Hiding in the dark

Andrei was slowly starting to get uncomfortable. He wanted to help but he just didn't know how. No one told him what to do when a girl was having a break down in front of him and he certainly didn't get any instruction manual with it either. So many thoughts were rumbling through his head. Was he to comfort her? If so, how? He would be lying if he said that at times he didn't feel the same way. It can be stressful and just too much to handle. But he, as any good pureblood and Slytherin would, just sucked it up and continued down the same path he was going. Audrey had obviously chose something else and that was something he couldn't relate to.

"You don't have to be a part of anything you don't want to be", he said trying to calm her down. He knew that was a lie of course. In this day and age, picking a side was crucial. You were either with us or against us. And something told him dark days were coming where this division and loyalty could mean everything. Now it's just a chance of finding yourself on the right side.

"If you want to help people why didn't you enroll training for a healer or do some charity work? Anything! But the joining the Potter's Army... that was just foolish Audrey. How did you not think? You're lucky I'm willing to keep my mouth shut for you. But the next person who stumbles upon the truth may not be so understanding. If word gets out - well you'll be living in a hell of your own making", he spoken in perhaps a too harsh tone but she had to know the truth. This destructive behavior had to stop until she buried herself deep in the ground. "Think of your family, of everyone"

"Alright let's start from the beginning. Have you given them any valuable information? Anything about the purebloods or Death Eaters that you knew?", Andrei asked openly. He was planing to help her but it would take slow steps to get there.

Audrey took a deep breath. She knew that Slytherin boy's fortes were not in panicking women, and she was never this, well, vulnerable. She put her legs down, and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Of course not, I would never." She told him honestly. She may be in between alliances, but she was anything but a traitor. She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Andrei wouldn't let her secret go, and she felt indebted to him, another feeling she wasn't used too. She smiled weakly at him, "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have seen me like this. This isn't usual for me, I assure you." and she laughed bitterly. "But really, I haven't even talked to anyone there yet. They can be just as cruel as Slytherins, believe it or not." She gave him a knowing look though. She knew all to well the severity of her actions, and getting a life lesson from Andrei Dolohov was probably the biggest reminder she's had so far. Honestly, she was just shocked that he was trying to help. She was even more shocked that he cared at all.

"Oh, and by the way, thank you. I suppose I kind of owe you. Though I'm sure this won't be the last debate we find ourselves in." she smirked teasingly, hoping he would catch her changing mood, and let the previous subject go, at least for tonight. She never liked to dwell on subjects like this.

Audrey played with the enchanted silver bracelet on her wrist, and rested her cheek on the back of the couch, and shuddered slightly. It got cold fast in the dungeons that the Slytherin Common Room resided in, and despite herself, she was exhausted. She knew better than to dream of going to sleep now. It was a weekend anyways, she could sleep as much as she wanted tonight. And she still kind of enjoyed the company here, so she hoped Andrei would let the old subject go. In that moment, she realized the boy who had been a stranger only this morning, know knew more about her than her friends, let only family did.

"I know this is not your usual state, don't worry about it", he nodded with a small smile. Trying to be as encouraging as a pureblood Slytherin guy could, he sat next to her and tried to calm her down. Nothing in life was worth being upset, not even her allegiance to a group of insane Gryffindors. It didn't come to him as a surprise that the Potter's Army members were harsh on her and judgmental. Both sides are use to stick with their own and any deviation from that only caused fear and confusion. "Oh trust me, I know. It's not exactly rainbows and sunshine over there either, is it?", he said with a frown, letting his displeasure with the Potter's Army clearly show. He didn't like to hide his opinions from people and he didn't see why he should have to.

"Look - I personally nothing against you being a member of the Potter's Army. Many people might, but it's always going to be like that no matter what you pick. So you shouldn't let that influence your decisions too much. Right now I think you have to see if this is a good choice for you. Try them out, nothing is set in stone. Besides, no one ever said you couldn't be neutral. If you don't want to, you don't even have to pick a side. And screw anyone who says the opposite", he said trying to give her some advise. He could only imagine how difficult it was not to know where you fit in. Andrei on the other hand never had those kind of problems, he was an obvious Dark Follower from the start. "You're bloody right you owe me. Better remember that", Andrei said with a playful tone, trying to bring back a more cheerful mode.

By the look on her face, he knew it was time to chance the subject. There was nothing more to be said about it after all. And anything more would only make her upset and she might start to cry, a scene Andrei never wants to witness again if possible. So he decided to start on a safe and easy topic for now. "So how are you? Besides the obvious, what have you been up to?", he asked with a slight smile on his face.

Audrey sighed gratefully that he caught on to her hints at a subject change. She held her arms out in front of her, with her wrists touching, mocking being handcuffed. "I'm indebted." She said, winking. Normally, she wouldn't tease like that with a buy she barely knew, but Andrei looked like the sort that would catch onto and appreciate her occasional suggestive humor.

She was actually somehow grateful that Andrei had been there when she came into the common room. He told her one of the most important things in her life, right now. Her secret, wasn't much of a secret anymore. She was in utter shock that he was acting so, well, okay, with her obvious problem. And really, that he was trying to be there for her at all.

She lowered her hands and let her suggestive face fade to a smile. "I've been alright actually. Causing trouble, as always." she smirked. "What about you? What sort of schemes has the infamous Andrei Dolohov conjured up lately?" she asked, obviously mockingly.

Andrei started at her with an amused smirk as she brought her hands up together, mocking handcuffs. "The best position I like a woman in", he told her with a playful smirk on his lips. He was always the type to joke around with people, even thought sometimes his jokes and comments were a bit inappropriate. But his friends never took him seriously so they didn't get offended or upset about his remarks. For some reason, he had a feeling that Audrey would understand that as well. "Hey, you started it", he pointed out with a laugh.

"Sounds like fun to me. I've been well - causing trouble as well I could say. Nothing too exciting though. I'm just glad the holiday season is over. If there's something I hate more than cold weather and snow, it's cheerful Christmas music. Makes me want to hang myself every year", he admitted with a playful frown. Spring was his time of year, where the weather was perfect. Not to hot or too cold. But he rather be melting on a hundred degrees in the sun than having to wrap himself in scarfs and mittens whenever he wants to go outside.

"Actually, since you are in Potter's Army I would like to ask you a favor", he said suddenly, as his thoughts rambled rapidly in his head. "You've certainly heard of Longbottom? Alice, the Hufflepuff forth year? She is a member of the Potter's Army as well right? What do you know about her?", he asked rather curiously.

Audrey scowled playfully and Andrei when he mentioned his disdain for the holidays. Christmas music and the holidays were honestly one of her favorite times of year, besides the fact that she had to go home to her oh-so-loving parents. Ha! She couldn't even think that seriously. But really, besides missing the ability to bask in the sun as she could every other season, winter was her favorite. Humidity, she wan't good with.

She didn't care to hide the surprise on her face when he mentioned the Hufflepuff girl, but she let the shock fade and she returned to her playful attitude. "Oh? Mr. Dolohov. You wouldn't happen to have a crush, would you? Mummy and Daddy wouldn't like that very much, you know." she said with a wink. Hoping he would sense the obvious sarcasm there. But, she was genuinely curious. It wasn't every day that a sixth year, dark follower, and Slytherin, would be asking about a fourth year, Potter's Army, Hufflepuff. What a scandal!

But she took up a more serious attitude after her small jab, "Sorry to say, I don't know much about her. I've seen her around, but I've never got along much with younger people, let alone Hufflepuffs." She said honestly. Hufflepuffs were usually very sweet, but they were normally a tad to reserved and shy to be fond of Audrey. Audrey was far from either of those things. "Any specific information you're looking for, or are you just curious?"

"Yes, I'm in love! I don't know what happened I just can't control myself anymore. I an't hide such a secret from the world. You're the first one to figure it out. Please, spread the work of my joy and love", Andrei said with a chuckle, rolling his eyes. It was no secret that he was far from the romantic type, but then again what guy really was. And besides the fact that crushes on younger girls were completely out of the question for him, crushes on Hufflepuffs were even worse. "Now don't go around ruining my reputation. I have a status to uphold in this house you know", he said with a playful wink.

"I'm just asking. For a little project that's all", Andrei said with a shrug of his shoulders. He wasn't surprised that Audrey didn't know much about her to be honest. Slytherins were not that often seen in the company of younger Hufflepuffs. But still he had to ask. He had never heard a friend's perspective of Alice and he had a feeling it might be more insightful than just talking to her directly. Sometimes the people around you know more things about you personality than you do. "But never mind me", he said finally in the end when he realized that this topic wasn't really going to take him anywhere right now.

"So tell me then, how is it being part of Potter's Army? Besides the obvious. Do you have a huge portrait of Harry Potter which you bow to every morning and night? I imagine that would be an essential part of it actually.", he teased her with a playful grin.

Audrey laughed along with him. "I'd have never guess she was your type. But you know, it's the Hufflepuffs you have to look out for. They get crazy." she said as she rolled her eyes and laughed. She remember the bits of gossip she's heard on Andrei's dating life. It almost matched her's, and that's saying something. Though she'd been having a change of heart lately, even now she couldn't see herself with any Hufflepuff. "Oh, right. You have a 'status to uphold.' Well, I'll have to see what I can do about that." she teased him playfully.

She couldn't help but laugh at his teasing her for Potter's Army. At least he was original about it. "Oh, yes, of course. Some of the radicals even cut matching scars onto their foreheads!" she rolled her eyes, and continued laughing. "No, but I can't really say. So far, people kind of hate me. Suppose I don't fit in with the 'good girls'." She said with a playful smirk. Everything there was a huge understatement. She didn't just 'not fit in' and they didn't just 'hate her'. But she was trying to keep the mood light.

"I would ask what being a Dark Follower is like, but I kind of already know." She laughed teasingly. "How is it for you?" she asked, knowing it was probably very different than anything she felt about it while she was involved, but genuinely curious anyways.

Andrei rolled his eyes when she spoke of the Potter's Army in such a predictable way. It was quite sad that they weren't anything different from what he had imagined them. It seems that they rise to their prejudices quite perfectly. "Trust me, no one there falls into the 'good girl' type. Especially the girls. If you could only see the scum we find on some of them, you would be quite shocked. It's like when the nun turned into a whore, they just do it in a less obvious fashion. So don't let any of them treat you like that. It's ridiculous to be honest. Think of him. Which one of them is any better than you? Just a bunch of spoiled little brats with less than average magical capabilities and only their family name to keep their reputation high", he said with a loud frown.

He had realized that perhaps talking so openly against the Potter's Army in front of Audrey wasn't such a good idea after all. She was their member now and naturally she should feel the urge to protect and defend their own. But for some reason he doubted that would happen. No one has shown her the respect let alone the kindness for her to start truly being loyal to the group.

"For me. Just- normal I guess. I don't know any different", he said with a shrug of his shoulders. It was true that the Dark Follower was something Andrei went into simply because it seemed natural. It was the next step to growing up, that's all. He felt at home in that group. And even though he didn't agree with most of the opinions and members, he still felt like they were one big very dysfunctional family. Loyalty was very highly valued. "You still have to break someone's neck to get anything done properly. But I guess that's just bad organization. It's all fine and everything. But I'm beginning to see how childish it is. It's time to move onto something more"

Audrey sighed and shook her head slightly. "They're a lot better than me." she muttered to herself. But she laughed, and appreciated Andrei's attempts to make her feel better. It was nice of him, though his obvious resent of Potters Army was less than pleasing, they hadn't really acted much better than he was saying, so she had nothing to stand up for.

When Audrey listened to Andrei talk about being a Dark Follower, she felt almost home sick. She remembered all to well when she had thought the same way. It was just the normal, and nature thing to do. Everyone you grew up with was there, all your family. It was more than expected. Though they would probably criticize her for her choices, she knew that if she turned back now, they would accept her with open arms. Almost everyone went through a faze of doubt.

She smiled at the thought of her past friends. "It's like home, huh?" and she couldn't help but laugh. She knew exactly what he meant. When you're growing up, you never think of any life but the one that is expected of you. Even if you didn't quite believe in the cause. Audrey was one of the few, and I mean very few, that stood up when she didn't believe in something. "I almost fit in there better than I do with Potter's Army." she said with a laugh. The Dark Followers knew and accepted her, and it would sure make her parents proud, but she knew she couldn't really go back into ignorance. She knew why she left, and she wouldn't take it back. But it was hard to say she was in Potter's Army, when the reason she left the Dark Followers, she'd found with them as well.

"Bad organization is an understatement. It all was a bit childish, really." she said, but she shuttered at the thought of the 'more' Andrei was so eagerly heading for. She assumed that's what he meant at least. The 'after' of being a Dark Follower. But if so, she would hardly call that and better than where he was now.