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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 16, 2009 21:16:04 GMT -5
Vane couldn't get over how different this school felt from the last one. He'd felt so penned-in there, always watching everything he said, afraid to express even the mildest displeasure with the All-Powerful Queen Alexandra Rose.
He'd done everything in his power to get on her good side. He'd said all the right things, he'd joined every class that stupid backwater school had to offer and turned in exemplary homework for each, and he'd kissed her ass as much as his pride could handle. She had guaranteed him the position of Head Boy, and a week later a new student had been given the position.
There were so many things about that school that had been driving him insane, but the lack of freedom was the worst. They'd been trapped inside the school most of his stay, hiding from an alleged Death Eater that no one had ever seen. An alleged Death Eater who had made no threats on the castle and left no physical signs of having been there.
His owl demanding to be transferred had apparently crossed his parents' owl pulling him from MI somewhere between the school and home. Thank God they'd come to their senses and sent him someplace he'd actually heard of. Now all he needed was for Connor to show up. Hopefully the others would follow.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 16, 2009 21:25:23 GMT -5
Connor hadn't really been sure how he should feel about moving schools again. Moving the first time had been bad enough, and this time he had even had a girl for once. Not that it had been going anywhere fast. He remembered their last conversation, where she had told him that her late brother was a Death Eater and she had been technically engaged when they had first met. But he knew that Vane was there at the new school, so he supposed it wouldn't be too bad, once he could find Vane, that is. It took him long enough, but eventually he found the Quidditch pitch and, inside, Vane. His footsteps quickened as he headed toward the familiar figure and called to him.
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 16, 2009 21:35:32 GMT -5
Vane perked up the instant he heard Connor's voice, and he turned toward his friend already smiling. It was almost too bad Connor's initial greeting wasn't as physical as his own had been back at MI, but the look on his face made up for it. He headed toward Connor, greeting him with a quick hug that lingered as an arm slung over the back of the shorter boy's shoulders. It almost felt wrong, almost, but he liked Connor, liked him a lot, and a lot of his curiosity had focused on the one member of their group who was the least likely to push him away. "How are you holding up?" he asked, looking his friend over briefly.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 16, 2009 21:40:03 GMT -5
Connor shrugged and tucked his hands in his pockets from where he had returned his friend's hug. Vane had always been more physical with him, but Connor had never really thought much of it, and it never felt weird or out of the ordinary. "I'm okay, it's not like Holly and me were getting anywhere, anyway," he said. "What about you?" he asked, turning his eyes up to Vane.
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 16, 2009 21:44:39 GMT -5
Vane glanced off into the pitch, mixed feelings showing in his hazel eyes. "Glad to be out of there," he said honestly. He looked back at Connor, then reached up the hand at his shoulder to ruffle that dark hair. "Sorry about Holly," he said honestly. "I can't say I'll really miss anyone myself, as long as Kwami and Ransley show up." It wasn't for lack of trying, either. It just seemed like nothing had worked out for him there. Everything had been promises, and nothing had come to fruition.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 16, 2009 21:48:52 GMT -5
Connor nodded absently and looked out over the pitch. "I mean, it's not like I was seeing her very often, anyway," he said, though it was more to convince himself he hadn't already been getting attached. Considering what had happened to the last girl he had wanted to be with, he had latched on to Holly all the sooner. He wrinkled his nose, "I sound like a third year," he said, grimacing and glancing up at Vane again.
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 16, 2009 21:56:36 GMT -5
Vane's lips quirked as he looked down at his friend, though his eyes weren't laughing so much as... understanding? "It's fine, Connor," he said. "You're better off if you don't get jaded anyway. It'd be hell on the group if we had two Ransleys." He smiled, but his thoughts were just slightly off from his words. Don't change, Connor. You're perfect the way you are. Who would he be if he strutted around bragging about his prowess? Certainly no Connor.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 16, 2009 23:06:39 GMT -5
Connor wrinkled his nose and nodded. "It'd be hell on the school if we had two Ransleys," he said, then grinned broadly. Not that he didn't like the guy, but he didn't think he could handle someone else quite like him. Connor wasn't at all some kind of prude, either, he just wasn't as concerned with the quest for girls as some other guys. Somewhere along the road he had missed that train and was still waiting on it to come around again. He was the one in the group that still missed the video games that had been his summer baby sitters at his grandparent's house.
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 17, 2009 7:21:57 GMT -5
"One Ransley is more than enough," Vane agreed, looking back out over the pitch. "I wonder how he was doing. He disappeared after that first week." He thought for a moment before his lips quirked again. "He must have had more luck than I did. Of course you had more luck than I did." Likely because the sweet, quiet type that MI had been filled with was far more Connor's style than his. And Ransley's style was any girl who'd give him the time of day.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 17, 2009 11:10:42 GMT -5
Connor grinned and glanced up at Vane. "Like it counts for much of anything, we barely even kissed." That was true, but they had also just started seeing each other. He still hadn't been half as far as Ransley or Vane had. Not that he didn't want to, it just wasn't a top priority for him like it was for some guys. He would much rather rough house with Vane than go out looking for girls with Ransley.
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 17, 2009 14:54:25 GMT -5
"You've got to start somewhere," Vane said sagely. He neglected to mention the one rather chaste kiss he'd managed. It had been the Head Girl, but considering the farthest his hands had gotten was the small of her back, he'd far prefer to let the guys think what they wanted. Refusing to kiss and tell had gotten him a reputation that would be ruined by the truth.
Vane ruffled Connor's hair again, then dropped his arm. "Is your broom around?" he asked. He'd come to the pitch for a few reasons-- the comfort of a place that changed little between locations, and the near-guarantee Connor would find him --but the pitch wasn't built for conversation so much as action.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 17, 2009 15:31:39 GMT -5
Connor looked up regrettably at the tower he assumed was Gryffindor Tower. "It's up there," he said, then reached up to smooth down his hair from Vane's hand. "I hadn't intended to come down here first and didn't want to be carrying it around," he said when he turned his eyes back to Vane. Surely there were brooms in a room somewhere, though...
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 17, 2009 16:40:45 GMT -5
It didn't take a Legilimens to follow Connor's train of thought. "I'd far rather have mine than the ancient Cleansweeps they probably loan out, but we're already here, aren't we?" He was in a tower too, and the chances of not only finding his dormitory, but finding his way back here before sundown were far slimmer than he'd admit to. Hogwarts was larger even than TAIM, and after MI, he was sure it would take him a while to learn enough to navigate on something more than instinct.
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Post by Connor Holt on Mar 17, 2009 16:59:04 GMT -5
Connor's eyes swept around the field and lit on a building which seemed to be the most likely hidey-hole of brooms and equipment. He paused, then broke away from Vane saying over his shoulder, "First one gets first pick," then he sprinted off in the direction of the doorway. He was quick, but he didn't doubt that Vane had something up his sleeve that could cost him the least ratty of the communal brooms.
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Post by Robbie Falconer on Mar 17, 2009 19:44:25 GMT -5
Vane's lips spread into a grin, and he was after Connor in a flash. He debated pulling his wand to jinx Connor's shoelaces or multiplying the locks on the shed door, but before he'd made up his mind, he was too close to bother with either one. Not close to the shed, not yet, though it was nearing quickly, but close enough that with one... good... well-timed... lunge! Vane leaped, fully intending to tackle Connor.
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