Catchlove

“They’re Duracell batteries- extra long life. You’ve got this for days probably.” he countered with a cheeky grin. “See, now that’s more like it. Recognition for the blood, sweat and tears I put into making you laugh.” 

“Duracell huh, like the rabbit?” She chuckled with a nod. “That right there explains so much. I promise to be more mindful of my words next time, making me laugh should have its own awards show.. In fact, we should get you one.”

“We text. Although I suppose owling goes better with the age of my soul.” He said with a laugh before nodding. “A couple hours, hmm? We could do an awful lot in a couple hours…”

“Thank you, someone understands. One can’t just diminish the purpose of owls because of a silly electronic device.” She mused, raising a brow at his comment. “Explain yourself.”

“‘Fraid not. I’m run on batteries I’m afraid. Just going to have to wait until I run out of juice.” he said with a chuckle. “But thank you for admitting the jokes was good. Decent means good in my eyes. I worked hard on that one.” 

“Well, how long until they run out?” She mused, chuckling as well. “Had I known you’ve put a lot of effort then I would have used a different word, such as phenomenal.”

He squinted just slightly before his eyes widened and his stare moved over Greta freely. It might almost have seemed like he was sizing her up, and he wouldn’t bother doing it in such a way that could be considered discreet. “Of course I joke. I joke about lots of things. Your shoes, for example.” He blinked lazily, “Dissimilar fabrics, Greta, really?”

Sarcasm? Yes. Always.

Greta’s eyes widened as well as she was unable to help the smile that formed on her lips as she nodded. “Right, of course.” She had to look away to avoid laughing. The last thing she wanted to do was to get into a complicated argument about fashion with none other than Rodolphus Lestrange. “I had thought that sarcasm coming from you would be a little more discreet, but thank you, truly.” She said, faking an appreciative tone. 

Dirk cracked a smile as they entered the great hall. The sound, as always, was almost deafening. He raised his voice to be heard over the din. “Sounds like a deal. You can sit with us if you’d like,” He said, motioning to the Hufflepuff table. “I’ll have to pay you back somehow. What would you say is a fair trade?”

“Sure!” Greta said, making sure to enunciate the word so that he would be able to at least recognize it if he couldn’t hear her. She followed them to the Hufflepuff table and sat down across from him, finding it odd to sit somewhere other than her usual spot at the Ravenclaw table. “No need to pay it back,” she smiled. “It wouldn’t be called helping if I asked for something in return. I guess you could promise to give it your best at our next quidditch match though.”

“I don’t give Edam, Greta. That joke was first class and you know it.”

“Is there a stop bottom to you?” She said poking his arm. “But alright, that last one was decent.”

“We’re supposed to have practice tonight. I’m supposed to be drawing up diagrams, practice schedules for the next month AND contacting my head of house about getting new robes for one of our chasers. On top of it all,” He added moodily, following the crowd towards the great hall, “I have to master this silent spell casting by next class for the test.” He trudged along with the group, trying to sort out the priorities. “Think she’d give me detention if i tried to tell her I forgot to do it?”

“Do you want me to help you?” She offered before shacking her head to better explain herself. “I mean with your homework, not with quidditch. If I help you out with that Frank may have my head, and I don’t know how I feel about helping out a rival.” She teased, tapping her chin as she wondered whether the professor would be one to give detention for forgetting assignments. “Maybe? But you will be ready for it. I can’t walk away from this conversation now that you’ve mentioned detention.”

“Haven’t figured it out.” He teased. “Actually, what if I drop the puns and we hang out instead?”

“Well then you should owl me when you figure it out, or text me, whatever you kids do nowadays.” Greta said with a chuckle. “But what would I ever do without the puns?” she teased. “Fine, actually, I have a couple of hours free.”

“Such a shame.” Truly, it disheartened her to hear that. Ready to spin on her heels and head towards the opposite direction until the other girl had spoken again. “Just because your humor us as dead as this schools fashion sense.. doesn’t mean you get to be rude to me.”

“There’s no shame in wanting to complete my studies. If you don’t think schooling is important, then that’s a real shame.” Greta commented calmly. “Really? I don’t see the connection, but thanks for bringing up another secondary thing as fashion into the conversation. I wasn’t being rude, just honest.”

“I never joke about cheese, Greta.” Rodolphus tilted his head, eyes falling over the younger girl with ease, “But if you insist on taking your leave…”

“Okay, so here’s a better question, do you joke at all?” Greta nodded slowly, narrowing her eyes slightly as a slight smile formed on her lip. “I don’t.”

“you can’t start a story and not finish it” Lily teased, taking out a small brush from her bag to start managing her hair. “a trim would do me wonders, I’ve never lost at this game as bad as I did today.”

“Fine, fine.” Greta said, putting her hands up in surrender. “I really wanted to be a metamorphmagus when I was younger but seeing as I can’t change at will I decided to forcefully make my hair short and blue... well, I didn’t turn out the way I had in mind, so I forced myself to wear hats for an entire summer.” Retelling the story made her chuckle and she sighed at the other’s insistence, “You must really trust me if you want me to even do that.”

“That’s fine. You better gouda. I brie-lieve I can’t stop.”

“You are really testing my limits, aren’t you Pettigrew?” She smiled with a shake of her head. “Why are you so desperate to have me leave the country?”

Dorcas grinned, still holding on to her wedge of mozzarella. “ I can’t help it, Greta, I’m just a chip off the old block. ”

“If I had no self control I would hex you.” She said though laughing. “I have to give you credit for that one, it was funny.”

“Cheesy? I’ve never. My jokes are literal. But, I’m not against you leaving the entire country.”

“Well I think I like here quite a lot, so much that I’m not planning on leaving for another three months.” Greta stated. “It needed some work, but thanks for the literal joke.”

She wasn’t sure what Greta was doing blocking her path. A small artificial smile poises across her lips. “Is that a promise?” Narcissa pursed her lips and quickly followed up with the cheesiest joke she could think of. “What’s the saddest cheese?” A sigh leaves her lips before she delivered the punchline. “Blue Cheese. Now  leave.” 

“Cross my heart,” she said, turning to face the girl. The joke was good, even for someone as unamused as Narcissa. “Well, that was a good try. I liked it so much that I’ve decided to stay.” She said with a chuckle. “I need to get a few more books and then I’ll be gone.”

“no, really I’ll pass, anymore damage and I may have to cut it.” saying what the outcome would be gave her an idea and she grinned with enthusiasm. “so here’s an idea what if you help me cut my hair? I’ll play one more round if you say yes.”

"A makeover? The last time I did anything of the sort... well, it’s better if we don’t talk about it. I don’t want to leave you looking like Peeves, I’m possibly the worse person for the job.” Greta commented while putting away the stack of leftover cards. “If it’s just a trim then maybe yes.”