Sundown - OPEN

[Irina Rose Krum]

It was the time of day when the sun began to dip below the mountains, casting a pinkish orange glow over the mountains surrounding the castle. Rina burst through the oak front doors, purposefully marching towards the black lake. It was only Tuesday, but between the NEWT level homework she’d received and yet another owl from her mother “innocently” asking whether or not she had talked her way onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Rina had had enough. One would think that after six years of excuses her mother would get the picture, but no; she was as stubborn as Rina was in the issue.

Stopping by the large tree overhanging the lake, Rina dropped her bag by the base and quickly tied her long back hair into a braid. She shrugged off her Hogwarts robes, not wanting to get them torn on one of the branches above. She found her footing in a deeper knoll and began to hoist herself up. She stumbled only twice, but quickly regained her footing. Yeas of climbing trees and mountains in Bulgaria had given Rina good balance as well as the desire to seek solace from high above. Tentatively moving towards the branches that hung over the lake, she peered out from the leaves and saw the sun slowly moving to hide behind the mountains. She looked around and inhaled deeply; the woodsy smell was like heaven to her and her troubles began to leave.

A snap of a twig below brought Rina out of her reverie; she quickly regained her footing before she fell and tried to peer down into the quickly darkening shadows. “Who’s there?” she called, pulling out her wand. “Lumos,” she muttered and the tip ignited. She held it in front of her, hoping the light would illuminate the mysterious person below.

[Deleted]

Rose was just headed up the stairs of the entrance hall, very few people still around. It had been a late supper for Rose, having spent the majority of the evening studying for upcoming exams. That was when she heard the front doors open and saw what looked to be a Gryffindor heading out of them. Rose's eyes widened. How could someone be so foolish as to go off onto the grounds by themselves during these times? Rose hesitated at the top of the stairs. She could continue on up to her Common Room, or follow the Gryffindor to make sure they did not run into any trouble. It was getting dark out... The Ravenclaw bit her lip and cursed to herself as she then began to descend the stairs after the reckless Gryffindor.

The Gryffindor in question was ahead of her, heading for the lake. The spring evening was cool and the sun was beginning to disappear behind the mountains. Rose would be lying if she said she didn't feel a slight twinge of fear being out here without a large group of people. Who knew who was lurking behind the shadows... Rose thanked Merlin it wasn't completely dark yet. By the time Rose had reached where she saw the Gryffindor stop, she looked around. It was as if she had disappeared! Then she heard a branch creak from above. She looked up, seeing that same Gryffindor climbing the tree. With a frustrated sigh, Rose followed once again. Boy, was she going to give this Gryffindor an ear full!

Rose began to slowly climb the tree. She was not well versed in athletics, so when she had thought she had her footing - she indeed did not and a branch cracked underneath her. Luckily, she held onto the branch above her and found her footing once more. That was when a bright light shone bright in her face. Rose closed her eyes and turned her head. "Merlin! Put that light out!" She said, annoyed. "It's just me!" She opened her eyes back up and in a way her mother would, reached her hand in front of her to push down the wand holder's light. That was when she saw exactly who this Gryffindor was. "Oh. It's you," the tone of her voice took an immediate turn of disdain. The one time she had decided to go and do a good deed, Irina Krum had to be involved.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Rina lowered her wand and fought the urge to roll her eyes when she saw who was coming up after her. Of course it was Rose Weasley, because who else could make this day any worse than she?  A tiny part of her understood why Rose had come after her in the first place, especially if she didn't know who she was.  It was not exactly the safest idea to be outside in the darkening grounds after what had happened.  However, Rina had, albeit briefly weighed the consequences in her head and decided that today at least it was worth it. Still, of all people, why did it have to be Ron Weasley's daughter?

"Nobody asked for you to follow me up the tree, Weasley, I am a big girl and can take care of myself" she said reproachfully. "And before you puff up and say how it is unsafe for me to be out here, save it. I'm well aware of what's been going on and only planned to watch the sun set for a bit while it's still allowed," she added, as she was sure that was part of the reason why Rose had climbed up in the tree in the first place. Rina could see that Rose was not as accustomed to climbing trees as she was; the branch under her cracked and she seemed to mostly be supporting herself with the branch above her. Cursing under her breath lightly, she pointed her lit wand towards a much more secure branch just next to the one she was standing on.

"Move over to that branch; the one you're standing on will collapse if you stay too much longer and that one will stay steady," she instructed shortly. The last thing she needed was for Rose Weasley to fall and injure herself while coming after her in a tree - she'd surely take the blame for it.

Rozalina Antonina Nightshade

[Deleted]

The Gryffindor lowered her wand and Rose smirked in spite of herself. However that smirk disappeared the moment Irina Krum opened her mouth. "Really?" Rose taunted, raising her eyebrows doubtfully at Irina's comment about her being able to take care of herself. "I am sure that is exactly what the boy in my house thought before he was killed, you know," she said, her voice cold. Rose felt it was so insulting to the memory of that boy that Irina was out here by herself so late. Had the girl any common sense? Rose sighed then. "You can't be out here on your own," she said, matter of factly. She thought of what she had heard from some other students... members of a student run club... and how they had said to go nowhere alone. Although Rose did not particularly care for Irina, she knew plenty of people whom would be devastated if anything happened to her. And Rose didn't want that. "So I'm staying. At least until you head back up to the castle." She stuck her nose up in the air.

Rose's eyes widened slightly when she felt another crack after Irina told her to move branches. She hesitated, wondering if this was a trick or not. Who was to say that Irina was luring her to a weaker branch!? Rose stuck her nose up again, a little snobbishly. Good thing she had the perfect spell in her back pocket in case she fell. So she followed Irina's lit wand to the more "secure" branch and surely enough... it was secure. Rose was able to relax herself a bit. She glanced up at Irina, not wanting to humble her terribly. "Thanks," she muttered, her tone still a bit standoffish.

Rose looked around them at the branches. She had never really climbed trees as a child. She had gotten her mother's more bookish habits, rather than her father's act for adventure and curiosity. "Is this fun to you?" She asked, not masking her confusion at why this type of activity would be fun to anyone. There was too much danger lurking on every branch. Rose was definitely not the athletic type. But it didn't surprise her that Irina was: just look at her parents. Two famous Quidditch players. It was more of a surprise that Irina wasn't on the team!

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Rina was trying very hard to fight back a retort to Rose's words. She was well aware that the student who had died was a Ravenclaw, and knew that she probably should have at least used the buddy system to come out here - not like she'd ever admit that to her. She took comfort in the fact that Rose didn't want to be out here as much as Rina didn't want her there, and settled her back against the trees.  "If you insist on staying, I suppose I can handle it," she said stiffly, noting Rose's pompous manner and suppressing a chortle.   

Once Rose had settled on the sturdy branch, Rina raised a brow at her.  "Look I know you and I don't like each other, but that doesn't mean I want your neck broken or anything like that," she said sharply, adjusting herself as she felt something sharp poke into her side.  Looking at the broken twig, she flicked it dismissively down towards the ground and watched it fall between the branches.   "And yes, I do find this fun.  I don't really like playing Quidditch but I love being up high in the trees and flying around for fun.  It was what I'd do during the summers, which if you'd had your nose out of your books during that summer a few years ago, you would have seen," she explained, not being able to help herself with the last jab.  It had been quite a few years since the Potters had invited them to their home for a week, and Rose had spent most of the time she was there reading.  Rina didn't understand the pull of reading all the time;she'd much rather be running around outside and climb trees.



Rozalina Antonina Nightshade

[Deleted]

Rose huffed a bit at Irina's words, sticking her nose up in the air. She would have folded her arms across her chest if she was not afraid of falling to the ground. Her hands were still around a branch as she balanced her feet upon a lower one. Climbng trees was certainly not her forte.

The Ravenclaw's brow furrowed in slight frustration, both at herself and Irina's attempt at concern. "For your information," she said quite stubbornly. "You aren't the only one with Quidditch in your blood." As the words left her mouth, Rose's left foot slipped slightly off the branch for a moment. She gripped the branch above her tightly and regained her balance, sticking her nose back up in the air and trying to act like that had not just happened.

Rose rolled her eyes at the Gryffindor. "I would much rather keep my focus on my studies than... climbing trees like a money all day," she waved a hand in front of her dismissively. "I'll be busy working in the Ministry one day, thank you very much." She scoffed at Irina.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Rina tried to suppress a laugh when Rose mentioned the Quidditch in her blood, and failed miserably. "You're certainly not talking about your father were you?" she asked incredulously. She knew Rose's mother definitely had enjoyed keeping her two feet on the ground, but from the stories her father had told her, Ron Weasley had really only been on the Quidditch team because he had been Harry's best friend. Sure her uncles Fred & George were both quite good Beaters, but they had nothing on an International Quidditch star.

At Rose's monkey comment, Rina just smirked and climbed higher into the branches. "It's a good survival skill to have you know Rosie, don't want to be out of shape with all the darkness that's happening now," she told her sharply. She hadn't meant to get that serious, but in a way she knew she was making a point. It would never be enough to just have great skill in magic. "Trust me, I believe you when you say you'll be working at the Ministry. You're exactly like your mother so I'm sure you'll go all the way to the top of the Magical Law Enforcement department. You might even be your mothers' successor, following in her brilliant footsteps," she said nonchalantly. Having experience in the parents wanting you to follow in their footsteps department, she was sizing up Rose to see if she was just a clone of Hermione, or if she could actually be her own person too.

Rozalina Antonina Nightshade

[Deleted]

Rose narrowed her eyes into an intense glare at Irina. "No," she spat, angrily. "And even if I was, my father was a great Quidditch player!" Rose raised her chin up determinedly. "I come from a family of Quidditch players, Krum. Both my uncles were reknown beaters for years, as well as my uncle Charlie - a Seeker." Rose had grown up around people belittling her because of her last name. "And need I remind you I'm related to Ginny Potter? National Quidditch Correspondent for the Daily Prophet? Formerly a Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies?" She rolled her eyes at Irina. How typical of a Krum to think they were high and mighty because their father was once a famous Quidditch player.

Once again, Rose scoffed at the Gryffindor. "Keep your mind sharp would be a smart thing to do during these times as well. But I guess we all can't expect everyone to be as aptly gifted in magic as others." There was never a shortage of sarcastic eye rolls from Rose Weasley, especially in the presence of Irina Krum. They really were living proof that rivalries were in their blood. Even though Rose loved her mother dearly and even looked up to her and her position she held in the Ministry, Rose felt angry at Irina's words. "It would be an honor to follow in my mothers footsteps," she said quieter, her voice intense with anger. "Because unlike you, I know I can be my own person and still make my parents proud of me." It was harsh, and perhaps not even true but Rose was fueld by anger now.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Rina gave her a sweet smile. "I never said your other family wasn't good at Quidditch Rose, no need to get defensive. Your aunt was and still is quite the Quidditch player and enthusiast - as you remember, our families do spend time together outside Hogwarts," she said with a shrug. "And I never said having your mind being sharp wasn't a good thing - your mother needed both her brains and physical strength though to defeat Voldemort all those years ago. If she hadn't been in good physical condition, let's just say I rather doubt you'd be around to be rolling your eyes at me," she added.

At Rose's angry words, Rina's eyes went dark and cold, her look stormy. Lithe as a cat, she jumped down onto the branch Rose was standing on and stepped closer, her face inches from her. "Listen to me, Weasley. You might have known my family for years, but you do not know me, and don't pretend you come even close. Just do yourself a favor, and keep away from me." With that, she climbed down the tree with ease and hopped onto the ground. She looked back up at Rose. "Find your own way down, but keep in mind, we're not supposed to be out here on our own," she taunted, and started off back towards the castle.



Rozalina Antonina Nightshade

[Deleted]

When Irina replied, Rose's mouth formed such a straight, thin line and her nostrils flared. She was taking deep breaths through them, trying to keep her patience with the Gryffindor but every time she spoke it just made Rose more angry. Aside from her attitude and the mouth she had, there wasn't much else that Rose disliked about Irina. She supposed it was just the fact that her father had said so many things against the Krum family as a child that she treated Irina so coldly. And while Rose knew that wasn't morally sound, Irina didn't really help her own case...

It was a bit jarring when Irina jumped down on Rose's branch, Rose having to steady herself by holding the branch above her. She quickly regained her composure as Irina was then inches in front of her face. Rose glared directly back into the cold eyes Irina now wore. She said nothing. She wasn't sure if she was too angry to think of anything to say or if she just... had no response. Either way, Rose was silent as she glared at Irina. Then, as soon as it had happened, Irina jumped down from the tree and was heading back off to the castle.

And so Rose was... stuck in a tree. Rose let out a breath of frustration as she began to slowly make her way down, glancing back up at the Gryffindor who was growing further and further away to shoot a glance. It certainly wasn't the last encounter the two of them would have.

le-end