May 5th, 1890 — Ravenclaw common room

Dunstan remembered this feeling from last year. The fond, bittersweet warmth of looking around the Ravenclaw common room a few weeks before the Summer holidays and knowing he wouldn't see it again for three whole months. He somewhat took it for granted the rest of the year, the same way he took for granted his family home in Bartonburg when he was absent from it. Sometimes it felt apt to treat important places a little more like people.

The young half-vampire mused on such personable theories as he sat on one of the comfy seats by the fire one Tuesday evening, having already finished his homework. After a moment's contemplation, Dun twisted in his chair and asked a gaggle of his nearest housemates — "anyone fancy a game of chess?"

@"Emma Binns"

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   Isis Silverthorne

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Emma had been curled up in an easy chair by the fire a soft woolen shawl pulled up around her arm and shoulder. On arm supported a book on the arm of the chair, flipping the paper by awkwardly maneuvering her thumb, the other stroked the cat curled up in her lap. It wasn’t hers, just one of her housemates who had mooched up next to the second year to share body heat and proximity to the fireplace. When someone shouted for a game of chess, ’Oh I do!’ Emma called before anyone else could answer.

Scrambling to her feet and joining her year mate sent the cat running, giving a disgruntled meow as it was forced to adjust it’s position. Dustin was a nice boy, some people had been odd with him, and his family thanks to their heritage – but Emma found it all the more fascinating but trying to get to know him, while being subtle about it had not been easy - not many people could accuse her of subtlty

’Black or White?’ she asked and took the seat opposite him, curling her legs up under her, just as she had been sitting by the fire. Some of the students were repelled from him, just as they were repelled by his sister, his half vampire status frightening or repulsing them, but Emma was secretly, or not so secretly fascinated.

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Dunstan offered a faint smile as Emma Binns sprang into action, somewhat to the detriment of the cat who'd made her its perch. He liked Miss Binns — she was a good egg, and keen in class, so when paired with her she would generally do the talking, while Dun could be a bit quiet. But she was also one of the younger-looking children in their year, reminding Dunstan (who would soon be turning fourteen) that he'd been forced to join Hogwarts late.

Anyway, now was not the time to ponder that. He was looking for distraction. So he pulled across the small side-table with the chessboard on it, and began unpacking pieces. "Black", he responded, partly because he felt more of a kinship with that colour than white, and partly because white was generally accepted to go first. And Dunstan was the type of boy who always let others go first.

"Any plans for the Summer?" he asked conversationally as they began to set up the board.

  

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Emma’s own chess pieces where tucked into her school satchel and she fished out the white pieces and they took their places on the board. They had belonged to her father, who had given her his old set at Christmas when he had received some beautiful new ones. The pieces didn’t seem pleased by it and their disquieted was rather evident in their movements. She directed her her Kings knight to move F3, it was her favourite opening move, her uncle had told her it was a ‘Kings Indian’ opening, or at least she thought it was, honestly she just liked the name. The little figure shuffled to his spot, leaning idly over the mane of his horse, as though he might fall off.

She beamed rather proudly at the mention of the summer because boy did she have big plans! ’I’m going to help my uncle in his book shop’ she explained, Emma loved showing off the steady stream of books she received from her uncle, and more often than not she could be found by the fire place devouring one or other of them. The book she had been reading before the match was on domestic cat care, and that was another of her big plans. ’Mother said I can get a kitten if I show her I’m responsible’ she explained trying rather hard to seem very grown up as, ’So I shall be back next year with my own cat!’ her voice was almost a squeal as she finished relaying her news. She didn’t have a pet and the prospect of her own cat was almost too much for her to bear.

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Seeing that Miss Binns had her own chess pieces, Dunstan swept the existing white pieces back into their wooden box (many of them protested quietly, and one Knight uttered what Dun was pretty sure was a swearword). Dun put a handful of black pieces on the board and watched as they lined up neatly.

He smiled at his classmate, endeared by her excitement. "That sounds great", the older kid replied genuinely. "I'll be sure to drop by Whizzhard's over the Summer." Being a Hogsmeade resident himself, and a Ravenclaw at that, Dun was pretty familiar with the bookshop; and it was no secret that it was a Binns establishment.

"Do you have any names picked out for the kitten?"

  

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She shook her head, her kitten would surely tell her its name when she met it finally, she didn’t know if it would be a boy or girl yet, and she secretly wanted a Kneazle, it was the most exoitic pet she could think of that they would allow into Hogwarts. ’Uncle Zach said I can help new students get their books’ she explained her pride evident. She couldn’t wait for it, to be telling new students exactly what the needed for their classes, imparting sage wisdom on what they would need for their first year, and telling current first years all they would need to know for their second year. ’and I can also look after all of the cats in his shop’

She moved her G2 pawn to G4, preparing to make her favourite move in chess, her eyes on the board and the sluggish, grumbling second hand pieces, ’There are lots of cats in the shop’ she added, although it was probably unnecessary, anyone who had ever been into the shop knew about the cats, there were so many of them, asleep on chairs and cushions left out by her soft hearted uncle, ostensibly for the customers, but mostly for the cats, who made frequent use of them, along with every other shelf, book stack and crevice they could find to find somewhere comfortable to sleep.

’Your sister is making her debut this summer, isn’t she?’ she asked, she knew of the eldest Ruskin of course – she was in their house after all.

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Dunstan wouldn't have minded hearing all about potential kitten monikers, but he was a little relieved to discover that was not how they'd be spending their chessgame. Speaking of which — they were all set up now, and he sat back while Miss Binns contemplated her first move.

A bookshop full of cats sounded very appealing, and very Ravenclaw, and Dun could certainly be counted among the clientele. He knew his sisters would like it too, and speaking of whom — "yes. Acacia", he confirmed. Currently a seventh year, Dunstan's oldest sister was about to be a debutante, but she would not be a traditional one. There was still a certain... discomfort around their kind, after all. His concern was evident in a faint frown-line between his eyes.

"I'm confident she'll find a really good match", he asserted dutifully.

  

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Emma's own debut was a strange abstract, exotic sounding thing, she wouldn't imagine what it might be like to go out 'into society' whatever that meant. She knew, objectively, the way one knows that the moon still exists, even during the day time, that her mother had been a debuntante, she had never seen it but she knew it to be true. But somehow Emma, had always considered herself more like her Aunt Juliana, she hadn't been interested in all that and she seemed much happier for it.


She moved her king two places and castled him, it was a pointless move at this stage of the game, but she liked being able to move her king 2 places, so she almost always castled her king. 'She seems really nice!' Emma concurred the older Ravenclaw had never been anything but sweet to her. 'We should set her up with my Uncle Zach, he's really nice and has the shop full of cats and books, he isn't married, he needs a nice wife.' she gave an impish giggle at the thought, 'You'd be my uncle in law' she gave a cackling belly laugh at how strange it sounded. and if she was being honest, being related to a half-vampire was just about the most interesting thing she could think of - after perhaps a werewolf.

'Will she want to marry' she hesitated wondering how she could phrase this tactfully, 'Would she want to marry someone like her?' she settled, hoping he would realise she wasn't referring to middle class, or red heads. Emma's curious desire to know more about half vampirism was threatening to over run her sense of deocrum.

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Ever the detailed tactician, Dunstan focussed on making a barrier of pawns while Miss Binns positioned her higher-power pieces.

But there were also interesting things going on above the board. Dun smiled at the concept of setting up her uncle with Acacia, but he made no comment. Frankly, although he was happy for his sister being granted newfound freedom in coming out, he thought her too young to marry. Yes Dun was a lot younger, but often he still thought of the entire Ruskin sibling group as children.

Besides, his own father's re-marriage was, weirdly, the wedding to focus on at the moment.

It took Dunstan a moment to realise what Miss Binns meant by "someone like her"; but then he clocked it. "Well..." he began carefully. "I don't know what she wants; you'd have to ask her. But I do know there just aren't many people like us."

  

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That seemed like a great loss to society that being half vampire should be a rare thing, it seemed like the best of all worlds - human looking, magic and the ability to use a wand and the fact you were part freaking VAMPIRE! Emma moved her piece, a rather violent knight who was itching to get his hands on one of Dunstans pawns who he could possibly take on the next turn and he was already pointing his sword at the pawn and drawing his gauntleted hand across his throat. She tapped him on the head by way of reprimand.

But of course boys were less interested in these things than girls would be, she knew if it had been her sister she would have had every detail of what her intention were going to be after she left school. 'I bet there are some super handsome half vampires in Bulgaria or Germany, areas with nicer forests.' she added, it was a guess, a childish one, based purely on the fact she knew both of those places had lots of forests, and the forest in Hogsmeade was where the vampires in England tended to congregate.

'Is your new stepmother a vampire as well?'she asked with as much delicacy as 13 year olds could muster

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Forests? Dunstan blinked, confused for a moment, before realising it was his go, and ordering one of his Knights to take an enemy Pawn.

He'd been confused because he wasn't sure what half-vampires had to do with forests. But he'd had the singular experience of studying vampires as a part-vampire himself, and thus knew that forests were generally taught as a... habitat of his kind.

Dun could not help but chuckle slightly at this next inquiry, partly because it had taken him unawares (she was very in-the-loop, this girl), and partly because of the idea that his father had a type, and that type enjoyed their steak very, very rare.

"Erm... I don't think so", he replied, still smiling slightly. "I don't know much about her, but I assume she's just a normal lady. And by the way", he felt obliged to add. "I do like the forest, but I much prefer wide-open places like meadows and hills and moors. Anywhere I can feel the wind in my hair."

  

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Emma ordered her blood thirsty knight to move away from the pawn he had been eyeing up, and the piece seemed to sulk, dragging his sword behind him across the board, like a child being sent to be without supper. Letting him take the pawn would probably have been her best move, but it seemed like rewarding the piece for bad behaviour and that seemed unfair to the whimsically minded second year so the knight would not be taking any other pieces this game. Anthropomorphising chess pieces was probably not the best idea given how they treated each other but the dream Binns child couldn't help herself.

Emma blushed a little at his comment, 'It must be a very interesting,' she ventured, feeling a little braver about broaching the subject head on, 'Being part vampire, I mean, so much more interesting than just being a witch or wizard.'

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Dun failed to pay attention to Miss Binn's move, such was the distracting nature of her question, giving her the upper-hand for a few moments.

He supposed he was a little... hurt at being spoken to as if the bloodline that had ruined his family was nothing more than a fascinating hat. But he knew his fellow Ravenclaw was simply being curious, and meant no harm. Dunstan remained as courteous as usual, but there was a touch of cool sadness to his voice as he explained.

"No, it's not interesting. Many parents don't want me at this school because my mother was a vampire. Many students are scared of me, or think I'm no better than an animal. Half-vampires were banned when I was due to start at Hogwarts. I turn fourteen next month, and I'm still in Second Year... that's not interesting, it's frustrating."

  

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'that's ridiculous' Emma declared with all of the authority of the high Court judge. 'You're very nice.' she added, trying as best as a 12 year old could to be as comforting as she could. 'and anyone that doesn't appreciate that can eat niffler dung, they are just jealous because you're smarter than them.'. She looked under her lashes at her friend and housemate, she wasn't sure what she could possibly say that would excuse the bad behaviour, as she saw it, of her houesmates. Dustin was too nice and polite for his own good, if she had born some of the insults and snubs that he had she would probably have fought like a feral cat, but that probably wouldn't have done much for the impression of vampires as somehow dangerous.


'And it must be sad for you to be back a year,' she said her tone turning a little bashful as she spoke. 'but I'm glad that I get to be in your class.' was the best she could manage

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

As soon as Dunstan had finished his little rant he realised that yes, in fact, it had been a little rant. Normally he was a very calm and rather quiet boy, content to keep his feelings to himself; even to quell them entirely. But he'd accidentally let some of those feelings loose today; and in front of a young lady, no less. He felt a little ashamed. But thankfully, like any young lady should, Miss Binns took it all gracefully in her stride, and he felt himself calming at the earnestness of her brown eyes.

"Thank you, Miss Binns", he replied steadily, scratching the back of his head a little awkwardly. Then he let a silence fall, still somewhat regretting that he'd been so open.

Consequently, his next chess move was a thoughtless one. He'd just accidentally moved his Queen into harm's way.

  

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