A soul in serious need of solacing

Sam slumped himself down in one of the arm chair and let out a tierd groan. H ehad been awake most of the night with terrible nightmares. What was wrong he wondered? Something had to be.

He looked up and noticed Briony slowly making her way into the staff room. Sam didnt notice the look on her face at first.

He stood up to greet her. "Hello Professor Blake. Or should i say the future Mrs Romain?" He winked. "Where's the ri-" It was then he sensed an air of absolute anguish about her. "Briony?" He hurried over to her and tried to look into her eyes. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Briony whats wrong? Whats happened?"

His stomach was in knots. He had never envisioned Briony as outwardly emotive. For him to see her like, he knew something serious must have happened. And immediately he though "its must be something to do with Rich". But what?

Briony slumped into the staff room, half expecting no-one to be there, but, as she jerked her head up she saw Howl sitting there, part of her was happy to have some company but the other was screaming out to be alone. She didn't want to be seen in a situation like this.

Her eyes that had previously been sparkling with happiness were now dead and devoid of all emotion. Briony smiled weakly, her voice wasn't strong enough to speak out and she just took a seat opposite Howl and looked intently at him.

She had a ring on her finger, Briony would never take it off, she looked up at Howl once more, her eyes rimmed with red and Briony sighed. The first sound she had made in a while. Curling up into a little ball Briony began to cry again.

Briony drifted past him like a zombie and sat down in the chair next to him. Sam sat back down and took hold of her hand. He guessed she probably wanted to be alone, was he wouldnt leave her in that state, becuase, for whatever reason, he cared about her too much.

Her eyes that were once so feirce and full of life that burned in a way that would shame stars were now dullen and deeply sombre.

When Briony curled over and started crying Sam got to his knee in front of her and pulled her into his chest for a hug. She may not like him for it, but he couldnt bare to see her this way. He rubbed her back and would just let her cry uless she said something. Sam had to keep his own tears back; seeing Briony so broken broke his own heart. He couldnt bare to see people upset and distruaght as she was.

Briony felt Howl's arms around her, but she really couldn't care less, she didn't really care about anything anymore, he could slap her about the face and she wouldn't really care. Briony was numb, she was still in shock really, she couldn't believe that he was gone. Was he gone? She didn't know. He might still be alive...maybe.

"He..."

She tried to speak but her voice failed her, it cracked as she tried to croak the words out. briony sighed tried to steady her sobs and wiped awya her tears. Her eyes met Howls and she hugged him back, just needing at this moment in time to be comforted.

"Rich is dead..."

Sam was suprised that Briony would even hug him back. He half expected her to slap him across the face or threaten his life.He stroked her hair as she tried to speak. "What is it Briony?" He spoke softly.

When she uttered the words "Rich is dead" Sam's heart completetly stopped dead for a monent and his body went stiff. No. No that wasnt possible. He couldnt be. He had only just met him. Was it his fault? Was he a curse to people? He blamed himself. That must of been the reason for his nightmares.

Sam moved his head so it was level with Briony's. "What?" he croaked as his throat swelled with tears. "No, no, no, he cant be. Dont say that Briony. Why would you say that? Whats happened? Please please, tell me."

Briony looked up at Howl, her eyes not dead any longer but showing a blinding rage, no, of course he was dead she wouldn't just make something up like this? Briony shoved him away and stood up trying to compose herself enough not to rip his heart out of his chest and feed it to Byron.

"No. I'm joking."

She growled pacing around the room violently. She supposed that this was good, she was feeling some sort of emotion now, even if it was anger. Briony felt a little bad for Howl, boy was he going to get it bad, she looked at him with her cold eyes and slapped him hard across the face.

"Why would I lie about something like that you idiot."

Sam shat one when Briony looked at him the way she did. Oh dear, he'd upset her again. She was gonna kill 'im.
Oh dear, the sarcasm wasnt good. He could sense what was coming next. SLAP! Damb did it hurt, but he deserved it, and he had been used to getting slapped about the chops out of late for being a moron.

"Briony, im sorry, im sorry" Sam tried to take hold of her hands to stop her pacing around the room in a rage. "I just, i dont wanna believe that he his. Richard... is one of the most powerful wizards ive come across. He cant die. Why what happened?"

Sam had been wanting to leave Hogwarts, but he knew he could never abandon Briony now in a time of need. He didnt believe Richard was dead. But whoever had done this, tore apart two people in love, Sam swore he would help briony hunt them down. He would gladly put his life on the line for Briony, and would never let anyone wrong her so.

Briony sighed and looked at Howl, her anger subsiding a little and her eyes faded back to their normal state, well, as normal as they could be given the circumstances. Briony had an extremely bad day, the worst day that she could have possibly had and she shouldn't take it out on Howl...it was just so easy to.

"I'm sorry Howl...I just...I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know whether to believe this is a dream or if he's gone. I don't think it's sunk in yet...I'm not sure it ever will."

Briony sat back down onto the sofa, too tired to keep up her anger, she just didn't have the strength in her, and, she didn't reallyy care. Placing her head in her hands Briony groaned lightly and curled up into a ball again, sighing lightly she peered out at Howl.

"I was going to be Mrs. Romain...he'd just proposed..."

Sam understood why Bri was upset. She had to go through one of the worst things a person could ever go through. Duh, obv.
"You dont need to apologize to me Briony."He sat down on the floor by the opposite sofa and looked on at her as she curled up ito a ball. "I know..." He sighed. "That was the vision i had...the real one... i was so happy for you both." he had to choke back tears again and clear his throat.

There was awkward silence after a pause. "Dont let it sink in then. You dont have to believe he'd dead Briony, you dont have any proof of it. Think of it as he's just missing. I thought my Crystella was dead, that's what my Uncle told me anyway, but 5 years later, i get a message from her. Have faith in him, im sure he'll be alright wherever he is. I know this must be so hard for you, and i'll be here if ever you need me."

He moved to his knees in front of her and placed his hand on his heart as if addressing a queen. "I swear to be at your beckoned call morning and night. I swear i will scowwer the entire globe if i must to find Richard for you. I swear to help you track whatever monsterous pillock did this to you both. I am at your service. As stupid as i am, i would not fail you." He stroked the side of her face and kissed her forehead. "Im always here if you need me Briony. As a friend. A servant. A punching bag, whatver you need me to be whenever you need someone, im never too far away." He gave her a specialised whistle that he only gave to people he swore his dedication to. "That will summon me. My loyalties lie with you and Richard despite all others."

Briony watched as she saw Howl move over to her, she heard him speak but she didn't really take any of it in, he was such a nice guy and Briony was actually quite lucky to have him around, if she had gone to Hades (why would she but hey?) she probably would have been kicked out the office and told to grow a pair.

"Thank you Howl, you're so sweet you know that?"

Briony smiled gently and hugged Howl again, she was reminded of the way that Richard used to hold her, and with that a flood of memories came back to her. She would never feel his arms around her again and Briony began to sob once more.

"Why would anyone do that to Rich? He...was the lovliest man...the lovliest man that you could ever hope to meet."

Briony sobbed a little more and tried to dry her eyes.

"What should I do Howl...? I don't even know where to start looking..."

"I dont know Briony, i honestly dont, but when i find who did it im gonna-" He growled in anger then took a deep breath to calm himself down. "We'll get 'em Briony, make no mistake about that. And you shouldnt worry, just stay strong for Rich and carry on if you can. I'll start looking for you. My dog Wolfie can check the whole of the wizarding world, and i'll go and check every single country in the muggle world if i have to to find Rich. As for whoever did this, trust me, there are people i know who to like, and people i know who to hate. If i ever come across the person who did it, i'll know. And you'll be the first to enjoy the pleasure of ripping this person into pieces cell by cell."

He slowly released from the hug and left her to lie on the sofa. "Can i get you anything to eat or drink Briony? Or is there anyone you need me to find for you to talk to or anything...?" Sam spoke softly. "And do you want to be left alone for a while or do you want me to stay? I wont leave if you need a friend tonight. Or tomorow or the day after. Like i said, im here for you."

Briony looked at Howl, she was a little confused, what was it with guys who she barely knew being nice to her and offering her all the support in the world, true, none had been as eager as Howl but Briony smiled and lay down on the sofa stretching herself out.

"No, don't leave me...stay."

She whispered, Briony didn't think she should be on her own, not any longer, now she knew exactly how Richard felt when he planned to kill himself when Briony failed to realise that she loved him. She remembered just in time to save him. Now Richard was dead...Briony had all the time in the world to die...

"I don't think it's wise for me to stay on my own, I don't know what I'll do."

Sam got Briony a glass of water and left it at the side of the sofa. "Ok Briony" He smiled. "I'll stay." He transformed a strand of his hair into a blanket for Briony and covered her with it, tucking it around her like his other used to do when he was sad and lay on a sofa not knowing what to do with himslef. He missed her.

He wanted to be there for Briony and look after her in the only way he knew how. It probably wasnt even the best way to comfort her, but he was showing he cared and wanted to be there for her all the same. He sat on the floor again and just sat quietly holding her hand, looking into her eyes and trying to give a sincere sympathetic smile.
"He'll be ok Briony..." Sam spoke softly. "I know he will be." He stroked her hair and rested his head on his shoulder so he had a better view of Briony's face. What a shame such a beautiful face was plagued with grief and sorrow. He never wanted to see her this way again. He just wish he had the power to make everything better an know what the right things were to say. But then he remembered a song he thought was right in this situation, if it even applied "you say it best when you say nothing at all." Sometimes the most powerful words are the words that arent said with the mouth but with the eyes and a friendly heart. He hoped.

Briony smiled gently at Howl, she wound her fingers around his own and clasped their hands together, her own were ice cold like they always were, and she sighed a little when she remembered Richard's reaction to them, as she lay there she remembered everything. The strand of hair he tucked behind his ear. The story about his sisters. When they had gone to Diagon Alley and he had taken his top off in the ice cream parlour.

"I miss him...I miss him already and it's only been a few hours..."

Briony sniffed lightly and she was unable to get a smiling image of Richard out of her head, she began to cry softly once more, Briony was never going to see that smile again. Briony would miss more than anything, the simple act of them curling up by the fire, like they had said they would do every night...

"Howl...I just...who...I just want to know why. Why would someone do this?"

Her hands were so cold, they juxtaposed his warm ones, but he loved cold hands. Crystella's hands were always cold and in need of his big mitts to warm they up. Sam smiled reassringly and stroke some hair out of the way of her face. "Your bound to miss him Briony, its only natural. Hell, i can miss people for weeks on end who just move away. Your bound to miss him. The way they act, walk, laugh, smell, feel... you cant help but miss it."

Sam drifted off in thouhgt for a moment thinking of the people he hadnt seen in several years and would never see again. But he wouldnt let himself be sad, he was there to comfort Briony, not wallow in his own pity.

"You're not the only one who wants to know Briony, believe me. I couldnt think of anyone who would be retarded enough to mess with him in the first place. Is there anyone who harboured any hatred or jealousy towards him at all?"

"Thanks Howl that helps A LOT."

Briony chuckled weakly, if she wasn't already thinking about everything Richard had done and she hoped would do with her she certainly was now, she even remembered his smell and the smell that he had said she had. Briony groaned lightly and tried to make her head focus. It was then it snapped clearly to two specific people...but they couldn't have...they knew Rich! They were friends.

"Hades. Cobalt. They had some beef with Richard but I don't believe they would hurt him, they were and still are friends after all...it just...doesn't seem right. They can't be that cruel. Surely."

"Im sorry... its just among the dumb questions you ask i suppose..." Sam stared curiously at Briony who's face suddenly changed to have a look of horror or sudden realisation.

"Hades? As in the headmaster Hades? Really?" Sam found that hard to digest. "Oh trust me, friendship, loyalty, it doesnt always apply. It didnt to me and Kerew. Had you done something to Hades? And I dont know this Cobalt guy. You want me to hunt them down and see what senses i pick up? If it is them, they'll have me to answer to." He had to laugh a little att himself. "Ok im not that much of a threat but they'll have you to answer to, and that is a terrifying thought indeed."

"Yeah as in Headmaster Hades."

Briony sighed and moved so that she was lying on her back on the sofa, her hand still clasped within Howl's as she thought about her own stupid mistakes that lead to this. The more she thought about it, the more she reaslied that it was her fault, it was her fault that Richard died, it was her fault she was now alone.

"I liked both Rich and Hades a while ago, they got into a fight over me and it woke me up to how cruel Hades really was, he's sore because I followed my heart to love Richard and Richard alone...and Cobalt, well, Cobalt's just the worlds biggest asshole."

Briony laughed a little.

"Nah, the guys alright, he's just estranged from society, he doesn't really do the whole socialising deal."

Sam watched as Brinoy moved over onto her back on the sofa, thinking. Would Hades really be the type of person to do something so horrible to a woman he once loved? He didnt want to put it past half of the people he had met during his short time at Hogwarts. He could tell Briony was blaming herself. She shouldnt do. It wasnt a crime to follow your heart. If someone was gonna act all douchy about it after being rejected, it wasnt her fault.

"Im still gonna find this guy. I'll force myself to have visions about every person i come into crossroads with if i must. It'll give me ehadahces, nightmares & seizures like hell but sod it. Someone out there has wronged you. That someone does not deserve to breathe air and continue to pollute the world with their existence. I mean it though you know, i'll help you find out whoever did this. Where did it happen? I'll send Wolfie to see if theres still a scent. He'll lead me to the person who did this."

Briony looked at Howl her eyes beginning to get a little bit of sparkle back within them, she began to hope for a little while, she hoped that they would be able to find Rich, that he would be alive and that they would be able to get married in Venice like he had planned.

"You would do that?"

She grinned, sitting up a look of determination on her face, Briony got up from the sofa and began to pace around the floor a frown on her face thinking about what she could do. Occasionally she looked at her wedding ring, Briony smiled, she was going to do all she could to get him back.

"The Shrieking Shack, that's where it happened, there was lots of blood, there will be a scent."

"You know i'd quite happily do anything to help you Briony" Sam smiled and moved out of the way as Briony got off the sofa to pace. He was glad to see some life restored back into her again. Briony wasnt Briony when she was down.

"The Shrieking Shack...?" Sam suddenly remembered that he was supposed to meet Clarian there. How could he have been so stupid as to forget. No wonder she was angry. But if she was thre, why didnt she do anything. This rather annoyed him. He would have done something. It would have been his blood instead.
"Right, let me just howl to Wolfie to give him the message. He'll head out that way to see what he can pick up, and i'll go there is a minute to see if i find anything suspicious.
He rushed over to the window and let out a long loud howl that echoed across the grounds. Wolfie would hear it wherever he was. They were gonna find this guy. They had to. Sam had given his word.

"Yes, the shreiking shack, it was the place where he was proposing, I know right? Why propose in front of a dodgy shack when you could propose to me in my office, or even in front of the school."

Briony grinned and leant herself against the window frame, gazing out of it she wondered where the portkey could have taken Richard, would there have been any way that she could trace it, to find where he had gone? She doubted it. Briony doubted that very much.

"I need something to distract me...what should I do? Is there anything I could do to take my mind off the pain that I'm feeling right now?"

Briony sighed and sat down on the sofa once more, placing her head in her hands and pulling at her hair lightly.

"It doesnt always matter where someone proposes, more so how they go about it. A dank alley can turn into the most romantic place in the world if the proposal goes well. I asked Crystella to go out with me at a bus stop. WHy not in school, or at her house? But it didnt matter to us."

Sam watched Briony stare longingly out of the window. He could guess what she was thinking. "We'll find him Briony. I know its a big world out there, but its not that big, he's out there somewhere. And i know he's ok. I just know it. Dont lose faith yet."

"I dont know... pain is a persistant thing. You still have Annie. You still have your role as a professor. The pain wont go away, but you cant just put your life on hold. Would Richard want that for you? You've just got to be strong for him and carry on until he comes back."

He sat beside her on the sofa and rubbed her back comfortingly. "Here." He passed her a potion bottled from his pocket. "It cant make the pain go away for good, but it can numb it for a while; lock it away somewhere else for a while. It's yours if you want it. My pain isnt as bad in comparision."

Briony sighed, she didn't want to think about what might have been, it hurt far too much to think that she might have been happy, had a happy life as a mother, not just to Annie but to her own children as well. Briony could have had the perfect life with a lovely man, but no...something just had to screw it up.

"Yes, that is true. He was so happy..."

She closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of his hands on her waist as he spun her around in the air, Briony opened them slowly, not wanting to let this feeling go.

"No thanks Howl, the pain is something that also reminds me of the love that I have for Richard, even though he might be gone, it remains, it is the only thing left connecting me and him."

"Ok Briony, i understand that." Sam returned the potion to his back pocket. His pain over losing Crystella was the only thing that he had to hold onto.

'Poor Briony' He thought. 'What monstrosity would want to rob two people perfect for each other of happiness?' It just wasnt fair. He wanted them to be so so happy, but he was convinced in his heart that Richard would return, then they would be happy as could be.
Thats all he wished for them. Its all he ever wished for anyone. He wished it so much that there often wasnt any happiness left for him.

Sam gently pulled Briony into another hug so her head rested on his shoulder. He rubbed her arm comfortingly and rested his head on hers. "Its gonna be ok Briony. Believe that ok."