Change [In The House of Ravens] (OPEN)

[Andrei Winter]

The night sky was one filled with stars and the mists of the unknown twirling about them like an unexpected dance partner. There was a thin layer of snow upon the ground outside, and laying among it was a young man who stared off into the nothingness without a word. Ever since last summer, ever since Mordecai died, things had been odd within him. His temper grew almost foul, and his soul felt consumed by bitterness. Normally, in class he would sit in the back and at least listen. Now he stayed in the dark corners and glowered. People approached him and spoke of how wonderful Mordecai had been, how handsome and brave he was to try to save him from the werewolf.

Andrei had killed it for destroying his brother, but not before those great claws ripped through his feeble skin to remind him of what he was made of.

Blood and broken bone.

"I am not made of steel and chiseled stone, I am mere skin draped over blood and bone."

Mordecai's infernal rhyming had become as much a part of him as breathing. He couldn't speak without it, and wouldn't when he couldn't think of a rhyme for what he wanted to say. It was his way of keeping Mordecai alive in him. He hated him and loved him.

Underneath the thin snowflakes, the too warm Ravenclaw's breath melted the flakes in the air and lay still, shirtless in the cold. Steam rose off of his skin at such a rate that his body temperature must have been near feverish, but he wasn't sick. Oddly. But, under the moonlight, that pale skin glowed with an ethereal tone around those dark, marring scars. His face appeared made of marble, but when he looked up, those unsettling hazel colored eyes would hold a sorrowful gaze. The dark red hair dye had begun to fade away, and it was leaving way for the black beneath it.

Where the young man had been very slim for years, this year he was notably stronger, faster, more agile. Still, no one noticed, caught up in the death of the best damn Winter son. It made him so angry that no one bloody noticed him through his brother's existence. His death was no different. Wonderful. Even with that righteous prick gone, he couldn't make his own way.

Muscles twitched slightly as a snowflake fell on the strong forming abdominal and he sighed again. The snow. He loved it.

[shava4]

``Genevieve Slade Burke

[/font][/color][/size]

THE SOUND OF ROLLIN' DICE TO ME
is music in the air, although I don't play fair,
IT'S MUCH MORE FUN WITH LIVES ON THE LINE

It was night time and on the weekend. Though it was not yet past curfew, Genevieve was one of the prefects and one of the few who had no problem wandering around outside in the dark. Her father had cured her of a fear of the dark before it could start, long ago. Death was the same way. Maybe that was why when the halls were under control of the rest, she often took a walk around the outside to enjoy the darkness and it's solitude. As she walked around the school's interior space, she noticed the flakes floating through the air as nature wove her carpet over the dead and dying leaves. She breathed deep, enjoying the crisp cold air, the power in the air from the forces of nature at work.

Genevieve couldn't miss the figure lying in the dark, her sharp eyes picking whoever it was out easily. Grinning she headed over, not directly but in a general way. When she got closer she made sure to crunch the snow a bit, just to hear the squeaks and prevent this from being a surprise to someone. Up close she thought she might recognize the face, certainly belonging to an older student. Ah well, a courtesy call wasn't out of line for moment like this. Oddly, she noticed his shirt was off, the snow flaking onto his skin in a way which was at worst eye catching and at best, extremely provocative from her angle!

"Well well, I think I've finally found a patch of earth too warm for the snow to stick to." She squatted down about a foot away, not looking down at him but at the sky. "Extremely beautiful evening tonight. Snow will make it much easier for the predators, warmer for all the little creatures in their burrows." She liked a fair field and snow made it equal in different ways for all. A glance down at her silent conversationalist, though conversation wasn't exactly what she was getting from him. His skin was like white alabaster in the moonlight, little dots of glimmering water from snowflakes on his skin like a classic statue raised to the light for the first time since it's retreat into a hidden tomb centuries before.

Gene licked her lips once.

Pulling the hood of her cloak up over her head to keep the snow out of her hair, she focused just long enough to turn her skin a bit more white, her scent to something more pleasurable and earthy like pine needles. "I thought I would just let you know the time. You've got an hour still, as much as you seem to be enjoying this. Lie out in the snow often mister or you just feeling the demon for it this evening?" Her eyes made it clear as she looked down into his she didn't know him or his brother either one, the light behind her making her seem a bit supernatural herself, the red cloak she wore giving her a bloodier outline then one might think.

"My my, what big eyes you have..."

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

words||

[/font]More then enough.[/size][/font]
notes|| [/font]Ooo, what storyline am I hinting at... [/size][/font]
lyrics|| [/font]The Oogie Boogie's Song.[/size][/font]
credit|| [/font]katierockskthanx.[/size][/font][/left]
[/center]

[Andrei Winter]

As the steps approached and the voice filled his solitude, he didn't pay much attention to much that she said until the red color flashed out of the corner of his eyes. In a swift sweep, he moved from laying, to seated. Muscles tight and senses alert, pale lips pulled into a most wicked smirk. "The better to see you with, my dear;The better to see your smile so clear." That voice. Easily the most distinguished thing about him was the depth of his voice. It something akin to a rich tenor, thick with a native accent, chilling and soothing at one time.

The Romanian youth shook back red dyed hair, and considered her question. Why was he outside? "The snow is reminiscent of home for me;The lake is close as I'll get to the sea." There was something vaguely animalistic in the way his body moved as he got up to his feet, moving in an instinctual circle around toward where she was perched. So delicate among the snow, enough to capture his interest, and the way that she spoke of predators captured his interest.

"Predators are simply those cunning enough to not be caught;It's a lesson that all living creatures should simply be taught." Those scars were much more noticeable now that the shade was cast upon them. The moon was yet to be full, but something about the outdoors was driving the back of his mind nearly mad. No one knew that over time, Andrei Winter was slowly giving way to a series of changes.

The first change was in his strength, he noticed that he could carry more, longer, which was good in class. Then, his speed. He had the worst urge to run now and it was sometimes unbearable enough that is would send him out to sprint through the grounds. Next, his agility. He wouldn't have noticed if he wouldn't have gone diving after a classmate's dropped Rememberall, caught it inches from the ground, tucked and rolled and handed it back to him without missing a step in the other direction. It was interesting.

Still, despite the smirk, he still had brilliant eyes that laughed with a much more sincere light. He enjoyed it too. "What is your name, lest I am forced into calling you Red." There was the softest beginning of a growl with that color, the focus on that color breaking his meter and rhyme beyond fixing it.

[shava4]

``Genevieve Slade Burke

[/font][/color][/size]

THE SOUND OF ROLLIN' DICE TO ME
is music in the air, although I don't play fair,
IT'S MUCH MORE FUN WITH LIVES ON THE LINE

She was a bit surprised at the speed he could move at and even mre so, his flexibility. In one swift move he went from lying on his back to sitting up and while she didn't fall back, her eyes did light up some. "Okay. now that was freaking cool. You have to show me that move sometime cause I would love to learn that..." He spoke in an odd rhyme type, but for those moves she could put up with it. She smiled with a glint of avarice in her eyes at the thought of learning something like that and answered him just as quickly. "Nice voice too, though the rhyme thing is different. But your eyes really do stand out. maybe it was the moon making the whites pop..."

Okay the second move was not nearly as cool, but now she saw his hair for the first time. "All right, now this is what I'm talking about! Cool moves, very flexible, big eyes, and now red hair? I'm in heaven..." She might have been seen as sarcastic, but she was nearly wanting to reach out for the hair. And all those muscles? Divine indeed! Genevieve, who rarely went for boys, suddenly found herself attracted, even if only just starting! "Truth. When my father hunts he is the same way..." The rhyme thing was definitely a bit weird, maybe even a touch spooky. "Does everyone talk the way you do back where you're from? You do that awfully eas-- whoa!" Now she saw the scars and her eyes popped.

She knew how deadly those looked. How was he even alive still! "Okay, jeeze, what got you? Does it hurt?" She reached out (ignoring personal space, a common factor for her) and lightly brushed his chest, feeling one of them with very light fingers. "How long ago did that happen? Are you a hunter or did you get attacked? How did you survive?" His skin was hot to the touch and Gene felt another moment of desire, despite his being a year ahead. Curling up literally to a hot guy in the winter? Her mother had said it was one of the best things in the world.

"I'll trade you, name for name. My name is Genevieve. Red for my cloak? Clever boy, I kind of like that. What do you want to be called besides rug? And where are you from, tall, pale, and flexible?" The way she said flexible said she thought that was one of his best traits already.

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

words||

[/font]More then enough.[/size][/font]
notes|| [/font]Oh my. [/size][/font]
lyrics|| [/font]The Oogie Boogie's Song.[/size][/font]
credit|| [/font]katierockskthanx.[/size][/font][/left]
[/center]

[Andrei Winter]

A smirk crossed his lips, something akin to mild intrigue crossed his face as he looked at her. "The rhyming was a game that my twin, may he rest in peace, began when we were children. Sometimes, I do it simply out of habit. As for my flexibility, there are many things I could teach you, Little Red." He was purely teasing with the name, but did it ever suit her. His hands moved to settle on the dip of muscle that carved into his waist when her hand had reached out to touch the scars and it drew a sharp inhale from him, but he did not move away, did not look away, nor did he grimace.

No one had ever asked him about it, too wrapped up in the death of the perfect prick to wonder if anyone else had been injured during the attack. Instead of settling on his waist as planned, the young man placed a moonkissed hand on top of hers and gave a deep inhale. "That, is the result of a werewolf attack on my hometown. The attack resulted in the death of my twin, my rather savage push to using the Unforgivable Curses, and the relocation of my family to escape them."

Honest as the day was short in the winter, Andrei lowered his gaze. "I was on trial for the use of such a spell, but it was rendered self defense. I don't want to ever have to use it again, but I would not hesitate to do so if it were necessary."

Her name was given, and he made a point to remember it. "Well, Genevieve..." He began, taking a step back with one leg to lower into a solid bow, raising her hand to his lips to a deft placement of his lips, "I am Andrei. Most people call me Snow, if they remember my name. I am from the Hoia-Baciu Forest in Romania." Those hazel eyes lifted with a revived spark of laughter within them.

"Between us, I may continue to call you Little Red. It suits you well."

[shava4]

``Genevieve Slade Burke

[/font][/color][/size]

THE SOUND OF ROLLIN' DICE TO ME
is music in the air, although I don't play fair,
IT'S MUCH MORE FUN WITH LIVES ON THE LINE

Oh ouch. Hearing he had had a twin and they were now dead, that was rough. She could imagine her brothers would feel the same if any of them got killed, something she did not like thinking about. "Oh sorry, that must be rough for you. Was it a long time ago or recent? I have four brothers that whatever-you-call-it just above triplets. I've seen how close they are so it must have been hard for you. Good to see you haven't given up." Habits. Funny how one could get stuck in those easily, like the knife towels she kept ready even in her locker at school, ready to clean up a mess.

She flashed him a smile which said she knew exactly what kind of flexibility he meant and she wasn't turned off by him. There is little that is less flirtatious then that kind of look. To a guy.

He put a hot hand over hers and she didn't move, worried for a moment she might have offended. her eyes grew quite wide at his words. "A werewolf? Oh wow, I've heard they're very dangerous. And you used one of them??" Oh hot damn, a guy with guts too! "How did you even learn them, I thought they were forbidden! I don't know anyone who even knew the command much less had used one." And he had been on trial? Wow, this story got better and freaking better! "Wow. Like, I have no idea what to say..."

Instead she put her other hand over on the side of his head, sympathy in her eyes and care in her heart. It must have been a terrible time to go through losing a twin and having to do the unthinkable to survive, then being put on trial for surviving! "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that, I really am. People can be stupid about things they don't know about." And then he did something more then a little charming to her; he bowed before kissing her hand. She had to stop herself from being too obvious about checking his ring finger or licking her lips; either would be too much.

"Pleasure to meet you, An-drei," trying to get the name correct over the beating of her heart, "and Snow sounds much better then rug I have to admit." 'Give new meaning to lazing around on the rug though...' She cleared her throat as he admitted he liked red though. "Well I'll just have to live up to that now won't I?" She focused for a second and her locks turned blood-red right then and there, a bright cheery shade. And her scent? A cherry pie, a smell she found deeply succulent which said much about what she was thinking of at that time...

"So, Andrei," she said purposefully raising her voice a small notch, "You often go around seducing young women by laying around in snow with your shirt off? Cause if so I have to say it's a very sneaky thing, you bad bad awesome bad boy."

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

words||

[/font]More then enough.[/size][/font]
notes|| [/font]Oh, she likeys XD [/size][/font]
lyrics|| [/font]The Oogie Boogie's Song.[/size][/font]
credit|| [/font]katierockskthanx.[/size][/font][/left]
[/center]

[Andrei Winter]

The sudden change in her scent was something that quite quickly captured his attention. The fruity smell was something that attempted to make his mouth water. Beautiful in blood red, she was. Something he would have to remember. "It was recent, about 5 months ago or so. The forest is full of them, but normally they do not come near the residences. We spend most of the summer months driving them back by all means."

As she spoke his name, he found himself smiling a bit more genuinely. Something in the way her lips formed the sounds was something that captured his attention. "Do I? Certainly not. I get too warm and simply slip out. Most women would sooner fawn over a basilisk than me, but that's fine. I just keep to myself...until this lovely little Red appeared among the snow. And I just couldn't help myself." Mordecai had been the ladies man. He was only just now becoming less awkward.

"I'll bet you're a gem among the real snowfall in the winter. Especially with that red...something about that shade on top of the snow just makes me shiver." The 'sh' sound was held out slightly and a mischievous wink followed the last syllable of the word. "Do you often walk outside, ensnaring unsuspecting young men with those eyes of yours?" He teased.

[shava4]

``Genevieve Slade Burke

[/font][/color][/size]

THE SOUND OF ROLLIN' DICE TO ME
is music in the air, although I don't play fair,
IT'S MUCH MORE FUN WITH LIVES ON THE LINE

Her face became a bit puzzled, wondering about his phrasing. "I thought werewolves tended to the solitary? Are you at war with them cause it sounds like it from the way you say it..." Not like they had a choice in their species really; from what she had heard wizarding society had done a number on those who became infected. That was when something occurred to her. "Wow, so these" she fingered the edge of a scar, a bit attracted by it if she was honest with herself "are from the werewolf's attack? You didn't get bitten by him did you?"

Man, this guy had battled a werewolf up close and personal and killed it. That took more then just balls... Her temperature went up a bit just at the thought of it. "Well sorry if this seems rude or irreverent, but I happen to think they look like a badge of courage, says something about the person who bears with them." By then her eyes had fallen to his lips, licking her own once before forcing her eyes back up to his. "I'm glad I wandered over closer then! Are you always this warm to the touch or is it just my temperature going up?"

Ooo, sounded like he liked the way she looked as well! Being a year younger she felt a little pang of disappointment cause he wouldn't be around a long time, but the idea of how to spend that time left over... "Well thank you, maybe if things go well we can try and set something up for you." Her fingers caught a lock of hair and pulled it through her fingers, her red hair curling at the end as she did so. "Oh no," she said with a throaty chuckle, "normally I find no innocents out here. But I do make a round to make sure no one is out here after time. I often find it's the bad ones I have to keep a good eye on..."

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

words||

[/font]More then enough.[/size][/font]
notes|| [/font]Oh, she likeys XD [/size][/font]
lyrics|| [/font]The Oogie Boogie's Song.[/size][/font]
credit|| [/font]katierockskthanx.[/size][/font][/left]
[/center]

[Andrei Winter]

"War is the closest thing that I could imagine calling it. I never wanted to have to go into battle with them, but something in the village near our castle stirred them up and it was as if the numbers kept increasing. We stayed uninvolved, until they neared our home. It wasn't uncommon for us to be fighting them off all night was whatever spells and enchantments we could recall." He seemed to be trying to attempt to remember what exactly it was that had made the numbers increase. No bells.

"Bitten, no. Just scratched. That's what these are from." His warm hand guided her soft fingertips along those jagged scars. It had taken forever for the blood to stop, all he could remember was his mother trying to desperately heal him and all the magic only made his blood burn hotter until he was screaming and delusional. He could see Mordecai laying on the ground near him with most of his throat ripped out and all he could think was, 'why wasn't it me?'

Christ, Mordecai had the life. He had a boyfriend, the hearts of every girl in school...

Shit. Patrick.

He hadn't seen the Gryffindor boy yet this year, and it was probably for the best. The blonde boy might have killed him for this.

The passing of her tongue over her lips was something that he found almost unbearably enticing. It captured his attention for the longest passing moment before he finally answered her question, "You're quite warm, but I am scalding...the snow feels so good that it's nearly..." Orgasmic. Yes. That was the word, but the wink he gave her filled in the blank.

With her statement of watching the bad ones, he smiled wickedly, "So, am I a bad boy in need of rectifying? Careful, Red...I might just like that." Oh, he teased, adding without a second thought, "If not, I might just huff...and puff...and blow the castle down for you, Red."

[shava4]

``Genevieve Slade Burke

[/font][/color][/size]

THE SOUND OF ROLLIN' DICE TO ME
is music in the air, although I don't play fair,
IT'S MUCH MORE FUN WITH LIVES ON THE LINE

He spoke of war, this pale angel in the snow and she found herself almost wanting to push him down in it and kiss him soundly, but she wasn't that easy. Damn it! How could boys be so hot and not realize it? Unfair! Looking at her hand in his on his chest, she couldn't help but feel she was on the edge of something really big, something more then a simple date possibly being discussed. "I respect that. You didn't start it, but you defend your family, the ones who are precious to you." A second's pause, a curious wonder. "I wonder what stirred them up..."

As he guided her fingers, giving her a kind of permission, she sucked in her breath a bit. 'Damn...' Scars were history, a record of your life. They spoke of decisions and consequences taken and the changes experience wrought on you for those same choices. This was the map of Andrei, part of the key to what and who he was and why he was alive still and that might be why it drew her so much. He wrapped himself in life and it showed in the extremely strong reaction she was having to him. Unlike most boys, Andrei had already convinced her he was more then just a man; he was a man who took charge and did what was needed!

"That's at least good. I'm sorry this happened. Does it hurt much? What do you do to make it feel better?" Her eyes showed her interest mixed with concern. Genevieve did not want to remove her hand, stop feeling the heat coming off his skin; this was life, this was adventure! Her smile grew a bit wider and she leaned closer to him as he spoke, winking at her. "Oh really now? So I can help you by just doing..." With her other hand she bent down (not removing her other hand) and scooped some snow off a bush top, placing it on his skin above one of the two more sensitive spots on his chest.

The idea of water running down his chest over those washboards made her head spin slightly!

A throaty chuckle for his response and she ran her hand down the rest of the way to his waist, hooking her fingers lightly over his belt line as the first bit of water caught her eyes rolling down towards his abs. Suddenly her forehead had perspiration on it. "Rectifying? Oh I didn't say anything about rectifying, I said keepin' an eye on..." Her eyes tracked the water droplet and she licked her lips again, unable to stop herself. "And trust me when I say keeping an eye on you I think will become one of my favorite things to do..."

Looking back up at him, she titled her head to one side; no one had ever accused her of not being direct. "Andrei, you ever go dancing?"

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

words||

[/font]More then enough.[/size][/font]
notes|| [/font]Naughty abs, distracting her that way... [/size][/font]
lyrics|| [/font]The Oogie Boogie's Song.[/size][/font]
credit|| [/font]katierockskthanx.[/size][/font][/left]
[/center]

[Andrei Winter]

The press of her snow covered fingers to his chest made his muscles tighten slightly before he smiled down at her. "It can hurt, but that feels so much better that it is nearly unreal." Not to mention, her touch tickled...a sensation that was foreign to Andrei. No one would have ever touched him so if his twin were alive. If they did, it would have been a bloody miracle.

Of all the questions that she were to ask him, his brow lifted slightly at this last one. Dance? He was of a pure blood, a noble family, to learn to dance had been required by not only parents but grandparents. Out of the twins, Andrei had been the better dancer of the two. Mordecai had been far too busy or uninterested in such things, where Andrei found it a reliable release for what little creativity that the verse speak didn't take up.

"I do dance, actually. Rather well, or so I'm told. May I ask why you wonder such, Dragoste? Could it be that you're in need of a date to the Yule festivities?" That word, Dragoste, was spoken with such fluidity and without pause that it had to be his native tongue. However, on that thought, the corner of his lips twitched upward. Was it possible that she were asking him? That was a concept both unexpected and thrilling at one glorious time. He was not sure of how she would have been tempted to ask.

[shava4]

``Genevieve Slade Burke

[/font][/color][/size]

THE SOUND OF ROLLIN' DICE TO ME
is music in the air, although I don't play fair,
IT'S MUCH MORE FUN WITH LIVES ON THE LINE

As she had secretly hoped, he liked it indeed. Well she had to admit to having a pretty fantastic moment herself right now especially as the stuff melted leaving her hand on his flesh. "Oh really? So you like things cold huh?" Man, she was going to get in so much trouble with this guy around on her radar. First a teacher, then a friend, now a crush on this hunk; what the heck was up with Hogwarts this year? She'd never been this turned on by guys in her life! Where had they been in the past when she had time on her hands and would rather have them on flesh...

"I guess I'm in trouble then. I'm usually too hot to handle. If you're really nice to me, I'll come out here with you sometime and bury you up to your neck in it." She grinned, suddenly feeling mischievous. "Only we don't want your clothes ruined so I'll hold those for you till it melts off." Merlin, watching for certain parts to rise up would certainly have her entertained! "And if you're really really worshipful maybe I'll join you to reward you for good service." She winked and then laughed, her rich blood red hair falling half across her face till she pushed it back.

"Wait, Dragostie? Tell me, oh wonder of the Carpathains, what does that name mean? If you don't mind." Her eyes sparkled at him, sure she was going to enjoy his answer. So far practically everything he had said had liked to hear, but it was his pale skin and red-tinted hair that drew her in the most, not to mention his features. Not that she had seen all of them yet of course. "Well no, not if you say yes you'd love to go with me. In that case, yes I have someone to take with me then. Only if you lead, though, I'm not very" here her eyes dared him to say something "experienced with it..."

Who knew? Ravens. She would never have guessed one of them could be so sexy.

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

words||

[/font]More then enough.[/size][/font]
notes|| [/font]Naughty abs, distracting her that way... [/size][/font]
lyrics|| [/font]The Oogie Boogie's Song.[/size][/font]
credit|| [/font]katierockskthanx.[/size][/font][/left]
[/center]