The Pleasure's Mine

Fabian screamed at a pitch uncommon to a teenage boy of his age as he quickly pulled his jacket to cover his head while his other arm tried to cover his midsection. “Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?” He asked. “I know I’m irresistible and all, but you could at least try to control yourself.”

Marlene smirked, her eyes travelling across his body subtly before looking him back in the eye. “Oh honey, it isn’t like your arse is bare for the whole bloody world to see, stop being so dramatic.” Her scottish accent was faint, and she leaned against the doorway with ease. “Trust, I’m restraining myself at this very moment. You’re just too irresistible, love. How ever do you do it?”

Fabian hesitated, looking at the mess before them. “Uh, I think Filch would find that appropriate enough to take my head, for sure. Should we make a break for it?”

Fucking bloody hell, Mary. Of all people, she had managed to upset Fabian, a feat which was nearly impossible. Fantastic, you’re now a wonderful person. As much as she wanted to stay under the blankets until he went away and continue ignoring everything and anyone, she slowly lowered it down to reveal from the neck up. “Sorry,” she muttered, not particularly keen on apologies as of late. ‘I’m just…it’s not been a good day, Fabian.” Well, it’s been a down-right shitty year so far, but that wasn’t his problem to hear or take on.

Fabian was many things, but he was never a horrible friend--at least that’s what he thought. He wasn’t very good with reading through social cues, but he knew when he usually wasn’t wanted. Scratch that. He knew when someone as crazy and fun as Mary had had enough. He should have known better. Her father was gone, and she had every right to mourn his death. But what kind of friend would he be if he just let her wallow in her misery? Call him paranoid, but he wasn’t sure what Mary would do when left to her own devices, and he didn’t want to imagine the possiblities. “It’s alright, I understand. Do you want me to get you anything? More blankets, some hot cocoa?”

“Was that supposed to happen…?”

Fabian hesitated, looking at the mess before them. “Uh, I think Filch would find that appropriate enough to take my head, for sure. Should we make a break for it?”

SEND ME A SENTENCE FOR MY MUSE'S REACTION,

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

They arrive at the secret door to the kitchens and Fabian holds the door open for Remus. “After you, of course.”

“My mum’s always said “Eat and you’ll feel better.” And no one argues with Mum.”

“Fabian,” she growled, wishing that someone would just listen to her for once. “I don’t care about old times sake. I don’t want to make a fort, I don’t want to be in a fort, I just want to stay here in bed. Is that too damn much to ask for?” What right did she have, doing events such as these when her father was dead? When she had left Amos, neglected her friends? It was best to stay here, she felt safe here.

His eyes widened as the objects he had been levitating stilled in their movements. All he wanted to do was to make her feel better--hell, maybe even make her forget for a day. He knew he couldn’t bring her father back, or help her fix any other problems she might be dealing with, but this was how they used to cope with failed tests and bad days. It was like he had lost a part of his friend when all hell broke lose during the holidays. His breath caught in his throat. “I--” He began, lowering the objects to the ground. “I’m sorry, Mare-bear. I was just--I was trying to help, I--”

“Well that sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?” Remus answered, perking up a little. Food always made him feel better. “Been a rough few weeks, eh?”

“Food is the key to all your problems, mate. Mark my words,” he said, grinning. “That’s an understatement.”

“Otherwise known as the year every boy discovered their hormones,” Marlene whispered back, giggling quietly. “I remember breaking someone’s nose and getting a detention for like two weeks, because of it.”

“Girls took a while, sure, but you managed to come out strong just in time,” he said, nudging her with his elbow. “I distinctly remember that, seeing as I was the victim in that excursion. Good thing too because we wouldn’t have established this great respect for each other, after.”

“Okay, come on then.” Marlene rolled over with a small groan. “Nah, just want to stay in bed all day. Don’t need anything else, I’m okay.”

Fabian grinned as he toed off his shoes and snuggled under the blanket. “This reminds me of third year when I used to sneak in the female dormitories with my broom,” he whispered to her.

“Well there isn’t much to know, you basically covered it,” Amos muttered, appreciative that Fabian was being so cordial about the whole situation. The reason he wasn’t moping in the common room was to avoid all the typical people that would harass him. “Well so tell me something good that’s happening,” he said, trying to change the subject. “Have you done any fun pranks recently?”

“Wow, my skills do precede me,” Fabian mused with a smile. He wasn’t much of a fan of the studious Ravenclaw, but he could spot a cry for help anywhere. The bloke needed a good supply of whiskey, stat, and he knew just the place to satisfy the Ravenclaw’s needs. “I’ve recently charmed the toilet in our dorm to explode red paint upon contact, though I didn’t expect Gideon to be the victim. Here I thought my brother would be more clever.”

“Doesn’t it get annoying if I ask every time though? And besides, I was sure you were Fabian — Oh, tolerance too high now? I don’t know if I can sympathize with that.”

“Nah, we’re used to it. But I really am, Gideon,” he said, laughing. “Stick around, and I could teach you a few things.”

“Gideo–Fabian. I assume whatever cure you used was not as delicious as mine.”

“I’m Gideon, by the way, thanks for asking. And I was referring to my inability to actually get hungover, love.”

“Never call me that again, it’s Alecto” She hissed turning back to him quickly. With one flick of the wand she lit a small fire at the arm of his dress robes, a small evil smile playing at her lips. It really wasn’t New Years Eve if she didn’t do something illegal, plus he would never rat on her, he was always in too much trouble himself. Watching as he tried to bat the growing flame out she walked away, stashing her wand back into her purse, saying loudly to the students who had been staring, “He fell on a candle, somebody help him merlin.”

Fabian’s eyes widened as his arm had caught on fire. He tried to pat it off to no avail. He yelped as he laid on his back and tried to roll it out, not entirely sure what they really meant when they said ‘stop, drop and roll’. It was when the fire had grown quite considerably that he realized that he had a wand. He rolled his eyes at his own incompetence and doused his arm with an Aguamenti charm. He sighed as he assessed the damage. Unless he could repair this, he definitely wouldn’t be getting his deposit back on the rented suit. Honestly, some people were just so sensitive. “I’m fine--Ted, I got this,” he said as the Hufflepuff approached him. “Show’s over, folks, enjoy the rest of your evening!”

“Gone,” she muttered, still buried under a flurry of pillows. She had planned on practically living there, and she’d be damned if Fabian changed that. “Blankets are for sleeping and forts are dumb and I hate the snow.” Which she used to love - just like her dad had. “I’m not getting up.”

“That can’t be true,” Fabian said, his smile wavering slightly. It seemed as though his friend had been through quite a lot, and he just didn’t know what to do. “You can’t possibly believe that--come on! We can build a fort around you,” he said, grinning. He took out his wand and waved it around her. “Wingardium leviosa,” he said, levitating pillows and blankets around her unmoving form and slowly closing the curtains back. “Just like old times’ sake.”