On The Train to Hogwarts

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe hung her head, shamefaced.
"You have to understand that while my family is not evil, we have some... customs... that I'm not proud of. We're not saints, not at all. We're not like some of the pure-blood families, we don't discriminate Muggle-borns. So... every girl in our family for 5 generations now has recieved this on their 12th birthday. I've had this for a year now and still it repulses me from time to time, when I think of it, which I try to avoid doing. When we recieve this, we learn the story. This is the story:"
Ruhe took a deep breath.
"This started out a small cloth. It was woven from the hair of the first female Shifter. This was only hair that had fallen out though. After she died, a new tradition started. I should tell you now that every one of us female Shifters has a special power. Mine is a sense of thoughts and feelings, plus very powerful and frequent morphing attacks. When a Shifter dies, that power is left behind in their blood and bones. After a death, we hold a Draining..."
Ruhe shivered, and remembered the first Draining she had been to, less than a year ago.

[Chloé O'Conner]

"You shouldn't be ashamed of the things your family does, it's not like you can help the traditions that have been going on for years." She said remembering how her parents would argue over the Dark Lord. Her mother detested muggles and muggle borns like any other pureblood she just didn't think they should be tourtured. "So if you don't mind me spectulating, is a Draining a ceremony where you drain the dead of their powers or of their blood?" She asked curiosly.

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe grimaced.
"Sort of... All of the living female Shifters gather in the designated location for the Draining. The three eldest Shifters remove the hair from the Shifter's head and drain the blood. They weave the hair into new cloth and add it onto the cloak. The cloak is then... dyed with the Shifter's blood."
Ruhe cringed, remembering the one time she had laid witness to this event.
"The cloak is said to carry all the powers of every female Shifter ever alive. It is only to be used in cases of dire need. The cloak gives immense power to the wearer. I had to go to a Draining last year, shortly after the cloak came into my possession. My great-aunt had died, and we had to go. Everyone has to go. "
Ruhe shuddered.
"I hope I never am one of the three Eldest. To think this is my family..."
Ruhe looked up at Chloe, afraid that she would be more disgusted than Ruhe was.
She didn't want to lose this new friend, no matter that she was older and a Slytherin to boot.

[Chloé O'Conner]

Chloe remained silent not knowing how to respond to Ruhe's tale. It wasn't the worse thing she's ever heard of. She used to hide away and listen to her father talking with her uncles about their recent missions, where she heard them describing the tourturing and killings.
"Thats . . . interesting." Chloe said immediatly regretting it knowing that wasn't the right word.
"That must be an awful experience especiall when it's a close family member." She said trying her best to be sympathetic towards the younger girl.
"Somtimes our families practise rituals or traditions that were are selves aren't proud of but are made to participate in them, no matter how terrible. But keep in mind that whatever doesn't kill you will indeed make you stronger." She said with a light smile, hoping that she didn't offend the girl on what seemed to be a touchy subject.

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe raised her eyebrows at the word "interesting", but understood that Chloe didn't know how to react to her story.
She scoffed.
"Close... Yeah, right. About as close as the north and south poles! And as for being stronger, that's exactly what it takes. Killing. My family is practically a pack of rabid dogs. I've wondered about some Muggle authors. Their descriptions sometimes are so like my family. Here. I have some of them with me. You should read them. They're actually a lot better than some Wizarding fiction books."
Ruhe pawed through her bag and pulled out 4 books.
"Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, plus Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephanie Meyers. Blood and Chocolate especially, when she describes how her pack acts when they are together."
She smiled, glad to be over the subject of the cloaks. She stuffed them back in her bag, hoping that she would never have to use the red cloak.
*Though I'll probably cause some mischief with the Invisibilty Cloak.* She thought. *And maybe with Chloe along!*
The thought thrilled her.
Ruhe turned back to Chloe.
"Do you read much?"

(((sometime you and I should start a thread in which we go around with the Invisibility Cloak and wreak some havoc!!! ^_-- wink wink)))

[Chloé O'Conner]

"Yeah, I like a good book now and again. Not much muggle stuff though, mainly Wizarding stuff." She said glad that the previous subject ended. "I take it from what you just showed me, you tend to read alot."

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe grinned.
"I like Muggle books a lot more than Wizarding fiction. I do read most of my free time, when I'm not running around doing everything I can to keep away from boredom. It's my great escape. Somedays I just lock myself in my room and read all day, or draw like mad when I get the good feeling that I can do good work."
Ruhe smiled broadly, slightly disappointed that the ride would be ending soon, but glad that she had a new friend and wouldn't be alone this year.

[Chloé O'Conner]

"I've never really attempted reading a muggle book. I could only imagine the punishment I get from my mother if she caught me with one." She said. "I think I'll read one this year while I'm at hogwarts, that way she'll never find out." She smiled at her plan

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe smiled.
"Ah, the joys of teenage rebellion!"
Then she raised an imaginary glass in a "cheers!" motion.
Ruhe's face darkened.
"My mother couldn't care less. She never pays attention to me. But at least I can cook for myself and not have to put up with her wretched meals!"
She tried to sound cheerful, but she couldn't hide the trembling of her bottom lip.

[Chloé O'Conner]

"My mother's been kind of harsh since my father died, it's like walking on egg shells." She said, noticing her trembling lip and saw threw the cheerful cover up. "You okay?"

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe gave a weak smile.
"Yeah, if okay is still possible for us."
She glanced out the window, and her face brightened instantly.
"I SEE IT! HOGWARTS!!!"
Ruhe became clearly excited and spasticly happy as she put all her things on the seat next to her and grabbed her cat from the windowsill.

[Chloé O'Conner]

Chloe couldn't contain her happiness. Smiling she grabbed Trixie along with her trunk ready to get into the carriages and head to the great hall for the annual feast.
"About time, I'm so glad we're here. I've been waiting for this all summer."

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe grinned.
"Me too! Sometime this year, you and I have to sneak out with the Invisibility Cloak! We are going to master every passageway of this school!"
She winked mischieviously.

[Chloé O'Conner]

"You know that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Every passage way huh." She said thinking. "That could come in handy, can't wait." A small smirk appearing on her lips.

[Ruhe Caoimhe]

Ruhe heard the screech of the train brakes.
"WE'RE HERE!" She yelled and jumped up with everything in her arms, her cat clinging desperately to her shoulders.
She flung open the compartment door and came face-to-face with...


DRACO MALFOY!!!!!!!


(((muahahah wanted to do something outrageous!)))