Craven hated to admit it but today had been boring. With the school being open over the summer everyone was using the free time to visit Hogsmeade and explore the school. And so Craven hadn't been able to find a single person who knew all day. He didn't let it damper his mood though as he sat at the Slytherin table over supper.

With an exaggerated sigh he lent back on the bench slightly, the perfect picture of Slytherin arrogance epically dressed the way he was. With no school uniform to impose neatness he was dressed in a casual dark green shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark jeans. Despite his pureblood status he wouldn’t be caught dead in wizardingrobes unless he had to.

He pilled some more of the food onto his plate, his attention being drawn to the space across the table. Where someone had just dropped down in the seat. He looked up at the person raising his eyebrow in question.

April had spent the day in her room, doing what she never really did; staring at the wall and reading all day. Earlier, she had penned a letter to Tyler, which had been needed to be done weeks ago. He was probably getting worried that she had been eaten by some sort of magical creature. It had been quite a relaxing day, but now she was starving. In her business of doing nothing, April had skipped lunch, and had only eaten a minimal amount of food at breakfast.

Walking quickly, April passed by a few Slytherins on her way to the dinner table, where she knew there would be only a few spots left, since dinner was halfway over by now, and many people ate at this hour. She strode into the Great Hall amid shouts and loud talking, and headed straight for the first table; Slytherin. A few people waved and said hello, but there were no available seats near them. April sighed, making her way down to the end.

She chose a spot across from Craven, a boy she only knew from her classes, and had never really spoken to. She stood there awkwardly for a moment and then plopped onto the seat, grabbing a plate hungrily and piling it with chicken, potatoes and corn.

"Hello. Craven, right?" she asked, not wanting to seem stalkerish in knowing his name already. She bit into her chicken, which was amazing, and then looked back up at the Slytherin boy.

It took a moment for his mind to register who the girl was. But when she spoke his name it all clicked back into place. She was Rebecca's friend, the one that was late to CoMC. His eyes seemed confused for a slight moment as he though of her name, though they quickly snapped back to there arrogant exuding selves afterwards.

"Yeah, Craven Blackwood. And you're April right?. You're in my CoMC and Potions class." It was a statement rather than a question, though she was probably in more of his classes than that. With a grin on his lips he ate some of the mash potato that had been plied on his plate. Trying to think of a conversation topic, any company was better than no company.

"You okay then?"

April nodded to his answer, glad that she had remembered his name correctly. She had remembered him being in her CoCM class, as well as Potions. He was definately good friends with Rebecca, which was another reason the name rang a bell for her. She smirked into her fork as it entered her mouth, more corn on it's way.

"Yes, April Teagan. And I remember," she said, referring to the statement about classes. He seemed to ooze arrogance out of his pores, which made April smirk. That was such a Slytherin trait.

"I'm pretty well, thanks. How about yourself? You seem a little... bored."

He noticed the first smirk and he couldn’t help but wonder what it was about. Of course he wasn't into the whole mind reading magic thing she he didn't have a clue. In the end he chose to put it down as the typical Slytherin trademark. Heck it was something he did on a regular basis, in fact he went out of his way to make himself known as an arrogant pureblood, better that than a pureblood loner.

He nodded her head when she stated she remembered, glad he hadn't got the lessons wrong then he would have felt really stupid. He pushed another forkful of food around his plate before eating it. Then she said it, you seem a little bored. Without pausing to think he laughed, a deep rough sound,

"A Little, I’m going insane in this place. There’s nothing to do any everyone’s busy. Tell me honestly you had something interesting to do today?" He quirked and eyebrow in question, almost as if daring her to prove him wrong.

April laughed, liking Craven's attitude. He was laid back and sarcastic, and definately had the right amount of arrogance. Eating her potatoes, she contemplated that as he talked about how bored he was. April felt like she was in the same situation as him, and wasn't at all surprised that he challeneged her to tell him something interesting that she had done today.

"Nothing too interesting, to be honest," she admitted, swallowing a bite of chicken. "I wrote a letter, read a book, and stared at my walls," she saidm laughing. She seemed a little lame, she realized.

"So, I think we're all going to be having a bit of cabin fever after awhile. Being couped up all summer and such, with nothing much to do except be anxious over the tournament."

He watched her absently, though he wasn’t actually watching her eat since he knew that made people uncomfortable and although he was arrogant he was stupid enough to drive away his only company. He smirked proudly when she admitted that he hadn’t don’t anything of interest all day, glad to prove his assumption correct. Despite the school being interesting having no lessons meant a lot of free time.

With that infernal smirk still on his lips he raised a section of meat to his mouth, beef to be exact, on his fork. Chewing on it slowly though with impeccable manners. He was obviously well brought up despite the arrogant seating posture he seemed to take at the table. Once his mouth was emptied he continued to speak, the smirk not leaving his lips.

“I’m sure the walls found your stare flattering but next time I advise you choose a more live subject to stare at. It provides more amusement.” His tone was deep but flippant like he didn’t really have any real malice behind the words. His mind suddenly clicked onto something when she mentioned to tournament and he had the grace to lesson his smirk slightly as his own forgetfulness though not greatly.

“I should be flattered for you time, oh dear house champion. How goes the competition for the record?” his voice was sarcastic at first but genuinely interested by the end of his sentence...

April noticed Craven's mannerisms, which were interesting to say the least. Although very sarcastic and arrogant, he had outstanding manners and seemed to be very proper and formal. Most likely. he was brought up well, and in which came the arrogant manner of being the best. It was typically a Slytherin trait, one that apparently April didn't posess most of the time. She tended to become like Craven when in the prescence of her family, who considered it normal to act as such.

April sniggered before responding. "Something live to watch? I'm sorry Craven, I may be observant, but I'm not a stalker."

April cut another small peice of meat and chewed it slowly, eying him down and smiling after she chewed and swallowed. She took a swig of pumpkin juice before responding to his second comment, becoming more and more like him as time progressed. She could beat him at his own game, this she knew.

"Very funny, Slytherin commoner," she said, pretending to curtsy. "Ah, the competition fares well. The first challenge was won by... well, your sister, Fawne. I'm sure you know that. I tied for second with Aj, the Ravenclaw champion. We haven't found the results of the second task as of yet," she replied. She smirked at knowing that he was interested in her progress.

"As for yourself, who are rooting for? What comes first to you, blood, or your house?"

It was true; Craven had been brought up in a pureblood house and had gained his typically arrogant attitude not from being spoilt but because it wound his father up. He respected his father to some extent but every teenager rebelled and Craven was no exception. He laughed roughly at her reply to his suggestion, though whether his laugh was true or sarcastic was hard to figure out.

“Stalking is such a harsh word, I prefer observation work. Sounds more covert.” He flashed a grin, to show he was joking. He didn’t stalk anyone but he did go out of his way to seek out living company, the provided more amusement. He began to notice that she was gaining her own arrogant Slytherin traits; it seemed every Slytherin possessed them at some level. Surely she wasn’t challenging his behaviour? His mismatched eyes watched her with interest as she ate; no longer bothered by any discomfort he may cause her.

He laughed truly at her words and mock curtsy, obviously finding her company entertaining and her words humorous. In returned he mocked bowed to her. Though he sat up properly virtually straight after; just as she asked him who he was rooting for. He raised his eyebrow in mock thought as he paused before speaking.

“Of course I could not deny the Slytherin Queen and answer from my lowly commoner self….Oh and don’t expect me to repeat that, ever…Humm blood or house? A hard choice, Queen-y. Maybe I shall chose who i support when one of you wins? One of you will the tournament one of course. Preferably you, if she wins I wont here the end of it. After all I forced her to enter, never thought the damn girl would get chosen.” his tone though deep was amused and clearly sarcastic at points.

April wasn't surprised at all when Craven managed to find some sort of sarcastic comeback to her comment about stalking. It wouldn't be like him at all to ignore the direct statement she had made to him, and besides, he had to find some way to justify his words. April sighed, eating a potato, and studied Craven for a moment.

April laughed along with him at his next words, as he mocked her royality attitude towards him. He had a grin spread out across his face, arrogant as ever, and seemed to be enjoying himself as he creatively got into his part. He even bowed back. April laughed hard at that, almost spilling pumpkin juice down her robes.

"So, that's how she entered. You forced her! Of course, because the Fawne I knew wasn't likely to enter anything so competitive, so I must say I was surprised as well when she was chosen. Then again, she's turned out to be quite the opponent..."

April stalled as she carefully took another sup of juice, hoping not to spill any more this time,and looked straight up into Craven's eyes.

"And I must say, I'm hoping to win Craven, so perhaps your hopes will be fufilled as well as my own."

He smirked when she nearly split her pumpkin juice, it wasn’t that she had nearly embarrassed herself but more than he was smug. He had always prized himself on his humour and seeing it work always made him feel smug, now don’t get him wrong he wasn’t a comedian he was just snobbishly sarcastic. His eyes widen in mock offence at her words ‘forced her’ he made it sound like her made Fawne enter and the point of his wand. He hadn’t he’d just used some well placed words.

“I didn’t force her as such, just coerced her. What are brothers for after all? As for her being a competitor, well Queeny she was brought in the same household as me, maybe she’s not as delicate as people assume.” He winked her leaving it to speculation as whether his words were teasing or true. To be truthful he knew very little about Fawne’s strengths; magic was not something they discussed.

He met her gaze easily when she trained her eyes on his. Though his mismatched eyes were often seen as unnerving, one being green and the other brown, he never had any trouble meeting other peoples gazes. After all for a long time both his eyes were the same colour, mishaps with spells could often leave permanent damage.

“Well then best of luck to you, and my poor peasant help is here for the Slytherin Queen if she so needs it. Of course I wont stoop as low to harm my relative but the other competitors I’m good with.”

April found Craven's humor and arrogant behavior to make for very good company, which is why she had decided to eat another plate of food, that and, well, she was still hungry. Looking around the table, she went for some more chicken and began eating while Craven spoke, quietly wishing that dessert would come out quite soon, since she was growing bored with regular food.

When Craven's eyes matched her own, she got lost in them for a moment because they were quite a curious sight. One seemed to be a green color, while the other was a light brown. April was interested and lost for a moment, and then shook her head violently to snap out of it. Craven seemed to understand her reaction, as if he often had this reaction in people, and April was sure he often did.

"Well, I don't assume that your sister is delicate, per se, just has a much more gentle nature than say, yourself, or I. As for your help, I'm a bit too stubborn to stoop that low, thank you," she replied, grinning in his direction with a glint in her eyes.

"How did your eyes get that like? I figure that you saw me staring."

He grinned when she piled more food onto her plate, it bugged him no end when people just picked at a small amount of food. Fawne drove him insane with it. With the smirking grin still on his face he went on to follow the same path as her, piling more food onto his plate. Mostly mash potatoes and chicken, he wasn’t really a vegetable kind of guy.

He laughed at her words, not at all bothered by the way she held his gaze, It was something he often expected after all people were too curious. His thoughts were alliterated when she asked him how; this was slightly rarer, most people just guessed how. His look nor voice however lost its arrogant charm as he spoke, he might not have been bothered but he certainly wasn’t going to stop being sarcastic just because of a little staring contest.

“Most people are probably gentler than you; you seem a bit of the feisty type Queeny. As for me, well I’m arrogant enough to be rough. She just packs a mean charm.” He paused just slightly, deliberating how much of the truth he would give April. His voice was still arrogant when he spoke, despite the nature of the topic.

“Hazard of being a pureblood, living around spells leads to accidents, just a misplaced spell really. The eye colour just wouldn’t change back.”

He glossed over the truth slightly with a tone of arrogance, it didn’t matter who cast the spell or why, that was his history and he preferred to keep it mostly private. After all he liked retaining some sense of mystery, it kept him amused…

Watching him curiously, April ate slowly, and watched him pile his plate with similar amounts of edibles, looking down at them before eating like herself. She smirked, more at her fork than anything, and ate another moutful while he spoke. Craven seemed to, no matter what, hold her interest in the way that his words always managed to be sarcastic and arrogant. She had a feeling that he did this on purpose, as if he was afraid to show the softer side of him.

April chewed and swallowed, smiling at his comments. Inside of her, her pride swelled at the word Queeny, although she knew sarcasm well enough to know that Craven was using it quite effectively. Putting her fork down for a moment, she looked back up at him curiously.

"Really? A spell, misplaced? Well, I rather thought you were quicker with a wand than that. Perhaps, I was wrong, then..." she commented, winking at him and smirking. A strike to hia pride was most likely what he had been avoiding.

"Even so, a very interesting effect. I enjoy the green better on you, though. Which is the natural color?"

He watched her smile and couldn’t help but think they’d turn out friends, their humour worked well together and they were both very proud of their house. Of course he wouldn’t ever admit this out loud, but contrary to popular belief he did had a soft side, buried under layers and layers of sarcasm.

He sniggered when she hit his pride, a low blow for any Slytherin to receive. Though he took it in jest rather than anger. He placed a hand over his heart in mock pain, his eyes flashing with amusement; he dropped the act shortly after however, he could only be so dramatic after all.

“Ouch, next time I’ll take the kick. But for the record I wasn’t old enough to own a wand. My eyes have been this was since I was eight.” He winked at her in return to her compliment, coming across as the picture of pride and arrogance. “You actually give out compliments, wow your highness I’m impressed. And they were green, both of them. It’s a family trait.”

April rather thought that Craven's actions were more than humorous at times, even bordering on hilarious. In her own opinion, he was a very witty and interesting person, worthy of her attention and freindship. There was no doubt in April's mind that they would forge some sort of a friendship bond, if they found the time to talk more often. As for now, she was enthralled by his presence, and didn't plan on getting up any time soon.

Picking at her food, she nodded in his general direction, smirking at his mockery. When he commented on her complimentary actions, she couldn't help but flash him the rare smile. April may be from Slytherin, but she had good manners, and tended to be nice to those who she felt were deserving. This showed most often before she was completely comfortable with someone, but with Craven she had felt she had skipped that aspect of her personality, and had to double up to touch up on it.

"Well, yes, I do tend to be nice sometimes. Catch me off guard though and..." she replied, then mocking casting a spell on him, chuckling.

"I must ask a question though, if it isn't a problem to you?"

He watched her smile and realised than it wasn’t the famed Slytherin smirk they all seemed to know. It was a change and he realised they were crossing the boundary form house mates to friends. He didn’t tend to have many friends within his own house, they clashed too much. But April was turning out to be really good company, he’d piled his plate with seconds after all and he was still talking to her, baring more of his secrets than he usually would.

He mocked being hit by a spell, when she mock casted it, he lent back slightly and threw his arms out, what spell he was mock hit bye could have been anything but the gesture was obvious. Within moments he’d righted himself, though he was sat slightly less arrogantly than before, more comfortably perhaps? After the little acting scene he realised her question caused a little shock, he was curious what she could want to ask him and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her words, the smirk more of a smile now, though not knowingly.

“Course you can Queeny, ask away… though I reserve the right not to answer.” He winked to show his last statement was a joke, though the movement as small and could have gone unnoticed.

Craven's actions by going along with her mock wand movements were humorous, and April definately was feeling more hersefl around him than she had really felt around anyone in the castle in a long time. Not since metting Robyn had she felt like she truly connected with someone in a totally friendly way. Yes, April knew many people, and had many casual friends, but when it came to boys, she happened to be too much of a flirt. With Craven, however, that side of her did not shine through.

While pondering why this may be, she also had to think of how tp phrase the question she wished to ask. It was a bit personal on her part, but then again, April was a nosy and overly curious person. Often, she became insensitive to the feelings of others. But surely Craven wouldn't object to spilling a bit of his family's lineage, which is all April cared to ask of him.

"I was wondering how you and Fawne are related. You said she is your sister, yet I feel there is something more... complicated in that statement. You are both terribly different, which makes me think this as well... Sorry if I'm completely wrong or being too intrusive, I tend to be forward..."

Craven was pleased with the way the conversation had gone so far, he was sure they would become friends. Her humour matched with his and despite the fact he normally flirted with every female there was something about April than had convinced him not to even bother, in fact he had been much happier just teasing her like a normal friend. But then when he thought about it he didn’t really flirt with anyone in his own house, most of them reminded him of a relative too much. That was the problem of sorting people by personalities although they were all different some were very familiar.

He was drawn quickly form his thoughts when April spoke, he’d always been one to pay rapt attention to whoever he was talking to; it was a subconscious sign of respect. Of course you abused his respect and he tended to ignore the very fact you breath. He watched her speak curiously, his eyebrow raised automatically in question as she seemed to have pondered this question. He couldn’t help however but to laugh in response, his careful curious expression ruined with the grin was on his lips, his voice was humorous when he spoke, obviously not bothered by the question.

“Haven’t you ever noticed she’s Fawne Sugarmoon not Blackwood?” he laughed again, though not in malice. “No I suppose not, she’s not related by blood. Though I will state we’re both pure bloods.” The last sentence was added in a rush like defending his sister, she was a pureblood but a blood traitor. It made her slightly unpopular within his house. He continued his explanation without pause. “Her father died when she was younger, so did my mother. Since our remaining parents were then both widows they were free to remarry and they did, to each other. And so I have a sister, and a younger brother, though he is blood related. Not that exciting really.” He winked at her, almost as if saying that’s the only explanation your getting, though in truth there was only slight detail missing. The explanative serious nature vanished with the wink and he seemed mischievous once more.

“You know Queeny I would have though you knew this, most people are so nosey about pureblood families. Provides lots of gossip for those higher up, what about you? Any dents in your royal linage?”