There's::no::blood;{Levi!};There's::no::alibi

[Nikita Snape]

Silently creeping through the hallway, was a raven black haired girl with the most haunted eyes known to mankind, so far. The pale blue eyes swept slowly and menacingly around as her finger trailed along the wall next to her. It made a slight thrumming sound, along with the 'tap tap' of her shoes against the cold stone floor. Her breathing was hardly noticeable as she made her way up the dark staircase, which had random lanterns on each side of the wall every few six feet up the staircase.

Nikita's heart beat was barely audible in the silence of the Owlery as she entered through the wooden door, her eyes striking in the moonlight that shown through the open window which allowed a slight breeze to enter the room. Tossing her head back, which lead to her rich flowing black hair to reach down to her but, she gazed up at the many owls fluttering amongst each other. Their chirping and bickering at each other emancipated as they took notice to the Snape girls arrival.

Amongst the still light colored owls, a pitched black one just had to stand out and fly down towards Miss. Snape. Niki didn't even have to whistle the usual tone to notify the black owl that it's master had arrived. She smiled, as the owl perched lightly on her shoulder making a slight chirping sound that sounded some-what-mocking. She petted the owl gently, her eyes staring into the large orbs of the her owls. "Hello, love. How are you today Severus? Good I suppose..." She rolled her eyes slightly at herself. Why was she talking to an owl?

[Leviticus Blessing]

Happy to finally be free of the confines of his uniform Levi meandered through the castle, his weekly letter to his parents tucked away in the back pocket of his jeans. He jogged up the steps to the Owlery where his Eagle owl, Juniper, waited for him. This was a weekly ritual, settling down to write, telling his parents he was still alive and not making any stupid decisions, though their definition of stupid was vastly different from his own, then he made his way through the castle, enjoying causing uproar in his wake, any way he could.

Finally he reached the top steps of the staircase which led into the Owlery. He glanced out of the window at the dark grounds, noting the calm which had descended with the night as he dug the letter out of his pocket. His intricate scrawl had inscribed his parents names and addresses on the front, he checked it over once before turning from the window and stepping through into his destination.

Levi didn't notice anyone else inside the room initially as Juniper flew down and nipped at his fingers. "Silly girl. You should know I never miss this." He smiled warmly as he fed the Eagle owl a treat and petted her head before handing her the letter. Without a moments pause the owl spread it's wings and flew out into the night. Levi sighed as he watched her go before turning and spotting Nikita Snape. "Niki? My, what brings you up here on this fine night?" He asked with a smile, looking at his fellow Slytherin.

[Nikita Snape]

As hard as Nikita tried to put the note in the back of her mind, she couldn't. It was trapped in her head, masking over her entire emotions on that night. Nothing else seemed to float through her mind on that night, except for the note that she had wrote during that month. She sighed heavily, but turned sharply as she heard the familiar voice of one of her classmates. Her eyes focused on him slowly, until he took notice to her silent presence in the room. Her mind whirled, as she held the note tightly, hoping that he wouldn't ask to read what she had wrote.

Her mind whirled, as her owl also turned his attention to the black haired boy. She studied his expression for a split second, which sadly didn't show anything that Nikita would care to know about. Or frankly, need to know about. Though, she smiled back at him, giving him a slight nod before answering his question. "I was just about to... uhm... burn this letter actually..." She paused, retrieving her wand from her pocket, and walking over to the nearest lantern.

Using the non-verbal to produce a small amount of fire, the lantern blazed with warmth immediately. She moved the note towards the lantern, letting the sides of it burn until they turned brown. She let the whole paper catch on fire, letting the ashes fall to the floor shortly after. Her voice sounded calm and collected as she explained her actions to Levi. "i write down everything that I've felt during the month, addressing it to my mother, but I never send it. I always burn away my feelings. Have you ever heard that if you write something down it makes you feel better? I'm kinda doing that..."

[Leviticus Blessing]

Levi had spotted the note in Niki's hand but had decided against asking what was written on it, he knew better than to pry into some people's business, some being the operative word. As the girl revealed she was going to burn the note he nodded slowly, watching her as she moved to the lantern nearest them, though he did spare the owl which was looking at him a glance. His stance had relaxed a lot, having tensed when he realised there was something else in the room with him, he had his fair share of enemies, usually male, since he didn't much respect other people's relationships. He got what he wanted, possibly one of the reasons he was in Slytherin.

As Niki set the lantern alight Levi couldn't help the slight grin which flashed across his face, what can he say, he may be a closet pyromaniac, though he usually fought the urge to set things alight, settling instead for just watching things burn which had been inflamed by others. "Therapeutic writing. I'm familiar with the concept, I even tried it myself for a time. Can't say as it helped me much, but that's just me I suppose, not much could help my messed up brain." He laughed softly, "Maybe one day you should send it Niki, it might just make everything a little better, of course that's just my opinion." He shrugged, resting against the stone wall, enjoying the feel of the cool rocks against his back.

[Nikita Snape]

A gentle sigh escaped Niki's parted lips as she stepped away from the lantern, blowing out the last bit of flame still burning on it. After the flames were out, she petted her black owl, whom was still perched decently on her shoulder. He stepped onto her finger, as she raised him above her head, giving him the Q that it was time he flew back up to where his 'friends' were waiting patiently for him. She smiled, allowing a gentle laugh escape from her lips once more. She turned her head slightly to look over at Levi, whom obviously had been extremely interested in the flames that had been burning just seconds before.

Finally, Nikita responded to Levi her voice hushed as she spoke slowly and gently to him, "It seems to help me... a lot as a matter of fact. It eases my tension around others, especially the Legilimens. I can hardly keep my mind blocked from them. One of my major flaws, which of course I would be ecstatic to rip your throat out with my bare hands if you told anybody that, or used it against me for that matter." She spoke this in one of her sweetest voices, feeling overall happy, and pleased with herself. Like a huge weight had just been lifted off of her shoulders.

Smiling happily at Levi, she punched him playfully in the arm, her voice floating between their still bodies, "Of course, you wouldn't do that now would you? Because, you like me right? As a friend? Whom you would never hurt? Am I correct?" She asked, her voice showing her curiosity in him. Of course, she was joking the whole time, although if he really did tell someone about her weakness, then she would indeed rip his throat out with her bare hands. No questions asked. She flipped her hair silently over her shoulder, feeling accomplished.

[/left][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Leviticus Blessing]

Watching as Niki blew the candles out Levi sighed quietly, feeling the familiar sense of freedom as the flames vanished, they always seemed to captivate him, draw him into their depths and hold him there. He got lost in the simplicity of it all, and his mind was allowed to run free. It was almost like his therapy. Nothing ever seemed as bad in the soft glow from a candle, or a log fire. Clearing his mind quickly, his eyes watched the bird fly above their heads and return to the rafters.

He listened as Niki spoke to him, a little amazed by the amount she shared with him. The knowledge she divulged to him would make a truly useful weapon, if handled that way. And as manipulative and sly as Levi generally was he drew the line at his friends and comrades, generally. He still wasn't sure where things lay with himself and Niki but he did know that she was a member of the DE, and that at least meant they were on the same side, fighting for the same things. He nodded slowly as she spoke, a small smile playing on his lips.

When she punched his arm playfully he grasped it as if she'd hurt him. "You've got an arm on you Niki, seriously." He laughed, his eyes dancing in the moonlight. "Of course I wouldn't do that, who do you take me for? And like you said, I like you, as a friend. I don't hurt my friends." Though he wasn't sure his words were quite true, there was something about her that intrigued him, and usually when someone intrigued him it was simple, he took what he wanted from them and cast them aside, but most people weren't Nikita Snape. Sure, he wanted to be her friend, but he wasn't sire if that was all.

[Nikita Snape]

Laughing along with Levi, she smiled up at him, her eyes gleaming. "Well... I mean, I am a beater. So maybe that's why?" She smirked, rolling her eyes with embarrassment. She sighed, responding to him in a bored, but yet convinced tone of voice, "Okay, okay! I believe you. I don't know what I take you for, or took you for, for that matter. I don't really personally know you..."

She smiled at Levi once more, turning her gaze away from him. She ran a hand through her thick, lustrous black hair, itching the scalp slightly, showing her bordem. She wanted to go have some fun, but then again she wanted to stay right there, and not move an inch. She pulled down the sleeve of her shirt, careful not to show her own dark mark which had been placed on the palm of her hand, for only her and Zane to use. Yes, Nikita had two, not one, but two Dark Marks.

[Leviticus Blessing]

"Maybe it is." Levi shrugged with a smile as Nikita mentioned that she was a beater. "Yeah I know, for two people in the same house and who share similar...interests," He absentmindedly rubbed his arm where his Dark Mark lay as he spoke, "you'd think we'd have talked more, especially since we're both friends with darling Tobie." He shrugged again, lightly biting his lower lip for a moment.

He watched Niki for a moment before turning to look out of one of the lower windows. He took a deep breath before running his hand through his hair and making sure it was all back to how it was supposed to be, he was known to be rather obsessive about his hair, no one was allowed to touch his hair, well except a select few of his closest friends, but even then it was a little difficult for Levi to deal with. With a deep breath he turned to look back at Niki, "So, you got any plans for the rest of the night?" He asked trying to initiate a conversation with the girl he found oddly fascinating.

[Nikita Snape]

Another swift hand ran through Nikita's thick layers, as she eyed Levi curiously and some-what speculatively. Her voice was gentle as she spoke, not voicing the hint of curiosity anywhere in the statements to come, "Yeah, I know. I guess I'm always just really busy to try to get to know other people that I don't know yet. I'm sorry that I haven't been very... friendly... I mean you can even ask Tobie's brother about me being nice..." She laughed gently, recalling the day in the Forbidden Forest. 'Oh, joy. That was one fun day...'

Flipping her hair over her shoulder in one quick movement, Nikita smiled cheerfully at Levi. "Yeah. trust me, I know what you mean. It's rather strange, but I always seem to leave right when you show up." She tapped her finger to her chin, as if she was thinking. She raised her eyebrow slightly, answering his question slowly and absentmindedly. "Ahh, nothing. Probably just stay up here for the rest of the night. Nothing else to do in this hell hole we call a school." Her eyes glinted affectionately up at Levi, her smile dashing.

[/blockquote]

[Leviticus Blessing]

Levi smiled slightly as Niki spoke nodding a little, his hands slipping into his pockets, his thumbs hooking into his belt loops. "Getting to know new people is a good thing I suppose." He sighed, he knew far too many people sometimes, or rather they knew him, fortunately many of them had left the school last year, and he'd tried to reform himself since then, so his list of people to avoid was a lot smaller now than it ever had been.

Returning Niki's smile Levi tilted his head a little to one side. "That is rather strange, but I've never been one to judge the strangeness of things around here, takes too much energy." He laughed softly, biting his lower lip and gnawing it a little. As Niki told him what she was planning for the night he nodded. "There's plenty to do around here if you look hard enough Niki, but I suppose staying up here all night would seem rather appealing, the first years are pretty excitable tonight. It's almost unbearable really." He shrugged but pushed off the wall he'd been leaning against, walking slowly around the room, "And owls do make great company."

[Nikita Snape]

Nikita shrugged at his first comment, and her voice was separate, and obviously not quite as interested in the conversation. "If you say so, Levi. I'm pretty bad at meeting new people though, if I do say so myself. Normally I'll get on their bad side, or for some..." She paused immediately thinking of Zane for the next thing she was going to voice out loud, "you get to involved with, and you really shouldn't be friends with them..." She sighed, looking out the window at the moon, which glistened white or for other imaginations, silver.

Nikita let a laugh escape her lips, and she turned her head to look at Levi once more. "Yeah, this place can get a tad bit strange, eh?" She smirked mainly to herself, thinking of all the strange things she had been involved in this past year. It had been the craziest year of all. Well for Niki's life at least. Slowly, she responded to her new found friend, giving him a small smile. "Psh, yahh. I guess. I normally enjoy picking on the ounger ones, but that's just me. Tonight I think I'll stay away from the annoying beings though... if you don't mind of course."

[Leviticus Blessing]

"I can't imagine how you'd get on anyone's bad side." Levi chuckled, looking back at Niki. "But yeah, not everyone you meet should be your friend." He watched her as she looked out of the window and ran a hand through his hair, she really was a fascinating girl, oh well, he'd find some way to get her out of his mind, he was sure.

"Just a tad. Though I think all Hogwarts students have a rather different sense of strange than most other people, especially nowadays, don't you agree?" He really did believe that this school could mess with ones sense of reality, it had been messing with his for the past seven years. "The first years are rather amusing targets I must admit. But I prefer the slightly older ones, they try to fight back that little bit harder." He smirked, remembering some of his encounters over the past year. "And why would I mind Miss Snape? You are free to do as you wish." His smile was genuine and playful, but in truth he probably would mind if she left right now. Though he wouldn't be able to tell you why.

[Nikita Snape]

"Me? Not getting on someone's bad side? Puhhh-leese!" She smirked, rolling her eyes in a humorous way. "I'm normally always on someone's bad side. Some people just can't handle my bitchy side sometimes..." Quick cough, "Olivia" another quick cover-up cough. "Sorry, I just had to mention her name..." She laughed slightly, smiling at Levi once more. "You wanna now something Levi?" She asked him, smiling delicately up into his eyes, "Your eyes are like... gorgeous. Just thought you might want to know that, buddy." she smiled, walking towards the window, gazing out at the grounds, which seemed to be totally abandoned.

"I totally agree, my dear. Seems to me you are rather smart. Or maybe you just have lots of common sense." She paused to give him a wink, smiling widely, "Ahh, well see! There's another intelligent thing to come out of your mouth. I'd never thought about picking on the older ones... the ones that actually put up a fight. Although I'm sure their fights are rather pathetic, eh?" She asked, cocking her head to the side. "I don't know... I just..." She cut off, not really sure how to respond to his statement.

[Leviticus Blessing]

"It takes one to handle one." He muttered in response to Niki's comment about people not being able to handle her bitchy side. He laughed quietly as she coughed out a name, but shrugged as she apologised. He swallowed quietly as she looked into his eyes, but managed to keep his face from giving anything away. "Why thank you, always nice to know something like that. Though most guys wouldn't appreciate the use of the word 'gorgeous' to describe any part of themselves. Good thing I'm not most guys, eh?" His eyes were still fixed on her as she gazed out of the window, until he mentally shook himself.

"Maybe it's a mixture of them both, maybe I'm smart and have lots of common sense?" He chuckled. "Their fights may be pathetic but it's better than nothing, and at least makes them marginally more interesting targets than those pathetic first years, who cry if you so much as look at them wrong." Levi frowned a little as Niki's voice faded to nothing, "Something wrong?" He asked, taking a step towards the girl.

[Nikita Snape]

Nikita shrugged slightly, her smile fading. She ran another quick hand through her hair, releasing it from tangles that may have formed throughout the layers during the long day. She sighed heavily, finally responding to Leviticus, "Ha, well I don't know how else to put it in a way that's OK with most guys. yes, indeed. It's a very good thing that you're not like most guys." She smiled, laughing at his next few statements. "Yeah, maybe. You do seem to have a lot of common sense though, love. Do you think I do?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

Once again, Nikita shrugged at his comment. She was slightly taken aback by his view of the first years. "Hmm... Well, I personally think that their whining is slightly interesting, and entertaining. Gives you something to bug them about when they get older and more mature, I think." She spoke softly, turning to look at Leviticus. she watched him step forward, his voice ringing in her ears. Just like that, she took an immediate step backwards. Her mind whirled, and she immediately saw the look of anguish flash across Levi's face. She took a step forward, her voice filled with melancholy, "I'm sorry..."