Flame was in the astronomy tower, long black hair falling across pale skin, giving her a haunting look. Eyes burned with hared- for herself, for her family, for those she had called friends. Nothing seemed right anymore. Her mind scorned everything that made her who she was. The orange sash of the family lay in her left hand, her wand in the other. She blamed the sash for everything- she sash was her enemy. Biting her lip to hold back the tears she could feel in her eyes she muttered the incantation and orange sash went up in flames. She dropped it and slouched against the wall, staring at the fire at her feet, mesmerised by the flames.

She knew if she was found out she'd be in trouble, but she could take that trouble, nothing could feel as bad as she had before she'd burnt the sash and now she felt as if she was released. She wasn't of course, but she felt better for it. The only question was would she be found and if she was, who by?

Finn had been coming up to the Astronomy tower every day to write in his journal. His brother was ignoring him, his mom was having another baby, and he had school to deal with. His life was stressful for him. His mother told him that he should start keeping a journal, so that's what he did.

Nearly every time he went the the tower, it was empty. He was surprised to find someone there. It was Flame, looking at a flame. He wondered why she was lighting fires... He went up the marble steps and sat down next to her. "What are you doing?" He asked, "Why would you try to start up here on fire? Marble doesn't burn that easily..."

Flame stared at the small fire and as each second passed she felt further released from the family's grasp. She wasn't free from them, of course, but she felt it. She was happy, glad to be away from others who were in the family, to be able to breathe and think and feel as she liked. She wasn't being controlled here, manipulated, or any such thing. Freedom, how good it felt.

Footsteps jerked her from daydreams of freedom and happiness, where nothing was plaguing her mind and she gazed around at the sound of a voice to see Finn. Heart fell from her throat back to her chest, relieved it was not someone more official.

"I am burning it." she breathed, almost silent. "The sash. Not the school. This is the end. I will not be controlled." she told him.

Finn looked at her, perplexed and said jokingly, "Didn't you tell me a few months ago, in this very room that resisting the family was stupid?" Finn laughed. "Not to decide is to decide." Finn said. He openly stated that he believed the whole conflict to be stupid. "That isn't going to fix anything," he said, "you will have another sash before the day is over... I would start fabricating a good story... Might I suggest one where your sash is stolen by pirates?" Finn said sarcastically.

Flame shook her head. "You don't understand... I can't do it anymore." Flame didn't really trust Finn though and so she said no more on that subject. Eyes fell on the flames once more. "I won't accept another one and I'll tell them the truth- I burned the stupid thing." She didn't know if this was true or not within the depths of her mind- would she admit to all when faced with the wrath of Sentinus? She doubted it, she'd probably break.

Finn smiled. "What ever you say..." He was surprised that she showed courage, despite it being false. "Why the sudden turnaround with the family?" He asked. Most of the Family had been so brainwashed that they didn't have their own original thoughts, much less thoughts of leaving the party.

She shrugged at him question, staring past him. Could she trust him? Would he run to his newfound love, Scone? She didn't know the answer but he was her own house, was he not? Something urged her to spill everything that had happened and the second the thought even crossed her mind the words were on her tongue.

"I met an old... enemy. He reminded me of who I am- what I was before the family." she paused. "He added a whole new dimension to me. I need to prove myself now- break away from the mess I am in."

Finn smiled. "You are quite the flip flopper aren't you?" Finn asked, "You are always looking out for number one Flame Lestrange... I know what you are..." He paused, "Spineless." He half expected to get smacked in the face. He wasn't afraid of her though. He didn't think she was brave. He knew she was the opposite. A coward.

Flame shrugged, in no mood to argue and telling herself that it took the bigger person not to retort. She stared at the flames again. "Do you know something? You're probably right. But that's not it. He knew something I didn't. He knew who my father was. He told me who it was, made me promise not to breathe a word."

"I don't know my father." Finn said frankly. He wasn't going to spill the beans about Milo to her yet, "I don't care to. He left my mother on her own to raise me. My mother was lucky to find Robert. He's my real dad, even if he isn't my birth father..."

Flame smiled. "You're lucky. You have someone who cares." she said simply. "I live with my cousins, and they only have me because they have to." sighing, Flame realised that she'd never really spoke to Finn civilly before.

Finn's face softened. "I'm sorry." He said, he never realized that she had her own demons, rather than the ones he poked fun at. He was lucky and he knew that. Everything could have been worse. It could always be worse...

Flame shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Not many people know that, it's not something I advertise." a sigh escaped her, and once again she stared at the flames. "So, what are you doing here?" she asked him.

Finn smiled, a thick leather bound book in his hand. "I was hoping to write in my journal until it got dark enough to see the stars... I have a midterm in astronomy in a few days... Plus, nobody's ever up here..." He paused, he often said too much, rather than answering someone's question. "Why are you up here... I mean other than you burning your stash and whatever..."

Flame nodded at the book and smiled. I just thought I'd get away from everything. I needed time to think. Noone comes up here, as you said." she sighed. "Good luck in your exam. You ought to do well."

"I hope so," Finn said, "I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do." He opened his journal and began to write.

Flame didn't seem to react much to his words. "Thanks." she said, turning to walk out. "If you ever need to talk, I won't hurt you. I'm not what I used to be." she told him.