Freedom || Open

Jacen decided that he wasn’t feeling like Divinations today, he was going to ace the class either way so why waste a beautiful afternoon in one of the tallest towers in the whole castle. He decided to spend it where any normal human being would, outside. He stepped out into the sun and took a deep breath. Even in March it felt like Spring time already. He could hear the birds chirping and life seemed peaceful for a change. Most people were still in class and maybe it wasn’t the best idea for the Head Boy to be skipping classes but he could get away with it and he knew it.

He wandered the lawns when he heard something. Someone thought they were as alone as he did and they were singing, quite loudly he might add. It was good, she had a wonderful voice and though he didn’t recognize the song he enjoyed it very much. As the girl finished Jacen could finally see her. She was young and he was pretty sure she was in his house but he couldn’t put his finger on who she was. He smiled and began to clap. He wasn’t being sarcastic in the slightest she was good and deserved the recognition. He continued walking closer to her and smiled at her. “Wow you’ve got a great voice.”

He stood there and got a closer look at the girl, she was definitely much younger than he and he was more sure than ever that she was Hufflepuff. Because her face finally clicked, he didn’t know much about her but he knew her older brother. Another one of his housemates and somewhere between an acquaintance and a friend. “I’m sorry I don’t know your name. I’m Jacen. Jacen Frost.” He put out his hand to shake and gave her another toothy grin.

Jacen could tell that he had startled her but she didn’t seem upset or scared. He smiled at her when she thanked him and he nodded softly. A lot of times Jacen was full of shit but in this case, she truly did have a good voice. “You were singing a lot louder than you think” he grinned and looked around. Luckily they were still alone, he probably would get away with it but Delilah may not be so lucky and he didn’t want to get her in trouble. She tilted her head at him and it was cute, like a small child confused. Then she shook his hand and it shook him back to the reality. “Pleasure Delilah, I know your brother well. Good guy.” Still no lies, Jacen was impressed with himself.

He took her note in his hand and read it. He looked it long and hard, as if he was analyzing the note. He didn’t care one or the other; kids skipped classes all the time including Jacen. He spun the note and handed it back to her. “It’s good to see you’re feeling better though.” He smiled to her and looked around, feeling the sun touch down on his face. “I couldn’t agree more, nothing like a warm sunny day”

She was a cute kid, he could see Logan in her. He followed her gaze to the sun and immediately regretted it. The light was bright enough that he tried to look away but he was curious where she was going with it. He listened and laughed softly to himself. “You know I do indeed know the feeling. You know you can relax Whitlock, I’m not out here to bust you. I came out all on my own, to enjoy the sun myself. So maybe we can keep each others secrets eh?” he winked at her and then he thought back to her note. “If this is too personal feel free to tell me to go to hell, but why were you in the wing?"

Delilah had something that Jacen had long since forgotten. Innocence. The pure and absolute innocence of a child. She wasn’t that much younger than him but she looked young and her voice gave the impression that she was still a kid. She still saw the place as a good one with good people and opportunities. Those thoughts had been written off in Jacen’s mind long ago. He saw the world for what it was, hollow and bleak. If you didn’t go after what you wanted, you were wasting what little importance was there to begin with. Jacen knew what he wanted, it had been the same thing since he was Delilah’s age. Power. He wanted to lead but moreover for people to follow him and do his bidding. That’s why he knew he would be minister but there were still moments, where Jacen just wanted to be the little boy who wanted to be a doctor. To help others and save lives. But his heart had frozen since then and he didn’t see the importance of such things anymore, though looking at Delilah he felt that piece of himself again. “Well you’ve certainly made my day better. Thank you”

She spoke of her brother and he couldn’t agree more. Logan had been one of those to do his bidding, always willing to help with anything at a moment’s notice. Though Jacen enjoyed it, the thrill wasn’t there like with others because Logan was like that for everyone. He was just a naturally nice guy and he could see easily how he would over worry about his little sister and mother. Jacen wondered what that must be like, to care for a sibling or parent or any relative really. Jacen had no family, at least as far as he was concerned he didn’t. He kept his eyes focused on the sun as she continued with her sunny outlook on life. He almost laughed at the irony of his own thought but was able to control himself. He almost cracked again when she mentioned warming your heart, Jacen was barely sure he had one and if he did, it was frozen solid. No warmth from the sun was going to fix that. But this little girl didn’t need her hopes dashed by the ice cold Head Boy. “Quite a change after this long winter. This feels wonderful.” He sighed and then heard her question. He chuckled softly as he responded. “I suppose I couldn’t , but still all the same I appreciate it” he smiled and then lowered himself to the grass. He landed on his backside before lying all the way back, propping himself on his elbows as she explained her trip to the wing.

“Ouch that’s rough. Both the sticking and the reaction. That had to be a long few weeks. Glad you are okay.” He had never heard of an allergy to silver or rather any metal really. But he shrugged it off, not like the adorable girl in front of him was a vicious werewolf. She did look well which was nice, or so he found himself thinking. Though he wasn’t entirely sure why, he had no connection to this girl before their chance meeting today.

Jacen found himself smiling, something he had done a whole lot in this conversation, more so than most of the past few months combined. It had been quite the struggle of late, Jacen had learned of his long lost sister that he didn’t know existed let alone that she was long lost. He had become betrothed and ended said betrothal to the Black family, in just a matter of months. He had come into his fortune and began working for the ministry, all within the last six months and sleep was not something he did very often amongst those days when he was not a part of something bigger than himself. “Well luckily you are so good at what you do. I could use the boost” He smiled at her and nodded at her in thanks.

He leaned back on his elbows before tousling his hair with his right hand, balancing his body with the other hand. That’s when she caught his eyes, still talking about the beauty of nature and all of that jazz. Her comment was quick, so quick he had almost missed it. He shook his head and squinted at her, what did she mean? How could she see him so well? He was so good at hiding himself from those around him and yet here this little girl could see right through his glass. “I…well I’m speechless. Not sure that has ever happened to me. Well what makes you say that?” He stared at her, there was a slight jest in his voice but he wanted to know what this girl saw, so that he could create a new defense for it.

He laughed softly as she described the horrors that was the Hospital wing, and he knew she was right. He had taken a bludger to the chest in his third year and knew how horrid the piece of the school was. He couldnt imagine being there for as long as Delilah had been. “Perhaps we could get you to redecorate for them. Seems you could brighten up that place in a quick second.” He smiled as he felt the wind rustle his shirt as it rode across the open lawns.

He saw that the wind was blowing her hair into her face and it made him laugh. Then her next words made him grin. “Well you my dear, are quite the conversationalist yourself.” He paused before responding to the rest of her statement. “Well I am sure glad you think so, sometimes I feel as if I have lost that part of me. The kindness, Head Boy is a huge responsibility and it takes a lot out of you.

He followed her gaze to the clouds and saw her dragon quite clearly. “Fire and all, that dragon is ready for a fight.” He paused as he searched the sky. “Apparently it is a death match between the dragon on the left and the elephant on the right. See it there” He pointed to where the trunk could be seen as being solid from head to toe.

Jacen tilted his head as he looked on at the young girl, she saw right through him. Jacen Riley Frost the master of disguise, the epitome of cool and collected. Master of persuasion and manipulation, and yet this little girl, no older than a fourth year could see right through him. She could see the dark and lonely man, evil taking him over little by little. She spoke about a lack of light caused by suppressed emotions and it took every ounce of effort to keep from letting the most superficial level of his mask crack. He was impressed with her skills and horrified at his lack of mystery. Jacen was always in control of situations but right here right now, the little blonde held the cards. While she wasn’t using it against him, she could and he didn’t like it. He smirked at her and then spoke. Unwavering and in total control. “Interesting theory. But why would light and happiness necessarily have to go hand in hand. Couldn’t someone be happy in the darkness?” He held his smile, he wasn’t being vicious, he was prodding and hopefully deflecting her comments.

The young girl smiled again when he mentioned about her making the wing brighter and more friendly. He believed that she could, very easily. Hell this little one could sit in the room and just talk to those going in and out of the wing to keep spirits up. She was cheerful, smart and very hard to feel anything but happiness in her presence. He laughed along as she shook her head. “I’m sure Pomfrey has her reasons, when you’ve seen as much as she has I’m sure keeping the room bright and colorful is difficult with so much pain and suffering going on” He could understand the sentiment, with so much death and pain, darkness was enveloping and peaceful.

As he spoke of the difficulties of his job, he smiled inwardly. His job was a joke, beyond simple and took little to none of his free time. She spoke of the downward looks he received from most people, on the surface it seemed most didn’t like him. But when push came to shove Jacen was a master manipulator, persuasion came second nature to him. In one conversation he could have anyone willing to do as he wished, thinking they were pulling one over on the Head Boy, in reality it was Jacen who was getting what he wanted at no price to himself. He played along with the young girl though, pretending it was difficult and not advantageous. “I’ve been blessed with a small number of close friends, so I try not to let it phase me what the others say. But I appreciate your kind words” He smiled and nodded to her. It was a beautiful thing, only the pure innocence of a child would believe that Jacen Frost had it rough.

Jacen let his eyes wander the sky, spotting the car behind his newly found elephant. He laughed as she called it a muggle transport. “That’s called a car Whitlock” He said it sweetly with compassion, there was no reason she should know but he did, so why not inform her. He heard her question and let his eyes wander. He moved across the car, past the elephant and dragon. As he traveled farther down, he smirked. “Ah it seems two of our house animals have joined the war.” He pointed to a stretch that looked like a roaring lion followed by the winding thin cloud of Slytherin’s snake.