|| The sorting hat hadn't taken more than five seconds to sort her into Slytherin. It wasn't really a surprise, as Aveline had expected to be in the same house her mother was. The only surprise was how boring Hogwarts could seem sometimes. She'd spent the longest time hyping herself up for this, only to crash right down in the face of reality. She handled most classes with relative ease, with the only exception of potions. She wasn't ahead of her class by any means, she just happened to be between the best students and the average students. The only class she enjoyed was flying, and that wasn't even a main class! She looked left before looking right, noticing that everyone along her table was chatting with someone and that no one wanted to even look at her let alone talk to her. She knew it was because of her mother, but it still made the experience droller. As far as everyone was concerned, Aveline was the daughter of a psychopathic killer who /thankfully/, in their eyes, was dead. She knew she should have taken her step-father's surname, but she hadn't expected /this/! In frustration, she closed the charms book, before walking out of the Great Hall. If she was allowed to fly, she would have walked over to the Quidditch pitch, but since that would have just gotten her in trouble, she walked over to the lake. Perhaps a bit of silence would do her well.
|| Forgotten. Or perhaps ignored. Both were accurate descriptions of the treatment of Felix LaChance. He was different. People did not appreciate that difference. It was something he'd learned, but also didn't always care for their opinions. He knew the difference was what made him, so he tended to focus on other things. Scrying, and unfortunate events that would come to pass. He releases a sigh and relegates himself to watching the hall with an intense gaze, finding himself drawn to the aura of a gray and purple tinted person. He hums to himself, brow furrowing in confusion as he watches the movement. It was only when he decided to stop looking at the auras that he allowed himself the ability to recognize the girl because scrying didn't let him see the auras of the people that he saw. Not yet, anyway. Besides, auras could change on a daily basis if the person was feeling drastically different. He pushes himself up, earning a few curious glances from the Hufflepuffs around him, and he grasps a couple of bread rolls before following the girl, speeding up to gain on her slightly, but not falling into step beside her without informing her of his position. He takes into account her aura, and he frowns, deciding not to bring up her real surname. Rather. "You're Aveline, aren't you? From the family of Thorne?"
|| As soon as her name was spoken, Aveline stopped and turned around to look at the boy who was speaking to her. She studied him closely trying to find out why this person was following her. Her name could easily have been found out from the sorting, so that wasn't as big a deal as... Her eyes instantly snapped into a harsh stare. Thorne. Not sorting then. "I'm not exactly a Thorne myself." She stated simply before continuing to walk. If the boy wanted to talk, he could follow her to the lake so she could sit down. She preferred wilderness, so the lake was one of her favorite spots, right after the Quidditch Pitch and the Forbidden Forest. It was just a shame she couldn't bring her bow along, but her mother had insisted on leaving it at home. "If you're following me because you believe my mother is a 'psychopathic killer' like the others, say so now." She tilted her head already lost in that particular train of thought. "Or perhaps they believe I will turn out just like her?" Either way, she really didn't care, it just got annoying.
Felix watches her for a moment, and trails after her, waiting for her to sit before he joined her, and extended one of the rolls he'd picked up as an offering. "Do you not believe if I came to speak accusations at you, I would have simply called you as you were named? Roku... It's one that contains a fair bit of... well, I'm sure you've heard the tales from your classmates," he points out with a shrug. He didn't need to drag up bad reputations when he came bearing bad news. "You are a Thorne by marriage, even if you chose to reject the name. Not that the family is any less... bloodthirsty than the original. Merely lesser known. But I'm not here to judge. I recognized you. I need to tell you something," he says. He was sure she would have heard the rumors. About him. Most of them were ridiculously far fetched and no one wanted to acknowledge the history behind his name. People believed all seers were frauds, and they ignored that Felix could do more than the average seer. He was labeled weird, and unusual. Come his graduation, and it'd be fraud and phony as well. He didn't mind much. As long as he knew his psychic abilities were more than just a folk tale, he was in the right. People didn't like what they didn't understand. "It isn't good news I bring you, I'm afraid, though."
|| She stared at the offered roll for a few seconds, before finally deciding to take it. She began picking at the roll eating it in bits, before raising a brow. "Everyone else does. What makes you any different?" Roku. A name that didn't quite belong. A name her mother had given up, but that Aveline had to take in order to avoid keeping her father's surname. She didn't want the surname of someone she didn't particularly care about, nor did she care that he was dead. Her classmates weren't exactly wrong about her mother. She was spotted while she was on a killing spree. 12 muggles before she had to stop. Aveline wouldn't admit that to anyone, though. "Well, Thorne is another name that simply doesn't belong to me." He needed to tell her something? Now he had her interest. Not here to belittle her, but what could he have to say. "Spill then."
|| Names were fickle, anyway. Auras were far more important than names, and her aura kept him interested. "Then I shall call you Aveline. For that is a name that belongs to you. Well, and hazelnuts. But we should focus on what I came for before I start talking etymology to you." He was cheerful. It was one way to describe Felix. He was unapologetic about how happy he was even when it may have been inappropriate. He chuckles lowly and shakes his head slightly, before reaching into his bag and withdrawing a mirror from it. "My name is LaChance. Felix. My family comes from a long line of seers and psychics. Not that anyone likes to believe that, of course. I am, myself, a psychic, meaning I've all the talents of seers, but... more..." he tries to explain as he looks in the mirror and frowns at the reflection, before shifting so he could hold it at an angle where the girl would also be able to see. This was the easiest way to show her. He wasn't good at telepathy, and thoughtography wasn't something he'd even touch on until he was older. It was hard to develop skills like this, and scrying was the only one he was truly consistent with. "My latest... observation involved you... Indirectly."
| Aveline was confused. It wasn't every day when someone randomly stated that a nut's name belonged to you. "Wait," she spoke trying to get an answer, "Why Hazelnuts?" She shook her head uncomprehending of what the boy was talking about. She didn't particularly know much about etymology, beyond that it was the origin of words. "Luck Luck." she stated, chuckling slightly at the name, "Sorry. I shouldn't laugh. My step-father believes the meaning of a name is more important than the way it sounds, or anything else" She added the last part hastily, in case the boy was curious. She knew she was. Seer... so he must have seen something in the future that affected her... or mattered to her... or something. Where most didn't believe in seers, Aveline knew the truth. While there were plenty of frauds, there were real seers hiding in the mix. "What did you see?"
|| He couldn't help but grin at her, ducking his head slightly. "Aveline. It has roots in Ancient Roman. The place name, Avella means 'filbert' or 'Hazelnut.'" A slight snort escapes him at the girl's reaction to his own name, as well, and he shakes his head. "Technically, it's Lucky Lucky Chance... My middle name means 'luck,' too..." he tells her with a faint smile, shaking his head good-naturedly. His parents had a rather amusing sense of humor, that was all. And it was helped by the fact that he was the lucky chance. He was the first psychic in a long time. Seers were common in the line, but this was different. He was stronger. Or he would be, one day. His smile drops as the conversation moves forward to what he saw. He nods towards his mirror and murmurs something. "The spirit of Chava Thorne, born Roku has ascended, or will in the very near future. By the hand of Lucedio Thorne. It won't be long now for the true end to take place," he explains quietly, tapping the mirror and murmuring words in Latin to the object before handing it over. "You're not obligated to look... I just... some people prefer to see themselves. This is the only way I can make that possible if you do decide to see."
|| All other facets of their conversation lay broken at this new revelation. What did it matter that her name had roots in Ancient Roman? What did it matter if she got the boy's name's meaning slightly wrong? The only thing that mattered was what he had said about her mother. 'The spirit of Chava Thorne has ascended". She was dead or would be soon. That was the only thing he could be talking about. He pulled the mirror from his hands, before peering into it, watching a man who looked exactly like her step-father, minus they hair and eyes, stab Chava. Did Damien have a twin? Did he kill Chava, and really had a different name all this time? She didn't know, and she didn't want to know. She throws the mirror back towards the boy, before getting up and running off towards the Forbidden Forest. She needed someplace to go, someplace she was comfortable. Her mother was dead, and now she was all alone. As soon as she got in the forest, she climbed up a tree far within the bounds of the forest, and perched herself on a branch, curling up. Her mother was dead. What did she do? What could Aveline do? She heard scurrying below her, though at first, she ignored it. Just the sounds of the wilderness. But, then it got closer, and Aveline had to look... only to see a group of giant spiders making their way towards her. Her hand shot to her back reaching for her bow, but after a second, she realized it was at home. She backed up away from the spiders, before falling out of the tree, a scream escaping her lips.
|| Content to let the girl grieve in her own way, Felix watched her leave before picking up his mirror and gently wiping the surface, holding it on his lap. He could understand the way she ran from things like this. He'd seen and heard tales of adults doing the same thing when they'd found out about occurrences that had been less than positive. It wasn't unusual. People needed time. He was just lucky that the girl hadn't tried to attack him or something. He'd never been on the receiving end of that, but he'd heard enough about skeptics attacking if they heard anything they disliked, because they used it to further the belief that psychics were frauds. He leans back, tilting his head up to the sky and watching some of the clouds for a moment, studying them. Unique. Like him. Like Aveline. Like every one of their classmates. No two clouds matched another perfectly, but sometimes they joined together and made a bigger cloud and it was all harmonious and pretty, until his mirror heats up, burning through his trousers and he has to touch it to bring the image forth, and his brow furrows. Aveline. As she looked just mere moments ago. Had it been longer than it felt? His gaze flickers around the forest image, and he watches her fall from the tree, hears the scream, sees the spiders. His nose scrunches slightly, but he shakes his head, deciding now wasn't exactly the time to be squeamish about arachnids that lived in the forest. He tosses his mirror into his bag haphazardly and pushes himself onto his feet, double checking for the wand he knew wouldn't do much, and then darting in the direction of the forest. He'd get an adult. But there wasn't time. Now... how would he find her?
|| The spiders were clearly after her. Was she just a big meal heaped to them on a silver platter? She scrambled backward, before pulling herself up to her feet. No bow, so she would have to use a wand. "Think!" She screams at herself, trying to remember a spell that might work. What use would it be anyway? She'd just hit one and the others would keep advancing. She had to get back to the School. Maybe a teacher would help? She wasn't counting on Felix, he was probably long gone by now. "Petrificus totalus!" One of the spiders froze, but the rest kept advancing. They would get to her before she could get them all. Running was the best option. Thankfully there was nowhere she ran best than in a forest. She spun around heading back towards the border of the forest, being careful to step over roots and fallen trees, despite the spiders following her. In a moment of panic, she looked back to see if she had gotten away before her foot snagged on a root and sent her face first into the dirt.
|| She'd fallen in the right place, at least. Felix was right there when she fell, and he gasps quietly. He moves to stand near her, as he grips his wand and points it toward the spiders. His prayers must have met the right spirits because he felt the surge of relief that went through him as he pointed his wand at some dead leaves and tree matter. "Incendio." It was relieving when the spell worked on the dying plants and spread quite easily. It'd put a temporary barrier between them and the spiders until the spirits had to put it out. He extends his hand to the girl, staring at her closely. "We have to go. We really don't have long," he tells her urgently, blue eyes scanning the scenery, knowing they'd find a way around the fire soon, and they had to be gone by then.
|| She curses at herself for falling in an environment she felt most at home in. Though at the same time she was thankful that Felix was here. Most other students probably would have let her die in his position. She pulled herself from the ground, really, /really/ wishing she had a bow at that moment. "Why did I have to leave my bow at home." She mutters to herself. She shoots Felix a harsh stare as he sets fire to the forest, "Don't burn the forest down!" She demanded, before shaking her head. Forests could grow back, people couldn't be brought from death, "Never mind." It wasn't really important now that she thought about it. "Let's go." With that, she grabbed Felix's arm before running. She would need to make a new bow if she was planning on venturing in there again. "Sorry you had to come help me."
||He could have cracked a smile at her concern for the forest. "It is fine! The spirits won't let it burn!" he calls, before running with her, making sure to keep up, because he really didn't feel like becoming dinner for baby spiders that were already as big as them. He shudders at the thought. "I couldn't just leave you in there to get eaten!" He really couldn't. That would be terrible of him. Not to mention, he was sort of the reason she'd run in there in the first place. So if she had been eaten, it would sort of be his fault. He looks at her and pushes up his glasses slightly, blue eyes scanning her closely. "Are you hurt?" he asks softly, tilting his head and biting his lip a bit. He wasn't sure he'd be able to help much with that, except to aid her to the nurse if it was needed.
|| That was something at least. The forest wouldn't burn down. She liked them too much for the one closest to Hogwarts to be turned to ash. "Spirits?" She questions, wondering what he meant. She knew about ghosts of course, but they could do anything to help, they couldn't maintain a physical form. Were spirits something different? "Anyone else would have." She mutters darkly to herself. Let the daughter of a killer die, they would have thought. Then turn their backs on her. The teachers would only help her because they were obligated to. The students? They had no such obligation. At least this was how Aveline saw everything. "Not beyond my dignity. Couldn't even fend off a group of giant spiders." She realized she said that last bit aloud, so she waved her hand before adding quickly. "Beyond that, I'm fine. Took a bit of a fall, but nothing unusual."
|| Nodding, he extends a hand to the forest. "It is a place in which lives have been lost. Many of them not human, but many of them pure. Spirits help those who treat them with the respect they deserve," he says softly, before looking back at the forest and a small smile builds on his face as he watches. He could still feel the spirits helping him, and he couldn't help but watch for a bit longer, smiling appreciatively as he hums a little. "I am not anyone else. Until I see that you are no different from the names that people force upon you, I will believe you an individual, Aveline." He turns from the forest and bows his head slightly before reaching out and patting her on the arm lightly. "No one expects you to be able to face a horde of killer spiders alone, Aveline."
|| She tilted her head, listening to him speak before nodding along. She understood what he meant. In the wilderness, there was a 'Kill or be killed' way of life. Creatures and even people died often, usually for food or protection. It was a way of life she knew very well, and she was often the victor. It would make sense that there were many spirits in forests and the like. "That puts you above the rest at least." At this train of thought, Aveline spun towards Felix, a thought festering in her mind, "I know you're a seer, you've proven that. But, how did you know my mother was married to Damien? The rest of the world believed she died ages ago." She scoffed at his consoling before shaking her head. "I'm a hunter. I should be able to handle a group of killer spider easily."
|| Felix looks at her, her question catching him off guard. No one ever cared to know how he saw anything. They saw it as unimportant. He frowns and clasps his hands together. "It is important to remember, Aveline, that I am in contact with the spirits. If Chava had died when the world believed she did, I would have known. That did not happen, and I see visions of the same people more than once. You learn things about people in that time." He offers a smile, looking around and shrugging lightly, a hand moving through his hair and he sighs softly, shaking his head. It was hard to explain. Many times, it wasn't his decision who he saw or what he learned. While he could influence it, he didn't always do so. A lot of the time it was a coincidence. That's why seeing was often written off as false because it was unreliable for many seers. Some could see, but would never learn to influence what they saw.
|| Aveline was... absolutely confused, but that didn't quite matter. He just put his explanation as 'He's a seer' and left it at that. "I'm not going to pretend I understood any of that." She smirks slightly, before looking off towards the castle, "And I'll just take your word on all that." Lunch had already been halfway done when she walked out, so she felt it was likely that it was almost over. Which meant classes. Aveline just hoped she didn't have potions first. That would be a disaster. "Lunch is probably nearly over," She started, "And I don't know about you Hufflepuffs, but I have class soon." She gave a slight wave, before starting to walk on. For a slight moment, she stopped before shouting out back towards him "Thank you!" Then, she ran off back towards the castle. For a moment in the back of her mind, she thought about sending a letter back home warning her mother about what would happen, but she didn't need a seer to tell her that was a bad idea. Stop one event from happening, and something worse could happen instead. Definitely not a good idea.
|| Felix laughs softly and nods at her. He knew it was hard for people to understand when these were foreign concepts to them. He nods. He wasn't sure if he had a class now. But he should probably check, lest he missed it. He wouldn't rush though. What was the point, really? If he missed it, he missed it, it'd be fine. Worst that could happen was a detention and some lost point, really. And he could earn points back. He smiles a bit, nodding at her, and when she turns back, he laughs slightly. "Anytime, Hazelnut!" he calls back, watching for a moment before wandering back in the direction of the castle himself, humming slightly and focusing on nothing and everything all at the same time, the way he often did when he was alone.
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