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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 13:23:27 GMT -5
Silver was a little deeper in the forest than usual today. There were things going on at Hogwarts and in Hogsmeade, and rather than let himself get involved in any of it, he'd retreated. The forest was a comfortable place for him, so he'd gravitated to it, settling himself in a small clearing with just enough light to read by, shining down in dappled streams between the branches of the trees.
At the moment, he wasn't writing, though his journal sat beside him on the ground as he leaned back against the thick trunk of a tree. He had a book open, and was deeply involved in reading it, a thin cloth-bound volume with Catcher in the Fluxweed imprinted on the spine. He could almost see himself as a catcher in the fluxweed; he imagined himself standing on a cliff in a field of fluxweed with children playing tag around him, and as they strayed too close to the edge, he would be the one to catch them, and save them from falling.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 13:29:41 GMT -5
Cassie wondered aimlessly through the forest, trying to bring herself closer to Julius by returning to their place. She didn't even notice the tears on her cheeks as she seeked Julius' presence. She wrapped her cloal tighter around herself to stop herself from shivering even though it was a warm day. She couldn't believe he was gone, didn't want to believe he was gone. Her life had crumbled around her and she didn't know where to turn.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 13:37:55 GMT -5
Silver didn't hear the soft sounds of Cassie's footsteps as she made her way unknowingly toward him. The world existed only in the book as the main character fought with his sister, trying to protect her from his own rebellion. As his fingers caught the corner of the page and flipped it, he shifted, stretching out his legs in front of him, completely unaware that Cassie was nearly on top of him and just as deep in her own world as he was.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 13:44:19 GMT -5
Cassie continued on her path deeper into the forest, struggling to regain a sense of who she was. She was lost without Julius, she had identified herself as half of a whole, and with him gone, she didn't know who she was. It was at that moment that she tripped on something in her way. She cried out as she fell, trying to catch herself.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 13:54:51 GMT -5
Silver's attention was jerked into reality as, all in one split second, something hit his legs, then tumbled over. His arms went up reflexively, not shielding himself, but catching the form, only realizing when that split second was over that he was holding Cassie in his arms. The irony of the situation, his imagining himself as the catcher in the fluxweed only moments before literally catching her, was lost to him as his instinctual response had him catching his breath. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 13:59:34 GMT -5
Cassie gasped as the breath whooshed out of her. She didn't realise that she had tripped over a person, she had been so distracted, wrapped up in her own little world. She nodded dumbly, regaining her breath as she recognised the person who had caught her. "Nothing broken" she said softly, her voice not strong enough to carry far. She righted herself, sitting on the ground before she fell to the ground.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 14:07:29 GMT -5
Silver couldn't help a moment of regret as Cassie pulled away, though he told himself he was glad to know she wasn't hurt. She didn't look well, though, despite her assurance that there hadn't been any damage. "Really...are you okay?" Silver asked again. He wasn't entirely certain he was prepared for whatever it might be, but he was genuinely concerned, so it was worth asking.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 14:13:45 GMT -5
Cassie drew a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Not really" she started, "Julius, he um." she paused, not able to suppress the shudder than rippled through her body. "He died yesterday" she finally managed to force out. The tears fell thicker now, coating her lashes, blurring her vision and soaking her cheeks. She didn't even think as she turned to Silver, seeking the comfort of someone's arms.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 14:22:58 GMT -5
If Silver had thought he was at all surprised by Cassie's words, her sudden warmth against him was at least a momentary shock. He wasn't quite sure what to do with his arms, but managed to put them gingerly around Cassie, though he was left entirely unable to form any coherent words and few coherent thoughts. He made an effort to listen, though his mind kept moving back to the fact that he was holding Cassie.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 15:24:25 GMT -5
As Cassie was enveloped by Silver's warmth she felt her tears slow and her vision returned slightly. She sniffed and wiped at her cheeks with the edge of her cloak. "I'm sorry" she whispered, "I didn't mean to cry all over you." For all her apologies she remained in his arms, needing the comfort of another person.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 15:31:22 GMT -5
"No, it's okay," Silver said gently, looking down at the top of Cassie's golden head. "This shirt's survived worse." Not that he could think of anything in specific, but if it helped her, he could stand having a slightly damp shirt for a while. Silver tried to think of something useful to say, but what could he say? He didn't know who Julius was, though he must have been important to Cassie.
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 15:43:26 GMT -5
Cassie nodded, his words were soothing and his serenity was in turn calming Cassie down. She looked up at him, her souful eyes a soft green. The lack of awareness in his eyes showed Cassie that Silver had no idea who Julius was. "Julius was my partner, an ex professor here." she said, swallowing as she tried to get rid of the lump building in her throat.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 15:52:48 GMT -5
Silver blinked at the word partner, the associations that word held distracting him for one long moment before the rest of what Cassie had said sunk into his brain. An ex professor. "Oh," he managed. Silver dropped his gaze from Cassie's, more than a little uncomfortable with knowing such intimate details about her life, even if most of those details were assumed. But really, was he the only virgin at Hogwarts other than Dare?
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Post by Cassie Jones on Jul 26, 2008 16:06:04 GMT -5
"Oh" Cassie said as she realised that he hadn't heard the rumours. "I thought you would have heard, there were so many rumours" she said, her mind consumed by haunting thoughts of Julius. "It was just a shock that's all" she said quietly, playing with the hem of her cloak.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Jul 26, 2008 16:19:16 GMT -5
Silver brought his gaze back to Cassie's face, though he was embarrassed at his rather dumbstruck response to her having told him who Julius was. "I don't really listen to rumors," he said. He didn't really listen to much of anything, actually, but Silver didn't think his antisocial tendencies were appropriate to the conversation. "But it's..." Silver paused for a moment before saying quietly, "I know what it's like to lose someone. Not a...partner, but someone close."
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