New Kid (Jon)

[Jonathan Doom]

The air between them definitely was heavy. Jonathan assumed it was because of something Airous wasn't saying. The quieter Airous became, the more worried Jonathan became. It didn't matter that he'd just met him. It was in Jonathan's nature to worry about those like Airous. Especially when they were in his own house. He heard Airous' cough and faced him, eyes cautious and displaying that worry, "That's a bad cough you have there," he said softly, "Are you all right?"

He frowned at Airous' next comment. "None of my Puffs, I hope?" he said carefully, genuinely hoping that it wasn't. "Anyway, I won't pick on you," he vowed, "So, should you ever decide you want to talk, I'm here," Then he added, "And I won't tell anyone else," as an afterthought. And he wouldn't. He smiled lightly and shook his head, "No need to apologize. I'm just not used to it from my Puffs."

[Airous Fai]

Airous had noticed Jon had turned toward him as he coughed. When he was able to get his coughing down he nodded slowly. "I'll be fine," he said softly, unsure himself on how true those words where. It wasn't like the cough had been normal. Not even for those who where use to smoking. He didn't want to explain to Jon though about how his house was like a cigarette factory and a free for all bar.

At Jon's question, Airous sighed and looked down. "I....don't really fit in at the school." He said trying to tell him that his puffs weren't the only ones who picked on him. Airous wondered how true Jon's next words where. He was after all a head of house and a professor. He could chose easily Airous's fate. "I-I don't think you would like what I have to say." He whispered and didn't make eye contact with Jon. Airous doubted that if Jon knew about his home life he would be able to keep it a secret.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan sighed. He wanted to believe Airous, he really did. But his instincts were telling him that the exact opposite was true. They were telling him that Airous would not be fine, that he needed help more than he was letting on. He knew that if he told Jacoby about the boy later, Jacoby would tell him exactly what he was thinking at that moment. Listen to your instincts. "I certainly hope so," Jon replied softly, "Because your cough is worse than mine and I've been smoking since... well, since I was your age," he admitted.

"Well, if anyone gives you a problem ever again," he said, "You just come to me. I don't like when my Puffs are pushed around," he added. "Try me," he replied. He honestly wondered what Airous would tell him if he did speak. Though, he doubted that he would. Either way, he really did hope that one day - even if it took months, or years - Airous would be honest with him if it was something serious. The sooner the better, but he of all people knew you couldn't rush it.

[Airous Fai]

Airous blinked when Jon addressed his cough. "It's....not that bad...." He whispered nervously. Though he knew that probably wasn't the truth. He knew his fathers second hand could kill him. Especially how much he breathed in. Though ever since he moved to Hogwarts the cough had gotten better and so had his breathing. The clean air really made a difference.

Airous nodded. Though he doubted he would truly run to Jon. Maybe if he was being pushed around hard enough but telling Jon could make the beatings by the students worse. When Jon said to try him, Airous pulled his legs tighter to his chest. Where would be start and how much should he tell Jon? He worried about Jon's reaction. It took him a few silent minutes to come up with something. There was one thing he could tell Jon without giving to much away. "I....I'm not like the other puffs....most of them have two parents...even if their parents are divorced..."

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan chuckled a bit when Airous tried to insist that it wasn't that bad. It certainly didn't have Jon convinced any. He coughed like that quite often. Not even that bad, really. But still, almost every morning when he woke up. And he was a smoker of ten or so years. "It's pretty bad," he replied, forced half smirk on his face. "I have a potion you can take for that," he said suddenly, "If you ever want to try," and he did. Jacoby was often telling him that instead of being a teacher, he should have gotten a career in potions. He was best at herbology, though, and the two often went hand in hand.

He watched in curiosity as Airous pulled his legs to his chest. The gesture seemed innocent enough, though Jonathan wondered if there was more to it than just comfort. He didn't ask, though, finding it best not to question it. When Airous explained, Jon nodded sympathetically. "And you only have one?" he asked. "That's no reason to pick on you," he added, voice soft as he spoke.

[Airous Fai]

Airous listened to Jonathan. He knew the man was right. Maybe ever since the cough started he knew it was bad. But that would make his father a bad person for the second hand that Airous breaths in. Airous couldn't admit that his father was a bad father for he clung for a father figure in his life. To him, his father was just...lost. "I...I guess it wouldn't hurt to try....one day." He said with a nod to Jon, not saying out loud that Jon was right.

Airous nodded slowly. "It's hard enough with just my dad and I...not a lot of the puffs understand that. But I don't...think that must of them try to hurt me...at least thats what I tell myself" he said with a sad sigh.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan couldn't help but wonder if there was more behind that cough of Airous'. But he didn't feel it appropriate to ask. Not yet, anyway. He hadn't been exaggerating when he'd told Airous that it was pretty bad. Nor did he find it an exaggeration to think that the cough sounded a lot like his own. "It definitely would not hurt to try," he said with a light smile, "After all, unlike Muggle medicine of the same equivalent, there aren't any bad side effects. So, you wouldn't have to worry about that. So, if it didn't work, there would be no harm."

Jonathan nodded again. "Sometimes, kids and teenagers, find it hard to believe that there are some kids out there with different family units than their own," he said, "Kids can sometimes be harsh. It gets better, though. Most of them outgrow it. Mature with time. I hope they don't try to hurt you intentionally. If any of them give you problems again, just come to me. I won't even tell them you told me. After all, these walls have ears," he said, gesturing to a nearby portrait.

[Airous Fai]

Airous nodded slowly. Jon was right. There would be no harm in trying. If it didnt work he would just be stuck with false hope, crushed dreams, and a smokers cough. Nothing to important. Besides hasn't his father already crushed his dreams? Airous sighed in depression and stared back at the fire. He slightly wished Jon was his father. At least he seemed nice enough.

Airous glanced at the portrait and sighed again. "Not to be rude....but...I don't think giving them a detention will stop them from bullying me." He said sadly. "You can't really stop them." He said indifferently. If a bully was going to push him around then there was basically nothing to stop them. Airous didn't have the strength to fight back.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jon caught Airous' sigh and glanced at him. He couldn't help but wonder just how much the boy was withholding. He knew there was something. He recognized the signs. He'd recognized them as soon as he'd noticed Airous. They were always slightly different, person by person, but they were always easy to catch if you had been through them yourself. He let out a sigh of his own, knowing that it was too soon to ask. Knowing that for now, he'd just have to wonder. Wonder and hope that in the meantime, if something was going on, it didn't get worse.

"Who said anything about detention?" Jonathan asked, "We here at Hogwarts taking bullying very seriously," he added cryptically. He'd leave it at that, though. If Airous didn't want to tell him, it was up to him. He'd like him to. All teachers would. But thinking back to his own Hogwarts days - when Marcus and the other Slytherins had made a punching bag out of him - Professors rarely ever listened. So, it seemed natural for a student to be afraid to go to one. "I know I can't. But I can try. I just want to make sure you - and all my badgers - are safe."

[Airous Fai]

Airous listened as Jon spoke, not meeting his gaze. "Your badgers are safe." He said quickly. "I'm sure they are all happy with their household of two parents and rolling in their pure blood galleons." He said almost bitterly. Airous leaned his head on his arms as he rested them on top of his knees. He sighed once more.

Airous couldn't help but feel as if Jon already knew. It was like the man could sense everything. If Jon could tell that something deeper was going on then Airous wondered when he would bring it up. Maybe he was like the rest of them. They all know something is wrong but turn their noses from it. Then it's to late.

[Jonathan Doom]

"The grass isn't always greener on the other side," Jon said softly. After all, he'd had two pureblood parents and all the galleons anyone could dream of. Yet, his parents had been far from perfect. That was how he'd seen the signs in Airous, wasn't it? "But in any case, I can see that you're not okay. And that's what matters right now. Not how the other ones are," He sighed before saying, "Is there anything else you'd like to talk about? Anything at all?"

He didn't genuinely expect Airous to answer, but it couldn't hurt to ask. If he hadn't asked, it would have bothered him all night. Even though he had now, if Airous didn't answer, it would still probably bother him all night. But at least he'd sleep knowing that he had asked.

[Airous Fai]

Airous took a deep breath. This was it. If he wanted to say it all now was his chance. But he could hear his fathers voice "I'll kill you, you mistake. You should have died in that car." Airous swallowed hard and blurted out "I can't tell you." He covered his mouth with his hands, horrified at what he had said. He turned away from Jon, shaking.

Airous knew that if Jon was smart he would see threw the words. Maybe he already had. If Jon told anyone that could talk to his dad then Airous knew he was better off running away. Maybe he would live with the railroad muggles. His father wouldn't look among muggles.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jon noticed Airous take a deep breath. He watched him carefully, wondering if he was about to say something. Wondering if he was about to spill, confess. Jon was almost holding his breath as he waited. He wondered for a moment what he would do if his suspicions were correct. What could he do. All Airous said was I can't tell you. But that one sentence spoke volumes. People only said that when there was something serious to tell.

Airous turned from him, mouth covered with his hands, shaking. Paternal instinct kicked in. He had a feeling this was even worse than he'd initially suspected. He touched the other's shoulder gently in an attempt to get him to look at him again, certain it wouldn't work anyway. "Can't tell me what?" he asked carefully.

[Airous Fai]

Airous felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to run. Why had he sat here for so long talking to the other. He should have known this was going to happen. He felt horrified. He was terrified of his father already. If his father knew. If his father found out about this in any way there would be nothing left of Airous. He felt the tears roll down his face as he shock. He tried to pull himself together but everything that he had been hidding for over five years was all coming out now. He wanted the comfert of Jon. He wanted the other to tell him nothing bad would happen. That it would all turn out better if he confessed.

Then Jon's hand was on him. Though the gesture hasn't meant him any harm, Airous still jumped at the touch. Afraid that Jon would strike him. He pulled away before realizing that Jon wasnt going to strike him in any way. Airous couldn't look at the other. He heard his question and shock his head. "I....I can't tell you what you want to know...." He said threw a sob.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan watched Airous carefully, afraid that he'd pushed too far. He didn't want to make Airous feel like he was forcing him to speak. He wanted Airous to know that it was okay whether he did or didn't. Of course, a larger part of him wished that Airous would. It would be easier to reach out to him, to help him if he were honest. His suspicions were steadily growing, though. With every thing Airous did. From the way he stuttered to the way he was currently crying.

And especially to the way Airous jumped when Jon's hand was on him. He pulled away slowly, afraid that if he moved too quickly Airous would jump again. He wanted to tell him that he wasn't going to hurt him, but that would imply that he already knew what was going on. And then what if he was wrong? What if it was something else? He was torn with himself. Afraid to assume, but afraid not to. "That's okay," Jon said softly, "but if you change your mind, I'm here for you. And if you ever do want to talk to anyone, come to me."

OOC: I feel like I could add more. I don't know. xD Post is subject to edit.