Brother/Sister Chat (Savannah)

[Elliot Lyons]

Elliot returned to the common room still sort of smiling. He kept replaying what happened before he and Ingrid walked back up to the castle in his mind. Who could blame him for feeling the way he did?

He was still aware of the fact that he still needed to talk to Savannah. It was the only way that he figured out that he could attempt to help them go foward. Elliot would never leave his sister behind. He would hold on to her for however long he needed to, but Savannah needed to take a leap of her own. He only hoped that make he could help her start that leap. The only thing that was going to be standing in the way would be her willingness to jump.

Elliot had started to take that jump. Ingrid and Cameron had helped him start, and now it was his responsibility to help Savannah. She was his sister and he would do anything in the world for her.

Taking a seat on the couch, the giddy like feeling hadn't left him yet. He sat with his arms folded across his chest. Hopefully, Savannah would come in, if she hadn't already. He knew that he needed to speak with her and he was going to do it now, especially since she did run out of the Great Hall for reasons unknown to him.

[Savannah Lyons]

A little while later, Savannah returned to the common room herself. Cameron had walked her back once again, and it was all very proper, but somehow she felt strangely... disappointed. The strange feelings she was having for Cameron were getting stronger, but she didn't have the courage to take that first step. She wasn't even entirely sure what it was that she wanted. All she knew was that she liked being close to him and talking to him. She was also beginning to feel other, nameless longings that frightened her just a little bit, but she wouldn't allow herself to dwell on such thoughts.

With a sad sort of sigh, she entered the common room. She didn't even bother to look around, and instead started straight for the dormitories. She didn't want to talk to Elliot at the moment; she just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

[Elliot Lyons]

While waiting on Savannah to enter the common room, Elliot hummed very quietly to his self. A few Ravenclaws came down to the common room and left, and a few came in. None of them his sister. If he had to sit there for an hour waiting on her, he would. Elliot had found the courage to really talk to her and he wasn't about to let it go.

Seeing her enter, she looked sort of sad. He was accustomed to seeing her that way. Savannah didn't even look his way, but that wasn't going to just cause him to let her go. Jumping up from his seat, Elliot stood in the way of her going up to the girls' dormitories. "Hey Savannah," he said.

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah stopped short as Elliot walked in front of her. Looking at him quietly, she had never been more tempted to tell him to shove off. Other people did it, why couldn't she? But it was rude and improper, and as her eyes connected with him, she faltered.

"Hello, Elliot," she said, her tone cool but polite. "I just... I was..." She stopped, not wanting to tell him just exactly what she'd been doing. If he asked her directly, of course she would have to tell him, but why couldn't she have her secrets for this one time?

"Did you want something?"

[Elliot Lyons]

If Savannah ever told Elliot to shove off, he would have hit the ground. Part of him knew that she wanted some time to herself. He knew most of the meanings behind his sister's actions. She usually looked around the common room before heading up to her dorm, but tonight she didn't.

"Actually, I do want something," he admitted remembering the purpose he stopped her. "I need to talk to you about something." Elliot wasn't even sure how to approach the actual subject. The only way he could think of at the moment was just plainly stating what was going on. He knew that Savannah probably wouldn't know how to take that direct approach so his mind was reeling for other ways he could bring it about.

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah surpressed the urge to sigh. Elliot had mentioned wanting to talk to her earlier, and she had been worried about it ever since. She couldn't even explain why, but she had a bad feeling that whatever it was that Elliot wanted to discuss, it was something that was going to be difficult to hear.

But she nodded quietly and took a quick look around the common room. There were a few other students hanging around, and she was not comfortable with including them in her business.

"Could we talk up in your dorm room?" she said. "I don't want to do it down here in front of everyone else."

[Elliot Lyons]

Any giddiness that Elliot felt early was disappearing. He knew that this was going to be hard to say and hear. Part of him didn't want to do it because he didn't know what Savannah's reaction was going to be. She was either going to hate him for telling her, or she would just close herself off even more. Even though Elliot did think of the consequences, it had to be done. They couldn't continue on like this.

"Yeah, sure," he said softly. He didn't even think about anyone being up there. If there was, he was sure that they wouldn't mind leaving for a bit. Elliot headed for the stairs, leading Savannah up to his room.


Once up there, Elliot released a breath he had been holding. He could do this. He opened the door and found no one else there, luckily. After Savannah entered, he shut the door behind her. "You can take a seat on the bed if you want." There was no way that he could really sit down at the moment.

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah almost wanted to cry. The way Elliot was acting seemed to confirm to her that this was going to be a difficult conversation. Of course, she had absolutely no clue what he was about to say to her; all she knew was that it was something she wasn't going to like.

Hesitantly, she sat down on the very edge of Elliot's bed, crossing her legs demurely at the ankles and folding her hands in her lap. "Very well, Elliot, what did you wish to speak with me about?" she asked, her tone overly formal.

[Elliot Lyons]

Seeing the way Savannah sat and hearing her tone almost made Elliot want to cringe. He kept his face calm. "Savannah, I-" he started. He ran a hand through his hair, unsure of how he was going to tell her.

"I've been thinking about a few things, moreso after Ryder's visit." He knew that this wasn't going to be easy. Elliot swallowed a lump in his throat. "Things just feel awkward sometimes. Mum and dad are not here, so things shouldn't be like they were. We're 16 and we have one year left of school. What are we going to do with our lives? I don't want to see you just married to someone just because. I don't any of that."

[Savannah Lyons]

Why did she feel like she was being yelled at? So far, Elliot hadn't said anything harsh or angry, but she felt like a little girl being lectured for her behavior, when she was quite sure that she had not actually done anything wrong.

It was true that she had no idea what she would do after school was over. Frankly, the thought terrified her. School was safe, and out in the world, it was scary. She was exceedingly smart, but she wasn't good at anything, or so she thought. At least not anything that was an appropriate career for a lady.

"I... I'm not sure what you mean," she said. "You don't want me to get married?"

[Elliot Lyons]

Elliot's expression was soft as he spoke. He let out a sigh. "That's not exactly what I mean. I just mean, I want you to marry someone you actually love. I don't want you to have to worry about Ryder or myself finding you someone. I want you to find someone yourself."

He ran a hand through his hair again. "I don't want things to be like they would have been if they were still here." Elliot didn't need to define who 'they' were. Savannah would know exactly who he was talking about. "You should be able to go out and find someone that you will love and will love you back just as much. You should be able to make your own choices in more things too."

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah still didn't understand. If she didn't get married, then what was she supposed to do with her life? her parents had left her completely unprepared for the future. She had never been encouraged, and her academic achievements had always been met with ambivalence. Ryder and Elliot, they were the important ones. She was just the girl.

"What do you mean, make my own choices?" she asked. "What am I supposed to choose?"

[Elliot Lyons]

"I can't tell you what you are supposed to choose. That's for you to decide. Your choices in life, that is your decision! You don't have them here controlling you anymore. They're not here. Maybe you should go out and learn to play quidditch, or sneak down to the kitchens after hours." Elliot's hands were at his sides.

"You choose what you want to do with your life, but I don't want you to just be some housewife. I want anything for you but that. I know you're going to say that you don't know how to be that, but you do. If you have something on your mind, say it! Don't keep what is on your mind in. You don't have to be the proper lady. Burp out loud at the table if you feel the need, I don't care." Elliot drew in a deep breath. "Savannah, you are so much more than just some proper lady. Yes, our parents didn't really teach us anything other than be the perfect people of society, but they are not here. We're here on our own. We have our own choices to make, and we need to start making them. We're old enough, and its our time that we make our own path. You know that I will never leave you behind. I will always encourage what you want to do, but I really don't want you to be this proper lady our parents wanted. You are better than that."

[Savannah Lyons]

Now she really felt like she was being yelled at. Tears burned in her eyes, and she stared at him for a long moment, trying to process what he was telling her. Having never really been encouraged before, everything Elliot was saying sounded like criticism to her. It was as if he was saying to her that he didn't like her the way she was and wanted her to be different. And even if she had just had those same thoughts earlier while talking to Cameron, hearing Elliot say something similar... it hurt.

"I don't... I don't know what you want from me, Elliot," she whispered, staring down at her clasped hands. "I can't play quidditch... I'm not good at flying. And I'm not hungry, so why would I sneak down to the kitchen? And what does that have to do with me getting married?"

[Elliot Lyons]

"Savannah," Elliot said with a sigh. He was trying to make her see, but he wasn't sure what good he was doing. "It all is connected. It means that you chose what you want to do and not do that rubbish our parents always told us. It means that you become your own person."

He moved a step closer to her. "I'm not yelling at you or anything like that. I'm just telling you that you are so much better than what our parents tried to make you. You're not their doll anymore. You're you. You don't have to play quidditch or sneak down to the kitchens right now. I'm just telling you that you should do what you feel. It doesn't matter if you think it might not be right. They're not here to judge you or critize you for not being perfect. If you want to yell at someone, do it. If you want to go run through the halls some time, go do that too. I'm just telling you that you don't have to keep on being what they wanted you to be. I don't want you to be that way and I'm trying to encourage you to become your own person. I want to see you truly smiling and listen to you play the piano. I want to see you laughing and everything, not just sitting off to the side waiting on someone to address you. You should just add in your opinion or comment whenever you think necessary, not just when someone asks."

He didn't know any other way to explain it to her. "There are so many options open for you Savannah and all you have to do is take them. Make a move and grasp onto what you can. I'm going to be there with you because I want to encourage you more to do whatever it is that you want to do."

[Savannah Lyons]

The words were hard to hear, but a part of her realized that they were the very things she had always wanted someone to say to her. She looked up at him when he spoke, and there were tears streaming down her face. What was she supposed to do? The things she liked to do (although she would never go so far as to say that she was good at them) were all things that were difficult to make a career out of. What kind of career could she have by playing the piano? And she liked writing, but unless she wanted to write for the Daily Prophet, she didn't think she could get very far as a writer, either. Besides, she was sure that she wasn't actually good at doing any of those things. Other people were much better.

"I don't know what I want to do," she said tearfully. "I'm not good at anything...."

[Elliot Lyons]

"Vans, don't cry," he said softly and moved closer to her and sat beside her, "You are good at things. You play piano extremely well from what I remember. If I remember correctly, you are even a pretty good singer." Elliot gave her a smile. "Besides, I'm positive that you will be great at anything you decide to do. You are one of the smartest people I know. We still have a year to decide what we want to do with our lives. Even then, if you want, we can take another year to decide, because I don't even know what I want to really do."

He took a long glance at his sister. She had so much she could do, if she would just put her mind do it. "You can do anything you want to do, and like I said, whatever you chose to do, I will encourage you to do it and be behind you every step of the way."

[Savannah Lyons]

"I'm not very good," Savannah protested. "Not like--"

She stopped, realizing that she had almost mentioned Cameron. For reasons Savannah couldn't quite understand, Cameron didn't want Elliot to know that he played piano. And besides, Savannah actually liked having that little secret from Elliot, especially now.

"I can't make a career out of that, anyway," she continued.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, she suddenly got up from the bed and walked away from him. "I want to change," she whispered, so quietly that she wasn't sure he would even hear her. "I just don't know how."

How did you push aside 16 years of acting like the perfect lady, with perfect manners? How was she supposed to suppress that part of her that even she didn't like? It was so deeply ingrained in her that it was almost impossible to change.

[Elliot Lyons]

His eyebrows rose as Savannah just stopped, however, Elliot knew better than to push her to give him an answer. If he pushed her too far, she would close off from him and then he would have to start all over again.

"You wanting to change is a start," he said with a light smile. "Just that fact will help you out. I believe that you can do it, you just have to believe that you can too. Don't hold back Savannah, don't hold back. Say what is on your mind, start a conversation with someone new or something like that. Even the smallest things can spark a big change." Elliot was relieved to hear that Savannah wanted to change. "As for a career, we'll figure that out later. We don't have to worry about that right now. Right now, I'm going to encourage you to follow your want to change. You can do it Savannah, I know you can."

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah sighed and turned back to him. It had been an emotional day for her, and she was feeling very confused. It seemed that she had people on all sides pulling at her and trying to get her to change. It was frustrating, because in addition to all the different influences on her, she was also a 16 year old girl. Most 16 year olds didn't know who they really were to begin with, and Savannah had it harder than most. How could she separate all those influences and figure out who she really was and what she really wanted to be?

"If I walk out of here now without asking your permission, does that count?" she asked.