Finally Found You (Eleanie)

Jett was getting frustrated. His legs were tired and he was hungry, having missed lunch while searching the castle. He had been wandering the castle now for at least two hours, going over the map in his head systematically. His target, Eleanie Carr, nowhere to be found. When he had grabbed her notes and left the Charms classroom he had expected to find her in little than the few minutes it took to reach the Hospital Wing. Figuring she had suddenly fallen ill he made his way to the infirmary, convinced he would find her resting. When he got there, however, not a soul was in sight. No one even seemed to be working there as a professor or healer. Not to be deterred by one empty place he left and made his way to the Great Hall. Maybe she was hungry.

And so he continued, each place as empty of Eleanie as the last. Headmistress Naer had said she might be hard to find, but he had not taken it seriously. Jett was confident in his abilities. Now, though, he was regretting not giving that other Gryffindor student, Kaden, Eleanie's things. This was starting to be more trouble than it was worth.

Spotting a plush bench pushed up against a wall Jett took a moment to sit and rest his feet. He had ended up on the seventh floor in a room that looked very unused. There were no signs of any recent activity, no books laying open or forgotten items. He assumed most students did not want to make the climb all the way up to this floor often. Still, it was a nice area. Jett looked around at all the bookshelves lining the walls in wonder. Yes, he would definitely be coming back here.

He had removed his robes from over his casual clothes and placed it on the bench next to him, trying to cool off a bit. He let his eyes close, his breathing even. It was so quiet and peaceful in this part of the school and he was so worn out from constantly studying and doing his best to impress all of his professors. He would open his eyes and continue his diligent search for Eleanie in a few minutes...but soon his sharp features were relaxing in a light slumber, his chest rising and falling gently.

Dreams were flashing under Jetts closed lids. Scenes of color and motion swept by, shapes twisting and morphing. There was no cohesion to the images, not story linking everything together. Birds were spewing out of the owlry, his mother was standing on a tower far off, Ella's hair was waving through his fingers. Shadows were drawing in, overtaking the light airy quality of his dreams. Dark wings flapped at close range, he was falling from a high bridge, the ground rushing up to meet him.

Jett's eyes snapped open with a gasp. He shook his head, rubbed his face. Slowly his head cleared, the last vestiges of his dreams fading into nothing. He could hardly remember what he had seen and soon all traces would be gone. Dreams did not come often to Jett, or if they did he had no recollection of them. That he had one now was a sign of his overexertion lately, of his over active mind. His body was trying to tell him to relax, to spend time on something silly and fun. Jett brushed the thought away, too many other things pushing their way to the front of his mind.

He glanced around, checking the level of the sun through a closed window. He had not been asleep for long. That he had fallen asleep at all was unfitting but it couldn't be helped now. At least he had not wasted too much time. He had to get to practicing his spells for Charms soon though, and sitting around any longer was not going to accomplish anything.

Standing up Jett was just about to return to the Great Hall and find any responsible looking Gryffindor to give Eleanie's things to when he heard a slight noise from farther down the corridor. A few statues were blocking a clear view of the area making Jett unable to determine the source of the noise. He took a step closer before calling out, just in case it was another student and not just a stray animal.

“Hello?”

People, especially students, had a nasty habit of sticking their noses where they do not belong. Hogwarts were fraught with dangers, or so Eleanie read, with snakes that had the power to turn to stone, vicious three headed dogs, dementors and giant size spiders strolling in the woods, deadly trolls who would not hesitate to clobber a student beyond recognition, and still students will blunder into the unknown, crying out “Hello.” It was a horror story waiting to happen.

Eleanie pulled away from the windows, and slipped her feet gentle on the stone surface. Unlike the Hogwart’s grounds, especially among the trees of the forest, she was not as quiet indoors. Her movements which were soft to the touch, like a cloud moving through the sky, still reverberated off the hard surfaces of the castle. Instead of being silent, hoping to conceal herself until the person passed by, she made her presence known. Usually that would scare off the intruder seeing Eleanie standing there, with a scowl on her face, and a wand at hand.

“You have three seconds to move along before I curse you. 3…2…” She walked around the sinister Bloody Barron statue, expecting it to be a first or second year to be lost, but instead she was confronted by the same man who was in charm class. The thought of him being here, now made Eleanie take a step back. Her sketch book slipped from her hand, sending several loose art pieces scattered across the floor. “1,” she said breathlessly, being caught by surprise made it hard to even breathe, let alone think of a plan of attack. The only thing she did, instinctively, was bring her wand hand up, pointed directly at the Ravenclaw, but it wasn't steady as it normally was. Her hand shook. Just being near him unnerved her.

A voice was calling out from behind the statue. It was female, surly and menacing. Jett's hand reflexivity went to his wand, fingers wrapped around the holly loosely. He let it remain in his pocket, out of view. He was confident in his agility, sure he would be able to raise his wand with a counter charm should a hex come his way. The thought of  students slinging a spells at each other was unnerving. Not only was it dangerous but it was also quite rude. The girl behind the statue did not even know who she was addressing with her threat. Perhaps it was a Slytherin, intent only on causing disturbances.

Jett was alert as the figure, clearly trying to be imposing, stepped in front of the statue.
His eyes widened in surprise as the very girl he had been looking for stood before him, slowly raising her wand to his chest. She looked flustered, her hand shaking with the weight of her wand. A few papers from her hand scattered over the floor, sliding close to Jett. Although her words had sounded strong and firm, her body betrayed her.

Letting his hand leave his wand he raised it, palm out, in peace. Eleanie was not going to hurt him. His eyes locked with hers, their gray green color beseeching her to lower her wand. Without taking his eyes from hers he very slowly bent down to retrieve the parchment close to his feet. Without looking at it he handed it out to her. He was treating her like a wild animal, one more frightened than dangerous.

“Eleanie,” he started, his voice velvet in the silent corridor. “Please put away your wand. I've been looking for you.”

The quiet of the corridor descended again, enfolding the two students facing each other. It was a tense silence, crackling with the sparks of Jett's gaze and the trembling of Eleanie's hand. He took in her whole being with his eyes, noting she had changed out of her school clothes and into a loose fitting sweatshirt, her hair tucked behind a hat.

His outstretched hand was refused, but she did lower her wand. Jett was relieved. He didn't want to have to use his veela blood to convince her to drop it. He was never eager to let his mesmerizing aura be released. It was too hard for others to refuse, too much not him. If he was going to get people to trust him he wanted to do it with his own talents and personality, not a trick of his ancestry.  Still, it was always present in a diluted form, in the twinkle of his eyes or the shock of his touch.

Eleanie quickly averted his eyes from his, turned toward the window. The setting sun threw beams of golden light through the panes of glass, showering her in their warm glow. Her wand twirled through her fingers, catching the light and shadows as it spun. With the parchment still in his hand Jett took a step closer to her, still more than arms distance away. He tired to get a good look at her but she kept her face turned from him as she spoke.

Jett listened to her voice, noting its change from previously. Was there something wrong? She had fled class, threatened an unknowing student, and now wouldn't look him in the eye. His task of returning her things was proving more difficult than he had imagined. Now he was trapped in his curiosity. He wanted to know what made her do these things, to draw out more than a few cruel words.

After a quiet pause he spoke again, this time a gentle caress of words meant to put Eleanie at ease. “I'm Jett. I was worried about you after Charms class and wanted to make certain you were feeling well.”

Standing behind Eleanie, Jett was still. The serene grounds beyond them grew dimmer by the minute, the sun sinking fast as if dropped into the horizon itself. The corridor around them drew darker, shadows coalescing in front of bookcases and at the edges of vision. The far off sounds of students was lost, the silence suffocating.

Jett's hold on the situation was tenuous, unsure of what the problem was. He had not expected to find a girl who warned him to stay back. What was she afraid of? Jett did not consider himself an imposing figure, far from it. He was genial and kind, why would she not want to be around him?

Respecting her wishes Jett did not step closer, but he did not retreat, either. He had a task to perform and he would do it, as well as get to the bottom of Eleanie's behavior. She was uncomfortable and he couldn't have that. His veela charm was always bubbling under the surface of his personality, waiting to be released. He did so now, only a trickle, just enough to worm its way through Eleanie's icy exterior. He felt the aura wash over him, a warm sensation spreading ever outward.

"I wouldn't dare do anything you would not wish, Eleanie," Jett proclaimed, a whisper near her ear. "I've only come to return your possessions you left in Charms, and to alleviate my concerns  over your well being."

Jett took a reflexive step back as Eleanie rounded on him, arms held defensively over her chest. Her vehement expression was aimed at him, eyes smoldering with anger. Sharp words reached his ears, telling him what he should be concerned with. She had no right to tell him that she was no one to be concerned about. He had chosen to of his own will and was not going to lightly forget it. She was obviously disturbed for some reason and he intended to change that.

Breaking his eye contact with her, Jett glided further down the corridor and lazily took a seat on the bench. He let Eleanie stand where she was, acting as if he had forgotten she was still looking at him. His hands searched in his bag, bringing out Eleanie's quill and parchment he had been holding on to since class. He placed it delicacy in his lap and then looked back at her.

“Fine,” he said smoothly, his voice traveling easily down the corridor. “But I've got some things of yours I meant to return. If you want them, though, you're going to have to come sit with me.” Jett smiled mischievously at Eleanie, trying a new approach. His charm was clearly not affecting her the way he had planned so maybe a lighter tone would suffice.

As Eleanie took a seat opposite him Jett pushed forward her notes and quill as a peace offering. Her words were still harsh but he was making progress. She had chosen to sit near him instead of rushing off and leaving her things. Slowly he was making his way through her barriers and testing the waters of her personality. Jett looked down to his hand where the parchment he had picked up previously was still clutched. Eleanie had not taken it when she had the chance earlier and he had not yet offered it again. It was the first time he saw what was drawn on it, his eyes focusing in on the expertly done lines and shading. It was marvelous, carefully and lovingly done.

Extending his hand out Jett held the paper drawing forward, showing Eleanie what it was that he had. "Did you do this?" His question was friendly, laced with the appropriate amount of awe at her work.

The parchment was torn from his hand and thrown without respect down the corridor. Jett watched as it reached its apex and then drifted down onto the cold stone floor. His eyes turned back to Eleanie, noticing hers were on the out stretched drawing.

One moment her words were threatening, harsh. The next they bordered on soft, reasonable. Her capricious behavior was making his head spin. Jett had other things to do this evening and the little progress he was making in befriending Eleanie was proving to be hard won. He would try one more time and if it was to no avail he would find a way to excuse himself from the situation.

"I ask because it is stunning. Whoever has drawn this must also be stunning, Eleanie, so I would like to compliment their talent and vision." People tended to like the sound of their names out loud so Jett tried to use them often in conversation. As he said hers he moved his head to catch the attention of her eyes again, get them to stare into his.

His alluring words and genuine compliment went on deaf ears. For a third time Jett utter the unforgivable breaking any civility she had left in her. It was as if a scorching hot knife tore asunder any remote feeling Eleanie mustered up in this encounter, by Jett simply calling her by her proper name. The knife did not just break the surface of her skin, curdling her blood until she was fraught with anger, but twisted ever so slowly into her heart slowly killing her inside.

She did two things simultaneously. First her wand slipped from her pocket, and was once more in her hand. Two, her foot found the in between place of the chair Jett was sitting on. She did not pressed down, but made sure her presence was known full and well, before saying, “The third time is not the charmed.” Eleanie would not asked him to leave once again, she will just curse him and be done with him.

(OOC: Sorry. Bad post. I will try better next time. -L)

Jett could feel the pressure of Eleanie's foot on his chair, see her hand wrap around her wand. Now he was getting irritated. Jett didn't often feel the heat of anger rise in him for it was something he had done his best to tame throughout his life. Flashes of memories in which his mother transformed into some sort of beast as anger consumed her kept his emotions as bay. He would not become that. Instead, he carefully pushed his chair back and stood up. His eyes were on Eleanie's as he spoke, this time the hint of menace vying for the surface.

"I apologize if my words offended you in any way. That was not my intention." Jett laid the parchment on the table in front of Eleanie, pushing it close to her. "I will take my leave now as my presence is obviously distressing you for whatever reason. A little advice, though," He knew his next words were not wanted, or even warranted, but he could not stop himself. "If you tone down your rude behavior you could be not just talented but also extremely lovely."

Turning his back on Eleanie, Jett stalked down the corridor into the lengthening shadows. He did not spare her a second look or acknowledge any response. He had had quite enough of her for one day.