Darlin'.?!



The word echoed eerily against the kitchen walls as if the house elves had suddenly dissipated into nothingness, taking away their peculiar odor, nose and ear hairs with them. Nervously playing with her fingers, she stepped forward and hesitated to reach for the cake.

If she took his cake...what would it mean to him? It would be so rude and mean for her not to accept the cake. He'd taken the time to prepare the batter and bake the cake, decorate it all pretty and such, seeing as she had refused to help him and he was still offering it to her.

Clearly, it was because he was desperately in love with her.

"Well," drawled Daphne, buying herself time. If she accepted the cake, would he think she was also accepting his feelings for her. Clapping her chest roughly, going into a coughing fit, Miss Hopton was sure that she didn't really have a choice here. It was either accept the cake or reject Garret in front of the Ravenclaw girl who would surely run out and start spreading malicious rumors about what an evil heart breaker she was.

If Celandine found out, she'd tell Nicholai who in turn would want nothing to do with her. Bracing herself, Daphne forced herself to smile. "Thank you....darlin'."

Again, Daphne shuddered.