If I Could be Anyone Else;; [[closed to Zane]]

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane snorted quietly, "Yes, I know who you are." It was clear from the way that he said this that it was because he knew who he was, and what he did, that he was speaking to him and looking at him in such a way. He knew he was a Death Eater, and he knew he treated Ash like shit, and he hated him for both of the those reasons, "And if you really must know, my name is Zane." He doubted Derek cared, but it answered the, 'Who are you? question,' that he'd asked twice now.

He didn't appear as apprehensive as the female beside him, just wary of the man before them. He wasn't afraid, that was clear, even though he was well aware of who Derek was, and really what he was. Subconsciously he was still wondering what the hell the man was doing there. He'd personally rather be back under the tree eating lunch, and comparing Brutus to a dog.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

"Then just what are you doing here? This has nothing to do with you, and unless you are interested in joining the Death Eaters, then I suggest you leave." Derek basically ordered, his eyes fierce and narrowed. He hated being distracted when he was trying to do things and right now he needed to give Ash orders and accompany her while she carried them out, so he made sure that she did them. He really didn't like Zane already, so he was hoping that he would just go and leave.

Before things got ugly.

"He's here because I wanted here." Ash spoke up, earning her father's attentiom for a mere second. She knew Derek doubted that because in the past, she'd never wanted anyone near her. She even hated it when people touched her most of the time, because she was a paranoid girl and found it hard to trust people. However, Ash believed that if she said that, her father might be a little nicer to Zane. It was unlikely, but worth the try.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

"Consider your suggestion noted." Zane commented, meeting Derek's gaze and not drawing back from it in the slightest. He was challenging him, just a little bit, but for the most part was just matching him. He wasn't leaving, not without Ash, because he didn't trust what Derek would do to her. He could tell that Derek was getting annoyed with him, but he was getting annoyed with Derek, and he really didn't care if the Death Eater didn't like him. He could deal with it.

He wouldn't have been surprised if Derek didn't believe Ash either, but it was the truth. Well, part of it. The other part was that he wanted to be there, to help her if she needed it. To protect her, if things turned ugly. In the very least, to perhaps discourage them from becoming so. It probably didn't help that he was saying the things that he was, but he couldn't help it. He already hated Derek.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

So he wasn't going to leave? Fine, Derek could deal with that, even if he did want the boy to leave. He could, if he really wanted to, find other ways to amuse himself for the time being, other than to simply annoy Ash. Oh, and get her doing things that she spent her whole life fighting against and defying. Yes, Derek had a plan, and he was almost certain that it would get Zane away from them. Well atleast he heoped that it would, because he sort of wanted to talk to Ash alone. He grinned.

Ash was instantly worried.

Turning towards Zane once more, the male crossed his arms over his chest, and smirked. "You say you know who I am, but do you know who she is?" He asked gesturing towards Ash. He wasted no time in continuing. "I don't know what she's told you, but she hasn't always been this against me and the other Death Eaters. Infact there was a time when she almost adored the Dark Lord. If you hate me, then you must hate her too ... She has tortured people like you before."

Ash stood there gawking, and quite surprised her father would actually tell Zane that. Most of it was true, however.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane's eyes narrowed. From what he could tell, Derek wasn't lying, and yet the boy didn't know if he should believe him. He figured part of that was that he didn't particularly want to believe him, but still. It was a Death Eater he was talking to. How was he supposed to just accept that without some proof? Or Ash telling him herself? Which was why he resigned not to worry about it, at least not until later. He'd get this taken care of, and then talk to Ash about it later.

"Whether that's true or not, the bottom line is she's no longer a sadistic bastard's lackey, and you are." Ash had given up her life as a Death Eater, at least as far as the male could tell. Derek was standing before him, still very much one of of Calderact's servants, and the previous follower of Voldemort. Nonetheless, it bothered him to know that Ash had once complied with all of this, if Derek was telling the truth.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Derek had decided that he would continue bashing Ash's reputation. Yes, she had reformed, but when she had been a follower, she had been oh so very good at her job! The male knew she had only been willing to participate those times because she'd really had no choice, and she had been in love with power, but that was besides the point. She'd still done it and still had the potential to be a good Death Eater. Infact he could see potential in Zane to - though perhaps it was just because of the anger.

"You know, she is quite skilled with the cruciatus curse." He continued, simply ignoring the boy's words.

Ash felt like this was all going wrong and she didn't like where it was going. She had a feeling that Zane would start asking questions later, and she wasn't looking forward to it. Part of her thought that her father knew she was going to be bringing someone to the meeting, and that this was all some sort of game he was playing. It was quite likely to, since her father was definately quite the bastard himself. And sadistic; he just loved to cause and see the pain of others. Especially if they were not pure blood.

She stepped forward, glaring towards the Death Eater. "That has nothing to do with this!"

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

"She's right." Zane hissed, his annoyance with Derek growing. He could see how Ash might have a hard time keeping her head around her father. He was very good at getting on people's nerves. Zane couldn't help but feel infuriated with him. Even if he weren't a Death Eater, and this were still his personality, the male's fuse would be short. But who he was just made it all the worse. Damn Death Eaters.

"Just get to your dammed point. What do you want?" Derek still hadn't told them why he'd summoned Ash in the first place. Not to mention Zane wouldn't mind getting back onto topic so that they wouldn't be talking about Ash and her being a Death Eater. He didn't want to hear it.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

That was because Derek knew exactly which buttons to press, and how to get on people's neves without even really trying. All he had to do was speak. Other than that he was rather good at persuading people to do what he wanted, all thanks to that charm of his, and how he always managed to do the best when attempting to get the thing he wanted. Women especially rather liked him him. "I wanted to see my daughter." Came his answer, and strangely enough it was partly the truth. He liked to annoy her by just showing up.

Ash frowned slightly and rolled her eyes. "Well thanks a lot." She said sarcastially. She didn't know if Derek was lying, telling the truth, or what. She just wanted him to get on with whatever he was doing, but part of her actually believed him. It was just like him to come out there and just be there to piss her off, scare her, or just make her angry of the situation. And it was rather working to. She was still in pain, but that didn't stop her being quite angry with the male.

Said male simply smiled.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

"Really?" Zane smiled, though it wasn't a happy smile in the least. More of a mocking one in a sense, "Well then, I guess we'll be going then!" He doubted that Derek had really called Ash out there just to see her, but if he wasn't going to get to the point, then Zane saw no reason for them to remain there. Which was why he reached out, and grabbed Ash's hand, starting to walk back the way they'd come.

He hoped she didn't protest to leaving, or that Derek didn't for that matter. As stated he doubted that that was all the Death Eater had wanted, so either he was going to just let them go, or he was going to stop them and finally tell Ash why he'd sent that bird Logan to fetch her. Either way worked for the male, he was just tired of the games being played.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash was almost taken by surprise when Zane took her by the hand and began to lead her away. For a moment she even stared at the back of his head, and then tighhtened he hand around his before she realised what she was doing and remembered that she was supposed to be trying to get some answers from her father, who seemed quite content with just letting her think he was trying to annoy the hell out of her and waste her time. She wouldn't put it past him for trying such a thing, afterall. It was so like him.

"There's a job." Derek called as they began to make their way back. His voice caused Ash to freeze in place and then the male continued. "A traitor needs punishment, so we thought you were most fit for the job." He smirked slightly at this, and Ash flinched. She was a traitor herself afterall, so obviously this was another punishment for her. Not that she was going to do it or anything, but the fact remained that it was another order she was going to defy.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane came to a halt as Ash did, not wanting to force her to continue forward. He didn't release her hand however, and he turned to look at Derek, his dark eyes narrowing. How could he ask such a thing of Ash? Especially when she'd made it quite clear that she didn't want to be involved as a Death Eater. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? He was her father! Didn't he care about her at all?

"You don't have to Ash." He said softly, gaze now lingering on her. He hoped she realized that. She didn't have to hurt someone else if she didn't want to. On the other hand... If she didn't, it was likely, he supposed, that she'd be the one in pain. He wished those weren't her only two options. If she denied, he hoped Derek wouldn't be angry with her. He doubted it however.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash didn't know what she wanted, or what she should do. She knew that she would neer forgive herself if she went and did as her faher asked, but at the same time she also knew that it would always come back to haunt her if she didn't, and she'd be the one in pain. She was really quite confused with what she wanted, so it wasn't easy for her to make a decision. She was just so lost, but the moment she caught Zane's gaze, she knew exactly what she had to do. Though it happened to be the most painful choice.

"No." She said simply, looking over her shoulder once more to face Derek. She wouldn't be made to do something she didn't want to do, even if it meant that she would be punished yet again. She didn't want to hurt someone who didn't deserve to be in pain, and her father didn't have the right to try and force her into it. "I don't care what you do to me, but I'm not going to go and do what you tell me to, just because you think I should. Go and get a life, and stop bothering me."

Derek chuckled.

"Fine." He said quietly, his tone of voice amused. He smiled towards the female, obviously not bothered by her answer at all. He was used to her attitude by now, and knew that were certain ways you could get her to do what you wanted. However, now wasn't one of those times, but he did think that teaching her a lesson was well needed. She had to remember who was boss, and it was him. It would always be him.

He raised his wand towards Zane and opened his mouth to speak.

Ash was quick to act and swiped her own wand from her pocket, raised it towards the male with a murderous glare in her eyes and spoke quickly. "Ava-" It was then that she realised just what she was doing. Her anger almost got the better of her, and she stood frozen to the spot, her hand shaking, eyes wide. Had she really almost gone and used the killing curse? It certainly sounded like it ... And she had wanted to do so, but she'd never ... She was just so freaked out.

Derek grinned and slowly pocketed his wand, deciding he would just come after Zane at another time. For now, he was just pleased with the results. "It's your anger we love the best, Ashley-Raine." And with those words, he disappeared into a whirl of hazy black smoke, and was gone.

Ash stood still, wand still pointed at the spot where her father was.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

For a moment there, Zane had thought that Ash was going to give in to her father's request. But in the end, she made what he felt, and hoped, was the right decision. He felt slight relief, though was worried nonetheless for her safety, considering she was disobeying Derek. The male's eyes narrowed at the quiet laugh that sounded from the Death Eater. He didn't like the sound of it, nor the expression on the man's face.

As the man raised his wand, for a moment, Zane froze, surprise flashing across his face. Before he could retrieve his own wand, Ash had hers out, and was pointing it quite clearly at her father. She began to speak, but cut herself off, and the male's gaze jerked away from Derek, and onto the female beside him. Had she been about to say what he thought she had? He quickly looked away, not wanting her to assume he'd heard her, or knew what she'd been about to do. He didn't need her worry about something else.

He watched with more hidden relief as Derek replaced his wand, spoke, and disappeared. That had gone somewhat well, he supposed. He released Ash's hand, and turned to face her, "Are you alright?" He asked, concern clear in his voice and on his expression.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash didn't know if she was alright, or not. She almost used an unforgiveable curse on her own father, and it wasn't just any of the three curses, but the killing curse. Her hand was actually shaking quite immensely at the very thought that she had almost turned into what she feared she would one day. She could have been a killer. She could have been like her father. She had tried so hard to not become like him, to not give in to her anger, and what she had been taught, but it been so close ...

"I'm fine ..." She said quickly, yet her voice was almost distant. She stood like she was for a few moments more, before she finally got a grip on herself and placed her wand back in her pocket and tured, heading back towards the way they had entered the forest. Brutus followed behind her, shaking his head, but Ash payed no attention to him. She was in her own little world, trying to figure out if perhaps one day she would actually end up the one thing she feared. She didn't want to like Derek, but maybe he was right when he always told her it was unavoidable.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane hesitated, waiting in the rear for a moment as Ash started onward. At last, he sighed quietly, and took a few quick steps to catch up with her. That hadn't gone too well, but it hadn't gone horribly either. He supposed he may not have made things any easier, but he couldn't help it! Derek truly was quite infuriating, he had to admit, though he wouldn't like to. The male glanced over his shoulder one last time, narrowed gray eyes watching the spot that the Death Eater had occupied a moment before.

As he caught back up with Ash, he turned to look at her from the side, walking beside her now, "What's wrong?" He inquired, not heeding her claim of being fine. He knew she wasn't; anyone could tell that she wasn't. He wanted to know what was wrong, so that he could perhaps help her to feel better about it, or talk her out of feeling bad at all.