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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 15:04:50 GMT -5
Frank was a coward. He couldn't tell her. He became disappointed in himself, and he also stuttered! He made himself look like a fool! At least no one else was in the library to hear their conversation at the time.
He shifted a little uncomfortably in his chair and kept fiddling his thumbs. A feeling of sudden relief hit him when he noticed that she was stumbling over her words. So, he wasn't the only one that felt awkward about it. Frank found it adorable, but then again, he found everything adorable, especially when she would make her nose twitch every now and again when she studied.
A smile crept up on his face. "That, that would be nice. I'm not sure that all my opinions will be that great, it will be nice to have someone else's input." Butterflies in his stomach untangled the knots. Maybe they could put that kiss behind them for right now, that is, until Frank gained enough courage to do something about it.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 15:19:38 GMT -5
Alice drank in the smile on his face, she couldn't get enough of his smile even if she was only know recognizing why. She had realized her feelings for him the same time she'd realized she was jealous over him. But she told herself that she didn't want to ruin a friendship just because he didn't feel the same way about her. She still felt funny around him and he made her stomach do somersaults whenever he was near lately. Like now.
She shifted in her chair, her ankle was still throbbing she realized. She wasn't going anywhere soon and she wasn't well known for healing charms but she wasn't ready to admit that she likely needed to see the nurse before the day was out. She leaned down and rubbed her ankle wincing as she did so. It wasn't broken she was sure but it wasn't getting better either. She lifted her foot onto the chair next to where he sat. Her uniform socks covered her skin but her robe had shifted enough without realizing it and a small section of her thigh was showing beneath her robe. She tried to massage her ankle as she spoke to him.
"I'd like that, thank you. And I think your thoughts are always great. Well except that one time that you turned your toad purple or when you almost managed to catch the common room curtains on fire." She giggled softly remembering some of his misfired spells with a shaky and awkward laugh.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 16:11:25 GMT -5
Frank flushed pink. "I couldn't help that! I was just learning at the time, plus you're the one that distracted me when the toad turned purple! Now the curtains are a different story. Apparently I'm not going to try to light another candle inside any more." He gave a laugh. It was nice to reminisce on the old times.
He noticed that her ankle still was hurting her by the expression on her face. Luckily Frank didn't take any notice that part of her thigh was showing. If so, he would have probably died right then and there. "Alice, are you sure you don't want me to take you to the hospital wing? Or I could try to fix it myself. There's a charm in this book I remember reading. If you want I could, that is if you're not scared to let me."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 16:40:01 GMT -5
She saw Frank's cheeks go flush with the memory and winked at him teasingly, then flushed herself when he mentioned that she'd been the one to distract him during the purple toad incident. She didn't remember having distracted him at first then it came back to her. She remembered again how he'd been trying to turn his toad into a statue while practicing for transfiguration class and she'd blown in his ear to prove a point that he needed to concentrate more. She giggled with him as he mentioned the candle and curtains.
When Frank asked her if she wanted to go to the hospital wing she almost cringed but then he offered to try to help. Of course she would be like a test ferret but for him she wouldn't mind. Alice answered quickly and without hesitation, "of course you can try... I trust you." And that was the honest truth. She did trust him, more than anyone else in her life. Besides, he had become quite accomplished in charms over the past few years and she knew the days of blowing things up accidentally were quite in the past. And she wasn't too fond of ending up in the hospital ward if she could avoid it. She'd been there often enough from her klutziness over the years and didn't relish the idea of being reprimanded again by the nurse to be more careful. As if she actually intended to get herself hurt for the fun of the nurse's company.
Alice shifted her leg closer to him so he would have a better view for his spell.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 16:50:57 GMT -5
Frank swallowed. It wasn't that he was nervous around Alice, it was just he was slightly nervous about casting a spell on her ankle to make it better. He hadn't ever tried a healing spell on anyone, except on his self when he accidentally cut himself.
He opened the book again and flipped through the pages quickly while he scanned the pages for the spell. Frank stopped on the page and read and re-read the section of the page the spell was on to make sure that he knew what he was going to do. It helped him concentrate, knowing that Alice trusted him.
Frank bit his lower lip and he concentrated on her ankle. He recalled what the book had said and waved his wand, muttering the incantation. Slowly, he lowered his hands and touched her ankle, applying slight pressure on it. "Does it hurt," he asked looking up at her.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 17:12:10 GMT -5
Alice felt her ankle tingle and grow warm. She blinked. "It feels.." Alice rotated her ankle into the palm of his hand testing it out. "...better!" He had done it!! She knew he could do it! She beamed brightly with excitement for him and clapped her hands together with joy. She had always shared in his triumphs and failures, this time was no different. He'd tried something new and his courage was rewarded by faith and his own determination not to harm her, and he'd done it. She felt pride in him and almost jumped up from her chair and.. kissed him. It had not been planned or even thought out. And if she'd thought about it first she never would have done it in the first place.
But she'd been so happy for him she'd forgotten herself and just responded to her excitement for his success in doing something new. She had meant to kiss him on the cheek, at least that's where she'd aimed for when she wasn't thinking, just a kiss to a friend she was close to... it wasn't her fault he'd turned in surprise at her jumping up and the kiss landed on his mouth! But oh she felt it to her toes....
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 17:27:31 GMT -5
Frank smiled as he realized that his spell worked. He sighed a sigh of relief and removed his hand from her ankle. Maybe things were going to be just fine. It felt like things had gone back to normal. Back to the time before he just so happened to kiss her. However, Frank was proved wrong, yet again.
He turned his head to make sure he closed the book, but turned his head quickly as Alice jumped from her seat. Frank couldn't react, it was as if his body was in slow motion. Alice's lips touched his, and she didn't let up. He didn't kiss her back at the moment because he was in shock, however those butterflies started to swarm around in his stomach, and he forgot about everything. Frank lost control of himself and it was as if it was on autopilot. He kissed her back gently. No. This was not a mistake. Far from it. He wanted this, but he was too scared to admit it. Frank still couldn't get control of his body, so he continued to kiss her as he brought his hand up to her cheek.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 18:04:56 GMT -5
Alice felt him kiss her back gently as if she was made of porcelain. She felt cherished in that moment, cherished and protected. And she wanted it to last forever, she wanted that one moment to stretch on so that it would be branded into her memory every last scent, smell, taste and feel of his lips against hers. She felt his hand touch her cheek and she leaned into him her hands moving from his shoulders to his neck.
In the back of her befuddled mind she was grateful no one was in the library at that moment. But past that she couldn't think, and the joy in his accomplishment faded into the kiss as she forgot everything and just enjoyed the feel of his lips and hand on her cheek. She groaned softly as his other hand went to the small of her back pulling her closer. She knew the kiss had only lasted a moment but time seemed to stretch out and stand still for that precious moment in his arms.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 18:13:57 GMT -5
This was Frank's second kiss ever, and he wouldn't have had it any other way. His thoughts were still mush and he felt like he was intoxicated, and Alice was his intoxicate. He wouldn't have traded this moment for anything. Also, in the back of his mind, he knew that things were going to be awkward after this, but why shouldn't he savior the moment?
He slipped his other hand to her lower back, and he pulled her closer while he deepened their kiss. Frank could feel her body heat radiating as well as his own.
Alice was the only girl he kissed, and he was happy about that. Now, Frank slowly pulled away, locking eyes with her. His cheeks were stained red. He wasn't sure what he should do. It was as if his body froze.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 18:46:34 GMT -5
Alice felt him pull back and she opened her eyes questioningly and her gaze locked with his. She felt her knees go weak at that smoldering look until he seemed to freeze his arms falling to his sides and she felt suddenly like someone took away a warm security blanket from her and she held her breath unsteadily.
She stood there a moment and her fingertips went to her lips tenderly, as if trying to keep them from trembling or to keep the memory... she wasn't sure which. She lowered her eyes to see his chest taking in a breath. She wasn't being coy, far from it.. but the effect may have looked the same to anyone who didn't know her as well as Frank did. She trembled and took a step back to keep from falling to a puddle on the floor. She had to be strong and she wouldn't let him see the longing in her eyes either as she turned slightly as if debating if she would run or not. Be strong she told herself... she wasn't sure if he felt regret or shock or maybe even fear. But he'd pulled back and she took it to mean that he'd made a mistake and she felt guilty for having accidentally started it. She had not intended to and she felt a gap widen between them, like a chasm that had opened in the earth between them with his reaction and she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to jump across it again. Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment and she didn't know what to say to him. She didn't know if anything she said could change her fear that she'd just pushed him away again.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 18:59:11 GMT -5
He felt like he couldn't move his eyes away from Alice. Frank was scared that if he did, she would be gone the second he looked away. A small smile started to form on his face, that he didn't realize. That kiss had been better than the first. From the look in her eye, she looked confused in a way. Frank was too, but he didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth to attempt to say something, but nothing came out.
Part of him wanted to whisk her away to some far corner of the school and he would tell her how he felt, but the other part of him said that that was insane. Best Friends didn't usually kiss like that. Frankly, he saw her more than a best friend. He had seen her that way since about third year. Of course, he never told her because he was scared she'd laugh at him. However, he settled with the fact that they could talk and joke around all the time.
Frank moved his hand to scratch the back of his neck. His body now felt cold without her close to him. Of course, now he felt sort of awkward. What did this mean? He was utterly confused.
"A-A-Alice," he finally squeaked out, still a little shocked. He wasn't sure if he should act like what just happened didn't, or if he should say something about it. Frank could still feel her soft lips on his, and he fought the urge to reach up and touch his lips. "W-w-want me to walk y-you back up to the...erm... dorms? Or... do you want to... stay here?" Either way, Frank thought that he would stay with her which ever she should chose.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 19:16:11 GMT -5
Alice was torn between running out the door or holding tightly to him so that he wouldn't leave her again. Neither of the extremes was the right thing to do though and she knew it. But she was confused and wasn't sure if she should be elated with the kiss or disappointed in his response. But then again... he had kissed her back, she thought. Even if it was just a moment he HAD kissed her back and she held onto that small thought in hopes that maybe they still had a chance of... maybe more one day. She definitely wanted more of those kisses. She'd never kissed anyone before him, unless a family kiss to one of her cousins if that could be considered even in the remotely same category of a kiss. But with Frank it was so completely wonderful she wondered if she had been floating on air.
She heard him ask her a question and she hesitated before answering. She didn't want to leave him and yet she wasn't sure she could face him after his reaction to their second kiss. But perhaps walking with him would be better and maybe get some fresh air would do her some good. She considered the dorms, the place they'd had their first kiss and at this time of day it would be filled with other students. It would be a safe place where they could maybe talk or maybe he would just drop her off and leave her there. She could stay here and study with him but she wasn't sure if she'd be able to think clearly enough to study at just this moment either.
"er.. maybe we should.. uh.. how about if we..." she didn't finish, she still couldn't think clearly. Until she looked at him again and his eyes seemed to be searching her face for something. She couldn't tell what but she could feel it in his gaze. "what were you studying here before I uh.. interrupted you? we could study for a bit and then maybe you can escort me to the dorms?" she suggested in a quivering voice. She wasn't sure she'd be able to walk steadily yet with her knees like jello and she wanted a chance to try to recover before going back to face any of her fellow gryffidors in the common rooms.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 19:24:49 GMT -5
Frank was glad that he was sitting down. His leg was bouncing up and down, just because he was nervous. He didn't feel AS awkward as he did after the first kiss. At least this time he didn't run away. Maybe he could fool himself into thinking that he was just dreaming of the scene that just happened. However, he wasn't sure how well that was going to work.
"Erm. Charms," replied Frank. "Although, I've read this book from cover to cover going on three times now." He sighed. "Pretty pathetic, I know." Frank realized that he had changed his mind to what was going on now, not what had just happened. What just happened sort of seemed like a distant memory in a way, but he was clinging to it. "I just want to make sure I know everything for the auror training that will be coming up soon." Wow. He had just put multiple sentences together without stumbling over himself. It shocked him in a way, but when she changed the subject to studying, it was like Frank had changed gears.
"What about you? What were you coming in here to study?"
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 19:50:45 GMT -5
Alice sat down next to him and pulled the book she'd grabbed off the shelf earlier to the spot where she'd moved to having switched to a closer seat without realizing it. "Defense Against the Dark Arts" she said with an almost steady voice.. almost. She looked down at the book in front of her and remembered about the cover being swapped. She chuckled softly, "though i think someone switched the covers on a few books back there" she said pointing to the shelf she'd gotten in from earlier. She didn't feel at ease at all, but she shifted in her chair and tried to at least act like it. She was not going to run though she was still considering the possibility. She wanted to sort out what had just happened still.
"yeah the same with me... I'm so worried that I won't get high enough grades on my NEWTs that they won't let me train to be an Auror. And I haven't been able to study well lately.. I've.. had other things on my mind." She said the last part without looking at him and hoped he wouldn't notice. She had to get good grades and she knew that he did as well for the same reasons.
It was one of the things they'd actually both decided that they wanted to do together when they 'grew up'. A conversation that had happened around their third year at Hogwarts and had drawn them closer as friends, a shared goal and interest in something. They even had most of the same classes together because of it and she had always chosen him as her lab partner in potions and any time they had to pair up with someone. They'd been the best of friends since that moment and she was happy that was the case. Not that they didn't both have other friends, but they'd been almost inseparable until this year when they'd started drifting apart from awkwardness as they seemed to realize they shared more than an interest in school subjects and future career aspirations.
"What did you want to work on then? Charms or? wait don't you know that book by heart now?" She'd seen him reading it often this semester and figured he'd read it more than once by now, he was a fast reader she knew.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 20:08:41 GMT -5
Other things on her mind? Like what? Was there some guy that she liked and that's what she was thinking about? Of course, Frank wouldn't figure it out, but he felt himself get a little bit jealous at the thought. He pushed the thought out of his mind. He was just being plain out silly.
Frank let out a chuckle. "Aye. I should," he said. "I think I do, but I feel like I'm missing something. I could just be over analyzing things. It's horrible that I'm already stressed over this stuff and it's just October!" He gave his head a shake. Frank knew that everything he did this year, class related or not, counted for everything he has been working for for the past six years of his life.
"Anyway, I think it's a good thing that I put this book aside for right now. I bet the pages are tired of looking at my face." He gave a smile. "Now, Defense Against the Dark Arts is something I need to study, that is if you don't mind studying with me. I've already read the Care of Magical Creatures book twice, so I think I'm alright with that."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 20:29:03 GMT -5
She had been about to offer to help him in charms when he said he'd rather study DADA. Which was just as well, she had come there for a reason to study it after all. Alice had not chosen to take the creatures class this year and had dropped it in favor of History of Magic. She had a feeling that it might be more useful to being an Auror and she wasn't willing to give up Herbology for COMC. And with the extra studying she really wanted to focus her classes down to the ones she'd really need for auror training as she saw it.
Alice nodded with a sense of resolve to study, though she could tell it wasn't going to be easy with him sitting so close but she didn't want to move away either. "Of course I don't mind, silly. I never have before why would I change? Besides we both probably need to brush up a bit, I know the NEWTs aren't for a while but we really should prepare ourselves for it. I can't imagine what they will try to throw at us during the test." She opened up the book and turned to a page she was looking for on advanced protection spells and pushed the book between them so they could share it.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 6, 2008 21:20:16 GMT -5
Frank gave her a boyish grin. Now, he actually felt comfortable with her there. They were studying together, just like old times. For the time being he was going to forget about that scene that happened so that he could focus on studying DADA.
"I know! It maybe just like our OWLs. I didn't find them too scary but of course we spent basically the whole year studying!" As she put the book in between them, Frank put his hand on the book, accidentally brushing his hand against hers. He didn't apologize for it, he simply continued to look at the book. He felt goosebumps rise on his arm, but he didn't dare say anything because he didn't want things to get too awkward.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 6, 2008 22:04:51 GMT -5
Alice wondered what he was thinking, since it wasn't like him to state the obvious.. of course if they studied it would be easier to take the test. She gave him a sidelong glance and wondered if he was rambling. But the moment his arm brushed hers she forgot about it and looked down at their arms sitting side by side. She noticed goosebumps on his arm and smiled inwardly so he felt it too? Alice was a bit taken aback by his reaction even though he was obviously ignoring it. Well so could she, Alice decided feeling a bit giddy on the inside.
She looked at the page she'd opened to. Advanced use of Protego charms. She had learned the basic protego charms but now she was supposed to do it non-verbally. She still struggled with the non-verbal spells and had spent part of the afternoon yesterday studying non-verbal charms until her cousin had showed up. But now she had to apply it to more advanced spells.
"How are your non-verbal skills doing?" she asked with a steady voice. AHA! she had finally managed to speak normally and she felt a tiny bit of triumph of the fact. She wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that she'd seen those goosebumps on his arm. Now she was curious and wanted to test these new found waters. She moved in her seat bring up her leg closest to him underneath her to sit more casually and in the process managed to position part of her thigh to be against his on the bench and looked up at him innocently waiting an answer to her question.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 7, 2008 9:04:32 GMT -5
Frank did his best to ignore the goosebumps raised on his arm. He tried to act casual about it, by just leaving his arm where he put it, instead of shying away. He didn't want Alice to think that he was scared of her. In truth he wasn't scared of her, he could never be scared of her. He was just scared of himself. Frank had been trying to run away from himself, but it failed. He was scared of what he was feeling because he was scared that one wrong move would happen and she would be gone.
He pushed those thoughts from his mind for the moment. "My non-verbal ones are going alright. I mean they could always use improvement. Frank felt her leg rest against his, and his body tensed. He realized that he was acting like a little kid. He shouldn't get tensed up with Alice. Besides, she probably slid a little closer so that she could read from the book better.
Frank relaxed and allowed his leg to rest against hers. He turned his head towards her. "So, how are your non-verbal skills?"
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 7, 2008 11:12:54 GMT -5
Alice felt warm and actually happy for the first time in several weeks. She wasn't sure how long the the comfort would last but she was comfortable with him she realized even though she felt almost light headed with him so close to her and after having shared a kiss. She realized she just wanted to turn into his arms and curl up to be just held and content. But she knew that wasn't going to happen.
"Decent but they need to be better at least when I'm distracted. I mean, I can cast them as long as I'm concentrating but if I get distracted then I have issues keeping my focus. And I'm really worried, not only do I have my NEWTs but I put my name in the goblet of fire this morning. If I get picked I want to make sure I can focus under duress." She stated it simply. She hadn't talked to him in almost two weeks and hadn't had an opportunity to tell him that she was entering her name in the tournament or even ask if he would be. She had always had him around to share these things or ask his opinion on what he thought, but this time she'd had to decide on her own because he wasn't around.
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