REBORN.

so she spoke. then vanished. and was seen no more.

"Sorry, dear. Still no visitors today." The nurse called unto her, closing the door of the room, the familiar room she had been to in almost a year.

Nothing changed inside of it. The walls were still plain with white. The bulb above was still flicking its chance of light. The only door was her entrance to the outside world. She need not to wonder what was happening there. She already accepted reality that no one was there for her. No one was missing her. No one was there to welcome her in their arms. There was no one in her presence. No one existed for her. They all abandoned her. They all left her alone. No sign of a loving presence waiting for her once she steps out of it.

That was the bitter truth. Why was that so? What have she done to deserve all of it? She had been great in the past years, except two years ago. She felt nothing to endure. Of course she missed school and everyone there although maybe most of them didn't even notice her sudden disappearance. Maybe everyone thought she's already dead. But she wouldn't expect better. If she did, it would be devastating to hope again. Reality always wins.

The messed up girl, unknown to who she is, nodded while staring into space. She was curled up to a ball on one corner of the room, doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. What was left for her to do? She made her promise. She had been good for her mother. She helped herself cure and stop what she had been doing. The past was worse. But how could she be happy again now? She had no answer. She knew nothing. If only she could have her friends again. If only she could study again even in the midst of the heap of homework. If only she could return home and see her mom and her well again. And Vee. She hoped she could see her like before she left her. In heaven. If there's such thing as that except for hell. She can't wait to take a peak in the world she's anxious to sneak in. It had been too long. Too much. But now, her time to wait was almost over. Just a few more turns on waiting and counting the time, the days, and the nights. She wanted to see the light.

It passed without her notice. She opened her eyes, said nothing for she haven't spoken a word at all for the previous months of trying to break away and crying and swearing. There were no rays of sun to blind her. Only the bulb. No window. No view or anything. Still, the sight of the room was better than anything else she had encountered. Better than the sight of blood, of unkept living rooms, of broken glasses, of the mourning sight of her mother. She took care of it. It didn't seem too hard for her anyway. But being there deserted and nothing to do, she couldn't avoid thinking about everything. It was driving her mad. Those dark times. She would just replace them with the happy moments, the wonderful dreams she saw in her sleep. They were all the same pictures. The same pictures of life in Hogwarts with friends. Her first year, her second year, the fun ones of getting drunk in her third years. And that was the end. After them, it was all a blur. She never wanted to recall. She missed a year of school. She should have been a prefect by now. She should have still been an apprentice mastering Occlumency. She should have still been walking outdoors and sleeping on her four-poster bed in the common room, a pile of candies on the desk. Her nightmares were still there haunting her, making her feel bad. She wouldn't care then. They were just dreams. But now, it was all reality. She no longer believes in fairy tales and happy ever after endings. They were dead gone compared to her innocence when she was younger, with her mom telling her the stories. The dream was over. Every bit of it were parts of yesterday. Of the past. Of nothingness.

"Congatulations, Frances. You can go now." The friendly nurse said with a smile and teary eyes once she opened the door of the room. She seemed to embrace the sense of sympathy or whatever. The girl looked at her with those sunken eyes. The woman looked nervous to spill something out. When she was electrified by the girl's black and bold eyes, she can't take it further. She sighed loudly, breathing slowly, but the sound of her rapid hearbeat was visible to the ears. The girl just listened. She sensed the emotion and tension inside the room. Again, she knew it was bad news. First it was about Vee dying. And she couldn't blame the unstable condition of her mother. Second, it was her mother attempting suicide like what she had done not so long ago, but eventually not succeeding. That left a hole on her chest. She believed in promises still.

"She's dead." Iris, the girl's identity and unknown name, muttered with no hint of any feeling at all. It was the first time she had spoken. At that moment, she knew she was right. She knew what to expect. She knew how to trash her fear. Because of fear, this happened. Occurances. Nothing but coincidence. This was her fate. Her destiny. She was meant to live alone, to die alone, to suffer the cruel life. She's already used to the fire in hell.

"Yes. I'm so sorry. I have to tell you. It's all I ever heard. I wouldn't want to risk yourself in coming there when there's no longer the need to return home." The woman in front proclaimed the truth. At least she was honest. People like her seemed rare nowadays, for what Iris expected.

"I know. Yeah. Can I go out now?" The girl asked. No sign of indifference. No sad tone whatsoever. No feeling of loss for she had already lost everything. There was no need to try to bring them back from the dead. She too was already dead. She didn't know herself. She didn't even saw herself on a reflective surface or something. What did she look like this time? She can't cry anymore. Her tears weren't that sufficient. They were wasted by the wrong ideas.

The nurse, shocked, led her the way out. The floor was as cold as ice as the girl stepped on it. She gazed down at the rays of the sun from the nearest window. She felt nothing. She didn't expect that she was supposed to feel that way. There was no happiness or bliss. She knew not one bit of what she's going to do then. There was longer home to call to. The only option was to come back to Hogwarts. She wouldn't dare visit the grave or just the house. She'd rather die and choose over death if she ever caught sight of it. She'd desire for it. She knew better. She need to help herself. That was her very last promise to her mother. She didn't say goodbye to her after that.

Iris walked through time that was passing too slow with the sense of her sight. The people around in the hospital were also a blur. The nurse held her by the shoulder and they passed many rooms before stopping inside a bathroom. She remembered. She still haven't changed her clothes in a week. She needed a shower. And they did so. Time passed still that slow. Everything was sharp. The tap water in droplets located in the sink she can hear so distinctly and evidently. She can see the crank on the tiled walls. She can smell the fresh mists and the falling snow of winter outside. Christmas. Everything she touched felt colder than the usual. As if she had been reborn. Maybe because of removing all the bad stuff she had been like this now. It all seemed new and not forgotten. She felt she was made human once more. Odd.

The clock ticked by, minutes passed as they checked all the things before she could venture in the outside world. The staff bid her goodbye and changes of goodluck in life, reminding her to don't do it again and think about the future, in friendly and sympathetic faces. She returned the favour by waving back and giving out a faint smile and a murmured apology then acceptance. She saw herself reflected on the wide glass windows of the building. She saw a stranger with darkened eyes, pale skin, faded rosiness from her lips and cheeks. She was almost surprised. She ran her hands through her black hair and found them soft after the bath, not the frizzy way she had gotten used to. Yet, it was shorter and shaggier. Looking at her own image reminded so many.

And for the very first time in her fucked up life, she knew what to do next.

The sunlight was streaming directly into the room, nurses and doctors were bustling about in the corridors and a Healer was addressing a brown haired girl in the room. But the girl was barely paying any attention. Only one thought was crossing her mind at the moment.

I survived a gun shooting.

Yes, after nearly three weeks of being stuck in these fucking depressing hospital, wearing a ugly dress and having a bullet removed, Iris Adria Grayson was finally free to get out and get on with her life. She couldn't even remember when she had ended up here. But judging by the snow outside, it was either Christmas Day or somewhere near to it.

The only day that indeed was clear in her mind was her birthday, which she got to spend with her best friend, Alec Blanchard, followed by a surprise visit from her brother, Agamemnon. Of course, even that special day could not distract her from the haunting fact that her own birth mother tried to kill her. Then she came to the conclusion that, that bullet just may have changed her in every possible way.

Least to say, she felt completely shocked and broken. She had caused her boyfriend to dump her, her mother was just as good as dead to her and she couldn't even keep par with her siblings. She would say that she was entirely alone, but thanks to Alec, she wasn't. Ever since she met him, all the bullshit things didn't seem as dark as it did before, simply because he was there to listen to it all. And for that, she was eternally grateful to him.

"Alright miss Grayson," the Healer's voice broke her out of her reverie, "You just have to come for few more days' checkup, but other than that, everything looks just about fine. You are free to go." And with a smile from the Healer, one of the nurses handed Iris some fresh clothes and she took them without a word.

After having changed, the Gryffindor was eager to get out of the hospital, though she admitted a little to herself that she was going to miss the familiar patients and staff, perhaps slightly. After all, they were the friendly faces she had gotten used to in the past few weeks, and it almost felt like she was abandoning them.

But she knew she'd be back soon.The brunette finally made her way outside, but suddenly something, or rather someone, caught her attention. No, it couldn't be. Impossible. Christmas miracles don't just happen. Do they?

As she stared to her side, she could have sworn her heart stopped beating. She blinked rapidly for a few seconds and to make sure it wasn't a dream, she even pinched herself. Was fate trying to mess with her?

Iris Frances was standing just a few feet away from her.

At least, it certainly looked like her schoolmate/friend...kind of. But as she looked, the Gryffindor was shocked, stunned and surprised at having finally seeing the Slytherin once more. She was overcome by a sea of emotions, something she had never experienced in her life, well, maybe once.

Finally, she gathered her usual Grayson courage and walked over to Iris, almost as if she was in dreamland. Her mind was muttering a thousand prayers that this was not some sort of illusion, that it was indeed her fucking awesome friend standing there.

"Eye." The brunette breathed, once she was close enough, wondering...no, hoping that the Slytherin remembered her.

Tears swelled right on the rim of her once bright eyes. Seeing the outside land seemed entirely like a dream from the glass windows she was facing with grief. It reminded her of everything. It was as if she was seeing the first time, blinded before. Nothing changed that much. The streets were still busy with people jostling around buying last minute Christmas gifts. And to think of that, she knew she had no money in her pocket. But to think again, to whom will she even give presents? No family. Perhaps no more friends when she would get back. No one. Then, what treat could she give herself?

Putting one hand on her stomach as it churned with a low rumbling sound, she realized she was hungry. And how pathetic it was that the staff didn't even feed her anything. Maybe she could try to go back in and ask for some. It was the hospital wasn't it? They provide everything for their patients. Even if the Slytherin was no longer a patient of theirs.

Iris groaned, thinking of a better idea, when out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar face, a very familiar face she still knew, she once loved, and up until know as a best friend. Fuck, she still remembered to remember this time. Forgetting all of it and letting them drop, she turned around, looking face to face with the dearest Gryffindor she had met and knew, nearly three years ago. How long had she really been in a cell? What was the special day? Was she receiving a Christmas miracle amidst everything worst she had encountered? Was that still possible nowadays? Could it be?

"Gray...Grayson?" Eye muttered, feeling her lips and the rest of her body tremble, ignoring the croaking sound her voice had just made. Her heartbeat wanted to push itself out of its coarse shell. She slipped every bit of emotion including her duffel bag onto the rough ground. She cannot see what was around her. The water from her eyes started to breakthrough, to fall from the pit and wave in towards the anguish, desperation, a sudden chance of hope shone above her. And that moment on, she learned how to cry again. Nothing mattered anymore. Not even death or dead bodies she imagined.

Iris blinked rapidly and approximately five times, gulped some air, and desired to prick herself with something to wake her up from this dream. And when she will open her eyes, she would still be curling up inside that room. But even for that cause, she knew everything was real. She did accept full reality, right? Why would she even forget?

Her tears were reserved for this moment.

On hearing her dear Slytherin's voice, though it sounded unused, made Iris's heart elevate to greater heights. It was pounding and her mind was screaming at her to just take a step closer and....

"Oh my God Eye, you remember me," she whispered just before enveloping her friend in a bone crushing hug. As soon as contact was made, the Gryffindor knew it wasn't a dream, this was real.

This was an ecstatic reunion with someone that was and always will be, extremely precious to her.

Just as the thought struck her, tears began to fall from her eyes like a fucking waterfall. Sure, she had recently cried for Hades, for Alec, but this was unlike that all. These were tears of joy, surprise, relief, all the feelings she hadn't experienced in a long while. But more importantly, they were tears of love.

She didn't care if sounded like a broken child, her arms tightening around Eye, afraid to let her go in the fear that someone would take her away again. The brunette did not know what time or how long the two girls were standing there, but she honestly didn't give a damn.

"I fucking missed you Eye," she murmured into the Slytherin's hair, finally letting go and roughly wiped her eyes. "You're not a dream, are you? Because I will kill myself if a dream is what turned me into a weak, crying baby," she told, attempting a joking smile.

Suddenly she was flooded by memories, both good and bad, spent with Iris, and the heavy feeling in her heart lifted and she felt a whole lot lighter than she ever did since she entered St.Mungos.

Maybe everything would be alright after all.

She had almost let out a wail or just a freaking sound of God knows what emotions inside that sound was made. Nothing mattered. She recalled again. Her eyes were only focused on one person tackling her, and she was too weak to even move or scrape away from the embrace. She wanted to swear at the top of her lungs, but she was too overwhelmed by this reunion. It was the moment of her life. And to take it in that all the bad memories were suddenly washed away by this event. It was really a miracle after all. Thank you Christmas for making everyone that happy. Well, for her that is. She finally believed in ultimate bliss somehow. She remembered that when one person has suffered enough, nothing but joy will take over after that. And yet, it was all true. Reality always does win.

"Of course I remember you!!! Oh fucking hell, I was expecting none could ever remember me at all." The Slytherin roared inside the positive tightness she was in. She was being careless again. But of course, who wouldn't? Just fuck the people staring around. Scenes like this were common in hospitals and stuff. They should know.

Eventually escaping from the hug, she breathed deeply, her voice still ringing in her ears and it seemed new. She wiped her face soaked in wet tears and almost shouted. Her damn emotions to blame, "So what if I'm a dream?! Then don't you dare wake up anymore!" She need not to add that she can mean she was a ghost, the result of her past attempts for death. But adding them will make things even more stupid.

And her cries so long ago, centuries ago, were way different than this.

"Are you fucking crazy?!? Of course people will remember you!!" Iris exclaimed, a grin erupting on face, almost like a genuine smile that had been hidden inside of her, along with being locked up in that depressing place. She could say it aloud a thousand times, or even scream, but she would never believe it.

Her Eye was back. And there was no way in fucking hell, she was going to let go of her again.

The Gryffindor laughed and shook her head vigourously. "If this is a damn dream, I swear to God, I really don't want to wake up." After all, why would she want to? She was renuited with the one person she had dared to call a friend, when everyone else had turned their backs or just ignored her. This was a glorious moment right here.

"I have so many freaking questions to ask you Eye, but I don't know where to start!" She nearly shouted, shocked by the fact her emotions were taking over. When did thay ever happen?!

"Do you promise me never to disappear like that again??" The blonde demanded. "Otherwise, whoever dares to take you again, I will kick their ass into oblivion, only never to be seen again from the abyss."

"Talk shit, Gray. I am more mental now. They wouldn't." Iris defended, still cleaning the damn stuff on her face and sighed heavily, thinking again that yeah if it was a dream in the first place, she's probably dead by now. At least it's some way to die. A good way too. To speak the truth, to die peacefully in her sleep was her one wish on the list. But no, Christmas miracles shouldn't grant that one yet. Not now when her desire for death was way too deep compared to this.

They were back together again. The partners in crime. The memories flooded back from the dam and into her overflowing land. She wouldn't care drown. That would be the happiest thing she had ever done for the record.

"Don't ask! My story is fucking long. And besides, I too don't know where to start!" The Slytherin replied with a true smile, something she hadn't owned in months or even years. Her memory was that short. And thank God.

"NO! I WON'T DO THOSE STUFF AGAIN! NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE! And it may sound corny, but, I'll be better now so long as we're together! Just make sure you keep on guard for all the things I can do." She sang and warned at the same time. Keeping a friend close to her side just makes life so much easier to handle. And who knows, maybe she'll be herself again. If not for the things that can haunt her down to despair. Good thing though, she already had Grayson till the end. Who cares if no one remembered her?

"And fuck. Kick my ass for me will you? No one kidnapped me in the beginning. It was all just me. But, except from my wasted mom and my fucking dad. Wait. He's not my dad now." Eye said with a shrug of full bitterness, a roll from her eyes, and crossed arms. Ugh. It made her feel like puking.

"Well, who the fuck cares if they remember you or not?! I remember you and you remember me, and for now that should totally be enough," Iris stated and hugged Eye once more. She couldn't believe that out of all the places to be renuited with a lost beloved, it had to be in front of a hospital! But either way, she mentally thanked fate or destiny for finally making this momeny a reality.

"My story is fucking long too! You wouldn't believe the shit that has happened to me, the stuff I found out, it's all too much!" The brunette grinned. "But be warned that I'll be pestering you for information because don't think you're off the hook that easy."

Iris raised an eyebrow amusedly at her friend and questioned, "Was that a threat, Miss Frances? And besides, you know just as well as anyone that my guard is always up. Which is exactly why I'm fighting with my siblings, but that's perhaps a story for another time."

She knew it, she felt it, that something truly amazing had just happened and even after minutes, it still was happening. Iris knew she wouldn't trade this joyous moment for anything in the world. It seemed just like before, the two of them against the world.

That title never seemed truer than right now.

"Your family is shit?! Ah, join the club! My mother tried to kill me and my father was a fucking dark wizard and murderer! Screw parents!" She shouted, earning a few glares from the people nearby but she just flipped them off.

"Welcome back, Eye." She said, turning back to look at her friend.

"Oh I don't know. Just do whatever you have to do to keep me out of trouble. I just can't, sometimes, resist doing some bad things. You know what I mean." Eye said with a shrug and a small pout on her lips. She didn't want to speak the rest of the truth. It was her friend's turn to figure it out. And of course, she knew Grayson too well. They've been this trial together. And they knew how each one of them ever felt. Fate it was to treat them like this. They've been good, right? Then why them?

Iris stared wide-eyed at her friend and replied with the same shocking tone owned by persons who can't wait any longer to tell their side of the story, "Those damn things I found out too! Just fuck life. Everything. But never fuck this. If I left early, I shouldn't have seen you in the first place!" Then again, the truth of reality was somewhat sweeter.

"Welcomed and an official member of the club!" The Slytherin exlaimed with a wide grin on her paler face and whispered, "So, how's Hogwarts lately? How's Anna Banana? The rest of the people there?" Her time to wait to be given answers was finally over. It was her second desire for like a thousand years. After getting out. Checklist done.

"Can resist doing bad things? Huh, I knew I there was a reason I loved you," Iris replied with a smirk on her lips, feeling like her self the more she talked to Eye. "By the way, I'm not going to keep you out of trouble, I'm going to be part of the trouble with you, just like old times," she stated and winked at the Slytherin. For now, fate was being fair to the both of them. And Merlin knows, they both deserve a fucking break in their life. This seemed to be a really great one.

She grinned and nodded her head. "Fuck life, that's exactly what I've been saying!" The brunette exclaimed. "I've dodged too many things Eye, just like you probably have, and I hope we get a chance to share," she said in a quieter voice, suddenly eager to know everything that happened to her friend and help out as much as she could.

She rarely helped or talked to anyone, but Eye was an exception. But now including Alec, the Gryffindor had two exceptions.

"Hogwarts has been pretty boring since I lost my partner in crime," Iris pretended to frown and nudged Eye playfully. "It's been a while since I talked to Tshering, but I think she's doing okay. Professors as usual, are not showing up for lessons, though we did get some new ones, who'll probably disappear again," she remarked as she explained life at Hogwarts. "Oh Tshering's in love with a boy from Durmstrang I think, not sure if they are still together, though. And I'm officially single because Hades broke up with me," she finished.

"By the way Eye, Merry Christmas," the Gryffindor wished her friend, realizing that it was just one or two days from the holiday. "Tell me, what do you want as a gift?"

Eye grinned at her best friend with a more radiant face than the rest she have had. Now, she felt as if she had been reincarnated. She shrugged her shoulders with a sly smile, enough to hear those very kind words from Grayson and replied, "Trouble? Nah. I'm just gonna avoid it now somehow. I just got out, see? I will never go back in there ever again." She tilted her head towards the building still standing right behind them. Just as she had remembered, she was on her way to go. And it had been like ten minutes since she had a reunion with the Gryffindor. Then she realized again, she was hungry and eager to use her feet again.

"All right. I'll share my side of the story on the way. Can we get rid of this place already? It's freaking me out. Think I'm gonna be sicker." Iris grunted, picking up her duffel bag and carried it on her back. She began to descent he steps of the hospital, motioning her hands for Gray to follow her and muttered under her breath in which her friend can still hear amidst the noise of the busy sea of people, "Still no difference in school, huh?"

"And Anna, what do you expect from her by now? She's already crazier with love even before. A boy from Durmstrang?" She asked, recalling her ghostly memory but coming up with nothing. But on the back of her mind, she sort of knew who what boy was. She knew somehow that she and Anna talked about him. Maybe when they were drunk one day so long ago. Still, she can't be so sure it's still the same guy.

"Happy Christmas, Gray. I consider it 'happy' now. But you should be happy too. Don't let that shit with your ex ruin your holidays. I'm sure you'll find a better one. We can talk about it." Iris mused with a smirk. She thought for a while, rummaging for an answer, and said simply, "Food. There's nothing more. Or Candy. Just like the good times."

Iris pretended to frown at Eye's words and shook her head slowly. "Going to stay out of trouble? Damn it, that really sucks, just when I was already coming up with lots of great ideas." But she knew what the Slytherin was meant. After all, who knew how long or for what freaking reason, Eye was in that place? Still, the answers would present themselves soon enough. And the Gryffindor felt she was in for a shock.

Grinning lightly, the brunette followed her friend down the steps, into the snow filled streets. Ah, how good it felt to be surrounded by something so...pure. Just being locked up for two weeks was more than enough for Iris to feel suffocated. Her mind drifed back to her 'mother' who was responsible for putting her there in the first place, but forced her anger to go away. This was too good a moment to feel angry. "School's the same fucking place, Eye," she told just as softly as they began walking away from the hospital.

"Well, you were the one who was always so close with Tshering, and I'm still not sure if we're good friends or not," Iris replied with a shrug. "And that Ravenclaw who had a crush on her..? Oliver Penderghast? He's also back. I think that has stirred up quite a concoction," she smirked. "But you know me, I rarely talk to the people in our school, except for you of course. Now the other person I actually feel pretty good with, Alec Blanchard, who's also probably the reason I'm kind of sane."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Dear Eye, when the fuck have I ever let a guy ruin my holidays? Now that we're together, I feel completely happy," she said honestly. "Well, I'll get you to candy, food, whatnot but I'm going to get you an actual gift also," she stated.

"So, start with your story and I'll tell mine side by side," the Gryffindor told, as she linked arms with the Slytherin as they made their way to the nearby restaurant.

"Great ideas? Sooner. And honestly, it would be a shorter time than I expect." Eye gave her opinion with a smirk and continued on with the conversation, "Yeah. We were that close. But I don't know now. She might have changed or what I know of that can be possible. Ooohhh. Do you think I will cause a stir the school or something? But poor guy, Anna's addicted to love as ever probably now. It's been like two years. What should I know?" And ended her short speech with a shrug as she walked arm in arm with her best friend.

"Good. And to tell you the truth, boyfriends make me puke too. I don't find relationships interesting at all. Unless, I'll be as strong as you are whenever I will encounter one. But I will never hope for. I've had enough to take. And those fucking heartbreaks? Just some shit." She said with a roll of her eyes and imitated a shiver as if it disgusted her. Well, it did.

"Alec who?" Iris asked as she stopped from her tracks and stared bug-eyed on Grayson. Another guy in her bestie's life? "Who the hell is he? Make sure he will never hurt you or whatever. We'll hunt him down together. Hey! That's a cool idea! Add that to the list!" And changed her frown to a mocking smile.

She walked along again, swaying as she did so, and thought of a better way to tell her tale,

"Mom, bless her soul, sent me an owl one day in the middle of the year. She wrote that we're going on a vacation. And I went home as soon as I can since I wanted to spill her everything I've had been through in school. You know, my emotional and shallow shit back then? And yeah, when I got home, we weren't going away at all. She just confessed to me that she and 'dad' had a fight. And she found out that 'he' has a mistress, a bitch, a concubine, and another goddamn child. So mom went mental. WE did. You know what happened next to depressed teenagers and adults. Still, I took care of her. Then she made up her mind to take me to rehab. That lasted a year. I don't want to elaborate the fucking things." She frowned at the idea then continued on,

"Then I found out that Vee died. I still don't know. And I don't want to know. I've had some theories on how she passed away. And mum is one reason. Then time passed and passed, I was still locked up. But I knew I was becoming better. Then when I went out just now, before I did, the nurse reported to me, actually I already knew since I already expected it, mom died. She succeeded in killing herself. Mom. She hoped that 'dad' will return again. But that was seriously shit. The end. Now I'm here. Not even giving a damn. Ain't cool, huh?"

The Slytherin finished with raised shoulders and looked at the Gryffindor expecting tons of questions.

"Hey, as long as you haven't turned into a softie while being stuck in that hell hole, I don't mind if my great ideas get applied sooner or late," Iris said quickly and laughed lightly. "I don't think Tshering's changed that much though. I mean, me and her have been kind of getting close, but it's been months since I spoke to her. Of course you'll cause a stir in school," she grinned. "I'm pretty sure you are going to surprise a lot of people and I cannot wait to see their reactions! And besides, I'm sure you'll catch up with the horror and gossips of school, as soon you step into it," smirked the brunette.

She turned to look at the Slytherin with a frown. "Well, I'm the reason that caused Hades to break up with me. I sort of cheated on him," she admitted. "But I was drunk and had no idea, Eye! I mean, is it wrong that I had fun getting drunk in a club? But if I could take it back, I would. I guess it made sense for him to get mad, yes? I don't know, it felt he did have a right so I suppose I shouldn't complain," she muttered. Raising an eyebrow amusedly, she said, "When you find a guy you really like, I think you will change your mind, Eye."

Iris laughed and shook her head at Eye. "It's not what you think, it's not like that with him. We kind of met by chance and ever since you were gone, he's the only one I was comfortable with and was able to be myself with and just like that, we became best friends," she explained. "And I can bet on my life that he would never fucking hurt me," the Gryffindor stated. "So, don't worry about it. And by the way, he's the one who got drunk with me and that's how we ended up kissing."

As the Slytherin was telling her story, the brunette felt a rush of various emotions running through her veins. Confusion, anger, hurt and at the end, a sense of understanding. The last feeling because they both had been having big time family issues, it seemed. "I'm so fucking sorry about all that shit, Eye," she muttered. "Your dad is a stupid bastard who should rot in hell, along with that bitch of a 'mistress,'" she growled angrily. "But mostly, I'm sorry you lost your mom," murmured Iris and gave her best friend a hug.

"Perfect. Just what I wanted. Like a celebrity or something. Or, a criminal out of Azkaban. Maybe, some thought I was in Azkaban!" Eye mused with an evil smile and her wildest imaginations running around inside her head. She laughed lightly on her joke. She could just imagine herself walking the halls getting looks on every side of her once she passed. And yet, she will give no damn about them. As if nothing happened. She, somewhat, wouldn't be invisible that longer. She'd get rumours and worse. But, she liked it just by the thought of it. That was hell crazy.

She punched the shoulder of her best friend on hearing her explanation. Now fuck her, "You bitch! You left him broken. Fuck. That's the hell what I'm talking about, Gray. And you've made a mistake. Now you can no longer take it back. And drinking in a club? Think better! You should have brought him with you or something. He WAS your BOYFRIEND!" Making funny faces and frowning at the Gryffindor, she still hugged her. Making Gray's life worse wasn't a good idea at all now that they're reunited.

"Mental couple." The Slytherin muttered bitterly at the thought of relationships and her being replaced by this unknown guy. Nobody can ever take her Gryason away from her. And yet, she shouted almost instantly, "I will never ever ever leave again. Not you with that guy. You're with me. I own you. You own me." And smirked.

Iris Frances, what she thought of herself as now a brave Slytherin who suffered worse, was beginning to cry like a baby again. She pulled back the water immediately and managed to say in the same tone she had been using,

"Huh. S'okay. And Vee too. She had always been there for me you know. The first one I saw in the mornings, and the last one I saw in the nights. I fucking miss her and everything mom used to do to me. When she was still stable. But good thing though, she can be happy now in what they call paradise. If it ever existed."

"I think your imagination just got overreactive while being stuck in that place," Iris remarked with a raised eyebrow at Eye's comment. "Or if you are really insisting on sticking to the Azkaban story, I'm totally going to say that I helped you break out," she half joked and looked at the Slytherin. She had a feeling that Eye wouldn't need to fabricate such a story, she was already going to be getting a lot of attention, and who knows, she just might make the most of it.

For once, the Gryffindor didn't bother arguing. "I know what I did was wrong, alright?" She muttered angrily. "No need to make me feel worse about it. And you know I don't think better when it comes to getting drunk and going to clubs or did you forget that part? And besides, I was in France by mistake when I fucking got drunk. Me and Alec were both going through shit, so we drank and the rest is history." She accepted Eye's hug reluctantly, knowing that she now had two people who were mad at her, but she supposed they had a right to be. And then and there, she was glad that at least Alec didn't end up being angry at her as well.

"Oh my gosh Eye, he's not your replacement!" The brunette protested. "He's fucking important to me, just like you are. He's been with me through all the shit that happened, and he never complained, not even once! I figured he's all I would have as a friend, but now that you're back, I got both of you." Iris couldn't help smile at the thought. "And besides, when did you get so possessive of me? I figured that was only for Tshering," she asked, once again with a raised eyebrow. "And hey, I'm always going to be with you because you are never getting rid of me," she told softly.

"I'm glad you can at least miss your mom, because all I want is my mom to be dead for trying to kill me," stated the Gryffindor with a sigh. "I wish there was a paradise on earth," she mumbled as they reached the restaurant. Taking a seat on the corner side, she looked out of the window and murmured, "Everyone looks so normal, wish that was me."

"Hell yeah! That IS an awesome idea!" Eye exclaimed with the widest grin she had had since first thing she met her best friend. She laughed, gave that evil smile she had been mastering for ages once she's gone being the goody girl, and muttered, "Excellent ideas, Gray. I love them. You can tell them. I don't mind. Still, it would seem crazy and unreal. And, if I want to cover the fucking truth, we can do it as it is." She kidded and sighed. Wow. She had never been this jolly, and criminal-minded with a partner in their own situations.

She frowned, shrugged, and defended hotly, eager to end the love life conversation, "All right! All right! Let's just forget those pieces of shit, okay? I AM getting sick of it. And you can just spill them out to me whenever I'd be drunk. So I won't remember." She chuckled low, then raised her eyebrows, into inquiring again, "I want to meet that guy. You say he's in France. Do you keep in touch? Or he's just here somewhere?" The Slytherin glared at the place, scanning it as if pretending that that 'Alec' was there after all, just feet away from them, soon going to appear out of nowhere and ruin the reunion.

"Whatever." She spat, getting bitter at the conversation with Gray's new boyfriend, and continued, "I own you two. Anna and you. You guys are the only one." She shrugged, speaking the truth and not arguing with it any further. She followed the Gryffindor inside a restaurant she didn't even recognize or saw the name of it, and sat down opposite the table. Her stomach began to churn itself again, but ignored it.

"Enough drama. You're alive. We survived. That's all that matters, okay?" Iris remarked with sympathy for herself and for her dear friend, "Yeah. Not just millions of hell in the world." She agreed to what was the so-called 'paradise'. What's it look like for the meantime? Just to trail off the curious thoughts to new and less-journeyed directions.

On seeing Eye's estactic expression, the Gryffindor couldn't help but grin at that as well. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected that she would have encountered something so amazing outside the walls of St.Mungos. Good things happen to those who wait, and fuck if Merlin knew she had been waiting long enough. "Hey, crazy and unreal's our thing, right?" She told as though it was obvious enough, smile still in place.

"Don't worry, I'm still the unromantic, hard-hearted bitch who hides in a shell," Iris muttered with a shrug. "So yes, let's end the conversation." She couldn't help but be amused by the Slytherin's interrogation. "He's from France, as in he's French and goes to Beauxbatons. And yes, we keep in touch. Honestly, he's the only one that showed up when I got shot and was back in St.Mungos," she replied, amused look still lingering on her face. "I swear, if you meet him, you can see why I think of him as my best friend."

"Gee, thanks for making me sound like a piece of property," the brunette sarcastically replied and rolled her eyes good naturedly.

Iris nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, we survived our very own hell on earth and made it out alive," she announced, turning to look at Eye once more. She pushed the menu card towards the Slytherin and said, "Order whatever you want, I got enough money for the both of us. And order big because I want to get the fucking taste of hospital food out of my mouth."

"Crazy and unreal. The wildest dreams? Close." The Slytherin replied with a smirk and slightly frowned at the sound of her best friend saying too good to be stuff about this French boy. If she could trust Gray at these words, then nothing could be much of a problem. Still, she couldn't help but feel disappointed for not being their with the Gryffindor when she suffered a near-death experience. If she should have healed herself earlier, she could have still crossed paths with Gray inside the hospital. And fuck fate for not letting them see each other that immediately under the same roof. It was officially stupid.

"All right. I trust you then. I'll still thank him though. For keeping an 'eye' for you while you're healing." She murmured monotonously with a hint of sarcasm on her joke, and waited for the punchline to hit on her best friend. If ever she would get it. She's not usually good in kidding around and all.

Eye agreed in return with a nod and opened the menu. Goodness. She haven't eaten a single delicious thing ever since. And seeing those names and automatically picturing the food in her mind, she became ecstatic at the sight of them. And, she wouldn't mind her anorexia or whatever at all now. It's dead gone.

"Ice cream. Fudge. And . . . that biggest sandwich right there with pumpkin juice." Iris answered as she closed the menu and gave it to Gray across the table. Hospital food. A disgusting thing ever.

"You'll thank him? Right now, that's fucking good enough for me," Iris replied, feeling relieved that they took one step farther in this argument. She shook her head in mock disappointment and gave a brief smile, "Oldest punchline in the book, Eye. Then again, what do I know about making jokes?" Sure, the Gryffindor enjoyed a good laugh now and then, but she was never the one to crack jokes. And neither was she a fan of puns. She hated them.

The Gryffindor called over one of the waitresses and repeated the Slytherin's order. The waitress looked at her probably thinking how they were going to consume all that, but Iris merely shrugged and didn't bother saying anything else.

"There's another thing," she began, "I was kidnapped last year, along with my twin sister, Kait. It happened in Greece where some guy who killed our father, took us and probably wanted to murder us," she said in a quiet voice as the flashbacks came to mind. "We hated our father, so don't feel sorry about that. Anyway, we were stuck with him for nearly six months and we barely managed to escape. But we did, and that's what prompted me to go and visit my mother. Guess that was a bad idea, since she's the that shot me."

Iris laughed, the sound mostly hollow and shook her head in disbelief. "Everything's been a fucking mess. It's a miracle I'm still alive." She held her best friend's hand in her own and said, "Thank Merlin, you're back."

"Yeah. Yeah." Iris replied and rolled her eyes. Enough for her to do her best friend a favour and come in peace with her 'guy' friend. But even if she had to accept the mere fact that they haven't met yet, it still wasn't enough to not hate him. Or rather, just dislike him. She felt somewhat useless for not being with Gray when she most needed her. And besides, that 'boy' will be away longer since he's in France. Good timing for The Slytherin's reappearance though.

She glared at the waitress's back and murmured, "Huh. What does she care? We can share the big sandwich." She shrugged, not wanting to waste her time hating strangers, and replied to Gray's story instead in a monotone,

"You've suffered worse. And mine was just a speck. Your family's literally mental. Good thing you're not." She laughed lightly, making those awful jokes again, then added, "And I think a year in rehab compared to six months having adventures outdoors, is also worse. It's some shit."

Eye smiled, thankful for Gray, and mused, "Can't wait to get started with the term. And fuck, I missed fourth year. How's that year like then? There must have been some cool stuff. I just hope that everything will be better once we're inside Hogwarts."

"You've been holding Iris fucking Frances in this place for a year and you never bothered to tell me?!" boomed a feminine voice, in the bottom most floor of the Hospital building. Anna Tshering found it hilarious that the receptionist made no effort to hide their medical records in an obscure shelf, and instead shove them in three-foot high piles, details facing upward. Frankly, she was in this hospital just in case she'd see Charles. Slim chances were slim, but they were better than none at all.

The receptionist chose to blush instead of making a firm comeback. The Ravenclaw picked up a pen, glaring daggers at the woman. She fiddled with the pen, before drawing circles in the air. She pointed the sharp edge of the pen right at the worker's heart, and she laughed icily at her shocked expression.

"M-Miss Tshering," stammered the worker, "they made their way to a r-restaurant... a pretty sandwich restaurant..." The name of the aforementioned place was given, "A few... few minutes ago - "

"Again, you only bothered telling me now?" snarled the Ravenclaw Prefect, moaning as the woman's tablet of sorts played the winner of the 1984 Eurovision Contest. Waterloo, it was? "May the Eurovision Gods forgive you, useless bitch," she threatened, eyes narrowing further, "if they're not where you say they are, expect to see yourself unemployed in the next week."

Flicking herself towards the exit, Tshering walked as if she knew - hell no, owned - them, and as soon as her eyes fell on that precise place, she marched straight inside, barely greeting the woman and simply took a menu from behind the counter. Surveying the place, she smirked when she found the table of two.

"Where have you two been?" she sang, and snatched a seat from a nearby table. A man proceeded to sit on it, thinking his chair was still there, and fell to the floor instead. Tshering laughed. "Loser," she muttered, mostly to herself.

She placed the menu on the table, mentally shaking her head at the lack of cigar options, and stared straight at Eye, though her blue eyes were soft, "Holy shit, Eye. I missed you. A lot of shit went down ever since you went missing - like knowing a certain Oberlin who's in love with a third year soon-to-be manwhore." Her lip quivered, "Did you tell her about Durmstrang, Gray?"

(ooc: sel said i can join the thread, if you don't mind, rev.)

The bell of the restaurant's door rang loudly and with a distinguished bang coming straight through the door. Her head turned instantly. Then suddenly, it was as if the place had been boomed with fire, a hot ball of fire, with some fury, mentality, and even awkwardness. And once, Eye knew to whom she expected this stuff to happen with. No one but her Ravenclaw friend. Or if not her, then some completely mad witch.

It was hell confirmed. She saw the familiar face, with some changes in the way the non-stranger looked and acted. Still, the Slytherin knew her well. The intelligent, the great, the lovely, and the crazy Miss Anna Tshering.

Like hearing Anna speak was too good to be true, Iris looked at her wide-eyed and her mouth fell open then became dry. Shocked, she forced her way in to mutter a few words, "Fuck, Merlin." Shaking her head and closing her mouth, she looked around and saw the people still staring on their direction. She frowned at Tshering and murmured sarcastically, "You're such a crazy woman. You blast places off with your mentality. Seriously, anywhere? Shit. You changed to worse. And what do I expect."

She chuckled, smirked, then answered back for Gray, "Yep. That Durmstrang boy is here too? Like that Beauxbatons boy of Gray? I am such a loser for not bringing in boys."

"Actually, even my sister Kait and brother Game, are not that mental either," Iris corrected the Slytherin with a humourless smirk. "It's mostly our parents that is a fucking bastard and bitch, who should seriously rot in hell or something."

She answered almost immediately. "Most of my fourth year I was stuck in a cell, but the last couple of months I was in Durmstrang for the exchange program. So was Tshering, which is when she met her Russian lover boy," she said and smiled vaguely. "Durmstrang was kind of good actually, though Russia's a pretty depressing place." She shrugged. The waitress bought the food a few minutes, but didn't bother looking at them and left the table quickly. Iris scoffed lightly to herself and shook her head as she took some of the ice cream.

The Gryffindor suddenly noticed Tshering at their table and she stared at her in surprise. "I would probably faint because I'm astounded by this, but I'm all out of shock reactions, Tshering," she muttered to the Ravenclaw as she continued to eat the ice cream. She then groaned at the Slytherin. "Honestly Eye, could you please not make it sound as though he's my boyfriend or something? Because he's not, he's a freaking player. Besides, I'm still sort of thinking about Hades over here," she mumbled.

Tshering gave a swift roll of her eyes, "I'm only terrible because I missed you, dear." Her tone seemed womanly, as if she had quickly grown in the few months between the beginning of the year and now. She laughed, "What, did you expect me to be Queen of The Sugar Plum Fairies again like my antics with Koehl? Bitch please, Frances. That's for duds." She snorted, and yelled out, "I want a cup of espresso - cream, no sugar!" One of the waiters opened their mouth, and closed it, rocking his head back and forth as he repeated the order to the barista.

"Out of shock reactions?" cooed the Ravenclaw, "Gray, that's not possible. Be creative!" She clicked her fingers. "Prentiss, my Durmstrang boy? He's probably sobbing his eyes out for his best friend. I think he's in love with her or something." She moaned, trying to hide her tears as she continued, "We're not even together anymore, and I'm sort of grateful we aren't; not my fault his best mate ingested cannabis, even if it wasn't her fault." She tilted her head towards Gray, "What happened between you two anyway, if I have the right to know?" She smirked when the coffee arrived on her table, and threw some change at the waiter. The funny thing was, no one bothered to complain.

She saw a familiar face outside the window, believing it to be Charles, and she cried out his name, waving her arms about and asking him to come in. Yet he swiftly moved on, and the Ravenclaw blinked, sitting back down as she tried to cover her disappointment. Turns out it was just a figment of her own imagination.