Memories;Haunting;:Mr.Dale:;Our;Footsteps

[Aiden Gabriel Irvine]

It was strange, more appropriately the word would be uncomfortable. Aiden traced his footsteps to his familiar hang out, but inwardly sighed as the tree came into view. Bertha was certainly restless since that night. Hogwarts was still debating whether or not to remove it from the grounds, and Aiden was considering moving her himself. It.
Trekking up the hill Aiden watched as the Whomping Willow squirmed in it's roots at the sight of him. He frowned but still approached the tree. "Corliss." The Slytherin muttered awkwardly kicking the dirt beneath his feet. Corliss. The one who... killed him.
Aiden Irvine wasn't religious. He didn't believe in a higher power or a life after death. At times it was much easier that way, but as he stood in front of his friend, the tree, Aiden dropped to his knees, hands folded together. "I'm sorry Avery." His tear ducts were dry although he felt the overflow of emotion spilling from his lips. "I'm sorry."

[Noah Dale]

Noah yawned as he headed back to the castle. He and Corliss had spent most of the afternoon in Hogsmead, but then she met up with a few of the Slytherin girls and he told her to go have a bit of fun with the girls, since in a month or two that wouldn't be much of a possibility as before. With a quick kiss goodbye, he was heading back up to the castle, wondering what he could do for the rest of the night when he noticed the Whomping Willow looking particularly upset over something. He cringed, thinking about the night his poor Corliss had to kill Avery Bishop, and how terrible she felt about it. Heck, every once in awhile now she would burst into tearsjust thinking about it.

The tree began to grow wilder and Noah sighed, guessing some unlucky fourth year got dared into going near the thing. Noah picked up his pace and began to shout, telling whoever it was to get away from the tree. But when he realized exactly who it was, he couldn't run away, he'd already seen him. Aiden, Avery's best friend was at standing at the tree looking particular pissed off at Noah. Aiden andhim never really got along buddy buddy with one another, and the fact he was dating Corliss now didn't seem to go over there well. "Hi Aiden." Noah said, trying to keep the peace for the moment until he found the oppritunity to run off.

[Aiden Gabriel Irvine]

With a backwards glance Aiden scoffed, a chuckle producing from his lips. Unclasping his hand he turned facing Noah, a scowl plastered on his lips. "Hello." He sneered glaring at the male. Sure he was just as good as any Slytherin, but for his taste in women, Aiden never conversed much with the boy. "You want...?" Aiden stood brushing the mud from his jeans and began to observe the Whomping Willow. Beginning to move once again the tree reached a branch out as if to touch him. Whipping out his wand he pointed it at the gnarly branch.
Incendio !!!

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[Noah Dale]

"Well.." Noah began, deciding if he was going to play nice or not. By the way Aiden was acting however, he decided not to. Besides, it was more fun that way. "I was coming over here to make sure some idiot didn't get killed by the bloody tree, but if I knew you were going to act like this I'd probably leave you to it." Noah said, standing his ground. His eyes followed the branch as it whipped around trying to bash the fire out of it's limb, eventually pounding itself to the ground until the flames were gone, leaving it with shrewed limbs. "It's going to be hard to get rid of the thing." Noah muttered, looking at the tree.

[Aiden Gabriel Irvine]

His snarl faded into a frown as he watched Bertha beat its branch to the ground. "I'm sorry Bertha." He muttered lowering his wand. "Your not to the one to be angry with." The tree shook in response once again trying to touch the boy. This time he allowed the branch to close in and nodded to Bertha. With his apology accepted the tree straightened shaking its barren branches with a bit more enthusiasm then normal. "Where's your precious love...." Immediately his words faltered at the thought of Corliss. His tongue stung with words that he hoped to produce. Rage boiled at the pit of his stomach incinerating any consciousness that held him back. Whipping around he pointed his wand at Noah. The piece of wood never failed him before, and he doubted he would now. "Where. Is. She."

[Noah Dale]

Noah shook his head, watching as Aiden talked to the tree. In more of a protective stance, Noah reached into his pocket of his coat and pulled out his wand, twirling it in his fingers. As he thought, Aiden pulled his wand on Noah. He could almost see him seething with anger, and he knew better to tell him where his Corliss was at the moment. The fact that Aiden looked ready to kill was one thing, the fact that the fear was unneeded stress for the baby was another. "Well, why would I tell you that Aiden? I mean, by the looks of it you're ready to kill." Noah remarked, his wand pointing at Aiden now. "Besides, I thought you be happy with Corliss, she got Avery out of the way so you could have Tobie." Noah smirked, but he wasn't a dumb ass, his wand was ready to counter or repel whatever spell Aiden was about to throw at him.

[Aiden Gabriel Irvine]

"That's what you think happened?"
A soft sigh released from his mouth as the Slytherin shook his head slowly. "Noah, Noah. You, Nikita, Rowen even, all think the same thing. I let Corliss kill Avery. Honestly hell, half of me thinks it was so much easier that way. He was my best friend." He rose his head giving Noah a glare, his scowl deepening. "Your one to talk Mr. Dale. You, let her kill him too! And you say you care for the dirty bitch." Venom spewed from open wounds, pure hatred lining his words. "Don't give me a lecture now. Where the fuck is she?" He stepped forward slowly, wand still pointed toward Dale's neck.

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[Noah Dale]

Noah took his wand and push Aiden's wand away from his neck. "None of this now, let's try and have some peace now." Noah said as calmly as possible, although inside he was fuming. "Personally, myself and Avery were never truly friends, so it matter's not if he died to me. It means more to me if Corliss stays alive." he said, his face showing a blank expression as he looked at Aiden with his sober eyes. Everyone knew if Corliss hadn't killed Avery, she would be the one dead now. "Frankly, you make it out that my deed was worse, allowing my love, yes the one I care about, to kill a man I really didn't know, while I wasn't on the scene. You, Aiden, you were there, you could of stopped her if you wanted him to live." Noah said, but still, he did not mention the whereabouts of Corliss. "So that goes back to my earlier theory. Kill Avery.. get Tobie." Noah smiled menacingly.

[October Hemingway]

Things had never been so tense around the castle; everyone was beginning to choose sides when it came to good and evil, and those who remained neutral or were traitors were beginning to be eliminated. In the past month or so, two of the people to loved most dearly had been murdered, and she noticed that two or three harmless students had been killed, as well. She assumed that they had accidentally discovered the meeting place of the DE, or something of that nature. Lottie's commands had been to kill all who cross our path, including those who could possibly threaten us in the future. Charlotte was determined to make everyone pick a side, and if that meant getting rid of those hadn't yet decided...so be it. Her word, unfortunately, had become Law to those who didn't want to end up dead.

Dead. Such a terrible, flavorless word; yet it held so many emotions and could color the senses in an instant. Currently Tobie's thoughts were wandering to such a thing as she saw the Whomping Willow. That tree...that stupid, stupid thing had mashed Avery up to bits. His body was so mutilated that students had been forbidden to say goodbye to it. Ofcourse October managed to sneak around the rules so she could say her goodbyes but nothing could prepare her for the sight she had witnessed. She hadn't been sure if actually seeing Avery die was worse then seeing the aftermath. Every limb had been broken, his face was severely beaten and bruised. He reminded Tobie of a clay figure; the tree had molded the Slytherin's body until it was barely recognizable.

After all of that, October had made a huge decision on her own. She had requested a change of House and after being sorted once more, she spent the rest of her days in Ravenclaw Tower. She held her place in the DE, though, but also had a hidden agenda. Her loyalties to this day resided with Zane and the NO, who had happily excepted her into their organization. For once in her life she was making friends who she could trust her life with...she no longer had to act snide and rude and like she owned the world to seem "normal." She was just Tobie...Just October Claire Hemingway.

Noticing two figures bickering by the trunk of Bertha, Tobie was shocked to see Aiden and Noah. When she noticed the drawn wands, she instantly found herself clutching Aiden's wrist, hoping to prevent him from doing something terrible. "Stop it!" she ordered, face distraught. "Stop it right now, the two of you!" she finished, looking at both the boys in dismay. "You two are fellow DE members! You can't start a civil war!" she shouted.

It had been almost three weeks since Tobie had made her House swap, and since then she hadn't had the chance to really talk with Aiden, and she wasn't sure if there was tension between the two...or not. As for Noah, she was fairly sure they were on good terms... if she was wrong, well at least he tolerated her.

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[Aiden Gabriel Irvine]

"Avery. Was. My. Best. FRIEND!" Aiden bellowed raising his wand threateningly at Noah's throat. "Don't you dare try and twist my thoughts. I'm sick of it." A snarl appeared on his face as he began an incantation at the thought of wiping the smug grin of the Hufflepuff's face. The words formed in his mouth as October ordered the two boys to stop.
She had a point. Which was the worse part about it. His tongue ached to lash some of his hate toward both of the DE members but he nodded in reply instead. This could only last so long though.
...
...
...
"It's about time someone had their debt repaided. Where is she Noah?" He chuckled finding a sick humor in the situation. "Is she home? With the baby?" The words were foreign in his mouth but he allowed them to pass. How strange it was, that Corliss could take seventeen years away from a person, yet, give breath to another. "October, please, stay out of it love." He tried to change the harsh tone in his voice but the sneer was a semi-stagnant.

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[Noah Dale]

Noah sighed as Tobie stepped in. He had never had a problem with her, except the momentary moments where she hated Corliss, then he had a slight problem with her. But now that the pair were speaking again, atleast he thought so, he had no problems with her what so ever. Her boyfriend, well that was another matter. Noah head shot to Aiden. Dept repaid? Corliss and the baby.. he could.. no no no. Noah teeth clench and his tighten his grip on his wand, sparks jolting out of the end from his anger. "You.. You.. Oh no. Oh fuck no. You're not getting ANYWHERE near Kallie!" Noah spat. That child meant everything to Corliss, and he knew although he wasn't the true father, this child would be like his own. And like any good father, he would protect his child with his own life.

[October Hemingway]

In actuality, Tobie had never seen aiden truly lose his cool. Most of the time when he was pissed off, it was just him kicking something out offrustration. But this...this sick, twisted tone that fell from his mouth not only shocked her, but terrified her. She didn't know what Aiden's temper would lead him to do...but there was no doubt in her mind that it was going to get him into some serious trouble. Her eyes widened in distraught as she saw her boyfriend tease Noah with that one hovering threat. The one that would completely destroy Corliss, the one that would perhaps turn everyone against him.

"Aiden!" she shouted, her tone pleading. Her feminine, submissive tone was overpowered by Noah's rage, and Tobie couldn't help but sink back as Noah snarled his words in Aiden's face. His masculine instincts, his fatherly instincts were beginning to sink in and now the normally level-headed Huffler was transforming into a testosterone-filled beast. "You...you can't use Corliss's baby to exact revenge!" she finally spluttered, surprised by the defensive tone she was sporting. "The child did nothing!" she finished, a slightly-malicious edge sharpening her tone like a knife.

Looking around desperately for a way to sedate her boyfriend's wild emotions for even the smallest amount of the time, her eyes locked on his wand. She couldn't possibly break it...but she had to do something...anything to delay his intentions. She wasn't about to let another death come about because of her lck of a conscience. Though sometimes guilt was a wearing emotion, without it she would remain the lifeless, immature girl she always had been. She was ready to have new depth and new meaning.

Swalowing hard and making her final decision, October's hand darted for the wand that was clutched in aiden's hand, wrenching it from him and offering him an appologetic look before bending the two ends of the stick, watching the wood warp slightly before snappng. She now held two splintered pieces in her hands and dropped them, hanging her head. She knew that wand was very special to Aiden and indeed it was a beautiful creation; made by his father, as was her wand and Rowen's. She wasn't sure what his reaction would be, but she had a feeling that she had just metaphorically ended their relationship. Rather than being one heart, they were now taking their seperate halves. she felt her lip quiver as tears fell from her eyes. "I can't let you do this, Aiden..." she murmured, taking a step back. "You're scaring me...really scaring me." she admitted, hugging her abdomen and feeling like her lungs were on the verge of collapsing.

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[Aiden Gabriel Irvine]

His jaw dropped as he watched the piece fall to the ground.
The one thing he always relied on was trashed. Broken into splinted pieces that were never to be mended. The dragon heartstring lied withered and dead before him with the vine wood, twisted to his liking was turning a shade of dark brown he had never seen before. Remembering a bit of information his father gave him, he noticed what it was doing. His wand was dying. After all the years to getting to know the piece of wood he watched it die before him. "My. My...." The words faltered before him as he dropped to his knees grasping what little pieces his wand use to be. With his thumb he rubbed the darkening wood till the color stopped into an ebony black. "My wand." He spit out adrenaline racing through his veins. He stood glaring at October unable to raise a hand to the girl. Clutching his fingers into a fist Aiden directed his rage to the only other person around. Angling the punch toward the Hufflepuff's mouth, he hoped to break every last tooth in his malicious snarl.

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[October Hemingway]

Aiden's heartbroken tone made remorse sink into October's conscience, and she watched in horror as the wand darkened and began to die. It was almost like watching an actual being pass; seeing as one grew an attachment to the object over the course of many years of training. Unable to look at Aiden, Tobie took a few more steps back, head still hanging in shame. What she had done was wrong, but what Aiden threatened to do was even more wrong. She had kept Corliss and her baby safe...for now.

"Aiden I...I'm so sorry, I--" she paused and watched as Aiden stood, glaring at her with such an intensity that it made her stagger. For a moment she felt a unique sort of fear, afraid that Aiden was about to smack her across the face. It was what she deserved, after all. However, things took a turn for the worst as he punched Noah. Tobie's gasp ran up her trechea painfully, and she rushed to Noah's aid, standing in front of him and pointing her own wand. "Protego!" she shouted, hoping to deflect any if not all of the damage Aiden planned on inflicting. "Don't hurt him, it wasn't his fault!" she shouted, disbelief crossing her features. Tossing her wand to the ground, Tobie approached Aiden so they were merely inches apart. "If you're going to hit anyone, hit me you prat!" she growled.

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[Noah Dale]

Everything from the moment Aiden threated Corliss, his girlfriend, and Kallie, her child and well.. maybe.. his.. it as still hard to call her that, to the moment at hand seemed like a blur. Spells were filling his head, trying decided which to use against this monster who wanted to take a child's life, the worst kind of death possible. A killing an unborn child, wel lthat would result in killing the mother, which he wasn't allowing Aiden to do. Never in a million years. Loosing Corliss or Kallie, that would kill him. It was at that moment he realized that he could call Kallie his own, that he didn't need to be the biological father to call her his daughter. His insticts finally took their place, the words Corliss had told him back in the Room of Requirements that evening You'll be a great Daddy. Father said it just comes naturally. He didn't believe it was going to happen, but now, now he felt like Kallie's true father.

Then October lunged, taking Aiden's wand and snapping it in half. It wasn't a pretty sight, watching the wand die in front of them. Seven years of training had gone into that wand, and now, destroyed. Noah breathed deeply, trying to come out of his rage stricten mess. As he raised his hands to his face, rubbing his face, he heard Aiden before he saw him, lunging forward, fist connecting to his jaw. He fell backwards, stopping himself before he actually fell and began cursing like a maniac. He tapped his lip with his finger, finding it split. He cursed again and raised his wand to Aiden, but found October infront of him, protecting him with a Protego spell. His left hand held his jaw while the other tightened it's grip on his wand.

"Jesus Christ Aiden! What the hell is your problem?!" Noah shouted, looking behind him to see a few students stoppng to look to see what was going on, but didn't dear et within two hundred feet of the tree, in fear that they'd get hit by Bertha herself or by one of the angered DE members. He hoped that Corliss would stay down in Hogsmead until this entire mess was solved, or atleast Aiden could calm down.