facilis descendus averno

jace had seen clary around the school all day, but had ignored her for most of the day as he tried to figure out where to even take the girl for their first official date. it was nerve wrecking, to the point he had to ask his siblings what to do. the blonde sent a fire message to the gryffindor earlier in the day to meet him in front of the fat lady portrait. he was nervously fidgeting with his wand as he waited impatiently, starting to freak out just a bit as he has never taken a girl he really liked out on a date before.

“you don’t need to beat anyone up jace,” isabelle said with a smile but it soon fell. “he, uh, was pretty pissed that i didn’t tell him sooner,” she sighed. “but i guess he understood. he’s not mad at me or anything. i mean we hung out just yesterday. i think he just wants to believe it’s not real.”

“oh please iz, i always need to beat anyone up. especially if they cause problems with you or alec.” jace smiled slightly, figuring that that would be their brother’s reaction. “i told you he wouldn’t be mad. alec could never stay mad at either of us to begin with. he adores us way too much.” the blonde shrugged, adverting his golden hues as he looked around the great hall. “yeah well, life is shit anyways.”

iris sighed and looked at the boy. “i think i stopped paying attention fifteen minutes ago and now i have no clue what’s happening.”

“i usually check out the second she opens her mouth. what does this even teach us for later used anyways ??”

“are you kidding? she’d be a terrible slytherin. izzy can’t keep a secret to save her life,” he laughed, “ooh, i’m gideon now, huh? i see how it is, herondale.”

alec rolled his eyes, “not like that,” he said, his cheeks flushed. “it’s not like your study group or book club–whatever you’re calling it these days,” he said, nudging jace again. he laughed, “well, thanks, i guess. and wait, hold on. do you mean meliorn? he’s a total ass. how did you do anything with him?”

jace laughed, about falling into the water before catching himself. “true that,” he agreed, smirking at the other. “you know, i think i’ll call you by your middle name now. much more fun,” the blonde teased.

“I’m sure you will sooner or later.” The man commented. “Atlas, Alec is at practice or something so it’s just me.”

“too bad i rather be hexed than to ask you for any help,” jace shrugged, freezing for a moment at the mention of practice. cursing himself, he decided that missing one practice wouldn’t be that bad.

she chuckled in response as they stopped at the portrait to her dorm. she didn’t really want the evening to be over but they had made plans to spend time together again. she’d be okay. she rolled her eyes playfully at him. “well at least it’s good for something,” she joked as he played with her hair again. “yeah. definitely.”

jace nodded, pulling her face closer to his as he kissed her for the final time for the night. “should probably wear something semi nice,” he commented as he finally pulled himself away from her and started to turn around. “see you at breakfast,” he winked, making his way back towards the dungeons.

clary leaned into his embrace with a small smile. “yeah i guess you’re right. just kinda sucks, huh?” she asked, wrapping her arm around his middled. “yeah i’m sure she would. am i really that short? or are you guys just all abnormally tall?” she teased back.

“you can say that again,” he chuckled, stopping in front of the portrait to the gryffindor common room. “you being short is just adorable,” jace replied teasingly as he played with her hair. “see you tomorrow ??”

she leaned her head on his arm as they walked. “i know. i just hate it. we’re all witches and wizards. why the hate at all?” she asked softly. maybe it was optimistic but she hoped one day there would be true peace. “i wish i knew her,” she added. clary let out a chuckle looking up at him. “well good. cause i would like to stay human. it’s probably nicer than what izzy would have done,” she said playfully. 

“because everyone is judgmental and annoying. well, except certain people.” jace smiled, wrapping an arm around clary’s shoulder, and leaning over to kiss the side of her head. “she would be proud of you shorty,” he teased while grinning.

“Yeah, I don’t care enough to help you.” He admitted. 

“who said i needed your help bane ?? shouldn’t you be off with alec or something anyways,” jace mumbled.

“do you understand this?”

jace had his head on the top of the table, looking up for a moment to look at the textbook in front of him. “this class is ridiculous. so to answer your question, no.”

Magnus sat down, drink in hand as he listed to the person in front of him. “All that is so fascnitating but if you don’t mind, I’d rather finish this and go outside the castle. Unless you can find another way to distract me.” 

jace was scurrying around the common room trying to find his divination textbook, cursing under his breath when he couldn’t find it. “i swear if someone took my damn textbook, i’m hexing them.” he said a little too loudly.

“there’s just a lot going on right now,” isabelle smiled sadly but looked at her brother in a way she hoped he would understand meant she grateful that he was there for her. “head girl duties, classes, boys,” she trailed off. “i also finally told alec. about mom and dad.”

jace nodded in understanding, taking a drink from his glass. “i don’t know much about the head thing since i’m not one to be a model student like you and alec, but the classes i get. and girls for that matter, but since you brought it up..who do i need to hurt ??” he straightened up his posture at that, getting serious. “what he say ?? i know it was hard for you.”

alec chuckled, “are you kidding me? i was so angry izzy didn’t get sorted into slytherin with us, i tried to ask mom to sue,” he said, shaking his head at the actions of his twelve year old self. he cackled, “i thought change was good, herondale?”

the dark haired boy melted into jace’s arms, relieved at his reaction. he pulled away, one hand still on jace’s shoulder. “thank you,” he said, letting out a breath. “and we’re not anything, we’re just…hanging out,” alec shrugged. the taller boy immediately felt his face flush, “what?” he stammered. “why would you–does it matter?” he groaned, burying his face in his hands. “maybe, i was.”

“well, you are pretty stubborn. i was pretty pissed too, but now i don’t think she would even want to be a slytherin. our baby sister is doing just fine on her own.” jace rolled his eyes, pushing his brother playfully. “i will knock you into the water gideon.”

clary chuckled. “yeah okay,” she laughed softly. she smiled up at him and sighed. “thanks,” she breathed. “i just wish they understood. i never knew. i know i have a temper but i’d never do anything like what he does. though i did push one girl back who pushed me first. that doesn’t make me awful, does it?”

“i have found that a lot of wizards and witches in the wizarding world aren’t too open minded. valentine is something else. from what i heard growing up, your mother and father were very good people.” jace looked down at her with confusion. “merlin no, that makes you human. she did deserve it anyways i’m assuming.”

isabelle took a sip of her drink and looked to her brother when he sat down next to her. “oh, um i’m fine.” she smiled and sighed softly before shaking her head. “actually no. i’m a little stressed out i guess.”

“what’s up ?? you know you can tell me anything and i won’t speak a word.” he straightened up then, watching the other with concern written on his face.

“oh shut up,” he said. alec laughed, batting jace’s hand away. “it’s called change. sometimes people change. merlin, i hate you,” he said, rolling his eyes playfully. “just because you two have the minds of three year olds, doesn’t make me old,” he teased a grin, reaching up and ruffling jace’s blond hair. 

alec pursed his lips, staying quiet for a while. if he told isabelle, he could tell jace. he glanced at his friend–his best friend, licking his lips. “i don’t know if it will be the same. i’m scared that we won’t be close anymore. it’s stupid, but i have these dark thoughts, wondering if you’ll stick around after i tell you,” he admitted slowly. “i don’t…magnus isn’t my tutor. we’ve been, er, kissing and stuff because i’m gay.” he looked down, “i’m sorry i didn’t tell you before.”

“yes change is good, but if i remember correctly, you haven’t always been too find of change. i hate you too,” jace smiled knowing that neither one of them could ever hate the other. he was about to reply, before his eyes widened in shock as he tried to fix his perfectly kept hair. “ay lightwood watch the hair !!”

she hadn’t quite expected herself to make the first move either. but now that she knew he liked her, she was a little more comfortable. “well we wouldn’t want a hurt jace running around, now would we?” she teased back, glad to just stay next to him for a moment before they had to move. she laced their fingers together as they walked. “yeah. yeah i’m staying with her still. at least sometimes. some of the girls are still kinda weird,” she admitted. 

“i have an image to keep up, so probably not.” jace nodded as he listened, wanting nothing more than to rid her thoughts on the other idiotic students that they were around all the time. “they don’t know you. you’re in no way a monster like he is.”