Ankaa skipped excitedly down to the Hogs Head. She was in her best tight black dress and jeans, with a purple off the shoulder top and she had even re-braided her hair for the occasion.

She slowed down to a walk when she reached the door, took a few deep breaths and walked in. She quickly scanned the tables but there was no-one there so she went to the bar and got herself a drink and sat down in a corner, somewhere she had a good sight of the door.

As she waited, she put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a letter. She turned it over in her hand and opened it. It was now so creased from being constantly opened and shoved back in her pocket that she had to straighten it out before she could read it.

She couldn't help but grin to herself as she read the note and drew her finger over the signature at the bottom. Well it wasn't a signature at all really in that it didn't give her any clue as to who had sent it. It was merely signed 'An Admirer'.

She kept anxiously checking the clock every few seconds, but there was still five minutes to go before 7. She fiddled nervously with her hair
and switched her attention to the door. She couldn't wait to see who would come in.

OOC: Seem to have found the place...

BIC:

Rupin Cybergate, current heir of the Cybergate clan, walked into the Hogshead tavern.
dressed, in his usual formal Cybergate Dress robes, for special and formal occasions...or in this case what he hoped would be a good date....he really was an astonishing sight to look at.

He wore a Pure black silk cape, Which went around and covered his whole body and under neath it he wore Blood red (also silk) Underrobes.

The silky Black Robes, with gold and Silver swirls, was worn to show off his Families powerful Pureblood status to the world of magic, while the blood red robes underneath were worn to show, the old Cybergate profession...Vampire hunters...(Though that was in the past) (all garments are made from pure acromentula silk, the finest silk in the land.

On his right hand hand Rupin wore the old Cybergate heir ring, which was still shining brightly from the afternoon sunlight outside.


Taking his first look around, he studied the tavern, searching for his date.
A few interested onlookers gave him several weird looks, some were even looks of greed, when they considered Rupins obvious wealth.


Seeing his date, a girl named Ankaa who was sitting at the bar. He slowly waked over to her.

Two bodygaurds followed behind him, both dressed in formal Black and Gold capes and red undergarments like Rupin, but not as expensive and extravagant.

They were constantly sweeping the room for potential threats..
Both held long wizarding staffs in their hands.

This was supposed to be a date, wether formal or not, they didn't care, a date was a date, that was all they needed to know.

Slowly Rupin neared Ankaa and just when he neared her he held out his hand, palm out. With a flash a red rose appeared in his hands, which he then held out to her.

"It's wonderful to see you my Lady, " Is it agreeable to join you at this time?" he asked formally.

Then he waited for his dates reply.

Ankaa gasped out loud as a very handsome looking Rupin approached her, dressed in his finest robes, complete with bodyguards or guardians, she wasn't sure which. She knew his family was well off, but she didn't realise they were THAT rich.

She reached out and took the rose that he presented her with, blushing as red as it's petals. She inhaled it's deep scent and was almost transfixed by the gold and silver swirls on Rupin's robe. They seemed to draw her in like a whirpool.

She knew that an open mouth was hardly an attractive sight, especially on a first date, so she was pleased when the barmaid interrupted her and asked if they wanted serving.

"A butterbeer for me please. Rupin what are you having?"

As she stared at him, waiting for his response, she suddenly realised that she hadn't even asked him about the letter, as she didn't see anyone else presenting her with flowers, she assumed it had been from him.

For the first time Rupin really studied his date...he couldn’t really see anything…special about her attire, though he did notice that she wore what looked like a fairly good dress. Not that he cared of course...

Rupin knew that she wasn't as rich as he was, few were...
No, he hadn't chosen her to be his date, for her money, that would have been just stupid.

No no no….,

First of all, he really liked this girl.
While it wasn't pure love...not yet at least, though he knew there was a good chance for that to happen later on.

This was his first date with her, he would first get to know her better...check her out...learn her likes and dislikes, etc...
Then, later on maybe, they could progress to more...interesting activities...but only then.

Secondly, which was more important for his family...though not really for him, her family seemed to have good ministry connections, at least from what they could see so far...


The Cybergate Clan, an ancient poor blood family like many others of their kind wanted a pure family, if they could get one, but over all they wanted power…more power.

Power was everything in politics and a potential relationship with another powerful family was just what the current Cybergate head, his grandfather liked to see.

Like every head of a pure blooded family, he only wanted the best possible matches for his grandson and future heir, in this case Rupin.

That’s how he had first written and set up their first date.

Little did he actually know however, that his grandson actually did have an interest…a real interest in fact in this date, and that was why he was now, happily standing in front of her… .

>>>>>>>>>>>

"A butterbeer for me please. Rupin what are you having?" Rupin heard her say and he broke out of his deep thoughts.

“Oh, I think I’ll try one of these new drinks, one of our breweries invented recently…what was it called again…ah yes…one ‘firecherry, and one Butter beer for my date please…I like it hot and she likes it sweet,” he said, smiling to the bar keeper, ….oh and its on my tab, thanks, he said with a grin.

The Bar Keeper, looked at him for a second as if considering something.

“What’s you name again, my Lord?” he asked.

“Oh sorry, let me introduce myself, I’m Lord Rupinious Charlie Xavior Cybergate, current heir of the house of Cybergate, at your service,” Rupin said proudly, which made a few patrons nearby choke on their drinks.

“Thee Rupin Cybergate…the grandson of the famous Count Cybergate, the former vampire slayer,” one of them called out in amazement.

“The same one, said Rupin , just before he changed his normally blue eyes for red, then black, then back to blue again.

The patron gasped and took a step back.

“So the rumours are true, your kind does have the legendary hunters sight,” the man spoke, obviously in awe by Rupins ability.

“Yes, I guess they do, though its called the 'Magical eye sight of Cybergate' "” Now please excuse me…I have a date,” Rupin said, as he turned back to face Ankaa.

A few meters away, at the other side of the room, Rupins bodyguards were sitting at another table, enjoying two Dragon pops another new Cybergate brewery product, which had recently come out. Of them was giving the Patron a questioning look.

Taking his drink, which had arrived, while he had been speaking to the man, Rupin hands Ankaa her butter beer and looks into her face.


“So…where to start…how about a little introduction, though we don’t really need it anymore, for my part….I’m Rupin, Rupin Cybergate….third year Hufflepuff,” he started to say with a twinkle in his eyes.

"OK, well you obviously know who I am, Ankaa Smowl, 2nd yr Slytherin. Shall we get a more private table? I feel kind of, well, exposed, sitting out at the bar like this, especially with your chaperones over there."

She nodded her head towards the two hefty bodyguards, whose eyes never left Rupin.

"Do they follow you everywhere? I'd hate that, I'm quite a private person really, just like to wander about doing my own thing. So, can we discuss your letter now, how come you decided to ask me out on a date?"

Ankaa realised that she was gabbling, and all her words were coming out in a rush. She was puzzled at herself, she was never usually this nervous. Maybe it was the combination of the first date, the bodyguards, the flashing robes and piercing blue eyes of the handsome guy sitting opposite her, or maybe she had just been confunded and didn't know it yet.

She took some mental deep breaths and decided to restrict herself to one sentence at a time from now on, two at max. 'Jeez, I don't want to scare the poor guy off already' she thought to herself 'after all, he is kinda cute...'

OOC: Lets try this out...and see how you react to this situation...

BIC:

'Just like my Grandfather to get me to date a Slytherin...blood elitist,' Rupin thought to himself for a split second as he heard his date announce the fact that she was a Slytherin. He was annoyed with his family head actions.
Rupin kept his thoughts well hidden though.

'What ever..I like her,'...
'Besides I wouldn't have found out about her otherwise,' he reminded himself.


Smiling at her like before:
Of course we can... Ankaa." He said getting up to lead the way to the Privat Area...I can call you that..right?" he asked...
"I'm happy to make your acquaintance".

Then after Ankaa asked him about his Bodygaurds...
"Oh don't worry about my...official Bodyguard escort"..."Their harmless....Right lads?" he said raising his voice just enough for them to hear.

His escort looked at him for a second, then one of them smiled and nodded.
The other frowned a little at first, but then nodded too, though he truly didn't agree with the harmless part.

Rupin grinned. "You must forgive them...they are a little...serious in what they do...and they are after all two of my families elite guard...bonded by blood oath to protect me....two sorcerers capable of wandless magic as well as trained in battle mage staffs, " he said ..." Not somebody you would want to mess with".

"Can't blame them though...I am the families heir after all," Rupin added shrugging.
***Then sighing slightly Rupin adds***

"However, I'm afraid they will have to stay with us...it's for our safely".

Which brings me to your last question...
"I'm not sure if your family has told you yet...but..."

***Here Rupin becomes a little hesitant, but not seeing a way out of this he continues***

"I'm afraid, our two families are interested in bonding us...contract style," Rupin said, not happy with what he had just had to say. "That letter was written by the head of my family...and by the looks of it soon afterwards agreed by yours...right?" Rupin asked. (Then whispering): "If I had to guess...My grandad probably just had his eyes on your families political ties though, if I may be so blunt... I'm not supposed to tell you this" he said whispering now... but I feel you have the right to know..."" I'm just supposed to check you out this time round"..he said quietly...meekly.

This was the part he hated...

Telling his date about official arranged dates...oh how he hated this part...

Afraid of what his date was about to say, he waits anxiously, for her emotional explosion, which he was sure was about to follow.

'Stupid, Pureblood rules he thought' as he waited.

Ankaa started straight ahead, shocked to hear what Rupin had to say about their so-called date being arranged by their families. When he finished whispering in her ear, she reached out her hand and pushed him away and continued to stare at the opposite wall of the bar.

"I just need a minute" she whispered, so quietly she doubted if he had heard her.

She couldn't beleive what she had just heard, well she could actually, it was just like her aunt to do something like this. She was pure-blood obsessed and had tried to bring Ankaa up in the same way of thinking. Unfortunately, she hadn't accounted for the fact that Ankaa was strong-willed and usually found a way to do exactly as she pleased, including having friends that were outside of Slytherin, and not even pure-blooded at that. Her aunt would be horrified if she knew half of what she got up to.

She shifted her gaze to stare at the floor and took a huge sip of butterbeer to disguise the fact that her hands were shaking with anger.

Eventually, after a long few minutes of silent thinking, and feeling the weight of Rupin's gaze on her, she cleared her throat and prepared to speak.

"So, let me get this straight, none of this was your idea, right? You were forced to come here by your family, and I was tricked into coming by mine. Well I'm so sorry to have wasted your precious time and I'm sure your big buddies over there have better things to do than be guarding the heir of Cybergate or whatever you call yourself, in some dingy bar on a wet Tuesday in October."

Ankaa had felt the anger rising in her and she now stood up and looked at Rupin directly, her eyes flashing with fury.

She asked sarcastically

"Am I allowed to leave or do I have to have permission for that too?"

She didn't wait for a reply but spun on her heels and went to leave.

OOC: hmmm tricky..lets see what happnes...

BIC:

Rupin flinched and watched with horror as Ankaa reacted just like he expected her to.
For a second he just listened to her, in rising dread.

Then he closed his eyes in damnation.

‘Grandpa…when I get over this, your going to be sorry,’ where his first few thoughts.

‘But I don’t want to lose her,’ where his second.

‘Damn it…why did this have to happen, ’ he thought next..

Then he heard her voice, as if from far away.
"Am I allowed to leave or do I have to have permission for that too?"

Rupin quickly opened his eyes in alarm…”No!” he said out loud.

‘Don’t leave me’ he thought but didn't say, as he searched for his date, who unfortunately was not beside her anymore.

Jumping up from his seat as quickly as he could and rushed over to his date, who he saw was leaving.

His guards, who had been sitting quietly, thought for a second that the ‘No’ had been some sort of order, got up out of total reflex, blocked Ankaas way and grabbed her.

Almost immediately Rupin gave them a furious glance, his eyes turning completely red with anger.
“Leave her alone”, he said loudly as he rushed over to her.

Startled, they quickly let her go and took a step back.

At this point Rupin was beside Ankaa…

“Please, don’t …don’t go,” he said somewhat quickly, desperately, as his eyes slowly turned back from red to their usual blue.

Slowly, not really knowing what or why he was doing it, he let himself fall onto one knee and grabbed her hand…he didn’t want to let her go.

His body guards raised their eyebrows at this but kept quiet.
The whole bar was watching the scene with bated breath…
Even the Bar keeper was watching and not paying attention to what he was doing and was at that moment poring some sort of drink over one if his costumers, much to the annoyance of the Patron, who was giving him a death glare.


Rupin didn’t care…at that moment he had to save a date…or maybe even more…

(Now in a quiet voice, still on one knee, he continued to speak.)

“Please don’t go…I realize that it wasn’t my idea to date…hell I'm not happy about it too.... but….but…”

He paused not knowing what to say.

Then after a few seconds, not knowing what else to say, he simply said…

“I like you…don’t leave me…”

Ankaa had nearly made it to the door of the bar when Rupin shouted "No!" and his two guards rushed over and grabbed her arms. She was still in shock at being manhandled like that when they just as quickly released her and Rupin had grabbed her hand and was on his knees begging her not to go.

She stood there for a moment, surprise and embarrassment freezing her in position, then snapped back into life and rushed back to where they had been sitting a few moments before. She forget she still had Rupin's hand in her's and so dragged him back with her.

She just didn't know what to think now.

"So you don't want me to go, but you're not happy about being here. I'm confused about this whole situation. Please just tell me what's going on. i thought I was coming here to have a good time, but instead I seem to have walked into a nightmare. Shall we start again from the beginning?"

She drained the rest of her butterbeer and added

"I think I'll need another one of these if you'd be so kind."

OOC: Your going to hate me for this;....

BIC:


Rupin was just about to let go of Ankaas hand in defeat and let her go, when she suddenly turned back and unceremoniously dragged him with her back to the counter.

Taken by surprise, Rupin stumbled and fell head first to the ground, breaking his nose in the process.

Swearing profusely, he got back to his feet and took out his wand which he pointed at his nose.

A quick healing spell later, he sat back down at the counter.
His mind was still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

Then Ankaa said: "So you don't want me to go, but you're not happy about being here. I'm confused about this whole situation. Please just tell me what's going on. i thought I was coming here to have a good time, but instead I seem to have walked into a nightmare. Shall we start again from the beginning?"

Which was followed a second later by:

"I think I'll need another one of these if you'd be so kind."

For a second Rupin just looked at her, considering his next words.
He knew what he said next would crucial.

“Ankaa…” he started to say…then paused.

“The fact is…”

Another pause…

“My...er…ok…this is what happened…”

A third pause….

Taking a deep breath Rupin motions for the bar keeper to hand both of them another drink on his.tab.(this time another butter beer for Ankaa and a special firewhisky, underage brand (made especially for underage wizards) then he starts to speak slowly and eloquently:

“My grandfather first arranged this meeting with your family as a sort of…‘get to know’ date with you.”
“He had plans to make us into a couple…a sort of…arranged betrothing so to speak…”

“I must admit…I’m not really happy about this whole situation…but…the fact is ...I like you”

Pausing to take a swing of the firewhisky, he coughs for a second as it burns his throat.

Then he continues to speak:

“Whatever, I don’t care what my or your families have planned, all I care about is that we make this into the best darn good date we can make this into…besides as I already said…I like you”

“I’ll ask you now…with all of these people as witnesses…would you like to be my …er…Well...I guess the correct world would be …Pre-betrothed…girlfriend” Rupin said just before adding “ Or just my simple girlfriend…if you’d prefer that”

With hope in his eyes starts to wait.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Meanwhile…just while RUpin is trying to convince his …future girlfriend (hopefully)

OOC: Got to have some extra fun :)
BIC:

A young girl of ‘directly’ Rupins age was nearing the same tavern…
Slowly she opened the door and stepped in.

**************
With sparkling blue eyes, stunning looks, a fine body and a black ponytail, she was dressed similarly to Rupin , with a cloak which went around her whole body, and the usual red underrobes of his family.

Unlike Rupin though, beside the fact that hers were a female brand, her cloak was not as expensive, nor did it have the same twirls and swirls, which Rupins cloak had.
While only born a few minutes after her twin, Rupin himself, she did not have the same rank and so was not required to wear the best…

Sarah Jane Cybergate, Rupins twin sister was not the heir of the family and while Rupin still lived, she would never be.
Not that she cared though…her brother meant everything to her and as such she was extremely loyal and protective of him…and he of her.

Sarah had just transferred from Beauxbatons , her previous school to Hogwarts where she hoped to be closer to her brother.


As she stepped into the tavern she knew nothing about her families betrothing plans.
No one had told her about them.
All she knew was that Rupin would be here today…

***********

The first thing Sarah saw was Rupin kneeling on the ground beside a girl she didn’t know about.

To say she was shocked was an understatement, more accurately she was horrified.
Of course she didn’t know about what had happened moments before.

All she could see was her brother, the heir of one of the purest, must powerful families in existence, kneeling on a dirty floor, begging a girl, like a common scoundrel…

She was furious...

For a second she was simply speechless. Then seeing her brother get dragged across the floor, she snapped.

A moment later, as soon as her body let her move again, after her shock, she started to move. With a few quick movements she strode over to Ankaa and slapped her and Rupin across their faces.

“How dare you...both of you… Rupin…how could you…who is this…'thing'….” she screamed.
The guards, knowing who she was made no attempt to stop her…well…she is family after all…sibling disagreements where out of their league.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
OOC: opps

BIC:

Rupin was just waiting for Ankaas reply when someone, mercilessly slaps him across the face.

He was so shocked and dazed, that it took him a moment to realise what had happened.

“Oh [Censored Word]…” he said, swearing out loud…

“Sarah…NO!” he screamed out in alarm
All he could do was look horrified.

“Oh…no….Ankaa…I’m so sorry,” said Rupin panicking slightly…

“He could only guess what she was thinking now…”

Rupin was so horrified he was routed to his seat…

His drink had split all over his date.

Ankaa was again surprised by Rupin "What do you mean 'pre-betrothed'? Do I have ANY say in this at all?'

Then suddenly events overtook her and Rupin had formally asked her out. Before she had opened her mouth to reply a dark haired girl dressed in dark cloak and red robes had burst into the bar and slapped them both in the face and called Ankaa a 'thing'.

Ankaa's first reaction (what a Muggle-thing to do, her grandmother would kill her if she knew) was to throw her new drink and the glass at the girl. This She was now dripping butterbeer all over her fine robes and had a lovely red glass-shaped marked on her forehead. Before she could recover Ankaa had her wand to the girl's neck and was snarling in her face

"What the hell do you think you're doing? And who are you anyway?"

The girl folded her arms with the confidence of one who has two hefty bodyguards not six feet away and nodded her head towards Rupin "I'm Sarah Jane Cybergate, HIS twin sister actually. Now get that wand out of my face and tell me why my brother is grovelling on the floor to you"

Sarah looked Ankaa up and down with a disdainful expression on her face.

Ankaa left the wand where it was for a few seconds, no stuck up minx was going to have the better of her, especially when she'd just been slapped in the face. In one fluid movement she turned round, put away her wand and grabbed hold of Rupin and kissed him full on the lips. She then turned back to Sarah, smiled her sweetest fake smile and said "Well, actually, I'm his girlfriend. Have you got a problem with that?"

She then shot Rupin a look that she was sure he would come to know, it quite clearly said without the need for words: You'd better sort this mess out and if you don't back me up, you'll be suffering for it for a long time.

Sarah's jaw dropped open and she waved away the heavies. "What..?" she stuttered and looked at Rupin "Is this true?"

Both girls turned to look at him expectantly...

Rupin was all about ready to crawl under the table…or better still, into a hole and vanish.
He was so embarrassed at that moment that he just looked blankly into space.
He didn’t care about the sharp pain across his cheek where his twin had slapped him.
At that moment he didn’t care about anything anymore.

He could just barely make out what his sister and his…now questionable date where talking about.

As far as he was concerned, his day was officially ruined…and was now probably over too.
All he wanted to do was go and drown himself in complete shame.

How wrong he was…

Just when he was about to signal to his guards that he might as well leave, that all was lost…(and then later to give his sister a good talking …if not a good hexing too), out of know where, he was suddenly kissed by the same girl he just thought he lost.

The moment the kiss landed on his lips, he froze and became first ghostly white, then pure beat red.

This was not what he had expected…at all.

"Well, actually, I'm his girlfriend. Have you got a problem with that?" Ankaa suddenly said, much to his disbelief.
For the next few seconds he just goggled at her, his mouth wide open as if she had just grown two faces and a 10 meter long tongue.

‘Damn that felt good,’ where his first coherent thoughts, out of his stupor like state. ( Where they… coherent?)


At that moment his mind finally realised what it had just experienced.

“Ah...Are you sure?...ah..after…all that has just happened…?” he asked her…he couldn’t believe his luck

All he knew at that moment was that this beautiful creature in front of him was basically saying 'yes'…

Giving one quick look at the two girls he waved a command to his guards then he swung round to face Ankaa and embraced her with all that he was worth…
Then with a slightly crazed “you bet she is” he began to kiss her…tongue and all.

Sarah just froze in shock and watched everything, she was practically paralyzed.

The guards stood beside her ready to stop her should she do anything foolish.
Rupins command had been clear…’make sure she behaves herself…or else…’
They intended to follow that order.

Sarah took out her wand and was just about to hex both of them, but before she could, one of the guards said a nonverbal spell and she froze (this time for real). Her wand fell to the ground.

Rupin disconnected from Ankaa for a second, looked at Sarah, shrugged, picked up his sisters wand, put it into his robes, said “for safe keeping ,”then began kissing his girlfriend again.
A few minutes later Rupin finally broke away from Ankaa and ended the longest kiss of his life.

“Damn that felt good,” he said out loud with a huge smile which continued into a full formed grin.

“Barkeeper”…”A round for everybody in the audience…I’m buying the store and its on the house” he called out.

“WHAT?” the barkeeper asked in surprise, his eyes were nearly falling out of his head...

“You heard me…it's party time,” Rupin called out to everybody.

The other Patrons just gasped and looked hopeful.

In her semi paralyzed state (she couldn’t move her body but she could still speak) Sarah looked at Rupin as if he had gone completely loony.
She was furious with everything that had happened.
“That’s ‘my’ brother, your kissing,” she said out loud, furiously.

Rupin looked at her raised his eye brows and simply said…”SO?"

“Wait a second are you telling me… no…that can’t be…but it is….Rupin…my brother…my twin….my other half….are you BETROTH?” she screamed out her hand coming to her face .

Rupin looked over at Ankaa…”Good question… are we?..er…I mean should we bethr..… er... I mean ..would you like to take the first step to the trial ring?...or skip straight to the promise ring? ” he asked looking at her with hope, as he fished out two small boxes out of his robes.

He opened them up.

In one was a trial ring...in the other a promise ring.

He hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Sure why not...might as well do the last part too" he said more to himself then to anybody else .

He put his hand back into his robes and took out another box...
Again he paused for a second, then he said:

"Listen...I'm not sure about this one, but both of our families did plan to do this anyway, sooner or later...I'll...er...I'll leave it up to you" he said as he opened the last box. Inside was a very expensive Betrothing ring.

"Choose well," Rupin whispered nervously.

He knew very well, that if she chose the betrothing ring, it was all over...and she was to become his future wife...unless of course either her or his head of family canceled it...


Behind him the barkeeper had vanished…presumably to get the manager…


OOC:

There are 5 stages in a couples life:

1st stage… ‘Trial’ ring…The trial ring shows that the couple are interested in each others and are getting to know each other better…An informal stage where none are allowed to have another boy or girlfriend while in trial (unless stated otherwise) until the trial stage has failed and the couple has broken up
(pre Boy Girlfirends stage)

Should the trial stage succeed and be successful the next stage starts…

2nd stage…
Promise ring…The promise ring, is given to a couple (either by the head of a family or in certain situations also by the male of the couple) before they are betrothed later on in life.
This is more formal than the trial ring, but can still easily be broken at any time…it just shows that the couple are seriously interested in each others. (pure girlfriends/boyfriends stage )

3rd Stage

Betrothing… The first stage of engagement… This is a formal stage and can only be broken by either the head of either family, by death or in the utmost severe cases ‘only’ by the two betrothed or by law.(It’s already a magical contract.)
Couples are already engaged to each other’s and usually only the head of a house can remove their bond.
Some magical couples are promised to each others at a very young age as a form of contract with the other family.

4th Stage: Engagement ring…The second betrothing stage also known as the ‘This is it…your mine stage’…is usually done just before a wedding (following up to the wedding) Can not be broken, other than death or the head of a family (in sever cases the couple or law)

5th Marriage ring..

Just what is says…

Ankaa gasped as Rupin grabbed hold of her and kissed her for the longest time. When she eventually came up for air she gave a smug smile to Sarah and calmly looked round for her beer, forgetting for a minute that Sarah was wearing it. Her head was spinning now, with both the beer and the kiss, and she was just about to call over the bartender for a firewhiskey to straighten herself out when Rupin announced that he was buying the bar and everyone in it a drink. He then started producing ring boxes like rabbits out of a hat and Ankaa was once again open-jawed with shock.

"Rings?! Easy, tiger, I think it's a bit soon for that yet. Let's just see how we get on" she said uneasily. "Judging by tonight's performance, you're going to take some getting used to."

She signalled the barkeep and order a double firewhiskey to steady her nerves. She suddenly felt weak and flopped down onto a bar stool.

She composed herself and smiled sweetly at Rupin "So would you like to formally introduce us, or are you just going to leave your sister standing there like something the cat dragged in?"

As she said this she turned and gave Sarah a steely glare, and received one back in return. She had decided the moment she accepted Rupin's offer that this girl was not going to get the better of her or look down on her in any way, in fact, if truth be known, she'd only really said 'yes' to him because Sarah had been so nasty. But now, she thought to herself, I'm going to enjoy winding her up a bit. She is really going to regret slapping me like I'm some common mudblood.

OOC: Damn..I thought I had you there...
Feel free to control Sarah...(NB:By the way... remember like Rupin, she has the Magical eye ANWA skill...(xray vision...she can look through things..her eyss turn to a different colour when she does...its a genetic Cybergate family trait ))
BIC:

Rupin had to really hide his disappointment when Ankaa didn’t take ANY of the rings…
True, he hadn’t expected the Betrothing ring, but the trial or Promise ring…well.. those would have been ok..

As it was she did not and so Rupin , slowly put the rings back into his robes (with a little sigh I might add)

"So would you like to formally introduce us, or are you just going to leave your sister standing there like something the cat dragged in?" Ankaa said.

“Well, yes of course…Ankaa…this is Sarah my twin sister, Sarah meet Ankaa…my er..well I guess I could call you my girlfriend…yes?” he asked Ankaa.

“Anyway, I am the oldest of us two…my dear sis came out a few minutes fashionably late….”

(Turning to face Sarah now)

“Oh by the way…Sarah…I would appreciate it if you two got along together…I small apology for earlier might also be a good idea” Rupin added.

A statement which received a withering glare as a reply...

However, Rupin was not going to make it an order…not just yet.
Rupin wanted them to become friends, not the opposite..

“Er…excuse me please…I see the manager coming” he said after a few seconds…seeing the manager of the Hogshead who was followed by an anxious bar keeper.

“I have a tavern to buy”…”be nice” he said to both of them “Ill be back in a jiffy” and with those last words, he left the two ladies alone…but not before giving the guards meaningful looks which could be translated into a small order. They both understood its meaning.

‘Watch over them…both of them…treat Ankaa like family…understood’

Both guards nodded in understanding.
while Sarah gave another irked glare

Rupin followed with the manager into the next room,
The girls were now alone, their guards standing warily beside them…

Ankaa sat back in her chair and picked up her firewhisky. She swilled it round in the glass and then downed it in one. It burned like hell but there was no way she was going to flinch in front of this uppity creature who stood opposite her, staring down at her like she was something off the bottom of her shoe.

"So Sarah, why don't you sit down, if the place isn't too dirty for you, and you can fill me in on any more dubious customs your family may have."

Sarah rolled her eyes at Ankaa and spat out

"I wouldn't sit next to you if you were next to the last spare seat on the train to hell. You think I'd lower myself for a piece of trash like that?"

Ankaa leaped out of her seat and put her face a few inches from Sarah's. She had to bend down a few inches to do this and this made her seem even more intimidating.

At this sudden move the bodyguards shifted uneasily and started to edge closer to the girls. There was no need for them to do anything however because Sarah blinked and looked away and Ankaa laughed at her

"Trash you think? Well, I don't know why you think your name makes you special but just remember, those guards won't always be around. You're not the heir of Cybergate after all are you?"

She spun round and shouted over to Rupin

"Rupin, will you stop flashing your wallet about and just get some drinks for us? Better make it something sweet for your sister, seems like she needs it. God, what is it with this family?"

Rupin was having difficulties buying the tavern…
In the end he changed his mind .
It was clear that the manager just didn’t want to sell.
At first Rupin tried to convince the manager but he soon realised that that was not a good idea.

A few minutes later Rupin was walking back into the main room, where he had left Ankaa and Sarah.

A few of the tavern patrons where giving him inquisitive looks, their meanings was clear…’are the drinks free?’
Rupin smiled to himself slightly but then shook his head apologetically . The Patrons sighed and turned away, thier interest in the strange boy had disappeared.

His smile widening slightly, Rupin turned back towards the table with his sister and date.

Almost Immediately Rupins smile faded. Ankaa and Sarah seemed to be in a heated discussion what seemed to be about the oldest discussion of them all…’Blood, the power of purebloods and who was higher than the other etc’

Rupin groaned as he realised his sister and his date were not about to become friends anytime soon.
At least not the way they were going at the moment.

With a sigh Rupin decided to take a little ‘breather’.
Before any of the two girls of the guards could see him, he quietly turned around and started to go towards the back door of the tavern.
His intent: to leave the two girls alone to settle their differences on their own.

At that moment, he wanted them to sort this out without him interfering.
As far as he was concerned if he got involved it would be a lose lose situation no matter what he did.

If he settled with his sister, he would probably lose his date.
If he went with Ankaa, his sister would go…well… berserk and the last thing Rupin wanted was a blood and heritage lecture.

He was just about to leave the room again when he heard Ankaa voice.

"Rupin, will you stop flashing your wallet about and just get some drinks for us? Better make it something sweet for your sister, seems like she needs it. God, what is it with this family?"

Rupin silently cursed to himself…‘too slow’ he thought as he turned back around and walked over to them. 'Looks like I might have to settle this after all...maybe..' he thought.

Seeing that the bartender was back in his old place he quickly ordered another firewhisky (a real one this time) for himself and two butter beers for the girls.

Steeling himself for a long day of bickering, he took his place in the chair he had preciously vacated. He knew that he had to find a way to stay neutral…

Taking a breath to calm his nerves he turned to enter into the conversation.

Ankaa took her drink off Rupin and thanked him

"Nice of you to join us, we were getting on so well" Ankaa grimaced at him "So being as this is a date and there appears to be three of us round this table, maybe you'd like to invite your sister to leave us. She can scowl at me just as well from over the other side of the bar."

Sarah settled back in her chair and smirked "Oh but I'm not going anywhere, maybe you should leave us alone, we're family after all."

"Well so nice to see that you're happy to stay, a minute ago you didn't want to be within six feet of me. What did you say, ah yes, 'trash' I think it was. Oh and just a small piece of information for you - my blood is at least as pure as yours, so you'd better watch who you're badmouthing."

Things were starting to get nasty between the two girls, both of them now glaring daggers over the table at each other. The guards were standing a couple of feet behind them both, visibly twitching and preparing themselves to intervene should violence erupt.

Listening to Ankaa hint that he should somehow ‘persuade’ his twin sister to leave them alone for their date, Rupin grimaced slightly.

This was directly the kind of situation which he wanted to avoid.
In truth, he actually wanted both of them here at the same time.
He hadn’t seen his sister for quite a while. The fact that he could usually only see her during the Summer and Christmas break, only strengthened his wish to see her.

Then again, this was a date. It was only right that he and Ankaa got to spend some time together…alone.

‘But what is Sarah doing here,’ he asked himself.


Deciding to try and break up the confrontation, or at least lesson the risk of a brawl, or duel, Rupin turns to Sarah.

“Sarah, what actually are you doing here…aren’t you supposed to be in Beauxbatons?” he asked.

“Sarah turned her glaring eyes away from Ankaa and stared Rupin into his face.
“You mean to tell me that you don’t know that I am transferring to Hogwarts” she asked incredulously.

“Your what?” Rupin asked slightly in shock.

“You heard me,” Sarah answered back, though she had a small smile on her slips.

“That’s…that’s wonderful” Rupin said, for a minute forgetting that his date was sitting beside him.

“I’ve been waiting for three years for you to change your mind and come here,” he said happily.

“Do you already know your house?” he asked almost giddy with happiness.

“No…not yet…I’m being sorted tonight…and I just went to see you and send the evening talking to my twin.”
“Little did I expect that I would see him on his knees, being dragged my some half….”

“Shut up” Rupin said abruptly, cutting his sister off.

“What?” Sarah asked, surprised.

“You know what.... if your going to mad with and bad mouthing my friends, or worse my date, then it might have been better if you had stayed in France” Rupin said angrily.

Sarah reeled back as if she had been slapped to the eight road from sundown.

“But…you were....,” she tried to say

“I know directly what I was doing, and with good reason,” Rupin said cutting her off.

“Look, we will talk later about this, OK!…” “Go on to the school, I’ll promise I'll answer any of your questions once I get back” he said, this time in a kind voice.

“I…I….”

“Go Sarah…please…don’t ruin my date” Rupin said with a sad voice.

“I can’t believe this,” said Sarah, it was clear she was in shock.
He own brother was siding with …some….

“Sarah…!” Rupin said, he could sense her reluctance to leave.

Sarah sighed deeply, “Is this an order?” she asked quietly.

“Rupin grimaced again. “Sarah..please…I would prefer if I didn’t have to”.

Sarah nodded. “Ok, but I will demand a full explanation tonight,” she said as she started to get up.

“Thanks Sarah, I will,” Rupin said with a smile.

“Oh and Sarah!” he said

“Yes Rup,”

“Please Sar,… try to get along with Ankaa,” Rupin added giving his sister a meaningful glance.

Sarah seemed to deflate slightly in front of their eyes and nodded, she knew directly from Rupin glance what he wanted an what could happen otherwise.

“Please forgive me, I was totally out of line” she said to Ankaa, though it was clear that it took a lot of self control to say these words.

Silently she waited for Ankaas reply.

Ankaa tried desperately to keep a straight face as an obviously furious Sarah was forced to apologise to her on the way out the door.

Ankaa graciously nodded and said "I'll agree to a truce, but if you ever refer to my blood status again, I'll consider it an eternal insult and won't be able to forgive you. Until then, I look forward to seeing you around school"

This last was said through gritted teeth, but her aunt's attempts at infusing her with good manners had obviously paid off to a certain degree.

As an afterthought she added "Maybe you'd better take one of those gorillas of a bodyguard with you too, after all it's quite a way back to school. We wouldn't want anything nasty happening to you now, would we?"

Sarah shot her a dirty look and stormed off without dignifying that comment with a reply. On the way out the door, she beckoned one of the guards to come with her, leaving the other one to get back to his butterbeer on the opposite side of the bar.

She turned back to Rupin and started to talk to him

"Thanks for that, I really think we need a little time alone to get to know each other, don't you? So, you never got round to telling me where you've been? I've not seen you round school until just recently. You've obviously been here before, so where did you get to?"

Rupin watched wearily as his sister… his twin…his other half… the only other person who he loved more than his mother and adopted father... besides perhaps his date, apologized to Ankaa.

The moment the apology left her mouth, he felt immense relief, though It did hurt him just to listen to it...

A true smile reappearing across his face he nodded to Sarah as she him and Ankaa in peace. He knew how difficult it had been for his sister to do just that.

For a second he closed his eyes and pondered what had just happened.
He really did want them to get along well…he really did.
True, it truly wasn’t a good start, but he was sure they could become good …loyal friends, if given a chance.

"Thanks for that, I really think we need a little time alone to get to know each other, don't you? So, you never got round to telling me where you've been? I've not seen you round school until just recently. You've obviously been here before, so where did you get to?" he heard after a moment.

“wah…oh…yes…right…,” he said as he was brought back out of the land of thoughts and dreams.

Looking back at his date he considers her question.

“Ive...er...been…”

he paused..

‘Should he tell her the real reason,' he wondered.

Deciding that he needed her trust more than anything else at the moment, he decided to tell her the real reason why he was out for the past year…and not the lies which he had told everybody else.

After all, It was only fair…

‘If she is going to be my girl…or betrothed ….if she will... then she had the right to know…what we…what I am’ he thought to himself.

Looking back at her he quickly cast a privacy charm around their table, so that nobody could hear what he said next.

The last remaining guard looked up briefly, but shrugged before taking another sip of his drink.
Rupin was …is…his boss, the heir…what he did was his own problem...if he thought it to be best, then who was he to decide otherwise.

“Ankaa, I’ll be frank…” Rupin said…

“The reason why I was away was, not that I was sick of a new and unheard of sickness, which I told everybody else in this school….but that I was taking part in my official...initiation… ..into the clan…”

“You must understand, that my family …my clan….is a very old pureblood family….a very powerful family who…usually does not bow…or beg… to anyone…"
"Its unheard off…even the minister….”

“That’s the reason why Sarah was so angry….she…” Rupin trailed off

“Anyway…I’m not supposed to tell anybody about this, but since you’re…we are going…are about to become so close…well…you have the right to know….”

“ My clan was…is still… the last…of the ancient …Vampire hunting clans…”

OOC:

I think Ill stop it here.. lol
I just want to see how Ankaa reacts to this...
:naughty:

Ankaa listened as Rupin started to explain where he'd been and why she'd never seen him around before. As she listened, her mouth fell open in astonishment

"Vampire hunting? Are you serious?! I thought that had died out years ago. You're not pulling my leg are you?" she asked, suddenly suspicious, after all that had happened so far, she wasn't sure what to believe, or even if this was all some big show designed to impress her. She looked closely at him, into his deep blue eyes and around his mouth, but there was none of the usual signs of lying. Of course, he could just be very good at it, or worse, telling the truth!

She sighed, she guess she would have to believe him until she found out otherwise

"No, I guess you're not. So what does vampire hunting involve exactly? Are you going to be away a lot?"

Rupin could see that Ankaa was astonished by what he had just said.
But what he did not expect was for her to take it so calmly.

“Yes I’m serious” he said sadly…”believe me…I wish I wasn’t…my great uncle even turned into one…” he said sadly, remembering that fact.
He also remembered how his Uncle took his own life afterwards and the memories let a shudder run down his spine.

“Vampire hunting Jas been in our family for ..well…quite a while…” he continued
“There used to be many more…but they are all either destroyed by our prey or they have just died out.”

“My family is one of the oldest, most powerful and well…second last of the clans”

“Ever wondered where we got the ‘magical eye’ from…well…it’s a power we have which lets us hunt our prey…”

At this moment Rupin changes his eyes from there usual blue/green, to a bright glowing Yellow.

“It is using this ability that we recognise each others as this power can not be polyjuiced or otherwise Metamorphed…”…”Metamorpsa can change their eye colour, but the glow is still missing” he added.

At this moment Rupin laughed as he remembered how his family had once caught a ministry spy…they wouldn’t have caught him had he had the glow…

“Anyway…every Cybergate clan member has this ability and we are all able to see through objects and walls though I most admit with different levels of success…and some times there can be a few rather embarrassing situations too…”

“But enough of that…to get to your last question…

“What does vampire hunting involve exactly? And am I going to be away a lot?"

“Luckily there aren’t many Vampires around at the moment, since the defeat of Voldemort, however even so some still exist…”
“Once in a wile I might be asked to join one of our hunting groups…but nothing serious.”

“Luckily I am in a very high family position so I will most likely be the last to be killed or converted…though don’t be surprised if I come home one day to suck out your blood, “ Rupin joked with a grin.

Rupin waited for a second to let the information sink in.

“Don’t worry, I’m not one of them yet,” he added

"Not yet? I hope not anytime soon! You know, I can't help but feel that I'm in some kind of a dream, I'm hoping I'll wake up at any minute, but it just doesn't seem to be happening. This evening has been so crazy and I can't seem to get my head round everything. So, the way I see it, either everything you're telling me is true, or you beleive it to be true and you're insane. Now the insane option looks good to me, after all you've got two of the biggest babysitters I've ever seen, and they're probably trying to keep you from getting into too much trouble. But then again there's the appearance of your sister. So unless you're both as mad as each other, I have to assume that you're telling the truth."

She looked at Rupin to make sure he was following her reasoning. He looked like he was going to speak so Ankaa put her finger on his lips to shush him up.

"Now, just wait a minute. I'm going to send an owl to my aunt to check out your story and then we can go from there. Until I get an answer, you are only to talk to me about normal, everyday things. I don't want to hear any more vampire stuff or stories about your powerful family. Let's just talk about what books you're reading, or who you hang around with, things like that. Understood?"

Ankaa took out some parchment and a quill from her bag and began to scribble a letter to her aunt. When she had finished she put a little silver whistle to her lips and blew it, but no sound came out. After a couple of minutes a large barn owl belonging to the school appeared and Ankaa gave it the letter. The owl took off with the letter tied to it's leg and Ankaa shouted after it "Don't come back without an answer. Peck her if necessary."

She regarded Rupin with her wide brown eyes and reminded him

"Now no nonsense until I hear back, remember!"

Rupin chuckled slightly when Ankaa announced that she hoped it would take a while before he changed into a Vamp…and he agreed with her…whole heartedly.

“Don’t worry, my appointment with a particular Vamp is still far away…I still have a good 120 or so years to go before that date arrives” he joked.

“To tell you the truth it isn’t that bad…my great great great great uncle Charlie let himself be turned into a Vampire while he was lying on his death bed…His still around, and never felt better, works as a family advisor and diplomat, though he had hated the sunlight ever since, would you believe it”
“Maybe if you ask him nicely he might be willing to turn you too, once your time has come”
Rupin added with a smile.

Just then he noticed Ankaas fingers touching his mouth

“Oh come on…Vamps can be quite ni…”
Rupin stopped in mid sentence…

“Oh ok, “he answered as Ankaa explained that she was going to send an owl.

“Sorry” he added when Ankaa told him to stay away from Vampire things.

“Well…I like to read nearly every book which deals with spells and warding has really interested me as well lately” he said
“I like to create my own spells though…used to spend a lot of time in the Hospital wing because of backfired spells” he added happy to talk about one of his favorite pastimes.

“Have you ever heard about the gravitational trio?” Two of them were even given nicknames… the ‘other unforgivables’ would you believe it”.

“My family invented two of them…I had the honor of inventing the last”

"No I haven't heard of them. They're probably a bit too advanced for me. I'm not that good with dark spells, a source of constant shame to my aunt, but there's just nothing I can do about it. you'll maybe have to give me extra lessons."

Ankaa let her eyes wander about Rupin's face and felt a rush of warmth towards him, whether it was the alcohol taking effect or something else altogether, she couldn't tell.

"You know, I like to hear you talk" she said softly "Usually boys aren't big talkers and that makes me feel awkward, like I'm supposed to make all the conversation, but I don't feel that way with you."

Just then there was a flurry of feathers approaching, and a large tawny owl emerged out of it and settled itself gracefully on the back of Rupin's chair.

"Ah my aunt's owl. Hello Sylvester, I've got some owl nuts for you"

She rummaged in her bag and came out with a handful of nuts which she put on the table for him. He held his leg out so she could take the attached letter, then hopped onto the table once the scroll was released from his care.

Ankaa unfolded the long letter and read it in silence. Eventually after a couple of minutes she placed the scroll on the table between them and let out a long sigh.

"Well it looks like I'll hve to apologise, you were right about everything, but it looks like you were a bit eager. My aunt says she was going to tell me herself during the next holidays and she's furious that you've let the cat out of the bag. She says you're to come home with me at the end of term and I don't envy you the bawling out she's going to give you."

Ankaa smiled shyly at Rupin and visibly relaxed in her seat

"So, it looks like there's nothing I can do about it then, we're stuck with each other now."