<div class="floatleft">(https://festivalreviewsdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/greggsulkin.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/harrypotter/images/f/f3/DurmstrangCrest.png/revision/latest?cb=20160112161151)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>NAME:</strong> Aaren Sandstrom (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=299655.msg14658128#msg14658128)<br/><strong>YEAR:</strong> Fifth<br/><strong>BLOOD STATUS:</strong> Half-blood<br/><strong>WAND:</strong> 12 inch | Redwood | Dragon Heartstring <br/><strong>WEARING:</strong> Durmstrang Male Uniform<br/><strong>DATE | TIME:</strong> 2 September, 2019 | Evening<br/><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Hallway beyond Dining Hall <br/><strong>CONTENT:</strong> Memories<br/><strong>MOOD MUSIC:</strong> Fall Out Boy - Phoenix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JqY-6q-RNA)<br/><strong>TAGGING:</strong> Nadia | Open</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><hr/><br/>By the time he heard any footsteps behind him - soft and distant - he had already managed to get himself halfway down the hall. Once he heard those approaching steps, though, Aaren hesitated. He figured it was his sister Linn, coming to her senses and about to apologize for being too dramatic and difficult.<br/><br/>But, when he turned to look, he saw Nadia and his heart seized in his chest. He took in a breath and turned to face her. “Hey,” he smiled back, weakly… embarrassed that she had caught him storming off. Undoubtedly, this must have meant that she heard Linn’s question, and the inference she made that Aaren was only participating because Nadia was.<br/><br/>Which wasn’t true. Well, he didn’t know she was participating before tonight. Now that he knew, there was no way he wasn’t going to Hogwarts. Maybe she didn’t need his protection, but that didn’t stop Aaren from feeling protective of her. He walked toward her, closing most of the distance between them, but leaving a comfortable space to have their conversation.<br/><br/>To her question, he chuckled. His hand raised and scratched idly at the back of his head. “Uh, yeah. Well, I had planned on it.” Dropping his hand, he shrugged a shoulder. “I guess we’ll both be going to Hogwarts next month, then.” He hoped he wouldn’t have to compete against her. If it came down to that, then he’d likely give up any chance he had at winning, just to ensure her safety. “Linn is just… worried for me. My mom is, too.” He tried to shrug it off.<br/><br/>“But I told them I don’t plan on dying there.” A hand went to his wand, clipped to his belt, just to reference it. “This guy brings me good fortune, anyway. So, I don’t know why they’re all worried.” He took a breath, realizing he was monopolizing the conversation. “What about you? Are you… worried?” He meant to ask if she was worried about her own fate, but the way it came out left the question fairly open, as if to ask if she was worried about him, too.