Maybe Perhaps and What If

[Alina]

Pulvasha was tired. She wasn't even sure why she was so tired. She never even remembered giving the password to the portrait, all she knew was that she was suddenly standing in the door way, letter clutched in her hands, staring blankly out the window opposite her.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she registered someone asking if she was all right, she simply waved and grunted, not registering who it was. She made a beeline straight for on of the comfy chairs by the fire- she was incredibly surprised that it was free. She almost collapsed into it, sinking into the soft pillows and warmth coming from the cheerful red and orange flames jumping about on the logs in the grate.

Again she found herself lost in the shapes the fire and smoke made, her mind drifting in and out of focus. Her hand tightened around the letter, she glanced at it again. Swollowing hard, she brought it closer to her, opening it up once again. She scanned it quickly- it was all she had to do, it was only a note.

'Hey Mana,

'How's school treating you? Good I home. I still miss Hogwarts. I'm just writing to tell you I'm going to propose to Hannah.

'Love you lots

'Larlie xxx'

She shook her head and put the letter down. Her brother was a fool. Her parents were in no position to tell him what to do, their own marriage was opposed for a long time. But she was. Pulvasha had repeatedly told her brother what a fool he was to still be with Hannah. The girl was going to break her brother's heart, Hannah clearly liked Shaherryar, but did not love him. Shaherryar was too blind to notice.

Scowling she scrunched up her letter and threw it into the flames. Burning the evidence.

"Stupid boys," she muttered angrily.

[Deamon]

Teddy tromped into the common rooms, in high spirits from his team's practice. The desire to beat the Slytherin team in two weeks time was burning so deep in him that he could've shouted and danced. He immediately made a straight line for his favorite chair by the fire, attempting to not gain the attention of the younger students around him. Oh why can't they leave me alone? He thought. He slumped into the chair and took out his Potions book, half heartedly looking at the contents. It took him a few minutes to notice the sixth year slumped in the other chair. He heard her mutter something and glanced up.

"Hi," he said easily, smiling.

[Alina]

She looked up startled. Someone was talking to her. It wasn't that people didn't speak to her- she was simply so unaware of what was going on that anything directed at her surprised her.

She looked at the boy sitting before her. Pulvasha knew she recognized him, dark hair, dark eyes slim build… QUIDDITCH! That would be it! Not really that surprising that she didn't recognize him. The name was still escaping her. Faces she was good with- names was another matter entirely.

"Uh…" she stammered, shaking herself out of her stupor, "h- hiii?"

[Deamon]

"Ted Lupin," Teddy said, smiling easily. "Are you a sixth year?" He tilted his head slightly, already distracted by Quidditch.

[Alina]

As he tilted his head, she half got the feeling he wasn't really paying attention. Her father did say his older, a quidditch player, had a short attention span- Pulvasha half expected most quidditch players to be like that.

"Yeah," she replied, half muttering, "I'm Pulvasha." She heard whispering, and glanced around. There were some younger students pointing in their direction, whispering and grinning. She looked back at this Ted Lupin. "Do they know you?" she asked frowning.

Pulvasha had always been a little wrapped up in her own world.

[Deamon]

"I dunno," he said, turning his attention back to the girl in the seat by the fire. "A lot of people do that." He shrugged his shoulders and ran a hand through his hair. Why not? He was head boy, a star Quidditch player, Harry Potter's godson, and son of Remus Lupin. He smiled tentatively. "I could show you a quieter spot, if you want. I'm going to meet someone soon, but I could show you a nice studying spot."