The Chameleon

Zoe shook her head and shrugged, turning her eyes up to the sky with a thoughtful hum as she considered it. Living in a world where losing control of her abilities was more physically embarrassing than privately scary and unfair to others. 

Randall was reminded of how precious his status as a metamorphagus was to him after any extended mentioning of it. Not only was it something he was prideful of, but it was an edge he had over other members of the Puri. It made him useful and desirable, two of his favorite things. 

He smiled sincerely as he watched the initial disappointment on her face transform into sheer amazement, a feeling Randall never got sick of granting others. 

Fletcher wasn’t really up for another fight. It was just so draining; with everything going on, he was just so tired. But then Randall reached out to touch his face. Of course the Hufflepuff flinched; it was unexpected contact, and the older boy’s hand was surprisingly gentle. He didn’t break eye contact, as his skin burst into goosebumps where his hand trailed and he had swallow whatever hesitation was starting to overcome.

“You mean to the cats, right? We were talking about cats…? Get it? Throw your advice to the—never mind.” It was a good opportunity for a joke, but ill-timed nonetheless. Shrugging, she sat down to watch the chess pieces, just in time to see the pawn fall. “I suppose it’s for the best.”

He scoffed at the joke, rolling his eyes. “Leave comedy to the professionals, darling. You aren’t doing it any justice.” His lips curved into a thin smile upon the last of his opponent’s pieces shattering across the board, a signal of victory for him. “If it is best for you, it is for the best. In my so humble opinion.”

The boy’s ears perked up at the mention of a favor. The memory of what she was speaking of came to him quickly and he remembered it vividly. He didn’t often allow others to be in a position of power over himself, but he was more than willing to assist his newfound friend of sorts.

Her fear that Randall might not hold up to his words that she thought might have been spoken in jest seemed to ease slightly as he was eager to hear it. “I’ve never been one to really play pranks or do things like that…But I think it’s time that’s changed. The only issue is that I hope you wouldn’t mind possibly getting in a cross with two of your roommates?” Helen offered an innocent smile.

A toothless grin sprawled it’s way across the Slytherin’s face before he laughed in a huff. “Helen, one of the few joys I partake in is tormenting my roommates. When they deserve it of course, no foul play.” Randall wondered if his lying was as convincing as his morphing.

“So you’re in perfect control? All the time?” She asked with vivid interest. If he wasn’t going to ask her more questions in a timely fashion, she couldn’t be expected to wait on him. She was burning with curiosity. She was playing her hand a bit too openly now, she knew. It was a touch too obvious how the question reflected on her own abilities. “If so, has that always been the case?” 

Shreya might have rolled her eyes a little at that sentiment, but for a moment, she might have actually believed Randall. “I’m pretty sure she kisses that cat in places you wouldn’t want to be touched until the first date Randall. So it’s a good thing you’re saying no, for once. I might be mean, but I’m not pimp you out like that.” Shreya cringed. God no, she didn’t need that image in her head. “You know what? I’m going to own up to it. Besides, the cat is probably out doing it’s thing, you know? Being it’s own self, rocking out with other cats. Right?”

“You must be exhausted constantly from worrying about such minimal things, darling. My suggestion is to let the scene play out without interference. If the cat wants to come back, it will do so on it’s own.” Randall went back to playing wizard chess against the board, his knight knocking another into several pieces. “But knowing you, you’ll likely throw my well-intentioned advice to the dogs.”

“My tongue will stay where it needs to stay.” Fletcher shrugged, setting up his parchment and ink well, as he tried searching for his quill. Briefly wondering why Randall wouldn’t exactly look at him, the Hufflepuff touched his nose for an instant. It was good as new, but if he stroked it at the right spot, there was a place where it wasn’t quite right. Like a momento from the moment or something. Catching himself staring absently at Randall’s newspaper, he quickly averted his gaze and straightened up.

Curious to see how the boy would proceed, Randall only allowed one eye to pop up from above the paper, just in time to see the Hufflepuff’s fingers reaching for his schnoz. Much like a snake does with a mouse, Randall decided to play with his prey.

It wasn’t unusual to find Hiro outside his dorm or common room. In fact, it was rare to actually find him in them. He wanted to spend as much time away from the hassle that is his housemates as possible, and what better way to do that then a nice walk outside? It was still cold out, so he knew there’d be much fewer people wandering the grounds. 

Randall let his head fall back onto the stone wall behind him, half laughing to agree with Hiro. “I most often enjoy the seclusion of my common room, but it has been infested with groups of the younger children in useless study groups. Doing more idle talk than bookwork.”

It was exciting. Not one part of Helen was regretting anything she was going to ask. She didn’t know the last time she pulled anything like this and could only hope everything would work out. And asking Randall to be a part of this– She was trusting him fully. She knew before she’d thought he might’ve been linked to Puri activities or something, but as she slowly got to know him, she found more of a friend in him.

The boy’s ears perked up at the mention of a favor. The memory of what she was speaking of came to him quickly and he remembered it vividly. He didn’t often allow others to be in a position of power over himself, but he was more than willing to assist his newfound friend of sorts.

cheap thrills | helen and randall

The Slytherin boy had just finished testing a rather nasty green potion on the weeds that grew abundantly about the courtyard. To his delight, mere drops of the concoction was enough to clear out each and every crevice of the squared off area. As it was one of his favorite places to sit and contemplate, Randall couldn’t have it appearing anything shy of decent.

“I don’t really care what you think of anything, actually. I had a lot of time to think about that.” Fletcher was calm; surprisingly channeling Donald’s coping mechanism. “I’m going to do some work here, and you can read your Daily Prophet. Unless you want to start another fight, I’m alright over here.”

“For someone with such a handsome face, you sure do ruin it when you open that mouth of yours.” Randall flipped the page, still refraining from actually looking at Fletcher. “You may stay I suppose. If you keep that tongue in check. As in, trapped inside your mouth.”

“You are a heartless monster, aren’t you? You’re going to find cat litter on your bed one day and I will whisper ‘Karma’ in your ears, Chen.” What was it with kids and their attachment to pets anyway? Shreya owned a goldfish when she was their age, and she was fine without it. Sitting back down on the couch, her mind whizzed in the many directions she could still run from the scene. “Do you reckon we could just duplicate a cat or something?”

“My dear, Shreya, your words hurt me. And yes, contrary to popular belief, I can feel the sting of pain.” Randall understood the bond between humans and their animal companions, Sher Khan being one of the closest allies he possessed. What he didn’t understand was how someone else’s lost animal was any of his concern. “Are you capable of doing so? I can mimic a cat’s features, but not entirely. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. I’d end up some play thing for one of those nasty first years.”