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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 12, 2015 14:56:59 GMT -5
Castiel snorted. "I don't want to find someone," he declared. "I had someone once, and she cheated on me. Everyone else just teases and gets with someone else." Who had he tried to get with so far? There was Ayla, who was a freaking model now and married to that guy who was Head Boy. There was Lani, of course, and that blonde twin who was more interested in her brother. Andy. Gavin. Those two had ended up together. And Mari, who was probably gone forever. He couldn't get his hopes up.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 12, 2015 15:01:59 GMT -5
Diantha wasn't so sure about his assertion, but didn't contradict him. Castiel knew himself better than she did. "You can't be much older than me, you've got plenty of time. I always hear people say that you find someone when you don't want to, or when you're not looking. You're cute, it'll happen." It was a statement of fact, and she did really like his hair. Guys with such dark hair were practically exotic when compared to what she'd grown up around.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 12, 2015 15:12:03 GMT -5
Castiel glanced aside at Diantha, but let the compliment roll off his back. He worked hard to be attractive, and obviously being cute wasn't enough. Neither was being charming, sexy, or intelligent. Or being a gentleman. Or pursuing. Or, and he'd learned this with Lani, just being a friend. Maybe he needed a new look. Maybe it was because he was in Scotland and Goth wasn't a thing here.
"I don't know why everyone's so obsessed with finding someone anyway." Yes he did, but it was easier to believe there was no benefit in being with someone when he said it out loud.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 12, 2015 15:27:00 GMT -5
"Because it's nice to be wanted," Diantha said without pausing to think about either the words coming from her mouth or if Castiel really didn't know. When she realized what she'd said, her lightly tanned cheeks flushed slightly. "I mean...I don't have much experience, but that seems to be what it's about, in the end. By the end her voice was much lower and she was washing she had left her hair down.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 12, 2015 15:36:59 GMT -5
Castiel was silent. Yes, it was nice to be wanted. He could hardly remember how that felt, though. He knew his family cared about him, and he knew Mari cared about him, but they were fine without him. He'd done something for Lani, but he didn't know if he'd actually helped her change anything besides her scenery. He still wanted Marius, and it was painful to admit it. He tried not to think about it and really, what did he and Mari have in common anyway? Their past? He needed to let go and move on like Mari had.
His lips pressed tightly against one another and he picked up his pace a bit, willing himself to keep his emotions under control. While trying not to think about that song from that stupid Frozen movie all the muggle-borns and halfbloods were talking about.
"Let's go to the first floor, there's more stuff there."
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 12, 2015 15:44:19 GMT -5
Diantha nodded and gestured for him to lead the way. "I'm just following you. I haven't got any plans. So long as we go by the owlery you can show me anything you like," she said, easily keeping up with Castiel's increased pace. "I know a lot of big names are connected to Hogwarts, but what about things to do?" Changing the subject sounded like a good idea right about now.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 12, 2015 15:57:03 GMT -5
Castiel tried to get his emotions under control and latched onto the new topic. It took him a moment to think through the frustration and disappointment, but he blinked back a mild sting and took a breath. "Um, Hogsmeade is close. It's mostly shopping. Books, sports stuff, the owl post, a photo shop, robe shop." He blinked. "I think there's a club, but no one goes. Everyone takes the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley in London."
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 15, 2015 12:33:39 GMT -5
Diantha had never been in a club before, maybe that should be added to her list of things to explore. "I haven't been to London before, I ordered all of the books they said I needed by owl," she said. It hadn't occurred to her that going to different places would be a possibility, and the thought of having so many more options lightened her mood. "The professors have no issues with students leaving the grounds?" This was definitely a different schooling experience from home.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 15, 2015 12:33:56 GMT -5
Castiel shook his head. "There used to just be Hogsmeade weekends, but with the war over the gates are open most of the day. We're probably not technically supposed to take the Knight Bus all over the place, but they can't say anything because there are professors who live there and if we get to class, it doesn't matter. I heard things were crazy a few years ago, but the Deputy Headmaster knows all the tricks and tightened everything down again."
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 15, 2015 12:34:16 GMT -5
"I think my father would be absolutely furious if he found out I was wandering all over the country," Diantha said, a flush of pleasure rushing through her at the thought. If he actually knew, it would probably lead to her having to go back home, but doing such a thing under her father's nose without him ever knowing was something she couldn't pass up.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 15, 2015 12:34:28 GMT -5
Castiel glanced aside at Diantha. "After we visit the owlery, do you want to get some ice cream? It's on Diagon Alley, and I'll pay." It would be satisfying to help someone with a little rebellion, especially when she might actually appreciate it. He knew he shouldn't be feeling spiteful toward Lani, but there was a bitter little part of him that wanted her to recognize that she wasn't any better than him.
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Post by Diantha Delagardie on Jun 15, 2015 12:34:51 GMT -5
Diantha's eyes brightened all over again and she nodded. "That sounds like a plan!" she said. "I'll pay next time." The family's wealth had been diluted, but she hadn't been sent away with an empty pocket. She wondered briefly if it counted as a date, but didn't dates involve let's meet at seven on Friday? "I'm starting to be really glad you almost ran into me." Who knew how long it would have taken for her to realize they could easily leave the school grounds otherwise?
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 15, 2015 12:35:00 GMT -5
Castiel smiled enough to count and turned them toward the owlery. They could have an all-day tour some other time, when... What was this, anyway? He'd offered to give her a tour out of boredom and loneliness and she'd taken it because she was new and the new kids were usually lost half the time. She'd asked him what there was to do because she was new, and he'd told her. Then he'd offered ice cream because... Why had he done that? Oh yeah, bitterness toward Lani. And she'd offered to pay next time.
He hadn't had a next time since he'd switched schools and wasn't sure what to make of it. He told himself it wasn't a date. There had been no flirting from either of them, and of course she'd accepted his offer. She wanted to bend the rules and he'd handed her an option. But next time...
His smile gained a little depth. Nobody had to know that he wasn't with the gorgeous blonde.
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Post by Hyacinth Duprel on Jun 15, 2015 12:35:32 GMT -5
A boy with pale blonde hair and a tiny grey-white feline perched on his shoulder stepped out of an office ahead of them. He was paying more attention to giving his thanks to the Transfiguration professor than he was to the corridor and might have gotten run over had he not turned at the last second.
"Oh! I am sorry, Castiel. I was talking to the professor." The grown, but still kitten-sized, Remiel mewed, then began purring. Its motor seemed to run most of the time.
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Post by Castiel Catalyst on Jun 15, 2015 12:35:51 GMT -5
Castiel had to put out his arms to catch himself, and ended up grabbing Hyacinth's shoulders. The moment of severe annoyance on his face disappeared when he registered who it was. It was impossible to dislike Hyacinth. He was just that level of sweet, innocent, and kind that not even Castiel could hate.
"What are you doing down here? There's no classes right now." He was pretty sure Hyacinth was in regular classes now. "Oh, ah, Hyacinth, this is Diantha. Diantha, this is Hyacinth, he's another Ravenclaw."
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