The Rose Bushes

Sevastyan nodded at the suggestion for a specific piece of jewelry to get for Viper. "Oh?" he inquired in response to her need of his opinion. The Russian didn't know that much about dresses as he didn't exactly wear them - that would be far too beyond his acceptable weirdness barrier. Despite his perceived ineptitude, he was actually curious as to how she would demonstrate what it looked like.

The moment the image of a strapless, deep blue gown with silver embroidery met his eyes Sevastyan felt his jaw begin to drop, but caught himself before it gaped open too far. "It... it's vonderbar, Kiara. I daresay your date vill tell you the same exact thing," he replied, awed by what he saw.

The shade of blue matched perfectly with Kiara's eyes... and uncannily enough was Svetlana Kaminski's favorite shade of the color.

Kiara smiled "Thanks, I wasn't sure at first, I am a picky shopper and utterly clueless with dresses" she laughed. "Never wear em"

"Will you be wearing the dress robes from Drumstrang?" she asked.

"I never vear them, either," he joked, saying precisely what had been on his mind not even ten seconds ago and burst out laughing.

"And you are velcome," Sevastyan added once the mirth had subsided.

"It vill be very similar: instead of brown fur trim it vill be completely black. I've alvays been more attached to the traditional dressrobes as opposed to the modern tuxedo..." he explained.

Kiara raised her eye brow and snickered "I would be kinda werided out if you did Sevastyan, dresses do not suit you" she finished with a laugh.

Kiara nodded in aproval to the traditional dress rodes "Yes I have always liked them as well, they look good."

Then a owl droped a letter from the sky right in to Kiara's hand. It had the ministy seal.

"Now what do they want?" she said with sigh as she opened it and read it quickly. Kiara's eyes flashed momenttarily as she read.

Crunching the letter in her hand she stuffed it into her pocker.

"Merlin they are annoying.." she mumbled attempting to toss it as a trivial matter.

Glancing at the pile of essay she needed to mark she turned to Sevastyan, "Well duty calls I am afraid. It has been great talking with you and I know Viper will be estatic about her birthday party.

"Oh for future reference what is your birthday?" kiara asked.

As if his comment wasn't hilarious enough, Kiara's response to it was even funnier and only caused Sevastyan to laugh more. It only began to subside the moment the bird dropped its parcel and took off again.

Mirthful eyes became slowly guarded at the expression that crossed Kiara's face. Sevastyan recognized the Ministry seal. There could only be one thing that he could think of that they'd be after now. Boy, they sure knew how to ruin the comedic mood, didn't they?

Sevastyan had been about to inquire when Kiara seemed to be stating a farewell. He nodded, and smiled one part happiness and one part reassurance considering that whatever news the ministry likely brought it wasn't good. A slightly suspicious but still playful countenance formed in response to the question. "March ninth," he replied, though didn't elaborate on the little family joke regarding his date of birth. That would be saved for another time.

"Ven might yours be?" Sevastyan inquired in kind.

Kiara smiled at her birthday her birthday had been the day she first started at hogwarts, as Headmistress.

"Mine is along way off yet, just passed a few months ago, its August 31st" she said.

"March 9th hmm I will keep that in mind" she said with a smile.

Sevastyan nodded, making note of the date. "Vell... I vish you a Happy very-Belated Birthday, then," he offered with a slight laugh.

"Thank you for your assistance and advice - it has been vonderbar talking vith you as vell."

The Russian though for a minute. "Vot vos that from the Ministry? Or vould you rather not say?" he inquired, concerned.

Kiara laughed slightly at the belated birthday wish "Well thank you, though I got the best present that day, it was my first day as Headmistress that day, I couldn't have been happier"

At his question to the letter, she sighed and thought for a moment. "Well.... don't tell the others okay? Because of the selection of the 4th and underage champion, the ministry is threatening to interfere at Hogwarts. I am not exactly happy about it, so I will need to send daily reports and analysis on the cup back to them and yet again explain why things happened they did."

But she sent him a reassuring smile "But not to worry, I won't let there spies here"

((Continued From May I have this Dance?))

Diana ran as fast as she could, putting as much distance between her and what she saw in the ball. Considering, she was wearing a gown and high heels, she was actually going pretty fast. She headed towards the Rose Bushes. She figured, it was where she'd meet the least amount of people.

Darien hurtled after Diana.

"Diana! Diana! Wait! I didn't- She- Diana!"

Great, now he was incoherent.

Diana heard Darien and attempted to run faster. Course, again, the heels she was wearing didn't let her do that.

"Diana! Will you just- Let me explain!..." Darien started to catch up.

"She kissed me! I didn't ask her to, I never wanted her to...I still don't goddam want her to! Diana! Please, wait!"

"Just go away." Diana's eyes were wet with tears.

She attempted to go further into the Rose Bushes however, her heel tripped over a rock and she fell...

"Diana!" Darien darted forwards and caught Diana.

"Are you okay?" His eyes were wide with fear.

Diana's breath caught in her throat as she anticipated the impact but felt Darien's arms around her. She subconsciously leaned on him... she missed him so much...

But no, he had been kissing Celina, not three minutes ago. He was with Celina now. She tried to turn away so Darien wouldn't be able to see her tears.

"I'm fine," She tried to say as coldly as she could. "Get your hands off of me."

Darien didn't move. "Will you at least let me explain? ...Please?"

He released her. "Please Diana...I'm sorry...I'm a git. I made the wrong choice in the bathroom...and when Celina kissed me...I can't make that mistake again! Please Diana, please believe me...I don't even like Celina. She's a bitch. I...I just wanted to...get back at you I guess...And that was wrong of me. I should've left you and Boris" he snarled the name, "I should've left you alone. Maybe then you'd at least look at me."

He remembered his conversation with Diana's father. He stood up. "I'm so sorry Diana...I really am. I'm a git and- I don't blame you for not wanting to see me or talk to me...or even look at me. I'll get out of your life...don't worry about that."

Darien glanced up at the crystal skies, then his gaze focused on the lake. Drowning in one's own sorrow was usually metaphorical...but this night he might make it a reality.

((lol...There never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her suicidal-ass-Romeo...))

"If you wanted to get out of my life why did you follow me here?" Diana said hugging herself slightly.

She didn't want him to go away... actually, she didn't know what she wanted. She wanted him... but he hurt her...

"So I could explain...why I did what I'm about to do."

Darien's eyes were cold. He wasn't afraid, but sadness gripped his soul like a leech, sucking all hope and sanity away.

He began to walk, towards the lake...

((DUN DUN DUNN))

Diana blinked up at him then to where he was headed.

She got out her wand and said, "Immobulus."

She caught up to him. "What do you think you're doing?!" There was a high-pitched quality in her voice.

"Fulfilling a promise...of sorts." Darien replied, oddly calm.

"You know when people tell you...well me...to jump in the lake, they don't really mean it? It's strange not meaning what you say...and I refuse to do so. I meant what I said when I told your father if I hurt you, I'd be first in line to kill myself. Therefore, I am actually going to jump in the lake...Something your cousin has doubtless been wanting me to do for several years..."

Diana couldn't believe what he just said. He was going to jump in the Lake?!

She broke a branch off from a near by bush and starting hitting him with it.

"You."
Hit.
"Idiotic."
Hit.
"Stupid."
Hit.
"Thick."
Hit.
"Sly-"
Hit.
"-the-"
Hit.
"-rin"
Hit.
"Git!"

"Do you think I'd be happy if you go throw yourself into the lake?" She said hysterically. "Don't you think that would be counterproductive?! Don't you think that would hurt me more?"

"It isn't fair!" Diana said. "You go and kiss a gorgeous french blonde and I'm the one stopping you from commiting sucide!"

"Owch!"

"She kissed me! I was in shock! And I'm sorry-OW!"

Hit.

"You're sorry?"

Hit.

"You think -"

Hit.

"-I'd accept-"

Hit.

"-your apology?!"

She stopped hitting him to catch a breath. She glared at him. "That's your excuse?! She kissed you?! After you asked her to the ball?!"

"What do you think I am? An idiot?!" She screeched.

Boris had been held up numerous times en route to following Diana and Vaight. Mostly it was by girls that thought he was dateless, while others were his fellow - and equally dateless - Durmstrangs that wanted to chat. At least the latter knew when he angrily blew them off that it meant simply that he was in the middle of something rather than actually being mad at them. He had his doubts whether the opposite gender really understood that, for Boris had never been to Hogwarts and therefore his temperament was largely unknown. Oh well.

Once outdoors, the Russian had decided to transfigure his crimson dress robes to black, to decrease his chances of being spotted. By then, he had to guess which way they went. Thankfully, snow had the tendency to reveal footprints. With another twinge of animosity towards Vaight, Boris attempted to trod only in the boy's footsteps so that it would not be so obvious that a third party had followed them.

He hadn't seen or heard the conversation from the beginning, but Boris found it terribly funny that Diana was whacking at the other boy with a tree branch. Crouching amidst the roses, Boris listened to the best of his ability, being several yards from the conversation.


((Just thought it'd be fitting for Boris to have followed them. Up to you whether or not they notice, and it's no big deal if they don't. ^_^))

((lol ok))

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! That branch is going to rip a hole in my arm soon!" Darien protested, still unable to move.

"I don't think you're an idiot. I think I'm an idiot. I didn't think, I just asked her so I wouldn't be on my own! She's the one who took it to mean I liked her, I just went along with it so she wouldn't shame me at this ball! It's not my fault she's obsessed with me! And you will notice she kissed me, and I followed you! I'm not thick enough to take her side twice! She's an annoying, scheming little bitch! ...And she's french." He added as an afterthought.

"You're worth a million of her." Sincerity and sadness was evident in his tone.