her head. "Never change, okay?", he whispered before giving her a small kiss upon her forehead.

He pulled back, keeping her close to him while he let his fingers brush over her shoulder. Now these indications to Caradoc, didn't really mean anything. He just liked Tan, more than he had liked the girl's he'd slept with, and these affections just came naturally to him. Growing up in a house where his parents had always hugged and kissed in his presence, it was bound to show one way or another. "I don't really know to be honest. Dorcas Meadows seems nice... Though of course, she's a slytherin - no offense - and isn't she seeing Nott?", he looked back at her, a small smile on his face.. "Why? Do you have someone in mind?", he added with a grin.

She pulled up her sleeve and he noticed the bracelet upon her arm. He smiled, he knew it would fit her perfectly. "Are you kidding me" he said when he heard her words. "It was perfect. The books upstairs in my bookcase. The leather bound cover was absolutely amazing.", he said with so much enthusiasm that she'd have to believe him, after all, he'd really loved that copy of Quidditch through the ages. Now, if there was one thing that Caradoc liked more than books, it where old leather bound books. "Must have been so hard for you to find.", he said while taking her a little closer to him. The sides of their legs were almost touching now. "Not to mention.. Those pictures where absolutely hilarious.", he said with a snort. ".. that was a really nice Trip in Hogsmeade, wasn't it.."..

[tanith]

Tanith was beginning to wonder if Car was doing this on purpose. He was so close to her, arm around her shoulder, chin resting on her head. She could barely stand being this close - it was killing her. She felt as though she was being teased. But alas, Caradoc was oblivious to Tanith's silent torture beside him. That was probably the worst part, she noted. He was used to acting like this -so touchy feely. He was just being casual and affectionate. Tanith, to put it lightly, was not a touchy-feely person. She abhorred being close to people. Unlike Caradoc, she'd been brought up in a family where affectionate touches where kept to a bare mininum . It had taken Tan a long time to get used to Car's easy affection when they'd first became friends, but as they became closer she actually started to like the comfort of being so near to someone. Then of course, she'd developed a crush on him, stupid girl, and now it was even harder to be close to him than before. Tanith tried to push the thoughts from her head, and she forced her stiff limbs to lean against him slightly. It was just because they'd been apart all Christmas, it was strange to get used to affection after the gloomy holiday, she told herself, shaking her head sternly.

The head shake sent cold water droplets down the back of Caradoc's already soaking top by accident, and she smirked, chuckling slightly. "Oops, sorry. Well, I s'pose you can't get much wetter anyway" The joke helped to lighten her mood slightly and she curled up slightly closer to him, unable to stop herself grinning so widely she thought her pale face might split in half. She knew she should be acting comfortingly to Caradoc while he moaned about girls, but to be honest Tanith barely heard it. She barely heard anything after "they mean nothing to me ... unlike you". These were the kind of throwaway remarks that Tanith would smile over now, and lie in bed at night trying to analyse. She knew deep down of course that they were meant in the most platonic way to Caradoc. Those throwaway remarks always were, along with kiss on her forehead. Merlin, the casual kisses were worse. . Tan cared about her friend a lot, but she couldn't help wanting to shout at him sometimes 'Don't you know what you're doing to me here!' But of course, she didn't want to frighten the boy to death. So instead Tanith pretended to be casual, and she shrugged with a small smile. "I couldn't change if I tried" Her voice was raspy, she was surprised to find, it betrayed how casual Tan was trying to sound, and she quickly added a sarcastic comment to throw him off the scent that she was being so sentimental.

"Unfortunately. I mean I have tried."Tanith was glad she'd added the comment and the sarcastic smirk. Because those nice sentimental moments never lasted. And typical, Car was now on talking about other girls he liked. Tanith noticed her smile had become slightly fixed. "Oh er .. Dorcas" of course Dorcas. She'd seen him leering at her a few times, but never thought anything of it. After all Caradoc leered at nearly everyone, well, except for Tan. "She's very pretty. I don't know her very well" She shrugged jerkily, not content to say anything more complimentary and moved on quickly. "I'm sure you'll have someone in mind in time for the Valentines Ball, girls in my dorm are looking for dates already. Eugh" Tanith chuckled again and rolled her eyes. The Valentines Ball. Judging on the girls who were already getting excited about masks and ballgowns, it was the kind of event Tan would have to be dragged to by her fingernails. She chose not to dwell on the Ball, and instead shrugged again, smiling widely as Car reminisced on their time in Hogsmeade. "It was brilliant.." She replied cheerfully and breezily, but was cut off as Car slipped closer again, their legs were almost touching and Tanith's knee was jerking up and down slightly in an involuntary response. "Er.. s'cold" She said feebly, putting a hand on her knee to steady it. Infuriating boy

[caradoc]

Tan shook her wet hair and if he wasn't wet enough on his own, he was now soaking wet. Mind you, that wasn't her fault, but still, he playfully nudged her with his free hand, the one that was draped over her shoulder. "Hey, only I'm allowed to do that.", he joked while putting his feet up to the seat in front of him. She started to talk about the Valentine's ball. An event he was rather looking forward too. But then again, Caradoc Dearborn was all about attention, Tan on the other hand. She seemed less interested in the pompousness of the feast. His other hand moved to the back of his head, ruffling through his wet hair before turning his face back to her.

"Reckon you don't have a date then?" he asked her. He himself hadn't even thought of a date yet. Of course, there were plenty of girls who would like to go with him, certainly on a day like Valentine, but wasn't it all too much? The fake romance between a couple that barely knew each other, admitting their eternal love for each other when one week from that exact date they would be broken up? And then, totally out of the blue he turned to her. "Why don't you and I go? I mean, we're great friends... I won't have to stand the ignorance of some dumb bimbo's who think that they can change me. You'll have a great time, I'll make sure of that, and on top of that, we can give that Rita Skeeter really something good to write about." he finished with a grin while nudging her again

Rita Skeeter was known to be a precious little blond Slytherin, and Caradoc had to admit the girl had styled, but he didn't like her attitude at all. Everybody was nice to her, in hope that they wouldn't end up in her monthly column, but whether or not he showed up in it.. Car didn't really give a fuck about that. He just lived his life, with or without the gossip. "Imagine the headlines." he grinned, "Slytherin going out with Ravenclaw half-blood - Oh the shame.", he grinned. He had never been one to believe in all that crap about pure and non-pure but that had been because of how he had grown up. His mother was a muggle, a magical one, yes.. but still, muggle-born and most Slytherins weren't really appreciative about that.

"So, what do you say," he said while pulling her closer to his chest" Wanna go with me? Promise I won't spike your drink... Too much... And I'll be a gentleman the entire evening, holding doors, buying you drinks..", he grinned playfully, hoping that she would say yes. Else he would have to find another date, and honestly he wasn't really feeling for any of the fake romance things this year.

[tanith]

-eep, i rambled! D:

Tanith snorted slightly with laughter and made a point to shake her wet hair over Caradoc again, deliberately this time and not to rid herself of any confusing thoughts. "It's not going to get you any wetter!" She smirked; "And who says what I can and can't do Dearborn?" She added before leaning against him again and stretching out herself. Leaning against him, she smiled in a carefree way, relaxing properly, now that she had got more used to him being so close next to her. Having a crush on such a close friend did admittedly complicate things, but not all the time. There were other times when she could enjoy his company without feeling like she might explode. She cherished those relaxed, easy times. But they never lasted long. Pretty soon Caradoc would hug her or tease her and Tan would blush and think 'Oh crap, not again!' .. Or he would do something unexpected like ask her to the Valentines Ball.

At first Tanith had given a small indignant snort at the 'reckon you don't have a date' comment. "That's a given these days is it?" She raised a brow, a slight grumpiness almost undetectable behind her playful smirk. Okay, Tan didn't go out very much, she didn't drink alcohol or go to wild parties, but did that automatically mean it was unbelievable for anyone to take an interest in her. "Mm, well you're right. You've caught me, dateless. How will I go on?!" There was no point in getting incredulous about it, it was the truth, although she was sarcastic about it. She couldn't help but feel jealous of Caradoc sometimes. The whole 'teenage-dating-scene' seemed to come so easily to him. And in Tan's opinion he didn't use that talent very well. He picked the worst girls, they barely knew him at all, they just stayed with him because he had a nice body. . She steered herself away from the topic, telling herself itwas just because she was concerned about her friend.

She was going to tell Caradoc that she didn't see the fuss in the whole thing. She found the panic over dates and dresses ridiculous. But she never got a chance to tell Caradoc this, because he had turned to her and got in there first, and asked her to go to the bloody thing. "I... uh, what?" She stammered, rather stupidly. It may have seemed to Car that Tan was stunned into stupor but really her mind was racing. Did that mean that he liked her, as in more than friends? No, she ruled that out quickly. Obviously not. He was dateless, she was his last resort, and Caradoc loved parties. She felt stupid for even wondering briefly if he had a crush on her, and she pulled at her sleeves awkwardly, blushing slightly (typically) as Caradoc tried to convince her, sounding enthusiastic already. "Car... m'dunno" She mumbled. That was the last thing she wanted - more gossip about her for Skeeter. But a little voice chirped in her head, it would certainly stick it to her, if Tan,who Rita thought was alone and pathetic, showed up with Caradoc.

But she found it hard to articulate her slightly feminist (albeit rather silent) agenda on dresses and dating, and her thoughts on Rita bloody Skeeter. She felt slightly weakened by his eager grin, and the pull even closer to his chest. She smiled up at him but still looked uncertain. "But I mean... me, in a dress, at the Valentines Ball? That'd be a sight for sore eyes. It's a bit.. well, new, for me" She finished feebly, and chuckled, smiling more widely up at him. "Don't be silly, you don't need to do all that gentlemanly stuff... I think if I went to the stupid thing with anyone it'd be with you" She was mumbling now, and she fiddled with her hair, adding quickly "As friends obviously! But -- what if you don't have fun? I don't really dance, or drink, I'm a bit of a wet blanket really" She shrugged, grinning sheepishly.

[/blockquote]

[caradoc]

Caradoc smiled at his best friend, of course he did not find it a common fact that Tan was dateless. He just figured that if she had found a bloke to take her, she would have told him already, and as she hadn't said anything about it to him, that probably meant that no guy had succeeded in conquering Tan's heart. Which in Car's humble opinion wasn't so easy to do. This slytherin was different that most girls he knew. She was sweet and actually nice, but she was also shy though she did not have anything to be shy about. Her eyes were amazing, her body was fit and her blond hair was so soft that he couldn't resist to brush through it every once in a while. Not to mention that she wasn't so stuck up like most Slytherins. You only had to look at girls like Alecto Carrow, or Dorcas Meadows, or even Rita Skeeter and you'd see what all those Slytherin girls were about, money, power and sex. But not Tan, she was something more than all of those together.

That was why she was his best friend, someone he could count on no matter what. "Don't take it the wrong way, you know." he told her while letting his feet rest on the seat in front of him. "You're not a last resort. I mean a lot of girls have asked me out, I mean, like a hell of a lot.", he grinned, a boyish look spreading over his face while he looked at her. Soft dimples came upon his cheek and he resisted the urge to wink at her. "But it's the Valentine's dance. They'll want something I can't give them... " Which obviously meant a one-on-one relationship, and Car didn't think he was actually ready for that yet. "So I'd rather spent it with my best mate, whom I can trust not to spike my drink with some kind of love potion." he smiled while nudging her shoulder.. "You wouldn't, would you?", he then asked her slightly with a nervous hint in his voice. Of course, he was only joking. He knew Tan would never do such a thing.

"So would you please, please go with me? I'm already begging, Tan.", he said with those puppy-blue eyes of his, grinning sheepishly as he pulled her closer to him. "you don't even have to wear a dress, for all I care, you can wear nothing at all." And that was what was so typically Caradoc. His lighthearted nature always got him in trouble, saying the wrong things at the right time and visa versa. Even with Tan, he couldn't always resist giving one sexist comment every hour or so. With her, he kept it at a minimum, cause she was almost like a sister to him, but well.. boys will be boys.