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

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

((XD, that's true. Lol.))

"You're very welcome, dear." The Nurse smiled, eyes traveling to the bruises on Ash's body from her visit to her father, "And what about these other ones? Are they from the tree too?" She raised an eyebrow, looking at Zane for an answer, who was all too ready to provide her with one.

"Yeah. After the one got her across the face, she couldn't see, and started going closer instead of away from the tree." The male shrugged, "I'm lucky I didn't get hit, really." He added, deciding to bring that up before she did. He supposed if he didn't mention it, it might seem somewhat suspicious that she'd gotten so beaten up, and he hadn't a scratch on him.

The Nurse's eyes lingered on him for a moment, but she didn't question him. He seemed genuine enough, "Alright, well, you should put some ice on those for a little while." With a third wave of her wand, her hand was occupied with a bag of ice the next moment. She picked up a clean towel from the tray she'd brought, and wrapped the bag of ice in it. She placed the bag in Ash's hand, "Here, hold this against your arm."

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

"I'm never going near that tree again." Ash muttered almost spitefully, and it could have seemed as if she really meant it. Infact she was comparing the tree to her father. Really what she meant was that she didn't want to go near her father again - though deep down she knew that she had to. However, she'd also said that phrase because she thought that perhaps going along with the story would make it seemm more genuine, and therefore less questions would be asked. However, she was still clearly quite shaken.

She sighed, taking the ice and placing it upon her bruised arm. She leaned somewhat closer towards where Zane was, though did so subconsciously. She wanted to be near him, but she wasn't trying to do so on purpose. It was just that he understood her more than what most people did - and that was a rare thing. Plus it was weird because they'd just met the previous day, but that didn't matter to her.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

"I find that a very good idea." The Nurse chimed in, a slightly scolding edge to her tone, but not enough to overtake the concern that she still felt for the female on the bed. She had people coming hurt from the Whomping Willow all the time. It was a wonder the school didn't take it down! Or put it somewhere out in the Forbidden Forest. In the very least, they could put a fence up around it or something of the sort. One of these days someone was really going to get hurt!

"As do I." The edge to Zane's voice was much different. He was speaking of Ash's father as well. He'd warned her against going back before, and she hadn't listened. He only hoped that this time, she would, "It's not safe, and there's no reason to." He understood she loved her father, though he didn't really fully comprehend why. Nonetheless, it wasn't worth it in his opinion if she was just going to get punished so severely! He didn't like seeing her like this, especially when it could be prevented.

The Nurse nodded, "Now then, just hold that on your arm for, oh, twenty minutes. You're welcome to rest her for as long as you like." She smiled at the pair, before turning, and heading back to the student she'd been tending to before Zane and Ash's entrance.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

The female could deal with the nurse's tone of voice, and the almost scolding that she made, but Zane had a different effect on her. She turned in his direction, and was glad to see that some of her sight was returning, though it was incredibly fuzzy at the moment. They'd got her eyes treated just in time it seemed, and if they'd wanted any longer, she would have ended up blind in both eyes. She wouldn't admit it now, but if that had happened she would have been incredibly depressed, and would have regretted not going.

She sighed quietly, feeling a slight pang of guilt. Yes, Zane had warned her, and he was right, there was no point going ack, but where else was she to go? It was her home and it just so happened that Derek tended to be there a lot of the time. Plus part of just wanted to see him, and she hoped every day that he might change and become a etter person, but he never did. He was always the same.

She waited until the nurse was gone, before she sat herself up completely and sighed. !I know you're right ... And I'm sirry for this." She said quietly. She was sorry because she felt like there were other things that Zane could be doing, like trying to ignore some of his fangirls, or going into Hogsmeade, or whatever. Just not there with her as she went through a family dilemma. She wasn't his problem afterall, and she just felt bad that he had to get involved.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane actually rather wished that he wasn't right, but there wasn't anything that could be done about it now. The male turned slightly, and took a few steps back, so that he was more in the middle and toward the foot of the bed then at the head of it as he'd just been. He rose up onto his toes, and slid onto the edge of the bed, taking a seat facing Ash. She looked horrible, to say the least with all those cuts and bruises, but he wasn't going to tell her that of course.

The male sighed quietly, "Don't be sorry." He responded, not wanting her to feel guilty. It wasn't like she had to answer to him or anything, and she hadn't done anything wrong, really. Maybe made the wrong choice, but he supposed he couldn't blame her entirely for wanting to see her father. It would be horrible to be treated like that by one who was supposed to love you. He knew how that felt like, just not at her level. His step-parents weren't his real parents, obviously, but he'd still expected them to care about him when he and Alice had first met them. But they didn't.

"And don't worry about it. Just... Please, don't go back again if you know you're going to be in trouble. And don't get yourself into trouble when you do go." The concern was audible in his voice.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

The female looked terrible, certainly, and she also felt terrible aswell. She ached all over, and now wished that she had not gone back. Part of the reason that she was so beat up was because she always refused to fight her father. She happened to be quite skilled in duelling, and she could handle herself well - why else would she be a death eater, even if it wasn't her choice - but she could never bring herself to fight her father, it was just that simple. She loved him too much to do that, even if he didn't love her.

She sighed quietly and spun around slightly, making sure that her legs came off the side of the bed. "I ... I promise I won't." She didn't know why she was promising such a thing to someone she barely knew, and she didn't care to try and understand, but it didnt' matter. All she knew was that she trusted Zane, and he sounded really worried about her. No-one had cared about her before, so in a way it had hit a nerve and it felt good to be worried about.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Just as Ash wasn't sure why she was promising such a thing to someone she'd only known for about a day now, Zane didn't know why he was asking the same kind of person to promise such a thing. It wasn't his place to ask something like this of Ash, and yet he was doing it without the slightest bit of hesitation, and he wasn't questioning it in the least. He didn't understand why, but he didn't bother to try and figure it out either.

The male rose from the bed, sighing quietly as he did so, "Thank you." He did know why it made him feel so relieved to hear the female agree to not returning to her father's house. Part of him wasn't sure whether or not he should trust if she'd keep that promise or not, but he supposed he didn't have a choice. In the very least, he'd know when she hadn't, for she'd come back all beaten and bruised.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

The female remained sat where she was for a few moments of time, just thinking about what had happened, and how she really felt. The pain was bad, yes, but not as bad as the emotion shewas feeling. She'd been beaten like that before, but having had her eyes cut like that again ... Well she hated every moment of it, and didn't wish for it to happen again. So she woul stay as far away from her father as she could, and if he came looking for her, then she would just have to deal with it when the time came.

Without putting much though into it, the female rose as Zane did and she lurched forward, burying her head in his chest and wrapping her arms around him. She didn't say anything, but she didn't feel like she needed to either. Somply put, she needed someone to hold her. She needed comfort and to know that she wasn't alone in the world. She and Zane were quite alike, though she didn't know his story. It didn't matter to her though.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Surprise flashed across Zane's face as Ash latched onto him, and for a moment, he tensed up, unsure of what to do. However, a second later, he relaxed in her hold, and wrapped his own arms around her, embracing her tightly as he pulled her against him. He didn't blame her for needing some comfort. The male was good at comforting people, though he had a lot of practice. He had to constantly comfort his sister Alice, and keep her in high spirits. According to her, he gave good hugs.

"Don't worry Ash." He said quietly, "You're okay." He hoped that she wouldn't return to her father's house, and that if the man ever came looking for her, he was there to protect her. He understood her father was a powerful wizard, and when it came to his own personal well being, getting involved probably wasn't a good idea, he didn't care. He'd told Ash he'd be there for her, and he would, like he'd promised. He kept his word.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Indeed he gave good hugs. Ash almost melted there and then, before she realised she hugged him first and it was because she needed comfort, not to become one of his many fangirls. She liked hugging him though, and it made her feel somewhat better already, just having someone there to hold her. It was nice, and nothing she'd ever experienced before - she couldn't even remember the last time she was hugged, if ever, but if it had been like this, then she had been missing out for quite some time.

Zane spoke and his words soothed her. Somehow hearing that she was going to be okay, made her believe it. But what if she would only be okay if the male was around? He couldn't be there for her 24/7. It was impossible, especially since they were in different houses. Which brings another point - Zane didn't know just how evil she could be at times. Well, mainly it was her anger, but that was besides the point. She hadn't been like that in a while though and hoped he'd never have to see that side of her.

"Thankyou." She muttered to his chest.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane smiled, "Don't worry about it." He replied, not feeling that she owed him a thanks in anyways. He didn't release her from the hug, for he wouldn't do so until she pulled away of her own accord, but he did loosen it slightly so to better be able to talk directly do her, "Should we go back to the shack for Brutus? Or do you think he'll find you later?" He'd grabbed Ash and rushed out of there without thinking of the snake.

"Or it's about lunch time, I think. If he'll be fine, we could head to the hall and get something to eat, if you're hungry." He knew Ash hadn't been around for breakfast, for he'd spent a few minutes looking for her at the Slytherin table, and it was her absence that had gotten him suspicious in the first place, at which point he'd set out in search for her. He was glad he had too, for had he not, Ash would probably still be sitting on that bed, bleeding out and going blind.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash had almost forgot about poor Brutus, though now that Zane ha reminded her, she felt almost guilty about him aswell. The python had to be worried, and Ash would not be surprised if he was still waiting there for her, though the snake happened to like it there aswell. It was likely that he would find her later, and ask her how she was and all the rest of it - he'd tried to convince her to get help to, but being a snake, he'd not been able to just grab her and take her to the hospital wing. So now Ash felt guilty about that.

"Food sounds good - Brutus will find me later." She said quietly, reluctantly letting go of the male and putting a little space between them. She had enjoyed the hug and it would have been nice if it lasted longer, but it hadn't, though that was her fault because she'd pulled away. However she was quite hungry and hadn't eaten in a while. She was quite ill and fatigued, and that was all thanks to the approach of the full moon. Having something to eat could make her feel better atleast.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane nodded, "Alright. But if he asks, it was your idea not to go find him. I don't want him hating me for something else too." He smiled at the female. Really though, he didn't want Brutus on his case for making him worry, or not telling him that Ash was okay as soon as he was sure that she was, or ditching him for that matter to go and get food instead. Not that he didn't mind not having the snake around, for, as stated, it didn't like him very much. He didn't much blame the python however. He hadn't given a very good first impression.

"Alright, come on." He took Ash's hand. He wasn't sure if she could see clearly yet, and didn't want her wandering around unable to see, and figured it would just be better if he lead her. He laced his fingers in-between hers, and took a slow step forward to indicate he was going to start walking, "Though, how does this work exactly? Want to just get some food and go sit somewhere else?" He meant they couldn't share a table, of course.

[Ashley-Raine Wolfe]

Ash smiled slightly at Zane's words and nodded slightly. She loved Brutus, but she knew he could be a pain at times. He worried too much, and thought he was her big brother or something - or atleast that is how he acted sometimes. Other times he acted like he was in love with her, and when you thought about it, that was just weird. Sure they could have conversations together, but that was the kind of interracial relationship that was not acceptable - I mean, human and snake? Freaky. Even though it wasn't like that really, Brutus just cared a lot about her.

She laced her fingers with the males once he'd done so to her - her sight wasn't back completely yet, so she appreciated the idea of having a little help along the way. Even if they ended up getting some rather funny looks. She took a careful step with the male. "Yeah, take food and go. I don't think I would be welcomed with the Gryffindors, and same goes for you at the Slytherin table. Plus, my own house already hates me, so taking you there would be going too far." She shook her head slightly.

[Zane Alexander Harlow]

Zane smirked, "It's kind of sad really." He said as they began to walk, referring to of course the fact that what she'd just said was very much true, "I bet you no one has a logical reason for hating anyone other than the fact that they're in Slytherin, and someone else is in Gryffindor. I doubt many of them have concrete reasons to hate someone." Those that were made fun of by others, or had personal connections, he could understand, but the people who hated each other simply because of the house they were in was ridiculous.

"Anyways, do you want me to go in and get the food, or do you want to go with me?" The male could only imagine people's reactions to seeing Ash the way she looked. They still weren't going to avoid people however, that would be impossible. Nonetheless, the Great Hall would most certainly be the most populated area at the moment.