Either Way (Lilac)

It had taken awhile, but Jurian had finally gotten around to keeping the promise he'd made himself after his encounter with Lilac in the ice cream shop over the summer. Without an owl to ask around to his magical friends, Jurian had to be content with using his father's computer to look up what information he could. There had been a lot about the regular royalty and such but there wasn't anything that he could find on the wizarding front unless he just wasn't seeing it; which was entirely possible. Having done that, it was as soon as his parents took Jasper and he to Diagon for his year three things that Jurian was able to use a post owl. In the postal office, he'd jotted a quick note and sent it to his head of house. His professor had responded promptly enough that by the time the third year was to board the train he had a bit more knowledge but just as confused as he'd been at the beginning of the summer.

Haven't missed Lilac for the rest of the summer nor seeing her at either trains platforms had him a bit disappointed, but he knew he'd see her in classes at the very least. Jurian had gone up to the fourth floor just to be sure that the painting was still there before he'd gone in search of the girl before pausing. She wasn't the type that would likely take to being grabbed even in a friendly manner and dragged to someplace unknown. Thinking it through, he knew he'd have to ask, but was unsure if he should do it in person or via a letter. The only place he'd seen her outside class had been in that room when he'd been looking for Bob. Naturally, when he'd gone back to try and find it, it was gone. Not even begging the castle to show him the room got him any results. So, he'd found himself once more writing out a letter and asked to borrow Thomas' owl to send it.

Jurian had asked Lilac to meet him on the fourth floor because he wanted to show her something. Hoping that would do the trick, the boy sat on the steps to wait. Every time he thought he heard someone he would eagerly bounce to his feet only to sigh and sit back down or pace as he awaited at the top of the steps. It never crossed his mind that she would ignore the note and not show up leaving him to wait.

After having met the Ravenclaw boy over the summer and entitled him to free ice cream for a whole year, lilac had pretty much forgotten about him. Her concern had been more along the lines of if anyone would notice her borrowing some gold from the family account. She shouldn't have worried though, as weeks passed by with no such news. A few gold coins were not even half a drop in the ocean of wealth that was the Clement fortune.

And now she knew she could get away with writing off small expenses on Lady Elenore's behalf.

It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong, the little witch assured herself. It was the family money and she was from the family. She was just as entitled to spending a few galleons to help a friend as she was to lying down on Lady Elenore's silk coverlets and going to sleep on her impossibly soft pillows. Things in the palace were for those who stayed in the palace, her dubious conscience argued. Not for those who left.

The palace had been almost empty of its occupants all summer with Lord Jacques and Mimosa off to China, the Lord and Lady Clement off on tour in one of the many European countries and Lady Elenore still in America. That only left the Dowager Lady Lynnette at home and the old bat never left her withdrawing room anyway.

The servants had of course kept the family's main lodgings clean and private but the rest of the palace and grounds were almost free to the little girl who some felt pity for and others just wanted out of their way. Every time the cook shoo-ed her away or the housemaids looked at her with sympathy, Lilac wanted to tell them how one day, she would be their boss. They would all pay for their attitude towards her.

As summer drew to an end and the main family returned to prepare for Mimosa's trip to England, Lilac positively refused to go with the ward. It would have been convenient to follow in one of the cars running security for the Lord and Lady Clement as they escorted Mimosa to King's Cross but the blonde would not have it, whining and complaining and pouting and yelling until Artemis relented and agreed to side along apperate her directly to Hogsmeade. Lilac did not need to spend an entire train ride being tormented by Mimosa or sticking out like a sore thumb as the only Slytherin not allowed in the Slytherin cabin.

Even if she did not want to, the third year witch had been looking forwards to seeing Jurian again at the welcome feast. He had called her a friend after all. But she had arrived late and taken her seat halfway through the sorting ceremony. the blonde had tried to wave his way but the Raevnclaw table was busy cheering their new cohort and he hand either not seen ehr or chosen to ignore ehr.

Or he had fallen in with Mimosa's group and his quest for popularity would know ensure he didn't know she existed.

Lilac didn't want to think about it, so she focused on taking dainty bites of her food until most of her housemates were gone. Alone was how she preferred to be. She was strongest when she was on her own.

One day passed an then two, and she did not meet the tardy boy in class. She had almost forgotten him when the letter arrived. Out of petulance, she refused to read the message at first. Then convinced herself to read it only to discard the letter entirely. But when she found he wanted to meet her... At least he wasn't ignoring her.

Still, it was unlike Lila cl Rhea to forgive a mistake, real or imagined. And in her head, Jurian had done her a wrong by ignoring her at the feast. So deciding that she would only go to his meeting place to tell him off for his rudeness, Lilac mad her way to the fourth floor on he date arranged in the letter.

The witch had made sure to not change out of her school uniform to impose upon him how little she cared for his approval, her green blazer draped snugly over her narrow shoulders and her blonde hair tied in a perfect french braid. With a decided air of haughtiness, the witch approached a pacing Jurian.

"What do you want, I'm veree beezee, Monsieur."

Hearing (why was it always sound first with her?) Lilac caused the boy to spin quickly on his heel a delighted grin crossing his face after his relief, body relaxing slightly, genuinely happy to see her. Noticing her attitude, his grin slipped back into a nervous one. He knew it was a risk, and that she might really have been busy as she stated. Hadn't he walked in on her making a dress? Swallowing, he could only apologize and reply, "Sorry, really. But, I found this painting last year."

He pointed down the hall as he spoke and then glanced back at Lilac to check her response. The teen really hoped that she would come with him and not leaving him standing there alone. "And well, I wanted to show it to you."

It had crossed his mind after thinking about everything he knew about the girl in front of him. Shifting from one foot to the other and putting his hands in his pockets he began to walk backwards. "Well, after our talk in the ice cream shop- Oh yeah! Thank you, by the way." The grin returned glad that he at least remembered to thank the girl. Abashed he tried to rectify his mistake. "Sorry, I should have started with that!"

Was that why she was a bit upset with him? In retrospect he supposed he really ought to have have either included that in his note to her. Or he should have remembered when he was in the alley and had written to his head of house. In his excitement and want of information he had completely forgotten about manners and return cards thanking someone for their presents. He supposed, that he did deserve her ire then if that was the case.

"Anyway, the painting!" He got back to the subject at hand and the whole reason he'd asked her to meet him here and was relieved, anxious, and glad that she was following him so far even if it was just to see if he would trip while walking backwards as he was. Spinning the right way 'round with a slight bounce in his step, he continued, "The story. It reminded me of you a little bit."

To her threat chagrin, Jurian didn't seem at all apologetic. in fact, he was smiling from ear to ear when he greeted her instead of looking somber and admonished like he should have. If Lilac didn't know any better, she'd say the boy wasn't even aware he had done something wrong. Her statement f being busy was merely met with a casual sorry before he started speaking again, shocking her into a rare silence.

"And well, I wanted to show it to you."

"A painting?" the blonde nearly scoffed. He had disturbed her to show her a painting? Not that she had much to do but he Ravenclaw didn't need to know that. This castle couldn't compare to the artwork found at her palace so why on earth would he show her something second rate?

Finally, his manners seem to catch up with him, thanking her for the ice cream. Lilac merely nodded in reply, not ready to forgive him just yet but curious enough to follow along. If what she saw wasn't to her liking, she could give the boy a proper dressing down.

"The story. It reminded me of you a little bit."

As soon as the young witch laid eyes on the portrait, her first instinct was to take offense. Did she look like a raggedly dressed peasant to Jurian? But as he explains it was the story that reminded him of her, the eagle eyed teenager grew more curious.

"What ees ze storee?" she asked, guarded gaze still on the portrait of the fair haired villager. "I 'ave not 'eard of eet beefore."

Pausing when they got to the painting he saw that his companion didn't seem all that impressed and he felt his face heat up a bit. Jurian supposed that at first glance it wasn't a compliment to be compared to. Why was it whenever he was around Lilac his words came out wrong? He felt relief and a bit of hope that she hadn't left and actually asked what the story behind the painting was. Nodding he began, "Illyius, that's the wizard's name. He was an orphan. I found this portrait last year. I did some research and it's really interesting."

He explained how the wizard was an orphan and how things had been different back then when learning magic. About him being considered weak because his patronus was a mouse. How the villagers laughed at him. Then about the dark wizard attacking the village and how they sent Illyius away to keep Eliana company. How the villagers were losing despite having 'powerful' animals like bears and the like. How Eliana asked Illyius to help. How he had confronted the dark wizard and was able to overwhelm his army and beat it with his tiny mouse patronus. How when the enraged dark wizard tried to do his own patronus it backfired on him and destroyed him. Then because he was able to defeat the dark wizard and save the town, he was hailed a hero.

"They all thought he was nothing because of his patronus, but his heart was stronger and purer than all of them!" Jurian glanced towards Lilac as he shoved his hands into his pockets and gave a shrug. He really really hoped that he didn't offend her and that she would get what he meant. Despite how his words always tumbled over themselves. "When I read the story of how an orphan that others looked down on became a hero...I thought of you. I mean, you have a good heart just like Illyius and well," he gave her a sincere smile. "I know that you'll show everyone. Just like he did."

"Sort of?" Jurian tilted his head to the side as he though and tried to put into words what he thought hoping that even if he tripped over them as he seemed to do in the girl's presence she would understand the meaning at least. Despite his many missteps, it seemed that Lilac was able to come up with what the boy meant which he greatly appreciated even if he still couldn't understand why every time they spoke his brain and mouth couldn't sync up correctly. "The portrait reminded me of the story which had me think of you. And your heart," he smiled. He'd come to an understanding of a sort and realized that while he may be awkward when he spoke with her, she seemed just as awkward sometimes but she really was kind and wanted her to know that he knew.

"You certainly read art differently zan most people do."

"Um, thanks?" He smiled as he decided to take the statement as a compliment since he liked being able to see things other people didn't. It sure helped him out when it came to Lilac. Since their meeting he'd been a bit more observant or tried to be about how people treated the girl which only spurred him on to make sure that he show her the painting and tell her the story.

As she stated she wasn't an orphan, he flushed a bit since that hadn't been what he'd meant or wanted her to focus on! He had meant that she was just as strong as Illyius was even though no one knew it. People saw him as inconsequential and below them but if not for him the village would have perished. Wondering how he could explain and try and salvage this, he kept his mouth shut partially in confusion as he listened to the rest. Didn't not having parents make you an orphan? Unless she had them but they didn't want her or something kept her from living with them? Artemis? That must be whomever took care of her? Eyes widening as he realized that she was confiding in him which he knew was a big deal, he crossed his heart showing that he promised that he wouldn't say a word to this Artemis person. It sounded like he'd been right that there was a reason she wasn't with her parents even if he hadn't a clue why that might be.

Was this her way of asking him for help even if it was just lending his ear? He knew she wasn't the type to apologize; not in words but she more than made up for that lack with her actions. Perhaps she was the same when it came to asking for help? Asking without asking? Realizing how serious this was, he allowed himself to reflect that in his expression as he gazed at the Slytherin. Unsure if he'd be making things worse, Jurian spoke honestly. "I'll help you any way I can. Even if its just to run distraction for Artemis."

"I'll help you any way I can. Even if its just to run distraction for Artemis."

To even her own surprise, Lilac let out a genuine laugh at his offer. Not a sarcastic chuckle or a pretentious giggle. A genuine, open, pure laugh the kind she hadn't experienced in a long while. A shot of warmth bubbled through the young witch as she laughed at the idea of Artemis needing to be distracted. She supposed Jurian could light a candle and that would distract the Clement's Garage Manager for a few hours.

But the fact that Jurian was wiling to help made a more genuine smile soften her features.

"'Ere, come wiz me," she motioned, taking him by the hand before she realized what she was doing and pulling him along until they came to an empty classroom. While the hallway they had been in was secluded enough, the little blonde was of the opinion that you could never be too careful.

Once they were in, Lilac shut the door firmly to the outside world before heading towards the teachers desk. From her pocket, she withdrew a neatly folded piece of paper, laying it out on the desk.

"My name is Lilac Rhea Capulet," she began, pressing the paper firmly onto the desk to free it of as many wrinkles as possible. If Jurian would look closely, he would see names and dates, all stepping from a branch of a family tree.

"Artenis says 'e ees my fazzer but 'e is not on ze tree," she motioned to the bottom part of the family tree where two siblings were recorded, Rhea Capulet and Theodore Capulet. "Zat is my Aunt Rhea,' she showed, pointing a perfectly shaped fingernail at the name. "And my..." And here she paused, unsure if Theodore Capulet was her father or uncle.

"When I waz leetile, I used to compare my faze to heem. We are boz blonde... but I'm not sure ozzurwize."

Giving Jurian the chance to study the tree himself, the witch then continued. "As for my muzzer, Artemis never told me 'oo she waz. But 'e used to tell me stories..." He probably thought she was too young, or too stupid, but Lilac had been neither. As soon as she had suspected he was talking about her mother, she had began taking detailed mental notes, building a picture of the woman who had given birth to her.

"She was American, she vent to Salem Academy, she was a Nightshade zere," Lilac recounted, almost as if reading out loud the information she had filed away from such an early age. "She 'ad connections with ze Clement family because Artemis ees not clever enough to get is job on 'is own," she added, unable to resist the dig.

"And she is 'ere right now, in zis school," Lilac finished, admitting her theory to the first person who had shown an interest in her life. "Artemis alwayz loved ze Azalea flover, 'e 'ad bunches een our private garden," she confessed, looking at Jurian to see if he would connect the dots.

"I'm preety sure, my muzzer is Profezzor 'Arrington."