Flame sat under a tree near the lake. It was around midday, and the sun was shining brightly on the grounds. That was why she had chosen to sit under the tree for her skin was easily burnt. Little did she know that this was the very tree a small group of Gryffindor boys had sat beneath many years ago- a seeker, a werewolf and their two friends- all but the werewolf amangi. Had she known she'd have picked a different tree.

Flame was there for a reason. She needed to talk to Craven and Fawne for it was almost time for her first meeting with the Grand since they had last met- she had a lot of interesting information of her own but she needed their's as well.

Sigh escaped her as she glanced around, knowing that she should be eating her lunch at that time but she shook the thought, adjusting her sash which she wore over her robes and then once again lying back.

Craven was first to appear this time. He himself had not seem much of the scone professor since he had been ill for his class. But Craven had been doing what he does best and been listing to any gossip he could hear about the man. He just hoped it was enough to avoid punishment, he hadn't on purposefully avoided scone, but he had yet to clash with him. He would have attended the dueling club had he known it was he who run it.

Fawne had informed them of their meeting and he intended to be on time. He was surprised however when he realised he was there before Fawne. A very unusual occurrence.

"Hello Flame..."

He plopped down at the side of the Slytherin girl before looking around for Fawne. He wanted to start this meeting.



Fawne wasn't quite late yet but she knew she would be the last there. She had stopped by the hall to grab and apple since she had missed breakfast. She was now walking wistfully towards the meeting point whilst occasionally taking a bit from the green apple.

It didn't take long for Fawne to spot Flame and Craven and she almost didn't want to interrupt since it looked quite sweet to see them sitting under the tree. But then she remembered why she was here and that neither Flame nor her brother did 'sweet' and she carried on walking towards them. She stopped when she was only a few spaces from there seated forms and her sing song voice rang out in greeting.

"Hello again."

She dropped her bag to the base of the tree and vanished the apple core with her wand. She looked at the pair sat on the ground and smiled before heading to the trunk of the tree and scaling its heights till she was sat, well laid much like a cheetah, on the lowest branch of said tree.

Craven was the first to arrive, which Flame had to admit shocked her slightly. Infact, she was so shocked, she had to look twice to ensure it was him at all. By that time, he was sat next to her and Flame nodded in greeting. "Hello, Craven. How are you?" she decided she'd be polite during this meeting, as she had called it.

It wasn't too much later when fawne arrived and Flame looked hungrily at the green apple clenched in her fist. She smiled at Fawne, who she was now quite close with. "Hello, Fawne. Glad to see your stomach is more important than this." she joked.

She glanced around, aware that they could be overheard and so had to be secretive. "So, as you probably know, I've got a report to give and I am going to need any information you have."

Fawne was still sat on the tree branch when Flame mentioned her stomach being more important she giggled at the comment. Now knowing it was not malicious. Fawne noticed Flame become more secretive and so she slid from the tree trunk to land knelt down at the side of Flame. It was after all only a small drop from the lowest branch. And the one think Fawne knew she possessed lots of was balance.

She quickly switched to a position where her legs were sat under her, since she was after all wearing a skirt. Before motioned to her bag at the other side of Craven with her hand. Her wistful voice broke the silence that followed Flame's question.

"I have some apples in my bag if you would like one..."She paused to blink before speaking again "Much of what i have learnt you witnessed. He seemed rather against you and I. And i do not believe it was because we are late...He likes to play games. I believe he is hiding something, why else would one play so many games?"

She noted that she really had nothing else to tell, she had tried to spot the professor alone but some students rather seemed to like him and it was a hard task.



Craven watched his sister act like some form of animal by scaling the tree and jumping down form its heights. Her grabbed three more apples from her bag, when she motioned there was more inside. He tossed a green one to Fawne which landed neatly in her lap. Before offering a red one to Flame and taking a bite of a red one himself. He chewed the apple thoughtfully whilst listing to Fawne before speaking of his own observations. Her lowered his voice a few tones before speaking.

"I haven't been able to interact with the Professor yet..." He bit the apple once more and ate it before continuing.

"Though i have heard he is rather popular amongst students. He's young and relates to them, but i don't see to many of the sash anywhere near him." He paused knowing his next piece of information to be useless.

"I heard he supports to Wasps."He shrugged at that information before looking at Flame. "That's all I've really been able to find out"

Flame took the apple from Craven and bit into it. "Good to see you thinking ahead." she laughed. It was true that Flame was in a good mood, a very good mood in fact. Why? She wasn't sure. All that she knew was that, for once, she was happy.

"I'm with you on that one, Fawne, he's definitely hiding something. It isn't just me and you he is against Fawne, it's just that we're the family members he has access to. I think that he's out to turn us against our own cause." A frown had now set 'pon her features as she asked herself just what is was Scone was trying to do.

"The fact he's young does seem to be making him popular with students. It's annoying, really, for we need to get in that inner circle to be in with a chance of knowing anything." Then a smile cracked open again.

"Craven. he doesn't know you're of the family yet. Don't wear your sash and try to get close to him. You never know, information may be easier to come by that way."

Fawne look thoughtful and yet puzzled at Flames words. All he had done to herself personally was kicking her bag from the room but strangely enough he had fixed it after. Though she wasn't sure if that was because he felt guilty or if he was just doing it by popular demand. Although Fawne liked to see the best in people she lent towards the latter.

She grabbed the apple from her lap and twirled the apple around in the palm of her hand. Almost like a toy. Although full of manners she couldn't help but fiddle with anything round.

"He has not tried to turn me against the cause, yet. At worst i think he believed me ditsy... What did he say to you? "

She looked sideways at her brother. She was wasn't worried about what his been asked to do. But she knew it meant she wouldn't be able to see him much whilst Scone was around. Although related not many had guessed so because of their last name.

"Flame is right Craven."



Craven took another bite of his apple and almost spat it out at Flame's proposal. Not out of shock, no he just couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it himself. He chewed down the apple quickly, just as Fawne tol him Flame was right. Well he knew that already.

"I agree, though i will have to keep a fair distance form the pair of you, he knows your alliances... No public outings for a while, not overly friendly ones anyway..."

Flame looked at Fawne and tilted her head before laughing. "He tried to turn me against our cause in his own way; kept trying to make me feel guilty and stuff. Asked me how I'd feel if I was tortured for something that wasn't my fault." she shrugged. "It didn't work, though."

"It is true you will have to keep your distance. Our meeting wills have to be secret. Perhaps the room of requirement?"

It might not of worked on Flame but the thought hit Fawne rather sharply, dragging it from the back of her mind to the front. She had sen the 'rewards' of the family, who's to say they wouldn't capture people and hurt them. Possibly even innocent people. She blinked and cleared her mind, this was not the time to think like that. She had made her bed and she would lie in it.

"the room or requirement might be a bit obvious, i think its a wonderful idea"

As strange as the sentence sounded it made some sense; what normal person looks in the obvious places first. It was logic they always find what they want in the place they look last.



Craven looked at the girls, he couldn't see either of them abandoning the cause. And the torturing problem hadn't even dented his incredibly thick skill. Craven's main problem was the fact he was exposed to theories like this as a child and for obvious reason they didn't bother him.

"Alright I'll do it. Though i assume I'll have to play nicely? And not mention either of you or the family."

Flame smiled at Fawne, who she could see was suffering a similar thought path to what she had. But she still stood by her cause proudly, did not move away from it. "The room of requirement it is then." she said before Craven even spoke, knowing that their time here was coming to a close. "Play nicely, yes." she smirked. "And no, if you mention us or the family you are against it."

Craven smirked, this was right up his street. He might of been a bit of a loner sometimes but that was because he twisted things to his purpose's and not many liked that.

"Great a chance to complain about you to and you can't get mad..."

He continued to grin as he took another bite of his apple. Laying back against the bark of the tree.



Fawne scowled visibly at the boy she called brother before adopting her dreamy look one more. With one swift and almost hidden movement hr apple core was flung directly towards his head, and it hit with a small impact. She didn't smile nor gloat; in fact she had the look of perfect innocence and she didn't intend to incriminate herself. Fawne wasn't exactly playful by nature but she was randomly odd.

"When shall we meet again?..."

Flame gave Craven a look that, if looks could kill, would bring a brutal death. "Don't be too nasty, you never know- it might just find it's way to my ears." she warned him. Any idiocity from his side could be the cause of a huge duel between the two- and Flame wasn't a soft hand when it came to dueling; in her way, of course.

"We will meet in a weeks time, of course, for that is when my next report will be due."

Craven scowled as the apple core hit him, he knew damn well it was Fawne who had threw it but she also knew she would never admit it. Her raised his hands in mock defence when Flame cautioned him.

"Can't take a joke can we? Fine i'll just treat you like everyone else from now on, only in the public eye of course." He nodded his head and plastered his normal neutral expression before rising to his feet.

"Ladies..." He nodded his head once in a mock cold goodbye before turning and heading off back towards the castle...



Fawne just blinked and waved a little good bye before turning her attention to flame. Her mind seemed else where when she spoke. Which it was, she had a stray cat, er snack to find.

"In a week it is...Shall i leave now also? I am sure you have things you would like to attend to. "

She watched after her brothers figure for a moment before rising from her own seat, though she did not turn to leave. She merely stared out upon the lake for a moment.

"I do sometimes wonder how we get along..." She was in fact referring to her brothers attitude but that was a little unclear. She smiled and turned back to Flame.

"Is it time for me to say farewell?"