A Dream Within A Dream (Open)

[Jamie Rosenthal]

The estate in Belin was finally taken care of. His parents' house was finally belonging jointly to him and Li, and there was something bittersweet about leaving Germany to live in London. There was less violence here, his sister had been so worried about him being near youngsterw with magic with his inability to feel if anyone had cast something upon him. She worried about him as their mother had.

Li was all he had, after all.

Right now, he had just finished speaking with the Headmistress at the school, who had brought him on as Madame Pomfrey's assistant. The next year, he would be the sole healer and that concept excited him to no end. He enjoyed helping people, and his knowledge had no limit. For the time being, he was told to get to know the area and had made his way to Hogsmeade Village, a tattered copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream tucked up under his arm.

He must have looked a sight as the wind blew him into the village. Long crimson locks caught in the torrent of wind and set ablaze by the light of the sun, pale skin smooth and unmarred, green eyes soft and mellow, and the bottom of the fur lined cape he wore skirting along the ground. He could have stepped out of a Germanic tale of romance, but he was very real. The features of his face were settled in an expression of contemplation as he glanced over all of the shop fronts and the window displays. Hogsmeade was charming in its own way and he enjoyed the quiet over the hustle of Berlin.

Hw found the aroma of sweets catching the air and it began to grate upon his stomach before his quietly striding form turned and went into the shop, smiling at the soft jingle of the bell above his head. The building provided those locks shelter from the wind and they fell again, forming a scarlet halo about his head. The person behind the counter greeted him, and when he spoke, the voice that escaped his lips was even as beautiful as his visage, deep, yet with underlying tones of sorrow. "Guten Morgen." He crooned in a soft pitch, eyes sliding over the bright displays of candies and sweets.

His eyes fell on a plate of Pumpkin Pastys and curiousity etched over his features, "Vat are zose?" He listened intently to the explanation, honestly intrigued by the sound. They did not have those in Berlin. May as well try one. "May I haf one or two of sem? Zey look vonderful." After paying, the shopkeep was gifted with a deep, "Danke."

Soon the chair within the shop would find itself occupied with the curtain of crimson draped over the back. His tall frame was relaxed, legs crossed, and the book was help open to somewhere in the middle. Free hand ushered a pasty to his mouth where he found himself rather enjoying the flavors that it had.

They really were good.

[Deleted]

The Russian stood hiding in the darkness of the shadows as he leaned against the side of a building, cold and sharp blue eyes watching everything that both entered and left his town with a surprisingly gentle gaze. He was the one that protected them, that watched over the little herd of lambs that grazed in his territory. He was both the Shepherd and the sheep dog that guided the lambs and kept them safe and yet in some dark twist he was also the wolf that lurked in the shadows, the wolf whose very presence threatened the life of the sheep that much more. He was a very dangerous creature and yet he had been tasked with the protection of the students, with the protection of those who lived within the school and within the village.

He was tasked with protecting the mortals that nature had designed him to want to kill.

A smirk crossed his lips and for a second his mouth opened as a small set of musical laughter escaped his lips, eyes flashing in amusement at his own humorous realization. It truly was funny in the most twisted sort of way. His laughter continued on for a moment, a few strands of his wavy dirty blond hair fell into his face shielding his eyes from view before a gloved hand moved back to push them out of his face. His laughter stopped and his head tilted back as a new scent entered the town and filled his senses.

Well well. It seemed like a new lamb had come to graze in his field.

Sharp blue eyes suddenly became oddly serious for the vampire as he tried to place the strange new scent with a person. Icy eyes drifted from person to person, trying so hard to distinguish a scent before his eyes landed on a single person and his lips tilted up in a toothy smirk, the vampire flashing his fangs for the quickest second before his mouth fell closed again. There was a young man that was walking about slowly, stopping to look at the various window displays that the shop had to offer. Long locks of hair that were the most beautiful shade of crimson seemed to dance freely in the wind, clashing beautifully with the pale and unmarred skin that was drawn over his features.

There were a pair of soft and relaxed green eyes that seemed to hold a contemplative stare as they gazed at his surroundings. He was a very pretty lamb to say the least and while the vampire's eyes did appreciate the sight they were greeted with, his eyes were drawn to one thing in particular; a well read copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream was tucked underneath his arm.

So he liked Shakespeare did he? This was certainly going to be a fun experience then.

With the temptation too great to resist, the vampire quickly slipped out from underneath the shadows where he had been hiding and trailed behind the mysterious man at a leisurely pace, one that made it seem as though he were simply browsing the shops as well and not keeping an eye on the newcomer. He had followed after him for all but a moment before the scent of sweets seemed to fill the air, drawing the man in. Aleksandr shook his head with an amused smile crossing his features, but followed him into the shop anyway.

He was hit with the pleasant aroma of fresh sweets upon entering the shop and for a moment his vampiric senses cringed before getting used to the sugary scent that filled the air. His eyes wandered immediately to the display of chocolates and he made his way over, pretending to look at them as he glanced at the boy out of the corner of his eye when he spoke.

So he was German then. Interesting.

His ears picked up on the vague tone of sorrow that laced his tone and for a moment his facade faded, brow furrowing slightly.

So this mortal was suffering from something.

He listened to him as he ordered a Pumpkin Pastie and watched as he took refuge in one of the chairs in the shop, opening the book and beginning to read it as he began to eat the pastry he had been given.

Well he supposed now was as good a time as any.

Silently the vampire made his way over to the stranger, before he stood a small distance away from him. He could clearly see the title of the book as he observed him for a moment before closing the distance between them, his accented and surprisingly deep voice quoting a line from the well known play;

"How happy some o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she; But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so; He will not know what all but he do know; And as he errs, doting on Helen's eyes, So I, admiring of his qualities. Things base and vile, holding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

He paused for a moment, his icy blue eyes meeting the green eyes that had looked up to glance at him before he gifted the other male with a small and kind closed mouth smile, not wanting to flash his fangs and scare the other man away yet.

" Forgive me for intruding on your alone time. But I had noticed you valking around Hogsmeade vith that book and simply had to come and introduce myself. It is not often I see someone villingly read the genius that is Shakespeare after all. My name is Aleksandr Dombrovski, may I trouble you for your name little lamb?"

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Upon hearing the voice quote the beginning of the play, a slight smile surled at the corners of the Cupid's blow lips before the voice would reply, "Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste eings and no eyes figure unheedy haste. And therefore is Love said to be a child, because in choice he is so oft beguiled. As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, so the boy Love is perjured everywhere. For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne, he hailed down oaths that he was only mine." At first, the eyes did not fluxuate from the page, but soon swept upward and held the icy blue gaze that was directed down at him.

He was correct in saying that it was rare to find fans of Shakespeare in these modern days, but truth be told, Jamie normally was not mentally living in the present. He fantasized of the past, dreamed of the times that had gone by. For a moment, he studied the other male, taking in the mixture of austere beauty and dark, forbidden, secrets that seemed wrapped within him.

Merlin, those eyes.

"I ahm James Rosenthal. Jamie, if zee please. I just began verking aht zee school ahs zee Healer's Assistant. So, sie are also a lover off Shakespeare? Vat is zee favorite verk?" The book, worn from excessive reading, was closed around his finger and his attention was drawn into the other person again. Had he called him a lamb? That was a touch odd, but he asumed that it was a simple quirk.

Fingers pressed against scarlet locks and pushed them back behind the curve of his ear. This person was from the same corner of the globe. Russian? Had to be. His hair was something that he found beautiful and paired well with his features and smooth skin. Not to mention, the cologne coming off of him. He was beautiful.

[Deleted]

So this boy was not only a fan of Shakespeare but he also seemed to know his stuff as well, being able to pull a quote from the play just as easily as he himself had. Aleksandr's icy eyes watching as a slight smile formed on the lips of the red head. It seemed as though Aleksandr had made a very good choice, it was obvious that he would have a good conversation with this male. At the very least he would have a very good time quoting the works of Shakesphere with him, something that he had been unable to do with another person in a very long time.

" And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, So he dissolv'd, and showers of oaths did melt. I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight; Then to the wood will he to-morrow night, Pursue her; and for this intelligence If I have thanks, it is a dear expense: But herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again."

As soon as those pretty green eyes met his own icy blue, both males fell silent for a moment, each one studying the other. He could tell that the other one was curious about him as most mortals usually were. He was different, he radiated a different aura then most humans did. He was dark and dangerous and yet he was also alluring, very much like the forbidden fruit that was often mentioned in various mythology and yet there was something about the other man that also made the vampire curious about the mortal, made him want to stay in order to talk with him some more.

Made want to stay and look into those pretty green eyes for just a bit longer.

The younger man gave him his name, saying that although his name was James he would preferred to be called Jamie. The small bit of information was tucked away in the reccesses of his mind before he listened to the rest of the information that he had been given by the younger male. So he had just begun working as the healer's assistant at the school, he had been right to guess that this man was new to the village. " That is fascinating. I knew that you had to be new to the village. I vould have remembered seeing you around here before if you veren't."

He had already gone and made himself familiar with the residents so that he would notice if anyone was attacked or had gone missing earlier on in the year. " I suppose that it is a very good thing that I ran into you today. I am the auror that the ministry has placed here in Hogsmeade to protect the village from any harm for the time being. I also patrolled the tournament earlier on in the year."

He gave Jamie a small smile letting the information that he had given him soak in for a moment before answering his questions. " Da. I am a very big fan of Shakespeare. He is one of my very favorite vriters. As for my favorite...I do not think that I am able to be choosing just one! My favorites are Antony and Cleopatra, Macbeth and of course the great Romeo and Juliet. Vhat are your favorite vorks Jamie?"

He smiled pleasantly, pretending not to notice his confusion at being called a lamb. Let him think that it was just an odd quirk of his for now, though Aleksandr did quite honestly wonder.

What would he do if he knew the truth?

[Jamie Rosenthal]

It was a rare thing for Jamie to find someone that took interest in the same things he did. He had been known to have somewhat refined tastes that didn't interest many. The works of classic literature, antiques, fine alcohol, music, his father would be proud of him. His father was the sort that wanted the siblings to be cultured and refined, and their mother wanted them strong and smart. Both had their way. He leaned back in the chair, a hand surrounding the curve of his jaw for just a moment as he considered the works that he enjoyed the most. There were a few. But first...

"Ent scene. Sie know Shakespeare, sat is for sure. Mein faforites? Sey vould haf to be... Titus Andronicus, Macbeth, ant Romeo ant Juliet. Sen again, I liebe zee sonnets. Specifiklly number 18."

He looked up and let the pad of a milky thumb caress over the bottom slope of pale lips.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee."

Even the by heart telling of the sonnet would not do the work justice without the dreamy, passionate tugs of his voice. The whole sonnet held glimpses of his favorite subject matter: Timeless, never-ending love. As a mere mortal, he could not hope to see that sort of adoration. That was something that he kept inside, the yearning for just that. Forever was a concept that he could not quite grasp.

His thought skittered back to the here and now and his gaze lifted back to the other male.

"Sie needn't stant all day. Please shtay, sitten sie."

He gestured to the seat near him and smiled warmly. The art of conversation was something lost among the population of Berlin anymore. No one talked, not truly.

"Vat ees eet like, beink an Auror?"

[Deleted]

So they not only shared a love of Shakespeare but they also both held a love for one of the same plays that the master of literature had written. Romeo and Juliet, also known as one of the greatest and most tragic love stories ever written. Perhaps he would store that information in his mind to use on a later date with the younger male. Surely there were some sort of quotes in that play that he could use on Jamie later on to tease him just a little bit. Aleksandr had a feeling that it would be fun to tease him and that his reactions would not be disappointing, though he would wait until the other male was a little more comfortable around him before doing so.

After all, he didn't want to scare him off before the real fun began.

He listened calmly as Jamie began to recite to him a sonnet, one that he himself had known well as it had been the very first work of Shakespeare that he had ever read. It was a beautiful sonnet and it was spoken in such a beautiful and deep tone that made the words that spoke of undying and eternal love seem that much more heartfelt and emotional.

Aleksandr was a vampire, a creature that was almost always destined to live out a long and cruel exsistance filled with isolation and lonliness.The idea that there was a love out there somewhere that could be timeless, the idea that there might be a person out there made specifically for him, to save him from a lifetime of lonliness had always made him feel comforted.

It gave him hope that he would be different, that he would eventually find his soulmate if he merely kept his mind and heart open.

" I have to say, you have managed to impress me. That is probably my favorite out of the sonnets as vell. Endless love is such a very beautiful concept and I think Shakespeare did a very good job on bringing it justice in that piece. You did an excellent job reciting it as vell, I am sure that Shakespeare himself vould have been pleased to hear his vork read vith such conviction and emotion."

He fell quiet for a moment before giving the other male a smile when he made an invitation for Aleksandr to join him. Moving swiftly and yet with the grace that his kind was known to have, he quietly took up the seat near the other male. " Very vell then, thank you. As for vhat it is like to be an auror, it is really something that is a lot of hard vork and yet I find myself enjoying it. Vhen I am not in charge of protecting people, it is my job to go and chase after the dark vizards that endanger the lives of innocent people. I am helping make the vorld a safer place to live in and I am protecting the lives of people who are precious to me, so I enjoy my job greatly. Vhat about you? Vhat is it like being a healer?"

[Jamie Rosenthal]

"Is it strange zat I like zat sonnet for zee fery same reasonink? Zee appeal of a nefer endink lofe haz alvays appealled to me. Vell, at least after my parents died vas I efer truly avare of it. I sink zat it vas alvays a dream of mine, but faced vith deas...made it more prominint. I'm not sure vy I'm tellink you zis."

He chuckled, almost nervously. This Aleksandr was easy for him to talk to, oddly enough. He was so graceful, his movements were all but deliberate. Perhaps he knew that Jamie had a pull for beautiful things. No matter.

As Alek talked about being an Auror, he felt inclined to feel very proud of the job that required so much bravery and skill. It was a selfless job, much like healing, but he could see it as far more important than healing. Sure, healing was important, but preventing danger had a certain appeal.

"A vigilante for good, ja?"

The tone was light, almost teasing, yet still held an admiration.

"I haf a lot of admiration for your line of vork. It is fery selfless, no?"

When asked about healing, Jamie noticeably smiled and his posture changed. He was always so open to talking about his job, even to complete strangers. Everyone that he ever talked to about his job was always amazed of the amount of sheer passion that the man had to help others.

"Beink a healer is one of zee most revardink professions. I haf such a feelink of enjoyment ven I can help somevone lif zere life better. Savink lives on a regular basis...it is unmatched. I vorked in Saint Mungo's in Berlin for two years to gain my trainink, and vile I was zere, I had people come to me specifikally for my skill and for my compassion for helpink zem. Zere is no greater feelink zen ven people look up to me for somesing so important."

The smile he gave after that last statement was quite unmatched, spreading over his pale features, giving pale skin a glow of joy, only adding to the beauty that the man already had.

"So, now I ahm curious. Haf you had a mission zat you absolutely lofed? Be it for zee excitement, or for zee result. Any reason, really."

[Deleted]

" Nyet, I do not find it to be strange that you like it for the same reason that I am liking it for. I imagine that most people who adore that sonnet adore it for the very same reason. Unending love, timeless adoration. They are both very beautiful concepts, amazing and lovely dreams that give me both hope and strength. Perhaps somewhere out there, I may be able to find the one person that is meant to save me from a lonely exsistance. Perhaps there is someone out there that can give some sort of meaning to my life just as I am meant to do for them."

Wait, why had he told him all of that anyways? It wasn't like him to go and reveal such information to a stranger and yet as he stared at the other male, he found that for some reason he did not care.

When he spoke of being faced with death, Aleksandr watched him with a pair of sympathetic eyes. There was not much that he could do or say, having never been faced with death before himself. He was a vampire, there were very few things that could naturally kill him and he had been long gone when his parents had been murdered. " It's fine that you told me vhat you did. I do not mind lending an ear to those that need it."

When he had finished talking about what it was like to be an auror and he heard the remarks that had been made by Jamie, he couldn't help but laugh, his hand moving up to his mouth in order to both muffle his musical laughter and to keep his fangs hidden from view until he managed to calm down and he gave the German another smile. " A vigilante? I suppose that you can see it as something like that. Thank you for the admiration, though I do believe that many more people are villing to do it just because of the adventure and danger that comes vith the job."

He watched in slight surprise as Jamie's demeanor seemed to change. He was given a bright and noticable smile and the younger man's posture changed. Aleksandr listened quietly, intently as he spoke of his medical career, saying that he had worked for two years in the wizarding hospital in Berlin, Germany in order to complete his training. Apparently he had been very skilled, as he had had people going to Berlin to request him specifically. " That is very impressive. You must be a very skilled healer. Though I suppose that much is clear vhen you have people requesting you by name, right?"

Again, Jamie was given another smile before a small chuckle left his mouth again. " You certainly seem to be a much more selfless then I could ever hope to be and yet here you are complimenting me because I am an auror. It is sort of funny...at least it is to me. It really should be the other way around." He was essentially a selfish creature by nature, to even be referenced as being selfless was something that he found to be humorous.

" To answer your question, I think the mission that I love the most is this one that I am currently doing right now. I am assigned to protect this village along vith everyone who comes here. It is a very simple job and I get the pleasure of vatching the Triwizard tournament so I am very happy vith the vay that things are right now at this moment."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Jamie found pink rising up to his cheeks. It was even rarer for someone to also hold the same adoration for the idea of eternal love. It was refreshing for him, actually, considering Li often teased him mercilessly on the subject of his love life. He had been more focued on school than dating while he was there, and then there was the strangeness of his disorder that made most really panic. He smiled softly, speaking in a soft and dreamy voice.

"It is a source of comfort, ja? It does make one feel a bit hopeless, zough. Zere are so many people in zee world, how vould one know zat zey find zee right person? Findink zat one person could take a lifetime ant for some, it has. Some ae lucky to find zem so quickly."

Living a lonely existence was not something that he wanted for anyone. Ever.

"My parents vere married 25 years vhen my mutter vas killed. She vas an Auror, like you. My fahtter vorked in intelligence ant he did not rest until he found her killer. He died the following year, no closer to findink zem. My sister sinks zat his heart could not take beink visout her. Zee idea of a lofe zat powerful vas somesing zat I could not ignore, zough...my sister has alvays been content in her solitude. Vis our gift...vee haf to be careful."

He couldn't believe he was telling him all of these things, but, the words just kept coming!

"Vee are metamorphmagi, so you can see vhy caution vas alvays used around ozers."

Dark wizards seemed to love the rarity of the metamorphmagi, trying hard to ensnare those with these gifts, as they made the best spies.

"She alvays said zat I vould be zee one tobe manipulated vis my dreamy disposition. People used to try, but I learned quickly how to tell zee intentions of a person."

He leaned back slowly, looking at those eyes of the other male and after a moment, the shape of his eyes and the color changed to mirror the gaze that was fixed upon him, then shifted to a deep brown, a wild violet, then back to the soft and serene jade green color and the normal shape that they always were. He didn't move, only blinked once to prove it to be no joke.

"I ahm alvays cautious, but of all zee people I haf met...I do not fear you, efen zough your aura suggests I should."

After a moment of quiet contemplation, he tapped his thumb against his lower lip again.

"Zee tournament...mein gott...I vish I had zee opportunity to haf seen from zee beginnink. How is zee Durnstrang champion doink? If I had known, I vould haf contacted the goot Madame sooner vis my offer to vork vis her."

The tournament was something that he had always wished he could have joined. With his skills, he could have done well! Really well. Though, his condition would have made too many people worry about him. Worry that he was injured to a point that would end his so fragile life. Broken bones were as near a death sentence as he could get, same with snake bites and spider bites. Any little thing could cut him down like a flower under a blade.

Life was so fragile.

"Are you at zee school often now? It vould be nice to haf zee opportunity to continue to talk vis you."

[Deleted]

He watched as a light shade of pink began to cover the flesh on the German's cheeks after he had spoken about how he himself felt about the idea of everlasting love. It was almost endearing really, just how sweetly he reacted to his honesty. His eyes took in the soft smile and the soft, almost dreamy quality to the younger man's tone as he spoke again, saying that while the idea of a soulmate was comforting, it was also enough to make one feel hopeless because of the sheer amount of people that there were in the world, something that caused him to smile at him.

" It is true that there are a large number of people that are in the vorld, but I also believe that vhen you meet the person that you are destined to be vith then you vill surely know. Yes, some people are lucky and manage to find their soulmates faster then others but I believe that everything is meant to happen for a reason. Perhaps it takes some people longer to find their soulmate so that vhen they finally find them, they vill truly appreciate them."

He paused when Jamie began to talk again about his parents, listening very carefully before smiling again for what seemed like the hundreth time that afternoon. " That is amazing that their love vas something that strong, though I am sorry that they met that sort of end. Love is a very beautiful and powerful thing that vorks in such strange vays. It is a shame that something so beautiful vas ended so soon. As for being unable to ignore it, I believe that that is something that is completely natural when you grow up faced vith something such as that."

Again he fell quiet when he heard him mention a gift, his head tilting to the side in curiosity. What sort of gift would cause them to have to be careful? What kind of skill would cause them to have to be so cautious? He got his answer a moment later when he was told that both him and his sister were Metamorphmagi and suddenly he understood. Dark wizards were known for going after Metamorphmagi in order to try and use them as spies. " I am glad that nothing has happened to the either of you so far then. Your gifts are very rare and I've heard of just vhat people are villing to do to get their hands on people vith that gift. I am happy that you have learned how to tell vhat the intentions of a person are, it makes you that much safer in the end."

He watched as Jamie leaned back in the chair that he was sitting in and suddenly the shape of his eyes as well as the color began to change. They immediately changed, mirroring his own gaze for a moment before changing to a deep brown. From there they shifted to a wild violet before falling back to their normal pretty green color. So he truly was a Metamorph.

His attention was drawn from his eyes and back to his words, his lips forming the slightest bit of a smirk when Jamie said that while the aura that he suggested that he should be feared, he did not fear Aleksandr. He truly was a perceptive mortal and he wondered just how long it would be until he found out what his secret was. " You need not be cautious around here. It is my job to protect those who are in the school and those that reside in Hogsmeade. You are in my jurisdiction and I assure you that it vill be very hard for any dark vizards to enter this village vithout me knowing. You are safe here." Well, as safe as he could be with a small horde a vampires, two werewolves and all of the creatures that lurked in the Forbidden Forest could be anyhow.

Damn, things sure had gotten dangerous over the years that he had been gone. When he was asked about the tournament, he was greeted with a smirk. " The Durmstrang champion vas doing very vell at first. He took the first challenge vithout seemingly any trouble. However, the Hogwarts champion took the second one. It seems like it could go either vay right now, though I am rooting not so secretly for the Hogwarts champion. The Beauxbatons champion is a complete and utter joke however, a little girl that throws herself at the Hogwarts champion every chance she gets. I feel bad for that school."

When he was asked if he was at the school often, he smiled before answering him calmly. " I actually live here in Hogsmeade full time. My parents left me a home in their vill and vhen they passed I chose to come here and live in it. The ministry leaves me here in order to protect the village unless they need me to leave and complete a mission for them, then I leave until I complete it and return back here. However, my mission is to vatch over the tournament and to patrol the village and the Forbidden Forest so I am always nearby if you are vanting to speak vith me."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

It was odd that Jamie felt comfortable enough to reveal one of his secrets to Aleksandr, but the other, he would never reveal. It could wind up being the end of him if that information fell on the wrong ears. All any Dark Wizard had to do was puncture him somewhere inconspicious, and he would slowly bleed out until he did what they needed to do because he would not know to heal himself. He had walked on a broken leg, thrown with a broken arm, and been never the wiser until someone actually pointed it out to him. He felt awful that he had to always be so careful as it took away from the full zest of life.

"Zere is somesing beautiful in zee sought of searchink zee vorld for that ozer heart zat beats vis your own. Zee one person zat makes zee whole of time cease to exist ant zee vorld becomes real."

As opposed to a dream, a rat race, a nightmare, a tragedy, a comedy, just making it by as most people seemed to live it. No one really took the time to watch the clouds, to watch the grass dance in the wind, to stand in the rain...to kiss in the rain. Something in the poetic call of kissing someone in the rain, water was something that was akin to life and a kiss was a spark of love to the heart. Could anything be any more perfect?

"If it vere possible, I vould find mine soon. If you sink about it, life is short ant fragile. It could ent tomorrow. If I died tomorrow, I vould vant to know zat my soulmate knew zat I lofe zem vith all I haf."

How close that was to true. His life could end tomorrow, all it would take was one cut that went unnoticed.

"I must seem very veak to sink zat vay, but, I vould rather be fragile zen strong. Zee most beautiful sings in zee vorld are fragile."

Feathers, spider webs, dew drops, glass, all fragile.

He smiled, listening about the tournament. Hearing the comment about the Beauxbatons girl made him laugh heartily. He had gathered that from her from when he had wandered the grounds earlier.

"She does come off as a silly little girl. I hope her school didn't haf anysing ridink on her vinnink. I hope zee Hogwarts champion does vin, actually. Despite beink from Durmstrang, our school is known for ozer sings. Hogwarts students are known for excellink."

So, he lived here? That must be easy for him to work here too. Convienent too.

"You lif here? Zat must be nice. Zis village is charmink. I just moved to London before comink here. I haf to be in a city, zee white noise helps me sleep better. Else, I vould vind up playink over zee day in my head and dreamink of zee perfect day vis zee people I interact vis. It's silly, but, I haf alvays done so. Do you like it here?"

[Deleted]

" I agree vith you, there is something that is beautiful in searching through the entire world, combing through various cities and places to find that one person in the vorld, the one that is willing to spend the rest of their life, the rest of their exsistance by my side. I vant to meet the one person who is villing to give up everything for me, that is viling to allow time to stop and make me the center of their vorld. I vant someone who vants me and only me. I crave, no I need that sort of devotion, that sort of commitment before I allow myself to love anyone."

After all, there was a very good chance that the person that he fell in love with would be mortal and if they were he would have to eventually turn them into one of his own kind. He would have to ask them to allow him to make them into a vampire, for his life as a vampire would ensure that he would long outlive any mortal that he might love. It was because of what he was, that he could not respond to Jamie's statement about life being short and fragile, for he knew that he himself could never relate.

" Anything is possible Jamie. One must simply keep their minds open vhen it comes to this sort of thing for it is quite possible that the person that you least expect just might be the person that you are destined to spend your life vith and all I know is that vhen you find them, you hold onto to them and never let them go. Love vith all that you are so that vhen the time comes for either you or them to leave this vorld, you vill have absolutely no regrets." He paused for a moment before allowing himself to continue. " I do not think that you are veak because you are fragile, in fact I agree vith you completely. I find that the most beautiful things are the things that are fleeting. Life is beautiful. Fragile people are always the most beautiful. There are so many different fragile things, each more beautiful then the last. It is almost a shame that one day, they vill end."

Perhaps that was the one thing that bothered him the most about what he was. He would have to watch as all the things in the world changed and aged while he stayed the same. He would have to watch babies age into adults and have their own kids while he himself remained alone in his isolation, wandering about the world with a meaningless exsistance until he found that one special person that would give him a reason to enjoy his exsistance.

It was almost maddening.

He was glad when the subject was changed again, this time falling back to the tournament. That laugh was enough to make him smile as he felt that small bought of depression that he had begun to feel fade away. It was times like this that made him forget about the depressing aspects of his life as he laughed along with the other male, hand once again moving up to hide his fangs. " I hope not either. I feel bad for them if they vere. There is no vay that she vill best either our champion or Durmstrang's, that much has already been made clear to those who are vatching. I have to say that I am impressed, I cannot say that I could ever root for any school other than Hogwarts, since this vas the school that I myself attended vhen I vas younger."

Another pause, before he answered his question again.

" Yes I live here. I've lived here since the very beginning of the year. I do like it here, at least for now. It is peaceful here and it is a nice change from vhere I used to live in the past. Perhaps one day, vhen this all over and done vith I vill move again but for now I am happy." It was nice to finally settle down and relax somewhere after spending a large portion of his youth on the move and chasing after Nikolai to keep an eye on him.

[Jamie Rosenthal]

"Love sought is good, but given unsought is better."

Shakespeare had once again said it best, and he smiled at the quote from Twelfth Night and his fingers captured the crimson strands that fell so freely over his shoulders and the ends curled upward, as if seeking the smile that spread over his lips.

"Or, if you prefer,
'No sooner met but they looked;
No sooner looked but they loved;
No sooner loved but they sighed;
No sooner signed but they asked one another the reason;
No sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy;
And in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage.'"

The man was a master of describing the soul's desires for love. He had to admit that speaking such quotes aloud would pull at his heartstrings and give him the renewed desire to search for that missing piece of his heart. It was certainly something he felt he was always searching for, but in a not so direct manner. While he desired to find his soulmate, he wanted more than anything to be found. To see the yearning in another's eyes. Call him hopeless if you want, but he hungered for someone to need him.

"I never intend to let zem go once I ahm able to find zem. I sink zat, I vould be zee sort to try to bend Heaven ant Ears (Earth) to make zem happy vis me. Or, as my sister vould say, I vould svallow zee moon ant become zere gravity. If it vere possible, I sink I vould. I sink, honestly, zat I vould do anysing to make someone happy. It is not somesink I vould haf to sink about tvice. I vould be zee one to gif eferysink ant expect nosink but zere lofe in return."

But, then again, that was the way he was. Selfless.

As the conversation turned to the tournament, he smiled again, watching the way those ice blue eyes lit up when discussing his former alma mater. It was something he almost always loved when he talked to people from the wizarding community. The sense of loyalty within them was always something that was beautiful and rare.

"You vent to Hogwarts? I vould haf placed your accent to Durmstrang and your looks to Beauxbatons. I haf noticed zat Hogwarts students are fery loyal ant strong. Zat is somesink zat suits you too."

Did he just flirt?

It certainly came out that way. Hm. That was odd. Normally he guarded against being so open with comments like that. That wasn't the first time that this man managed to puncture a hole in his defenses. He had to be more careful!

Instead of reacting negatively to that little Freudian slip, he found a smile gracing his lips again. "People sought zat I vent to Beauxbatons too. No one had zee thought to efen pair me vis Durmstrang. Zey sink it is too dark for someone like me, but not all of zee students are zat way."

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" ... Which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage. They are in the very wrath of love, and they will together. Clubs cannot part them." He finished reciting the very section that his companion had chosen to start, ice blue eyes alight in some sort of positive emotion as he stared at his companion.As time passed he found himself more and more glad that he had chosen to seek out the male and have a conversation with him. This truly was one of the deepest and one of the most pleasant conversations that he had in a very long time.

As the German spoke of just what he would be willing to do for his soulmate he could feel his eyes widen slightly. While he had managed to gather that this mortal, this man was very different from most others, he had never thought to dream that he would find a mortal this different. This man seemed to be almost completely selfless, something that was very rare amongst humans in this time and era. It was something that had managed to take the vampire completely by shock. " How very noble and selfless of you. Vhoever your soulmate is shall be a very lucky person to have such a dedicated person by their side."

He chuckled quietly at the surpised reaction that he had recieved when he had said that he came from Hogwarts. " Da. I am a Hogwarts graduate. I vill not lie, I vas almost sent to Durmstrang back vhen I vas a little boy. My parents vere both Durmstrang graduates and vanted me to go there as vas tradition in our family. However, I vas sent letters from all three of the vizarding schools and because I vas a rebellious little one, I chose the one that vas furthest avay from my home in Russia." His brow rose slightly in amusement as he heard the German say that the qualities that were known to be in Hogwarts students seemed to suit him well.

Was he trying to flirt with the vampire? How amusing.

" спасибо." [Thank you] His eyes gazed at the male across from him with a strange seriousness for a moment before softening and he gave him another smile. " I figured that you were Durmstrang based on the accent and the fact that you asked me how the Durmstrang champion was doing. No Hogwarts or Beauxbatons alumni would have given a damn about how Durmstrang vas doing. For the most part ve are all a bunch of prideful and selfish people."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

He laughed softly, knowing full well that he was easily figured out. No matter, he was loyal to both schools. Some had trouble balancing such allegiances and it was easy to understand why with wizarding politics. He really found no need to seperate the schools like they were, but there was significant differences to be found between them. Still, there was an understanding that they all came together for a greater good, even Durmstrang, where many feared wizards had been bred from.
"I did not efen realize zat I had asked before I did. In my heart, I vill alvays be a proud son of Durmstrang, but, vith Hogwarts as my employer, I do show some loyalty to zem, efen against Durmstrang."

Jade eyes climbed to the window to monitor the position of the sun, he didn't want to be running back in the middle of the night. That would not look very good. Rather than worry about it, he asked in an earnest tone.

"Might I trouble you for a tour of zee village? I vas told to acquaint myself vis zee layout so zat I know vere sings are. Since you lif here, it vould be nice, since I already know your name, and vee could continue our conversation."

He did not want to cut the conversation short by any means. It was not often that he found the company of another such a joy and he was willing to do anything to keep the stimulating conversation going. Jamie flashed Aleksandr a smile and offered with that same smile and a slight blush.

"I vould be villink to pay, if necessary, for zee use of your time, considerink how busy you must be."

With little effort, he rose from the chair, stopping once straightened to check the fronts and backs of each hand. The gesture looked programmed, but unbothersome as he examined his skin for cuts and bruises. It may have seemed off, but it was a necessary precaution.

The pumpkin pastys that he had purchased were wrapped in a bag securely and the book placed in an inner pocket of his cape. Everything was put in its place.