Finding Friends

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

He tried not to make eye contact with her, instead he just shivered. Luci was staring at the ground, unable to keep a straight face. Then she looked up, and her face had concern written all over it.

"Honestly, Leo, that cut down your leg is much worse than you said. And we better go get a Professor, it looks like you've got hypothermia in all of your lower body. Looks pretty bad in your feet and groin." said Luci, pretending to be worried.

Leo tried not to groan in embarassment, and when she turned her head to see if Alexis was watching, his leg booted her in the stomach. She grunted and narrowed her eyes at him, and using a shaking hand that was concealed from Alexis by the blanket he gave her the finger.

"Its OK Leo." said Luci, holding Leo's hand and patting it.

Leo narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Luci leaned forward pretending to hug Leo.

"Next time you want to get revenge, don't involve me." hissed Luci, and without warning, her knee came down on his groin.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

Alexis openly laughed at the sight of Leo, her cynical streak had come back from this afternoon. She really had no sympathy for him at all!

She went near the the fire and warmed up her hands, she couldn't feel her fingertips at all!

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo cursed, crossed his arms and fumed by the fire. Ignoring Alexis wasn't an option, so he just kept on sending her dirty looks out of the corner of her eyes. Luci had swaggered off, blowing a kiss in a flirty way at Leo. He'd stuck up his finger in response.

"You know, it wasn't very nice of you just to ditch me. Am I really that bad to be around? I mean, I thought I was fairely popular. Your friends would of been impressed right?" hissed Leo.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

Alexis jumped at the sound of Leo's voice. She looked around to see if any one was there, the common room was completely dead! Thank goodness!

"Something just hit me!" she hissed back. SHe couldn't be bothered with the gossip!

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo shook his head slightly and raised his lip in disgust.

"Really? What? A sense of right and wrong?" snapped Leo.

Without thinking, he flicked his wind and the fire died. He turned his head to look away from Alexis. He was beign harsh, but she had suddenly turned nasty. Then again, he had expected something like this.

"You know what, I don't care. I'm going up. Night." said Leo harshly, and then he stood up and turned towards the staircase and began to walk.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

Alexis watched as Leo started walking, she got out her own wand and shot the Incendio spell at the fire so it would light up again.

Alexis laughed slightly. Really what had Leo been expecting? That she would be nice? That she would tell him all of her secrets? Fat chance of that happening! Like she was going to let her friends think that she hung out with Leo Darke! It's not that she cared what they thought, but she didn't need someone getting in the way of where she belonged! And that was on top!

Leo could think what he wanted about her, but she knew her place in the world. And sometimes you just had to lose a few people on the way to get to where you want!

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo sighed as he stood in front of the mirror. He poked his abs with a rather forceful finger. They didn't stand out aswell as the Quidditch Players, but they were rather well defined. He checked out his biceps and triceps whilst he was there, and then examined his face.

Rather good-looking he thought. A strong, angular jaw and a faint trace of stubble. Slightly plump lips and ears that were average-sized. His cheekbones stood out well-enough and his eyes were a striking shade of dark blue. Leo turned to his side and checked out his nose.

Straight enough and it wasn't hooked or overly large. It was normal. Perfect. Great. Apart from the small, faded scar, his face was fine. His dark blonde hair hung limply around his head, just dry from the relentless shower he'd hoped in.

Leo didn't know why he checking out his appearance, but he guessed it was because of Alexis. Something had put her off him. His personality? Maybe. But he had to be sure it wasn't is looks. As vain as it sounded, it was important to him. Very important.

He was in the bathroom for the Slytherin Boys. It was used by every male in Slytherin, maybe apart from the Head Boy and the odd Prefrect that was too snobby to wash where everyone else did. It was sixteen at a time, eight washing and eight drying off.

There were eight showers, though they were just showerheads sticking out of the wall. There was no privacy, and shampoo and shower gel was passed around so frequently it was rare to need your own. Towels were something Hogwarts supplied, so Leo tended to only bring a bottle of shampoo or shower gel once every two weeks and just used whoever's was being passed around..

The fact that you had to wash with seven other boys nearby was bad enough, but the showers were only seperated from the sinks and mirrors by a row of lockers, which is where you put your clothes so that they didn't get soaked. The boys not washing had to get dried and dressed, again without private changing rooms, within five minutes, so that the people in the showers could dry off and the people outside could get into the showers.

Leo dropped the towel, ignoring the other seven boys located so close to him, but he was not granted the same luxury. It was foolish of him, after six years he should of learnt, but as soon as he dropped his towel and went for his clothes, both were gone.

Naturally, he cursed, blushed, and then lunged for the smirking Fifth Year. The Fifth Year stepped back, and Leo was suddenly very aware of his nudity. It was a joke amongst all of the boys, and Leo rolled his eyes as his clothes and towel went from boy to boy, until a blonde Prefrect stopped the fun.

There was a collective groan, and Leo nodded in thanks as he got his stuff back. The Fifth Year next to Leo, the one who had stolen his clothes, grinned and walked over to his locker to get changed. That was the sensible way. When he dropped his towel however, a sinister looking Seventh Year stepped in.

"Careful, mate, the queer will try and gay you up. I mean, your both in the nude." sniggered the Seventh Year, with a harsh look at Leo.

Leo went red and fumbled with the soft, light grey trousers that made up the bottom half of his pyjamas. The bathroom fell silent, apart from the constant patter of the showers. Most looked too suprised. Normally, Leo would of flared up and smacked the boy in the mouth.

But all eyes were on him as he pulled on the black t-shirt with four buttons at the top. He didn't care. He was fed up on the snarky remarks. He was fed up of the dirty looks and the way that some of the boys stayed far away from him during his time in the showering. He was fed up.

It was unlike him to feel like this, to feel weak. He hated himself for it and he hated the Seventh Year for doing this to him. Leo wanted to yell and vent out his anger, but all he was aware of was the way his vision was blurring. Tears were weeling up. His bit his lip with enough force to make it bleed. Enough of that, Leo, he said to himself. Crying was weakness.

He remained silent, his head down as he gathered up his stuff and then left the bathroom. He heard an argument break out just as the door swung shut.

Stepping out, he glared with force at the people in the front of the queue and when he reached his dorm, he flung open the door, threw his stuff into his open trunk and then ran. He wasn't sure where, but he needed to get away.

He didn't go far, he couldn't. It was after curfew and in his state, he'd get caught. And another detention would mean another Howler, meaning more teasing from the homophobic bullies out there. He was supposed to be the harsh, cold-hearted Leo Darke, not a crying, weak Leo Darke who was afraid of other people.

Instead of leaving the Common Room, he buried himself into a dim, dark corner of the Slytherin Common Room. It was hidden, though the Common Room was empty anyway. The torches were out, and only the eeire green glow of the Lake was there.

He stared out of the glass window that looked into the murky depths of the Lake. Now, he allowed tears to roll down his cheeks. He was a failure. He was a disappointment to the Darke name. Leo couldn't even think what Frankie would say if she saw him, probably something clever and witty that would cheer him up in a heartbeat and then sit with him until he recovered, and chat about her day.

Rosa would roll her eyes and tell him to grow a pair, but she would also sit, though in silence with the odd hand resting awkwardly on his knee. Vulcan would raise an eyebrow, bit into an apple, sit oppisite him and read his book until Leo felt like talking.

He longed for one of them to find him, yet he also hoped nobody would find him. He drew his knees up close to his chest and watched as a school of fish swam by, all dull in colour and movement, yet so interesting. He watched without blinking through the old windows that went from the floor to the roof.

Leo missed home. He missed spending all day out flying, or mucking around with Frankie, Rosa and Vulcan at the bottom of the estate, where a small woods was. He missed taking his Father's old rowboat out into the middle of their Lake and just lying there in the Sun. He missed his Mother's home-baked cakes. Hell, he even missed his stuffy Father and his disapproving looks when he did something wrong.

The sense of hatred towards himself came back. People has suffered through worse, so man up Leo. Vulcan suffered from an unknown mental illness meaning that he had another personality, yet he knew what he was doing and was fully in control of his actions. Yet he'd never sit here and cry in the dark.

He drew in a shaky breath and then froze. Footsteps, he was sure. Heading his way. He covered his mouth and sunk lower towards the ground, praying that whoever it was would turn around and go back to bed. That they wouldn't see him here, sat in his PJ's with red, puffy eyes and looking so weak.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

Lexi tip toed down the stairs in her pink lace vest and shorts for pyjamas. As she walked down the stairs Fluffly slinked and entwined herself around Lexi's feet. Alexis picked the white cat up and stroked it lovingly. It's fur was pristine white, and it had a pink and green ribbon around its neck. The pink was her favourite colour and the green was there because of Slytherin. She did take some pride in her house! And her pets for that matter.

By the window Lexi could see a figure, she couldn't make out the face properly in this light, and it didn't seem to be making any movement. "Hellow" she called into the darkness.

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo froze. Fate had it in for him, he was sure of it. He clamped his hand over his mouth, muffling his sobs and sunk further down the wall. His heart was hammering and he could hear Alexis breathing close by.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Not now. Not here. He tried to cramp himself into the darkness, but she had seen him. He subtly wiped away his tears, thankful for the darkness, took into several deep breaths. He turned his head and weakly smiled, revealing his face.

"Its just me." he said, his voice sounding slightly feeble even to him.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

"Oh." Alexis said when she realised it was Leo.

SHe couldn't be bothered to have another argument with him. SHe carried on stroking Fluffy. What was wrong with his voice? Down by the Lake it had sounded so my more confident and now it just didn't. But why did Lexi care anyway?

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo bit his lip slightly. Great, now things we're awkward. More awkward than they'd been at the lake, and even more than the minutes after Luci had sent her knee into his groin. Without knowing why, he chuckled at the memory. It was so obvious yet unexpected, exactly what Luci's personality was.

His grinned, more to one side than the other. Confidence was what he needed, normally he didn't lack it. He let out a shaky breath that he hadn't been aware he was holding. He needed somebody to snap at him, tell him to man up. Somebody to be too harsh, because that would make his snap out of this depressed, gothic mood. And whilst that job normally fell on the shoulder's of his little sister, Alexis was also a perfect candidate.

"Alexis, d-do you think I'm a coward? I-I want you to list every bad thing you can think of, even if its small and not entirely true, and say it. I want you to be nasty and harsh, a-and not hold back." said Leo, the authority in his voice unmistakable.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

Leo had asked her not to hold back, well if she was asked not to then she would listen.

"You're annoying, cocky and yeah you are a coward! What the hell have you been doing sitting here? Crying?!" Alexis scoffed at the thought.

"You call yourself a Slytherin?! It's a wonder you weren't sorted into Hufflepuff! Slytherin's are supposed to be heartless! And yet you're sitting there crying! For God sake get a hold of yourself please! This was a very good way for Alexis to vent, "And you really do wonder why I didn't want to be seen with you!" She wondered why she even spoke to him by the Lake.

Hopefully everyone was in bed by now, so they couldn't see her with him. What would the whole house think?! She along with Leo would be a huge laughing stock, and her father wouldn't at all be pleased with that. Ruining his reputation along with her own. Lexi wouldn't be surprised if her whole money supply off of him got cut off! She definitely wasn't going to let that happen!

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo bit his lip. Just like he'd guessed, all of the hatred for himself had turned into hatred for Alexis. It wasn't the most healthy method, and it was one that constanly got him into trouble, but he didn't care.

He balled his hands into fists, restraining himself from standing up and strangling that stupid cat and it's annoying owner. Anger coursed through his veins, until he could stand it no more.

"I'm a member of the Darke family. We're one of the richest, most powerful families in Europe. And why the hell would I want to be seen with you? A snobby, spoilt and incredibly stupid and one-dimesional girl! Not to mention the fact that you rate appearance above everything else!

Sure, I take it into account, but my cousin doesn't dress like a model, sometimes my sister doesn't, but that doesn't mean I turn my back on them! And, if people saw you with me, they'd probably be amazed! That some silly girl that nobody really knows would even get the chance to speak to me! I might not be popular with everyone, but I'm way more popular than you!" yelled Leo, yelling so loud his throat hurt.

His words were harsh and bitter, and it wasn't Alexis' fault. She'd only done what he'd asked her to, but it was her attitude and everything about her. And that comment about popularity might not be true, but he was fairely sure he was.

"And yes, I was crying! Because all people seem to do, people like you, is judge me for personal decisions that have nothing to do with them or their facist lifestyles! Now go beg Daddy to pay for some more friends, because your current ones just gossip about you!

Your nose is so far up your own ass you can't see that life is moving on without you! I mean, is it true that you've neither had a serious boyfriend and that you've never slept with anyone? Because that's what people are saying behind your back!" ranted Leo.

And then he fell silent. He didn't feel masively better, he kinda felt worse now. He shouldn't of said that, but he was prepared to swallow his pride and apologize to Alexis Thrif. All he could was prepare himself to get slapped.

[ALEXIS TESSA THRIF]

Alexis stood there, frozen to the spot, and open mouthed at what Leo had just said. Fluffy seemed to have ran out of her hands in the midst of Leo shouting.
Well he seems to be back to his self! Alexis thought.

"You know what, yeah it is true I haven't had a real boyfriend! And what's the point when they only end up hurting you?" Lexi was showing Leo a side that even she had been to scared to reveal to herself. "But you know what, why don't I just confirm the rumors, because it doesn't matter whether I have a boyfriend or not! Because as soon as I leave here my father going to make me marry someone that I barely know!

Let them say what they want about me! Do you honestly think I care?! Because prior to what you may think, I can actually hear and yes I do hear what they say about me on a regular basis! But who needs them! There's one top spot in the world, and my family will disown me if I'm not the one to get it!"

Alexis was shocked by what she said, thinking about it now, she partially did want that spot for herself. But the majority was for her parents'. Because they wanted her to have it, it wasn't fully because she wanted it herself.

She heard a "Meow!" behind her, Alexis whipped her head around, it was only Fluffy running up the stairs. With the amount of noise they had been making Alexis was surprised that the whole of Slytherin Commons wasn't awake. Scrap that she was surprised that Professor Ramsford hadn't come to see what was going on!

[LEO THOMAS DARKE]

Leo, without knowing why, stood up and felt like biting Alexis' head off. She was just too...infuriating.

"We're all going to be married off! Its what Pureblood families do! Heck, my cousin is probably going to get married off an second! But you've got three years to live your life how the hell you want to live it! Sleep with someone, sleep with loads of people, date someones, date hundreds of people!

You've got to be more impulsive, hang loose some more. Sure, I'm not the perfect role model, but I'm myself. I don't hide myself beneath layers upon layers of lies and pretty things, because I just want to be me. You should be aswell! People want to see the real Alexis, not the brave face you put on!

I bet that everything you've ever lived for, everything you've ever done, has been for your parents! You need to live for you!" said Leo, his voice getting louder and louder.

He sounded incredibly dramatic, but it was true. She needed to grow a backbone, go on impulse more. Leo glanced down, slightly annoyed at himself. But he hated it when people brought it up, because he knew he only had a matter of months. Already the vultures were circling, pestering his Father to sign on the bloody dotted line.

But he didn't want to marry aged 17, and be the loving, caring husband to some girl that he hardly knew and was distanly related to. Leo glanced at Alexis, and wondered if the Darke and Thrif families were related in any way. Maybe Alexis' great aunt had married his great uncle or Leo's grandad's mother could be Alexis' granmother's sister. The possiblites were all as likely as each other.