guess who's back (open)

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Darkness.

Things had been going well for Cori, up until a week ago.

She had found her birth father, which was a very strange sensation. He was serious, kind, and senor undersecretary to the minister of magic. It was intimidating, sure, but it was kind of nice to know she was part of something important, in a way. She stayed at the orphanage, but she met with him often and slowly they got to know one another.

On the down side, her best friend had transferred to an American school over the winter break. Still, they were able to keep in touch through letters and things of the like. Maryn was very supportive of Cori taking it slow with her dad, but encouraged her to give him a chance.

Cori finally decided to visit her father's home a week ago over the weekend. Horribly, that was the night he was attacked.

In a blur her and Myron were whisked to Saint Mungos, separated and sedated as they were fixed up. Cori finally was able to open her eyes... And saw nothing.

It took the healers a short amount of time to explain that she was blind. They explained how she have to rely on others for a while, maybe forever. This was Cori the girl most known for her lack of making physical contact with anyone. With her ice cold skin, touching people had been out of the question. Now she had no choice.

She stayed in the hospital for a week, refusing to speak to anyone, pushing the healers away. Finally, her father came in, convincing her to go back to school.

So, here she was now. Standing in the entrance hall, her hand wrapped around a long stick, her knuckles white. Someone was supposed to fetch her, but she considered making a run for it. Maybe she'd just pretend nothing was wrong. Maybe she could fake it.

Now, which way was her common room?

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Cori heard a sound, or at least she thought she did. Someone was coming closer to her. Her entire body tensed up, and her free hand clasped her wand tightly in her robes. She knew what horrible things had been happening at the school. And she was a half blood, wasn't she? Heck, she grew up in muggle foster homes for a little while, sot there was the strong rumor that she was a muggle born. She didn't even know until recently who her father was. She could easily be on the target list.

Better dead than blind. She pushed the dark thought aside just as someone began to speak.

"Alucard... Slytherin, right?" she said, her tone skeptical. She remembered this one, vaguely. Simply through classes and things of the like. She nearly told him that she was fine and didn't need help at all... but to be honest, this was kind of the skapegoat she was looking for. She was almost too embarrassed to face a professor right now, and she didn't want to bother with any prefects.

Uncharacteristically, she reached her gloved hand out slowly, "Alucard. Pleasure. I would... do you you know the way to the Ravenclaw tower?" she asked, biting her lip a little at the end of the sentence, clearly full of insecurity. Her stomach was in knots and yet, that voice of his was soothing, trustworthy even.

@alucard

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He was almost in her house. Well then, it didn't really matter. She wouldn't have known him much better either way. Still, it was nice to know she had something in common with this person who she was about to trust her life with. She was still surprised when his hand touched hers for that gentle handshake, but she was pleased with the tenderness in it. He could probably sense in un-comfortableness with it all. As his hand stayed on hers, she didn't pull back. She felt her body tense up and willed it to stop doing that. She had to rely on people now. That's what the healers and her doctors told her.

"You- you can guide me by hand," she said. It was strange, but she almost didn't feel like this was as weird as it should be. There was something in his voice. Something smooth... comforting, even. "You can call me Cori, if you want. Anythings fine," she said. To be honest, she felt a strange little sensation in her stomach as he called her 'Miss Coriander. It was... different.

As he asked what brought her back to Hogwarts, Cori almost scowled. She relaxed her face, though, trying to look indifferent. "My father insisted that I come back. Even though I've missed a lot, he still thinks it is important for me to... I don't know, show that I'm willing to work through this or something," her voice almost turned into a growl at that. She didn't know what she wanted, but being back here didn't seem ideal.

@alucard

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She followed his lead as he spoke, her heart fluttering nervously at trusting somehow so fully. With her life, basically. Still, he was moving slowly enough that she felt comfortable, which was good.  She listened as he replied to her explanation. It was strange how much more she had gotten out of conversations since she couldn't see. Just listening to the words and not seeing facial expressions to sway her opinion in what they really meant. Tone was still there, sure, but it wasn't as important as the words.

"Your... father can't complete his thoughts?" that didn't sound good, and it also sounded extremely personal. "Sorry, I mean I can see what you mean. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself after this," she explained, trying to relate to the comments. Truly she really had no idea. At first she thought she was going to work at the orphanage, but now she wasn't sure she'd be much good there.

As he spoke again, in a sort of verse this time, she listened with a raised eyebrow. Then he slipped back into modern day speak and it was almost as if the little poetry didn't even happen. It was strange, but incredibly intriguing to the little Ravenclaw. "I'd love the help," she said, her tone almost exasperated. The staircases were bad enough when you could see. She instinctively tightened her grip on his arm at the sound of the stairs, stopping in her tracks. "So, that better than Hogwarts world, can that start now?" she said, her fear of the stairs catching in her throat.

@alucard 

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His father didn't think anymore? That sounded much more complicated than she wanted to get into, but she waited to let him explain. So, his father was dead and Alucard had no problem with it. He seemed amused by it, even. But at least it sounded like he didn't really approve of his fathers actions... sort of. It was hard to tell without being able to see facial expressions in any regard. As he paused on the step, Cori felt a small rush of relief. He knew she was nervous about it, and wasn't going to be cruel. That was... nice. She let him take her arm, biting her lip in nervousness for a moment.

At the mention of Desirae, Cori felt herself tense a little. She barely knew the girl... but she had always been nice to her, even if it was in a sickeningly sweet fashion. Apparently, however, Desi and Alucard were friends. That made Cori feel strange. Better, but somehow worse. She decided to push those conflicting feelings aside and think logically. Help was logical. "Okay, that sounds like a good idea, she nodded slowly, registering the idea.

She moved with him as he took a step up, her confidence still low. "They are poorly designed, aren't they?" she muttered at his comment. At his promise, she said nothing but she felt a little flutter of gratitude in her stomach. "My vacation?" she was briefly confused for a moment, considering it didn't really feel like a vacation... but she knew what he meant. "It was uneventful, until the end. Well, I took my recently discovered father's last name," that was kind of a big deal, supposedly. It was for Cori, as was spending the holiday at her father's home.

@alucard