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

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane smirked, "What? Don't look at me like that. It's not as weird as it sounds. I mean, think about it. It's not like anyone comes out there, or tries to talk to me when they do. They're not gunna risk getting smashed to socialize with somebody." Not to mention, for some reason, the tree never went berserk at him. Then again, he'd found that approaching as an animal verses a person seemed to be the better of his two options. He'd never been swung at before as a panther, though had once as a human.

He nodded slightly at the point she brought up, finding it rather ironic as well, "Yeah, that's kind of weird, huh? Just think, I had to crush a bottle with my hand and be a jerk to you for us to finally meet." He smiled, though he still felt rather bad for the way he'd acted toward her back at Hogsmeade. He'd been more than just a little rude, especially considering she had been being polite, and nice.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash simply shook her head. She couldn't help but think that he was crazy, even though he said it wasn't as weird as it sounded. Anything to do with stupid violent trees and sitting under them, was crazy in her opinion. He had a point though - if you wanted to be alone, then what better way to do that then to do such a thing? No-one she knew at Hogwarts would risk their faces going to talk to somebody who was in such a situation, but then she already knew that if she told people she was a werewolf, the same woul happen then aswell.

She sighed quietly, but soon smiled again as they crossed into the Hogwarts grounds. She already knew they were late, but not by too much. It didn't bother her at the moment though. "Yeah, and threatened to turn me in ... Remind me again why I'm talking to you?" She was just making a joke, but she was really glad that they had started talking. It was the first time that she'd ever really connected with someone and she liked it. "And I don't think Brutus likes you very much."

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane shrugged, "Because I'm cute?" He offered her a smile, "At least according to Sparky." He felt bad about threatening Ash as well, especially since he found out that she was not a Death Eater willingly, and was actually in a very difficult situation thanks to the bastards. But he knew exactly how that felt. If it weren't for them, things would be a whole of a hell lot better in his own life as well. His sister would be taken care of, and they'd both still have their real parents.

He grinned at the mention of the snake, and shrugged his shoulders lightly, "I don't really blame him. I was kind of an ass to him too." He remembered returning the snakes glare, and telling him to shut up when he'd hissed at him. Not to mention, he knew now he was rather protective of Ash, and had good reason to be, and not long ago he'd been a threat to her. So he didn't doubt that the snake didn't like him.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

The female grinned at Zane's remark and shrugged, as if she couldn't really decide if that was true or not. "Debateable." It was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic or not, but really she was. She really though that the male was gorgeous and she had been totally surprised when he'd said he didn't have a girlfriend. Her inner fangirl told her to get in there and take him while he was still free, but then her outter personality just wasn't like that. She wasn't very forward when it came to things like that.

She chuckled quietly. "You see, Sparky thinks I need to get a boyfriend and get on wit life and have fun etc. but Brutus is really just protective of me. I'm sure he'll like you soon enough - Sparky already does." She absolutely loved her familiars, they were so loving and they were the thing that kept her going in life, the things that made her happy. Without them, she probably would have taken her own life a very long time ago.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

"Ouch." Zane smirked, not really caring whether Ash was being serious or not. He wouldn't be offended in the least if she told him she didn't think he was good looking, and it certainly wouldn't change the fact that he happened to think she was extremely beautiful. Every time he looked at her, he attempted to make eye contact, merely so he could look at her eyes without seeming like he was staring. They truly were cool looking in his opinion, and he loved them.

He raised an eyebrow, "Well, I agree with Sparky. On the have fun get on with life part. I don't think you necessarily need to get a boyfriend." Not that he was one to talk, really. He certainly wasn't getting on with life and having fun, so telling Ash to would be just a little bit hypocritical. But he did anyways, in a way, by agreeing with her House Elf. Then again, she didn't really know he was being hypocritical, so that was fine.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

"I'm just joking, Zane." Ash pointed out, that beautiful smile still upon her face. That was her way of saying that she did think he was cute, without actually saying it in so many words. It was true though, she thought he was. Infact he was gorgeous, but unless she really prompted, she would not say such a thing. On the other hand she didn't think she was pretty in the least and she hated her eyes - they were just completely odd and she believed that they scared some people. She just hated them.

She shrugged lightly, catching eye contact with him, and for the faintest of moments her breath caught in her chest, before she forced herself to look away and continue with the conversation. "I don't know how to have fun." She admitted truthfully. She'd never really enjoyed anything she'd done and she'd had no friends to have fun with. Infact the only time she was really happy was when she was drinking, and getting drunk on her own. Other than that, nada, though she was quite content now.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane grinned, "I know. How could you not be?" The male didn't have an ego in the least, he was merely joking around with the girl. He honestly didn't pay attention to such things as appearances very much. Though he was aware a lot of girls thought he was good looking, it didn't cross his mind except for when they brought it up, and it was the topic of the conversation, such as it was now. He really didn't care about it though. He had no idea that Ash didn't think she was pretty though, for he would have quickly countered that thought if he did.

He smirked, nodding slightly, "I know what you mean." He replied, "It just doesn't seem to come naturally to some people." Aka, him, and apparently, her. Stress came naturally to him though. Quite naturally, actually. He didn't even have to try to be stressed out. It just happened. Though at the moment, he was having a relatively good time, though it was coming close to coming to an end as they entered the castle. Unfortunately, they'd have to go separate ways to their respective common rooms.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash raised a brow, smiling mischieviously towards the male as he spoke. For a moment she thought he was playing with his ego, but he didn't seem like that sort of person so she dimissed that idea and thought that perhaps he was just playing along with it, having a laugh, just like she was, no matter how rare and uncommon it was for her to act in such a way. However she felt like she could be herself around Zane, though couldn't fully point out why. It was just strange ... Maybe he was like, her soul mate.

Though not in that way ... Maybe.

She shrugged lightly at her thoughts and she came to a stop in the entrance hall, turning to look at him. It was then that she released his hand and finally realised that she'd been holding it for the whole walk. She stood frozen for a moment before she decided it didn't matter. "I guess I'll see you around then." She muttered quietly, one again making eye contact. Again she beccame lost in the depth of his eyes and remained standing there in silence, just watching him and waiting for a reply.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane decided to dismiss the fact that Ash had been holding his hand the entire time as well, doubting that she really wanted him to point that out, especially considering she hadn't mentioned it either. He let his hand fall back to his side, turning to face her as they arrived at the spot in the castle where they would have to go separate ways. He smiled slightly as she spoke, and nodded, "Yeah, I'll see you around."

He remained where he was however, and leaned forward slightly. For a moment, he hesitated, and then he kissed Ash lightly on the cheek, "Good night." He said somewhat quickly, before turning and heading in the opposite direction. He didn't take a moment to even check her reaction or expression, and merely quickened his pace in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room, feeling kind of awkward now, though in a good way.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash remained glued to the spot, rather shocked, yet nicely surprised. A hand raised to her cheek and touched the place where Zane had kissed her. She bit her lip, still standing there before she finally came back to her senses and she headed towards the dungeons, her hand still on her face. No-one had ever been that close to her, had ever kissed her on the cheek, and it had been so nice and lightly. She had ... Liked it. Shaking her head she trie to convince herself that she shouldn't like it and she tapped her head with her hand as she finally entered the Slytherin common room.

She made her way up to the dormortory, ignoing any stares she recieved, sincw Brutus was there and promptly followed her up. She turned out to be the only one going to bed at that time and so stripped quickly, changed into her pyjamas and climbed into bed as Brutus coiled up beside her, resting his head across one of her arms and licking her cheek, in a way, before closing his eyes. Ash did the same and she was soon fast asleep, with a light smile upon her face.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane made his way quickly up to the towers. He breezed through the common room without sparing anyone a glance. Several people were already in bed, and it was rather quiet. He hurried up the steps to his room, and got ready for bed quickly. He changed into a pair of sweats afterward, and climbed into bed a moment later. He was in a strangely good mood, of which he blamed on Ash, though obviously in a good way.

He took a deep breath, and let it out quietly, relaxing into the bed sheets. He turned onto his side, and then onto his stomach, and closed his eyes. He was very glad that he'd run into Ash that day, even if it had been under the circumstances that it had. He was also glad that he was going to be able to help her. A smile lingered on the male's face as he closed his eyes, and at last drifted off to sleep.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

By one in the afternoon the next day, Ash had not been seen by anyone. She'd gotten ill in the night, like she usually did when the full moon was approaching, but she'd also had to disappear with Sparky in the middle of the night, to go home and have her punishment. Ofcourse the house elf had insited she not go, for he was just the messenger, but she had anyway, and she'd gotten pretty beat up aswell, so since she arrived back at Hogwarts, she had instantly gone to the Shack, fo she didn't want anyone to see her.

She'd been crucio'ed a number of times so she was twitching on occassion as she sat upon the rickety bed, leaning against the wall. She had a few bruises upon her bare arms and her right side and the most noticeable wound was a deep long cut across both her eyes which had caused blood to streak down her face. However that had not been done with dark magic, so it could be healed quite easily, it was just that she didn't want to go to the hospital wing and have it checked out. Too many questions would be asked.

So she simply sat there, Brutus coiled around the end of the bed and watching her with concern clearly written across his reptilian face.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane had awoken the next morning, and dressed in a pair of gray jeans, and a short-sleeved black button up shirt. He was going to wear his jacket, but it was rather warm outside already. Normally he would wear it anyway, simply to hide the scar that ran up his upper right arm, but decided against it, for he'd already gotten to the exit by the time he remembered it, having forgotten. Besides, it was already hot outside and the jacket was black.

He'd gone to breakfast, and had spent a good ten minutes searching the Slytherin table for Ash's face. He hadn't seen it however, and so after eating, and set out in search of her. After a walk around the castle grounds however, he didn't find her anywhere. However, he remembered their conversation from the previous night, and started toward the Whomping Willow. As he approached, he transformed, taking the form of a panther, and jogged to the base of the tree, unbothered by it's limbs. He disappeared inside, and reappeared back in the Shrieking Shack.

Lifting his nose to the air, he sniffed, the scent of blood mixed with Ash's own scent reaching his nose. He would have transformed back, but he needed to track her. He started off in the direction that the trail lead, until he located the room the female was in. He entered cautiously, checking to see if anyone else was there other than Ash, but he saw no one, at which point he promptly entered, and leapt up onto the foot of the bed, his storm gray eyes focusing on the female immediately as he transformed back, now at the base of the bed.

Surprise was mixed with concern, and presented clearly on his face, "What happened?" He asked, not wasting a second.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

The female's senses were usually rather good even when it wasn't the full moon, but she couldn't currently see a thing, and her mind was on other things, so when she suddenly heard Zane's voice, she jumped back slightly, and covered her face with her arms, almost as if she were protecting herself. She soon realised it was him, but she didn't bother to lower her arms. Infact, now she was just trying to hide the injuries from the male she had befriended just the night before ... She didn't need him to be involved with this.

She shook her head as Brutus promptly uncoiled from the end of the bed and slithered past Zane, rising up infront of Ash and hissing at the male. Obviously the python was just being protective of his owner, and he would do so as well as he could. However Ash merely continued to shake her head before she finally spoke. "It's nothing ... Don't worry about it." Her voice was shaky, weak. What she really wanted was to be held, but there was no way she would ever ask for such a thing.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane frowned, glaring momentarily at the snake, "Not the time, Brutus." He informed the python, turning his attention away from the reptile a moment later. He didn't care if the thing got angry at him, though he did appreciate him just trying to protect Ash. Nonetheless, he wasn't there to hurt her, just to help her, if she'd allow him to. He shook his head, not willing to just accept that it was nothing.

"That's nowhere close to be nothing Ash." He said, worry overtaking the surprise as it faded away, "What happened?" He already had an idea in his head, for it was the only thing he could think of, and that was that she'd either been brought back to her home, or returned willingly, and this was the result of ignoring the summon she'd received earlier.