Drawing (anyone)

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"You alright?" Annabelle asked quietly as she leaned in and touched his arm. Something about seeing the guy loose control of his composure made her momentarily forget any doubt she had in his sincerity.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I haven't been alright in months," Michael said through his hands. "I've tried," he pulled his hands down and looked at her, feeling defeated. "I've apologized, I've asked for forgiveness, I've changed." He was ashamed to feel a tear escape and make a trail down the side of his face. He sighed heavily, ignoring it, "And apparently it all means nothing." Why was he even trying? Because you want to change, to leave everything behind you, he thought to himself.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle lifted her hand to wipe the tear from his face out of instinct. Realizing what she had been about to do, she quickly masked her actions by sliding it through her hair instead. "If you've done all that you said, it means a great deal more than nothing. But maybe she hasn't seen it yet, or if she has she doesn't trust what she sees." Annabelle hoped he didn't think she was speaking on Dru's behalf; she wasn't that close to his ex-girlfriend. "Everyone has their own stigmas, but a common one is trust. Once it's lost, it's one of the hardest things to get back."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael brushed the tear away quickly, pulling himself up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Oh yeah, her telling you that, basically, I'm a no good liar, is totally incentive for me." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, muttering, "I've got a long road ahead of me." After a moment he looked up at the girl. "What's your name anyway?"

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"It's Annabelle." She said, letting the rest of their conversation die. She didn't know exactly how Dru felt, and didn't want to make any assumptions. All she really knew was that Dru was trying to move on, but that definately wasn't anything she was going to break to him. She gestured back to the drawing. "Do you come out here to draw often?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael picked up the drawing and stared at it for a moment before flipping through the already covered pages, half of which were her, the rest were landscapes. "Sometimes, sometimes it's just to sit and listen, watch." He had come out many times in the dead of night when he couldn't sleep or couldn't take the common room anymore. "It's quiet out here, you have no idea how good it is to get away from the Slytherin Common room," he said, looking up at her earnestly.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"I thought you all were thick as thieves, staying up all night plotting your next attack on innocent first years in the corridor?" She smiled, although she was only half joking. Most of her run-ins with Slytherins had not been positive ones; they had a way of intimidating just by looking at someone.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Oh no, I never went for first years, they're too easy." He looked at her dead on, showing he was serious, then he blinked and looked away, "But I don't do anything like that anymore." At one time the idea of having such power over someone, had thrilled him, he had come to accept that that was who he was, though it was never truly him. But he hadn't even had a thought like that in many months. "The common room's full of these big-wigs talking about how they're going to be Death Eaters, about how many muggle-borns their parents have killed...." he trailed off and shook his head, "It's horrible."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"So do they know that you....changed?" She couldn't see any of them just letting him switch from their path to become death eaters. She didn't know how he could hide something like that from them, but if they knew wouldn't he be in danger? Her confusion was visible on her face, not sure how he could still walk around the school if he'd turned on the rest of the Slytherins.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Some of them, but most of the ones that were Death Eaters, they haven't been seen in a long time," Michael said, remembering the words those girls had spoken the night of the attack. "I have some that hate me, that's one of the reasons why I'm staying away from Dru, even though they already know to go after her if they want to get at me." The thought of her being hurt because of them pained him more than anything, and he didn't doubt it showed in his face.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle let the silence draw out, feeling awkward at the topic they'd reached. She hadn't been affected personally by the war, not having family members actively fighting on either side. She looked at her hands, thinking of how many others weren't as lucky as she'd been thus far. "I can't even imagine."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked up at her for a few long moments before standing. He shrunk his box and put it in the pocket of his robes and picked up his drawing pad. He stood in front of her and lifted up a hand, trailing it down her jaw. The gesture wasn't meant to be overtly intimate or romantic, but one that showed his light astonishment that someone remained untouched throughout it all. "Be glad you haven't had to experience the horrors of the Dark Lord's side first hand."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

A shiver ran through Annabelle. She couldn't determine if it was more from the unexpected touch or from his chilling words. Annabelle met his eyes and read the depth of sadness and regret in them. She wondered how much he had experienced first hand. "I am, I just wish the war would be over soon, and more people wouldn't get hurt."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I'm with you there," Michael said, nodding slightly. He lay a hand on her shoulder, "Promise me that you won't get involved unless absolutely necessary." He stared into her eyes as he spoke, not wanting anyone more he knew to be involved. "I know you just met me, but just....." he trailed off, wondering if she even came close to understanding.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle shook her head. "I doubt that I'd be that useful; I'm not a Gryffindor for good reason. If there was some way to help off the battlefield I wouldn't hesitate, but since that's not the case....." She let her words trail off, partly ashamed that she was such a shy coward.