Interhouse Relations (Elliot & Savannah)

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron sighed, instantly feeling guilty. He knew he shouldn't have pointed any of that out to her, and the closed book in her lap made him feel like such a jerk. He looked helplessly to Elliot, looking for help, but quickly turned back to Savannah. "Sav, come on. I didn't mean any of that. Besides, you were supposed to snap at me or punch me or something for saying all of that."

Not that she ever would. He could see it in her eyes, sometimes, and he wanted her to just get really angry once. It would do her a world of good. But he knew some of the background about why she acted the way she did, and while patience was not a strong point for him, he tried to be patient with her. He had a hard time dealing with people who were so submissive, but for her... he sighed.

"You can. You won't be missing any classes, and I promise you won't get caught. You have my word."

[Savannah Lyons]

There was just no way of knowing whether things might have been different for Savannah if she had not been the only girl in the family. For some girls, growing up as the only girl meant that they were spoiled and fussed over and encouraged. Not so for Savannah. Though their parents had been hard on all three of them, their treatment of Savannah had bordered on cruel. Her mother hadn't been as harsh as her father had, but the lessons were the same. They had, essentially, robbed Savannah of her ability to be herself. Underneath the manners and the propriety, there was a very smart, witty, and adventurous girl imprisoned inside, just screaming to get out.

"No, you were quite right," she said again, still looking down. "I was rude and superior and I am sorry." She shook her head. "You don't really want me to go, I would just ruin your fun, I am sure. But it is kind of you to ask."

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron leaned back so that the two siblings could see each other and talk across him, since he was about to enlist Elliot's help.

"Of course I want you to come. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't." He winked at her. "You know me, love. I don't ever do things just to be polite."

That's when he decided to enlist Elliot, and turned his attention to the boy... the only reason he ever really had to talk to Savannah. He wished that could change. He wouldn't mind being her friend, too. "Tell her, Elliot. She listens to you."

[Elliot Lyons]

"Cam's right Vans. He wouldn't ever ask just to be polite, besides I want you to go to. You'd have fun." Elliot smiled. "Please Savannah? We're not going to get into trouble. There are no classes to miss, and we'll be there with you the whole time. You know that I wouldn't let you out of my sight. You might even like it."

He sat down the second roll he picked up on his plate. "Just go, please?"

[Savannah Lyons]

It was funny, Savannah noted, how just a moment ago, Elliot had hesitant to go himself, and now, with just a word from Cameron, he was now talking her into going as well.

But she was genuinely torn. A part of her wanted to go, just to do something different. That was the rebellious side of her that she fought so hard to hide. The other part was afraid. That was the part that was actually strangely nervous around Cameron. When he was annoying her, she wasn't nervous... it was when he was nice that she didn't know how to react. He would just look at her with those eyes that seemed to be trying to see into her soul and it made her nervous. She was afraid that one day, he was going to figure out that she wasn't quite the perfect lady that she tried so hard to be.

She bit her lip and looked up at them. "OK," she said. "I'll go. Thank you."

[Cameron Wilder]

"Perfect," Cameron said, grinning at her. "Thank Merlin you listen to Elliot. I had no idea how I was going to get you to come, short of physically dragging you. I'm glad you spared me that experience. OH!"

And just like that, his mind was somewhere else, and he turned back to Elliot. "Slughorn's in a mood!" He was warning his friend that the Potions teacher was not one to be messed with today, and then, somehow, he also managed to sneak in thoughts on tomorrow's breakfast into the conversation. He swore the two topics were related... at least, thet made sense in his head.

[Savannah Lyons]

And she was dismissed again. Savannah frowned, unsure what to do next. Was he done talking to her? Was it really rude to pick up her book and continue reading now? She was clearly not intended to be part of this conversation, and for her to make any comments or even listen in wasn't really appropriate, either.

Sighing softly to herself, she looked away and focused on her plate. She had not eaten much, she usually didn't. That was another thing that had been drilled into her head; a lady was not supposed to overeat. Men did not like women who ate too much or gained weight. But sometimes she really wanted to try one of the rich desserts that the house elves were known for...

[Elliot Lyons]

"Thanks Vans," he said leaning up and smiling in her direction. Really, she did need to get out more. As much as he was glad that Savannah wasn't a wild girl, he wished that she wouldn't be like she was all the time.

In order to go do something, all he needed was a few words from his friend and he was into going. It didn't really take all that much, but then again it could have been that Cameron knew just what to say.

Elliot was used to the topics changing so quickly. It used to make his head spin. "Seriously?" He gave a groan. "There's always something going on with him. If he's not in some mood, he's always doting upon his favorites."

[Cameron Wilder]

"I know!" Cameron said, finishing off the stolen roll. "And Merlin knows I'm not one of his favorites."

In fact, Cameron was usually one of the students that put him in a bad mood. He had traces of class clown in him, but it was because he just couldn't concentrate on any one thing for long. He didn't try to disrupt classes. Sometimes it just happened. Most the time he would just stare off into space and stop paying attention. Go figure, but teachers didn't appreciate that.

"Anyway, he's had a dinner break now before your class, so maybe he'll be okay."

[Elliot Lyons]

The stolen roll hadn't really gone noticed because Elliot grabbed another one. "Who knows? Although after Slughorn has something to eat, he seems like he's in a better mood. Maybe you should take him food to your class next time." He smiled. Elliot didn't usually talk about people, but with Cameron he felt a little more at ease to say something like that.

"Well, I don't even think he knows I'm in his class. Maybe even if he is still in a bad mood he won't notice me, not that he's ever called on me in class or anything."

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron laughed, unaware of the thoughts in Savannah's mind. "Seriously. I'll just take him cake every chance I get. He definitely knows I'm in his class. His favorite thing to do is call on me. I don't know why he bothers. We both know I'm not going to have the answer. Ever. He's just causing us both grief."

Elliot, on the other hand, was the kind of student who always had the answer. Ravenclaws... bloody overachievers, all. Neither one of them were on Slughorn's list of favorites (read, students of influential families). Cam was fine with that, really. Those little meetings he had would be just another time for Cameron to stop paying attention and annoy the professor.

[Elliot Lyons]

"Make it a pineapple cake," Elliot said with a laugh. "It seems like he eats that a lot. Who knows, maybe you'll become his favorite student." He took a bite out of his roll. Probably the only reason Elliot ever remained quiet in that class was because Cameron wasn't in it. "You know, we could shock Slughorn and make sure you know the answer. I can help with that you know."

Yes, Elliot was an overachiever but that was mainly because he didn't have influence in his house to be anything different. "It could annoy him more that you actually know the answer rather than say you don't know it."

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron just shrugged. Most of his classes weren't really a big deal. He knew his work and it was easy when he paid attention, but it was just too much to focus for him. But Potions... Merlin, he hated that class so much. And the concepts just elluded him. Surely there was a charm to accomplish everything a potion did.

Elliot, even being a year younger than him, could really probably help him out. If he cared. "Yeah, maybe. I've been annoying him for seven years... why switch things up now?"

[Elliot Lyons]

"It would be completely unexpected and who knows, it might annoy him more than ever." In the sense of academics, Elliot and Cameron were completely opposite. Cam didn't really pay attention, but Elliot did. He clung to what he was best at. Cam was good at sports and that kind of thing, but Elliot never played. He probably would make a fool out of himself if he even tried, so there was no sense in starting something like that. Although, Elliot had no idea what in the world he wanted to do whenever he graduated. That was still a huge mystery to him because he had been on one track his whole life and that was to do well in school, but what was going to be at the end of it? Nothing if he didn't decide.

"Besides, you don't have that much longer here so why not find new ways to annoy him?"

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me," he mumbled. He was graduating in a couple months, and he had no bloody idea what he wanted to do with his life. He had to start doing something productive when he graduated, though he might take teh summer off. But what could he do? He would not be suited for any kind of desk job. Auror and MLE didn't sound like his cup of tea, either. So what did that leave?

"Anyway, I'm going to just be an international spy, so..." he smiled and laughed once. "I don't know. If you can get me to sit still for long enough, I guess we can go over some Potions."

[Elliot Lyons]

Once Cameron graduated, Elliot wasn't sure what he was going to do. Probably go back to the quite shy boy he was whenever he was alone.

"An international spy huh," he said with a short laugh. "But trust me, I'll find a way for you to sit still long enough." Elliot's mind was already whirling with ideas that could help his friend. He knew that Cam liked music. Maybe some how or another he could link the two together.

[Cameron Wilder]

"Do you know me?" Cameron asked with a laugh. No yet could make him sit still and focus on a Potions lesson. He knew it was irritating, and he frustrated a lot of people. He really couldn't help it. If he could, he definitely would. Classes just weren't important. Everything you really needed to know you learned from interacting with people. Not out of a textbook.

Though, the practical lessons were easier for him. He supposed he was a very tactile learning, as if his affinity for music didn't give that away.

"And yes. International spy. I think it's a rather noble career path." He winked at Elliot before turning to Savannah. "You'd be an international spy if you could, wouldn't you?"

[Savannah Lyons]

Savannah had occupied herself during that conversation by idly pushing food around on her plate. She now felt funny picking her book back up and reading, but she wasn't really hungry, either. She kept eying a rather lucious-looking chocolate cake, but as always, refused to touch it.

At the sound of her name, she looked up guiltily. "What?" she said. "I mean, my apologies; I wasn't paying attention. What's this about an international spy?"

[Cameron Wilder]

Cameron grinned, but he wasn't entirely sure why. To act like he didn't notice that she looked uncomfortable and just a little lost?

"It's a romantic idea, isn't it? Maybe you can join me when you graduate. We'll both be international spies. Imagine the fun, Sav."

He rolled his eyes towards Elliot, giving the girl a smile. "Except that your brother seems determined to make me a Potions master." He wanted to include them both in the conversation, but it was difficult sometimes, when Savannah was so determined to be quiet, and his own attention span was next to nil.

[Savannah Lyons]

Actually, it did sound like a romantic and exciting idea to her. With or without him. And she could probably do without the spy bit, too. She'd be happy with the international part, as in not here. But this was another area in which her strict upbringing had failed her. She really had never thought about what she would do after school, because she'd been taught that her place was in the home, and her job was to be a good wife and mother. Her father had always said he would be arranging her marriage, but as far as she knew, he'd never managed to get around to it. She wondered whether Ryder would do it, or if she would be left to find a way to fend for herself.

"It doesn't exactly sound like a proper job for a lady," Savannah replied primly. "And even if I did want to do that, it is quite presumptuous of you to assume that I would like to do it with you."