Riddles Rising

[Sara Choviar]

He smiled, "Lead the way."

Sara smiled back up at Richard as she leaned her body against his, and said quietly "This way, Sir Richard..." She moved up to give him a quick kiss on the lips before she gently pulled on his arm, and lead him toward the staircase. Sara casually stole a glance at the handsome Gryffindor as they made their way up the ever-changing staircase, and her heart warmed at the look of happiness on his face. While Sara felt relieved that she no longer had to hide her new feelings for Richard, a part of her was feeling a little nervous and unsure about how they should proceed. They had been friends for so long, this new development in their relationship felt slightly awkward.

As they reached the Ravenclaw Common Room, Sara turned to Richard and smiled as she said "I'll just be a minute." Letting go of his hand, she whispered the secret password as she moved toward the painting in front of the door. She slid through the opening, shutting the door behind her.

After a few minutes, Sara's head reappeared through the door, and she motioned Richard toward her with her hand. "My dorm and the Common Room are both empty. Why don't we just stay here in front of the nice warm fire for awhile. We can always throw up an Invisibility spell if anyone should come." She smiled up at him as she reached to gently pull him through the door by his arm.

[Richard Banks]

"This way, Sir Richard..."

Richard smiled at her as she led him up the staircase. That kiss left him reeling ,and he could feel another silly grin make it's way onto his face. He hoped he didn't look to foolish just after a few kisses from the beautiful woman; after all, he didn't want to seem to inenperienced and naive. He had dated a few girls during his time at Hogwarts ,but Sara always seemed to be a constant part of his life, even if at the time it wasn't romantic.

"My dorm and the Common Room are both empty. Why don't we just stay here in front of the nice warm fire for awhile. We can always throw up an Invisibility spell if anyone should come."

He followed her through the door and was met with the wonderful feeling of warmth from the fire and tossed his outer cloak onto a chair careless then set his dagger carefully on a table. "Sounds good," he muttered sitting on a comfortable looking couch before tugging Sara down on his lap. His arms remained locked around her waist as he rested his head against her shoulder. "It's nice and warm; I don't think I'll ever let you go, fair maiden," he teased.

[Sara Choviar]

Sara closed the Common Room door behind her, and walked over to set the bouquet of roses Richard had given her on the study table near the wall. She tried to calm her mind as she undid the clasps of her wool cloak, her hands shaking noticable as she shrugged it off her shoulders. Throwing it onto a chair next to the study table, Sara called out loudly "Hello....anybody here?" She hurried up the girl's dorm stairs, and looked around as she called out again.

Making her way back downstairs, she knew the Common Room and dorms were deserted, and she sat down on the large over-stuffed couch in front of the fireplace. There were only a handful of Ravenclaw students who didn't go home for the winter holidays, and Sara knew they would all rather be somewhere other than the Common Room at this time of day. Pulling out her wand, she aimed it at the firewood already stacked in the fireplace, and absentmindly spelled "in-SEN-dee-o". A fire burst forth under the firewood, and soon a roaring fire filled the large room with it's warmth.

Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Sara still was finding it hard to believe that she and Richard were actually dating...as a couple. Everything had happened so fast and unexpectantly, and she took a deep breath as she let it sink in that her dear friend who was now 'her boyfriend' was standing on the other side of the Common Room door. Suddenly making a decision, she stood up and walked over to push open the door slightly, leaning just her head through the opening.

Sara caught her breath when Richard brushed gently against her as he walked through the Common Room door, and she moved to close it quietly behind them. She watched Richard take his cloak off and lay his dagger next to her roses on the table, her eyes roaming appreciately over the muscular Gryffindor's body as she leaned against the couch.

"Sounds good,"

Sara gave a soft gasp as Richard pulled her down onto his lap, his arms encircling her body as he rested his head on her shoulder. The feel of him so close to her was causing her body temperature and breathing to increase, and she tired to calm herself a little as she felt something nagging at her mind. Their being together felt a bit rushed, like maybe they were moving too quickly.

"It's nice and warm; I don't think I'll ever let you go, fair maiden" he teased.

Sara gave a slow smile at Richard's words as he teased her with the game they had played together since their first year. She reached her hand slowly upward to slide her fingers through his soft blond hair as her heartbeat started to race faster, and she mentally shook her worry from her mind. "Who is asking you to go anywhere, Sir Richard?..." she whispered as she leaned down to press her lips softly against his mouth.

[Richard Banks]

"Who is asking you to go anywhere, Sir Richard?..."

She didn't give him much time to answer, although Richard didn't seem to mind as he pressed his lips longingly against hers. Passion. That's what he felt as they kissed, alone, in the Ravenclaw common room. She had been on his mind for the longest time, and now that they were a couple he still couldn't get enough of her.

Sara was so perfect, that even watching her had it's benefits. Whether it be her casting a simple spell or her just singing a simple tune. She was always beautiful no matter what she did. She reminded him so much of an angel with her pretty looks and ways. It was she that always listen to his rambling and thoughts. She was special, even more so now that they were together.

"No one, but then again, even if anyone had told me to leave, fair one, I don't think I could," he whispered after they had broken the passionate kiss. He pressed a kiss to her cheek lightly, savoring the feel of her soft skin against his lips. Would she believe him if he told her that he loved her? He smiled and pulled her close, enjoying the peaceful moment they shared together.

Richard wasn't quite sure when it had started ,but he knew it was an ongoing game he had been involved in since he was a young child. His mother had always called him Sir Richard ,and it seemed to just stick, being nicknamed after King Richard the Lion Hearted. Now, even at Hogwarts he still was called Sir Richard by close friends though with Sara it was the most...entertaining. He remembered the day he had called her fair maiden, that had stuck thus the neverending 'game' they shared.

((Sorry it took me a while to comment; I got dragged out of the house by my mom and I didn't have a chance to comment. Sorry! Please forgive me! ))

[Sara Choviar]

Sara sighed quietly as Richard returned her kiss deeply, his eager response catching her a little off guard. After having been friends for so long, there was a part of her that was still trying to adjust to the new development in their relationship. But all thoughts soon flew from her mind as Richard's firm muscular body pressed against hers, causing a wave of aching heat to flow through her; and she opened her mouth slightly as she slowly slid the tip of her tongue along their joined lips.

No one; but then again, even if anyone had told me to leave, fair one, I don't think I could"

Sara slid her hand down to Richard's shoulder as he pulled back from their kiss, and held him tightly as she struggled to catch her breath, her surroundings a shimmering blur. Focusing on his words, Sara smiled at Richard as she reached up with her hand to run her fingertips down along his handsome face, and knew no matter what happened in the future, she was grateful for every second she had been given with the blond Gryffindor. He had been the major male influence during her teen years, other than her Uncle Sam, and no matter what happen between them, he would always be a part of her heart and soul.

Moving to snuggle closer against him, Sara lifted her mouth and whispered against Richard's ear "This is all so new. Perhaps we should take it slowly for now. Not rush things . . . " Lowering her mouth downward, she pressed her lips to his neck before moving to lean her head against him, sighing softly.

((Sorry that took so long. ))

[Richard Banks]

"This is all so new. Perhaps we should take it slowly for now. Not rush things . . . "

Richard nodded softly, "There's no rush." Inside he was on fire; Sara seemed to unlease emotions in him that he didn't know exsisted. She was always the one that he wanted, but now it was strange to have her there, in his arms after all that time. It was different, and he knew Sara was right. They needed to go a little slower. Richard really wanted this to work for them.

He sighed contently when she pressed a kiss to his neck and then leaned against him. Her very presence was calmly and yet seemed to stir him up. She was an enigma. One minute they were friends then boom! They were together. It was a bit fast, but he had been thinking about her since forever. It was strange, but now that he thought about it...she was always the one on his mind.

The Gryffindor could remember when he had problems; he always went to Sara for advice or comfort. No other girl had ever been that important in his life besides Sara. He wasn't about to let her go without a fight. He snuggled against her with a soft smile as they sat together.

[Sara Choviar]

Sara moaned softly as she pressed herself closer to Richard, the feel of his muscular body against hers sending shivers of aching heat through her as she slid a hand upward to run her fingers back into his medium blond hair. Struggling to catch her breath, Sara fought to control the passion that was threatening to consume her body.

Richard nodded softly, "There's no rush."

Sara knew she should have felt relieved at the tall Gryffindor's words. But instead she found that they ignited her, Richard's sigh causing her to moan low in her throat as she moved her lips back to his neck. Slowly kissing downward, Sara reached up with her other hand to slowly unbutton the top of Richard's shirt. She knew she had been the one to ask to go slowly, but the feel and taste of the man in her arms was calling to some hidden desire deep within her. Sara moaned loudly as she slid her hand inside Richard's open shirt, the feel of his taut skin making her burn with the need to slide her fingers lower.

Moving her lips back upward, Sara lifted her glance to Richard's soulful blue eyes before she leaned back and whispered breathlessly "I think I need you to help me not to 'rush things'...or we need to move to a different location..."

((Sorry, for the delay. ))

[Richard Banks]

Slow was definitely not the word Richard would have used for their current actions, but he couldn't help but comply. His fingers grasped the cloth of her shirt and he had to force himself from doing anything else. He gripped her hands, pulling them from his shirt and pulled her to his chest.

"Slower," he whispered, "we've got time, Sara." Inside he was berating himself for stopping her actions, after all; he wanted her and he was quite sure the feeling was mutual. He pressed a light kiss to her hair and tired to still his fastly beating heart. This passion she was creating in him was making him lose whatever control he once possessed.

"I think I need you to help me not to 'rush things'...or we need to move to a different location..."

He nodded, "I think...we're both gonna have to help each other with that."


((that was sad post I just wrote....I'm sorry, but I really wanted to update..I've kept you hanging for a while ))

[Sara Choviar]

Sara gasped as she felt Richard grab her shirt; and was about to lean closer to him when she felt him reach up and remove her hands from the front his own shirt. She caught her breath in confusion before he pulled her closer to his chest and whispered near her ear.

"Slower... we've got time, Sara."

While the feeling of being so close to him made her heart race, his words were like cold water on her heated emotions, and Sara moved to sit next to Richard on the couch as she struggled to slow her breathing. Reaching for his hand, she said quietly "Yes, we have time..."

He nodded, "I think...we're both gonna have to help each other with that."

Sara turned to give Richard a slow smile as she joked "Tag... you're it." She looked up into the tall blond's eyes, and realized that it was time to bring up a subject that she had been avoiding for awhile. She knew she was suppose to keep what she was about to say a secret, but she felt that Richard now had a right to know. Taking a deep breath, she said quietly "Richard, I need to talk with you about something... confidential."

[Richard Banks]

"Yes, we have time..."

It broke him to tell her fight off her advances when Richard knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him, but hadn't she been the one who wanted to take things slow. Then again, he knew how hard it was to keep emotions in check.

"Tag... you're it."

He laughed lightly and felt relieved that she wasn't angry at him for stopping them earlier. After all they had just gotten together and it would be an awful waste if they broke up the same day because of petty arguments and heated passions that needed to be controlled. "I'm it?" he asked innocently hopeing to later take her by surprise.

"Richard, I need to talk with you about something... confidential."

Suddenly the cheerful atmosphere melted away and Richard put on a straight face, nodding. "What is it?" he asked carefully hopeing her 'secret' wouldn't ruin what they had just started, but he promised himself that nothing could tear them apart at that moment. Nothing.

[Sara Choviar]

"I'm it?" he asked innocently, hoping to later take her by surprise.

Sara gave a small smile as Richard laughed, and joked back to her. Then gently biting her lip, she sat up on the couch, and crossed her legs in front of her as she turned to face Richard. Sara felt a mix of emotions running through her, each fighting to be recognized . . . worry, confusion, and a shiver of fear.

"What is It?" he asked carefully...

At Richard's words, she lifted her eyes to his, and fought the urge to reach over and brush some hair back from his face. Sara cherished Richard deeply, and was thankful the tall Gryffindor had chosen to be her friend all those years ago. But now, with graduation only months away, it would soon be time to decide what they would be doing with their lives after Hogwarts. Only Sara had already made one of those choices, and now she needed to find a way to tell Richard. She honestly wasn't sure how he was going to react, so she was finding it a little difficult to figure out how to start to tell him.

Holding his hand between hers, she took a deep breath and said quietly "Richard, I need you to promise me that you won't repeat what I'm about to tell you to anyone." She was about to tell him something that was suppose to be kept a secret, even though she knew some of the others weren't as secretive about it as they should be. She looked down at their joined hands before gazing back up to Richard's eyes, and said "I joined the Order of the Phoenix several weeks ago. And because of my Romani knowledge of the back-ways around the United Kingdom, I have already done two courier assignments for the Order." She swallowed quietly, and continued "And while I haven't completely made up my mind what I am going to do after graduation, I have decided that I will definitely be remaining with the Order."

[Richard Banks]

"Richard, I need you to promise me that you won't repeat what I'm about to tell you to anyone."

He nodded softly, with a slightly confused look on his face. Inside his thoughts were going a hundred miles an hour trying to figure out what she was about to tell him. Was she in danger? He hoped not, but with the times they lived in she could never be sure.

"I joined the Order of the Phoenix several weeks ago. And because of my Romani knowledge of the back-ways around the United Kingdom, I have already done two courier assignments for the Order."[I]

Richard froze. "That's very dangerous work, Sara," he paused an squeezed her hand gentelly, "you better be careful." She wasn't even out of school yet, he wanted to scream, and the Order was putting her in these dangerous situations. He sighed, but He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was a powerful force his heart argued. He still didn't want Sara to get hurt doing the missions thoug; he wasn't sure he could handle that.

"And while I haven't completely made up my mind what I am going to do after graduation, I have decided that I will definitely be remaining with the Order."

"I'll support you, though I'm not in the Order...My mother doesn't want me involved, and you know what a sucker I am for my mom when she tears up and begs me not to do something, " he sighed, "but I really do want to join; I'll just have to figure a way of convincing her that this is the right choice right now. That madman needs to be stopped."

((Sorry!Sorry! I didn't get the email notification, and I thought you hadn't updated...I'm such a loser... ))[B][/B][I][/I]

[Sara Choviar]

"That is very dangerous work, Sara," he paused and squeezed her hand gently, "you better be careful."

Sara noticed Richard's look of confusion as she started to speak, his expression freezing in place as she told him about joining the Order. "Yes Richard, I was made aware of the dangers before I joined. And I'm always careful..." she said quietly, a bit surprised at how calmly Richard seemed to be taking what she was saying to him. The decision to join the Order had been a big one for Sara. She had weighted the pros and cons of joining by herself, not even asking Richard or her grandmother for advice. But the knowledge that the Darkness that was starting to creep even further out into the open had been responsible for her parent's deaths had finally convinced Sara that she had to fight to make sure that the same thing didn't happen to other families. And the Order had eagerly accepted her, knowing that Sara's knowledge of the infrequently used back-ways throughout the United Kingdom would prove to be invaluable for transporting messages, and hiding fugitives if necessary.


"I'll support you, though I'm not in the Order...My mother doesn't want me involved; and you know what a sucker I am for my Mom when she tears up and begs me not to do something," he sighed, "But I really do want to join; I'll just have to figure a way of convincing her that this is the right choice right now. That madman needs to be stopped."

Richard's words brought her back to the present, and she looked up at him as she said "It's alright, Richard. Part of the reason I didn't talk with you about joining, was because I didn't want you to go against your Mother's wishes and join too...out of some unnecessary obligation to protect me." Sara gave him a small smile as she continued "And you don't have to join the Order to help, Richard. If you should decide to work at the Ministry of Magic after graduation, you could always help to keep things on the up-and-up in there. So don't think that just because you're not in the Order you wouldn't be able to help do anything to fight the Darkness that is coming."

She knew how much Richard cared about his mother, and the last thing Sara wanted was for him to upset her by going against her wishes not to join the Order. So she hoped her words had helped Richard to see that he could still help to fight the Darkness in his own way. Sara was moving to give his hand another squeeze, when the door to the Ravenclaw Common Room started to swing open. Pulling her wand out of her pocket, she quickly said "Someone's coming...", and gently slid her hand from Richard's as she whispered an Invisibility spell at him. Slipping her wand back into her pocket, Sara stood up and moved around to the back of the couch as she waited to see who came in through the door.

[Richard Banks]

"Yes Richard, I was made aware of the dangers before I joined. And I'm always careful..."

"Good," he murmured, trying to act calm though his heart was racing. Sure he knew his friends were in the Order, but the threat seemed more real when Sara was involved. Of course he knew the reasons Sara was a asset to the light. But somehow he still wasn't quite reassured by her words of comfort. It would be hard to stay safe around the Dark Lord especially will all his minions up and about, doing his evil bidding. But Sara would probably be the savior of many lives in this war ,and he'd be damned if he stopped her. "I still can't help but worry about you, though," he whispered burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"It's alright, Richard. Part of the reason I didn't talk with you about joining, was because I didn't want you to go against your Mother's wishes and join too...out of some unnecessary obligation to protect me."

"I still wanted to join...to help, you know? Of course it'd just be an upside if I joined if I could help keep you safe as well, though I know you can protect yourself. You're smart, and I'm sure you can keep yourself out of harm's way, but still..." he blushed at the end of his longer statement. Would she think he was being overprotective? He was worried about her safety, but maybe he should have had more faith in her abilities as a witch. No, he thought...He had a right to think that.

"And you don't have to join the Order to help, Richard. If you should decide to work at the Ministry of Magic after graduation, you could always help to keep things on the up-and-up in there. So don't think that just because you're not in the Order you wouldn't be able to help do anything to fight the Darkness that is coming."

Richard froze, "I've never thought of that," he paused, "I was going to ask Dumbledore if I could teach Divination after I graduate...if he needs a teacher. I know I have sight; I've had a few visions this year, but I think I'd need more training with a professional before I get a job in the field...Man, I must sound like an idiot, talking about sight...Half the people out there don't believe me"

"I just wish I'd have a vision that would help us defeat the Dark Lord, but they never come how or when I want them," he whispered.

"Someone's coming..."

He gave her hand a slight squeeze in return before falling completely silent waiting for the Ravenclaw to enter.

[Sara Choviar]

"Good... I still can't help but worry about you, though," he whispered burying his face in the crook of her neck.

Sara could hear the worry and concern in Richard's voice, and gently brushed his hair back from his face as she said quietly "There's no need to worry, Richard... I'll be very careful." She knew her words probably didn't help to relieve any of his concerns, but she had still felt the need to try and comfort him anyway.

"I still wanted to join...to help, you know? Of course it'd just be an up-side if I joined, if I could help keep you safe as well, though I know you can protect yourself. You're smart, and I'm sure you can keep yourself out of harm's way; but still..." he blushed at the end of his longer statement.

Sara smiled over at Richard as he spoke, and noticed how easily they had fallen into their roles of supporting and wanting to protect each other. It had been that way since they had first met, with the tall Gryffindor always there to rescue her if she needed it. But Sara could feel a shift between her and Richard, her joining the Order having been the first time she hadn't asked Richard for his opinion about something. And as she sat there, Sara could feel how much her confidence in herself and her abilities had grown since she had joined the Order several weeks ago. "If my grades and years of training are any indication... I think I can pretty much handle myself now, Richard." she teased with a smile, giving him a gentle poke in the ribs.

"I've never thought of that," he paused, "I was going to ask Dumbledore if I could teach Divination after I graduate...if he needs a teacher. I know I have sight; I've had a few visions this year, but I think I'd need more training with a professional before I get a job in the field...Man, I must sound like an idiot, talking about sight...Half the people out there don't believe me. I just wish I'd have a vision that would help us defeat the Dark Lord, but they never come how or when I want them," he whispered.

Sara felt Richard stiffen next to her, and she moved to hold his hand tightly in hers as she said "Maybe Dumbledore would let you apprentice with the current Divinations Professor? What better way for you to learn than on-the-job? They might even know of something to help you with those headaches you sometimes get. And you know it doesn't matter what other people think as long as Dumbledore believes you."

As the Common Room door finished opening, in walked a fourth year Ravenclaw Sara recognized as Meaghan something... Smiling over at the girl, Sara said with a small laugh "You look frozen to the bone, Meaghan." The startled girl looked over at Sara with wide eyes and said quietly "Aye, it's quite cold out right now. Thought I would dress in something warmer for dinner. See ya..." With a little wave, the fourth year quickly ran up the Girl's dormitory stairs, the door at the top closing with a soft bang behind her.

Sara quickly walked over and grabbed Richard's cloak, slipping the dagger she had given him into one of the pockets, and made her way back over in front of the couch. Aiming her wand where Richard had last been sitting, she whispered the Invisibility Reverse spell as she held out his cloak and said "Maybe we'd better finish this talk later, because the rest of the Ravenclaws will be coming in soon to get ready for dinner."