Hogsmead Village

"Well, maybe we can help each other. There's bound to be something you'd like..."

'Maybe.'

Silence fell again, not sure how to proceed from there. River had always seem stalwartly pessimistic but Artemis could hardly blame her for that given her experiences.

Silence. SHe always hated silence. Strangely.
'I'm sorry.' She blurted out, staring at him. 'I cant say it enough, Artemis, I'm sorry for everything I did. For everything my brother did. I'm sorry I ever hurt you, betrayed you...everything I did. I'm sorry and I know it doesnt change anything but I cant make excuses for what I did.' A sigh, and she rubbed her forehead. This was why she hated silence; because her head never stopped reminding her how much she had done wrong.

Artemis sighed, partially revealed the elephant in the room was now out in the open. "Listen river. It's a brand new era. And I don't want to live in the past." Firm but fair, he continued, "I won't pretend anymore that there wasn't a lot of deeds on both our parts to regret, but in willing to let bygones be bygones if you are.."

'I want to.' She whispered. 'But I just...I look at you and all I see is what I did in the past. I can't get past that- because the past is all I had.'

"But it doesn't have to be. River your brother is the way he is because he refuses to let go of the past. You don't have to be that way too!"

'I dont know what else I can be!' I laugh quietly. 'I came back to this place because I couldnt stay away. I could have never come back...'

"What do you think it is?" Artemis asked, "What keeps you here I mean?" For as long as Artemis knew her, she had been eternally drawn to this place. Was it the promise of a new beginning? Or the sheer distance from all her horrors giving her ease of mind? Or the anonymity?

She shrugged. 'Hope. Maybe. Or maybe the oppisite.'

"I don't follow. What do you mean by the opposite?"

'The absence of hope. Maybe I like to remind myself that it wont change, wont get better. None of this.' SHe laughed, but it was an empty sound. 'I have never been the most cheery person in the world.'

"But it can. Look what has happened just this year! Voldemort is gone, people are breathing easier again.."

'The calm before the storm...'

"Not this time. This time things are going to be just calm, no storm." He tried to assure her.

'You think by killing one person everything will stop?' SHe shook her head. 'WHen you kill a queen, another just takes its place. Someone else will just take Voldemorts legasy, and it will all just start again'.

He smiled sadly at her, it seemed pointless. She didn't have a drop of hope in her soul. "Even if it does come to pass, there will be people who will fight against it."

ooc CAN YOU BLAME HER.

ic

'I hope so... I dont want another battle...'

OOC arty: no! It's just a little disheartening 

IC

"I hope not either..." Artemis somberly agreed.

'I'm not picking a side, Artemis, if it ever does happen. Just so you know. I refuse to fight any of you. I would have....given up magic forever if I was able too. But its a part of me. FIghting does not have to be.'

Artemis nodded his head in understanding, "that's okay River. No one would force you back in the fight."

She snorted. 'No offence, but everyone tried to force me into fighting last time. You included.'

"I know, I won't deny it. But you had the greatest chance of all of us to stop Crouch. But now, he can't possibly start another threat..."

'This is crouch, saying he cant do something is like tempting fate.'

"How could he? The entire world is after them."