Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mad Eye Touz 
She knew he smiled at a lot of people. She'd known that before he ever wandered over to her in the Common Room that day they'd met officially. Cornelius was always wearing a smile, but she couldn't help but see a different smile for her. He could argue it all he wanted, but SHE was the expert on Cornelius Rune's facial activities. In fact, she'd probably studied HIM more than any subject at Hogwarts all term.
"That's what people say," Aspen hedged a little bit since ... Cornelius had. About dates. Or dating. From her understanding, he had asked her when he could ask. She was sort of saying he could ask now? Then she could ask.... Mr. Bole. Or maybe Mrs. Bole. "You know, when ... plans match up. It's a date. Or something."
..... or a date, like how Aspen had really meant it. How confusing.
But right, right - the weird. Or weirder than all of that. ".... Right... so. This letter." She paused and chewed on her lip thoughtfully, worriedly, and anxiously, "My little brother is coming to Hogwarts next term. Dad was supposed to take him to France with him, but he's coming here with me instead."
And...
"...and I'm trying to be happy about it. I should be. I love my brother." But...
Cornelius allowed his mind to race for a moment over what all of this meant. Did her father decide that it was alright for her to date? Had she asked him at all? Did she still want his permission? His brows furrowed just slightly at all of these questions. Either way, it was clear that Aspen was prepared to be asked on a date.
Just...how was he going to do that?
Before he could think on this too much, Aspen was explaining another thing that had been on her mind - a letter saying that her younger brother was coming to Hogwarts next term. His eyebrows rose at this. Another Odessa to fill the halls? Interesting. He couldn't help but be a bit curious to see what exactly this younger brother would be like; how similar he would be to Aspen. But it was her tone that caused the young Ravenclaw to look up from his plate of food, his light brown eyes searching her expression as she explained that she was
trying to be happy about it.
"But...?" Cornelius added to her statement, knowing that it was coming. He couldn't see any problem with her little brother coming to the school; was he missing something?