F r e e f a l l

And then there was the moment where Amelia stuck her figurative foot in her mouth.

Silver’s words fell like hot sparks against Amelia’s sense of control in the situation, igniting it on fire more quickly than she had conjured the flames she was still holding. She cringed at his assessment of her, but once again found she didn’t have the words to defend herself. The man was speaking too quickly for Amelia to get a word in edgewise, and even if she could have, she would have struggled to find something that would truly defend her actions. He was calling her out on her actions, and Amelia was fighting the logical part of her that knew he was right.

So far, Amelia’s reactions had consisted of freaking out, pretending she wasn’t freaked out, demanding that someone help her off the roof, and insulting the only person who had offered. Not exactly a good track record. Not like she didn’t have a good excuse – heights made her tense, always had, always would – but treating strangers like servants was something her mother did, not something Amelia did.

Or at least, something she didn’t want to be doing anymore.

“Look,” Amelia started, careful this time to choose her words and her tone so as to be as inoffensive as possible, “I think we got off on the wrong foot, and that it mostly my fault. As you have already deduced, heights make me nervous. And, apparently, more than a little bit unpleasant. I understand that this fear is illogical for all the reasons you outlined and many others, but nonetheless, here I am.”

Amelia was having a very difficult time humbling herself to the point of saying any of this to Silvyr, a person she knew relatively nothing about, and it was even more difficult in front of Mira, who would probably be celebrating this little gem of a moment. The redhead was embarrassed and anxious, both situational, and probably solvable if she could get back to her chambers and not see anyone at all for approximately… 9 days.

“So if we could, maybe…start over? I promise not to act like a prat if I can help it, as long as you promise that I don’ t have to get any nearer to the edge than is required by my departure. Does that seem more agreeable?” Amelia inquired, hoping to Merlin he would say yes. This wasn’t exactly an apology, but she was already forcing every word from her mouth just to admit she had been in the wrong. Getting the actual words “I am sorry” out would be more or less a miracle, so she hoped Silvyr would take pity on her… not that she deserved it, with the way things had been going.

If Peeves weren't already dead... I'd kill him. Amelia thought miserably, waiting for Silvyr's response.

The air hung around him as he felt himself becoming flushed. He hated his temper, though it was only set off by a very few things. He tried to relax but the voice in his head continued on. Insulting and angry banter. It was clear that more than his feelings had been hurt. If his subconscious had joined the fight then his pride must have taken a blow somewhere along the way.

He watched as the woman's facial expressions change drastically. Her features shifted to show the slight feelings of regret and embarrassment that were brought on by his words.

He didn't like the thought of speaking out so rashly against this woman now. Gentle, strong, and graceful were the usual terms that were used to describe him. Not to mention quiet, loner, and reclusive. Though that was out the window now in this woman's eyes.

He allowed her to finish before speaking. Her quick statements shed light on her emotions that were brought upon by her fear of heights and questions that were strongly felt by both parties. His need for an apology had vanished. Her immediate reaction to his anger had been enough for him.

He gathered what little pride he had for himself and extended his hand. "Silvyr Svan." He said softly. "And yes, I would like that as well." He continued on.

He looked back at the girl who had just spoken, moments before his prideful banter. She seemed to be enjoying the roof as much as he was but he knew he needed to find Amelia a way back in. He spoke quickly, "Please just trust me." Before grabbing her hand and walking slowly, with Amelia's body fighting his balance every step of the way, to the girl who was standing still close to the edge. He was sure to keep more than a few feet from the ledge with he on the inside of him. He spoke when they were next to the girl. "Sit here, I'll find you a way in."

He moved swiftly again across the roof top and found a window. He checked to see if it was open. Pushing hard on the glass and found that it wouldn't budge. He removed his wand from a pocket on the inside of his vest then focused his mind and spoke swiftly. "Alohamora." The words filled with intent, as he was wanting to get Amelia off the roof as quickly as possible. He tried again to open the window only to find that the window remained locked.

He looked around to find another window and moved to the next closest one down. He pushed again on the window but found it to be locked as well. He spoke again swiftly in the same demeanor, "Alohamora." The window flew open. He looked back and began walking quickly over to where he had left Amelia, five or so minutes ago. He wondered which one of the girls would still be there when he returned.

Mira watched the start of the argument with mild amusement. Feeling no need to intrude into a pointless battle of words she retreated slightly after tilting her head slightly to recognize the seemingly genuine politeness in Amelias words. Despite her past reputation Mira was in no way looking to be part of some sort of fight. Even though she may be a bitter soul, she rarely found herself resorting to violence. Even of merely the tongue. Her worst fights had been directed at The Bulgarian over the years. Mostly in the times in-between their couplings out of spite and hatred of the other. She even remembered several screaming matches started for nothing else than boredom of life and the hope to find amusement in the others anger. When you looked at the past they really had no chance of lasting with a foundation like that. 

Mira tuned out her companions voices slightly, not really hearing the words. She was once again near the roof edge so she could look out over the ground below. With any luck she would catch an unsuspecting couple making out just so she could store that in her mental book of things that could-be-possibly-someday-used-against-someone-else. But unfortunately there didn't seem to be anyone down below at the moment. Mira leaned against the railing that provided a weak attempt of stopping you from falling. Not that it really mattered. Now that she was seventeen and could do magic freely outside of school it would be all too easy to just stop yourself before you hit the ground. Now that Mira was out of range of Amelias little blue light things were getting a lot darker. With a flick of her wand and a murmured "Lumos" her wandtip burst delicately into light. It was softer than Amelias creation and didn't make her features stand out nearly as dramatically. Being one of the first spells she had learned (and one of her favorites) the light was familiar and welcoming. 

The conversation that had been happening a tiny ways off had obviously come to a pause as Silvyr walked off and started blasting spells at the windows. Clearly he wanted to get off this blasted roof. Mira really couldn't care less. She had all the time in the world. With the man gone it was just Amelia and Mira left on this section of roof. The brief silence had filled the air quite fully and Mira felt the obligation to make conversation, if only to be polite. "So how are you taking to teaching, Professor Lyons?" she asked, genuine interest threatening to show. "It must be quite strange being at Hogwarts as a teacher rather than a student." That much was true. Mira couldn't even imagine signing herself up to teach her friends next year. Life would be strange enough as it was just getting a job. The future was so unclear now. Where she had been subconsciously planning to move in with Elijah after the year ended that plan was now shot and she found have to find a new path. Perhaps she would visit Paris herself. Find an apartment and try to feel that magic that Elijah did. But Mira knew she couldn't do that. Even when they were engaged she hadn't asked to visit him in France because she knew that was his special place and it wouldn't be right to intrude. Mira knew she would probably end up marrying some rich foreign ambassador who she met a month before the wedding and spending her life being a hostess but for the first time that didn't sit right. She wanted something more.

When Silvyr extended his hand to make a new round of introductions, Amelia found herself letting go of a huge gust of air she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. A relieved smile, if only a hint of one, crossed her pale features as she placed her smaller hand in his, replying with her own name.

“Amelia Lyons, and… thank you,” she managed, meeting his eyes again for the first time since his outburst had begun. At least things were smoothing over easier than she had anticipated they would, and he was no longer demanding apologies she wouldn’t be able to give.

Amelia had let go of Silyr’s hand from their introduction, but it only saw freedom for a few seconds before the man across from her snatched it up again, imploring her to trust him, to which Amelia wanted to give a half-panicked, half-snarky retort, but so far that hadn’t been working so well for her. If she hadn’t been holding the bluebell flames, she might have slapped his arm away from her, so that spell was currently serving the dual purpose of lighting their way and keeping Amelia in check.

The young woman nodded mutely in response to his request, because she couldn’t make her voice work as Silvyr pulled her closer to the edge and to Mira. Although Amelia didn’t exactly relish having to be around Mira, she wasn’t fighting on account of the blond Slytherin; she just didn’t want to be anywhere near the edge, and she instinctually resisted when Silvyr pulled her there, though not so much so that he wasn’t able to get her where he wanted her to be. When she was stationed next to Mira, the man let go of her hand and told her to sit down, which Amelia did promptly so she would have less of a chance of being able to see over the edge of the rooftop.

At some point during Amelia and Silvyr’s conversation, Mira had lit her wand, which now illuminated her face completely enough that Amelia was able to set the flames down on the ground in front of her. She was keeping her eyes carefully trained on the flames while she listened to the man try to open windows from the outside, but her reverie was interrupted when Mira asked a question from above her, and Amelia needed to take a moment to think back and find out what the question had been before she could answer it.

“Oh, yes, well it’s certainly been a new challenge,” Amelia said, trying not to let her current feelings influence the way she answered this question. She figured Mira was just being polite, but making conversation with someone you knew wasn't very fond of you was even harder for Amelia than normal social interaction. "And, yes, I suppose strange is as appropriate a word as any to describe the change in roles I have experienced over the past semester.”

Now you ask something, her subconscious probed, trying to make her function like a normal human being, despite the circumstances and the deck being stacked against her on normalcy to begin with.

“And you? How has your semester been going? You’re to graduate this year, correct?” Amelia inquired, just before Silvyr rejoined the two of them, his wand still in his hand.

“Any luck?” Amelia asked, trying not to sound desperate, and actually half-succeeding. The sitting down idea had been a good one. She’d have to thank Silvyr for that later, once she was no longer , you know, panicking on the roof.

The girls voices passed through the still air as Silvyr walked back to the two of them. From what he could tell, they were trying to be civil. The lights they both were controlling allowed him to make his way back easily. Before getting close enough to them to speak he pocketed his wand. He saw no reason to continue to carry it even though he enjoyed having it in his hand so much. The feeling had never grown old since the first time it took it's rightful place and at his control.

He waited to answer Amelia's question until he was standing only a few feet away from the both of them. He spoke casually, still trying to null over his out burst moments ago. "Yes, it seems your in luck." He said with a slight smile on his face. He turned and pointed in the direction that he had just come from. "Just a few paces down is a window that is sitting open waiting for you. If you are ready to get inside I'll be happy to walk you down to it." He finished speaking while extending his hand, again, to Amelia who was still sitting in the place he had left her.

He looked up from Amelia as he helped her from her seated position. He caught eyes with the girl standing on the edge of the roof for the first time that night. He acknowledged her for the first time that evening. "I'm not going anywhere so we can begin our conversation when I return, if you'd like." He spoke softly knowing he had walked away from the girl without listening to her response when he went to attend to Amelia.

“That’s wonderful!” Amelia burst out before Silvyr could explain the luck, her most genuine show of emotion on recent record. The redhead returned his smile genuinely, though hers was definitely one of relief. She had managed to spend only about 20 minutes on the roof, though it had seemed like much, much longer from her perspective, and now she was going to be able to escape. Although things didn’t frequently work out so well for the young professor, it seemed that at least in this case she would be getting her wish.

“Thank you!” Amelia said wholeheartedly as she placed her hand in the young man’s, though whether she was thanking him for the window or the help up was uncertain. Probably both. And the fact that he was rescuing her from looking like an idiot in front of Mira any longer than necessary. And that he was letting her off the hook from her earlier outburst.

You certainly seem to have worked yourself up a debt in a short amount of time… Amelia’s subconscious reminded her as she returned to a standing position, brushing the flecks of snow off the back of her dress as Silvyr acknowledged Mira and assured her that he would be back shortly.

“Alright…” Amelia said uncertainly, not sure what would be the proper time to interrupt him from Mira, but also anxious to get off the roof, “If you can just lead the way, I’ll follow. But… um… if you can manage it… I’d like to spend as little time as possible near the ledge. You know… just as a precaution.”

And there’s that blush again… Amelia thought as she felt heat creeping into her cheeks and upper chest.

He felt Amelia's soft and feminine hand in his. He turned with the sound of Amelia's words noticing a hint in her voice telling him that he should start moving again quickly. He waited for the blonde on the edge to respond though she seemed to be distracted by something beneath her. He wondered if she would even be on the roof when he returned.

He focused his eyes on the window he had opened a few seconds ago before beginning a slow walk across the roof top. He purposefully took a few more steps away from the edge in consideration to Amelia. The night sky was still clear giving a soft touch of light on the world. Still his shadow was being cast out along the roof top thanks to the blue fire Amelia was controlling in her hand.

Her hand would grip his tightly every few steps to regain her balance or as a warning to Silvyr to slow down. He laughed softly inside as he felt her balance. He was beginning to understand why she feared heights the way she did.

After a few minutes they arrived at the open window. He turned to Amelia who was still gripping his hand slightly. He smiled and helped her into position to enter the window still allowing her to use him as support. He spoke while she was entering, "Safe and sound." He said with a smile.

Next time, try not blowing up on her..... he thought to himself in a sarcastic tone. He prided himself on having a level head. He heard his father's words echo through his mind. "An educated man can listen to anything and never get mad." Sillvyr had lead his life by these words. He felt ashamed but he knew there was no use dwelling on it. The past was the past and he knew that he would have to work harder in days to come.

With her hand in Silvyr’s, Amelia was led slowly across the roof, her eyes glued on the back of the man in front of her. She was being very, very cautious not to look down at her footing, for even the off-chance of accidentally seeing the drop down to the ground was enough to make Amelia’s heart race faster. Silvyr was being especially kind, leading them away from the ledge for as long as possible while still going in roughly the direction of the window he had found.

The young man’s grip on her hand was firm, though Amelia was holding him much tighter than he was holding her. At some point during their journey across the rooftop, Amelia realized that her death-grip on his fingers might actually be hurting him, but this realization was not enough to actually make her stop doing it. She wasn’t taking any chances, especially now that they were edging closer to the ledge beneath which the window was positioned, and Amelia resisted the urge to close her eyes altogether.

Silvyr turned to looked at her, his gaze reassuring as he took both of her hands and slowly turned her so her back would be to the ledge. This only made Amelia feel slightly like she might vomit, though if Silvyr let go suddenly, he might be displeased with the result. He was careful as he started to bend at the knees, lowering Amelia cautiously and being patient every time she froze with fear. One of her legs was extended over the ledge, and the feeling of nothing beneath that foot meant holding her breath until finally, finally she felt the windowsill beneath her toes and dared to put even a slight amount of weight on that leg.

The other leg followed more swiftly, though not without its own moments of panic, but when Silvyr declared her safe and sound, Amelia found he was right. Even without her full reasoning skills – blurred by fear, of course – Silvyr had managed to get her into a sitting position in the window, with her feet inside and her hands gripping the edges of the window so hard that her knuckles were pure white. Letting out a huge breath of relief, Amelia swung herself fully back inside the castle, resisting the urge to bend down and kiss the stone floor that was so blessedly solid beneath her, and the walls that were so helpfully positioned between her and certain death.

“I really can’t thank you enough,” Amelia shouted from inside the window, not even wanting to stick her head back out the window until her heart rate returned to normal. Usually heights weren’t a problem for Amelia as long as there was a physical barrier between herself and whatever she was higher than, but in this circumstance… she wasn’t taking any liberties.

“If there’s anything I can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to let me know,” Amelia offered, not wanting the young man to think her ungrateful or unwilling to return the favor should the need arise.

He was crouching on the roof looking over the edge at the open window. He heard Amelia's voice come out in a much more at ease tone. He was glad that she was safe and that she could go back to enjoying her party for the night.

He shouted back so that she could here him. "I'm sure someday when I am in need, you will be there at my aid. No worries. Enjoy the rest of your night, leave that window open, and at all cost avoid peeves. I don't know where he might put you next time but I'm sure it will be somewhere that I wont be. Good night." He said slightly light heart'd but being serious about avoiding peeves. Who knew what else that menacing ghost had up his sleeve for the pour woman.

He stood again and made his way back over to the girl who was standing on the ledge. He was still wondering if she had any intentions of talking. If not he knew he would be using the window he had just helped Amelia into. When he got closer to the woman standing on the ledge he spoke again softly. "So where were we?"