Do You Come Here Often?

(( OOC: Oh damn. You know what, I'll mark the most important paragraphs. ^_^ I also added a little, brief section at the end of Sabriel's profile about his grandfather.))

Sabriel blushed. His eyes fell to his lap, head hanging slightly. A few strands of pale yellow slipped over his shoulder. Somehow a few wayward strands had escaped its tie. He still cradled the half-empty cup of cider, steam rose from its depths. "I .. I'm not all that interesting," he murmured. She wanted to know about him? Him? But what should he tell her? Of course, his family had many things to be proud of. He was often told his lineage was among the best, but Gardinier was simply his last name. Sabriel was certain he had not done anything of importance. But he sighed and swallowed his apprehension.

Khaat had told him more than it was safe to about herself. She was a woman in hiding; and yet she opened her heart and trusted him with information about her family as well? Sabriel admired her, he truly did. If he were to do anything of that sort, he would likely be called foolish. But Khaat, this supreme woman in each and every way, could never be foolish. That word could never suit her. She did what she deemed worthy and just. She was an honorable woman, honor being a trait Sabriel most wished to associate with himself. It would do no harm to speak a little about himself. It would also be a good opportunity to get to know himself for who he truly was. Not who he wanted to be.

***"I am fourteen, but I will be fifteen this December. I have a lot of things I enjoy, but being outdoors, around nature, has always thrilled me in a way I find hard to express. Until now I've never really thought of it as my element. However, it makes perfect sense. Even now, I am overcome with inner peace. A part of me still thinks I'm dreaming."

Sabriel considered astral projection. It would explain why his subconscious was more present than his outer consciousness was. But this was its first occurrence; Sabriel had never experienced anything prior to this other than mild deja'vu. Now suddenly, he was dreamwalking in the middle of a holy garden? With this woman, Khaat? Everything was oh, so real. Was he summoned? Did he summon himself? To a place he did not even know existed? The pondering was giving him a headache, and so he took another sip of cider and went on.

***"My mother was born in France, but she met my father in Italy. My mother's family had owned acres of land in France, and she was unwilling to leave it. My sisters and I would head to the orchards and meadows almost each day. Father hated me going there, though. He would keep me inside. Once we moved, he made sure to choose a city. London." Sabriel carefully skimmed over the details of his grandfather. He would inform her in a moment -- he took that oath to himself. Here was a woman that could give him answers. He was not going let this opportunity pass, but he did need to muster up the courage.

***"The city was nice, I think. I was six at the time, so I don't remember very much. I could tell my mother missed open land -- the forest -- but my father would not have it." Sabriel's voice grew quieter with the mention of Ferris. He was not inclined to reveal just how much of a negative man his truly father was, and how furious the man had been once his irrational opinions and judgments failed to shape Sabriel's very persona itself. Still, he could not help his mind from straying back to him as he spoke to Khaat. That man, Ferris. Sabriel knew nothing about him.

***"Khaat?" he inquired. He swallowed some more cider, as his voice grew strained and very nervous. "Khaat. Do you know anything about a man named Theodore Ruppet?"

(( OOC: lol, you're never wrong. I'm just being paranoid. XD Sabriel likes Khaat a lot too. He considers her as some kind of empress or whatever. The kid has a very active imagination; and he definitely cleaves to people like Khaat. ;3 ))

Sabriel nodded. His hands tightened around the mug he held. "Grandmother never believed in "black" and "white". In people, she saw a lot of gray. Except for You-Know-Who; but she did not consider him human at all."

He paused, trying to collect his thoughts. "I asked who Ruppet was because, well .. when I was six, my sister and visited our grandparents. We had still lived in France. It was Bordeaux, France, actually. My grandmother was married to a man named Theodore Ruppet. He was nice to me. To us.

"When my sister and my grandmother went shopping, Grandfather played games with me. It was only correct of him to. However, just as it was his turn in checkers, I recall, he became afraid. At first, he tried to lock me in the bathroom, but then he placed me a vent and shut it. He'd had his want out, then. I assume he put a spell on me, because I was calling for him and suddenly I could no longer speak.

"A man had come. Grandfather was pleading with him, begging him, but he did not listen. He slashed Grandfather many times with a spell I did not know the name of. And I watched. By then my voice had left me; I couldn't do anything. The man called my Granfather a traitor. And then he said a spell disappeared. I learned later, when my grandmother and sister rushed home, that there was a skull in the sky. They themselves did not find me after at least an hour. The spell was still in effect. After that we got out of France as quickly as possible."

Sabriel took a breath. His eyes burned. A few tears settled there, but Sabriel'd be damned if he let them fall. There. He had it all out. The secret. And he was proud to say a great burden was lifted off his shoulders. He had not told anyone, not even his own family. Even when he was brought in for questioning, he did not tell. Even when the secret burned and sizzled, he did not tell. He desired to lock the event deep down in his mind. His heart.

"I suspected that he was a Death Eater, but he seemed far too kind. I believe he had a change of heart somewhere along the line, which prompted his murder. Except, I had no answers. Grandmother never talked about him. I needed to find someone that would,"

Khaat was wrong. It was a lot of consolation. Sabriel felt his spirit grow more at ease. The cloak of oppression, that heavy feeling of ignorance, the overwhelming sense of reaching for something he couldn't reach -- lifted. He had caught sight of that object, and he had grasped it. Not firmly, perhaps. Except, most of the puzzle that was this mystery was finally assembled. His world came forth with a sense of clarity, and the memories of that night intensified somewhat. Khaat had touched a part of him that was always present, but the deeper pieces had since sunk into his subconscious.

"Senile old man." The Death Eater stood in front of his grandfather, a bony hand grasping a dark-wooded, gnarled wand. "Where is that little Veela wraith of a child you were keeping here?" he taunted. "Did you use a Portkey? Apparation?" (Sabriel blinked, he did not recall mention of him at all.)

Grandfather was trembling. He was old, Sabriel thought as he naively clutched his robes. He needed his help. But when he mouthed his grandfather's name, nothing came out.

The two spoke a mile a minute. Well, his grandfather did. The other man was hauntingly lethargic. Sabriel spent the better part of his attention trying to decipher Theodore's desperate final words.

"Inform the Dark Lord that I was foolish! I beseech you, sire. I have done nothing wrong! I have continued to serve the Lord and the better part of me wishes to stay by his side!"

"You are a liar and a coward." The man spoke this simply. As if it were absolute truth. "You have been feeding him false fortunes. You attempt to hide yourself among Aurors and his bitter enemies. The last mission, that man was alive! Imagine our surprise when, after a decade, we found that you were camping out in France! That's pretty long distance to serve your Master, don't you think? And you can't even send an owl .."

According to Khaat, Old Man Theodore a Death Eater, but he definitely had a heart. In Sabriel's mind, he was learning even more. Theodore had killed people in his life, yes, but his main duty to the dark lord was to relay predictions, and he was dutiful for it. As he got older, he grew more sentimental. Sentient. With age, seer powers were supposed to increase, but instead his predictions had become vaguer. He was expendable from the start, really, but now his knowledge was too dangerous. He had to be amended. And that was what happened when the Death Eater uttered a curse and there was blood everywhere and Sabriel started crying and there was a skull in the sky and Theodore breathed his last breath.

'And to think', Sabriel thought, 'Your son-in-law was an Auror.'

"I cannot thank you enough," Sabriel said breathlessly. He had fallen once more into the world. Khat's sharp eyes bore into him. He struggled to find his bearings. "I cannot. I am actually unworthy of such favor. Please, what can I do for you? I owe so much to you already!"

Sabriel blushed hotly. "I have not been praised in such a way before .. Truly. I'm honored."

He found in his heart genuine appreciation. It felt as if he had known Khaat his entire life. The woman certainly instilled a sense of peace and ease within him. It was far easier to be around her, despite her elegant dispostiion. And more, he felt protected. With Khaat, there were no consequences. All the pent-up physical and emotional torment dissipated. He was free.

"Khaat," he began. "Since we met, here in such a place, you and I were friends. Unless," he shivered slightly, "unless you do not consider sitting under the moonlight and swapping secrets friendship."

He smiled. It was a genuine, affectionate smile. True.

He let it fall, just a bit. "Ah yes, that does make sense," he told her. "I run fevers a lot. My nurse says I am prone to infection. In the past, it was believed that I would grow out of it. My nurse now says it is unlikely. Khaat, please, if you could help me, it would be very much appreciated. You are truly wonderful."

"I promise to keep your secret," Sabriel replied airily. "And I understand. Professor Tremaine? Ah, and Professor Potter and Professor Wilson. They are quite all right .." He smiled.

Sabriel for a moment. "Zada Forbes, you say. -- I am not even familiar with her. So I thank you for warning me. I will ensure that she does not try to hurt you .." -- Khaat's image wavered. Sabriel blinked, and she fell back in place. "Well, not that you are not capable of defending yourself -- !" There, again. Sabriel forced himself to relax. It seemed, with each minute, Khaat was fading.

"Nevermind," he concluded politely, still clutching his empty cup of cider. He held it out to her, politely asking for more as he continued.

"The trip to Hogsmeade is approaching." Sabriel always attended the Hogsmeade trips; his grandmother and mother showered him with money. The sickles, galleons and minimal knuts were all to go shopping there. He spent almost all of it on Quidditch. "Khaat, do you think we could meet then? But wait --" Sabriel had a thought. His face lit up brilliantly. Cutely. "-- where is this place and how do you get here? Oh, I would love to come here again!"