opposite lovers

“are you sure?” he asked cautiously, not wanting to step over some invisible boundary. even though he was uncertain whether this would go well or not, alec took the puff into his hands, lips curling up into a soft smile. the poor thing trembled for a second but instantly calmed as alec softly ran a finger over it’s head, petting it lovingly. 

again alec protested her gratitude, shaking his head for good measure. unlike the rest of his family he did things out of kindness and not for want of anything. “really, you don’t have to do that.” he assured the blonde, keeping an eye on the puff slowly edging away. alec didn’t release he’d released a breath until she calmed the little thing and held him protectively in her hand. a shy smile spread across his lips, he was always better with animals than people.

At her words, Ciaran glanced over at her with a genuinely surprised look. Well, look at that. The Hufflepuff had a little bit of SPUNK to her. If he were being perfectly honest, he had always thought she was a bit of a stick in the mud. “ Ouch, ” Ciaran replied with an overexaggerated wince, “ I guess that I’ve been put right in my place. ” His head tilted at her curiously as a light smirk appeared on his features. “ You’re a fiery little lass, aren’t you? ” He questioned. The Gryffindor’s shoulders shrugged in response to her final remarks. “ I wouldn’t say that, ” The male replied, “ World’s made up of people that are always goin’ to be superior to you in one way or another. Not everyone is goin’ to sugarcoat things for you. So, you eventually just gotta toughen yourself up to deal with it. ”

       Unbelievable. She thought to herself when she saw him smirking, acting all curious about her all of the sudden. She wasn’t lying then, when she said he was a complete bore. Tons of guys like him, not even one to differ from the rest. “I am not fiery. I am not little. And I am a woman. Thank you.” Her left foot was already shaking, but she concealed it crossing one leg over the other. 

“ Actually.. yeah, I was perfect the first time around, ” Ciaran responded without any hesitation. He was perfect or else he would have to face the wrath that belonged to Cormac McLaggen. His eyes rolled before he added in his next remark. “ You know.. it really doesn’t do them any favors to CODDLE them, ” Ciaran muttered. The Gryffindor definitely didn’t get coddled. His shoulders shrugged, “ Life is going to get tough sooner or later. Best they learn to have some nerve now. ”

       “Actually... ” She mocked him, showing her teeth and all when she said the word. “You’re the most boring person to ever set foot in here.” Andy was about as sweet and nice as the pudding served every night at the Great Hall, but some people... oh, some people. “You know... Some kids can be themselves and not care about a troll like you. That’s why it’s important to coddle them, so they know they don’t have to deal with garbage coming from people like you, if they don’t want to.” She shrugged as well, giving him both an amused and a stern look. 

   “ Merlin’s beard.. “ Ciaran muttered to himself as he watched the first years. His expression clearly showing just how appalled he was by what was happening on the Pitch in front of him. He shook his head as one of them actually mounted their broom backwards. “ Am I really seein’ this? “ He questioned, “ Did that one just get on their broom BACKWARDS? “

he nodded and wiggled the book a little, urging her to take it. a smile crept onto his lips at how excited she was to finally have the book in her possession, although he feared for the pygmy puff. alec readied himself to make yet another quick catch if the little floof broke free again. “there’s no need to pay me, really.”

“i make perfect sense.” dom argued with a devilish grin. she didn’t know the other girl all that well, having stuck close to her family and a few other friends throughout her years at hogwarts. but already she could see that the girl was very strict and probably had little fun. “you haven’t given me a reason not to like you so i think you’re fine for now.”

alec’s brows furrowed as he glanced down at the open book on the table, half finished. “only a few days. it’s been missing for quite a while.” he answered after hearing her story, feeling sorry that she’d needed it. he could understand why someone had horded it considering it was filled with useful information. “you can have it now, if you’d like.” alec smiled and closed the book, offering it to her with a kind smile.

“i do a very goo job of getting into trouble. its kind of a talent really.” dom chuckled more to herself than anything, though she didn’t think the other girl found her funny. already she was forming a plan in her head to help this girl lighten up a bit. “now i remember why i like you so much.”

he offered a kind smile and a nod in place of an actual you’re welcome. silently he watched as she lovingly ran a finger over its small fluffy head, his smile widening ever so slightly. this made him think of his cat and what he would do if he were to ever run off. the name of the puff piqued his interest and alec felt his brows raise in silent question. he was going to ask her about the name when she apologized and stated she was leaving. 

alec thought over asking her to stay when she simply did not leave. she stood there practically staring him down, making his skin feel like it was on fire and his chest tighten. “is…is there something else?”

alec was quite surprised to learn that something had taken up residence on his head. he must’ve been so immersed in his studies that he hadn’t noticed his head had become a nesting place for a rogue pygmy puff. slowly he raised his eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of the fluffy pet, but failing. since she had brought his attention to it, he now felt the little thing curled up on his head. 

without saying a word he cautiously raised his hands, so as to not scare the poor thing further, and snatched the resting puff. briefly it struggled but calmed as he began to pet it, smiling at how soft and small it was. “here you go.” he smiled and held out the puff.

              “Thank you.” She whispered once more, taking a seat in front of him after he passed the little creature to her. Her thumb softly ruffling the top of it’s tiny head. “Mercutio, you need to stop running like that.” Andy scolded it, yet petting it to calm it down, eventually leaving it on her shoulder, the purple little furball going to hide in her hair. 

dominique sighed and rolled her eyes, her buzz wearing off as she began thinking up a way to diffuse the situation. the last thing she needed was to be reported and have her mum send a howler or worse, show up to deliver the lecture in person. “come on, andy, is it? it’s the beginning of the year, you wouldn’t want this to follow me around would you? you’re a nice girl so just let this go? please?” her eyes grew larger and she stuck out her bottom lip a little, using her cuteness to her advantage. 

“and i didn’t start drinking to be lectured.” she whined, already feeling her buzz lessen due to the girl’s speech. if she wanted her choices to be scrutinized then she would’ve stayed home and listened to her mother.