S e l e n a

“I imagine so,“ Edison said, eyebrows lifting as Selena mentioned Wood & oncoming taste for orange blood. He couldn’t exactly blame him, but there wasn’t a whole lot fear struck into Edison’s heart at the idea. Perhaps it’d have been different if Wood was still keeping. Instead, Edison watched with peculiar interest as Selena jumped at the sound of a door opening. Nothing, however, followed it up. No one in management or in uniform followed the noise & Selena slid nonchalantly back. “About time,” Her bold grin garnered one from him as well. The shame was that it was happening now when Edison had evidently lost any moral fiber of his own instead of when they were kids & Selena could’ve used a bit of a fear of authority or burden of responsibility. “Someone’s gotta be…” Edison grinned despite his tone. Pushing his back against the wall, Edison straightened slightly, didn’t bother to look left or lean forward to check his blind spot & instead reached for Selena’s cloak to pull her half a step forward so he could plant his lips on hers. 

He lingered only as long as he dared before pulling away against the wall, surveying Selena & watching the hall out of the corner of his eye. “You know,” He sighed, “I’m not feeling all that hungry after all.”

Oliver Wood would be Selena’s last hope. His rage could carry the team through practices, but there was a very big chance that even he would be unable to overcome the lead that Chudley managed to pull out of their ass. Puddlemere would be towing a very narrow line, but Selena wholeheartedly believed that Wood could come back and manage their team the way he had in previous years. Losing another cup to Chudley was entirely unacceptable, even as she flirted with the team’s owner in the dim light of Edinburgh’s stadium. 

“Someone’s gotta be? You’re nervous enough for the both of us, so I’m not sure how I factor into this.” He’d always been the more rational one, and -- - more often than not - -- Selena had benefited from his ability to see consequences beyond the immediate future. At some point, that must’ve left a mark on her. If she’d been in a better mood, or if she’d had a bit too much fire whiskey, perhaps she would’ve told him as much. As it stood, she found it difficult to sing his praises when he was pulling her into him and pressing his mouth against hers. In the few seconds it took for Selena to realize what had happened, she managed to slide her hand up the plane of his chest and onto the side of his neck before he had pulled away. It was too much, she supposed, to expect him to take a bigger risk than necessary. Still, she chased his lips until he asserted that he was no longer hungry.

“You’re quickly making a habit of it,“ Edison said, too quick to stop himself. His lower lip scraped between his teeth to keep from grinning too wickedly as he looked innocently at the wall opposite. “You don’t need a reminder do you?“ Edison asked, fixing Selena with an amused gaze. “I thought it was impossible to let you forget it.“ Had that been how she’d worded it at some point in the past? Maybe not the precise wording, but it was in the same tune so he pressed on. “I cannot believe how thin your moral fiber is.“ Edison leaned his head gently into hers. “Perhaps I do,“ He answered wistfully when asked if he didn’t already have enough galleons. “Are there other motivators in this world?“ He asked, devious smile working its way back across his face. If there were, Orion would need to be notified ASAP. “Sorry,” He muttered in response to her warning, not giving the hall another glance. “Just looking.” He assured her.

“A favor?“ Edison chuckled. “Between friends.“ Edison repeated, looking incredulously down at her. “& yet - for some odd reason - I can’t imagine you doing the same for me.“ Edison raised a brow. “Ah, now the real reasoning sets in. I suppose I should take that as a compliment, but I have a feeling you’ll change your mind by tomorrow.“ Edison said, sounding unconvinced. “Once the press blows over, it’ll by right back to you tearing through the league with that confidence I so envy.” It was a much better way of saying: you’ll be straight back to finding a way to rake my ass over the coals come Monday.

I cannot believe how thin your moral fiber is. 

That was big talk coming from a single man playing grab-ass with a married woman in a hallway, but Selena wouldn’t risk pointing out the obvious when Edison had so casually leaned his temple against her crown. She was placated -- - entirely content in the fleeting moments of silence between his barbs - -- and she could’ve stayed that way if he hadn’t alluded to other forms of bribery. “I’m sure I could think of something more creative, but you’ve got to run off to have dinner with your parents. What a great son you are.” It occurred to her all at once that there might’ve been an alternative to having Edison whisked away when the clock struck twelve. “Can’t Orion go in your place? I know I smelled his pomade lingering in the hallway. If not him, then maybe Archer?” 

“A favor,” Selena reiterated. “Between friends.” He wasn’t wrong in saying that she wouldn’t do the same for him, but she also wasn’t in the kind of position where she would need to be asked to take a loss. Unwilling to admit that she had fallen so far beneath him, Selena let the point slide. Better to be the woman with no moral fiber than the woman who had to beg for any victory she could get her hands on. Backtracking, she decided, was the best way to go. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. Wood’s going to be out for blood. We’ll make up for this when the next match rolls around.” If Wood didn’t drink himself to death before then, at any rate. 

Feeling considerably more like room service than he’d expected, Edison’s mouth went thin as he considered the double prospects. No, he reminded himself, he’d come up with an excuse already. It was just a matter of letting them know he wouldn’t be attending. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Edison said, loftily. “Of course it’s hypothetical.” Edison smiled weakly. “I’m just saying, as a friend, I’d wait until I’m pitched against a better team. Wouldn’t look good, especially for you, to have beat you then turn around & lose to a team at the bottom of the league.” Edison inclined his head. Of course it wouldn’t, he reminded himself as Selena edged closer. “Not that I’d ever consider it.” He pointed out. 

“Not really of course. Besides,” Edison nodded his head towards the wall he was leaning against, beckoning Selena to his side so he could slip his arms between the wall & the small of her back. “How would I ever know you’re actually good for the money.” Edison grinned annoyingly, pulling Selena’s side closer to his & let his hand stay on her hip. “Is this what you’re resorting to?” He asked, looking down the hallway to his left. If anyone were to walk by they’d see only Edison leaning there & perhaps, if they were looking closely enough, Selena leaning just as lazily beside him & nothing more. “Paying to see me lose?”

“It doesn’t look good to lose to the Cannons, anyway.” Though he wasn’t entirely wrong. Better that Chudley came up short against a more deserving rival, although watching him face the backlash might’ve been worth the trouble that Selena would inevitably face as well. She was reminded again that the situation was entirely hypothetical, “It almost sounds like you’re trying to remind me that you’re a paragon of virtue and I’m the cheater who would actually go about trying to fix matches.” Though she had to admit the conversation would’ve taken an entirely different direction if Edison seemed game to throw himself and his team headlong into disrepute once again. 

“Don’t you have enough money as is?” She could’ve circled back to the salary Orion surely tossed his way, but Selena found it much easier to occupy the space beside him when she was beckoned. The press and players were far too busy participating in or avoiding the brawl that had broken out in the stadium, which left both Newf and Beaumont a moment alone. Though he’d managed to pluck up the courage to wrap his arm arounc her waist, Selena couldn’t help but notice the way he cast a glance down the hallway as soon as the opportunity presented itself. “Stop that. You’re going to make me nervous as well,” she warned. “I’m not paying to see you lose, per se. You could just consider it a favor between friends.” 

He certainly couldn’t be late. Not without an airtight excuse & even then he’d be treading on thin ice. He knew better, but somehow he relented. Throwing Orion under the metaphorical bus could be easy enough, but then his mother & father would be two sons short & more livid than before. It was difficult to reconcile, as a grown man, why he had to put so much effort into pleasing his parents, but the feeling was persistent. “I’ll find them & hedge out of it. They’ll kill me if I send a note.” Edison said, evidently making a decision. With that half-settled he was free to put more effort into the sarcastic wagers of illegalities. “Let me get this straight, you despise my team so much, you’d pay me to lose? To a team that’s not even yours? I could be wrong, & not to walk myself out of two hundred & fifty thousand galleons, but wouldn’t that weaken Puddlemere’s record?” Edison asked, cocking his head with a slight smile on his face that was always indulgent of just how clever he thought he was.

“Should I forge some kind of excuse?” Selena’s humor considerably brightened at the idea, “Or perhaps you’d like to hedge your bets on when you’ll be at dinner?” Arriving late was impossible, so she decided on a single drink with the team before she raided her hotel’s minibar. “I’d prefer you were in the hotel before and after, but I suppose I’d settle for one or the other,” she grinned as if the joke was original. There wasn’t much to be said about Edison’s situation, really. He’d be done with dinner when his parental figures allowed him to be. How could Selena argue? 

“I don’t even want to go so I know that you don’t want to,“ Edison left out the fact that he hadn’t asked for the familial meeting. Somehow, however, Orion had still managed to worm his way into conversation. “Me neither, but it’d be an unholy amount.” Edison wagered. “He does, doesn’t he?” Edison implored, annoyed more than before given Selena’s persistence. Fucking Orion. Perhaps he could get out of it. Something work related having come up. Edison looked around as his brain tried to produce a miracle. Settling on sighing instead, Edison blinked rapidly. “Depends,” He said, not completely sure if he was joking anymore or not.  “Throw out a number & I’ll tell you if your anywhere near where it needs to be.”

“I’m sure you could be late.” The suggestion was half-hearted. Selena had known the Beaumont family long enough to know that being late wouldn’t be tolerated, but that didn’t keep her from tearing her mind away from rushing to her room as quickly as possible. “Something about meeting a congratulatory press box,” she suggested. “You shouldn’t need more than ten minutes, anyway. I’m practically just a stop on the tour, since I’m only asking for a little time.”

Edison shook his head, eyes wide as if he were trying to shake the memory from his head. It certainly hadn’t been a good impression. “They’re the same.” Edison said simply. Self-righteous as ever. Donating time & galleons to whatever cause felt the most pertinent. Preening over one another in the manor day in & day out he imagined. “A long time.” Edison tacked on to her drawl despite he waving off the number. It only served to make him wonder when the last time He’d seen Selena’s parents was. Might’ve been Salem’s funeral. Choosing to avoid the memory, he was happily diverted as Selena brought Orion into the mix. “It could never be enough could it?” Edison asked matter-of-factly. “& he doesn’t deal with the finances, that’d be my job.” He added. “& I’m more than fair.” He grinned crookedly. He stared at her for a moment, lifting his chin slightly as if he were sizing her up. “The fact that you phrased it that way means you won’t offer me nearly enough. Shame really. Guess there’s no hope. Well, I did offer.”

“A long time,” she agreed halfheartedly. “Maybe I should show up to dinner and see how things are with them.” Even as a joke, the sentiment wasn’t convincing. All Selena remembered of Edison’s parents was what she learned from him during their school years. Whatever neuroses he suffered had been brought on by their expectations, so she refused to hold them in high regard. She supposed they felt the same way about her parents, who had quietly sided with the Death Eaters when the Second Wizarding War came to pass. Salem would’ve been the final nail in the coffin, though Selena would’ve eagerly jumped to her brother’s defense at the slightest provocation. Dinner, it seemed, wasn’t on the table for the Beaumont and Sinclair family. 

“… was that meant to be me?“ Edison asked, looking half offended & half incredulous. “Was that supposed to be an Irish accent? How long h’ve we been friends & that’s the best you’ve got?” Edison grimaced without restraint. “No time for celebration, I’m afraid.” Edison sighed. “It would appear I’m meeting my parents for dinner.” Edison blinked, exasperated. Fucking Orion. “But I’ve never been too keen on celebrating - so after that, if you’re not fishing Wood out of his pint…” Edison tilted his head, shoulder half lifting to meet it. “I don’t foresee my parents & I carrying on conversation past appetizers so that should be over quickly.” Edison added.

“That’ll boost confidence all around,“ Edison tried, despite the ring of finality in Selena’s tone. If ever there was a witch or wizard that was hard to steer into another direction, it was Selena Newf. “Throw it?“ Edison asked with a small laugh. “Depends,“ He started ruefully. “How much are you willing to pay?“

“I thought it was a decent accent!” She was on the verge of cracking a smile, but seemed suddenly aware of their location. With a bit of work, Selena coaxed a frown to bow her lips in the opposite direction while Edison explained his post-game plans. By the time he’d finished his sentence, the grimace on her face was genuine. “How are the Beaumonts, anyway? I haven’t seen them since...” Merlin, was she getting that old? “Never mind.” 

A lack of celebration was expected from a man who probably went to bed by nine, but Selena feigned surprise in an effort to spare his ego. A joke about his incredibly exciting life had nearly bubbled to the surface before he inquired as to her evening. “Wood can handle himself,” she ventured, unable -- - or perhaps unwilling - -- to keep a grin from pressing dimples into her cheeks. “I imagine I’ll be headed back to the hotel pretty quickly. I can suggest that my husband head home a night early. He’s not keen on Edinburgh, anyway.” 

Throwing a match was out of the question, theoretically, but an offer of payment gave Selena pause. “Does Orion not pay you enough, then? I thought being the COO of Beaumont Cloaks would be lucrative.” Not to mention the Cannons, but Selena was trying to keep them as far from her mind as possible. “I’m sure we could work something out. But if you lose, I’d rather it be to me.”

“Thank you so much,” Dawn replied politely, immediately sitting down. She looked around her for a split second at the room around them before addressing the other woman once more. “And in case you haven’t noticed, the dozens of other chairs are all taken.“ As though on cue the people around them resumed their loud chatter. She shifted her leg slightly.

“Evidently I came to witness you jinx a reporter,“ Edison said in a voice that was somewhere between amused & matter-of-fact. 

“It’s not like your lads got completely squashed; it was a good game.“ Edison rolled his shoulders back. The outcome had certainly lightened his mood, bringing him to beam rather than cordially sulk around a bit. “Gloat? Well now I’m offended as well.” Edison smirked. “Isn’t there solace in knowing you’ll win the next match?”Edison asked, an eyebrow raising. “Who’ve you got next week? Hollyhead? Bats?”

“it was a good game. Can you do me a favor and stop pretending to be so humble? It’s making me nauseous.” Though her impression of Edison was off by a kilometer and a half, Selena’s point had been made. A scowl that was meant both for the reporter and Edison himself was cast in the direction of the adjacent wall while Selena collected her thoughts. “Suppose you’ll be celebrating tonight, then? I imagine I’ll be losing Wood when he drowns himself at the pub.”

“No, I was going to ask if I could sit down because you’re currently standing in front of an empty chair, which you aren’t sitting in,” Dawn replied, snorting. “But I will make a note of buying a copy when it comes out.”

“There are dozens of chairs here. Has anyone ever warned you about the pitfalls of attention-seeking behavior?” A sizeable backward step managed to free enough space for Dawn to take the seat that she so clearly coveted. “Here you are. Go ahead, since it’s so important to you.”

Watching the would-be reporter curl into the fetal position there on the floor might’ve preserved more dignity than what transpired as soon as Selena began to talk. Instead, Edison watched, without adding any kind words, as the witch turned tail looking quite pale indeed. “That was rough to watch.” Edison said, still looking after the girl for a moment before she turned a corner to presumably cry or piece together her dignity. 

That was rough to watch.

“Not nearly as rough as today’s match.”  Selena couldn’t imagine a situation in which Edison would let her off the hook for running off at the mouth and subsequently falling flat on her ass, but she supposed stranger things had happened. He’d been nothing but a gentleman at press time -- - which, in all honesty, was far worse than watching him primp and preen for reporters - -- but she was very much aware that his tune would likely change as soon as they were behind closed doors. 

After a moment of careful consideration, she decided it best to give him the opportunity to throw her words back in her face before they were given even the smallest shred of privacy. Better get it over and done with than wait for him to emerge from her fireplace, half-drunk and covered in soot.  “Well then, what is it? Come to gloat? Go ahead, get it out of your system.”

The idea of breaking into the Shrieking Shack was nearly as absurd as the notion that they could do so without being caught. It had taken all of fifteen minutes before they were yanked from the building and practically pulled straight back to Hogwarts by their ears. Though Selena had laughed at the initial punishment of detention, her mirth was significantly diluted upon learning that both she and Edison would be barred from weekend trips for the remainder of the year. Spirited protests earned a longer sentence in the library, copying passages from Edison’s textbooks while their peers enjoyed a quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. 

Selena’s initial apology -- - or whatever passed as an apology from a girl who’d never said ‘I’m sorry’ in her life - -- had come in the form of chocolate frogs and pepper imps left with Edison’s youngest brother, but she sought to smooth the tensions even as they were stuck under the watchful eye of Irma Pince. “Detention’s really not so bad,” she whispered, head pointed toward her book while her quill worked slowly across the page. “It’s too cold for quidditch. Everyone’s probably going to end up in the infirmary with colds or some other nastiness.” Not them, though. They’d be stuck safely between stacks of textbooks, cleverly angled to hide any trace of camaraderie between them. “I’m having a great time, anyway.”