|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 3, 2009 0:32:52 GMT -5
Michael was holding tightly to Dare's hand as he knocked on the door. It wasn't the first time he had stood outside the door of the Headmistress' office. He remembered standing there with Grey, but somehow, standing with Dare was even more nerve-wracking. They were there to ask if they could have the ceremony for their civil partnership on the school grounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 3, 2009 2:41:55 GMT -5
Dare looked aside at Michael and gave his hand as much of a squeeze as he could manage considering how tightly their hands were already pressed. He was sure if Michael held any tighter his knuckles would be white. "It'll be fine," he murmured, drawing their linked hands up to press a kiss to Michael's. "She's been awesome about Silver, we'll be okay." He wasn't at all sure if they'd get an okay, but they would be alright somehow. Dare adjusted the large sketchbook in his other hand, then strained to hear the response from within.
|
|
|
|
Post by Headmistress Hells on Jan 3, 2009 6:48:23 GMT -5
"Enter!" Called Hells as she stood up from behind her desk. She had heard the mutterings from outside the door and had been straining to listen until they had knocked. Unsure of who it was, she planted a safe smile on her face with her hands gently linked in front of her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 3, 2009 12:09:54 GMT -5
Michael's hand didn't loosen, even when he looked up at Dare and felt the press of his lips. He tried to, but failed, and so turned his attention back to the door in front of him. Opening the door didn't help his nerves, and seeing the Headmistress didn't either. His steps were normal, if a little slow, as he walked to the desk. "Headmistress," he greeted.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 3, 2009 12:53:53 GMT -5
It was strange seeing the Headmistress like this, or so it seemed to Dare. He and Michael had been together half a year and entirely open for half of that, but still, this was the Headmistress. Dare was suddenly more nervous than he'd thought he would be. He wanted to just get to the point, but he wasn't at all sure whether he was allowed to speak without being spoken to, and he didn't want to take the chance of being wrong. He gave a brief greeting like Michael's, then waited to see what would happen next.
|
|
|
|
Post by Headmistress Hells on Jan 4, 2009 11:26:09 GMT -5
"Dare, Michael," begun Hells warmly, noticing the pair looking extremely nervous. "Please.. Take a seat, make yourselves comfortable." She waved her wand above her desk. A tray of delights and warm drinks appeared from the kitchens below. "What can I help you with today?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 4, 2009 11:56:42 GMT -5
Michael was glad to note that the chairs in front of the Headmistress' desk were close enough together that he didn't have to let go of Dare unless he wanted to, and even then they would be within an arms' length if anything happened. "We have...a question to ask you," he said, looking to Dare. He didn't know where to start, it wasn't like she was close enough to them to just up and give the news like they had done for their friends.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 4, 2009 12:33:23 GMT -5
Dare took a long, deep breath before looking from Michael back to the Headmistress. He gathered all his nerves and forced them into whatever confidence he could manage. She hadn't kicked them out yet, so surely asking a question, even one that might be ridiculous, wouldn't get them expelled. "You've probably read the Daily Prophet, so I'll just get to the point." He glanced at Michael, then back to the Headmistress again. "We were wondering if you might let us have a... civil ceremony at Hogwarts next summer."
|
|
|
|
Post by Headmistress Hells on Jan 4, 2009 12:40:07 GMT -5
Hells studied the students carefully as she listened to them speak, her hands laid softly in her lap. As she listened to Dare's request, a small smile appeared on her lips. "A civil ceremony." She repeated back once Dare had finished. "I take it you have both thought long and hard over this and it's not just on a whim because of the Daily Prophet's reports?" It was a hard question to ask, especially as she could see the connection between them, yet she had to ask it all the same.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 4, 2009 12:53:42 GMT -5
Michael nodded, "We had decided before the Prophet came out." He looked over at dare for confirmation. On his own side he hadn't thought of anything like it until Dare had asked, but from what he understood, Dare had been planning it for quite some time. He didn't want the headmistress to think they had rushed into it, though, as far as he was concerned, everything in the relationship had been taken slow.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 4, 2009 13:43:25 GMT -5
Dare nodded in assent. "It's been a while," he said, though he wouldn't say exactly how long in front of Michael. Still, it had been months since he'd started payment on those rings. He'd had plenty of time to think about it. Dare blinked then, and brought up the sketchbook he'd brought in. "We've already got some plans worked up, if you'll let us," he said.
|
|
|
|
Post by Headmistress Hells on Jan 4, 2009 13:57:22 GMT -5
Hells sat nodding to them both, glad to hear that they hadn't taken upon this lightly. She glanced at Dare's sketchbook, aware that they certainly had been making some plans. "I am sure you can understand why I asked, so please don't take it to mean I don't have any faith in your relationship." She stated kindly. "These plans. Where exactly do you wish to have the ceremony? Inside the school itself or in it's grounds?" She reached to a drawer beside her and took out some parchment and quill that she could take notes if needed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 4, 2009 14:44:36 GMT -5
Michael breathed a relieved sigh and smiled, "Thank you, on the grounds." He looked over at Dare, almost as if asking for permission before looking back at the headmistress. "We were thinking...about the edge of the forest," he said, then licked his lips in a bit of nerves as he looked over at Dare again. He hoped that she would let them, it held so much meaning for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 4, 2009 15:01:18 GMT -5
Dare nodded, somehow eager to go on with the Headmistress's implied permission. "Outside the forest," he clarified. He didn't want her thinking they'd try to break the rules. They'd probably caused enough trouble for the school just by giving Gaby Kedavra fodder for the Daily Prophet.
Dare pulled back the cover of the book now, flipping it back. Inside were sheets of near-transparent layout paper, stacked one on top of the other. A few pages back was a drawing of the treeline under a dark sky lit with a half-moon. Scrawled in one of the brighter areas of grass on the page were the list of names they intended to invite, Dare's father and brother, his and Michael's friends, Grey Sebastien, and the Headmistress.
The page over that was sparks representing fairy lights strung in the trees to echo the sky, and on top of that, vague sketches of benches facing an empty spot they had yet to figure out what to do with. Dare didn't even pay attention to the pages of decorations they'd added. When he showed it to the Headmistress, he only meant to show the proximity to the forest.
|
|
|
|
Post by Headmistress Hells on Jan 4, 2009 15:06:57 GMT -5
Hells took the sketches from Dare and mused over them for a few minutes. She glanced at the scrawled names and sighed, her forehead creasing ever so slightly. She was impressed with the detail however and couldn't see fault in their ideas. Without glancing up at them, she spoke softly. "Is that all who you wish to invite to the ceremony?" She asked, feeling sorry that their friends, or those who were once friends didn't seem to be any longer in that category.
|
|
