" LILY " prefect duties? to hell with them!

[BEAU MASON WEASLEY]

Haggling with anyone wasn't Beau's strong point. Haggling with someone else about his prefect duties wasn't his strong point, either. He took his prefect duties seriously but ever since the Halloween Ball with Lily.. he shook his head and sighed, looking at the ceiling in the Gryffindor Tower as the weather raged on outside. Beau had somehow managed to get the rest of the week off - as long as he took double prefect shifts next week. How he had gotten that, Beau wasn't exactly sure but as long as he got some time to find and talk to Lily Carmichael, he wouldn't care if he was slapped with triple prefect duty. The clock in the common room struck nine pm, and with a sigh he got up, shaking the cobwebs from his head.Beau had been laying around in that chair since seven thirty, since he had somehow gotten double prefect duty next week.

He shrugged on a heavy sweater and decided that he would go down to the kitchens, see if he could persuade a house elf to bake him some cookies or something; bring them to Lily and see if she'll forgive him for practically abandoning her after the Ball. He snorted at himself and ran a hand through his dark hair, wondering how he had been so luky to grab his mother's genes instead of his father's. Travelling down the staircases, Beau had slipped into prefect mode once again as he caught a few students out of their common room; dinner had only ended an hour ago and still he gave them warnings. Years of looking after younger cousins helped him perfect this role.Finally, after climbing down multiple stairs, Beau found himself entering the dungeon realm, the dank coolness of the air swirling around him.

He tickled the pear - seriously, would they ever change that? - and entered the kitchens, glad to see that the usual mass of house elves were busy cleaning. Only four of them approached Beau, squawking and squealing about 'Master Weasley this' and 'would Master Weasley want some of that' and all of that. "Please guys, just some warm chocolate chip cookies, if you can." Beau asked kindly, as the house elves scattered, leaving Beau to meander around the kitchen, picking up warm scraps and tossing them into the bins. He always wondered what happened to the left over food. Was it fed to the creatures in the Forbidden Forest? Given to the sick in some mixture? Used as food for the Squid?

"Here Master Weasley! Cookies!" A house elf shreiked as he handed a plate piled high with chocolate chip cookies. A second platter came in as well, and Beau found himself with too many cookies to handle. "Oh, thanks so much." The elves left and soon Beau was left staring at the piled high plates. Picking one up he bit into it carefully, smirking with the still warm chocolate chips melted almost instantly in his mouth. Now, if only he could hold onto enough of them to tempt Lily Carmichael out of her common room ... if she was even in her common room.

[LILLIAN PATIL CARMICHAEL]

The Hufflepuff common room was eerily quiet for nine o’clock. Usually in was bustling with people finishing up their homework, or just socializing, but there was a hush over the whole campus today. The nights they had spent in the Great Hall waiting for the storm to pass were burned into their memories; although it was fun, it was not an experience that Lily wanted to repeat. She was the only person in the room, besides third years that were busy making paper airplanes. She shifted herself in her beanbag restlessly, essay perched precariously on her knees. Scratching out a markedly subpar final line, she got up, straightened her Hufflepuff uniform, and admonished them more harshly then was necessary. They hadn’t really been doing anything wrong, but she was in a bad mood, worsened by the weather.

She felt a stab of guilt, but it was her fault for always being so soft on them, she realized. Lily could be quite the pushover if you manipulated her correctly. It was hard being mean to little kids, and she wondered whether that meant she was bad or good at her prefect duties. Rolling up the parchment, she stashed it in her bag. Of course, she couldn’t blame all of her sucky mood on the weather. It was hard to admit, but she was still slightly miffed that Beau wouldn’t come find her, and she wasn’t direct enough to send him an owl, or talk to one of his friends, even. That and Quidditch, though the two were connected. He was the captain of the Gryffindor team, expected to win against Ravenclaw in the match coming up. She pulled on a lavender sweater and fretted with her hair. She glanced furtively around the common room, praying she wouldn’t be caught. It wouldn’t do if a prefect was caught sneaking around at night. Plus, she didn’t really want people knowing that she was going out to pilfer some treats from the kitchens. That’s what they were there for, right?

She exited the common room with its circular windows, its gleaming bronze and the interesting plant specimens that wiggled around ominously in their pots. Sometimes they danced, sometimes they sung, but tonight they seemed to be shivering, and Lily could relate. The normally warm and bright common room was definitely affected by the storm outside. She swung open the still life painting, and walked down the short corridor to the main hallway. The Hufflepuff wing of the castle was definitely the most secure, no non-Hufflepuff had been here since practically the creation of the school. She pushed aside the fake barrel, carefully not to send the whole stack of them crashing down. Veering left, she felt her mouth water as she smelled chocolate chip cookies. The scent was more intense than it should have been though, as she was still a good few paces away from the kitchen.

She must have been extremely preoccupied because she didn’t notice until she was almost on top of him that Beau was walking towards her, carrying two platefuls worth of cookies. She felt a blush rise on her cheeks. She had been searching the school passive aggressively for him, and he appeared when she was the least presentable. “Oh, h-hi Beau,

[/color]” she spluttered, trying to regain her footing. “Do you need a little help carrying those?[/color]” she asked politely, trying hard not to smile. She couldn’t help but wonder where he was going with all those desserts. Lily had a massive sweet tooth, and she wanted to follow him wherever he was going.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[BEAU MASON WEASLEY]

Beau waited for the cookies, the different smells of Hogwarts kitchens making his nose scrunch and his mouth water at the same time. How these amazing house elves did it, Beau would never know. He looked around the cramped yet spacious looking room before the platters were delivered to him. He thanked the elves and left the kitchens, mind full of thoughts that hadn't actually occurred to him since before he left the common room. He popped another cookie into his mouth, mind travelling faster than his feet were. Beau's mind was practically riddled with Quidditch and homework, when his next prefect shift was and all that lovely stuff. It didn't help that the dungeons were still under some minor surveillance in case the anti-leaking charms wore off.

Beau paused to readjust his robes, mind now shifting from 'serious!Beau' to 'relaxed!Beau', Since Violet's attack and the crappy weather, it seemed as if the seventh year would never get a break. It didn't help that he hadn't seen Lily Carmichael since the Halloween Ball, either. He had been neglecting their budding friendship and he knew that she probably wouldn't be pleased with him if they ran in to each other. That was why Beau was coming with sweets; he remembered their 'date' at Hogsmeade, and if memory served him right, she enjoyed chocolate. His heart began to flutter as anxiety rose from the shallow pits of his stomach. Would she forgive him? Would Beau be single until he died? Did he want her as much as she didn't want him?

His mind came to a crashing halt as he bumped into the one person he had missed since the Ball. Lily. She was apologizing and asking if he needed help; Beau just couldn't seem to get past the fact that she looked stunning in this light. "Oh, Lily no, it's fine. Don't worry about it." He replied casually, as if bumping into people was as natural as breathing. Beau smiled at her before offering the platter to her. "Cookie? Freshly baked by the house elves, per request." He said, hoping she'd take his peace offering; the Weasley would understand if she was mad, though.

[LILLIAN PATIL CARMICHAEL]

It was odd to think that soon, very soon, Lily and Beau would meet on the Quidditch pitch. Some of her teammates had expressed concerns, that perhaps that she would be reluctant to score against him. In the warm brightness of the Hufflepuff common room, it was easy to vehemently deny that she would go any easier on him than say, Zahara Crabbe, the Slytherin keeper. But now, pondering it in the dim but comfortable corridors of the basement, she was a little unsure. It would be hard, certainly, to look into Beau's handsome face and want him to feel pain, for a goal on him would certainly not be a pleasant experience. She hated that she had to take the active role in this. If she was easy on him, he would think that she was helplessly in love with him, and might take advantage of her in other ways, although she doubted that of him. But if she played with the same intensity she always did, he might think her a callous bitch. She wanted to talk to him about it, make sure that nothing on the Quidditch pitch would translate into hard feeling in all other sectors of life, but she didn't want to seem presumptuous, or whatever that would make her.

As they bumped into each other, Lily was rather stunned by the grace with which he handled it. If it was her, she would have probably snapped at the other person, their fault or no, and pointed to her prefect badge. But he seemed relaxed, which was surprising considering all the stress he had on his shoulders. Not only did he have the usual seventh year mess of schoolwork and Quidditch and prefect duty, all of which Lily barely juggled, his family was currently going through a crisis, if the grapevine was reliable. Apparently Violet Weasley, his sister, was attacked by a fellow student, the name of which the headmaster wasn't revealing. That would be terrible, and Lily knew that Beau was extremely close with his family. The whole Weasley clan seemed to populate half of the school, and they were all so affectionate with each other. Lily was jealous of them, seeing as her sister didn't seem to give a rat's ass about her.

"Why thank you,

[/color]" she said graciously, lifting a round, golden cookie off the platter and nibbling a corner. It was heaven, not scalding but still warm, with just the right proportions of chocolate to cookie. She smiled up at him, wondering if he ventured down here just for her. But that was silly. She was being childish, but he hadn't come and sought her out since the Halloween Ball. Maybe they had something, but it had been quashed by the ever-growing pressure of "grown-up" life. "So how have you been holding up, Mr. Weasley?[/color] she asked, mumbling a bit around her cookie. As far as please-forgive-me-I-was-a-dolt gifts went, this was definitely more than adequate.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[BEAU MASON WEASLEY]

Beau’s favourite pastime was taking a back seat in the jumble of his life. Family always came first; that was who he was. Friends and school came at a close second, and personal always came last, never once thinking of himself only of others. Then again, that was how he was raised; in a family of four where your father worked incredibly long hours and your mother could only take so much before she too had to work... Being selfless just came naturally. That was probably why Quidditch was so far back and not on the front burner like it had been last year. Besides, this year he was only co-captain, not full captain like he was last year. Beau looked at Lily and sighed inwardly; she had gotten prettier since he had laid eyes on her before, and he wasn’t just thinking that because he felt like a tool for not trying to reach out to her. But with Violet’s attack and the crap load of school work he was still attempting to re-do or just start...

As Lily lifted a cookie to her mouth, Beau was glad that he had taken the risk of not bumping into her, even though her common room was right there. He enjoyed her company and he was sure that within the mass of mixed emotions he had from the attack and from the school work pile that was steadily growing on his bed, there was something there, something positive there for Lillian Carmichael. Whether it was because she was similar to him – Quidditch junkies, family responsibilities, Prefects – or whether it was because she in herself was so different, he wasn’t sure. But Beau Weasley knew he liked Lily, and when or if he ever actually admitted that to her would be... a surprise to himself. He cleared his throat as the thoughts swirled, and he quickly allowed Lily to steer where this meeting would go.

“I’m doing... alright, I suppose.” Beau admitted truthfully. He was angry, hurt and spiteful all rolled into one whenever he thought about whoever did what they did to his sister. But, Beau couldn’t let those emotions control him, because those would become his downfall. “After Violet’s attack I took a day off from school and now that I’m back it’s as if I missed a week.” Beau chuckled, referring more to the homework he was bluntly ignoring. He wasn’t going to tell that to Lily, though. “Victoire was the one that talked me out of school – she can get me to do anything, that one.” Beau said fondly of his cousin, she was closer to him in both age and in maturity. But what he had said was true; the blonde Weasley could talk Beau into – or out of – anything. It was slightly intimidating. He picked up another cookie before setting the plate down on the ledge in the wall, smirking at it’s contents.

“What about you? How’ve you been, Lily?” Beau probably should have apologized for not being there after the Halloween Ball, but with so much stuff happening, he just couldn’t find the time for her. He was also slightly anxious of being around her, should he say something like ‘hey I like you,’ or something equally as damming. Not that being in love was damming... was he even in love with the pretty – beautiful – Lily Carmichael? “Are you going to watch the match? Typical, how Gryffindor’s get the first match most years.” Beau resorted to chuckling again, the cookie beginning to go cold in his hand.

[LILLIAN PATIL CARMICHAEL]

She was glad that she had bumped into Beau and not someone else. She had happened upon Cora earlier in the week, and they had a nice chat, but she didn’t feel really that comfortable. Although she was Cordelia were certainly friends, they were competitors as well, although they were on the same team. Even though they didn’t play the same position, the scouts didn’t care. They would probably only pick the best on the team. It was Lily’s dream to play for the Holyhead Harpies, because who needed men anyway, but it could be crushed if the younger girl got too much of an advantage over her. She was glad she didn’t bump into her sister, and that thought felt almost sacrilegious, standing next to Beau. Beau valued his family more than anything, and it was certainly apparent. Lily and her twin had a wonderful, typical twin relationship before Hogwarts: best friends, but better ‘cause they were family. But when she was sorted into Hufflepuff and her sister, Slytherin, a tension built between them, one that has only escalated as the years passed.

Besides, Beau was really quite handsome and he brought cookies. Lily couldn’t think of a better type of person. She wasn’t really picky with her lovers, which won her a rather bad reputation, but he might as well be a dream, or something equally corny. He was a family man, a gentleman, and he worked hard, whether it be Quidditch, or schoolwork. She really felt something for him, a fluttering in her stomach when he was around, unpleasant yet glorious all at once. She wasn’t going to be the first to admit it, though. If he felt the same, he had to draw courage from his chivalry and just out and say it. She wasn’t even sure, of course, if he liked her, more than a friend. She had heard that he had lost all interest in women after a particularly rough breakup with a previous girlfriend.

“All right is better than bad,

[/color]” she said, cautiously. He probably wasn’t okay at all, and Lily wondered if she should have even brought it up. “Well, you certainly deserved a mental health day.[/color]” She took a couple slow steps towards him. He looked worn out, probably from the combination of the schoolwork and the guilt. It wouldn’t exactly be survivors’ guilt, but it could be something similar. Beau probably wished that he could have been the one attacked, his little sister perfectly safe. “Oh yeah, I’ve heard she’s a real spit-fire.[/color]” Toire Weasley was one of those people you just wanted to be around, admit it or not. She was silly, but sincere, and Lily admired that in her, although they hadn’t formally met. She swallowed the last crumbs of her cookie, eying the platter that Beau had placed on the edge, and deciding that one was definitely enough. They were decadent, but they were huge, and Lily was feeling full enough.

She leaned back against the wall, sliding down it until she was sitting on the cold floor. It was only nine, nine-thirty but she was getting a bit tired. NEWTs were no joke, that was for sure. “I’ve been doing well,[/color] she said, after thinking for a few seconds. “Missed you insanely, though,[/color]” she added with a grin, only half joking. “Of course I’m coming to the match! Gotta scope out the competition, you know,[/color]” she said, mock-conspiratorially. She really didn’t want to think about competition will Beau Weasley, but it was inevitable, wasn’t it? “I’m sure that’s just Professor Potter’s unconscious favoritism.[/color]” She gave a small shrug, and titled her head backwards against the wall.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[BEAU MASON WEASLEY]

Alright was better than bad, but was Beau honestly beginning to keep things from Lily? Should he just come out and tell her he was stressed out to the max and was worried about Violet and if she would be able to make it on the match next week or whenever? Beau didn't even have a replacement for her and he certainly couldn't take her spot. He sighed then, running a hand through his hair. Maybe he would just tell her, and let all of this nonsense go. But he couldn't; it wasn't in his nature to be like this and he wasn't going to let a few bad things tear him apart, even though it was still slowly consuming him from the inside out.

Nodding at her, Beau rested against the wall and tucked his hands into his shirt, thinking back to that day at the lake when they intially met and became friends. It was a chilly day and the cool air in the dungeons reminded him of that day; the day that practically forced Beau to open his once closed eyes to the world of love. Love. Could they even attempt to be a couple? Would his family be okay with it? Would her's? Did she have siblings like he did? Did he even consider to ask her any of these questions? Beau Weasley was sure he loved Lily, but he wasn't sure if telling her that he did was the best idea right now.

Lily brought up Toire being a spit fire and it was all Beau had not to burst into crazy laughter. Spitfire didn't even cover it. She had all the fury of the Veela and all the persuasion of the Weasley's. "Yeah, I guess she can be," Beau chuckled, allowing the moment to faze him from his dark thoughts. He couldn't let them ruin whatever time he had with Lily before the break, the match and possible ... whatever else he had going on. As she sat down, Beau cast her a quizzical look before he took the plate and moved with her, sitting beside her, his arm touching her's. He balanced the plate on his knees and was slightly discouraged to think that sooner rather than later these cookies would go cold.

When Lily said she missed him, his heart pounded faster against his ribcage. She missed him? That was certainly different, "Missed you, too." He replied honestly, a smile coming onto his lips. The conversation switched and again he chuckled at her, reaching over to wrap an arm around her. "Good, I wouldn't want you missing me in action," Of course there was a slightly underlying tone there but Beau was far too much the gentleman to let that effect what he was saying. He squeezed in closer and smiled, before resting the side of his head against her's. "Uncle Harry didn't have a hand in picking the teams, apparently. I dunno who did." Beau shrugged then.

He lifted his head from hers and put the platter of cookies off to the side. Beau turned to face her and gently took her chin in his hand and tilted her head, pressing his lips to her's. He let the kiss last for a few seconds before he broke it, and looked into her eyes. "...I'm sorry if you... if you didn't want that," Beau then apologized, unsure of if that was the right thing to do, or say.

[LILLIAN PATIL CARMICHAEL]

It was a rather uncomfortable position to be in, she realized. She liked Beau too much to hate not being with him, but couldn’t command the courage to out and say it. She thought she had been explicit enough, always finding excuses to touch him or get close to him or talk to him in the hallways. She had probably come off as desperate, but that’s what she pretty much was. Not desperate for just any kind of human touch, but just really Beau’s. In her group of friends, she was the one always labelled as the whore, her tastes were not the most discriminate. But she felt her attraction to anyone else wane the more she got to know Beau. If that wasn’t the purest kind of infatuation, she didn’t know what was.

It concerned her, how haggard Beau looked. As the oldest in his set of siblings, he was probably not used to turning to people for help, but instead, having others turn to him. Lily could relate, kinda. Sometimes she felt that people took advantage of her willingness to lend a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on that no one would listen to her grievances. Not that she had many, of course. Her life was pretty damn perfect, in light of what happened to Violet. “You’re still staying for the break, right?

[/color]” She had agreed to help him with his Herbology work, making a spur-of-the-moment decision not to accompany her parents to the Swiss Alps this winter. It would be pretty embarrassing if he had forgot about that and made other plans. Then she would be stuck at school, with the majority of the Weasley family to taunt her lack of Beau, adding insult to injury.

He sat down beside her, and she felt his arm against hers. She at once felt comfortable, even more calm than usual in a place she considered her home, but at the same time, she felt her heart hammer and Nargles flit around in her stomach. Her mouth was dry, and she wondered how long it had been that just being close to Beau set off these behaviors. She leaned her head against his shoulder in an action that felt both familiar and thrilling. They had sat, after all, in similar positions both during their trip to Hogmeade and that afternoon by the Black Lake, when they commiserated their stress and worried about their seventh year. She had felt them really click, that day in September, and a man - boy - man that was just Hogwarts myth to her became a real, living, gorgeous being. Her heart ached a little when he said that he missed her too, and it jumped a little with the smile that curved his lips. “That’s good, or else I would look quite the fool.[/color]” She matched his smile, slightly shaking her loose hair away from her face.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,[/color]” she said, truthfully. “Of couse, I expect you to return the favor.[/color]” Her smile turned into something a little more wicked. She watched as he moved the platter of cookies of his knees. She frowned a little, wondering if he was going to get up and leave. At least, until he grasped her head in his hands and Lily didn’t have time to think before he was kissing her. It was over too fast, and he was apologizing, and Lily couldn’t find the words to say that this is what she had wanted. It was what she wanted. So she just leaned back into him, pressing her lips to his, aligning their bodies on the hard floor of the basement corridor. Breaking away slightly, she flicked her hair over her shoulder and looked into his beautiful deep, brown eyes.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[BEAU MASON WEASLEY]

Beau had been thinking of Lily since the first day they had met formally. Sure, they had seen each other before in the halls, or in one of those rare double classes with a second house, and sure Beau was sure he hadn’t given her much thought, but could you blame him? Not only was he one of the eldest students at Hogwarts, but he was the head of the family, practically. But, now that he was here, with her, in the chill of the basement, nothing could change how he felt. Beau was sure that – since Amelia – that this was what he was supposed to feel. This was what love was. Wasn’t it? Beau didn’t spend too much time thinking about it though; he couldn’t place his thoughts on too many things at once. Not because he was dumb, but because he liked to focus on one thing at a time.

“Hmm?” He murmured, before the Gryffindor nodded. “Yes, still staying over the break. Herbology still hates me,” Beau chuckled, the ghost of a laugh lining his throat. Being close to Lily still had its novelty and still gave him butterflies. His arm was pressed against hers and her warm body kept the chills from the basement away. Beau sighed slightly, smiling at her. As she spoke, Beau smiled again. Would his family be alright with him dating again? Sure he wasn’t serious with Amelia but when she left it crushed him. Could he expect that from Lily? ‘Think positively, Beau.’ He thought to himself, as she said that she would have looked silly if he hadn’t missed her. “I always miss you, I’m just not very good at admitting it.”

The brunet wouldn’t miss her match for the world. How would he face her when or if they had to face off against one another? Beau obviously wouldn’t give her a break, even if she was adorable. The kiss had been innocent enough, and when she pressed her lips against his once again, Beau moved his hand up to cradle the back of her head. Lily was close to him and the intoxicating warmth set off a set of alarming feelings within him, feelings he hadn’t felt in a few years. When the kiss broke, Beau caught her eyes in his and he smiled meekly. “... You’re going to be here, over the break... right?” That was all Beau could come up with. “I mean, I know you are. Merlin I’m bad at this,” Beau chuckled again, dropping his hand from behind her head to caress the soft skin on her neck.

[LILLIAN PATIL CARMICHAEL]

She curled up, head resting on his shoulder, relishing the warmth in apposition to the chilly basement. If there was one word to describe Beau, it had to be loyal. He was truly a Gryffindor, and she had felt herself falling for him the first time they had met. First it was just, well, sexual attraction. As Cora had said, the kid was drop-dead gorgeous in that sexy brooding sort of way. But he was also a great person, and he made her think, mostly about what she wanted to do after Hogwarts, and more importantly, who it would include. Hopefully it would include him. She wasn’t the most committed person, and relationships had previously not been her forte, but she wouldn’t lose Beau to have him be snatched up by some rival of hers. “I’m sure you’re not that bad at Herbology,

[/color]” she giggled, lightly running a finger through his hair. Studying wasn’t even the important part. She just wanted to spend as much time with him as possible, and the break seemed like the perfect time to do it. Not to many little kids to babysit, no team practices, and no homework.

Her heart twisted pleasantly at his words, and she felt her face grow hot. “Oh,[/color]” she said unintelligently. She wasn’t the smartest in her class, she had to rely on hard work, but she usually had something at least sort of interesting to say. But words were failing her. “Uhm,[/color]” she attempted again, her face flushing a deeper red, and she had to resist the urge to blurt out iloveyou. It wasn’t until she had to physically restrain herself when she knew that it was true, that she cared too deeply than she probably should about him. She didn’t think she wanted a family, but maybe she did, if it involved Beau. But she was getting far too ahead of herself. What about dating first? They weren’t even in an actual relationship, something that she had to admit to Cora. “Yeah, I’ll be here.[/color]” She chuckled lightly. He sounded just as frazzled as she was, and that was comforting, knowing that she wasn’t stranded with her feelings all by herself.

“Bad at what? What’s this?[/color]” she asked, pouncing on the question. She would really like those two kisses to be defined as something, at least, but she realized it was a terribly awkward question. Looking down at her hands, she enjoyed the feeling of his lightly calloused hands on her hand, and she let out an involuntary purr. She kissed his cheek lightly, almost apologetically, and gave him a bashful smile.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[BEAU MASON WEASLEY]

Beau had known that he was developing a ‘thing’ for the lovely Lily Carmichael; he had known since the Hogsmeade date. He didn’t really want to call it a date, but he had asked her to meet him there… so it was a date. Beau shook his head slightly, happy to be cuddled against the brilliant Hufflepuff. It also didn’t help that she was downright beautiful as hell, and every time he passed her in the hall or seen her from a distance, he could feel his heart thumping even when he wasn’t close. Wasn’t that a sign of … something bigger than they were? Beau hadn’t actually felt this since Amelia, and in a sense it frightened him because there was still a very itty bitty part of him that wanted to be with the now French student Amelia.

But, he supposed all good things came to an end at some point.

As her fingers raked through his hair, he closed his eyes a little at the sensation. He enjoyed it when people touched his hair, but he thoroughly enjoyed it when Lily did it. Her fingers just seemed to fit perfectly in the strands. Beau had to focus on what she was saying, because if he hadn’t he would have looked like a complete tool, which wasn’t hard for him to do anyways. He always felt a little foolish around Lily. “Yeah, no, I’m terrible at it. I’m only taking it for my dad.” Beau hadn’t known Herbology would be so important; that was probably why he scrambled like a wet cat near the end of the term. He cast dark eyes at her and smiled again, tighteningly his grip around her slightly.

At her stumbling, he almost chuckled again, but he was feeling the same way. Tongue-tied and too nervous to admit to how he was feeling, Beau just watched her. Lily wasn’t like the others; she didn’t drape herself over him or try and get to know him by feigning interest in Quidditch, the one thing he could honestly say he loved more than his family [some days]. “Good. I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t.” Probably sulk in the common room all break, sending letter after letter to her. More like writing letter after letter to her, confessing his love to her without actually sending a single one. Besides, he wouldn’t have a clue as to where she would be over the break.

“I’m bad at this, this relationship thing.” Beau confessed quietly. The kiss on his cheek propelled him to be truthful, not to lie like he had intended. Although, he would have told her about it eventually. “It seems like everyone I get close to, I hurt them, or they leave.” He was referring to Amelia and the girl-who-shall-not-be-named. He looked at her again before he kissed her temple. “I just … I never really thought of being in one with someone as amazing as you, after what happened. I want one, I do. I just… I guess I’m being selfish if I say I just don’t want to be hurt again.” He paused. “Not that you’d ever hurt me… right?” Her smile had given him some hope, that maybe he wasn’t as cursed as he thought he was.

[LILLIAN PATIL CARMICHAEL]

She could feel her breathe begin to even out, to steady, and she felt almost drowsy, leaning against him. It had been a long week, and it seems as if everyone just dragged themselves through the motions of studying, or practicing quidditch, or even just having a conversation in anticipation for the holiday. It had all seemed like too much of an effort, and Lily was rather tired of trying. Yawning and stretching slightly, she nuzzled her face deeper into Beau’s shoulder, still keeping one hand in his hair. She had never felt this close to anyone, and it was thrilling, setting her every nerve on fire. She didn’t want to move, first because she was extremely comfortable, and secondly because the Hufflepuff common room was going to be the most boring, mundane place in the world after this. Because nothing could really compare to being in his arms. He tightened his grip slightly, and she wiggled her body even closer to him, feeling his breath on her cheek.

Furrowing her brow, she replied, “I thought your dad was more of Care of Magical Creatures man.

[/color]” Charlie Weasley, while not as well known as his siblings and siblings-in-law, was a border-line famous dragon handler, an occupation that earned him respect. But she could relate to feeling pressure from parents to succeed. Divination was something her mother particularly liked, and her sister was naturally good at it -- more like she was a good liar -- but Lily didn’t have the charisma or self-assurance to pull off bullshitting people about their future. It just seemed like a nasty thing to do, either shattering their dreams, or reinforcing false hopes. Still, if Beau needed Herbology help, and she could supply it, she wouldn’t question his reasons. It just meant more time with him, and that was always welcome.

Confession: Lily was one of those girls who went for the douchebags, wanting to “tame” or “cure” them. They were usually the hardest to resist, like that Rookwood kid. Insecure girls were a sucker for putdowns and verbal abuse. And while Lily tried to be as confident as possible, she was a teenager, and she did feel useless sometimes. Like she would never make a difference, and simply float through the linear narrative of time. Beau was different, though, he wasn’t a jerk, he was a gentleman, something that rather infuriated her it the beginning of their relationship. But it certainly felt good now, to be with someone that she could trust. Maybe it meant that she was ready to settle down. “You’d probably find someone better, someone that wouldn’t leave you to rot of boredom in this castle.[/color]” Smiling slightly, she traced a finger down his neck, coming to rest in the hollow of his throat.

“Are you?[/color]” she asked, a bit sarcastically, “I didn’t notice.[/color]” Truthfully, he had disappointed her in his lateness to the Halloween Ball, but she didn’t realize she was so upset about it until now. She had forgiven him, but it was hard to forget. Feeling bad, she quickly kissed his lower lip. “I won’t leave you,[/color]” she said soothingly. “because you’re pretty damn amazing yourself.[/color]” She smiled slightly, reassuringly. She wasn’t going to hurt him, but putting it in words made it feel cheesy and insincere. She just needed to know that he wasn’t going to hurt her either. “Beau... what happened?[/color]” They had never talked about each other’s past relationships, but now, when they were drowsy and stuffed with cookie, seemed like a good time to start.
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