Cody lay on his back in the grass, staring up at the clear blue sky. His mother was somewhere in the school, they'd only planned on stopping for a few moments. Not that Cody minded, for now he got to simply be here.
A love for Hogwarts, it seemed, was in his blood.
His blue eyes reflected the blue sky as he seemingly stared into the nothingness above him. His black hair moved when the wind blue, but that seemed to be all that moved. In fact, people walking by him were tempted to poke him, top make sure he wasn't dead.
He was very much alive. Skilled at showing no expression, no feeling. He'd been taught by the best to hide his thoughts and feelings. Had been shown that such things being known can get you in deep trouble. He'd learned to keep secrets better than anyone.
After all, he'd been a secret for the majority of it life.
((Open. But I swear to God, if you type like an idiot, you are DONE.))
Stacey had been walking by and was the first one to walk up to Cody. "Are you okay?" Stacey asked, not getting too close if he has under a spell or something.
The five year olds eyes turned on her, narrowing slightly as he inspected her. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft, obviously a child's voice. Although the words he used were not child's play.
"I'm not under a spell," he said slowly, catching the ghost of her thought. His eyes went over her face, memorizing it within seconds.
"I just don't see any reason to use energy."
Sky was walking along the grounds, just enjoying the lovely day. She didn't have a class at this time and decided a walk would do her some good. She was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black zip up hoodie. As she was walking, she seen Cody and Stacey talking to each other. Sky grinned and ran up to them.
"Hi Cody!" Sky said enthusiastically. "How are ya doing?" She asked him.
Stacey looked at Sky when she spoke, then looked back at Cody. "Yea, it`such a beautiful day, why don`t you do something?" Stacey didn`t like the way Cody had looked at her, just like his mother. She bit her lip. She couldn`t remember exactly what powers Cody had.
"I do enough things." Co0dy said simply, before smiling shyly at Sky.
"Buon giorno, Miss Sky." He nodded his head slightly, though still not standing.
The thing about Cody was that no one knew his powers, not even his parents. Especially not him. So far, he had proven to be advanced in all areas of magic that he had been tested in. Though, his mother had placed restrictions over his mind, making it harder for him to use his psychic powers. Still, he caught the feelings of other's thought, ghosts of thoughts.
Stacey shivered slightly as the wind picked up for a moment. "Well, you can still walk around or something, enjoy the day." Stacey said. She didn`t like to sit in one place for very long.
"Do you want to go for a walk Cody? It is a nice day after all." Sky offered to him with a smile. She thought about something. Just because it's a nice day, doesn't mean you have to interact with stuff. Just staring at the clouds would be enjoying the day.
Stacey glanced at Sky. She had felt the ghost of her thoughts, that must mean that Cody could read minds like his mother. "That sounds good to me." Stacey said, wanting to do something outside, and wanting to get to know Cody a little better.
"Alright." Cody said, rolling and standing up. He dusted himself off, though there was no need. He was exceptionally clean. He glanced upwards once more, his eyes seemingly looking through the clouds, then back at the two girls.
"Lead the way." He said, smiling slightly. His cheeks dimpled, and instantly he became an adorable five year old, nothing more.
Except here was much more to him.
"Is there anywhere that you would like to go, Cody?" Sky asked, stretching her legs a bit. "We can go wherever you want."
Cody shook his head, "No Miss Sky. I've been all over these grounds, know them like the back of my hand."
He didn't speak like any other five year old anyone had ever met.
He had hardly been babied like most five year olds, as a matter of fact.
"Not so good on foot, but I'm sure I can get us anywhere." He shrugged, "Aerial view is always much easier."
"I suppose it is." Sky responded, looking up at the clouds. She put her hands on her head in sort of a relaxed pose.
Billie had been at the lake all day soaking up the sun. She loved it when no one else was around, and she could just lay back and enjoy the sun light. Soon Billie heard a small group of younger kids walking towards the lake. Billie stood up and started to walk toward Hogwarts. She then stopped and turned toward the forest. She decided that she would walk through the forest so that she could grab a small snack. Finally when she emerged through the last bit of trees she saw two girls and what looked like a little boy. As she got closer she realized who it was.
Billie walked up closer to make sure it was who she thought it was. Billie smiled when her eyes confirmed who it was. "Hey Sky, Stacey and.." Billie looked at the little boy. She had seen and talked to him before, but his name had escaped her mind. She studied his face and remebered a few thigns about him. She remembered it was Ginny son, and that he had beautiful wings, but she still couldn't think of his name. "I'm sorry, but whats your name again?" she asked.
"Cody, Miss Billie." He was quick to answer, smiling slightly. He never forgot anything, had been tested as such by his mom. Once he met someone, he remembered them forever. Or had so far.
"We were just about to take a walk. Would you like to join us?"
Stacey was amazed, she had never heard anyone talk like that at such a young age. "Wow, you talk very nicely, Cody." She said, trying to use her better grammer.
Cody turned and smiled, nodding slightly.
"Thank you. A habit from never being talked down to by my mother." He paused, "I also think I do it to seem more like my dad. He always speaks well."
Cody thought about it, then shrugged, "I don't really care, actually."
"A walk would be fun, sure I'll go" she said smiling. Billie had always noticed Cody had an extended vocabulary. "Its still pretty cool that you such a good vocabulary for your age" she said. Then again Cody was an advanced learner in almost everything Billie knew of.
"Yea, come on." Stacey said, turning around and walked a few steps.
Sky smiled. She wasn't going to bring up to Cody how advanced of a child he was. She was sure he wouldn't enjoy hearing it so often. If it were her, she'd hate it for people to say it.
"So...what's new guys?" Sky asked, trying to start a conversation.
Stacey could feel what Sky wanted to do. "OWLs are coming up."
Sky laughed. "I get my N.E.W.T's at the end of the year. Then I'm done with school." She smiled then sighed. "I don't even know what to do with my life yet."
"You could be an auror." Cody said, from beside Sky. He reached out and took her free hand, looking up at her with a smile.
"My mom says training is a bit tougher these days. But if maybe someone like you gets in there, Miss Sky, they will stop going after non-humans." He shook his head, "I's really troublesome."
"N.E.W.T.s sound difficult. I mean O.W.L.s were easy, but N.E.W.T.s seem harder" she said. "Sky you'd make a pretty good auror" Billie said smiling. "Your pretty smart and could pass the test probably" she added. Billie began to think about her own future. She had no plans, and didn't have a clue what she was going to do after she was done with school.
"I have no idea what I`m going to do either." Stacey said. "Like, at all."
"I've never really considered being an Auror. I always figured I wasn't smart enough or just didn't have what it takes." She looked at Cody. "But now that you mention it, It does sound interesting. Maybe I will go for it. But hey, I still have a year to accomplish before that."
Stacey just nodded, and continued to walk, blindly thinking of different jobs.
Billie had stopped thinking about her future. She decided she would decide things when she it was time for her to. "So Sky where are you going to stay after your done with school?" she asked.
Stacey snapped back into reality and listened. She slowly felt that she was less and less a part of the conversation.
"I just rented a place for the summer. I don't really know where I plan to stay yet after I finish. I've gone through so many different ideas. I guess it all depends on what path I decide to follow." Sky said, trying to answer Billie's question.
Billie smiled. "Well I bet you'll find somewhere" she said. She was pretty sure that Sky could do anything she put her mind to. Billie took a deep breathe in and smiled. She is was in a really good mood, and felt very happy.
Cody too had grown silent. He heard, and would remember later, every word spoken. However, he was still slightly lost in his own thoughts as he had been when he was laying in the grass. He kept himself on guard, in addition to the blocks his mother had placed up, so his thoughts were mere shadows to any psychic nearby.
It wasn't that he didn't want the girls around him to know of what he was thinking, they were of little consequence to him. Merely people with whom he saw good company. He guarded his thoughts simply because he didn't want anyone else to know them.
Billie noticed that Cody hadn't said anything for while. She looked over at him and smiled slightly. "So Cody what have you been up to lately?" Billie asked him. Billie also noticed Stacey had gotten quiet, but wasn't sure what else she could say. So she just stayed quiet and waited for Cody to answer.
Stacey looked at the people around her and noticed how Cody was silent but observant, how Billie was happy and carefree, and how Sky was thinking. Stacey was very good at reading people like books, sensing how the different characters felt and would act in the future.
Cody answered without looking at Billie.
"Nothing, Miss Billie. Everything is as it has been, nothing new." He paused, "Wait, I'm wrong. My mom received a letter from Conan Sulai the other day."
He shrugged, as though the news wasn't that important. In fact, it was the opposite, but he wasn't about to act like he cared. He looked straight ahead as he walked, not needing to look around to know where the girls were.
"Conan Sulai? Is he a friend of your moms?" Billie asked. She had heard Conans name before, but never really knew who he was. Billie walked with her pace matching the others.
Cody smiled, though what Billie said hadn't been funny.
"No, far from it. He's her ex-husband."
The words had more of a connotation then most. Ginny had had Cody when she was 17, which meant she'd been married once before that. Before she'd even been 18.
"Oh ex-husband" she said. Yet Ginny was still so young, and shes on her second guy. "That muct have been weird for your mother" she said.
"She was very angry." He told her, finally looking up. His eyes widened, and he nodded to emphasize his point.
"She punched a hole in our garden fence." Cody smirked, "Which is saying something, Miss Billie. Our fence is made of stone."
Billie's jaw slightly dropped. "wow she doesn't like him that much, what did he do to make her so angry?" Billie asked. Billie knew she shouldn't be asking about things that didn't concern her, but she was really curious about Ginny and Conan.
Cody gave Billie a strange look. One of arrogance, as if Billie were the child. He wasn't calling Billie stupid, he was simply showing that he was smarter.
Not much of a surprise, as both of his parents had been far advanced.
"Miss Billie, I wouldn't know. I wasn't born then, and my mother tends to keep such things to herself."
Billie smiled. "I should have thought of that" she said slightly more to herself then to Cody. Billie's smile got bigger. She felt dumb, but didn't really care all to much. "Well Cody your another person who I can add to my list of people who are smarter then me" she said smiling.
Stacey listened to Cody`s story with faint interest as she walked. She didn`t want to say anything, she didn`t feel like a part of such a personal story.
Cody nodded, "It's okay Miss Billie. Most people don't think at all."
He shrugged, then looked back up at the beautifully clear sky. He seemed to struggle with an inward decision, before he forced his gaze downward with a disappointed sigh. It was too nice out to obey rules.
Stacey tilted her head to one side and looked at Cody. "What was that for?" She asked nicely, meaning the sigh.
"It's beautiful out." He murmured softly, his gaze set ahead of him determinedly.
"Few clouds are out, it's warm..." Cody's voice drifted off as a muscle twitched in his jaw. He was struggling with himself, his impulse.
"It is a really beautiful day" BIllie chimed in. She hadn't said anything for a while but was still there. "The sky is soo blue"
"I guess." Stacey said looking around. She didn`t think Cody was telling the truth, but he didn`t need to know that.
Cody looked at Stacey, stopping his steps. He put his hands in his body, tensing up slightly.
"I'm not lying." he said to her, his eyes growing dark, his voice deepening with sudden anger.
He stared at her, and then pulled one hand out of his pocket, pointing above.
"Clouds are terrible for flying through. You get cold, even on the warmest of days." His voice was still harsh, "It's not too hot out, so you aren't sweating even when in direct sunlight."
He scowled, "It's a beautiful day for flying."
Stacey looked at Cody, suprised. "Whoa, I didn`t mean it like that, it`s just the way your voice was." Stacey said, choosing her words carefully.
Cody kept his scowl, a muscle twitching in his jaw. This was why he hated his mother's rules. Because at this point, he wanted nothing more than to tell Stacey off. Instead, he worked hard to keep his temper in check.
"Miss Stacey, it would be in your best interest if you learned to keep your questions in check if you don't want an answer." His voice was a forced calm, his eyes dark and angry.
He was four years old, almost five. And he looked more demonic right now than most people can when they are full grown adults.
Stacey`s eyes where nor red, but blue, with curiosity. She was surprised how advanced Cody was. And just a bit surprised that he would give such strong advice to someone he barely knew. "I did want to know why you sighed, in which case I expected an answer." She said, looking at Cody with a soft gaze.
"Then do not doubt the answer you were given." Cody cut his hand through the air, and then clenching his fist.
"You have not yet enough life experience to be cynical of others, Miss Stacey. Never doubt my words, because I wouldn't lie to you. You, along with most of the people in this world, are simply not worth lying to."
He growled lowly, and in his agitation his shoulders twitched. His shoulder blades itched horribly.
Stacey looked at Cody with raised eyebrows, she knew she could talk to him like he was her own age. He was extrememly advanced. "And you, Cody, have lived long enough to be cynical? Or are you an immortal who never ages? And I trust that you won`t lie. I can tell you that I have lied to many people who weren`t worth it, and it made a big difference in the way things turned out." she said in a challenging voice.
"Did I say you had to live long? No, I am not immortal but I will live longer than anyone here, including Miss Billie." He looked at her and nodded with shadowed eyes, he knew what she was.
"I have been through more than you could evn comprehend, Miss Stacey. And your arrogence antagonizes me. It irritates me. And to make it simple so you can understand it, it just plain pisses me off."
He frowned at her, shoving his hands back into his pockets to keep them still.
Stacey`s eyebrows raised even more. "I have been through more than you think. Just because someone puts on a happy face, doesn`t mean they`re happy. I`m sure you have been through a lot of things, but I have been through my own problems." Stacey said, in a grave voice, her eys turning dark grey with memories of the past. "You are very much like your mother."
"Your own problems are nothing compared to my own, you stupid child." Cody suddenly tilted his shoulders inward, and behind him appeared two large black feathered wings. They spread out in a good three feet in each direction, each wing was just about as tall as he was.
In the sunlight, the black feathers had a tinge of red, matching his hair to a T.
They made him look twice as demonic.
"The Ministry itself is out for my blod. They would like nothing better than for me to die in the cruelest and most painful way possible. My uncle wishes for my death. I have seen the worst that people can do to each other, and seen the best. The worst part of this is that I will live for thousands upon thousands more years, and will have to see such things every day." He scowled, folding his arms across his chest, his wings folding.
"And that's not even an eighth of my problems."
Stacey`s eyes narrowed and grew darker when Cody said 'stupid child'. She had been called that more than once by Ginny. "Exactly like your mom." She siad in a flat voice.
Cody's wings twitched, "A compliment, I dare say." He shot back at her, fire in his eyes. He willed her to say something bad about his mom, almost wishing she would so he coupld put her in her place.
"My mother is one of the greatest people anybody will ever meet."
Stacey smiled. "Yes, your mother is a very wonderful person. I did not say she was a bad person, I said you where very much like her. Yes, you both have quick tempers, but you both are very advanced, sweet, caring, charming, pretty, and lovely people to know." Stacey meant what she said.
"A true statement, if I ever did hear one."
Xaver's low, thick tones, easily made sharper by the foreign lilt in his voice, intoned as suddenly, and bluntly as he appeared. Out of literal nowhere, a few yards from them.
His arms were pulled back, his hands clasped loosely at the small of his back, the muscles of his shoulders pulled taught, as athletically lean, and powerful as he was. His mouth was pulled into a halfish smile, one corner tipped slightly upward, whilst the other left his true emotion to wonder, though the dark, moody blue oceans of his gaze were at ease. His tall creature was clad completely in black hues, from his dark shoes, and jeans, to the cotton shirt he wore, torn at the back where the silken, black enormities of his wings protruded, folded easily, naturally, behind him.
He was coated in a film of dirt, and the ridge of the knuckles of his right hand were bloody, though there was no injury. No visibly broken skin.
..Not anymore.
His gaze flickered to Cody, not even needing to be a powerful empath to pick up the frustrated wavelengths rolling off the young boy. Xaver's expression changed little, but the glance was full of far more affection and greeting than most would ever comprehend.
"Making friends?"
A light question, that meant more than the actual words inquired.
Cody narrowed his eyes at Stacey. From his stand point, she was shallow, immature. She seemed to want to avoid conflict if she had any chance of losing.
He wanted so badly to show her how ignorant she was. But as he was about to open his mouth again, his father's words reached him. He snapped his mouth shut, still frowning deeply. His body tightened as Xaver made the last comment.
Cody snorted sarcastically, "Sure." He said, frowning at his Dad. His eyes said it all, that he was angry, annoyed, upset. He was full of pent up energy.
Xaver understood Cody's gaze almost easily. Often, his son's face was like looking into a time-warped mirror.
Though, truly, as Cody was getting older, he was taking on his very own, unique characteristics, that were slowly setting them apart in characteristics.
The boys emotions, though, were emenating from him in heated waves.
Waves that were anything but amused or friendly.
Xaver bit down a laugh, knowing it wouldn't be interpreted correctly, and less, recieved well - and instead nodded lightly.
"Where's your mother?" he asked, easily changing the subject.
Cody made a small noise, jerking his head back towards the school.
"Working. She had a meeting with the Headmaster today."
He frowned, his voice changing pitch suddenly. He suddenly sounded very much like the child he was, "She said I wasn't to fly..." He was upset about that.
Stacey looked at the man with brown eyes. "Hello, you must be Cody`s father." She said glancing at Cody as she caught his thoughts. "I'm not shallow nor immature." She whispered. "And I avoid conflict when necessary" She knew it would be highly inappropriate for her to curse Cody. Even though she never really wanted to anyway.
((It's impossible to read Cody's thoughts unless you are one of his parents. On top of his own protection, Ginny also built a block around his mind, in addition to anything Xaver might have done.))
((oh, how confusing.... I`ll just re-write that post here....))
Stacey looked at the man with brown eyes. "Hello, you must be Cody`s father." She said ith a smile. She glanced back at Cody. "How come your family always sees me when I`m at my worst?"
(I know I'M breaking a cardinal rule here by not reading every post so slap me if I'm totally left field here.)
Lavy appeared sitting next to Stacey, "It's not that you're at you're worst. It might just be that they bring the worst out in you. Worst and best is very relative and all depends on you're perspective. Don't be so hard on yourself, Stacey. Cody can be a little hasty to judge sometimes."
Stacey looked at Lavy wide-eyed. "Thank you." She said greatfully. She looked back to lCody and the other man she took as Cody`s father.
Lavy nodded, in response to Stacey but her attention was on Xaver. It had been a long time since she had spent enough time at school to run into him but here he was. Still stony. But somehow lighter in his manner and expression. It was an odd combination, although odd was to be expected in regards to him.
She smiled up at him, "We meet again," she said in a mockingly dramatic way.
The boy jerked his head toward the towering school, and Xaver's gaze drifted in that direction, his somber blue orbs lost in thoughts the boy would probably never come to know..
"Working.."
The word was light on his tongue.
Working meant Ginny was busy.
That he'd have to wait to see her.
Da*n.
At Cody's change in tone, Xaver blinked and looked down at him, though before he could reply, the woman was talking, and another, Lavy, had appeared out of that unspoken no-where.
"Xaver," he murmured in way of hello to the brown-eyed woman - Stacey, apparently -, bowing his head in a way of both recognition, and formal, ancient greeting. He straightened, and rocked his tall, lean, powerful figure back onto his heels, his stance easily passive agressive. Passive at the moment.. but so easy to fall into an agressive nature..
"Aye. Lavy," he said quietly. Shortly. "A pleasure."
Stacey smiled and her eyes turned bight blue.
((That was a really weak post Stacey. Don't reply unless you have something to reply WITH.))
Cody reached out, putting his arms around Xaver's waist and laying his head against his father's body. It was common for him to show emotion and to express affection when it came to his parents. They were the only ones he let think of him as a child, because they were the only ones he wanted to treat him like one.
"Daddy, can we fly?"
Xaver looked down as Cody wrapped his arms around the lean bredth of his abdomen, and almost instantly, a warm, calming expanse of a smile brushed his mouth. He bent at the middle and gripped the boy beneath the arms, hauling him up rather efforlessly, and planting him at his hip in a move that was as natural as the breath in his chest. He chuckled, a low, deep rumble that emenated from the confines of his chest.
"Your mother told you you weren't to fly, because you were without her, or me. I am here, now."
A hint of a playful smile tugged at the corners of his still youthful mouth.
"I love flying just as much as you do, you know."
Cody smiled at Xaver as he picked him up. "Can we, please?" He half begged his dad. He really wanted to fly, and his mom hadn't said he wasn't allowed if Xaver went with him.
"It's a really really nice day for it." His tone was slightly persuasive and his eyes, identical to Xaver's, sparkled.