farther [AWAY], tag;; branflakes<3

[Verity Weasley]

Inner conflict. It seemed to be the theme of the night for Verity, she tried to ignore the twisting feelings that threatened to tear her apart but in the end the pain drove her to walk. With her prefect status no one would second guess her being out after hours, not to mention that the only person she should meet at such an hour would be the caretaker. With a quick smile and mutter of 'headed to the bathroom' she should have been able to escape any possible complication. Well, any complication than the concoction of desperation, confusion and most of all guilt that seemed to only grow as time dragged slowly onwards. She was becoming one of the things which she proclaimed to hate - one of the little whores who ran around the school stealing other people's boyfriends and then lying about it.

She had a perfectly wonderful guy of her own and yet... she'd still wanted to kiss Grayson out at the lake. That could be written off as pure comfort if Verity tried, which she did. The feelings when she was trapped in the closet with Brandon though... those weren't so easily pushed aside. The bottom line was that, even when she felt what she honestly believed to be his hand going up her leg, she didn't reach down to physically stop him. If that had been him, if he showed any genuine interest in her, she would have... done things. Therein lied the problem, she was perfectly prepared to cheat on her boyfriend with not only one but two different guys, what kind of girl did that?

A thief, a whore, a liar...

It was these thoughts that prompted such a late night walk, it must have been a bit past midnight when Verity made her way into the entrance hall and noticed a strangely familiar head of blond hair heading out the huge oak doors and onto the grounds... Why the hell would Brandon be going outside at a time like this? It was not only bloody cold but it was also so very late, it couldn't possibly be safe. Without a second thought as to the possible consequences of her actions Verity ran up the remaining few steps which left her only meters from the door that had been left ajar... sprinting forwards and wishing she had a bit more clothing on (and maybe some footwear) the girl reached her destination in record time only to see a large shadow (presumably her Branflakes) running across the grounds and towards the forest. He wasn't anywhere near the gamekeeper's cabin nor the lake... no, the only possible goal for him was the forest it's self. Why was not the question now, the only question was how Verity would reach him before he got there.

Not noticing any of the minute details of her plan that had gone wrong (like the fact that she wore no shoes, and she had left her wand back in her bedroom in her haste to get out of the Huffelpuff common room) Verity started off in the general direction of Brandon's shadow just in time to see him disappear into the tree line... and she began to worry. All she knew was that neither of them were safe outside without the other. The closer the got the more she could see of him, standing at the tree line, but then a cloud would pass over the moon and when she was again blessed with light he would be farther away. Knowing her strong voice would carry even when she was a good distance away Verity began to yell. "Brandon! Get out of there!" There was a dark presence on the grounds this evening, Verity had no clue that the fear she felt was inspired by not a werewolf or a vampire but by... well, let's leave that suspense for later.

Eventually the girl came within fifteen feet of Brandon and looked up just in time to see his fist collide with a tree. A solid tree. No thought, instinct governed her actions now. Wrapped in her fluffy purple bathrobe she looked horribly out of place as she rushed through more trees and her hands closed around Brandon's arm, wondering what the hell propelled him to such an action. Her breath came in short pants, that much running couldn't possibly be healthy. "What in the... seven circles of.... hell do you think you're doing?!" Agitation, fear, anger, confusion... yay, even more emotions for the menagerie which Verity was collecting.

[Brandon Creevey]

So let's rewind, back before Brandon was even lumbering out to the forest, with no real purpose than to be anti-tree hugger boy. Let's go back to the night of the closet incident, when Brandon had felt about as low as he ever possibly had. Having let himself snap at Orion the way he had, and the whole pressure of the situation had allowed himself to collapse his emotions, bringing all the blame down onto him. Thus, Brandon privately began to use his Ravenclaw traits to perform something that could very well assist him in his search to alleviate himself of his outbursts.

It probably could of left Verity suspiscious at first, why he was so tired during the day, as though he'd been out all night within the school. Which he had, but he wasn't going to bother her with bringing her along to the library, to only get them in further trouble. For a few days, Brandon researched many spells that involved things that altered the body and mind, all things that were simple to rather difficult rituals. When he found the one he believed to suit him best, he'd tucked the book into his robes and left, quickly gathering the needed materials.

When it came to the night he attempted it, he felt a great emotion in his chest that he'd be free of the depression and and testy emotions that randomly plagued him. Sadly for Brandon, there was no common cure for being a teenager, even if he may not of been among the typical ones. Everything went accordingly, EXCEPT Bran-flakes had inverted the drawing of a chalk circle that the ritual required... which would prove to be disastrous and he wouldn't even know it. He spoke and performed the rites and incantations to complicated spell, and when there was a expulsion of light, Brandon didn't seem to realize that vast rays of purple light had absorbed into him, rather than expelled from him.

The negative energy of the air had thrusted itself into his psyche, bearing down on all of his brain and forming itself into an entirely seperate mentality. It fed off of Brandon's desires that he always denied his hormones, and it fed off of his rage that came from day to day dealings with people, and of course his ability to stress himself out in general. Now, the kicker to this entire situation was that, tonight was the night the spell had taken place... And when Brandon had returned to bed, only to find himself having an even more exploded version of an anxiety attack, he lost consciosness.

Now, from there, when Brandon would wake up as himself, he'd of just believed it was an after effect and he merely fell asleep that night. However, the new entity that dwelled in Brandon attached itself to him, taking in all his thoughts, beliefs, desires, everything that made him who he was... and it found itself expanding on everything that he never expressed, all the negative emotions that would of made him a much more demanding presence if he didn't believe in having such a big heart.

Such anger began to build up, more than any Brandon knew consciously, and he was gone, flying down the stairs and corridors in just a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt. He wanted some sort of outlet, and when the concept of Brandon's love of the forest washed over him, it became a twisted notion to head out their and possibly kill a werewolf in a more inhumane matter. By the time he'd gotten down the stairs, he could sense the presence of someone, but it was definetely not of a teacher or anyone that was a threat to his wishes.

Taking off in a run at the forest, the flood of memories that all fueled Brandon's rage, frustration, insecurities, they all seemed to empower into his current condition, surging a fit of adrenaline into him. He heard a voice, and he cursed, if only because he'd heard his name. Which in response sent all the surging rage into a fist that slammed into a tree. His knuckled were slightly scraped, but the very shallow of the tree's outer wood had splintered, a feat that under normal cirsumstances would of never happened.

Then, his arms was grabbed, and he was about to throw whoever it was away from him, which left his muscles tensed before he turned his head, a almost inhuman glare in his eyes. Then, he caught sight of her, the girl from his life that had grown to be quite a close friend...and if he wasn't such a prat would of truly understood the potential for a great attraction for her. "...." He stared at her, partially relaxing, "Why are you here?" He said, not of a typical tone as he slowly pulled his arm from her grip, the very minimal amount of ability to be kind keeping him from jerking it away in anger.

[Verity Weasley]

Over time Verity had come to take a few things for granted and one of those things was that she almost always had someone around to protect her. In the very beginning it was Grayson, her big bad buffer against all of Slytherin house. Next came Rachel, less of a protector and more of a person to talk to. Then there was Brandon, perhaps the most protective of the three. It was because of his big heart and the way he was so open with his feelings but Verity always felt most comfortable around him - he was just that kind of person. He'd succeeded in a way which no one else, not even Grayson, could. He made Verity fly. It was just one time but that one time stuck with her so much because it was the first time she felt honestly safe without her feet on the ground. Now, as she watched that same boy who normally made her feel like he wouldn't let anything touch her nearly put his hand through a tree, Verity freaked.

My God, what the hell is going on? Am I losing him?!

Everything else, all the confusion and the pain, it was all pushed aside for now. Now the priority was not Verity's own problems, she could focus on Brandon. She would focus on Brandon. She had to. When his eyes turned from the tree (which seemed to have splintered under his force) and came to rest on Verity she didn't even see her Branflakes, she saw something feral and... so unlike him. For a split second she thought this might be his brother but then it occurred to her that this had to be Bran, she knew just because. The arm that her fingers were now only gently clasped around belonged to one of her closest friends, even if it felt nothing like him. Even if his eyes screamed at her to run the other way, lest she suffer a fate similar to the tree.

With a minute to recognize her Brandon seemed to calm down slightly, he still didn't appear to be anywhere near normal though. While Verity had expected a warm welcome and a nice hug to lean into out in the chilly night air she received a heated glare and words that made her spine tingle. It was Brandon but... it wasn't. He was... possessed? No, if he was he wouldn't have recognized her. And he quite obviously knew exactly who Veri was, he just didn't seem to care. "I'm out here cause I just saw one of my best friends run into the Forbidden Forest. Alone. At night. Do you have any idea how much danger you're in?!"

While her words seemed to be angry Verity's tone was only concerned, tentative even. She momentarily forced herself to forget the hole in the tree, that would only scare her. Even under the effects of some sort of spell Branflakes wouldn't hurt her... he was her Branflakes. The one she could always turn to. Verity pulled her robe closed as Brandon tugged his arm from her grasp, covering her over-sized tee shirt which she used as a nightgown. It wasn't elegant, nor was it attractive, but it was comfortable as hell.

[Brandon Creevey]

He was in danger? He let that statement roll over in his head, he let images of everything that ever pertained to him displaying some sort of physical feat replay in a rush of memories. It was enough to stifle a scoffed laugh, "...You'd be more endangered than I in the forest." The remaining imprint in the tree she diverted her eyes from, he only pointed at to support himself, "If you don't remember, there's alot of times I could of ended up dead from things at school. I've managed to have some retarded ass pureblood hex my bones out of my body in midflight, and yet... I'm still here." He spoke, yet, it was not something Brandon would ever bring up, any fascination he had with being stronger was a goal he kept to himself, and he surely wasn't one to believe he was invincible no matter how many more concussion and broken bones he faced than normal students.

"Yet, I guess I'm still endangered then?" He said in hesitation, with a hint of just a bitter attitude directed at everything. " Too bad, no angry animal hunting for me then." He said said with a shrug as he leaned his back against the tree he had harrassed. Not making any aggressive approach at her, "Is that all of why you're out here? Concern?" He asked, as if he expected something behind it, as though he was just using the continously bad mooded ego he had to create reasonings behind why she followed him, even as far to think maybe she pitied him, which made him shoot a glare towards the sky.

Probably, if it wasn't the fact he was speaking in probably the worst and most negative way from his normal personality that gave away him not being quite righ, as well as the fact he hadn't once moved to hug her and snap out of anything... to just be there apologizing and comforting her...but moreso, he hadn't once used her name like he would, even 'Veribear' would of been uttered by now. But something within the deep subsconscious of Brandon's mind that clinged to anything that was him, almost barred his current form of mind to even think of Verity's name...Finding his current self to be too worthless to even be worthy to form his closest friend's name in his vocal chords.

Looking toward the forest again, he contemplated walking away, figuring if she was too scared she'd just return to the school...And if she decided to follow, he assumed she'd feel assured by being around him for safety would quell her fears. It wasn't far off, he had no intent to hurt her, and really by every passing moment his mind warped the love and bond of friendship into the slow beginnings of desire and lust. Which lessened his glare, but he obviously wasn't feeling the most entertained by standing there believing someone was full of pity for him.

[Verity Weasley]

There were so many things wrong with this situation that Verity didn't know if she could have counted them all on her two hands. He was so very unlike Brandon and yet Verity knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was standing there and talking with her best friend. To be honest he was acting down right... well, Slytherin. One 'blood traitor' comment was all Verity needed to hear to assure her that Brandon was under some kind of enchantment. As it were, she decided to wait out the storm and try to calm him down over time. Not only would it give her something to do but more importantly it would assure the boy's safety... being able to punch a tree was still no guarantee that he could defend himself from some of the Dark creatures with whom he now shared residence. The bottom line was that Verity knew Brandon had suddenly became far too arrogant to protect himself... as he'd revealed with his boastful speech... and that meant that she would have to be the one to keep them safe.

As he took it upon himself to question Verity's motives for following him the girl only reached into her robe's pockets, desperately searching for her wand. When it wasn't there she placed her hand on her head but found her hair was indeed left down... it wasn't twisted up and held in place by a thin piece of magical wood. Damn. She'd left it back in her room somewhere, and now she was truly without any form of safety. If a werewolf charged her Verity would like to think that Brandon would still step between her and it... but the point was that he wouldn't be a match for it either. They could both easily end up dead now, all because she'd been too hasty in her need to go out for a midnight stroll.

"Yes, I'm out here because of concern! I don't want something to eat you, Bran!" She was getting more angry now, eyes beginning to glow in the tiny amount of moonlight that made it through the trees. Even if he was cursed Brandon was acting like an ass, an ass that didn't have any care for her own feelings when she was out here risking her life for him. On the up side this breakthrough allowed Verity to cross a simple 'bad mood' off of her list of reasons for his strange behaviour... news of his entire family being brutally murdered wouldn't effect the boy like this. Needless to say she wanted to get to the bottom of things, preferably before they were sniffed out by any of the scary things which haunted the shadows and lived beyond the barrier of the darkness.

Taking two steps closer Verity let out a sigh of desperation, she was beginning to get the feeling that Brandon wasn't the only thing in the forest who had it's eyes on her. He looked like he was thinking about leaving, heading deeper into the woods, and Verity didn't know how much father she could follow him. He feet were already in a fairly large amount of pain from walking over sticks and whatnot, a few rocks here and there. She thought that one of her legs, which had been left bare, might have been caught on a thorny bush a while back when she rushed through to reach Branflakes at his tree. It burned but honestly it was too dark to tell, her eyes just wouldn't work that well.

"Come with me back to the castle, please? I'm cold and scratched and... I don't like the dark." There. She'd said it. Verity Angelina Weasley had admitted her fear of the dark... and she never felt more like a baby. The dark of her dorm room she could handle. The dark of the broom closet she could handle. This dark, though, this dark had a bit of light. It played tricks on her eyes and made her see shapes rushing by just outside her field of vision. Outlines blurred by fur, eyes that flashed through the shadows. Veri shivered visibly, she was sorted into Huffelpuff for a reason... she was a bloody coward. Now that was becoming apparent.

[Brandon Creevey]

He nearly rolled his eyes, he didn't appreciate being snapped at but further more what sounded like whining annoyed him. But of course, there was a difference between being evil, and just having an alternate view of things. Verity was still his friend, even in the current state of things, so he really only stated his mind when she desired for him to return with her to the castle. "I'm not in the mood to go back there. I was cooped up in the astronomy tower most of the night, let alone the day with those dusty ol' ragged books..." He said, his altered mentality confusing his trip with her to the library for the the one he made for the ritualistic books he'd taken on his own.

He gave her some kindness, tossing off his shoes leaving only his socks as the armor between the twigs and such on the ground and his skin. He walked away towards the outside of the forest, not even telling her to use the shoes, or that he'd at the least leave the forest for her. He just kept walking for a moment, before he came to a seat on the grass, bringing his knees to his chest, looking toward the Whomping Willow in the slight distance. Memories brought to mind the painful bruises he'd obtained from the tree, and really made him believe he really was a complete mental case that everyone thought he was.

His bitter glare gave way for a sigh to himself, this whole ordeal was complicated because this girl had followed him all because she cared for him. Of course not in such the way his mind was twisting his feelings into, but the fact she was caring was enough to hinder his progress in killing something or getting himself killed. But, at the moment he just waited, a distant hooting of an owl caused him to shift his attention momentarily toward the Quidditch pitch, something that actually brought a smirk to his lips momentarily.

It was somewhat of a dark smile, the one place where the very persona he was living out, always became apparent was the Quidditch pitch. It was where his arrogance, pride, anger, everything all came into view full circle, and no opponent knew what hit them when the dorky Ravenclaw Brandon Creevey was nearly about to take their head off with a bludger. He sighed again with a small laugh, it almost dropped the level of bitter rage in him, but he was far from being out of the dark recesses of his mind...

[Verity Weasley]

Verity didn't like this, she didn't like it one bit. Here she was, standing with Brandon in the Forbidden Forest while he acted like he'd been possessed by the world's first violently emo ghost... but it seemed like nothing would convince him to go back to the castle. Her worry had extended into planning, Verity knew that he would still walk her down to the Huffelpuff Common Room like he always did and that would be her chance. She would run in, grab her wand, come out and immobilize the boy. He was... dangerous at best and self-destructive at worst. Still, her heart dropped like a stone in her chest when he refused her request to accompany her on a return trip to Hogwarts. This one would be the death of her, Verity just knew he would.

He's gonna owe me sososososo much when he... wakes up or... whatever.

Once again Branflakes was on the move but this time it wasn't to attack a tree or woodland creature, no, it was to strip off his shoes and begin a trek back out to the school grounds. Not much of a trek by most standards but for Verity it was substantial, especially when she was shoe-less. A small smile graced her lips when she realized that he'd taken off his shoes for her, it was the one and only sign so far that the real Branflakes was in there somewhere. She just had to figure out how to bring him out. Blunt-force head trauma sprung to mind and with Brandon walking with his back turned to her it wouldn't be terribly difficult to smack him in the back of the head with something but... no, Verity couldn't do that, even to help him in the long run. Plus she had no way to move his unconscious body, he was a good deal bigger than her.

The boy'd lose his shoes if it wasn't for me...

Verity bent down and picked up the two shoes, examining them and realizing that they were quite a few sizes too large for her 7-ish feet. Plus they were already worn by someone else... even if it was Brandon that felt strange. She fought back the urge to just carry the shoes in her arms and instead tried to slip them onto her feet, wincing and realizing that she might actually have a cut on her big toe. Brandy's shoes would be the ones to suffer though, Verity was happy to think that she would at least get this bit of revenge for his stunt. But pissed could wait till tomorrow, now she had to be calm and try to convince him heading inside was in his best interest. Trailing a good distance behind him crackling twigs to her left side were a painful reminder to Veri that she was still in the Forbidden Forest... and quite alone, at that. It sped her pace up to a jog and then into a full blown run, whatever was making that noise was keeping pace with her though... a huge shadow was visible, barely outlined against all the other darkness that night brought with it.

And out she tripped. Between her wearing shoes that were much too large for her feet and being scared out of her mind Verity was sent, as the expression goes, 'ass over tea-kettle' and landed in an undignified heap on the ground. Perhaps the only good part of the fall was that it got her out of the Forest and into the relative safety of the surrounding grass... even if it embarrassed her in front of someone who was sure to make some stupid comment. Before he could speak Verity was pulling her hair away from her mouth and talking in a hushed whisper. "Y'know, that's a start but... How about this time we make it all the way to a distance were there isn't anything that will try to... I don't know... eat me?!" So much for calm, cool and collected. Near-death experiences, which Veri was now fairly sure she'd just experienced, had a way of sobering you up like nothing else. They were in danger as long as they were near the forest - simple answer? Get the hell away from the forest! Verity sat mermaid-style on the ground, not wishing for the entire world (or Branflakes) to know what color her underwear happened to be.