[Cl: H] Professor Ethelion's Office

[Ethelion Eriksson]

"Oh? what could possibly be good while getting killed?"

He finished his Merlin with lemon sake and sat up. He looked at her. "How did you get involved in Quidditch? I've seen you fly. You're not bad. And if given a chance to ride a thestral who's not in danger of being possessed, you'd probably be pretty good as well."

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee smiled. "My mother had been in quidditch, she was a seeker herself." Ashlee leaned forward in the chair. "Growing up with no friends but my parents, you would always find me playing quidditch with my Mother."

[Ethelion Eriksson]

"Well, now that's surprising. Must have been great bonding experiences. You dont seem to be a someone who is friendless. Your looks have partly to do with it, but you yourself... attractive in other ways... while me, I prefer solitude. Always have. You... you seem very vivacious, very outgoing... how do you account for that?"

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee laughed. "Professor, I'm in my last year here. I've had 7 years to grow up socially." She drank the rest of her hot chocolate. "Besides that, I've always been outgoing. When ever someone came to the house, I was the first one to greet them. I wasn't afraid of anyone, I'm still not." Ashlee placed her empty cup back on the desk.

[Ethelion Eriksson]

"You dont realize how special that is... I was never quite like you, outgoing and all. It was different where I grew up. What do you plan on doing after graduation? Hogwarts can use someone with your talents."

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee looked at Professor Ethelion. "Actually, I was planning on either coming back here or opening up a photography studio in Hogsmeade." Ashlee rubbed her lower back, the spot she had landed on when they fell from the sky.

[Ethelion Eriksson]

"Photography... very interesting. Why that in particular? And you sure you dont want to lie down or something? You can have my bed," said the prof pointing at the bed that stood in the adjacent room.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee smiled. "Haven't you seen me around with my camera Professor?" she giggled then looked at the bed. "No, its ok professor, I don't want to be troublesome to you." she looked down then back up. "Enough about me. You told me in the forest bout being an auror, Is that what you really wanted to do?" she asked with interest.

[Ethelion Eriksson]

"Auror... well, in the East, raised by warrior monks, I was trained in wandless magic, especially so that I could kill without detection. No wand to see what spell caused it. No traces. Trained to hunt down and kill. They called us death dealers. We were the ones who were sacrificed so that others may live in the East. The memories..."

He closed his eyes and shook his head. "My first assignment at 18. Almost lost my life in the process to a witch i was supposed to kill. That's why Jason and Medea was ... a little gut wrenching. Heh. After reading that legend, I was ok again... that's when i began to love history... oops, I ramble. Heh. Personal history is never as straightforward, as clean and clear cut as history makes it out to be."

He looked down and then back up. "You wonder why i can see thestrals? I fell in love with her, but she was my assignment. Ever since then, I could see thestrals."

He poured himself another shot of Merlin and sipped it.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee looked down with sad eyes. "Wow... thats deep." she sat there for a time without saying anything looking at the floor. She opened her mouth to say something but shut it. She sighed and finally spoke. "I watched my Mother's father kill my great-uncle, his own brother. He was sent to Azkaban.... I was the only witness." she let out a short laugh. "I still remeber everything about it too." Tears formed in her eyes. "The one thing I don't understand..." She paused, trying not to cry then spoke again. "How could he do that infront of me? He knew I was right there." A tear fell from her eyes. "It was right before I came here too... I was only 11." She laughed. "He said... He said he did it so he didn't have to be around anymore, that my grandmother drove him to do it." she shook her head. "I'm sorry."

[Ethelion Eriksson]

Ethelion walked over and sat down beside her. He gently pulled her close to him and rested his chin on her head. "You were the one who condemned him... weren't you?" he murmured. "It's alrite Ash, it's ok." He wrapped his arms around her.

A moment passed, and then he said, "people sometimes do things for seemingly no reason..."

He hugged her closer.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee sighed. "I found that out the hard way.." she whispered. She closed her eyes and burried her face in his chest. She was surprised with how comfortable she was around him, as if she could tell him everything about her past. She pressed her ear against his chest and listened to the calm beating of his heart.

[Ethelion Eriksson]

"So did I. But just remember, you're still alive. You could have died that day just as easily. But you lived. Think about what higher purpose made you live that day."

He looked into her eyes, and said, "You're the only one whom i told... about that first assignment. Ever since then, no one ever really got close, got through to me. ... You're ... dear to me."

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee's heart lept and she smiled sweetly at him. She looked down then back up at him contemplating her next move. Oh what the heck. she thought to herself. A.J. leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips.

[Ethelion Eriksson]

Though unexpected, Ethelion kissed her back. He tasted the sweet hot chocolate on her lips. Fire ran down his spine from the spark created when their lips broke apart...

"This can't be your first relationship" remarked Ethelion when they both had caught their breath back