|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 8, 2013 23:57:33 GMT -5
Delaire wasn't always the best liar, but he knew a lie when he heard it, and his face paled upon the fourth year's confession. No one would lie if it was someone else's birthday. Which meant...
Delaire opened and closed his mouth multiple times, face contorting into weird, painful expressions as he tried to figure out what to do. "Oh jeez," he finally managed to spit out before shoving his arms into his billowing sleeves, the insides of his cloak, his pack, anything really. "Black cats," he muttered angrily as he withdrew his empty hands. "Black cats and hexed whiskers and just..." But no matter the strange cat-related expression he used, Delaire couldn't seem to summon up much of anything from his present inventory for the mystery fourth year.
Wait a second.
Summon.
Oh.
Delaire clumsily fished out his wand. He was a sixth year. He knew some good spells. With a flick and a mutter his small collection of licorice wands were flying towards them. As they arrived and hovered before him he muttered 'Crookshanks' under his breath angrily. "I should have asked. Do you like licorice wa- Oh, jeez. Happy also birthday... no wait... I mean uh... Happy... Birthday. Yeah, birthday. Uh... may it be happy for you," Delaire spluttered before giving an affirmative nod and, with hesitation, robotically patting the top of the Hufflepuff's head before retracting it quickly in realization that that was an extremely awkward action. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 9, 2013 22:20:22 GMT -5
Alec blinked, suddenly confused by the Slytherin's flurry of movement. It clicked when he whipped out his wand and a small flock of licorice wands flew over to them. Warmth burst in his chest at the gesture, and a slight smile flickered across his face as he took one.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
He ducked his head in embarrassment as the Slytherin patted his head, fighting off an accompanying blush. He'd always been an easy blusher when he was embarrassed, something that had not changed as he'd gotten older. He was truly appreciative of the gesture, even if it was small--he didn't have to do anything in the first place. Perhaps he'd just made a friend? Alec tried not to dwell on that that train of thought, afraid of jinxing it.
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 11, 2013 12:49:55 GMT -5
Delaire offered a bashful smile. "No problem." And then came the silence. It always happened because Delaire, being classic Delaire, was an awkward duck. It occurred to Delaire at that moment while he was being rather awkward duck-like that he had never actually asked if the Hufflepuff liked them. What if he didn't? What if he was taking it out of obligation? "If you don't like them," Delaire started lamely, not explaining his thinking about how Alec might be eating Delaire's rather pathetic present out of guilt. "I have a... chocolate frog thing somewhere in my dorm. If that's... better." Deciding it'd be better to go back to his awkward silence, Delaire returned to nibbling on the candy. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 12, 2013 20:29:01 GMT -5
Alec shrugged, looking intently at the licorice wand in his hand, holding up to eye level. "I've never actually had one of these before," he admitted. It appeared to be some fruit flavor? Maybe strawberry, like Twizzlers.
He stuck one end of it into his mouth, sucking on it experimentally to get a sense of its flavor. Satisfied that it tasted good enough, he took a bite, chewing slowly. He swallowed and glanced back to the Slytherin.
"It's good. Thanks," he said, a funny feeling settling into his chest. It took him a moment to realize that it was cheerfulness.
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 12, 2013 20:40:24 GMT -5
With baited breath Delaire waited. He felt less bad knowing that Alec had simply never had a licorice wand before, but then there was now the matter of seeing if he actually liked them. Luckily, it appeared he was satisfied with the taste, and Delaire abruptly doubled over with a relieved sigh. He hadn't noticed it, but he'd been holding his breath in worry, and in that moment he took a big gulp of air before sitting up straight once again, admittedly rather faster. "Well that's a re-ah!" With a surprised groan Delaire's hand flew to his neck where pain was flaring. It must have been because he'd sat up so quickly. He slowly bent his neck forward as he massaged it with his hand, gritting his teeth as the pain scattered, spreading throughout his neck and his shoulder blades. Damn his Quidditch accident. Breathing in through his teeth, Delaire gave his now numbing neck a final rub. Then, reluctant to look at the fourth year after that, he raised his head at a snail's pace before offering a nervous, slightly pained smile at the Hufflepuff. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 12, 2013 20:45:56 GMT -5
Alec jumped slightly as the Slytherin cried out in pain, leaning towards him, licorice wand forgotten, as he massaged at a spot on his neck. His brow furrowed in concern. "Are you alright?" he asked.
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 12, 2013 20:49:44 GMT -5
Delaire's smile got momentarily tighter before he sighed. "Y-yeah, it's just a... thing I do. I'm an old sixth year and... um... stuff," he tried to explain without actually explaining anything. He looked away, scanning the hills again. No one. Good. Then he inhaled slowly. "Soooooo... I never introduced myself. Embry," he greeted, deciding to change the topic as quickly as possible. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 12, 2013 20:55:16 GMT -5
Alec frowned slightly at his lame excuse, but decided not to comment. He hadn't been truthful in regard to his birthday, and it wasn't like they really knew each other, so he supposed it was only fair. Regardless, it didn't look like he was in immediate danger of dropping dead. He'd trust him to make judgements about his own state of health.
He nodded as the boy introduced himself, filing away his name in his brain. Embry. It was an interesting name, his own seemed common in comparison. "I'm Alec," he replied, leaning back a bit. "It's nice to meet you."
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 12, 2013 21:03:07 GMT -5
"Alec. Got it," Delaire assured him before leaning back himself, rubbing his neck once again just to be sure all the pain was gone.
And then, as if just to mock him for trying to be careful and watching the hills with a wary eye, he heard something. "Embry! Come on, where are you? It was just a suggestion!"
He stiffened. Shit. "Uh..." He glanced over and realized that, despite his careful thinking and best efforts, there were indeed silhouettes walking along the edge of the forest. "Black cats! Um, so hey Alec, acquaintance, I don't want to turn this into a 'you owe me' thing because it's your birthday and you owing me a debt is not what the candy was about at all but uh... well you see... could you just... Come with me for a second? Towards the castle? Act like... I dunno... we're busy?" Delaire hurriedly asked, in a panic once again as he shot upwards into a standing position. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 12, 2013 21:24:31 GMT -5
Startled, Alec climbed to his feet as well. "Sure?" he responded, glancing in the direction he heard voices coming from and ignoring the slight disappointment he'd felt at the term "acquaintance". He knew better than to ask, but he was still bemused. From what he could surmise, Embry wanted to avoid someone, that wasn't too hard to figure out. Fleetingly, Alec wondered if he was being bullied, growing angry at the thought. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was a bully. However, he didn't want to resort to his general method of deterrence when it came to bullies, punching them where it hurt, for fear of scaring off Embry. That would certainly deter any hope of changing "acquaintance" to "friend" (yes, he realized he was probably more than a little bit desperate). Also, he didn't much relish the idea of detention on his birthday.
His brain flying into overdrive, he did the first thing that came to mind: he grabbed Embry's hand. Almost immediately he started to gently pull him forward along the edge of the forest. "We can pretend we're...I don't know, walking?" He could feel himself blushing again, too mortified to say "dating". He didn't know what made him think of it, but he thought if anything might convince whoever Embry was avoiding to let them be, the possibility of intruding on something personal might be it. Unless he was being bullied, in which case he would probably have gained a few new bruises before the day was through.
He made sure to keep his grip on Embry's hand loose, leaving him with ample possibility to pull his hand away if he wanted to; or in the case of a better idea. Merlin's beard, please let him have a better idea.
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 12, 2013 22:56:33 GMT -5
Delaire wondered what kind of friends walked holding hands when there were only two of them and while they were alone. But the wondering didn't last long. As Alec pulled him along, Delaire thought over his words. "W-walking... walking... Oh, take me for a walk!" And then, furrowing his brow and scowling, Delaire bent forward. Landing on all fours, he grew brown and black fur, and his ears became long and pointed. A tail and long muzzle soon followed, and in a moment Delaire was a German shepherd. One of the many reasons he'd learned the trick. Avoiding people. One of the many art forms he truly appreciated. With a soft bark, he trotted forward. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 13, 2013 10:12:39 GMT -5
Alec blinked in confusion at the dog that began to trot in front of him. "..Yeah, exactly," he muttered to no one. "That's just what I meant."
He followed a few paces behind Embry, nonchalantly ignoring the people approaching. Phew. Thank Merlin, he did have a better idea. That's interesting that he's an Animagus. That takes a lot of magical skill.
Alec squirreled this bit of information away in his brain as well, under the sort of file he was starting to build for Embry. Perhaps he did not exactly act like it, but he was an adept wizard.
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 13, 2013 12:27:39 GMT -5
It wasn't until his body was completely different, no longer his own, that Delaire realized his human heart had been beating incredibly loud in his chest. Jeez, people really shouldn't touch me, he thought nervously in his head. Luckily, his usual expressiveness was gone in his dog form, and he continued to pad in front of Alec, occasionally weaving in and out of the trees before returning to his side. He'd had a lot of time to figure out how to act dog-like over his fifth year. Occasionally while he trotted in circles around the trees he glanced back. Once his "friends" had realized that Alec was alone besides the dog, they had turned around. Mission a success, Delaire sat down abruptly and watched them leave with his warm brown eyes. |
|
|
|
Post by The Letter-Weaver on Nov 13, 2013 13:05:16 GMT -5
Alec kept up a stream of nonsensical babble as the people drew nearer, things like "Good boy" and "Heel, boy!". He felt ridiculous, but he had no idea to what degree Embry could understand him, so he decided not to worry about it.
As the people started to leave, Embry sat down. Alec stood there and looked at him. He felt distinctly embarrassed for no reason he could fathom.
|
|
|
|
Post by SilentGaze on Nov 13, 2013 13:20:28 GMT -5
Once the figures had vanished inside the castle in the difference, he was quick to transform back into his human self, though his neck ached once more after the transformation. he had never liked having to leave the perfectly healthy and never-before-damaged bones of his German Shepherd form behind. Rubbing his neck briefly and then stretching his arms behind his head in an attempt to loosen his screwed up muscles, Delaire looked away from Alec to the grass at his feet. "Thanks... for that. I'm not good at saying no sometimes to... certain people. Not enough times anyway. Better at heeling," he offered with an awkward laugh, referencing Alec's attempts at being a dog owner. As if Delaire could have done better. He probably would have accidentally called Alec the wrong animal, or forgotten he was supposed to be pretending entirely. |
|
