Interhouse Relations (Elliot & Savannah)

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron's eyes were already searching the Ravenclaw table when he came into the Great Hall. Ten minutes ago, he had something quite urgent that he wanted to tell Elliot, who he'd been friends with since his third year, Elliot's second. Now, for the life of him, he couldn't remember what that was, but he hoped talking to his friend would bring it back for him.

Spotting the boy, he squeezed himself into the gap between him and the girl who was sitting next to him. There was enough room... he just had to shove Elliot over a little.

He wasn't paying enough attention to realize the girl was Elliot's sister. He rarely spoke to her as it was... she was such a shy, quiet girl. Maybe it was a Ravenclaw thing. He always tried to get her involved in a conversation. It just usually didn't end up going far.

"You have to jog my brain, Elliot. There was something I had to tell you. Ten minutes ago, it was life or death."

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah had to refrain from rolling her eyes at her brother's friend as he came barging in and squeezed his way in between them. Really, it was very rude. He was always doing things like that, without so much as a "please" or an "excuse me." She wondered if anyone had taught him proper manners. She supposed it was a Slytherin thing.

To hide her annoyance, she picked up her book--it was a collection of Shakespeare's sonnets--and began to read quietly. With any luck, he would remember what he had to say--which was probably not all all urgent--and would leave quickly.

[Elliot Lyons]

Naturally Elliot was always on time, especially for a meal. When it was time to eat, he would always walk with his sister down to the Great Hall. Taking a seat he started to fill his plate and grabbed a biscuit. After he stuffed half of it in his mouth and swallowed it, someone shoved him a little.

"Hey, what the-," Elliot started but then he looked up, "oh, hey Cam." A grin spread over his face. It wasn't unusual for his friend to just come up like that.

"Jog your brain? I have no idea what in the world would have been life or death, but good job forgetting it." His grin turned wider. Usually, Elliot was quiet, but with his friends around he was different. "Now, you're probably going to crash and burn because you forgot it."

[Cameron Wilder]

"Son of a banshee," Cameron said, grabbing a roll from Elliot's plate- one that wasn't half eaten anyway. "I wish I could remember."

He didn't have a bad memory, it was just that sometimes he didn't give something his full attention, and it would be gone from his mind in seconds.

He glanced to his right to apologize to the girl for the language, and he finally realized who it was, even with her nose buried in a book. One glance down the Ravenclaw table showed about a third of them either writing something or reading something. Dinner, or any meal time, was not a time to be working on homework.

"Good evening, Savannah," he said, his tone changing, becoming a little softer and a little more gentle than the tone he used with Elliot. Merlin knew she wouldn't respond to be spoken to that way. "Good book?"

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah considered the idea of pretending to be fully absorbed in her book and ignoring him. But of course, that would be rude. He was speaking directly to her, and she was obligated to reply. She lowered her book and looked at him, her eyes cast slightly downward in a submissive way.

"Hello, Cameron," she replied in her coolly polite tone. "Yes, thank you. It is a book of sonnets. I trust you are well this evening?"

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron's grin grew, if it was even possible. "I am now that I'm talking with you."

He was a notorious flirt, but it was all harmless. Really, in a lot of areas, he was just all talk. The bad boy reputation amounted to nothing, as did the flirting. His friends knew this, and he made no apologies for who he was. That was probably the best thing his mother had ever taught him. She taught him all the important things... things school never taught you.

"And are you well this evening?" He asked her, unsure why he'd put the special emphasis on the word.

[Savannah Lyons]

Again she was tempted to roll her eyes at him. If he hadn't been sitting quite so close, she might have actually done it. On the occasions when she overheard him say such things to other girls, she was usually unable to refrain. But her mother had taught her that it was rude to roll one's eyes at another person, so she would not do it at a time when she would be seen.

"What a lovely thing to say," she said, smiling sweetly.

If it had been anyone else, it would have been written off as pure sarcasm. But the way she said it, it sounded polite and sincere. Only the most perceptive of people would have been able to discern the slightest trace of sarcasm hidden behind her gentle tone.

"I am quite well this evening, thank you," she continued, adding a bit of her own emphasis.

She really had nothing more to say to him and she wondered how much longer they would continue this pretense at conversation.

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron regarded her for a moment, almost ready to try for an actual conversation out of her when he decided it just wasn't worth it right now. He felt bad thinking that way, but sometimes it was just too much effort.

"Good, I'm glad you're well," he said, and he gave her a soft smile before turning his attention back to Elliot.

"Not what I wanted to say, but there's a football game this weekend in London that I have tickets to. You should come. We could sneak away from school... it wouldn't be that big of a deal."

[Elliot Lyons]

Elliot sat quietly and ate while Cameron spoke to his sister. It never failed, Savannah never really talked that much. He did wish that she would speak longer than she did, but Elliot knew that he shouldn't say anything about it to her because goodness knew she would probably fire back at him with something about being a lady.

His ears perked up as Cameron addressed him again. "A football game? I, I don't really know Cam." Of course, with the right words, Elliot could be easily pushed into going. He didn't really know that much about sports because his parents always said it was bad. Although, part of him just wanted to see what it was really like.

If he did go to the game, it would involve sneaking away from the school, yet he wouldn't have to skip any classes, and he wasn't sure how well he would be able to do that. "I'll have to think about it..."

[Savannah Lyons]

And just like that, she was dismissed. Although she had wanted to end their conversation, such as it was, she couldn't help being just a little bit annoyed that he wouldn't even make the effort. She was also annoyed at the gentle smile of his, which she interpreted as being patronizing. Maybe that wasn't his intention, but, without realizing it, Savannah had passed judgement on her brother's friend a long time ago.

And yet, sometimes... No.

Biting her lip, she picked up her book and hid her face behind it.

[Cameron Wilder]

"No," Cameron said, knowing Elliot would jump at the first reason not to go. He also he knew he could convince the Ravenclaw into it. Elliot tried to follow the rules, but he was too easily tempted. Or Cameron knew just the right way to tempt him.

"Don't give me that. If you don't go, then I'm going to have to convince Savannah to go, and you know as well as I do I'd have a better chance fighting a troll than I would getting her to sneak out of the school."

He glanced at her as he said this, smiling again to let her know he meant no harm in his words.

"Besides, you've never seen a football game, have you? It's like Quidditch, but no flying."

[Elliot Lyons]

His eyebrows raised at his friend. Of course Cam would talk him into it. Elliot did want to let go more, but he thought that he had to just stay like he was. There was no harm in that, was it? However, the temptation to just sneak out of the school. This chance was laid out for him, he could go see the football game and have fun, or he could just stay at school with his nose in a book wondering what it was like.

"I," Elliot tried to think of a reason not to go, but there was nothing coming to mind. He had used excuses before but Cameron knew him better than that now. "I guess I could go." He knew that his sister wouldn't go anywhere alone with his friend. "It might be good." Elliot could talk himself into doing it but he knew that whenever he got back to the common room, he would try to talk himself out of it but more than likely failing at it because he wouldn't want to let his friend down.

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah couldn't hold her tongue. Lowering the book again, she looked at him. "That's because it's wrong. You shouldn't go sneaking away from school, and you both know it. Those rules are in place for a reason, you know. What if something happened? After the Hogsmeade attack, I am surprised anyone would think it appropriate to go wandering about unescorted."

Then she blushed, as if embarrassed at her sudden show of spirit. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she took a breath. "But... well, far be it from me to tell either of you what to do."

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron's grin at his friend's agreeance was short lived. He should have known Savannah would berate him for breaking the rules. For Merlin's sake, it wasn't like he was planning anything harmful. And they wouldn't even be missing class for it.

"Have you ever broken a rule in your life, Savannah?" He asked her, turning his eyes to her, which he just barely refrained from rolling. "You could always come with us. I'm sure I could find another ticket, no problem. In fact, I think you should. What could a couple of hours on Saturday possibly hurt? Your brother and I will be there to escort you."

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah's back stiffened, and she put up an icy mask to hide her annoyance. She wasn't sure what was worse, his casual dismissal and condescending smile, or that mocking, judgemental tone in his voice right now. He thought her ridiculous... well, he was certainly not a gentleman.

"Certainly not," she said. "It would be highly improper and potentially dangerous. And besides, what interest have I in this... foot... ball? Sports are for.. well, for ruffians!"

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron couldn't help but laugh. "Ruffians?" He repeated. "Is that how you see me, Savannah? A Ruffian? Or maybe I'm more of a caveman to you. Unrefined and barbaric." He shrugged, taking another bite out of the roll he stole from Elliot's plate. If that's what she thought of him, then oh well. He wasn't going to change for her approval.

"Ruffian," he said again, more quietly. "You could use a little rough in your life," he commented, playing with his words.

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah raised her chin just slightly. It was just a tiny flicker of pride that she usually was better at controlling. "You said it, not I," she replied simply.

She couldn't quite deny that she thought of him as being a bit barbaric. Again, she assumed it was something about his being a Slytherin. One thing she was sure of was that he had no manners, and she disapproved of him for that reason alone. She felt sure that he was going to steal Elliot away from her and turn him into a clone of himself. She couldn't bear it if Elliot abandoned her as well.

She heard this last comment and it caused her heart to do a funny little leap. But she pressed her lips together and said in a prim voice, "I quite assure you that I do not."

[Cameron Wilder]

"Let me point something out to you, Savannah," Cameron said, knowing what he was about to say was not the right thing. He knew it going in, and still, he said it. It wasn't going to have the affect he wanted of her breaking some rules. In fact, he was pretty sure it was going to do just the opposite, and he would feel bad about it for the rest of the day.

"You're sitting there on your high horse thinking you're so much better than me. Well, it's rude to imply that someone is a ruffian. It's rude to turn down an invitation. It was rude to interrupt our conversation with your disapproval. It's rude to read at the dinner table. Should I keep going?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Come to the game with us."

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah's eyes widened in horror. She immediately put down her book and folded her hands in her lap, bowing her head submissively. "You're quite right," she said softly. "I beg your pardon. I spoke out of turn, and it was quite wrong of me. Please forgive me."

If he looked hard enough, he might have seen the tears glistening in her large brown eyes. Growing up, her parents had trained her to be a lady, and on the occasions when she behaved with what her father called "sass," she had been punished. And even though her parents were gone, there was that tiny little part of her that couldn't get past the belief that she had done something wrong whenever she behaved in a manner unbefitting a lady. She half expected them to smite her from above.

He didn't really want her to go to the game, did he? Was he just asking to prove that he could be polite? Although... well, when she thought about it, he wasn't really asking... more like commanding. Or maybe requesting. She wasn't sure.

I... I couldn't..."

[Elliot Lyons]

"Yes, you could," Elliot said going along with Cameron. He leaned up a little and looked to his sister. "You could go with us. I mean, you would be with us for the day so there wouldn't be any harm."

Maybe if Savannah let go a little bit, maybe he could to. Well, with his friends it didn't really matter because he was not quite and really shy around them.