It's a bittersweet ending [A. Larsen]

[nathanielhaake]

You've got her in your pocket
And there's no way out now
Put it in the safe and lock it
'cause it's at home sweet home

It's been a week since Nathaniel's past caught up with him. The troubles it cost him were great. But since he's had some time alone, he thought all that was possible. Perhaps he needed his time alone. A week without seeing Alessa and Xiomara to make his mind see clearly. And even though he still hurt from the position he was put in, as well as the position the two were in, he couldn't stand staying in his dorm.

He slipped on a black hoodie over his gray t-shirt and left the Slytherin common room to head elsewhere. Not sure of where he could go, he needed some place that was dark and unnoticable to anyone who followed. Thus, he headed down the corridors and the ground floor where the entrance to the dungeon welcomed him and engulfed him in its shadows.

Here it was cold and dry at the same time. The smells of mold and ancient corridors lay before him. At least he could find some kind of comfort here. Even if it's far from anyone else's comfort. Avoiding the public eye is what he needed. Nathaniel didn't want to be seen nor heard for the next few days. It was just his time to think things through more clearly.

But hasn't he thought enough? He knew his heart longed for Alessa and Xiomara, but could he give up on Xiomara? And what of Alessa? Shaking his head of these thoughts, this was his time to rest, his time to just think of himself. He needed to think what is best for Nathaniel. Afterall, he's gone through a lot these past few terms and he needed to plan carefully of his future.

His foot falls became quieter as he further explored the dungeons. The light behind him soon diminished and all he had was his wand to show him the way. Bringing it out from the depths of his jean pocket, he muttered a simple lumos spell to light his way ahead. The walls were covered in moss and the ground had dirty crevices from long worn centuries.

Nathaniel still could find some comfort in this dark solitude. All that it offered was silence and he wanted that. Further ahead, he stopped at the turn to another corridor, leaning his shoulder against the wall. Where to go? Where would he end up? He wasn't lost because it was impossible to get lost in this labyrinth when all roads diverge into one another eventually that would lead back to the entrance. So what to do?

[amandalarsen]

Amanda had been so busy in her own world that she really hasn't had the time to talk to both Alessa and Nathaniel. She's seen Nathaniel in class, but they haven't really spoken a word to each other. And the same with Alessa in some classes they were combined together. But since that one day in the owlery, the two have been so distant with each other, including Amanda.

So, she was in the Great Hall, having a wee bit of a snack of course. Scrumptious apples and caramel and pumpkin juice. You can tell it was that time of the month when the foods got better and sweeter. October was right around the corner and that meant it was Halloween month! Yippee! After finishing up her apple and disposing it aside with her empty goblet, she wiped the sides of her mouth and headed out fo the Great Hall.

It was when she came to the entrance way that she saw Nathaniel head down the dungeons. "Sneaky git." She muttered under her breath as she followed behind him, also engulfed in it's darkness. But as his the light of his wand emitted from the tip, she had to think quick. Taking her own wand out, she placed the Dillusio charm upon herself quietly so that she could blend in with her surroundings.

Watching as he kept walking further down the dungeons, she wondered what he was trying to find down here. But it seemed like he was having some sort of fight within himself. She could see that he was becoming more isolated, quieter, and invisible among the school. What were his reasons? What happened in the owlery and since then?

Finally he came to a stop at the corner, leaning against the wall. Why stop? Why not continue? Amanda took the Dillusio spell off of her and approached him quietly. "Hullo Nathaniel." She said softly as her hand gripped his shoulder firmly. "It's Amanda, don't worry." Her lips curve up into a smile. "What brings you down here?" Taking a step aside and then another to face him, she could see the look on his face. Something was wrong and her intuition was right. "What's wrong?"

[nathanielhaake]

It was that sort of feeling that you were being followed that bothered Nathaniel beforehand. The air wasn't as stale and the presence of another warm body neared him. However, he looked over his shoulder and no one would be there. Funny, maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. Luckily he had his wand out for protection. Just in case if anyone were to jump out at him.

His fingers pressed against the cold wet stone walls, feeling the slime that has formed over years, under his nails. It was a gross feeling, but once upon a time, Slytherins did dwell down here since their common rooms used to be located down here before the great war against Voldemort. Nathaniel inhaled deeply and exhaled the ancient air of what was in these dungeons beneath the school.

And when he thought things were just peaceful enough, he felt someone grip his shoulder. Immediately he turned around and pointed his wand directly at the person's face, almost muttering a hex on them. That is until Amanda spoke. He withdrew his wand, ashamed that he almost hexed his best friend. "S-s-sorry Amanda." He stuttered nervously.

"Oh nothing," he replied quickly to her question, hoping she wouldn't find anything wrong with him. But that few steps she took to look at him straight in the face was all she needed to read the worries plastered across his face. Nathaniel sighed outwardly and groaned. "Everything Amanda. Everything is wrong and I just don't know how to fix things. My life is a total disaster, but I doubt you want to listen about it."

[amandalarsen]

Amanda expected the gesture from Nathaniel as he drew his wand at her. She only backed up one step before he realized it was her. A faint smile appeared on her pale face as he lowered his wand. "It's alright Nathaniel." She was going to be lenient on him because it looked like he was having more of a hard time than she was. And it worried her.

She knew that she had to trust her first instincts. Also, Nathaniel wasn't very good at hiding his problems from Amanda. She knew him too well to read the look on his face that he was constantly fighting something from within. And finally the breaking point came when he mentioned that everything was wrong. All she could do, though, is just listen.

Not sure what had happened since the owlery, maybe things with him and Alessa turned for the worse? No, they couldn't have. It was rare that Nathaniel was ever mad at her. But she noticed on several accounts how Alessa had something more for Nathaniel than he could ever notice. And Nathaniel was more wrapped up in his own world, quidditch and Slytherin friends.

But what is it that finally drug Nathaniel down to the dungeons? He was so distant to Amanda since then and now it just seems that something was tearing him apart. "I won't leave until you tell me what's all bottled up inside you Nathaniel. I mean, I could help. You know I will." She tried to smile as she gripped his shoulder firmly. "I'm here for you. Just tell me what's happened. Oh, and don't think for one second that I'd turn away from you. I always listen to you."