 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
It never dawned on Heath that Claudine might not want him to protect her. Growing up in a mostly Gryffindor family meant he was raised with their strict, if dated, standards of chivalry, and that meant he was supposed to protect the girl at all times, no matter how minor the threat. It was all he knew to do. As such, he didn’t see any meaning, negative or otherwise, behind her reaction, other than possibly wanting to avoid trouble by avoiding unnecessary chatter. He reholstered his wand as Headmaster Trent called time, and it was only when he heard the man’s next set of instructions that he realized he’d made a terrible mistake. By trying to help Claudine, he unwittingly set her up for more trouble. Give my name, he thought as he watched her go to the front to hand in their sacks. I’ve already got one detention anyway…
Unfortunately, Heath couldn’t communicate telepathically with her, and even if he could, he knew she had a mind of her own. He was hardly surprised when she refused to give a name, and he couldn’t blame her. He would’ve done the same thing! If anything, he blamed himself. If he hadn’t tried to be the knight in shining armor, they could’ve come up with a plan to keep their sacks, and neither of them would be headed to detention now! He looked down, unable to bring himself to look at Claudine, but he betrayed no sign of the remorse he felt, nor any other emotion as he showed the headmaster that he had no sack.
So Heath had been almost right in thinking the last activity was meant to symbolize a life or death situation. As soon as he heard the words “elder wand”, it made sense, but understanding the activity’s purpose did not mean he approved of its execution. Regardless, he considered the next question carefully. The last question seemed designed to weed out defiance, so what if this question was a trick too? If it was, Heath had no idea if it was meant to weed out those who did or did not trust the wand, but he knew what the consequences for silence were. Unwilling to risk the headmaster’s wrath again, all he could do was give an honest answer and hope it was what the man wanted to hear. “Its fickleness is the reason I wouldn’t trust it,” he said after raising his hand. “Its allegiance changes in its owner’s moment of vulnerability, and in that situation, I’d prefer a wand that isn’t as easily turned.”
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |