[Hogshead] To Feel Alive

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

It wasn't unusual these days to see Ashton Laurent sitting at a bar with his guitar in hand. True, he hadn't played in a while, but Nick's praise a few days ago had made him realise something. No matter how bad life got, his music would always carry him through. As long as Ash had his music, nothing was ever truly wrong.

I lose my heart
Every day, every part
Of me, to you
And what you're putting me through

These are the things that I feel
That I just can't explain
I wish that I could say
Listen to me

I'm not gonna hide
I've been tearin myself up just to feel alive
Under my skin
The wall that I find
Everybody
Everday
and everynight
Just to feel alive...

The song was called 'To Feel Alive' Ash wasn't sure what the song meant, then again, he rarely did know what his songs meant. He simply wrote what he felt. He wrote from the heart. As Ash sat there pondering this, he heard a voice behind him...


To Feel Alive

[queen]

Counting down the days to her NEWTs, Ava had gone off the deep end with studying. She didn't even need to do well. Ava had no idea what she wanted to do after Hogwarts. Her graduating scared her to death. Though she was a happy to get out of the castle walls, which seemed to happy for her now a days. She was going to deal with the ministry, blind to the world, she couldn't teach, she would kill herself around the students, so her parents had talked to her about running a little shop in Hogsmeade. Something easy for Ava, even though they planned much more than it seemed.

Ava had broken down. Her studying had been interupted by first years not weighed down with the thought of having to actually grow up. Ava had through a book at one, hit him in the head and knocked him out. Ava had gone up to her room, changed her clothes to go out, and stormed out of the castle and to Hogsmeade. She didn't care that she was supposed to be in bed. The Seventh year needed a drink.

Ava went into her usual spot, The Hos Head, seeing the place was nicely packed with an aray of characters. She walked over to her table and sat, soon drinks from a man much older, but sweet. He bought Ava a few drinks and when he started making moves on her, Ava picked up her stuff and "went to the bathroom". Ava found herself scooting onto a bar stool, ordering another drink, on her own tab, and sighing.

Familiar guitar music flowed passed her. Ava turned, her head feeling a little heavy, she smiled as the song ended. She clapped. "I like that song." Ava said to the guy playing. She scooted over two seats and plopped her drink down in front of her. "Its nice and sad." Ava said, taking another drink. She was in a good mood, feeling happy, her drunken self apparently wasn't a harsh smart ass like normal. How interesting.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash turned at the sound of a girl's voice. He blushed as he always did when someone complimented his music. "Thanks. It's not quite finished though."

He smiled slightly. "I'm Ashton Laurent. People call me Ash though." Not sure what to say next he looked down at his guitar, chewing nervously on his lip. It wasn't that Ash was shy, he was just... more reserved these days? Oh who was he fooling? He was about as shy as they come! He'd met first years braver than him!

He looked back up at the girl, a real smile on his face this time. "So, do you play anything?" he asked curously. Talking about music always brought him out of his shell.

[queen]

Ava smiled, an actually smile. It was probably the three shots of firewhiskey smiling for her, but none the less, a smile. For the first time in days, Ava indeed felt alive. The song was playing back in her head, and she hummed it a bit. "Yes, I really like it." She said with *gasp* another smile.

"Avaleigh Catherine Thorne." Ava said, extending her hand, and grabbing Ash's before he had time to respond. She shook it and then placed his hand neatly back on the guitar. "People call me Ava, or really they don't call me anything at all. People don't call me." Ava said, laughing at her own joke, which she was sure no one got.

"Me, play anything?" Ava giggled, and brushed her short bangs out of her eyes. "Ashton my dear...I am tone deaf. Erys Grace, in her cat form. sings better than I." She said, seriously. "Not that she's a much better singer in her human form..." Ava said, again laughing at her own joke, which wasn't really funny at all. Oh what a night.

[ohh christ, sorry, I needed a comical post, and Ava has the potential to be hilarious as a drunk.]

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash laughed. "Nice to meet you Ava. I'm guessing I wouldn't wanna hear you play then?" he teased. His face darkened slightly at the mention of Erys, then was calm again. Hopefully Ava wouldn't notice.

"I'm assuming you're in Slytherin then? Grace doesn't associate with anyone not in Slytherin House. Well, there is Reed from Ravenclaw, but I don't care about him anymore so... no concern of mine."

"So, if you don't play any instruments or sing, what is your hobby?"

[queen]

"Oh no, I couldn't" Ava said, blushing as if the request was something completely embarrassing. "you see, if I played, I would be kicked out...that's how bad I am. If I was kicked out, I couldn't ask lovely Warren here for another drink." Ava said, trying to get the bartender's attention. She was failing. "Honestly, I mean he is a Hubbles after all, can't hold it against him, though I usually do." Ava said, again laughing at her own joke.

Her current drink was only half gone, and so the Slytherin stopped her futile attempt, and turned her attention back to Ash. "Why yes, I am a Slytherin, a sneaky snakey Slytherin." Ava said, giggling. "That would be one of Erys very few good qualities. It seems her loyalty is in the right place, most of the time." Ava said with an "as a matter of fact" air. She took a sip of her drink.

"Atta boy." Ava said, slapping Ash on the back with a smile. "Put the past behind you. Look out to the future. Forgetaboutit." Ava said slurring, but then laughed at her own mistake.

"Well," Ava said, crossing her legs as she thought about the question posed to her. "I don't really have any hobbies. I guess you can say I like to dabble in the art of hexes and charms." Ava said, laughing. "I a real whiz at the Stinging Hex." Ava smiled a sly smile. "Wanna see?" She grinned at Ash, but then burst into laughter. "Kidding...I was kidding...." She doubled over in laughter, calming down only to sip her drink and then continued to giggle.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash laughed. Ava, it seemed was quite an unconventional Slytherin. Then again, he wasn't exactly your run-of-the-mill Ravenclaw either. It was exceedingly odd though, to run into a Slytherin willing to converse with someone outside their own house. Then again, Ava was a little tipsy at the moment. For all Ash knew, her friendliness could be the alcohol speaking. You could never be too careful.

Feeling Ava's hand on his back, Ash flinched instictively just for a second before relaxing. He hoped Ava wouldn't notice... but she probably would. That was one thing about Slytherins, they tended to be a bit more observant than you gave them credit for. Of course, Ash hadn't flinched because it hurt, it didn't. It just brought back some...less than pleasant memories.

Pushing the darkening thoughts to the back of his mind, he spoke up again. "So, what do you do in your spare time? Other than terrorise first years?" he asked with a smirk. Of course he had no problems with admitting that, that was exactly what he himself had done when he had nothing else to do. Afterall, if the older students didn't torment the little rugrats, who would?

[queen]

Ava felt the small flinch as she rest her hand on Ash's back. She let out a laugh. "Oh, so your a flinched. Don't worry My boy," she said to the ex-ravenclaw, even though he was a bit older than her. "The way I see it, tonight, we can be friends. I'm feeling friendly. I don't have any friends." Ava said.

Ava yet again tried to flag down Warren. This time however, she stood up on the first rung of the stool, leaning over the bar. His attention was caught, and Ava order a fire whiskey and a glass of water. Hydration is the key to no hangover.

"Like a hobby, or like a skill." Ava thought about this. She sipped her new firewhiskey, for Warren had just slide it down to her. "Well, I come here sometimes." The idea of alcohol was drowning her mind. "I guess I like clothes." Ava said, rather slurred. "Yeah, clothes." Now that she thought about it, Ava did have a knack for fashion. I mean look at her outfit tonight. She was hot.

"So you are now a Hogwarts Graduate." She said to Ash. "Is it wonderful? No eleven year olds getting in your way, no papers to write. Real life." Ava couldn't wait till she was on her own. She was already planning something with her parents for her to do after her quick exit from the school. She thought she better not mention it to Ash, the goodie two shoes. "Goodie two shoes..." She said, thinking about the word, she had said it out loud. It sounded like a random mumble, and it was.