For better or worse, Raine was readily recognizable from a distance.  Sasha had caught a glimpse of red curls bouncing down the path towards the Hospital Hut while glancing over Gelar's[1] back.  The Gryffindor's path was obvious.  Either she was coming to see the Healer witch or she was headed here, towards the paddocks.  With a sigh, Sasha turned his attention back to currying through the animal's thick, winter coat. 

Sasha had left the Astronomy Tower about an hour or so after Raine the previous night[2].  The abrupt end of their conversation had left Sasha frustrated and anxious and no less convinced handing Raine the letter had been a mistake.  The Ravenclaw had remained on the couch, staring at the tower door for quite some time.  But, he'd left the tower before Professor Trishna had returned to the tower, not wanting to have to explain why he was upset. 

Sasha had handed the edited letters over to Professor Trishna earlier that morning, after another sleepless night.  There would be plenty of dwelling on the letters in the coming days.  And he wasn't looking forward to any of it.  He'd told all he was going to tell - Raine had been the first and last mistake.

Ignoring things rarely made them go away, despite how much he wished they would.  Focusing on the task at hand had not made Raine somehow change course or turn around and leave.  By the time he'd looked up again, the Gryffindor had reached the paddock fence. 

"Nothing but stupid little boys here," Sasha announced flatly, turning his attention to stomping his boot free of packed snow.  Despite his obvious annoyance, Baldur trotted happily through the snow to greet the Gryffindor and her cat.  Sasha paused in his brushing and looked over the animal's back at Raine.  "I thought you were done.  What do you want?"

1.	When Tulojow first started as the COMC prof and Gamekeeper, she came across the misshapen product of someone's attempt to engineer a winged unicorn by crossing a winged horse and a unicorn mother, who died during foaling.  Little Gelar is now a yearling with molten white/gold coat, a sad stub of a horn and two mismatched bulges where the false wing joints sit
2.	The Indifference of Stars

It was fortunate for the Gryffindor prefect that her classmate had only so many places he could flee to for refuge in the days leading up the their midterms. Especially over the weekend when the library would be filled to its capacity with last-minute crammers and panicking firsties. Next to Sasha Schlagenweit was a strange, pathetic looking creature that Raine had seen often enough when she wandered this way in Animagus form.

Baldur's greeting was much more endearing than his owner's and she leaned over to tousle the shepherd's fur affectionately. Maurice trailed behind with caution but little aggression. When she finally looked up past the paddock fence, her eyes fell steadily on Sasha's face. "I thought you were done," he said. "What do you want?"

Last night, he might have been right- she had felt insulted and furious. Most of all however, she had felt worried, and when morning came all the other feelings dissolved into the mass of her concern. One did not abandon friends and even if she did, this would have been atrocious timing.

Without saying a word, she walked past the fence and right up to the Ravenclaw until they were a few inches away from each other.

"You aren't stupid," Raine told him in a quiet voice, her expression wry. "Sad, perhaps." And then she hugged him- best as she could, being a whole foot shorter. Properly and firmly, with the expected strength of someone who volleyed Bludgers for practice.

The Ravenclaw tensed, his back becoming even straighter as the Gryffindor approached.  She didn't seem to be carrying the same anger and frustration she had the night before.  He'd seen her annoyed enough times in the past - in a few instances, he'd been certain he was only a hair's breath away from getting slapped.  Even still, the Ravenclaw's uncertainty grew as Raine approached. 

Sasha flinched when Raine initially reached for him and a few seconds ticked past before Sasha relaxed enough to awkwardly return the hug.  "I-" Sasha started.  He had no idea what one was supposed to say in these situations and a glance towards Gelar and the dog didn't offer much in the way of clues.  Both seemed blissfully oblivious to the awkwardness.  Gelar was lazily scratching at his knee.  Baldur was walking towards Maurice, his head lowered and nose outstretched to sniff noses. 

In the absence of obvious clues, Sasha opted for the standard default.  "I'm sorry." 

"What's ... this for?" Sasha asked, glancing down at the top of Raine's head.  "I don't understand.  I..."

Physical contact, in Raine's experience, was only of particular use in the case of duelling or a certain Slytherin playboy gentleman. On the other hand it was also a most unambiguous form of communication- her sister had taught her that.

Although it didn't stop either of them from being marvelously awkward. Sasha's apology was typical and Raine was grateful that their disparity of height had hid her tickled smile. Graceuflly, she pulled herself away from the Ravenclaw to avoid a muffled response. Down that road lay ungainly misunderstandings or laughter.

"It's the answer I should have given last night," Raine sighed heavily. "Keeping those letters, that... relationship must have been very difficult to hide and the last thing you needed from me was a short fuse."

Merlin knew that tempers ran in her family although she never really saw herself as one of those Almasys. The redhead leaned against the pitiable Gelar, hands behind her back like a little girl.

"You have to understand. I've seen my sister lost to her mistakes and watching you, it made me panic." In her breast, she felt a flicker of the emotion and stifled it ruthlessly. "I can't promise that I won't judge you, Sasha." Raine smiled wearily. "But I won't abandon you either."

Of course, it was always the thought that counted and actions spoke louder than words.  There was no shortage of idioms to remind one awkward Ravenclaw that he should be (and he was), appreciative of the meaning behind the Gryffindor's hug.  In spite of that, however, Sasha was just a little relieved when Raine dropped her arms and pulled away.  Given time and repetition, Sasha usually got used to physical displays of affection from specific individuals but it often took a little stubborn perseverance. 

"Oh," Sasha said, simply, glancing down at his hands.  In retrospect, getting hugged by Raine might have been preferable to the outburst, but not by as much as one might expect.  Given the context, he would have only been marginally less suspicious of a hug.  Today, in new light, it was much easier to accept the gesture at face value. 

The Ravenclaw shrugged and shook his head.  Actually, keeping the letters and relationship secret had been relatively easy, especially back when everything had been kept in balance.  "I have a lot of experience hiding things.  It wasn't ... that wasn't the hardest part."  Telling people, whether or not it would be the right thing in the end, was infinitely harder. 

When Raine leaned against Gelar, Sasha turned his attention back to slowly brushing the creature's coat.  He listened, carefully, when the Gryffindor spoke of her sister.  She'd spoken of Sanya before, but never in great detail.  "I understand," Sasha admitted.  It was easier to understand, and accept, Raine's reaction when offered in context.  But, he didn't want to see, or acknowledge, the similarities for what they were. 

"I don't know, you know, what happened.  But, I have to believe this is different.  The situation ... I don't know.  Everything's really confusing."

Raine raised an eyebrow at her friend's initial statement. A lot of experience hiding things, she could understand, though she couldn't believe that it was easy not having anyone around with to share his secrets. At any rate she didn't say as much- they were different sorts of people and it would perhaps be tactful to save candor for a less precarious time of their respective lives.

What escaped her grasp was that phrase. 'I have to believe.'

Although it didn't so much escape as it did disturb the witch. From that sentence alone she could infer that Sasha was struggling with a form of denial, which wasn't unusual for anyone their age, but seemed all the more dangerous because Kronos Malvivicus was involved. Merlin.

Even now she could barely reconcile the two individuals. Second most wanted criminal- studious, earnest Schlawkward.

"It is different," Raine hesitated, aware that she needed to tread carefully. "But that doesn't mean I can't be as concerned about you. Listen. I love my sister but she was an insipid little creature who couldn't save her own life because she let her guard down to a mad wizard."

Her tongue tasted bitter in simply speaking ill of Sanya; even if it was something she felt, truly. They were sisters after all and their relationship, while close, peppered with both care and contempt.

"Don't let yours down, Sasha. Not around him." Raine bit her lower lip unconsciously. "I'm not going to try and talk you out of anything. I only want you to be... to be ready whe-- if something happens."

Couldn't save her own life because she let her guard down to a mad wizard.

Sasha paused in his brushing, watching Gelars mottled coat quiver and twitch under the bristles of the brush without really focusing on either.  There were times, when Sasha's mind grew idle, that it would start to wander and ponder and consider.  Those long, dark moments before sleep were the most susceptible and that, even more so than work load, was the primary reason for Sasha's scant hours of sleep.  Work load was just the convenient, public-appropriate excuse.

"Did she know him?" Sasha asked, returning to his task.  "Before.  Why did she?  Let her guard down."  The general answer was obvious and easy to assume - she'd trusted him.  Whether because they had some previous or familial connection or, as with Sasha, trust had been built. 

"Don't let yours down, Sasha. Not around him.  I'm not going to try and talk you out of anything. I only want you to be... to be ready whe-- if something happens."

Color flushed across Sasha's face but he dipped his head, both in acknowledgement and appreciation.  He was grateful to be spared yet another lecture on how foolish he was being and he had a feeling he was in for quite a bit more in the coming days.  They were just as exhausting as they were unsettling.  But, he knew Raine had a point.  On some fronts, Sasha had been very careful not to let his guard drop - most specifically when it involved other people.  When it came to himself, though, a guard hadn't existed since March. 

"I'm trying to be ready," Sasha admitted.  "I'm working on my wand skills and..."  Sasha licked his lips and shrugged.  "I'm learning stuff but, well, mostly through him.  He's teaching me stuff when I see him."  And, while he was at school but that was a detail that involved someone else and one he'd keep close.  "Class is ... it's not the same.  I don't know.  Professor Trishna doesn't like it, but there aren't a lot of alternatives."

It was difficult, trying to caution her friend while drawing on experiences with her sister. Raine would have much rather relegated details of the past to vague, barely mentioned memories- but there was something cathartic about answering Sasha's question.

"He was related to Roger- a close friend," she pressed her lips together tightly. "Roger's uncle actually. We... she trusted that he wasn't dangerous to us. It cost us both a life." They had all been so much more trusting then.

But this wasn't about that. "I'd rather not discuss it in detail, if you don't mind." Her mistakes had already been made and although she certainly had many more to make, she wanted to focus on their immediate concern. Sasha.

For one, it was perturbing to learn that Malvivicus was teaching Sasha- even if it did clear up certain events in the past. At the mention of Trishna's name, Raine raised an eyebrow. So that's the teacher mentioned in the letter; she wasn't surprised. It was between him or Storm but at least she knew for certain now. Poor man must be worried sick.

"I... I believe you, about trying to be ready." Raine sighed faintly and glanced over at Maurice, who appeared less cautious of Baldur now. "Can't say I completely disapprove of him teaching you. It may be wiser to know what he knows..." the redhead shrugged. "To an extent."

Sasha listened quietly, nodding slightly when the Gryffindor offered an explanation but didn't press the issue when Raine asked to drop it.  He understood, as well as any, that there was simply a time and place for certain conversations and there was no rhyme or reason to it.  But, the simple request not to discuss it did prove Raine was done yelling - at least for now - so Sasha fully relaxed as he continued his task. 

"He knows a lot," Sasha said, once again demonstrating his powerful ability to state the obvious.  "And, he's good."  Obviously.  The man wouldn't be where he was, otherwise. 

The Ravenclaw paused in his brushing, the bristles resting again against Gelar's coat.  He was surprised to hear Raine didn't disapprove of the lessons; he'd been assuming she'd say something more along the lines of Professor Trishna.  "So, you don't think ... you don't think learning that stuff taints you somehow?  I still haven't gotten anywhere with trying to cast a patronus."   

Sasha shook his head.  "I think Professor Trishna assumes what we learn in class will be enough.  Maybe I'm just, you know, getting paranoid?  I don't know."

The Dark Arts was not a taboo subject in the Almasy household- and while Raine was brought up to believe that nothing good could come from learning it, she also knew it was an immense resource to dark wizards. They couldn't completely ignore such things.

"Taints you?" she frowned, looking at Sasha and then past him. "I think if you go far enough with it, perhaps. If it corrupts you. Spellwork isn't a one way affair, at least I don't think." Her gaze focused. "It can bring out the worst in people."

And, she knew, the best.

"I can't cast a Patronus either," Raine continued with a wry expression. Her inability to do so was endlessly frustrating. "Unless you're going to hunt for Dementors or Lethifolds next summer, I wouldn't worry yet."

This was her way of trying not to worry about it for the time being- she knew she would have to, in becoming an auror trainee but there was time. Merlin, she hoped there was time. Professor Trishna's concern wasn't surprising and Raine briefly wondered what it would be like in his shoes. He wasn't only the Head of Ravenclaw, it seemed fairly clear that he cared for Sasha.

"He's worried for you, Sasha. I don't know if our regular lessons will be enough but I'm willing to bet that Trishna has more... life experience?" she posed the notion hesitantly. "It can't hurt, listening to his advice."

This was all part of magical education that Sasha hadn't gotten as a child.  The ethics and layered morality of it all.  The light and dark - how one regarded the different practices.  Before this past year, Sasha's exposure to the morality behind the practice of magic had been limited to what they'd learned in school.  Or, the very limited view point his parents had imparted on their children.

"My parents taught me that was the case with any form of magic," Sasha offered, quietly.  He shook his head, moving around towards Gelar's head.  "But, it doesn't sound dissimilar to how some regard money."  Or, power.  Or, anything that allowed one to possess a significant degree of power over someone else.  But, they were one way affairs.  Professors Trishna and (to a lesser extent) Storm as well as Raine all seemed to believe there was something more to it.

It was a little reassuring to hear Raine was, also, still having difficulty with the patronus charm.  She always seemed to confident, so self-assured.  Impressively so.  "Have you gotten anything?  I can get a little trickle; nothing more." Sasha asked, curiously.  "Do you know what it is that's keeping you from getting it?" 

Sasha dipped his head in acknowledgment.  "I know he is," he confirmed.  "But, it's all a bit complicated.  Even if I didn't want to learn it, if I stop, he'll know something's up.  He'll start investigating.  Right now, keeping the status quo seems the best option."  And, he was content enough with the status quo - it seemed a much better option to the alternative.  Whatever that may be. 

Besides.  "You've been learning stuff outside of class," Sasha pointed out.  He glanced over Gelar's back towards Raine. 

Turning their subject of discussion back to subjects Raine understood was like having her plucked out from floating about and set down on solid ground. She watched Sasha move around the wingless steed- following him with her eyes but standing still, a light hand on Gelar's back.

"My patronus... it sort of begins properly and then falls short before I can discern anything." It had happened in lessons before; a flash of pure light that died as soon as the memory she was using turned sour. Raine glanced down at the paddock floor, slightly dispirited. "I'm having difficulty maintaining an adequate memory source. Most of them involve my sister and..." she shrugged. "You know what I mean."

He wasn't that obtuse, surely. At any rate she couldn't (or wouldn't) criticise his method of dealing with Malvivicus- Sasha knew the man much better than she did, though she hoped that he didn't continue being so passive. Raine glanced up and her expression lit up with a devilish smirk.

"I suppose I can't deny that," she conceded cordially. "Although becoming an Animagus isn't really the same as dabbling in the dark arts, I'm certain. The worst consequence I've suffered from it is a penchant for rare meat." To say nothing of the infrequent impulse to hiss at Slytherins. Perhaps that had been there all along.

"So, it starts to take form?"  Sasha asked.  "Then it dissipates?  How long does it last?"  In class, Sasha had been far too focused on his own list of memories and his pointless attempt to graph his results to notice how his classmates were progressing.  Of course, spells like the patronus hardly cared whether its results followed a graph-able pattern.  He'd counted on that fact in the reverse - that everyone else was equally too distracted to notice his stumbling.  "Mine makes my wand look like a smoldering cigarette.  So, unless my patronus is a worm-" 

Which, if it was going to be a worm, at least it should be an inchworm.  Those, at least, were a little cool. 

The Ravenclaw nodded his head.  He knew exactly what Raine meant.  "The memory gets corrupted and you realize what's supposed to be your happy memories are tainted with sadness or guilt."  He'd run into that very problem himself.  Either the memory was too insignificant, like the fleeting excitement over a comic book.  Or, in the end, it just triggered other bittersweet or painful memories. 

"No.  Probably not," Sasha admitted, with a sheepish grin.  There was, likely, a huge difference between Raine's independent pursuit of becoming and Animagus and Sasha's independent pursuit of necromancy.  And, until that moment, the comment had been a simple, passing remark.  But, now that he'd mentioned it, the idea wasn't a bad one.  Secret identities were a commonality between superheroes for a reason - there was a certain degree of safety in anonymity.  And, if only those who really needed to know were told ... it was like having an emergency exit in his back pocket. 

Though, again, that assumed one's form was something useful.  Or, hopefully, not anything that had a penchant for rare meat.  Sasha had trouble with bits of bacon in his peas. 

"How did you learn?" Sasha asked, trying to sound casually curious.  "Could you ... would you, you know, teach me?"

"Five or six seconds," Raine answered without having to really consider it- she had gone over the casting in her mind repeatedly. "At its best, eight. It's certainly not... wormlike," she wrinkled her nose at the idea. That would have been a rather unimpressive Patronus.

Curiousity was a great motivator although apparently not great enough to overcome corrupted memories. The Gryffindor sighed, stepping forward and running a hand over Gelar's back soothingly. Maurice had wandered away from the shepherd and was very lightly approaching them.

Her gaze shifted back up at the enquiry, a fiery eyebrow arched in Sasha's direction.

"I learned with my sister, we got by with advice from professors." Raine considered her friend with a thoughtful expression. "It helps to have someone practice with you." Practicing animagi wasn't as easy as she had made it seem during the Tournament but it came easier now than ever before.

But was she skilled enough to help somebody else learn? Teaching entailed some sort of responsibility as well.

"If you tell me why, I might consider it," she replied cautiously. "I can only do so much, it's a lot of work on your part. And you already have a lot on your plate, Sasha."

He could see how, especially in the case of animagus transformation, having someone to practice with could be helpful.  He didn't know much about it, of course, beyond the theory they'd covered in class.  It didn't seem to be something one could try a few times in class and then be satisfied with a cursory grasp of the basics.  And, like with the Necromancy, it was probably best to have someone around just in case things went wrong. 

Why was a tricky question, though.  Sasha cast a quickly glance around them, just to make sure no one had wandered down towards the paddock without them being aware.  But, since Maurice had moved on, Baldur was plopped in the snow.  He appeared completely nonplussed, so if anyone had joined them, they'd done so without the shepherd hearing or smelling them.  A difficult feat, especially in the snow.  Satisfied they wouldn't be overheard, Sasha turned back to Raine. 

"It doesn't hurt.  To have a skill most people don't know about," Sasha offered.  Admittedly, the idea to ask her to teach him had just come to mind moments before.  It was only now, after the fact, that Sasha was starting to work out his reasons for asking.  Perhaps, it was in some ways a replacement for the necromancy - a goal, something he could have control over and work towards.

But, the more he thought about it, the more one simple reason came to the forefront.  "I don't have a lot of means of escape," he said, after another quick glance around.  Then, looking back to Raine with a pointed nod.  "You know, if things get tight?  I can't apparate.  I can't even side along.  The one time I did with, you know, him, he had to knock me out.   I have portkeys, but someone else is in control of where they go.  Assuming I don't end up some ... huge pink flamingo ... at least I could hide.  Escape with some anonymity." 

And, if he did turn into a giant pink flamingo, he could just forget he'd ever learned.