Avoiding, not hiding

"No", said Andrei again laughing at her surprised expression. "Do I really look like a guy who loves hitting girls or something?", he asked with a chuckle. Although he knew this was more because of his reputation than what he looked like. Just being a Slytherin with a last name of his gave him plenty of bad reputation in this school. The fact that he enjoyed skipping detention and roaming the school after hours didn't help either. Somehow he found that wherever he was, trouble followed. Andrei wouldn't have it any other way though, life would be just too boring without some mystery and trouble in it. He even enjoyed the power and the privileges his reputation gave him, made everything else much less of a hassle.

"Oh so now all of us kiss random people? Hm I've never heard that one before. I guess people could say worse. And I know they do", he said with a chuckle. He learned a long time ago not to allow silly rumors get to him. Especially ones that weren't true. Andrei may not have been quite the Virgin Mary, but he didn't go around kissing random people and especially not random Gryffindor girls. "If you really want to know, you are pretty much the only Gryffindor I've kissed. But I wouldn't go around telling people that. I have a reputation to uphold. Not like people would believe you anyway", Andrei said with a playful smirk on his lips.

Just looking at her made Andrei want to kiss her again. He couldn't understand why, but there was something about her he just couldn't resist. All he could think of right now was her lips and getting another chance of kissing them. Strange how foreign emotions would overcome him at times, with no rational explanation. He had a feeling though that he shouldn't surprise her this time for the sake of his own well being. "May I kiss you again? I feel that an approval is necessarily this time, unless I want to be deadly injured" he said with a soft smile as he took a few steps forward. He was rather curious of her response this time.

What Avis could do was simply shrug her shoulders. No, Andrei did not look like the one who'd go around and hit all the girls who he did not like or who deserved it.
"Well, I don't go around kissing random people however that happens to me a lot lately." She grimaced. Kissing. Damn, she did not even know how this thing was going on. She did not even know what it felt like having a crush on someone. Avis' first years of school were spent in misery and mourning her twin sister who died such a horrible death. She had no time to stare at the boys of her age when her classmates did so. She did not recieve any love letters or invitations to parties. And as the time passed, she realized that being alone was better than she had expected. She had all the time in the world only for herself, she did not have to worry about her secrets being spilled out to someone who could use them against her.
But it looked like relationships, love and all the drama still crossed her path even if she wanted to avoid those.

"Oh? Should I feel special now?" she asked. Although her face and voice did not give it away, she had to admit that this added some inches to her ego. First Gryffindor, huh? "It must've been painful. Kissing a half blood I mean." As far as she knew, Slytherins respected only those who had pureblood running through their veins and some of them were still out of their league. How miserable. However the school life would be boring if there would be no rivalry between those houses.

It was odd how the surroundings changed her character. Once out of the passageway, she felt better and the positivity had returned. She even smiled at his question, though it did surprise her. Kiss her again?
Avis blinked her eyes in amazement and she watched how he stepped closer to her. She could almost feel his warm breath on her cheeks that were pink from the cold. "Andrei, I..." she bit her lip and drew a deep breath. This was wrong. "I think it is better for you to go and rest. You've been trough a lot this evening and sleep should only do you some good."

“A lot? Can’t say that I’m surprised by that fact”, he said with a chuckle. Not that he meant that in a bad way or anything. It’s just that he could see guys being all over a girl like Avis. The reason for that probably wasn’t just the fact that she was pretty, which she obviously was. But she also had some kind of childish innocence in her eyes that made guys believe they stood a chance with her. That just because she talked to them, it meant she liked them. Girls who were too nice to be blunt and say no. Thankfully, he had passed that stage with her a long time ago when she was pointing her wand at his chest.

“You should feel special! I don’t have many firsts in my life, especially not recently. So you’re one of those rare ones. And yes, since you’re asking already, it was terribly painful. Don’t know how I survived it. Come to think of it, I do feel a bit ill now”, said Andrei laughing with a teasing smirk on his face. The whole pureblood superiority view of his and his whole family was often a deal breaker with girls like Avis, so he decided not to push things any further. Sure there was some truth in it, but Andrei never followed it so religiously as his parents did. Would he bring a muggle born girl home to meet his family? No definitely not. Not unless he was trying to set the house on fire on purpose. He learned from the past that it was often better to keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself. Especially if it was such a radical opinion like his parent’s.

Andrei chuckled at her confused expression. It was clear to him that this was not something she was used to. Perhaps he was too blunt with her? But he was always like that, he didn’t see much point in trying to romanticize the whole thing and play cat and mouse. That would be just too exhausting and pointless. So he tried, as often as he could, to be clear and straight to the point. “I’m pretty sure that you need it more than I do”, he said with a laugh. Without a warning, he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I didn’t really ask for your permission. I was just trying to be polite”, he said through a smirk and a low voice, as he was still near here. He then took a few steps back and gave her space to do whatever she wanted. “If you would like to leave now, go ahead. No one is stoping you”.

Avis raised her eyebrows. He striked her by a surprise again. Was that a compliment or an insult of sorts?
She'd like to know what he meant by that, but before she could ask, Andrei continued and Avis did not disturb him while he spoke. It was not polite, after all, and right now they seemed to get along quite well. The last thing that she needed was another fight before going to bed and later thinking about the words she could've told him while they were arguing.

She smiled slightly. Yes well most of the pureblooded people would rather die than kiss a person who had a muggle blood running in their veins. And Avis did not blame them for their points of view. The wizarding world was meant for those who had magic running trough their blood for centuries. She did not know much about her fathers family, their legacy and history. What she knew, however, was the fact that her Italian grandmother was a great witch who possessed the greater power of healing and she passed her knowledge to Avis who had also shown interest in becoming a healer. Her dream was to move to Africa after getting all the knowledge and experience and be a doctor there.

"I feel sorry for you which is why I must apologize. I did not warn you that I drank a potion before that might work as a poison on you." Her smile was gentle now. Avis once pranked a guy and he almost choked on his cookies. Yes, she also knew how to make jokes. Not that they were funny for the others, they were amusing to her.

"Andrei..." she gasped, using first time his first name. The kiss was short, thank godness, but it was enough to make her heart race again and turn her cheeks pink. Then he, FINALLY, removed himself from her personal space and Avis, with all the pain and ego she still held in herself, had to admit that his company was actually enjoyable. The forbidden fruit was the sweetest, that's what people say.

"Could..." she collected herself, looking now at the floor instead of his eyes. "Could you escort me? I do not know a way back." It was true, she'd never been in the kitchen or the cellar before. Only the classrooms. Even dungeons were unknown and dark to her.

Andrei laughed at her little prank and shook his head. "Good thing I carry healing potions around then", he said with a chuckle. It was true though, he always had at least two or three basic small potions tucked away somewhere in his pockets. He had learned a long time ago in his duels and encounters with not so friendly people, that you need things like that when you least expect to need it. So it was just better to be safe than sorry in his mind.

The moment she asked that question and her eyes fell on the floor, a victorious grin appeared on his face. Although he tried to get rid of it right away so she wouldn't notice. He wondered if she truly didn't know her way back or she was just faking it. Not that it mattered all that much really. Just that fact that she called him with her meant something. Even though he wasn't sure what exactly.

"Um - right, sure. Just follow me then", said Andrei leading her through the cellar and into the main kitchen. The kitchen elves were almost completely gone now as dinner was done and over. Only when he saw the leftover cake did he hear his stomach rumble from hunger. Made sense though, he barely had any food today. Just a small breakfast in the morning. How could he? He was stuck in that darn tunnel the whole afternoon.

They were walking towards the door, but every minute Andrei just noticed more and more glorious food just sitting around. The elves were now gone and it seemed too hard to resist grabbing a bite to eat first before leaving the kitchen. His stomach agreed with that thought with a loud rumble. "Are you hungry?", he asked her suddenly. After all, she had missed dinner as well. "Because I am starving!", he exclaimed.

"No one would mind if we just took a small bite right?, he asked out loud with a grin. Any food in general sounded so wonderful that he didn't have the strength to leave this kitchen and it's amazing smells without at least some food.

"Yes, but I would not rely on them that much. I don't mean to brag but I can outsmart many of your modern potions that are created by the "professionals". So that you know the reason why you might feel worse later." Avis smiled, though her eyes remained cold.
Ah, what would she do if she'd see a Slytherin being poisoned. She'd watch him or her suffer for a while and then (maybe) she'd help or do nothing.

"Okay," she said, raising her eyes again. Good, though she did not think that trough. Nor did Andrei, did he?
If they wanted to get to somewhere near the Ground Hall, they had to pass the Slytherin's and Hufflepuffs common room. What would he do once his housemates would see him with her?
Now to think of it, Avis realized that it was better to decline as soon as possible. It would not ruin her honor, she had no such thing, but it would only make things worse for Dolohov. As far as she knew, he really cared about his reputation and as much as she'd love to, she refused to actually ruin his day. Both of them had been trough a lot, it was time to rest.

Avis did not say anything when they started walking though. Her eyes remained on his back since Andrei had taken the lead. They passed the kitchen and Avis would not even notice the food if Andrei would not mention that.
She looked around, raising her eyebrows at the piles of cakes and food all stuffed on the dishes. "Uh, no, I'll just wait." It was against her diet to eat after six. So Avis just took a seat on the chair and looked around. "Take your time. I won't leave," she promised.

Andrei raised an eyebrow at her as she went on about her potions skills. "Impressive", he said with an honest grin. Potions was something Andrei was rubbish at and honestly he didn't even try anymore. He just didn't see the point of being stuck in that dungeon for hours making something that you can simply buy.

Seeing all of the wonderful food around him, he didn't waste any time. Andrei had a curse of forgetting most of his manners while he was hungry. That made him quite a messy and impatient eater. He shoved a jammed scone down his throat and swallowed it within seconds. Laughing when Avis said she wouldn't eat, he honestly thought she was joking. But when she sat down on the chair, he could tell she was being serious. The girl was obviously crazy. She had missed dinner and probably even lunch, so she had to be starving! Girls and their rules about food, it was ridiculous. His rule was eat when you're hungry.

"That's just insane. Aren't you hungry?", he asked rather shocked. After taking another scone, he looked around to find what looks the most appetizing. There were just so many foods to choose from. He finally decided upon something that looked like a chocolate filled and covered cake. Taking a trial bite, he grinned pleased with the taste. Food tasted so good after not eating the whole day. "You just have to try this, it's amazing. It's a sin not to eat this", he said persistently pushing the plate towards her.

((OT: Sorry for the delay))

Avis raised her eyebrows. of course that was an impressive skill. She was a future intern in the St. Mungo's. After that she had a plan to gather some more information about healing, become a practicant and then leave and live in Africa and work there as a doctor. That has been her years long hope and she had not abandoned it. She had no other dreams either. While most of the girls hoped to get married, to find love of their life, Avis hoped to see the world and then, Only maybe then, she'd find someone, but that was also doubtful.

While Andrei made himself feel at home and fill his empty stomach, Avis took the advantage of the slight freedom and silence and looked around.
The kitchen was definately bigger than she had expected it to be. It was full of pots and pans and foods and other interesting things.

"Nope," she replied slowly, now looking at Andrei again. She frowned when he put the plate right in front of her. Avis looked at the sugary sweets. Andrei was right, it was a sin not to try one of those, but it was also a sin if she'd try one of them. Sacrifices as such were necessary while dieting. "Thank you, but no. I can live one evening without food... However, I would like to drink something. Is pumpkin juice somewhere seen?" she asked, standing up and looking around.

OCC: Oh don't worry about it life has been quite hectic for me as well.

Andrei shook his head disappointed by her decision to not eat. Refusing food for him was never an option so he just shrugged his shoulders and continued eating. "Suit yourself. It's really good though", he said once more taking a bite of a piece of cake. "Perhaps. Look right there, I think I saw some juice in the left corner", Andrei said pointing at a specific part of the kitchen.

After he was done eating and had stuffed himself more than ever before, he realized they were supposed to leave by now. Even though walking might affect his stomach badly after everything he ate, he knew he couldn't stay there forever much to his own regret. But what troubled him even more was what to do right now. He did promise to walk her to her dorm but he knew that that could possibly bring consequences for the both of them.

First of all, it was late and they both had just snuck out of detention. But if you overlook that part, Avis and Andrei weren't exactly the people you would expect just to be walking around together. Not that he would care, people say lies about him anyway so it didn't really matter. But in a girl's world it was different. He just wasn't sure what was the best move right now. However, he made a promise and he was going to go through with it.

"We should probably go. Your dorm should be just down this hall and to the left", said Andrei explaining and waiting for her to follow him.

Avis found the juice and poured it into her glass. When drinking it, only then did she realize how thirsty she really was. Well, people were different and so were their reactions to certain situations.
She poured herself another glass, feeling better with every second when the tasty liquid ran down her throat. God, it felt great and refreshing!

Her thirst was satisfied before Andrei could eat his stomach full. But she waited for him patiently. It was like waiting for a girl who did not know what to wear or what kind of makeup use. She did not say anything, though, believing only that it would upset Andrei. They got along quite well right now and there was no need to ruin that.

When he finally spoke, Avis had some time to examine his face. His thoughts reflected on his face. He was doubtful. Why? Was he afraid that Avis might talk him in? Or was it the reputation thing and the fact that she was not a pureblood? Something told her that this was the one reasin why his life at Hogwarts may be ruined. Hanging around with half blood. What a sin for a Slytherin prince.

Ger bitter thoughts were not visible on her face howevere. She only smiled at him and waited. "Um, that's Hufflepuff's dorm. Mine is on the eight floor. You know, you don't have to escort me bck if you don't want to. I'm pretty sure I'm big enough to find my way out of here." Avis smiled again.