And hell, he'd be the first to admit it, even. He wasn't proud of the fact he'd avoided the vast majority of his yearmates ever since he got on the train back in London. He especially wasn't proud of the fact he'd specifically avoided them so he could avoid Orion. He just couldn't face his mate now. Not after what had happened. Don knew he should have sought the other boy out. He knew he should have done...something. But he hadn't been able to bring himself to even look for the other boy. Don had a hard time dealing with death, they'd seen that much after what had happened to Kate last year, so instead of risking saying something irreparable, as he surely would have, he decided to hide.
Yes, Donaghan Tremlett was a wuss.
The dreadlocked boy stared quietly into the fire as the common room filled with all years of Ravenclaws. From the grim-faced sevenths to the petrified looking firsts. Barely anyone seemed to have it into them to even fake a smile at the thought of being back in Hogwarts. Don sank himself as far as he could in one of the commons' dark blue chairs as he gazed silently at the fire. And as selfish as it was, he wished he could just disappear right then and there, never to face anyone unhappy again. Unfortunately, he knew that was impossible, and he knew that, somehow, he had to go see his friends. And that the longer he waited, he more difficult it would be for him to do so. Sighing loudly, as he resigned himself, Donaghan looked up to find himself staring into a familiar pair of blue eyes.
"Daria!" He exclaimed, nearly toppling the chair backwards as he stood up. Smiling brightly for the first time today, he squeezed his yearmate into the tightest hug he could muster before looking at her again. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
The boy stopped for a second as he clearly had no idea if she was, having evaded her for the entire day. "You are alright, aren't you?" He asked uncertainly, a hint of worry manifesting itself in his voice.




