A rather cold return

[Kiara Malfoy]

The doors to the Entrance Hall opened up slowly and through the heavily falling snow, a rather disgruntled looking sixth year stepped into the light of the Hall. She closed the doors behind herself, and then reached up and took off the snow covered hood of her heavy traveling cloak, revealing her mass of long, raven tresses and then looked about, the lights from the hall making her brilliant near ice-blue eyes sparkle with an intensity known only by gems of the same color.’

There were a few student milling about, the hour was somewhat late, around seven in the evening, she had just, it would seem, missed dinner. She then moved forward, her trunk floating merrily behind her as she walked towards the hall that would lead her to her house, wondering if she would see any of the old faces that used to haunt these halls, though knowing, she more than likely would not.

Her summer vacation had been a very extended one, and she had to be thankful that the school even allowed her to come back this year, seeing as how her stupid father, and that absurd Lucius Malfoy, her adoptive father, had decided they wanted to hold her for an extended period. She of course, would have some catching up to do, if she was to move on to the seventh year, this thought, made her sigh heavily as she continued to move forward, slowly, her wet feet making an almost squishing sound on the stone floor as she moved. Certainly, she could have dried herself, but why? What difference would it make? She really didn’t care.

[Loren McGonagall]

As Loren paced the Entrance Hall, his serene, pale-green eyes fell upon a new arrival...well, new to him. He watched as she shut the rather enormous door that she had come through just a moment earlier and revealed her elegant face when she took off the hood that hid it. He smiled warmly and made the location right beside her his destination. As he reached the ending of this journey, he abruptly pushed his hand towards her and greeted her. "Hello. My name is Loren."

[Kiara Malfoy]

Kiara halted her advance toward her common room when this new face strode up to her, thrusting his hand out for her to take in greeting. Normally, she would have given a person who was so bold as to approach her, a snarl, and as her temperament wasn’t exactly the greatest, as usual per her return from her hated retreats to ‘home’, even she was slightly surprised that a smile tugged at the corners of her lips when he did indeed approach and introduce himself.

“Hello, Kiara, Kiara Malfoy, a pleasure, I’m sure.” She returned, taking his hand and giving it a firm shake before allowing her own hand to fall back to her side, the trunk that followed her settled back to the floor momentarily again as she introduced herself, and her ice-blue, tired gaze fell over this boy, as was, once again, per usually for this girl.

The study of others was perhaps something that came as second nature to her. It was something she hadn’t used to do, not until last year when she had met the odd friend, Faust. Now however, it seemed she’d catch herself subconsciously doing so at every turn and this time, she allowed her gaze to cover him, from head to foot, putting to photo memory, his every outer detail, before she returned to his eyes and awaited him to speak further his case for approaching her.

[Loren McGonagall]

“Hello, Kiara, Kiara Malfoy, a pleasure, I’m sure.”

Loren was taken aback in a good sense of the word at her firm handshake...yet the hand that encased his own was soft and smooth. He grinned at himself as these little things seemed to spread into his mind at such a rapid pace. He began looking into her piercing blue eyes...they contrasted nicely with her dark, flowing locks.

As he put his hand down beside his side once more, he couldn't help himself. "Would you like something warm to drink? You look quite cold," he stated out of his generosity, "and maybe later I could help you with carrying your bags to your Common Room?"

'Did I just make a mistake?' he asked himself frantically inside his head. 'Is she one of those girls that loves it when a boy shows that he wants to help her...or is she Ms. Independent?' As he continued with these thoughts inside his head, his gaze never left her's and his warm smile still spread itself across his handsome face.

[Kiara Malfoy]

Kiara wasn’t taken aback by his proposal, nor was she overjoyed with it, the fact that he had asked, was somehow intriguing, to say the least, as in the past, most who first met her tended to back away and find other amusements due to her lack of girlie giggles and bounce. She didn’t offer a smile, as it would have been a most forced one, in her case, nothing to do with him, just as present, and as per usual, she really had far too many things on her mind to offer such niceties to anyone.

“Indeed, I am a bit on the cold side.” She replied in acceptance to his offer. “What might you suggest then?” She continued, not certain as to where it was he meant for them to partake in that drink he talked of. Who was she to refuse an offer from such a delightfully bold and not to mention, good looking boy. Besides, she could always use the company, and coming back to school was her chance at the little freedom she got at any point in her life, why not take advantage of it and perhaps even have a bit of fun. “Oh, and I am certain the house elves will take my things to the common room for me, should we stay too long.” She added as an after thought.

[Loren McGonagall]

"Well, since it is so cold outside, I thought we might be able to take a seat over there..." Loren then pointed out two deep blue chairs that seemed to 'pop' out of nowhere, and a stand that stood inbetween which on top sat two rather large mugs of steaming hot coa-coa.

He looked at Kiara for a moment, and then led her over to the chairs as any true gentleman would, helping her to the seat left of the stand and sitting himself down on the right. As he offered her refreshment, he kept looking at her crystal-blue eyes. They seemed to be saying words of their own, as if a hidden message were concealed in their depths. Loren wondered what that message could possibly be...

The dark-headed boy smiled a moment, and then decided to ask a question in quite a straight-forward fashion, "Where is it that you have been, if you don't mind my asking?" He waited to see if the response would be bitter or sweet.

[Kiara Malfoy]

Kiara couldn’t help but let a slight smile turn up the corners of her lips, even if slightly, it did so even without her knowing as the two chairs and dinette table appeared out of nowhere, ‘popping’ into existence from the thin air. She allowed herself to be led to the table and then seated. This was something she was most accustomed to, growing up in the wealth she had and so as well, inclined her head at the offered refreshment he presented her with.

She took note as to how he seemed to think the entire time they sat, looking into her eyes as if searching for what it was she kept inside, her secret, her memories perhaps of the past summer or even beyond. She couldn’t be certain, but she felt as though he wanted to know what made her tick, so to speak.

"Where is it that you have been, if you don't mind my asking?" She mulled his words in her mind for a moment, then decided that yes, she would answer him, as honestly as she felt he would have need to know.

“I have been home.” She said straight forward, her ice-blue eyes glinting a bit angrily at the memory, though nothing else would show her emotion. “My step-father decided I needed a few more lessons of his choice, before my return to school.” She finished, now taking a sip from her warm drink, allowing the hot liquid to sooth her otherwise frozen inners. “What makes you ask?” She asked then, her eyes moving from the table to his once again.

[Loren McGonagall]

"I have been home." The statement rang throughout his thoughts for a few moments...he felt uneasy at the tone in which she had spoken. It made him feel as if she had kept hatred and resentment towards the very thought of her "home." He then glanced back into her eyes and she peered into his. "What makes you ask?"

He was thoughtful of the question at first, and answered with reason. "Well, I've always been interested in other people, to experience something else through the words of another that I have yet, or may never, experience. It's quite odd really." He grinned an honest, toothy smile and took a rather large gulp of his refreshment. He peered at her curiously yet again and decided to question her once more.

"Who is your step-father?" he asked whilst taking a smaller sip of his drink.

[Kiara Malfoy]

Kiara finally let a slight grin turn up the corners of her lips as he stated the reasons behind his questions, having her own, quirky way of studying people herself, she understood completely. “Indeed, the study of others is quite an interest I must say, as I too, have made it a fascination of mine own, as well.” She replied, and then began to take a sip of her drink when he asked his next question.

The moment the words slipped out of his mouth, her motions ceased for a second, just a split second, but the hesitation at throwing the cup of steaming hot liquid across the room had entered her mind, though, the action was just as quickly discarded, though the spark in her eyes at the thought of the name was more than evident to her hatred. “Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy.” She nearly spat the name, as if it were poison to speak it, unable to, at this time, so soon upon her arrival back to school and away from his, and her father’s clutches, to hide her contempt and perhaps grave hatred of the wizard.

She had always thought it quite evident she was not a real Malfoy, she lacked the blonde hair, and though her skin was fair, it was no where near as pale as that of her adoptive family.

[Loren McGonagall]

Loren's eyes became wide with surprise at how she spoke his name with such extreme hatred, he was even wondering wether or not she would just whip out her wand and lay death before him right then-and-there. But, he eventually regained his composure and allowed himself but a slight drink of the steaming hot liquid which began to slowly disappear with each gulp.

Quickly deciding to change the subject, he questioned Kiara yet again. "Are you a member of the Slytherin House?"

The question really had no real meaning, he was just in a curious mood and Kiara seemed to be one of those individuals that just fascinated the young male witch.

[Kiara Malfoy]

Kiara took the last few sips from her drink and then settled the cup on the table before her. The small empty clink it made as it touched the tabletop was almost final and she turned her head to look at it and then sighed.

“Yes, I am in Slytherin, and you, what house are you in?” She answered and then asked, her ice-blue eyes moving up to look at him again.

She was grateful he had decided to stop with the home questions, though politeness would direct her to answer as truthfully, any he would ask, she didn’t really feel too much like reliving her past summer away from the school, it wasn’t pleasant, never was, and she often enjoyed getting back here to drown herself in schoolwork as well as meeting others, to forget, or at the very least, push back the memories for a while, she suffered form her stays at ‘home’.

[Loren McGonagall]

"Yes, I am in Slytherin, and you, what house are you in?"

Loren was thoughtful for a moment. He was not at all surprised to see that she was in Slytherin House for many of the "mysterious" acquaintances that he had met thus far had come from the very same as this lovely young woman sitting before him. The young fourth year collected his thoughts and decided to respond without further a-do.

"Ravenclaw...fourth year to be exact," he said matter-of-factly with a bright smile spread acrossed his lips. His pale-green eyes glinted in the candlelight as Ravenclaw pride washed over him...he was very loyal to his new, yet familiar; House. He sat there in content for but a few moments before continuing the conversation on school. "My favorite subject, thus far, happens to be History of Magic. What's your's?"

He took yet another sip of his drink whilst waiting for a response from the beautiful Slytherin.

[Kiara Malfoy]

She noted his mannerism as he announced his House. His eyes, his very being personified a great loyalty to his house; she liked that in a person. She herself was very proud to be a Slytherin; she quite enjoyed the fact that she was picked for that very house as it did indeed suit her purposes well enough.

“History of Magic.. That is a good study, though my favorite by far has always been Muggle Studies, believe it or not.” She returned. “I have never known a real Muggle, never been to one’s home or seen what it is they do first hand, and I find that they are really quite brave and talented individuals, to be able to accomplish what they do, without the use of magic.” She finished; her eyes alight with a sort of intense passion. He had struck a note here, something most would have not thought a Slytherin to even be wanting to know about, Kiara had in fact, made it her priority to learn.

[Loren McGonagall]

"Hmm, Muggles can be quite interesting...though, I do live with it when I'm home. My mother is of non-magic kin and my father, who no longer shares this Earth with the rest of us, was of magical kin. So, my mother still uses Muggle customs and, I guess, I get a first-hand look at what the normal, non-magical life is like." Loren glanced at Kiara, he smiled and placed his glass down upon the table. The young male witch took his wand from where it lay on his lap and, with a simple flick of the magic device, conjured a cookie tray laiden with tiny lemon delights. "Would you like one?" he offered while taking one himself.

[Kiara Malfoy]

Kiara nearly smiled again as he told her of his parentage. Oh what a delight it would be for her father to know she’d found one not of ‘pure blood’ to her liking. Her near smile almost overflowed into a laugh, as she thought about how angry he’d be however, it was only in her head that she laughed, though her eyes seemed to show her delight at her thoughts.

“Your mom’s a Muggle then? How delightful.” She returned honestly and then there was a tray of most delicious looking delights before her and that near smile turned the corners of her lips upwards to a certain smile and she reached for the tray, taking one between her fingers. “Yes, thanks.” She said in a tone a lot lighter than before.

Kiara brought the lemon treat to her lips and took a small bite. “Mmm…” She managed as she chewed then swallowed. “This is very good…” She commented before finishing the treat.

After w bit, Kiara looked him over once more before deciding to continue their little conversation that seemed to be heading in the direction of parents and the like. “I never knew my mom…” She started. “Died when I was born, I was adopted soon after by the Malfoy’s. And since then, have had the unfortunate opportunity to be graced by the presence of my real father.” She near growled, but then laughed slightly. “But then, I suppose we can’t all like our parents, now can we?” She put on a small, forced grin just before taking another treat from the tray.