tired blue boy

“Exactly,” he replied happily, “especially at times like this, when you’re so spontaneous that you forget a jacket.” His hand was starting to get a little clammy, but she didn’t seem to notice, and Alex wasn’t about to say anything. “Just another minute or two. This leads out of the floor to a storeroom in the Three Broomsticks, so the chances are that no one will be there to see us arrive.”

Alex smirked in response. “It means that nobody gets as worked up as you do. Especially not so quickly.”

“Not vindictive or annoyed.” She mused, quietly to herself. “So I’m growing on you, like a fungus. Brilliant, maybe I’ll have to find someone else to annoy. I don’t, not really – or intentionally, but I don’t know if you’ve noticed.. even though I know you actually have, but not everyone around here enjoys the whole, talkative and friendly thing. I ruin days without trying sometimes.” Aurelia reasoned. “Oh like I’d ever forget it. I’m never going to let you live it down, actually.” Whether it was a surprise or not, it wasn’t much of a thought in her mind, though she did like the idea of having something to hang on him, even if it didn’t bother him all that much. For whatever it was worth, Alex wasn’t at all what he made himself out to be, or perhaps she still didn’t know him all that well. “Like I’d let a chance like that slip through my fingers.” Her lips rolled together, not fully understanding why he didn’t give many others the opportunity to see it. “No.. No not at all. Cute is cute, there’s no getting around it. Cute is fuzzy and warm and always makes you smile. Pretty? It’s.. feminine and kind of a hacked compliment. You’re not pretty.” She stated, as though it wasn’t already obvious the difference between the two. “Mmm yeah, okay, you’re right. Who else would come with me to the kitchens?”

He smirked at her calling herself fungus. “I didn’t say that...” he started slowly, “but I’m not going to disagree. Besides not all fungus is bad. I like mushrooms,” he finished with a small grin. “I’ll kill you for repeating this, but sometimes the whole friendly, talkative thing is a somewhat pleasant change. Even if people don’t really realise it at first.” He was praying that he wasn’t blushing, but he could feel his cheeks getting warm for being so honest with her. “Then I’ll just have to wait for you to say something equally embarrassing to hold over you.” Even as he said it, he knew that was very unlikely. Aurelia didn’t seem like the type of person who got embarrassed or really cared about things most people did. He sort of understood the difference between the two words as she explained them, and smiled in response. “So I’m warm and always make you smile?” he asked. He made a mental note to never call her pretty if she seemed so unimpressed with the word. “Okay, fine. I’m sure other people would go with you to the kitchens. But no one is as interesting as me, so maybe you’d be bored to death instead.”

Alex considered Frank’s words. “Hmm... I don’t know about that. Who else do I have that takes this much shit from me?”

“Hey Alex, uhm… are you going to hold my hand? Please?” Hestia had stopped at the entrance, her wand thankfully producing some light so she could see Alex’ face and the dark stone wall next to him. “Just so… I am not going to slip you know?” That sounded silly for sure, and Hestia would not be surprised would Alex make fun of her now. Though she also hoped he wouldn’t.

Alex’s eyebrows raised in surprise when she asked, and he paused for a second before replying with an unsure smile. “Y-yeah Sure. It’s pretty easy to fall or lose your way down here,” he said, offering his hand out to her, keeping his other hand in front of them to light the way. “It’s only about a ten minute walk, but if you get cold or whatever, I’ll cast a warming charm or something.”

“Petite irritation. I think I’m going to use that.”

“Feel free. I doubt you’d come up with anything better.”

“This entire conversation has proven otherwise, but fine. I’m not going to waste my time with this. Either sit down, or leave. I don’t care either way anymore.”

A grin grew on her lips, from ear to ear as she glanced up at him, “There’s no perhaps about it. Oh please, it’s not that I know you so well, it’s just that I know when I’m screwing peoples days up. It’s always written all over their faces, yours especially.” She said, her tone just as teasing as his. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, do you know that?” Her face fell, brows pulling together, “Who in the heck told you you were helpful?” Her nose crinkled as he poked it, a small huff of a whine growing in her throat. “I have perfect eyesight, thank you very much. — It’s very tempting, but knowing how rare delightful Alex really is, well.. I couldn’t really refuse it now could I?” To say that she was thankful for him being a whole lot less difficult today, was something she wouldn’t really voice, mostly because she figured it would be a little uncomfortable admitting, mostly for her. “Oh how could I miss all of that?” She said, rolling her eyes playfully. “Who said you were a pretty face? I said cute, who’s calling you pretty? Maybe theirs something wrong with their eyes too.” Sighing, Aurelia shook her head, “What would I do without you?”

“There is a very big perhaps, as a matter of fact. By technicality, my day should be a fail, and terrible, but I’m not feeling particularly vindictive or annoyed. So perhaps today is a good day. I can’t really imagine you screwing up people’s days ever. You’re much too friendly and talkative to completely ruin a day,” he retorted. “Then you’d better remember this moment, because it could be a long time before I say something equally as nice,” he said, jokingly. Really, he didn’t think it was such a surprise that he was nice to her on occasion. He had kissed her. He thought that made it clear that she wasn’t as unpleasant as other people. He chuckled. “Well, I’m glad you understand and are taking advantage of a delightful Alex. Few people ever get the opportunity,” he said lightly, while his words were entirely serious. His brows furrowed as a crinkle formed on his forehead. “Aren’t cute and pretty the same thing?” he asked, confused. He knew she was probably going to answer with some ridiculous translation into “girl speak” but he was interested to know anyway. “You’d probably starve to death, for one.”

The whole corridor around the potions classroom was no place Hestia like very much. It was cold and dark and totally nothing like the Hufflepuff common room, for example. “Hm,” she nodded her head at Alex’ explanation, smiling. “it surpises me that no one of the staff knows about it then. But yes…. yes I am impressed…” She smiled, pulling out her wand as well.

He could tell she was a little uncomfortable, but figured it would be worth it once they were sipping butterbeer in Hogsmeade. “Well, I’m sure some of the professors do know it exists. They probably just don’t realise anyone else knows about it,” he reasoned with a shrug. “Good, I’m glad. Let’s get going,” Alex said, stepping into the passageway before Hestia. 

“i don’t blame you, honestly. gryffindor tower’s absolutely nuts,” mary agreed with a tilt of her head, choosing to ignore the latter part of his sentence. “i know you are. but i’ve figured out a way to put up with it,” the teasing tone she used with her friends crept easily into her voice, cheeks turning slightly rosier at the mention. “oh, just  — just em, em vance. only she’s a lot nicer, of course,” she pushed the conversation onwards. “you’ll get used to it.”

He laughed lightly, before clearing his throat. “Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks your house can be a little insane...” he added, surprised to hear her admit it. “And isn’t knowing it and dealing with it, better than me pretending to be all sweet now, when you know I’m not?” he asked, with a small smirk. “At least, I feel like we’ve both gotten more tolerable of each other.” He snorted. “To be fair, most people are nicer. And I will. I’m very adaptable when I try to be.”

“Sounded like a demand to me. A double standard perhaps, that if I said that to you, I’d be a massive asshole. Funny, coming from the person who is still standing here arguing with me.”

“Sounds like a nice way to live life.”

“It’s only the best way to live, my petite irritation.”

“Fine, fine. You’ll owe me. Now what do you actually need help with? I don’t want to spend all day studying, y’know.”

“You may need to elaborate a bit more, if I’m going to commit to helping you.”

for a second, mary looked at the boy; a smile creeping onto her features, she shrugged it off, a soft laugh emerging. “y’see, travers, you obviously just hadn’t met the right ones yet,” she teased. “and not all ravenclaws are self-absorbed brainiacs, right?” she knew that wasn’t true, of course; especially as another ravenclaw came to mind. “that’s what we do. say the stuff that no-one else will.”

Alex leaned his head to the side. “Well, to be honest, I don’t really meet a lot of you. But I guess this conversation makes you the right one...” he said under his breath. “I’m pretty self-absorbed, and I’m definitely a brainiac, but you already know that about me. Who else in Ravenclaw have you met like me?” he asked, curious. “And in the past, that’s never been a positive trait in my eyes. I can appreciate it now though.”