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Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
The nice thing about some of these lesser used corridors was that there was no one around to ask strange questions about what Vivi Branxton was doing and why she was peering behind mirrors or trying to pull them off the wall. The bad thing was that there was no one to stop her, or to listen to her crazy ideas, or to witness her awesome when it happened.
Max had already fallen behind on his schoolwork in the first month of school. It wasn't his fault, though.
Well, it WAS his fault. But he didn't MEAN to be irresponsible this term. It just kind of... happened.
Though he wanted nothing more than to use his free period to take his daily walk on the grounds, today Max realized he needed to set his priorities straight. His fifth term he overworked himself, then last term he slacked off to shake off his perfectionist tendencies and live a little. This term, he needed to find that middle ground by balancing school work, Quidditch, friends, and relaxation.
Unfortunately, during the first month, he found it easy to balance the last three. Now he actually had to TRY to add the first component in. That was disheartening.
On his way to the library, Max took the long way to kill time and dragged his feet through corridor, his black bag slung over his shoulder. He didn't even know what subject he was going to work on first. Maybe if he just took out the few textbooks he brought with him and stared at the covers long enough, one of them would appeal to him more than the others? Maybe?
He turned a corner and slowed his pace. At the mirror ahead, Max tilted his head at the sight of Genevieve. Was she... trying to take the mirror off the wall? Did they need one in the girls' dormitory? Or... did she know something he didn't? It was Hogwarts, after all. He had found many things he was sure he wasn't supposed to know about during his first few terms of exploring. He couldn't say he ever stopped to examine a mirror, though.
Max continued toward her, his footsteps nearly silent. Once he got within a few feet of her, his eyebrows raised and he whispered, "Is something behind there?"
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
If she hadn't had her cheek pressed against the wall and her nose to the frame in a failed attempt to see how it was attached to the wall, Vivi probably would have seen the Ravenclaw boy sneaking up on her. As it was, his voice made her jump, and she jammed her nose against the frame.
"Are all Ravenclaw boys secretly creepers?" She rubbed her tender nose and turned to put the wall at her back, striking up a casual pose. Nope. Wasn't just looking behind the mirror. Nope. "You're pretty quiet. I didn't hear you coming at all." Truth, and it was pretty embarrassing.
"Err," Max began with red cheeks, clearing his throat nervously and letting his gaze fall on Genevieve's bumped nose, "I don't think so. I'm... not. Have you met many?" Obviously she had, it seemed, if she had made such an accusation. Or perhaps she was just overly sensitive - he was not a creeper, after all. Or... maybe her turning it back on him was some kind of... defense mechanism so she felt less foolish.
But he didn't think she was being foolish. From the looks of it, she was being curious. Curiosity was an admirable trait. It wasn't unusual for a Ravenclaw to be found doing something out of the ordinary. "Sorry. I'm... pretty quiet in general, I guess. I didn't want to come marching up and startle your train of thought or anything." Though he seemed to have done that anyway.
"Sorry," he said again, then added, "You don't have to... stop because I'm here. I was just... wondering what you were doing, or if you... needed help?" What would she need help with? Max wasn't sure. He just knew it would have been MUCH more awkward if he had casually walked by. It was a much better idea to acknowledge the situation at hand rather than pretend like he didn't notice anything. He knew he embarrassed her, though, and his face had fallen to reflect his regret. "...Or we could pretend like this never happened and I'll continue along?" Whatever made her feel better.
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
"Well. One, yeah." She flapped her hand at that, though. Vickers was a creeper, but it was endearing. Like this Max and his blushing. One of those foibles that could be forgiven under the right circumstances. And because she was a nice friend, she wouldn't even tell Max who the creeper was, although she thought he probably knew, considering the whole house was so chummy.
Or so it seemed at times.
"I was complimenting you on being quiet, you know," Vivi informed him, shoving off the wall and doing her intimidating circling. She paced around him once before coming to land right in front of the taller Ravenclaw boy, hands on her hips. "Wish I could be that quiet, actually. It would be dead useful in getting away with stuff."
Like mischief. Stuff like mischief.
"You can stay. I heard there was a blocked secret passageway somewhere along here, and I thought it was behind a mirror, but... I can't see how this mirror hides anything. It doesn't seem to hinge." Not that she figured on a way to get out of the school, but what if all it took was levitating a few stones out of the way?
One Ravenclaw creeper? That certainly wasn't enough for Vivi to deduct that many Ravenclaws were that way. But Max figured it was one of those I can think of one person like that and that's enough for me to wonder if more are like it kind of situations. So Max just smiled, nodded in what he thought was understanding, and let it go.
A compliment? 'Quiet' had never been used as a compliment toward Max before. It was usually more of an annoying term, as in Max you're too quiet you need to break out of your comfort zone and talk to people! But this was new. And... good. The new Ravenclaw seventh year thought his quiet demeanor(which he often thought of as a hindrance) was USEFUL. "Oh." Pause. Awkward smile. "Thank you." Getting away with stuff? "Like what? Do you... try to get away with stuff often?"
Max wasn't one to seek out trouble, or to seek out any kind of adventure, really. But currently, he was incredibly intrigued. Someone HIS age... who sought the kind of fun that one tried to 'get away with'...? That was new. And... pretty cool. He observed Genevieve with interest, wondering how much trouble she managed to get herself in at Beauxbatons. Was that another reason she came to Hogwarts?
As Vivi shared her thoughts on the mirror, Max folded one arm across his stomach, the elbow of his opposite arm resting in the palm of his hand. He gently traced the outline of his lower lip with his thumb, scrutinizing the mirror. "Where did you hear this from?" he inquired lightly, wondering why he had never heard of that. "Hmm. Maybe... it could be one of those kind of secrets where you have to say a certain word or you have to... think something or... DO something to make the secret reveal itself." And maybe it didn't need hinges. "D'you think the mirror ITSELF could disappear and reveal something behind it?"
He didn't even know if his suggestions made sense. He didn't even know if there WAS a secret passageway or if Vivi was just pulling some kind of prank on an unsuspecting passerby. Maybe Max was just making himself look stupid.
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Vivi swiveled on her foot and turned to face the mirror in question, copying Max's stance complete with her hand on her chin. She squinted at the mirror thoughtfully, giving that chin a rub as she stared at the top of her blond head in the mirror.
"I don't try to get away with stuff so much as I do things that don't necessarily fall within the overly constricting rules of school staff. I would never go out of my way to break a rule." Her hand crept up to twirl on her ponytail until she spotted the motion in the mirror and forced it down again. "You know that saying that it's better to ask forgiveness than permission? The logical extension is that it's better to not have to ask at all." So she tried to keep her experiments out of the limelight, at least until completed.
Max's suggestions for the mirror were very interesting, and she could almost kick herself for being overly Muggle in her thought processes. Of course the thing wouldn't just unhinge from the wall, but figuring out a password or a specific motion could take ages and ages. "I like how you think. I read about the passageway in an old compendium of my mother's, so I'm inclined to believe it. What's the most logical way to go about testing your theories?"
Vivi was quite the eloquent speaker. Very wise, too. She had a unique way with words, and Max was fascinated by her. He gave her a few solid nods and an "mmm." Everything she said made perfect sense, but he found himself envying that kind of thought process.
"Logical? Hm..." He tilted his head to one side, his eyes tracing the frame of the mirror as he folded both of his arms in front of him. "I guess logical would be... research, perhaps finding old maps of the school and seeing if there was a passageway here that was not a secret at one point, maybe? Perhaps if we knew why the passageway was here or when it was created, we'd have a clue as to how it all works?" He didn't KNOW how to test his theories, but that could be an okay start. But... that would take awhile. He almost suggested they ask a professor who formerly attended Hogwarts if there was anything there when he or she was in school, but he didn't think she'd like that idea. Her mother was a former Headmistress, after all.
...Which meant Vivi's mum probably knew what was behind the mirror, if anything, or HOW the secret passageway worked. But from what Max observed at the feast, he didn't think Vivi wanted to be associated with her parent in any way. So Max didn't mention it.
"But I dunno," he admitted finally. There were just too many questions to be answered right now. WAS there really a passageway? If so, what method did they need to take to reveal it? And what did they have to DO once they found out a method?
Max couldn't do this. He was an overthinker who was easily overwhelmed by countless possibilities. "What do you think? You didn't read anything further about it? It was just mentioned?"
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grangerfn1
Vivi was quite the eloquent speaker. Very wise, too. She had a unique way with words, and Max was fascinated by her. He gave her a few solid nods and an "mmm." Everything she said made perfect sense, but he found himself envying that kind of thought process.
"Logical? Hm..." He tilted his head to one side, his eyes tracing the frame of the mirror as he folded both of his arms in front of him. "I guess logical would be... research, perhaps finding old maps of the school and seeing if there was a passageway here that was not a secret at one point, maybe? Perhaps if we knew why the passageway was here or when it was created, we'd have a clue as to how it all works?" He didn't KNOW how to test his theories, but that could be an okay start. But... that would take awhile. He almost suggested they ask a professor who formerly attended Hogwarts if there was anything there when he or she was in school, but he didn't think she'd like that idea. Her mother was a former Headmistress, after all.
...Which meant Vivi's mum probably knew what was behind the mirror, if anything, or HOW the secret passageway worked. But from what Max observed at the feast, he didn't think Vivi wanted to be associated with her parent in any way. So Max didn't mention it.
"But I dunno," he admitted finally. There were just too many questions to be answered right now. WAS there really a passageway? If so, what method did they need to take to reveal it? And what did they have to DO once they found out a method?
Max couldn't do this. He was an overthinker who was easily overwhelmed by countless possibilities. "What do you think? You didn't read anything further about it? It was just mentioned?"
That was the beauty of working with a thoughtful person, a fellow 'Claw, like Max. He didn't scoff at her curiosity because it wasn't important to know, and he didn't chastise her. Merlin, how she hated to be scolded like a bad puppy!
"Research, of course. That would be the most logical way to go about doing it, and probably, if I didn't have other projects to work on, I'd harass the librarian until he gave me the key to the school. But I'm here right now, and I want to pull the darn thing off the wall until it gives up its secrets." Which was not logical or rational. But she hated a challenge unanswered.
She dropped the pose and approached the mirror once again, running her fingers along the frame. A clue? Anything? "It was a throwaway mention, just an laundry list of passages from the school and why they weren't in use anymore. It used to be so much easier to sneak out, you know?"
Vivi hummed a bit about the problem before pivoting again and giving poor Max her most genuine-and-devious smile. "Will you stay? I like your brain."
That was the beauty of working with a thoughtful person, a fellow 'Claw, like Max. He didn't scoff at her curiosity because it wasn't important to know, and he didn't chastise her. Merlin, how she hated to be scolded like a bad puppy!
"Research, of course. That would be the most logical way to go about doing it, and probably, if I didn't have other projects to work on, I'd harass the librarian until he gave me the key to the school. But I'm here right now, and I want to pull the darn thing off the wall until it gives up its secrets." Which was not logical or rational. But she hated a challenge unanswered.
She dropped the pose and approached the mirror once again, running her fingers along the frame. A clue? Anything? "It was a throwaway mention, just an laundry list of passages from the school and why they weren't in use anymore. It used to be so much easier to sneak out, you know?"
Vivi hummed a bit about the problem before pivoting again and giving poor Max her most genuine-and-devious smile. "Will you stay? I like your brain."
Max understood her frustration. He wished he had known about this particular secret in the past - maybe he could've done research on it years ago and had some answers for this new 'Claw. Alas, he had failed her, and his face fell to reflect his remorse. "I wish it could be that simple." And he DID. He HATED that he couldn't help her have fun. Boring!Max could've used that kind of enjoyment in his day.
He watched Vivi curiously, his eyes following her fingers as they traced the frame. "Ah." That was no help. It... used to be easier to sneak out? What did she mean? He didn't really know, but he gave her a small smile and a nod anyway. Surely she knew what she was talking about, so there was no reason to question her.
His eyebrows raising in surprise as Vivi turned on him, Max took in her general presence for a moment before responding, "I appreciate that. I like your curiosity and... adventurous spirit." Very admirable. "Sure I'll stay. I don't have anything to do." He shifted the bag on his shoulder, grateful that he had an excuse to procrastinate a bit longer, then recrossed his arms. "So what's our plan?" Did they even have one? Or were they giving up?
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grangerfn1
Max understood her frustration. He wished he had known about this particular secret in the past - maybe he could've done research on it years ago and had some answers for this new 'Claw. Alas, he had failed her, and his face fell to reflect his remorse. "I wish it could be that simple." And he DID. He HATED that he couldn't help her have fun. Boring!Max could've used that kind of enjoyment in his day.
He watched Vivi curiously, his eyes following her fingers as they traced the frame. "Ah." That was no help. It... used to be easier to sneak out? What did she mean? He didn't really know, but he gave her a small smile and a nod anyway. Surely she knew what she was talking about, so there was no reason to question her.
His eyebrows raising in surprise as Vivi turned on him, Max took in her general presence for a moment before responding, "I appreciate that. I like your curiosity and... adventurous spirit." Very admirable. "Sure I'll stay. I don't have anything to do." He shifted the bag on his shoulder, grateful that he had an excuse to procrastinate a bit longer, then recrossed his arms. "So what's our plan?" Did they even have one? Or were they giving up?
"Simple would be so boring. Any random 'Puff could do it." Vivi wasn't sure why his face had gone all crumpled and unhappy, but she didn't like it. This was fun and there was no reason for sulky faces. She didn't know him nearly well enough to jabjabjab him with her finger until he perked up, but he almost got the deadly finger anyway.
Buck up, Eagle Boy. They were having fun. "I like solving problems, and this, my friend, is an excellent problem." She shook her ponytail at him as she turned back toward the mirror, pantomiming an attempt to lift the mirror off the wall by hooking her fingers under the frame.
No luck, although Max earned himself another grin for 'fessing up to liking her adventurous spirit. It intimidated some boys, but Max liked it. Awesome. "Mutual admiration. Love it when a plan comes together. And... do y'know what, Max? I feel a draft against my fingers right... here." She pointed to the corner of the frame on the opposite side from where she'd banged her nose.
With a basket of food in his arms, Max led Emmaleigh around the corner and toward the mirror where he and Vivi had unfortunately failed at unveiling the secret passageway. "How 'bout right here?" he asked, stopping right at the wall across from the mirror. He set the basket down on the floor carefully, then straightened back up and checked his appearance in the mirror across from them. Max instinctively brought a hand up to pat at his wet hair, wishing it would dry faster so he looked a bit more well-groomed in front of his girlfriend, then turned to look at Emmaleigh.
"Thanks for bringing everything all the way up here. Means a lot that... you did, and that you... were willing to be a wonderful distraction after today's happenings. I'm glad you're here." His constant thankfulness and praise to her was probably going to get annoying at some point in their relationship, he worried, but he couldn't help it - he wasn't capable of bottling up those kind of feelings. That was likely to be one of their first problems: Max making everything about Emmaleigh all the time and never wanting anything to be about him. Whether it produced actual anger from Em or not, he would have to wait and see over time.
Wordlessly, Max helped Em remove the bag from her shoulder, then set it on the ground so he could pull her into a big bear hug to further express his gratitude - and just because he could. He held her close and they swayed back and forth on the spot from how happily he had taken her in his arms. When he released her, he gave her a smile, then gazed down at the bag at their feet. "What's in there?" It was... big and bulky, so he had an idea. But it was more of a conversation re-energizer and an 'I'm not going to open your bag because that's personal' kind of comment.
With a basket of food in his arms, Max led Emmaleigh around the corner and toward the mirror where he and Vivi had unfortunately failed at unveiling the secret passageway. "How 'bout right here?" he asked, stopping right at the wall across from the mirror. He set the basket down on the floor carefully, then straightened back up and checked his appearance in the mirror across from them. Max instinctively brought a hand up to pat at his wet hair, wishing it would dry faster so he looked a bit more well-groomed in front of his girlfriend, then turned to look at Emmaleigh.
"Thanks for bringing everything all the way up here. Means a lot that... you did, and that you... were willing to be a wonderful distraction after today's happenings. I'm glad you're here." His constant thankfulness and praise to her was probably going to get annoying at some point in their relationship, he worried, but he couldn't help it - he wasn't capable of bottling up those kind of feelings. That was likely to be one of their first problems: Max making everything about Emmaleigh all the time and never wanting anything to be about him. Whether it produced actual anger from Em or not, he would have to wait and see over time.
Wordlessly, Max helped Em remove the bag from her shoulder, then set it on the ground so he could pull her into a big bear hug to further express his gratitude - and just because he could. He held her close and they swayed back and forth on the spot from how happily he had taken her in his arms. When he released her, he gave her a smile, then gazed down at the bag at their feet. "What's in there?" It was... big and bulky, so he had an idea. But it was more of a conversation re-energizer and an 'I'm not going to open your bag because that's personal' kind of comment.
Emmaleigh followed closely behind her boyfriend as she lead her to the spot he was talking about. “I've never noticed a mirror down here.” she said coming to a stop behind him. The girl looked at the mirror, and then glanced up and down the corridor before answering. “It's great. Kinda out of the way so we don't have to worry about getting stepped on.” Letting her eyes fall on Max's reflection, she added, “And I really like the view.” As Max messed with his hair, she couldn't help but smile. He seemed to be doing that quite a bit lately.
Em watched Max as he spoke. “I'm just glad you let me help. That you let me in.” Em looked away, and fidgeted a little. “I was scared you wouldn't want to talk. That you would run up to your common room before I got the chance to hug you,and tell you how amazing you were.” She looked back up at Max, and placed her had on his chest. “I was worried about you.”
Emmaleigh accepted Max's help with her bag, and gladly let him pull her into a hug. She tightly held onto him, and rested her head against him as the rocked back and forth. “I think this is my favorite place in the world.” she said quietly. When Max released her from their hug, Em held on to him a few moments longer, not wanting it to end. When they did break a part, Em glanced down at the bag Max had asked her about. Nudging with her foot she answered, “If it was my usual bag, I'd have to say everything, but this one only has a few blankets. I figured we would need them to have a proper picnic, and to make the floor a bit more comfortable.” And they would definitely help if the chosen corridor was at all drafty. Reaching down to her bag, she pulled out one of the quilts, and began spreading it on the ground. “Do you actually think we could get in trouble for this?” she asked, wondering what she would say if of the professors saw them and said anything.
__________________
So many things are possible
just as long as you don't know they're impossible
Emmaleigh followed closely behind her boyfriend as she lead her to the spot he was talking about. “I've never noticed a mirror down here.” she said coming to a stop behind him. The girl looked at the mirror, and then glanced up and down the corridor before answering. “It's great. Kinda out of the way so we don't have to worry about getting stepped on.” Letting her eyes fall on Max's reflection, she added, “And I really like the view.” As Max messed with his hair, she couldn't help but smile. He seemed to be doing that quite a bit lately.
Em watched Max as he spoke. “I'm just glad you let me help. That you let me in.” Em looked away, and fidgeted a little. “I was scared you wouldn't want to talk. That you would run up to your common room before I got the chance to hug you,and tell you how amazing you were.” She looked back up at Max, and placed her had on his chest. “I was worried about you.”
Emmaleigh accepted Max's help with her bag, and gladly let him pull her into a hug. She tightly held onto him, and rested her head against him as the rocked back and forth. “I think this is my favorite place in the world.” she said quietly. When Max released her from their hug, Em held on to him a few moments longer, not wanting it to end. When they did break a part, Em glanced down at the bag Max had asked her about. Nudging with her foot she answered, “If it was my usual bag, I'd have to say everything, but this one only has a few blankets. I figured we would need them to have a proper picnic, and to make the floor a bit more comfortable.” And they would definitely help if the chosen corridor was at all drafty. Reaching down to her bag, she pulled out one of the quilts, and began spreading it on the ground. “Do you actually think we could get in trouble for this?” she asked, wondering what she would say if of the professors saw them and said anything.
"Really?" Huh. That was interesting. Of course, he knew what kind of girl Emmaleigh was, but Max couldn't help but find it refreshing that this girl was not gravitated toward every nearby mirror. She had cared so little about such a thing that she hadn't even realized it was there.
He loved that about her. She had such a good head on her shoulders.
"They say there's a secret passageway behind it. Vivi - y'know Genevieve Branxton? Our year, a Ravenclaw? Professor Rae's daughter," he clarified. He didn't know if they had properly met, but surely Em knew who she was. "We were here earlier in the term. We tried to get it to budge off the wall or something - the passageway is blocked back there - but it was no use. I still think it's kind of cool." Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to find information about it at all.
She liked the view? Ha, ha. Very funny, Emmaleigh. "You don't have to humor me, Em. I look like a wet crup." He lifted his hand again to gesture to his wet hair, wrinkled his nose at his reflection in the mirror, then turned to her. "You, on the other hand... don't even get me started..." He shook his head slowly and teasingly fanned himself with a hand. "You are never anything less than radiant."
As the topic of the Quidditch match came back to haunt him, Max drew his gaze downward and refused to make eye contact. When she rested a hand on his chest, he brought his hand up to rest on hers, and continued to look down. Worried? She was worried about him? "I..." He cleared his throat nervously, brought her hand down from his chest, and laced his fingers through hers. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I didn't want to talk. And... I probably would have run away if I had gotten the chance." Ella had kind of ruined that, but his pride still hurt. "But... thank you - for... caring about me and believing me even when I'm not the best and... making me happy. And... thank you for being perfect." He lifted his head to meet her eyes, gave her a soft, bashful smile, and hoped the warmth on his face would subside soon.
While they hugged, Max breathed slowly and deeply, enjoying their closeness. "Mine, too," he replied quietly, grinning at their reflections in the mirror. Upon separating, he reached down to pick up the bag. If it only had a few blankets, he didn't feel too bad about opening her bag to pull one out. "Good idea," he nodded, struck with the overwhelming scent of vanilla as he unfolded and shook out the blanket to lay it on the ground nicely. "It smells like you," he found himself beaming, kneeling to smooth it out on the ground. "It... might be a little dirty when we're done." It WAS on the floor, after all. But she must have anticipated that.
In trouble? Well. "Probably. Maybe. I dunno. If anything, we'd probably just be asked to leave." They didn't need to think about that now, though, right? It was more important to just live for the moment. "What kind of food did you bring?"
"Really?" Huh. That was interesting. Of course, he knew what kind of girl Emmaleigh was, but Max couldn't help but find it refreshing that this girl was not gravitated toward every nearby mirror. She had cared so little about such a thing that she hadn't even realized it was there.
He loved that about her. She had such a good head on her shoulders.
"They say there's a secret passageway behind it. Vivi - y'know Genevieve Branxton? Our year, a Ravenclaw? Professor Rae's daughter," he clarified. He didn't know if they had properly met, but surely Em knew who she was. "We were here earlier in the term. We tried to get it to budge off the wall or something - the passageway is blocked back there - but it was no use. I still think it's kind of cool." Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to find information about it at all.
She liked the view? Ha, ha. Very funny, Emmaleigh. "You don't have to humor me, Em. I look like a wet crup." He lifted his hand again to gesture to his wet hair, wrinkled his nose at his reflection in the mirror, then turned to her. "You, on the other hand... don't even get me started..." He shook his head slowly and teasingly fanned himself with a hand. "You are never anything less than radiant."
As the topic of the Quidditch match came back to haunt him, Max drew his gaze downward and refused to make eye contact. When she rested a hand on his chest, he brought his hand up to rest on hers, and continued to look down. Worried? She was worried about him? "I..." He cleared his throat nervously, brought her hand down from his chest, and laced his fingers through hers. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I didn't want to talk. And... I probably would have run away if I had gotten the chance." Ella had kind of ruined that, but his pride still hurt. "But... thank you - for... caring about me and believing me even when I'm not the best and... making me happy. And... thank you for being perfect." He lifted his head to meet her eyes, gave her a soft, bashful smile, and hoped the warmth on his face would subside soon.
While they hugged, Max breathed slowly and deeply, enjoying their closeness. "Mine, too," he replied quietly, grinning at their reflections in the mirror. Upon separating, he reached down to pick up the bag. If it only had a few blankets, he didn't feel too bad about opening her bag to pull one out. "Good idea," he nodded, struck with the overwhelming scent of vanilla as he unfolded and shook out the blanket to lay it on the ground nicely. "It smells like you," he found himself beaming, kneeling to smooth it out on the ground. "It... might be a little dirty when we're done." It WAS on the floor, after all. But she must have anticipated that.
In trouble? Well. "Probably. Maybe. I dunno. If anything, we'd probably just be asked to leave." They didn't need to think about that now, though, right? It was more important to just live for the moment. "What kind of food did you bring?"
“Yeah,” Em nodded. “I mean, I guess I've probably seen it before, but well, it's just a mirror.” She shrugged. Though, if she was like a certain Hufflepuff, she would know the location of every mirror in the whole castle.
Emmaleigh's eyebrows shot up. So it wasn't just a mirror? “Yeah, I've seen her in class. She's the girl with the really pale blond hair right? Do you really think there's a secret passage?” she asked, walking up to the mirror and giving it a little poke. “If two Ravenclaws can't find it, its probably not there to begin with. Where did you heard about it passage anyways?”
“Max, you are handsome, even with your wet hair.” she reached up and ruffled the boy's hair. “And you know, I like crups, remember.” She grinned, and gave him a playful scratch behind the ear. “And, uh, you don't have to say things like that, I know I look horrible right now.” Em blushed,and looked at her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was all matted down and messy from the hat she had worn to the match earlier. She tried to run her fingers through her hair in an attempt to straighten it, though it didn't help at all.
The redhead frowned at Max's reaction. She didn't want to make him all sad again. “You know, if you had run off, I would have made someone go get you out of your common room.” She gave him a small smile, and squeezed his hand. Leaning up, she placed a kiss on his cheek. “I will always care for you, and always believe in you.”
“Wait,” she said grinning up at him. “Your favorite place is in your arms? That's odd.” Because being in Max's arms was really the best place ever. “I'm full of great ideas. Good think the sorting hat didn't know, because, who wants to be a 'claw?” she said smiling, wrinkling her nose and giving her head a shake. Her face turned bright red when he mentioned the way her blankets smelled. “Well, um, that's because they're the ones I use.” She pulled the last blanket out of the bag, and carefully set it on the other blankets. “I wanna keep this one clean, Its gotta go back on my bed.” Cue more blushing.
“Eh, well I'm not worried about it.” she said shrugging. Food, right, “I uh, they didn't have shepherds pie, and so I um, made little meat hand pies, with the help of the house elves of course.” Fortunately, they had a lot of the stuff she needed already prepared. “A lot of butterbeer, pumpkin juice, and sweets.” She took a seat on the blanket, and rested against the wall. “Lots of sweets.” she said grinning at the boy. Unable to wait any longer, Em grabbed the basket, and pulled out one of the pies and handed it over. Pulling out one for herself, she took a huge bite out of it.
__________________
So many things are possible
just as long as you don't know they're impossible
“Yeah,” Em nodded. “I mean, I guess I've probably seen it before, but well, it's just a mirror.” She shrugged. Though, if she was like a certain Hufflepuff, she would know the location of every mirror in the whole castle.
Emmaleigh's eyebrows shot up. So it wasn't just a mirror? “Yeah, I've seen her in class. She's the girl with the really pale blond hair right? Do you really think there's a secret passage?” she asked, walking up to the mirror and giving it a little poke. “If two Ravenclaws can't find it, its probably not there to begin with. Where did you heard about it passage anyways?”
“Max, you are handsome, even with your wet hair.” she reached up and ruffled the boy's hair. “And you know, I like crups, remember.” She grinned, and gave him a playful scratch behind the ear. “And, uh, you don't have to say things like that, I know I look horrible right now.” Em blushed,and looked at her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was all matted down and messy from the hat she had worn to the match earlier. She tried to run her fingers through her hair in an attempt to straighten it, though it didn't help at all.
The redhead frowned at Max's reaction. She didn't want to make him all sad again. “You know, if you had run off, I would have made someone go get you out of your common room.” She gave him a small smile, and squeezed his hand. Leaning up, she placed a kiss on his cheek. “I will always care for you, and always believe in you.”
“Wait,” she said grinning up at him. “Your favorite place is in your arms? That's odd.” Because being in Max's arms was really the best place ever. “I'm full of great ideas. Good think the sorting hat didn't know, because, who wants to be a 'claw?” she said smiling, wrinkling her nose and giving her head a shake. Her face turned bright red when he mentioned the way her blankets smelled. “Well, um, that's because they're the ones I use.” She pulled the last blanket out of the bag, and carefully set it on the other blankets. “I wanna keep this one clean, Its gotta go back on my bed.” Cue more blushing.
“Eh, well I'm not worried about it.” she said shrugging. Food, right, “I uh, they didn't have shepherds pie, and so I um, made little meat hand pies, with the help of the house elves of course.” Fortunately, they had a lot of the stuff she needed already prepared. “A lot of butterbeer, pumpkin juice, and sweets.” She took a seat on the blanket, and rested against the wall. “Lots of sweets.” she said grinning at the boy. Unable to wait any longer, Em grabbed the basket, and pulled out one of the pies and handed it over. Pulling out one for herself, she took a huge bite out of it.
"So pale that it's almost white? Yeah. That's her." Max smiled to himself, remembering the first time he saw Vivi and thought she looked like a model. Now, he knew better than to ever think she would stumble into such a profession - she was way too fun for that. "Yeah, I do - Viv said so. She would know, I think, considering who her mum is. And... I dunno. She just seemed pretty sure of herself, and we did feel a draft coming from behind the mirror over here," he pointed. "I'm sure it's there, just... blocked, y'know?"
Handsome? Max scrunched up his nose at that. "No," he said simply, giving his head a small shake as she touched his hair. When she scratched him behind the ear, he turned his head toward her hand and playfully bit at the air as if he was a fiesty crup. But his playful expression broke into utter sadness at her next statement. "No, Em," he said, taking her hand for the moment to get her attention properly, "I mean that. All the time. Every time. You're... always perfect and the most breathtaking person I've ever seen, every day, all the time. I don't care if you have hat hair." He smiled, taking her hand down from her hair as she tried to fix it. "You're lovely."
Heh. Blood continued to flood his face as she spoke to him. It was so... bizarre and new to have someone care about him - and care enough that she would actually make sure he didn't use his most common coping method of shutting out the world. She legitimately wanted to help him feel better.
Being loved and cared for was the best feeling in the world. And she was the best person in the world.
"Thank you," Max replied softly, his cheeks reaching their maximum hotness as her lips pressed upon one of them.
In that moment, upon soaking in her words and realizing he felt the exact same way about Em, Max concluded that he was in love.
"Shuddup," he laughed, nudging Em in the side softly. "Everyone wants to be a 'claw." He grinned at her awkwardness about the blankets. "It's fine, Em. They smell good."
Fooood. Wordlessly, Max took the meat pie from Em and took a large bite as he slid down the wall to sit next to her. Through a rather impolite mouthful, the hungry, tired Ravenclaw Keeper finally replied with a quiet, "Thank you so much." He was so happy to be eating. It was an especially great distraction from those worries from the game at the back of his mind.
"So pale that it's almost white? Yeah. That's her." Max smiled to himself, remembering the first time he saw Vivi and thought she looked like a model. Now, he knew better than to ever think she would stumble into such a profession - she was way too fun for that. "Yeah, I do - Viv said so. She would know, I think, considering who her mum is. And... I dunno. She just seemed pretty sure of herself, and we did feel a draft coming from behind the mirror over here," he pointed. "I'm sure it's there, just... blocked, y'know?"
Handsome? Max scrunched up his nose at that. "No," he said simply, giving his head a small shake as she touched his hair. When she scratched him behind the ear, he turned his head toward her hand and playfully bit at the air as if he was a fiesty crup. But his playful expression broke into utter sadness at her next statement. "No, Em," he said, taking her hand for the moment to get her attention properly, "I mean that. All the time. Every time. You're... always perfect and the most breathtaking person I've ever seen, every day, all the time. I don't care if you have hat hair." He smiled, taking her hand down from her hair as she tried to fix it. "You're lovely."
Heh. Blood continued to flood his face as she spoke to him. It was so... bizarre and new to have someone care about him - and care enough that she would actually make sure he didn't use his most common coping method of shutting out the world. She legitimately wanted to help him feel better.
Being loved and cared for was the best feeling in the world. And she was the best person in the world.
"Thank you," Max replied softly, his cheeks reaching their maximum hotness as her lips pressed upon one of them.
In that moment, upon soaking in her words and realizing he felt the exact same way about Em, Max concluded that he was in love.
"Shuddup," he laughed, nudging Em in the side softly. "Everyone wants to be a 'claw." He grinned at her awkwardness about the blankets. "It's fine, Em. They smell good."
Fooood. Wordlessly, Max took the meat pie from Em and took a large bite as he slid down the wall to sit next to her. Through a rather impolite mouthful, the hungry, tired Ravenclaw Keeper finally replied with a quiet, "Thank you so much." He was so happy to be eating. It was an especially great distraction from those worries from the game at the back of his mind.
“Oh, well, I guess she might know. Unless she was just winding you up.” Em shrugged. She hadn't actually ever met the girl, but it sounded like something Em would tell some of the first years just to tease them. And the whole castle was drafty, so that didn't really mean a whole lot. “Though if it is real, that be really neat.” She bit her lip as she looked at the mirror a moment. “Maybe you just gotta break the mirror or something.”
Oh Max, don't do that. Emmaleigh thought as she gently held onto the boy's face. “Yes, yes you are.” She sighed, this boy had no idea how truly amazing and just how handsome he was. His crup act made her giggle. Though that feeling was short lived due to his reaction to her comment on being a mess. Looking pretty was never something that ever crossed her mind. Most days, it just didn't seem to matter, but standing her in front of the mirror, she exactly what she looked like at the moment. And all the things he was saying, she knew he meant them, because it was exactly the same way she felt about him. There was no use saying so, but it couldn't hurt to try, even if she did sound like a broken record. “That,” she said squeezing his hands, “Is precisely how I feel about you.”
Em gave a small smile when she noticed just how red Max's face was getting. There wasn't many people that blushed as much as she did. “You are most welcome.” the girl said squeezing his hand once more. And honestly, it wasn't like she was going out of her way or anything. If Max hadn't let her in, she would have most likely sat outside of his common room sick to her stomach with worry.
Grinning, she shook her head. “I don't know why, everyone knows Hufflepuff is the best.” She was kidding, but she really did mean it. “And, were closest to the kitchens.” which was probably one of the greatest things. Her blankets smelled like here, and they smelled good? That meant she smelled good too right? She couldn't help it, the girl blushed even more. “I, um, thank you.” she said looking away.
When Max slid down beside her, all Em wanted to do was wrap him in a big hug, and rest her head against him. She forced herself not to, knowing he must be really tired. When he thanked her once again, Emmaleigh placed her hand on the boy's leg, and rubbed her thumb back and forth. “Any time. I'm here for you any time you need me, day or...” She trailed off. Even if he was having the worst night ever, she could only be there for him during the day. Though she would probably be willing to risk detention by sneaking out to be able to hold his hand and tell him everything was okay. “Or Whenever.” she said at last. “Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?” she asked, pulling a pumpkin juice out for herself, and taking a sip. "How is it?" she asked, wondering how he liked the food.
__________________
So many things are possible
just as long as you don't know they're impossible
“Oh, well, I guess she might know. Unless she was just winding you up.” Em shrugged. She hadn't actually ever met the girl, but it sounded like something Em would tell some of the first years just to tease them. And the whole castle was drafty, so that didn't really mean a whole lot. “Though if it is real, that be really neat.” She bit her lip as she looked at the mirror a moment. “Maybe you just gotta break the mirror or something.”
Oh Max, don't do that. Emmaleigh thought as she gently held onto the boy's face. “Yes, yes you are.” She sighed, this boy had no idea how truly amazing and just how handsome he was. His crup act made her giggle. Though that feeling was short lived due to his reaction to her comment on being a mess. Looking pretty was never something that ever crossed her mind. Most days, it just didn't seem to matter, but standing her in front of the mirror, she exactly what she looked like at the moment. And all the things he was saying, she knew he meant them, because it was exactly the same way she felt about him. There was no use saying so, but it couldn't hurt to try, even if she did sound like a broken record. “That,” she said squeezing his hands, “Is precisely how I feel about you.”
Em gave a small smile when she noticed just how red Max's face was getting. There wasn't many people that blushed as much as she did. “You are most welcome.” the girl said squeezing his hand once more. And honestly, it wasn't like she was going out of her way or anything. If Max hadn't let her in, she would have most likely sat outside of his common room sick to her stomach with worry.
Grinning, she shook her head. “I don't know why, everyone knows Hufflepuff is the best.” She was kidding, but she really did mean it. “And, were closest to the kitchens.” which was probably one of the greatest things. Her blankets smelled like here, and they smelled good? That meant she smelled good too right? She couldn't help it, the girl blushed even more. “I, um, thank you.” she said looking away.
When Max slid down beside her, all Em wanted to do was wrap him in a big hug, and rest her head against him. She forced herself not to, knowing he must be really tired. When he thanked her once again, Emmaleigh placed her hand on the boy's leg, and rubbed her thumb back and forth. “Any time. I'm here for you any time you need me, day or...” She trailed off. Even if he was having the worst night ever, she could only be there for him during the day. Though she would probably be willing to risk detention by sneaking out to be able to hold his hand and tell him everything was okay. “Or Whenever.” she said at last. “Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?” she asked, pulling a pumpkin juice out for herself, and taking a sip. "How is it?" she asked, wondering how he liked the food.
"Nah, I think she was being pretty honest. I'm... usually a pretty good judge of when people aren't telling the truth. She was too excited over it to be lying or just wanting to wind me up." He looked from Emmaleigh to the mirror and examined it up and down. "Well. I guess... that's probably one way to do it, unless it's charmed to be unbreakable. But if not, that's still too messy." He grinned. They didn't really want to get shards of mirror all over their picnic area, did they?
His expression solemn, Max nodded as Em told him he was wrong. He didn't believe her, but he wasn't going to argue it - they both knew it was no use. He was too stubborn and their opinions of him were very, very different. But after he gave his spiel about her and she said she felt the same way, Max looked up at her with a small smile of understanding, removed her hands from his cheeks. and held them. "I dunno why you feel that way, but... thank you. I'm so lucky to have met you."
Hufflepuff? The best? Pfft. "You and mum would get along great." Both of them had enormous amounts of Hufflepuff pride. "But I've gotta hand it to you there - close to the kitchens? And you don't have to walk up a million stairs just to go to bed every night? That must be nice." He wouldn't want to be anything but a Ravenclaw, buuut... he was kind of envious of the house he was almost placed into by the Sorting Hat.
When her hand fell upon his knee, Max laughed softly at her words. "Or whenever," he nodded. "I appreciate you more than anything else in this world. The same goes for you, by the way - if you didn't already know - I am always here. Any time of day. Even if you have to send an owl through the castle to find me." Even though he hated owls and that idea in general would probably be problematic.
"Erm... butterbeer, please," Max replied through a mouthful, accepting the drink from her and taking a swig to wash down his food. "'S perfect. Thank you so much for everything," he said again, setting his drink down so he could grab Em's free hand for emphasis.
After pausing for a moment, Max cleared his throat and asked, "Have you thought any more about what you want to do after we graduate?" He followed his inquiry up with another hungry mouthful of meat pie.
"Nah, I think she was being pretty honest. I'm... usually a pretty good judge of when people aren't telling the truth. She was too excited over it to be lying or just wanting to wind me up." He looked from Emmaleigh to the mirror and examined it up and down. "Well. I guess... that's probably one way to do it, unless it's charmed to be unbreakable. But if not, that's still too messy." He grinned. They didn't really want to get shards of mirror all over their picnic area, did they?
His expression solemn, Max nodded as Em told him he was wrong. He didn't believe her, but he wasn't going to argue it - they both knew it was no use. He was too stubborn and their opinions of him were very, very different. But after he gave his spiel about her and she said she felt the same way, Max looked up at her with a small smile of understanding, removed her hands from his cheeks. and held them. "I dunno why you feel that way, but... thank you. I'm so lucky to have met you."
Hufflepuff? The best? Pfft. "You and mum would get along great." Both of them had enormous amounts of Hufflepuff pride. "But I've gotta hand it to you there - close to the kitchens? And you don't have to walk up a million stairs just to go to bed every night? That must be nice." He wouldn't want to be anything but a Ravenclaw, buuut... he was kind of envious of the house he was almost placed into by the Sorting Hat.
When her hand fell upon his knee, Max laughed softly at her words. "Or whenever," he nodded. "I appreciate you more than anything else in this world. The same goes for you, by the way - if you didn't already know - I am always here. Any time of day. Even if you have to send an owl through the castle to find me." Even though he hated owls and that idea in general would probably be problematic.
"Erm... butterbeer, please," Max replied through a mouthful, accepting the drink from her and taking a swig to wash down his food. "'S perfect. Thank you so much for everything," he said again, setting his drink down so he could grab Em's free hand for emphasis.
After pausing for a moment, Max cleared his throat and asked, "Have you thought any more about what you want to do after we graduate?" He followed his inquiry up with another hungry mouthful of meat pie.
“Yeah, If she was really excited about it, I guess it would have to be real. Or that she thinks its really anyways.” She still wasn't convinced that there really was a secret passage, but she was willing believe there might be one. “Yeah, good point. Someone could get hurt if they tried to break it and its charmed.” or well, even if it did break it could hurt. She didn't even know where this thing was supposed to lead, but she shrugged. “The only secret passage I want to find is one that connects our common rooms.”
“Does that mean you're mom was a Hufflepuff?” she asked excitedly. “She must be awesome.” Because all puffs were, and well, she was his mom so she had to be right? And they really had the best location, even if they had to crawl through a barrel to get to the common room. “I can't even imagine having to walk up all those stairs every night. It took me years to get up to divination without being totally winded.”
Emmaleigh bit her lip when Max laughed at her words. She wasn't being funny. Though, when he began to speak, she smiled. “Any time.” she said nodding. Taking another bite of her food, she thought about what he had said. The idea of sending an owl through the castle sounded kinda ridiculous, though she had never needed anyone whose common room was eight floors away. Though, she did have to go all the way up to the seventh floor just to get to the owlery. But it would definitely be easier for Halt to track Max down if she needed him. ”I will.”
Handing Max his butterbeer, Em took another sip of her own drink, and then another bite of food. “I'm glad you think so.” she said, squeezing the boy's hand. ”And, you don't have to keep thanking me, I'm glad I could help.”
At Max's question, Emmaleigh shrugged. “I still don't really know. I mean, I'd really love to breed crups. So I guess I'm leaning more towards magizoology that way I know more about what I'm doing. I just can't imagine not working with animals, you know. But well, I'm still not sure I want to give up on Rune studies.” She looked over at Max, ”what about you, have you narrowed down what you want to study?
__________________
So many things are possible
just as long as you don't know they're impossible
“Yeah, If she was really excited about it, I guess it would have to be real. Or that she thinks its really anyways.” She still wasn't convinced that there really was a secret passage, but she was willing believe there might be one. “Yeah, good point. Someone could get hurt if they tried to break it and its charmed.” or well, even if it did break it could hurt. She didn't even know where this thing was supposed to lead, but she shrugged. “The only secret passage I want to find is one that connects our common rooms.”
“Does that mean you're mom was a Hufflepuff?” she asked excitedly. “She must be awesome.” Because all puffs were, and well, she was his mom so she had to be right? And they really had the best location, even if they had to crawl through a barrel to get to the common room. “I can't even imagine having to walk up all those stairs every night. It took me years to get up to divination without being totally winded.”
Emmaleigh bit her lip when Max laughed at her words. She wasn't being funny. Though, when he began to speak, she smiled. “Any time.” she said nodding. Taking another bite of her food, she thought about what he had said. The idea of sending an owl through the castle sounded kinda ridiculous, though she had never needed anyone whose common room was eight floors away. Though, she did have to go all the way up to the seventh floor just to get to the owlery. But it would definitely be easier for Halt to track Max down if she needed him. ”I will.”
Handing Max his butterbeer, Em took another sip of her own drink, and then another bite of food. “I'm glad you think so.” she said, squeezing the boy's hand. ”And, you don't have to keep thanking me, I'm glad I could help.”
At Max's question, Emmaleigh shrugged. “I still don't really know. I mean, I'd really love to breed crups. So I guess I'm leaning more towards magizoology that way I know more about what I'm doing. I just can't imagine not working with animals, you know. But well, I'm still not sure I want to give up on Rune studies.” She looked over at Max, ”what about you, have you narrowed down what you want to study?
The one that connects our common rooms. His eyebrows shot up at that. That... made him feel weird. It was probably a good kind of weird, but there was a strange bubbly feeling in the pit of his stomach that confused him. He didn't know what to say in reply, though, so he was glad that the subject changed. (Though he probably would have been excited to find a secret passageway to visit Em in her common room, too.)
"Yeah, she is." Max smiled. "She thought for sure I was going to end up there, too. I almost did, in fact. But... I asked to be put in Ravenclaw." His eyebrows creased as he spoke, recalling the day of their sorting. "Silly me, right? All of our separation and stair problems would be solved if I had pleaded differently several years ago," he teased. And he left it at that. "Well, yeah. She's... pretty cool." Everyone usually thought so, but not because she was a Hufflepuff. That's another thing Max liked about Em - she didn't think of him differently because his mother was slightly famous. She just thought of him and his mother as normal people.
That was the coolest.
When Emmaleigh agreed to come to him any time of day when she needed him, Max smiled and replied softly, "Good." And he squeezed her hand for reassurance that he would always be there.
"But I do have to thank you," he insisted. "Just like... just like you said you have to be allowed to apologize, I have to be allowed to thank you relentlessly. In order to keep our healthy relationship going strong, I think... it's important for me to never take you or anything you do for me for granted. I'll never take you for granted, so... I... need to make sure you know how much everything you do means to me." He looked up at her seriously, his eyes glistening with adoration for the girl before him. "Communication is... something I need to work on, so I'm going to make sure I communicate feelings and stuff as much as I can."
Max downed his butterbeer while Em discussed her ideas about after-Hogwarts plans. He found himself smiling. "So... University is a guarantee in your future? Mine, too." He set the empty butterbeer container on the floor next to him, looking down at it as he continued. "I can see you doing either - or both. I'm sure there are things you could do with runes while you're a crup breeder, right?" He laughed, then his expression turned blank as he added, "And surely your husband would help." Blank... because he didn't want to imply that he would help, just in case she was like Ellie and freaked out over the immediate idea of marriage. But... he would help, if they lasted that long. Max would love to breed crups.
"Would you... want to go to the campus in Scotland, or are you interested in traveling abroad?" Max didn't really have a preference, but his decision would be heavily influenced by Emmaleigh's choice. "Erm... well. I still really like the idea of becoming a professor of some sort. So probably... Primary and Secondary Wizarding Education? Or Astronomy... or Literature Studies... or... um... I dunno. I've thought about Magizoology, too. And... Quidditch, even. I'm not sure if I'd be good enough for the bigs, though." Sure, it was in his blood, but... "So... long story short I don't really have a clue."
The one that connects our common rooms. His eyebrows shot up at that. That... made him feel weird. It was probably a good kind of weird, but there was a strange bubbly feeling in the pit of his stomach that confused him. He didn't know what to say in reply, though, so he was glad that the subject changed. (Though he probably would have been excited to find a secret passageway to visit Em in her common room, too.)
"Yeah, she is." Max smiled. "She thought for sure I was going to end up there, too. I almost did, in fact. But... I asked to be put in Ravenclaw." His eyebrows creased as he spoke, recalling the day of their sorting. "Silly me, right? All of our separation and stair problems would be solved if I had pleaded differently several years ago," he teased. And he left it at that. "Well, yeah. She's... pretty cool." Everyone usually thought so, but not because she was a Hufflepuff. That's another thing Max liked about Em - she didn't think of him differently because his mother was slightly famous. She just thought of him and his mother as normal people.
That was the coolest.
When Emmaleigh agreed to come to him any time of day when she needed him, Max smiled and replied softly, "Good." And he squeezed her hand for reassurance that he would always be there.
"But I do have to thank you," he insisted. "Just like... just like you said you have to be allowed to apologize, I have to be allowed to thank you relentlessly. In order to keep our healthy relationship going strong, I think... it's important for me to never take you or anything you do for me for granted. I'll never take you for granted, so... I... need to make sure you know how much everything you do means to me." He looked up at her seriously, his eyes glistening with adoration for the girl before him. "Communication is... something I need to work on, so I'm going to make sure I communicate feelings and stuff as much as I can."
Max downed his butterbeer while Em discussed her ideas about after-Hogwarts plans. He found himself smiling. "So... University is a guarantee in your future? Mine, too." He set the empty butterbeer container on the floor next to him, looking down at it as he continued. "I can see you doing either - or both. I'm sure there are things you could do with runes while you're a crup breeder, right?" He laughed, then his expression turned blank as he added, "And surely your husband would help." Blank... because he didn't want to imply that he would help, just in case she was like Ellie and freaked out over the immediate idea of marriage. But... he would help, if they lasted that long. Max would love to breed crups.
"Would you... want to go to the campus in Scotland, or are you interested in traveling abroad?" Max didn't really have a preference, but his decision would be heavily influenced by Emmaleigh's choice. "Erm... well. I still really like the idea of becoming a professor of some sort. So probably... Primary and Secondary Wizarding Education? Or Astronomy... or Literature Studies... or... um... I dunno. I've thought about Magizoology, too. And... Quidditch, even. I'm not sure if I'd be good enough for the bigs, though." Sure, it was in his blood, but... "So... long story short I don't really have a clue."
Err, had she said something wrong? Was it not okay to want connecting common rooms? She thought it was an okay thing to want and to say, but Max as making a funny face at the comment.
Max was almost placed in her house? “That makes you part 'Puff” she said grinning, “I knew there was a reason I liked you.” The girl gave him a little nudge. “But I can't imagine you as anything but a 'Claw. So you can ask to be put in a certain house? I didn't know that, though I knew nothing about any of the houses when I was sorted. What made you choose Ravenclaw?” Em asked.
As Max insisted on his need to thank her, Em shifted a bit to look at him better. Finishing up the rest of her food, she placed her hand on his knee once more, “I want you to know that I'll never take you for granted either. But it is okay not to say thank you for everything. Some times its enough just to be thankful, or to show that you are thankful. That’s a form of communication too.”
“Definitely,” Emmaleigh nodded. “There's just so much more learn out there.” She looked down at her pumpkin juice, and smiled as Max told her she could probably do both. Though the smile quickly left her face, and she stiffened when he added the last bit. It was the second time this term someone had brought the idea of her being married. After a moment of trying to sort out what he meant, Em looked up. “I think, I would like that.” she said seriously, nodding at him.
She sat there quietly still trying to figure out what just happened, Em was pulled from her thoughts. “Well, Scotland I guess. Its closer to home. I spent a whole year in the States, and it was so lonely. But going somewhere like Australia or New Zealand or somewhere would kinda be cool.” Impulsively, she reached for his hand. “But, I. I wanna go where ever you go. I think I would be loneliest with out you.”
She continued to hold Max's hand as he told her his ideas on what he wanted to do after Hogwarts. “Professor James.” she said smiling, “I think you can do any of it. And don't be too scared to try Quidditch if its what you really wanna do. We've got our whole lives before us; there’s time find the right thing.”
__________________
So many things are possible
just as long as you don't know they're impossible
Err, had she said something wrong? Was it not okay to want connecting common rooms? She thought it was an okay thing to want and to say, but Max as making a funny face at the comment.
Max was almost placed in her house? “That makes you part 'Puff” she said grinning, “I knew there was a reason I liked you.” The girl gave him a little nudge. “But I can't imagine you as anything but a 'Claw. So you can ask to be put in a certain house? I didn't know that, though I knew nothing about any of the houses when I was sorted. What made you choose Ravenclaw?” Em asked.
As Max insisted on his need to thank her, Em shifted a bit to look at him better. Finishing up the rest of her food, she placed her hand on his knee once more, “I want you to know that I'll never take you for granted either. But it is okay not to say thank you for everything. Some times its enough just to be thankful, or to show that you are thankful. That’s a form of communication too.”
“Definitely,” Emmaleigh nodded. “There's just so much more learn out there.” She looked down at her pumpkin juice, and smiled as Max told her she could probably do both. Though the smile quickly left her face, and she stiffened when he added the last bit. It was the second time this term someone had brought the idea of her being married. After a moment of trying to sort out what he meant, Em looked up. “I think, I would like that.” she said seriously, nodding at him.
She sat there quietly still trying to figure out what just happened, Em was pulled from her thoughts. “Well, Scotland I guess. Its closer to home. I spent a whole year in the States, and it was so lonely. But going somewhere like Australia or New Zealand or somewhere would kinda be cool.” Impulsively, she reached for his hand. “But, I. I wanna go where ever you go. I think I would be loneliest with out you.”
She continued to hold Max's hand as he told her his ideas on what he wanted to do after Hogwarts. “Professor James.” she said smiling, “I think you can do any of it. And don't be too scared to try Quidditch if its what you really wanna do. We've got our whole lives before us; there’s time find the right thing.”
"Yeah," he laughed, "the hat took about four minutes debating..." Did she remember? Or had she not noticed him at all back then? "...before I finally spoke up as it seemed to lean more toward Hufflepuff. I had, erm, met two people in Diagon Alley... Ellie and Nia Newtington, who was the Ravenclaw Captain at the time... they were my only two friends from the time I arrived in Diagon Alley, then again on the train, and... when I arrived here... I felt like their kindness was fate or something." His eyebrows furrowed as he spoke and he traced his finger along the blanket next to him in deep thought. "Because, y'know, I thought I'd be suited for either, and I didn't really have prior feelings for one over the other... and at first it didn't matter to me, but when the sorting hat started to make its decision and I saw the faces of Ellie and Nia over at the Ravenclaw table... I knew it was where I needed to be."
But what if he hadn't spoken up? What if he had let the hat do what it wanted without any objections? Would he and Emmaleigh have been great friends then? Would they have been too young to have any of the feelings they had now? Would they be too close of friends to see each other as anything else than a good friend?
Maybe things did happen for a reason. His fingers laced themselves snugly with hers at the thought.
But that was how he showed himself to be thankful, Em. He didn't know how to do it any other way, besides maybe hugs, but... then he'd just be hugging her all the time. He didn't argue, though; instead, he just gave her a soft, tired smile and squeezed her hand.
Then the marriage thing. She'd like that? Hmm. "I'm sure he would... or will, too. Definitely. He'd have to like it - to be married to you."
New Zealand or Australia?! "Me too! I've always thought New Zealand sounded really cool. Heard it's beautiful." He smiled down at her and murmured, "Good, 'cause I don't want to go anywhere without you either." So that was settled.
"Professor James," he laughed. He had never envisioned that title before. "I suppose that has a nice ring to it." And... she was really supporting his far-off Quidditch dream? "...Yeah. I dunno. I... think that's more of a 'fun dream' than a realistic one." He had seen his mother go through the whole professional Quidditch process, and while it was plenty of fun, it was far too... glamorous for his liking. "Too much attention," he thought aloud. Upon realizing his random comment probably didn't make sense, he clarified, "I... don't know if I'd want all the attention that comes with being a professional Quidditch player." And the busy life of eight-hour practices, sometimes longer... press conferences... photoshoots... bleh.
It sounded fun, but... maybe his time would be of better use helping people, despite how good he was at Quidditch. His life needed meaning.
"Yeah," he laughed, "the hat took about four minutes debating..." Did she remember? Or had she not noticed him at all back then? "...before I finally spoke up as it seemed to lean more toward Hufflepuff. I had, erm, met two people in Diagon Alley... Ellie and Nia Newtington, who was the Ravenclaw Captain at the time... they were my only two friends from the time I arrived in Diagon Alley, then again on the train, and... when I arrived here... I felt like their kindness was fate or something." His eyebrows furrowed as he spoke and he traced his finger along the blanket next to him in deep thought. "Because, y'know, I thought I'd be suited for either, and I didn't really have prior feelings for one over the other... and at first it didn't matter to me, but when the sorting hat started to make its decision and I saw the faces of Ellie and Nia over at the Ravenclaw table... I knew it was where I needed to be."
But what if he hadn't spoken up? What if he had let the hat do what it wanted without any objections? Would he and Emmaleigh have been great friends then? Would they have been too young to have any of the feelings they had now? Would they be too close of friends to see each other as anything else than a good friend?
Maybe things did happen for a reason. His fingers laced themselves snugly with hers at the thought.
But that was how he showed himself to be thankful, Em. He didn't know how to do it any other way, besides maybe hugs, but... then he'd just be hugging her all the time. He didn't argue, though; instead, he just gave her a soft, tired smile and squeezed her hand.
Then the marriage thing. She'd like that? Hmm. "I'm sure he would... or will, too. Definitely. He'd have to like it - to be married to you."
New Zealand or Australia?! "Me too! I've always thought New Zealand sounded really cool. Heard it's beautiful." He smiled down at her and murmured, "Good, 'cause I don't want to go anywhere without you either." So that was settled.
"Professor James," he laughed. He had never envisioned that title before. "I suppose that has a nice ring to it." And... she was really supporting his far-off Quidditch dream? "...Yeah. I dunno. I... think that's more of a 'fun dream' than a realistic one." He had seen his mother go through the whole professional Quidditch process, and while it was plenty of fun, it was far too... glamorous for his liking. "Too much attention," he thought aloud. Upon realizing his random comment probably didn't make sense, he clarified, "I... don't know if I'd want all the attention that comes with being a professional Quidditch player." And the busy life of eight-hour practices, sometimes longer... press conferences... photoshoots... bleh.
It sounded fun, but... maybe his time would be of better use helping people, despite how good he was at Quidditch. His life needed meaning.
She couldn't help but smirk at the thought of Max almost being a hatstall, and how he had been part of the reason why it had taken her so long to be called for sorting. She had been so nervous over the idea that she wasn't magical enough that she hadn't paid attention to the others actually being sorted before her. Emmaleigh found herself frowning though as the boy continued to talk. Sure she had asked him why he had chosen Ravenclaw, but they way he was explaining it to her, well it almost sounded like he was trying to justify his decision or something. “Max, is everything alright?” she asked looking over at him. “I just, It sounds kind of like you are trying to defend your decision.”
As Max commented further on the whole marriage thing, she smiled. “That’s good. I'd think it be a pretty poor marriage, and a pretty sad life to be married to someone that didn't enjoy helping me with things or enjoy the same stuff I do.”
“New Zealand.” she said smiling to herself. “Yeah, it will make for some amazing walks. Heard they get lots of snow too.” When the boy said he didn't want to go anywhere with out her as well, she couldn't help but snuggle up against him. The idea of only being able to see Max during school breaks sounded horrible, and she was glad he seemed to feel the same way.
Em shrugged at Max's instance that Quidditch wasn't a realistic goal. “You never know until you try. Have you, talked to anyone about it? Your mom, Vindictus? Ellie?” she asked. When he added that it would be too much attention, she looked up at him. “Just think long and hard about it before writing it off completely. I don't want you to be wondering years from now what might have been.” She wanted him to be sure. She would support him, no matter his decision, but she would be really glad if he didn't pursue the sport. It was nerve racking enough to day, worrying about him getting hurt and worrying about the outcome of the game. It'd just be a simpler life without the sport.
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So many things are possible
just as long as you don't know they're impossible
She couldn't help but smirk at the thought of Max almost being a hatstall, and how he had been part of the reason why it had taken her so long to be called for sorting. She had been so nervous over the idea that she wasn't magical enough that she hadn't paid attention to the others actually being sorted before her. Emmaleigh found herself frowning though as the boy continued to talk. Sure she had asked him why he had chosen Ravenclaw, but they way he was explaining it to her, well it almost sounded like he was trying to justify his decision or something. “Max, is everything alright?” she asked looking over at him. “I just, It sounds kind of like you are trying to defend your decision.”
As Max commented further on the whole marriage thing, she smiled. “That’s good. I'd think it be a pretty poor marriage, and a pretty sad life to be married to someone that didn't enjoy helping me with things or enjoy the same stuff I do.”
“New Zealand.” she said smiling to herself. “Yeah, it will make for some amazing walks. Heard they get lots of snow too.” When the boy said he didn't want to go anywhere with out her as well, she couldn't help but snuggle up against him. The idea of only being able to see Max during school breaks sounded horrible, and she was glad he seemed to feel the same way.
Em shrugged at Max's instance that Quidditch wasn't a realistic goal. “You never know until you try. Have you, talked to anyone about it? Your mom, Vindictus? Ellie?” she asked. When he added that it would be too much attention, she looked up at him. “Just think long and hard about it before writing it off completely. I don't want you to be wondering years from now what might have been.” She wanted him to be sure. She would support him, no matter his decision, but she would be really glad if he didn't pursue the sport. It was nerve racking enough to day, worrying about him getting hurt and worrying about the outcome of the game. It'd just be a simpler life without the sport.
"Yeah," Max replied softly. He gave Em a small smile. "I just... don't... want you to be upset that I choose Ravenclaw and... and I don't want my reasonings to sound stupid, or..." He rubbed a hand on the back of his head, trying to keep his emotions out of the words he was saying. "I just feel bad, 'cause... we could've..." He looked down at his lap with furrowed eyebrows, clearly distressed. "I wish we'd been friends before. I wish... it hadn't taken us this long to find each other, and maybe if I had just let the Hat do what it wanted..." he trailed off with no intention of finishing his statement.
It 'WILL' make for some amazing walks, she said? So... that was it? They were going to university in New Zealand? Whether she had intended to say it like that or not, Max smiled and held Em close to him. "Sounds wonderful."
The topic of professional Quidditch was beginning to make him uncomfortable. Why was Em pushing the idea so much? Did she WANT him to be a professional Quidditch player? He glanced at her for a moment before looking back at his knees and replied, "Erm, I don't know what Ellie would think about it... I'm torn between thinking she'd be happy for me and look forward to playing with or against me... or bring up those times I came to Quidditch practice half asleep..." So no, he hadn't talked to her about that. "I've never mentioned it to Professor V - I think he'd laugh, for some reason." Even though Max idolized his Head of House, he always felt like he was letting him down. "Mum and I have talked about it in passing. She supports it, but she always stresses on the less glamorous aspects of it - but she loves the sport so much that all that kind of stuff is outweighed by the fun she has." Did he REALLY love playing Quidditch as much as she did? Or Ellie did? He wasn't sure.
Would he really spend his future regretting it? He didn't think so. Deep down in a place Max rarely ventured, he felt that his children needed to have their father around.
He wasn't going to be absent for the majority of the year, every year, like his mother had been.
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