The reflection looking back at him off the glass window of the quidditch store was not a happy one. Nor was it unhappy, rather it was more of a blank expressionless face. Perhaps a touch of boredome about the the mouth. The brown eyes were the only spark of real emotion showing. At the moment they were considering. Wondering if he should enter the shop or not.

Silas had no money with which to purchase any quidditch equipment. Not that that would be the first thing on his mind to buy had he that much. No, he was wondering if he should enter the store to look at the brooms. He had been considering trying out for the team at Hogwarts. It had looked like fun.

As first years weren't allowed their own brooms and he hadn't one to begin with, he hadn't tried out. First years barely made the teams let alone reserve. Who wanted to be on the bench not actually playing? There again was the bassalisk disaster when he was a first year. It seemed something always came up every year to interrupt the quidditch playing.

Seeing someone in the reflection of the window he turned to them sarcastically asking, "Am I in your way?"

Finally! Skyler thought internally as she made it to the Quidditch shop. Like a few of the other shops she had been to on her own, it had taken the young witch a good while longer to find than it would've taken witches and wizards native to this part of the world. Every time this happened, Skyler was forcefully reminded of just how much space there was between her and the people that now surrounded her. It may have contributed to her not asking anyone for so much as a hint in the right direction. But mostly that was due to stubbornness.

But eventually she found the shop with the broom sign hanging over its door announcing the name Quality Quidditch Supplies. She hurried over before she could become pancakes between rushing people again and finally found herself directly in front of the display window. There was another sign in the window announcing the newest racing broom model being displayed, but Skyler couldn't see said broom because of the boy standing in front of her.

Skyler waited for the full ten seconds her patience would allow before she shifted slightly until she was staring at the boys reflection in the window. She had to admit to herself that she wasn't completely expecting for his rounding on her with the sarcasm, but she didn't let her surprise show except for slight widening of her dark purple eyes, which she hadn't been able to control.

But sarcasm, well, it was practically the witch's second language. She shifted until she leaned the full of her weight on her right foot, tilting her head the same direction slightly in the process, her wand tucked behind that right ear. Her arms were bent in an angle behind her seeing as she had her thumbs hooked into the back pockets of her jeans, typical for her because Skyler had a habit of not knowing what exactly to do with her hands when just standing idly. It was usually why she always had something in them instead, like a toy or such. She preferred the Rubik's cube until she became bored with it because it had become too easy to solve.

She observed the boy for a moment through her purple eyes before responding mock sweetly. "Not at all. I'd much rather look at your face than the fastest broom in the world." Skyler didn't especially like how her American accent sounded so out of place here, but she shrugged it off easily. She enjoyed standing out, and took pride in being original and different, no matter what anyone else said or thought. The disarming grin she had flashed the boy as she had spoken morphed into her trademark smirk, her eyes clearly laughing at the boy as she raised one dark, challenging eyebrow.

Observant eyes picked up the surprise which caused Silas' mouth to curve up the slightest bit. She was someone he was not familiar with. Summer vacationer perhaps? They had those from time to time. Even here in the alley. For some reason foreigners loved to come to Europe. American yanks especially. The moment the girl opened her mouth confirmed it. Her reply was unexpected causing Silas to stare mutely for a few seconds.

Even if it had been made in a sarcastic jest, Silas was unaccustomed to such. Girls had never crossed his radar. It wasn't as if he found them unattractive or annoying. He just didn't waste his time like as the other boys did with them. Girls never showed him the slightest bit of interest for which he was grateful. Silas had no plans for such tbings until he was away from his guardian and Hogwarts.

Unable to resist the challenging look, Silas quipped back with, "If that's true. I just bet you expect me to believe a jolly red fat man goes around spreading good cheer during December."

Skyler felt the beginnings of a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth at the boy's response. She couldn't for the life of her understand what Santa Clause, of all things, had to do with this, or why the boy brought him up, but it amused her all the same. She scoffed at him, waving her hand in a dismissive way.

"Don't be silly." It seemed a natural response, but there was the tell tale look in her eyes that suggested that wasn't the case. "Everyone knows he's a jolly white fat man dressed in red." The dark haired witch shot the boy a cheeky grin as she sidestepped him, entering the shop to get a closer look at the broom.

She had been reluctant to go in at first, seeing as she was having a good time verbally battling the other boy. She was in her element it seemed like for the first time since coming to this place. And he had been the first person to see beyond what she actually said, not taking her words quite so literally. Conversation with the girl in the robes shop had been dreadfully dull for the most part, because the other witch had not grasped the meaning behind Skyler's words, missing the point of them completey.

But her excitement and curiosity over the broom was too strong, and won out. Especially since it was awfully uncomfortable out in the heat, even in her jeans and plain white t-shirt. How the boy could stand wearing that dark hooded...what was it anyways? A sweater vest? It was pretty much a sweater with no sleeves, so she supposed the only word for it would be sweater vest. Either way, she would've been roasting in that in this warm weather.

Without his consent, the corners of Silas' mouth tried to creep upwards. The Yank was quick, he would give her that. She was someone new. Someone whom he didn't know nor did she know him. There were no call to stand upon formalities, no expectations, no assumptions. It was rather refreshing and made the Ravenclaw feel a bit lighter.

It was this as well as the fact that it was in his nature to ways want the last word that had him turn to follow. The girl hadn't seemed as if she had been trying to brush him off. This was the only reason he wasn't plotting anything but continuing their conversation. It was light banter and some might find it silly, but he was eager to expand on it. To see where they could go with the subject.

Long legs quickly caught up with the Yank without running. Opening the door he gave a half smile allowing only his amusement to show through. Pushing his hood down (he had been taught to remove your hat or hood when entering a place), he quickly ran a hand through his short hair. There was no judgement in his voice as he inquired, "Do you honestly believe that? A beneficent jolly fat man?"

Skyler returned the boy's small amused smile with one of her own as he caught up to her easily and opened the door that would allow them entrance to the shop. She paused out of habit, assuming he was going to enter before her, but it only took a moment for the witch to realize he was holding the door open for her. This wasn't something she was exactly accustomed to. Back home Skyler was considered, for lack of better words, one of the guys. And so usually entering places happened in a whoever got there first sort of way.

The witch was a bit thrown off by it, but shrugged it off easily and proceeded into the shop, flashing a thankful yet playful grin at the boy as she did. "How very chivalrous of you." She teased, even going as far as to sigh in mock adoration as she batted her eyelashes and added on, "Finally. A true gentleman." Skyler couldn't hold the look very long though and a laugh bubbled out of her, eyes bright with amusement.

Skyler merely shrugged at his question as she moved further into the shop, in search of the broom displays. "I never really got the chance to." She responded absently, pausing to look at a pair of riding gloves. "But some people do." She added on, now trying the gloves on. "Children do, in my experience. They grow out of it usually by the time they're ten though." Skyler offered, putting the gloves back and trying a different pair. If she thought their current topic of conversation was odd, it didn't show.

Silas had managed to turn his laugh to a cough, as he gave a serious look back. Giving her a sharp nod he replied in a snobbish upper echelon tone with a sniff of disdain. "Well, London is the Land of manners."

Half smiling to show that he too had been joking, Silas entered the shop behind her. Sticking his hands into the pockets of his sleeveless jacket, Silas let his eyes wander about the store, merchandise, and people. Keeping instride with the Yank, he listened and felt himself nod with agreement. He as well had never really,believed in such a thing. Maybe it was his sarcastic pessimistic nature or common sense that he had always disbelieved such tales. He found them fascinating, but doubted the actualness of them.

"By that time they realized how bizarre it is to want to sit on a complete stranger's lap. You think they realize that when they are givin a sweet for sitting on the man's lap that it had been a payment?" Silas was sure to,keep his face blank as if he was asking an innocent question that he had really been curious about.

"Of course it takes them a bit longer to come to that conclussion when it comes to accepting candy of dubious origin from complete strangers."

Skyler couldn't help herself. She snorted. "Yea. Obviously." She responded sarcastically, with a wry grin on her lips as she rolled her eyes. A second later though and she returned his smile, not taking offense to his obviously playful manner. She continued to slowly make her way around the shop, stopping to look at the broom servicing kits as she considered the question he posed to her.

Again, she shrugged halfheartedly, not really paying too close attention to the boy. At least, that's how it seemed. She wasn't at all annoyed by the company in the least. She preferred it. For now. The boy was sort of refreshing, yet she really was beginning to question his sanity with all the questions about good ol' Saint Nick, and the look she then sent him said as much. However, Skyler wasn't fooled by the innocent look, and though she may not know what exactly he was trying to get at, the witch knew there was something.

For a moment Skyler mentally assessed the similarities between them as she prepared her response, once again arching a brow at him. "I'm sure it has more to do with the fact that people tell them he's not real actually." Skyler grinned, tilting her head as she prepared to launch her attack. "And why should it be awkward to sit on his lap? Because you say so?" Her grin widened, much like that of the Chestire cat.

"I mean, it's much like sitting on your great Uncle Milton's lap on Thanksgiving, the only time you see him, isn't it? It's not awkward because your parents are there, so you feel safe, and because they seem to approve. And because you're taught from the time you can walk and taught that Santa is real, you believe you know him, because you see him every year, without fail." Skyler looked at the boy as if wondering if any of this made any sense at all. It was common for things to make perfect sense in her own head but somewhere between there and coming out of her mouth they lost all sense.

"I suppose most give up the belief when their parents deem them to old to believe in such things. After all, what do kids want more than to have their parents approve of them?" She questioned rhetorically, rolling her eyes in an almost agitated way. But a second later and she was grinning again. "It's rather sad ain't it?"

Never thinking that he would ever get a broom until after graduating, didn't stop Silas from wanting one. His eyes drifted from the servicing kits to where the brooms were then back. It was curious that the brooms had kits sold in the quidditch store while a wand kit had to be procured not from Olivander's but a different shop. Maybe it was to keep first years from being overwhelmed? Or accidentally mucking up their wands?

The girl received a mocking smile in return of her questioning look. At least she was playing along with him. Not many would. They would give him the same look as the one she had. At her raised brow, Silas wondered again at the color of her eyes. It was curious and captivating. Giving his own shrug at her reply he stated, "Not really. Its strange in itself. Allowing your child to sit on a stranger's lap. The man could be anyone and yet they are entrusting their children in that brief moment to a stranger. That is utter insanity."

Turning his head away from the Yank, his fingers curled where they were in his pockets. Keeping his eyes locked on the broom servicing kit, Silas gave off the air of indifference. Inside he locked away the want to snap irrationally at the girl. He didn't know what any of that was like. He didn't even have any parents. Not really. He had been nine months old when they were caught amd sentenced. Too young for him to recall any memories. It wasn't like the Malfoys were the most loving and overtly affectionate family. Neither would they have an extended family gatherings.

At her statement, Silas felt a pang. It was true. Maybe a stronger person didn't want their parents approval. Yet that was one thing he did crave. Not love or affection. It was approval. Acknowledgement that he was his parents' child. He did not wish to shame or disgrace them. Yet to be himself, to be his own person what did he do but do dress and choose a house that would bring shame and disgrace in his parents' eye?

"Maybe, or it is a wise move," he responded to her last question ignoring the middle bits that brought him discomfort. "A child has to be realistic. Find a balance between belief and what is."

Disdain and contempt laced his voice. "Coddling them into believing some lie; a figment and story that keeps getting embellished as it is retold. It does them no good and in some cases brings nothing but disappointment."

"I don't think it's anymore insane than sending your kid off to school for the year with only strangers for professors to trust." Skyler retorted easily, flashing him a wry grin. Skyler had to admit it was an odd conversation to be having, but it was the out of the blue things in life that kept one on their toes. Atleast, that's what her father always said, and she was quite happy to agree with him.

Skyler noted when he turned indifferent, not really having anything to say to much of her statement, and this caused a full fledged blaze of curiosity to flare to life inside her. It was one of her many downfalls, her curiosity, and she had to fight back the urge to question the boy on his lack of comment. Even though she felt it would be a reasonable reaction at this point. He had been awfully chatty up til now. Anyone would wonder at his sudden silence right?

The teen had just talked herself into her questioning when the boy distracted her with his response, in which his disdain was clear. Skyler might have been offended by it, and in a small way she was, but mostly she took it as a challenge. She rolled her eyes, huffing slightly as she moved past him. "A child shouldn't have to be anything but a child."

For the first time in the conversation, there was conviction in her words, making it clear this was something she really did believe in. "A child's imagination is something which should be built up, not torn down. It's the one point of life where a person can be whatever and whoever they want, and not have to worry about what anyone else says or thinks. Why should anyone get to be able to take that away?" The witch stopped in her tracks, suddenly rounding on the boy, all haughtiness as she adopted a stance any pureblood would be proud of.

It had taken the better part of the summer and countless lessons with her grandmother to get it right, but she had succeeded. She only adopted it, along with her mocking smirk, to test a theory out. "But I suppose you wouldn't know imagination if it bit you in the ass." She taunted. The witch was well aware this could go many ways, some of which could be bad, but she didn't really care. This was far more fun than playing it safe.

Her second trip to Diagon Alley and Ryleigh found herself alone. Again. Why was it that her two little brothers had picked this summer to start experimenting with shoving toys up their noses? Just when they thought it was safe for one parent to take their daughter on a trip for school supplies, Anna or Frederick would send a frantic owl pleading for help extracting the object or getting Todd or Thomas to the doctor before his airways were clogged.

Of course, this meant that Ryleigh was left to wander along the street on her own. She was supposed to be finding interesting things to take with her, as she finished her official supply list the first visit. This meant that she didn’t have a specific destination in mind. While she was wandering aimlessly, she couldn’t help but overhear an interesting argument in front of what seemed to be the quidditch supply shop.

”…jolly red fat man… December…” she heard, padding closer in her trainer-clad feet. She tucked her hands in her overall pockets and ignored the way the slight wind caught wisps of her French braided hair. She was interested in this conversation. Why would these older kids be discussing Santa in the middle of August?

”…he’s a jolly white fat man dressed in red.” Ryleigh followed the two into the store, tucking the wisps back behind her ears as she was out of the breeze. She looked around then, casting her hazel gaze on the items around the shop. It definitely held some interesting items, and had an interesting smell. Ryleigh wasn’t much for flying, though, so she really didn’t see the thrill of the place. She really didn’t know what made her follow the couple of teens in the first place, but now that she had done so, she figured she might as well stay.

She’d just see what the conversation was actually about, ride out her curiosity, and then be on her way. Maybe she could get some treats for Phil and a few sweets for her trunk before her mum or daddy came to collect her. Then she heard it. The boy questioned the existence of Santa. He actually questioned the belief of the jolly man who gave all the good children gifts every Christmas! Didn’t he know he’d get coal from now on? Didn’t he fear the repercussions? The young Ravenclaw let out a horrified gasp and stared at the two with huge eyes.

The pair obviously hadn’t noticed her shock, as the girl actually answered him with her own disbelief! Children outgrow it by around ten? Ten?! But, Ryleigh was twelve and she knew Santa was real! Who else left her presents every year? She listened as the older students continued their discussion, oblivious to the tears that were welling up in her widened eyes. All that they were saying was actually making sense. But that meant that it was true. That meant that there really wasn’t a Santa and that she’d forever been led to believe in a lie! How much more of her life was a lie?

A muffled whimper escaped her quivering lips as she listened to them talk about taking candy from strangers and sending your kids away to boarding schools. She was still stuck on the Santa thing, and she finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. She let out a great wail of indignant sadness and anger and confusion. She didn’t even register the fact that the older girl had just swore. “B-b-but…” she started, sobbing so much that she could barely blubber coherently, “S-santa h-has to b-b-be r-r-r-“ She couldn’t even get the word ‘real’ past her lips for the flood of tears that fell from her eyes. They poured down her cheeks while snot ran from her nose in the most unpleasant way. She screeched like a dying animal, high pitched noises of pure agony at this revelation. It felt like the whole world had just fallen down around the small blonde child, and these two fellow students were the only ones who might pull it back up.

Disagreeing, but keeping silent, Silas shook his head. Shipping your child off to school did demand trust as she'd said, the Santa thing was completely different. School age children had each other and hopefully common sense. A tiny kid that believed sitting on a fat man's lap and asking for presents was not in the same league. Didn't muggles teach their children not to talk to strangers? Then they go and contridict themselves by allowing their kid to be suckered by any man dressed in a Santa suit. It was no wonder little children were so contrary. They learned it from their hypocritical parents!

"I agree that a child should be able to be a child. Unless its to keep them ignorant and vulnerable." Being a child was no excuse. While he was a child he was already being taught etiquette, respect, everything a child should be learning.

Silas scoffed at her next tirade. Did she truly believe that rhetoric? Imagination should be praised, but not if the child is deluded. They had to have a concept of reality. As a child all you crave is wanting to impress your parents. Always worries you might be letting them down. Its their opinion that matters. Its when you're older, wiser, and more aware that you come to not care. The Yank had it all backwards. Maybe it was because of her American rearing? Were they all backwards?

Seeing the girl's stance he cocked a brow until her statement. Cold anger had his eyes shutter while his half smile turned glacial. He'd show her how 'imaginative' he could be. Before he could do anything the wailing of a banshee interrupted. Hands going to his aching ears, he was surprised that his eardrums hadn't burst. Looking around, Silas' brown eyes locked onto the cause of his torment. Lips curling in disgust at her crying his face clearly showed his revulsion to the condition of hers.

Glancing over at the Yank he gestured at the blond. His expression clearly said You're a girl. FIX her! Silas was anything but a comforter. Emotions were something he'd been repressing for years. They were only to be let out occaisionally and never in a manner such as this! It was disgraceful, annoying, and if the girl went up another decible she was sure to break the sound barrier.

To Skyler it was easy to see that with every word she spoke she frustrated the boy more. Or maybe annoying was the right word. Either way, it was rather funny. And rather interesting. Because the boy reacted much the same as her own grandmother did sometimes. It was one reason why Skyler had the suspicion he was pureblood, and also one reason she continued the line of topic. It was fascinating yet unnerving to Skyler, the pureblood way of life. In her opinion, it changed people, and not for the better.

How was one supposed to live when they were trapped in a world where they had to watch everything they said and did? Where every little mannerism was judged, and every second of every day was spent under scrutiny? It was madness to her, and it was why she didn't get along at all with her grandmother, and lately, with her mother. It hadn't been until they had moved here that her mother had began to adopt her old ways, and had then forced them upon Skyler. She hated it with a passion. It made her feel like a caged animal, and she honestly wondered how anyone could want to live that way.

And yet, she put up with it for the most part. Sure, she did everything in her power to be difficult, but in the end she went through with the walking and the talking and blah blah blah. But it was hardly for approval from her parents or grandmother. She did it because it was always more sensible to get even rather than angry. And get even she did. At every turn. Her grandmother had even tried to be challenging about it, saying how no amount of teaching could turn a half blood into a pureblood. Skyler had to admit the comment had stung, but she was proud to have not risen to the bait. She knew what the old witch had even trying to do, and she saw through these manipulations easily.

Which brought her to the conclusion that this constant battle she had been in all summer between being herself and suppressing herself just to fit some standard of society was actually someone else's entire life. And she felt for them. But some people just really needed to learn how hypocritical the pureblood way of life was. And not to mention backwards.

Skyler was drawn from her thoughts as the crying pierced her ears, and for a split second she had thought it was the boy, but when she found him covering his ears due to the sound, she was rather relieved and yet dissapointed that the cries didn't belong to him. It would've been entertaining to know she had brought him to tears. Despite the situation, a grin crept onto her lips at the thought even as she looked for the source of the commotion. Skyler was rather surprised to find the cries belonged to a small blonde girl, who apparently had been within hearing range of their conversation because she seemed to be crying about how Santa wasn't real.

Looking from the crying girl to the boy, who's expression had her snorting mentally, Skyler had a sudden idea pop into her head. She shot a wicked grin at the boy before turning to the blonde girl, the look on her face turning into one of understanding. "Now don't cry. Of course Santa is real. How could he not be? He always eats all the cookies I leave out for him." The witch said this in a tone that suggested this ended the issue. Leaning closer to the young girl, Skyler smiled in a friendly matter. "Don't worry about what he says." She jabbed a thumb to indicate the boy. "He's just saying all of that because he's angry that Santa didn't bring him what he wanted last year." By now, Skyler was grinning. "And because for years he's been too big to sit on Santa's lap, and he misses it terribly."

It was all said in a mock whisper, so Skyler knew without a doubt the boy would hear every word she said. It was what she was aiming for. She straightened up, bringing her eyes back to the boy as she patted the young girl on the shoulder in a comforting manner. She adopted a sad look, but her eyes told another story as she said, "He's just a bit jealous that kids like you still get to do things like that and he can't."

It seemed impossible for someone to go from blubbering like a baby to full of rage in just a matter of seconds, but that was exactly what Ryleigh did. The extreme change in emotions gave the girl a bad case of hiccups, and while she wiped at her damp face, she kept choking on the silly noises. If looks could kill, the two students before her would surely have fallen to their deaths by now, as the young Ravenclaw was glaring daggers at the both of them. She might be young and naïve, but she wasn’t an idiot. She’d heard what they had said. It made sense. The girl didn’t believe any more than the boy did, and so the blonde didn’t appreciate her changing her story.

“Now, hic don’t give hic me that hic ‘kids like yo-‘ hic ‘you’ stuff hic,” she growled, trying her best to poke the girl in her chest as she lectured her. “At least hic h-he’s not hic lying to my hic face!” It was official. Her world had broken and this was the reaction. Angry Ryleigh. She’d only been unleashed once before and it was a dark time that nobody spoke of. It involved a dentist and a bad tooth and the rest was really better left in the dark recesses of the Turpin family history books. Angry Ryleigh was bad. Angry Ryleigh was uncontrollable. Angry Ryleigh was frightening.

She rounded on the boy then, glaring daggers at him as well. “And y- hic you!” she barked, standing below his chin and staring up at him through her bloodshot eyes. “You are no hic better than her!” The boy looked scared of her tears, which actually rather amused Ryleigh. As she stared up at him, she realized that he was a student from her own house. “I know y-you.” Her hiccups were finally slowing down and she could control herself a bit. “Lestrange. Have you ever even been a hic child? I don’t think you get to say anything hic about what rights children do or don’t have.”

Perhaps the comment was a bit low, but she was angry. He’d just managed to destroy her idea of a bit of magic that didn’t take wands or Latin phrases, but simply a bit of belief that even muggles could find within. Ryleigh was okay with being a bit mean to the arrogant Pureblood. She was hurting inside. “Now, why don’t you both start telling me just wha- hic what else in life has been a big fat lie!”

"Oh yes, I miss sitting on an old perverted man's lap," was the spat out reply from the Ravenclaw. Honestly did she really expect anyone let alone a child past primary age to eat up that poor excuse? Did Silas look the type that eagerly awaited up for some greedy geezer to wolf down the cookies or mince pies left out to prove his existence? At least the answer had quieted the other girl but it had still left his ears ringing.

Snickering as the Yank got called on her cock and bull story, he quickly blinked as he found himself faced with the angry blond. He did not care that she was a child however and hissed, "Excuse me?"

When she then proceeded to ask the question that the Yank did his anger returned full force as he glared at the girl. Lip curling up he replied, "It's a lie that all boys are brought up not to hit irritating little girls that don't know when to keep their lips zipped."

If this little midget wanted to sit there and throw around comments like that then he would play ball. He was done for the day of being the proper gentleman. Of trying to be the example to which others should adhere to upon courtesy and the like. These two were just pushing the wrong buttons and not being smart enough or have the common sense or decency to leave such matters alone!

"If you know who I am little girl, then you had best know that I don't care who you are. If you want to have a go at me, you had best be prepared. Becuase I will take no mercy on you. Besides, it's your own fault for evesdropping. If you don't want to know the truth then don't listen in."

Skyler felt herself shrug in response to both the boy and the younger girl, her grin never fading. She  felt neither guilty or ashamed. Instead she was fighting down the laughter that threatened to burst forth from her lips. It was hard not to laugh at someone who was trying to yell at you and kill you with their look alone, in between hiccups. Though Skyler had thought that maybe the whole thing could've been glossed over, it was definitely worth it to see the blonde round on the boy, even if Skyler had to take an angry word or two.

Skyler smirked as the blonde gave the boy, Lestrange she had called him, a piece of her own mind too. And his reaction didn't disappoint. It was as if a crate of fireworks had just went off in the middle of the Quidditch store. Yup. So worth it. The witch cocked a hip, watching the show and thinking the Lestrange boy had a point. She supposed she should try to intercede before he did make good on his threat, though secretly Skyler thought the girl deserved it. If you can't take the heat, stay out the kitchen. Another motto the brunette witch liked to live by.

Stepping forward so that she was not necessarily in between the two but more like so the three formed a somewhat triangle, Skyler rolled her eyes at the both of them. "Now lets not all get our underwear in a twist." She commented boredly. Her purple eyes landed on the blonde as she directed her attention to the younger girl. "He's got a point ya know? You hardly have any right to yell at either of us. It's not our fault that you decided to follow us around listening in on a conversation you weren't invited to. Besides," the teen added on, "If you wanna be mad at someone, be mad at your parents. They're the ones who lied to you. Not us." Skyler glared slightly, making it clear that while it might have entertained her she did not appreciate having to deal with the blonde's terribly misplaced anger.

Gaze switching from the blonde to the boy, her eyes flashed dangerously in her anger but she spoke in an oddly calm voice. "And you. I don't care who you are." Skyler allowed her own disdain show through. "It seems to me you've got a personal problem that you don't need to take out on the rest of us. However," a slow, vicious smirk made its way to her lips, "if you feel the need to threaten someone, I'm more than up to putting you in your place."

There! Skyler thought triumphantly. Let the little pureblood imp try something. Oh Skyler would bet every galleon she possessed that the boy was a pureblood. Of that she had no doubt. They were easily spotted like a pink hippo in a zoo, especially when you ruffled their feathers. If she were being honest, she had been having fun with the boy and their conversation until the blonde had come along raging like a rampaging Hippogriff. But even so, she wouldn't just stand by and watch the boy threaten the younger girl with bodily harm just because he was angry at being called out on what Skyler realized now was probably the truth.

Ryleigh’s temper was slowly cooling and the young girl began to realize how foolish she was behaving. She’d followed a pair of older students into a shop where she had no business being, threw a tantrum to rival those of her toddler brothers, then yelled at the teens as if she was their mother. It was no wonder the boy was threatening to hit her and the girl was looking as if she hated her down to her core. The blonde suddenly felt very out of place and wished it was time for her to go home.

“Um… right…” she murmured, shifting awkwardly as she tried to avoid their intimidating stares. “What’s that old saying? Curiosity killed the Ravenclaw?” She squeaked, wishing she could melt into the floorboards. She’d been eavesdropping, which was terrible in all honesty. She couldn’t really say anything in response to the accusations the pair shot at her in reaction to this little detail. The girl had a point though. Ryleigh should be angry with her mum and daddy. They’d continued lying to her even as she had grown up. The least they could have done was told her the facts before they sent her off to Hogwarts.

Something the boy said had particularly stung Ryleigh, and she found herself simply wanting out of her current situation. These two clearly weren’t interested in who she was or anything else about her. She’d placed herself in their interaction, disturbed them, cried at them, yelled at them… It was no wonder they both hated her at this point. She knew that much was true. The blonde had a way of getting on people’s bad sides. Her wondering mind and lack of self-control were mostly to blame.

She took a couple tentative steps backward, bumping into a display and blushing, trying not to cry out of embarrassment rather than sadness or anger this time. “I’ll just… be on my way then,” she said in a small voice, trying her best to back out of the shop without running into anything or anyone.

Silas gave the irritating Yank an icy glare. He didn't need some stranger on holiday to be mediator. Or stating the obvious. When the girl's glare turned on him he narrowed his eyes. No she did not know him and he let a cold smile play about his mouth at her threat. 'Put him in his place?' Those were dangerous words to fling at him. He barely heard or registerd his fellow Ravenclaw's words keeping his gaze locked on the Yank.

A muscle in his cheek twitched as his hand itched to place it about his wand. Normally he would try to keep a calm demeanor but these girls were just getting on the wrong side of him. He was not above hitting a girl. That bit of 'fair play' was reserved for Gryffindors he was sure. If a girl started it then they had better expect retaliation. Perhaps he had inherited his families craziness, or had a new brand of it.

"I don't like people like you. Who think they're so clever and full of their own self-righteousness. You American's need to mind your own bloody business instead of ruining everything."

Stupid Yank thinking she bloody well knew everything. Why had he thought it a good idea to follow her again? Shaking his head, Silas glared as he bit out, "Enjoy your holiday Yank."

Uncaring if he was being rude, he turned his back on her as he began to walk away half hoping she would break the law. That she would attack him so he could retaliate in kind. He had something he wanted to try. He'd never done it to a human before so had no idea if the effects would be the same.

Skyler nearly quailed under the boy's look. Nearly. It might have taken everything in her to conquer her apprehension but she did her best to match his glare with one of her own. She would not be made to back down and cower in fear! If nothing else, she considered that act beneath her.

A rush of air left her as his words had the same effect as taking a punch to the gut. Skyler wished with all her might that she could grab her wand and do him some damage. As it was though she couldn't. All she could do to retaliate was with her own words.

"And I don't like people like you. People who try to force other's into submission and fear to make themselves feel and look better. People like you are no more than bullies and less than the grime under your shoes." She shot back, eyes flashing in her anger.

She didn't care if he liked her or not. She wasn't here to please him or anyone else. And she wasn't about to apologize for herself because of some idiot pinhead. Enjoy her holiday? So he still thought she was on vacation. When he turned his back on her Skyler would have taken it as the ultimate insult if she could be bothered to care. But all she could think was good riddance. It didn't stop her from calling at his back in spite.

"And I hope I see you at Hogwarts."

Skyler meant this as a promise, and with one final death glare at the boy she too turned her back, moving in the opposite direction to finally do what she had come to do. Although all of her earlier was gone and replaced with a boiling anger. Damn him! she thought. Damn him to the deepest pits of hell!