Owed Apologies PV Mathias Pride Finished

In truth, the nurse was a rather proficient healer. The broken bones took the longest to heal but thanks to skele-grow even the bones would knit and mend within a matter of days. The contusions and lacerations were the first to fade away, the use of charms and salves soothed the injuries. The swollen features took another day. Beyond this, Mathias was merely milking the sympathy he had earned through this brutal beating.

Indeed, towards the end of August Jack Warren had beaten Mathias unconscious. A semi-characteristic outburst for the soon-to-be-former Hufflepuff prefect. Not that the beating was entirely unearned, Mathias had goaded the badger into attacking him. It was the sort of altercation that Jack might have started and finished but Mathias made certain the encounter would find its way to completion. Was it worth losing his life? No, it wasn't. The brutality was unexpected, even if he anticipated severe beating.

Kelsey had his work cut out for him.

A fractured nose that was repaired by a staff member as well as a fractured left orbit, broken ribs which resulted in a flail chest. Mathias nearly drowned on his own blood. Once his airway was cleared, his life was still in peril. The fractured ribs, a punctured lung also filled with blood. By the time Mathias had reached the Medical Wing his right lung had mostly collapsed. He was conscious but gasping for air.

Magic could do a lot of things, but even magic took time. Once the bones were mended, his lung was still filled with blood. Vanishing blood was a delicate matter even for a master of transfiguration. Then there was the matter of having bled, of suffering losses. Of needing that lost blood replaced. There was head trauma, an appreciable worry as the concussed youth's slipping consciousness suggested further concerns.

In truth, Mathias could have returned to his peers days ago but he was a liar. He claimed he still felt weak, woozy, dizzy, that his body ached. That he simply required more time. Something that a normal teen would never lie about. The want to get back to their friends too soon was a more common concern. He had started to ambulate independently a few days ago but cited early fatigue as a reason to require his continued care. Returning to the reckless, rough living among other students required his full capacity after returning from a brush with death.

He had spent a few hours outside the Medical Wing the day before. It was the first day of school -- well, technically there were no classes but there was the sorting ceremony, a great feast, the transition of students back to dorm-living. He claimed he was bringing his trunk back to his dorm. He would return obviously fatigued, drenched in sweat and huffing for air. Apparently it was "too much" for him to carry his luggage. At least that was the story he claimed, the enfeebled youth that was still recovering.

Was there anything unusual about Mathias Pride? Actually no. He did not suffer from any curse. He appeared to be in decent health prior to being battered by the upper classman in what appeared to be a squabble over "some girl." The castle was closed off to students for the summer, so Mathias had no visitors. The medical staff that worked the medical wing would see a rather unremarkable boy that appeared to be rather quiet. He wrote often, letters. He read a lot, his only request of the house elves was books. A surprise since most would ask for pain medicine which he never requested despite often complaining of discomfort. The only curiosity would be his steadfast refusal to eat what was provided to him. He insisted on drinking water and eating the food he had packed for himself. Far from healthy fare -- dried meats, vegetables and fruits. Powdered concoctions mixed in the water that had a medical scent. Apparently a "protein shake." This had become a point of contention on more than one occasion between Pride and the house elves.

Mathias would be reading a book -- it was a large, heavy, worn book: Foucault's Theory of Discourse. He was a fast reader, the book covered more than the core theory but also application. on the bed stand there would be a short stack of books -- Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner. There was also a recent version of The Malleus Maleficarum as well as what appeared to be an original copy of Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue, Divided into three Books: By the High and Mighty Prince, James &c.

"Mattie?"

A familiar, nervous voice would touch his ears. He knew she would eventually have to show. Freedom could not last forever. A cat had come with her. A terrifying hellspawn. He let the book fall onto his lap as he forced a slight smile. "Oh hey," he announced as he closed the book he as reading.

"How are you feeling?"

"I am feeling much better," he claimed. "Pretty sure that they are about ready to let me return to the dorms," he announced. "I am just a bit weak still," he claimed siting the subjective complaint he left the staff of the Medical Wing.

"I missed you. A lot. I'm sorry I couldn't come visit you, I tried but..."

"It is not your fault," he interrupted. "You got no control over Jack and the house elves have made sure I have gotten more than my fair share of rest." Think of something sweet to say, this is a mixture of guilt, wanting to be forgiven and feeling like a failure the time he has spent alone. "You are more excitement than I would have been able to handle before now anyways," he faked a laugh followed by a false wince. He was in no pain presently, but it was a part of the act. A part of the lie.

"I brought you a few things."

Her satchel was filled with treats. Admittedly despite the fact that she had known him a short time, she actually knew what he wanted. A Quidditch time table -- he was an avid Quidditch fan. While the boy did not have the physique to play himself, he was enamored by the strategic play and the acts of athleticism. The second was a bundle of fresh wildflowers -- ok,something he was not particularly interested in but it gave him a look. That of an ill-person. It accompanied the charade. A handwritten poem that he wondered if she would forget what she had written. The most important however was the sweets from Honeydukes in a paper gift bag. He did not eat much, nor did he eat well. It was part to blame for his too-thin features. It had nothing to do with a mental health issue, he was avoiding house elf cooking -- so the Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pastries, Peppermint Toads, Chocoballs, Cauldron Cakes and Marshmallow biscuits promised him coveted calories. His stomach rumbled a bit as he fought to hide his excitement. He would certainly house them as soon as he was alone and he would not be regretting it later. "Oh wow," he did not need to lie as he accepted the glorious bounty of gifts.

"I think I will be back in class tomorrow," Mathias claimed. He knew that the nurse was not going to let him malinger in the wing much longer and he needed to return to class before he missed something of interest. His only goal was to be late enough that he would be noted as missing.

Matt looked so small tucked away in his bed. Did he look paler than usual? Perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her. Regardless, he looked much better than the last time she had seen him, and from what she could tell, Jack had left no permanent marks on the Slytherin. She reached her hand out to cup his face, her eyes carefully looking it over before she leaned forward, closing the distance between them to press a kiss against his cheek (feel free to dodge).

"Have you been busy reading?" She asked as she pulled back. An obvious question given the stack the redhead had complied. Winnie was a bit of a bookworm herself, but none of the titles really jumped out at her. Winnie’s preference lay in fiction, classics usually with the odd sprinkling of horror. Any nonfiction was usually geared towards magic. "Pavlov?" He did experiments on dogs, right? Something about conditioning... She knew her mother had said his name before, but she had likely been daydreaming during their lesson again. "I didn’t know you were interested in philosophy and psychology, Mattie."

She was realizing that she did not know Mathias very well at all. Winnie told herself that it was okay, because their relationship was still fresh, a seed that needed to be carefully nurtured. She would not push him, but she would absorb any drops of information about himself that he offered her. "My grandparents own a bookstore in Dublin. They sell a combination of muggle and wizardry books, but they are also book collectors and resell rare books. They send me new books at the first of every month. If there are any titles or editions you are looking for, just tell me and I’ll ask." They also sent her an allowance. Perhaps they were simply overcompensating because her father had left, but she was definitely spoiled.

She nodded her head, but her eyes shifted and were cast downwards as she spoke. "I’m so sorry, Mattie... I did not know that Jack was even capable of that kind of violence... I’ve known him practically my entire life. He is like a brother to me. Or... Was like one, at least. I haven’t spoken to him since that day..." It was difficult to even look at him without feeling a fiery rage striking within her. Tears would often trail close behind.

“I told him I was having trouble remembering things. I told him about us, how you’ve been helping me. He freaked out and said that I hated you. I do not know why he would say that...” She shook her head. She still couldn’t make sense of it. A part of her wanted to see what Mathias would say before she accepted his ramblings as those of a madman. "He stormed off afterwards. I went to find him and that’s when... I found you and you were..." She was stumbling over her words, struggling to compose herself and reel in the still-fresh trauma. "So I screamed for help and Professor Fresnel came." Her eyes welled and salty tears stung her flushed cheeks. "Mattie, it is my fault. I... I’m going to protect you from now on. I won’t let anyone else hurt you."

Winnie sniffled and used the edge of her cloak to roughly dry her face. A meow would interrupt their conversation. The plump tabby cat would teeter over to Mathias and poke his head curiously towards the paper bag that held his treasure hoard of sweets. "Oh... I almost forgot; this little guy is Pumpkin. I thought maybe he could help cheer you up." The Ravenclaw explained. Pumpkin plopped himself down onto the bed and craned his neck, staring at the Slytherin expectantly. The cat would not know he was unwanted company, nor had he decided on whether Mathias was a ‘friend’ or ‘foe’. It would all depend on if he offered him some food. He would mewl loudly at him, demanding his attention. He was quite comparable to Winnie in nature, really. A single paw would reach out and tap at the boy’s arm, before the tabby hopped back onto his feet and tried to shove his entire face into the bag of sweets.

"Hey! I don’t think so, you naughty boy." Winnie scolded, her arm quick to reach forward and scoop the curious feline up. Pumpkin would release a mewl of disagreement. He would try to pounce back towards the food and growled softly when the Ravenclaw pushed him off of the mattress, resolving to sulk beneath Mathias’ bed instead. "Sorry about him; he’s a little food obsessed. I’m not used to indoor cats, we just had barn cats on the farm, so I didn’t realize they like to try and swipe food as well..."

Her focus would shift back to the gifts. "I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a bit of everything." She explained with a small smile at that stomach rumble. How cute. "You can eat some now if you want. I can buy more next time I go, or maybe I can borrow the kitchen to bake something for you? I’m not the best but... My mum is a muggle and couldn’t use magic to cook, so she insisted on teaching me." Yes, she would do more for him, show him how much she cared and how sorry she was for allowing this to happen to him.

"Also, I wrote something for you..." She reached forward to slide the card with the written poem over to him. "I know I have before, but..." Or at least she had assumed as much. She had seen the poems she had written. In truth, she had not written one for him since the hate poems she had sent back in June. "You are my muse, Mathias Pride." If the card was opened, Matt would be subjected to the following overtly dramatic and cheesy poem:

Reducio

The crescent moon shifts over my wandering mind,
Dancing in circles, loneliness churns around me,
Across the vast expanse a silent storm must wind,
And toss my lost universe from air into sea.

Beyond the flood is a sailor with a tender heart,
He is a crescent rainbow lighting up the sky,
He casts the strife away and stands a heartbeat apart,
Lifts the seething shadows; no longer will I cry.

I know his whispered promise will end my lament,
My echoing soul sings songs of eternal love,
As night's canvas fades into the morning's advent,
His light eclipses the beautiful sky above.

It had been... what is the word? ...Lonesome? No, not quite. ...Quiet. Indeed, he relished the introvert's peace, a secret only his alleged paramour (Levi Drakos) saw a glimpse of last year. The boy had taken great care to obfuscate the truth with lies, so many that he had lost grap of the truth. Still, there was a comfort in routine, a warmth found in a smile, a salve that can only be administered through touch.

He might have felt something, that was admittedly annoying. There were a number of people that would tell him to stop here. To be happy. Yes, the situation was formulated, it was not wholly real but it could be. A wholesome, admittedly cute girlfriend whose heart beat only for him. The sympathy of the academic administration considering the beating he suffered and the good graces he maintained with the staff. He was a pureblood boy that was a bit more fragile than most dealing with the growing pains of bullies (such as Jack Warren, Nikita something-or-other, etc.).

Yes, he could stop but Mathias was a great many things -- the most notable being an ambitious Slytherin. He had places to be, things to do and a person to become. Winnie was a stepping stone in the end. He needed her for the assurances it gave others who saw him as a pureblood willing to mingle, even fall in love with the 'lesser folk.' It was an important platform, at least to those looking to make a name. Purebloods were a dime a dozen these days it seemed. Everyone was a pureblood and half of them loved everyone and everything and spouted crap about how everyone should be equal and the other half flaunted their rightful superiority about only to be quelled by a dissatisfied, jealous population.

No, he needed to play the game. Say the things people wanted to hear. Provide objective proof and then further proof to demonstrate how full of crap his contemporaries are. The muggles, their offspring, their kin, the tainted blood near wizard progeny they rear are worse than an embarrassment. They are dangerous. They would beat a boy trying to bridge words to a bloody pulp if they could. They were reckless, unreasonable, barely more than beasts and for the most part they should be fenced or tethered.

For now -- play the game.

"Have you been busy reading?"

The books that he had borrowed had a common theme anyone learned would recognize. He did not have an inclination for diversionary activities. He had a drive and a laser-pointed focus. "A bit," he replied with a warm smile. Admittedly this farce had become natural. If he allowed himself the comfort of a routine, he could truly have allowed himself to feel something as repugnant of a notion as that might have been. Sentiment that could easily be extracted once the game went full-circle. Indeed, there was a fail-safe in place as past him was in conflict with future-him. There was a reason he let the others remember.

"But I am much happier seeing you," it was not a hard transition as the weeks passed to not only pretend but also slowly become the boyfriend he alleged himself to be.

"Pavlov?"

He nodded.

"I didn’t know you were interested in philosophy and psychology, Mattie."

"Horror, really," Mathias claimed. "Pavlov was... a terror if you think about it," he explained. "People develop these patterns, these loose associations. A cause and effect that is deterministic. A loss of free-will," he explained with a clinical coldness one would expect from someone that casually reads about Pavlov. But people tend to think of things as a duality rather than a as a continuum. Of simple cause and effect with defined, solid variables. By defining someone as being beholden to the duality of nature and nurture in the way that Pavlov does, "he underestimates the uniqueness of humans and their freedom to choose their own destiny."

He was so full of shit hs eyes should have been brown rather than a glorious hazel.

"My grandparents own a bookstore in Dublin. They sell a combination of muggle and wizardry books, but they are also book collectors and resell rare books. They send me new books at the first of every month. If there are any titles or editions you are looking for, just tell me and I’ll ask."

"Actually," he nodded his head in the direction of the first edition in the pile of books. "We have that in common," he admitted. "My parents are shop owners, they own a little shop... just wizard stuff. Coffee house in Thassos." Yes, the Greek island of Thassos. "They sell books," he pulled the copy of Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue, Divided into three Books: By the High and Mighty Prince, James &c. from the pile. The tome was worn by age, it was centuries old. "You should have a read," it would put him in her father's good graces to see such a rare book in her possession regardless of the contents.



"A bit religious in places but," he shrugged. "It is an interesting read," he claimed. Utterly boring, defenseless, nice, and yes rich Matty. Yeah, Matty was starting to warm to him. Live a lie long enough and you might believe it -- the only real risk he endured.

"I’m so sorry, Mattie... I did not know that Jack was even capable of that kind of violence... I’ve known him practically my entire life. He is like a brother to me. Or... Was like one, at least. I haven’t spoken to him since that day..."

Yes, poor violent Jack. A terror. An abusive monster that would have only hurt her. At least that has become the narrative. "I am just glad that you're safe," he implanted the fear in her head. "I can see how he fooled you, I have a feeling he had everyone fooled." Mathias seemed to admit as he reached out with his hand as if he wanted it held. Human contact, that was important here. It suggested sincerity, concern, a want for the warmth of her touch.

“I told him I was having trouble remembering things. I told him about us, how you’ve been helping me. He freaked out and said that I hated you. I do not know why he would say that...”

If she took her hand or not, he would make the 'confession.' "Well, you did hate me." He choked out as if he was a bit surprised that she did not remember. "Not that it lasted long," he added quickly thereafter.It made his lie that followed the snippet of truth relevant. You see, the best lies are actually half-truths. Ones where there is a truth to attach to the lie so people can fact check. So he could keep his story straight.

"He stormed off afterwards. I went to find him and that’s when... I found you and you were..."

"It's fine," He would attempt to pat her hand. Some sort of basic gesture of comfort. Try to fake a smile.

"So I screamed for help and Professor Fresnel came."

She started crying. He should feel some sort of guilt, a pang of remorse for the distress he caused her by nearly being beaten to death. He did not, this was the reaction he wanted. For her to feel guilty. To bind her more to him, a want to make amends.

"Mattie, it is my fault. I... I’m going to protect you from now on. I won’t let anyone else hurt you."

That was a heck of a promise to make. One she would certainly try to keep. "It was not your fault, it was Jack's," he reminded her. Yes, it was her longest friend's fault. This would isolate her. "Our first meeting, well meeting beyond seeing one another in the halls or the classroom was not... me at my best," he seemed to admit as if there was a hesitation. He let out a bit of a laugh. "Honestly, it is embarrassing and I am so happy that you forgot I hoped that I would never have to... erm... remind you," it was a nervous laughter. "You see Levi broke up with me at the Blossom Ball, he was my date," lie number one. He had made arrangements for this day, before he knew which girl the threads of fate would temporarily bind him to. He was a boy who knew how to play the odds. "I did not react well, he had brought another date, embarrassed me. I kissed another guy, I don't even know his name... trying to make him jealous. I erm... hurled a few insults at really anyone nearby. You being one of them." His face appeared a bit flushed, it was to symbolize embarrassment but in truth he was purposefully not breathing as much as he should to mimic the appearance. "I did not mean any of it I swear... I was in a bad place. I was a jerk." he let out a sigh as if he had said everything in a single breath because he had. "I later apologized to you of course, in private," no witnesses that way to claim otherwise as no such meeting ever took place. "And well, one thing led to another pretty quickly between us. Not really sure how or why." Vague, reasonable-sounding. Made her out to be the forgiving sort when in truth she likely would have scorned him to his grave. "The erm... hate poetry you mentioned might have been about me," he frowned. He was not actually certain but it was possible. "I never read them," unlike that creeper Levi. "You deserve your privacy afterall," again to define himself as something different from his former alleged paramour.

Winnie's cheeks burned a soft pink hue at the pleasant comment Mathias had made. His comments were not lavish exclamations of love, but rather soft statements that were far easier for one to believe and trust in. Yes, a boy would be happy to see his girlfriend after two weeks apart. No one would ever question Mathias for stating as much. "I am too... I mean, I’m happier seeing you. I didn’t want to stay at camp without you." Who else did she have to speak to after Mathias was taken to the hospital wing? She had been isolated from the two people she had once cared about. She had only made enemies during camp; Levi Drakos, Percival Gray, and Hanako Tone.

"Horror?" Winnie repeated with a tilt of her head as she listened to Mathias’ explanation. She had never really thought that much about it, but Pavlov had not fascinated her when her mother had taught her. There was something she found interesting in the way that Mathias explained himself, she was drawn to listening to his every word, but perhaps it was because of how much she enjoyed the boy’s company. In her eyes, Mathias was a gem, a rare find in this confusing world of boys who used their fists to solve their problems. "I find it difficult to compare animals to humans, to be honest." She admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. Her view on the world was naïve, ignorant really, but she would still offer it to Mathias as if it were worthy of sharing. "I’ve spent more time talking to animals than humans. I find animal behaviour to be predictable... I don’t really understand people."

It was with excitement that she reached forward to grab Mathias’ hand, her eyes growing wide upon the realization that they had something in common. "That... That sounds AMAZING!" A boyfriend who also had unlimited access to books was like a dream come true for Winnie Harper. Whether Pride was telling the truth about his home, she was already imagining a tiny Mathias Pride curled up next to a window nose deep in a book. "Oh! Can I visit someday?"

Reducio

"It must have been especially special having all that knowledge at your fingertips. My father tried to live a magic free lifestyle, so I’d sneak books from my grandparents’ store and crawl into the attic to read them." It was often after she had finished her farm chores, her pinafore smudged with dirt and hay clinging to her plaited locks as she crawled up the wooden ladder and hid away from the world. Winnie talked. A lot. She would nervously ramble to fill a silence that lingered too long, have an outburst of emotions when she became overwhelmed, but she was also an introvert and a quiet space in the world away from others was heaven.

"M-Mattie... Are you sure you trust me with this...?" Winnie gawked openly at the large tome the Slytherin passed her. She had never held a book quite this old before, and she couldn’t help but feel skittish at the idea of caring for such a precious item. Still, Mattie was trusting her with it. She would read it cover to cover and wear gloves to turn the pages if necessary. She would definitely not shove it into her satchel after picking wild flowers... Something she had to remind herself when she grabbed her satchel to do just that.

Her giddiness over their book conversation was short-lived. The two had more serious topics to discuss, sadly, including Winnie’s former best friend. "I’ve known Jack Warren since we were small children... I guess he has gotten into fights before. It’s just... It’s confusing." Her brow furrowed as her eyes fell downcast, as if suddenly interested in the hem of her school robe. She had not seen how those fights had ended, could not know that they were not as violent. "The scar on his face is from a fight..." She suddenly remembered out loud. "When he told me about it, I thought it was the other boy’s fault, but now... Now..." Her voice wavered as she cut herself off.

The touch of Mathias’ hand broke her train of thoughts. She peered up at the boy and offered with a weak smile, her fingers interlocking with the Slytherin’s own. It was a small gesture, a tender touch that made her feel as if she were important to the boy, someone worth listening to. She had stopped crying. Now if only she could calm the steady drumming against her chest. "... What?"

That confession ought to do the trick. Her mind raced as Mathias explained it to her. Yes, she had faint memories of seeing the Slytherin’s red hair during their shared classes. A handsome boy that she had no right or reason to talk to. The blossom ball was mentioned again. She knew it had happened, but she thought she had skipped out on it and read in the dorm room, much like she had for the fall ball at the start of the year. Now Mathias claimed that she had not only gone, but the two of them had met there and had a dispute of sorts. "... We did?" She had found some hate poetry, and was confused after reading it, but she had never thought it was meant for Matt. She was admittedly panicking upon learning more things that she had apparently forgotten, but she would push those feelings down and try to listen, to be there for Mathias. "Oh Mattie... I’m so sorry that Levi was cruel to you. I don’t understand how someone could toss aside a boy as sweet and thoughtful as you are, a-and don’t worry... We all have those moments... Clearly I have forgiven you." She gave his hand another small squeeze, a hand reaching up to brush a piece of her loose hair behind her ear. "I...I am admittedly embarrassed... I can’t believe I sent you poetry like that... T-Thank you for not reading it." She would push the card back towards him and leave it sitting next to him. "I hope this makes up for it. Thank you for telling me the truth, Mattie... But... I... I need to admit something to you too."

“... I can’t remember the ball at all.” She would say, her voice meek and her face twisted with an expression of distress as she tried to search her memories, to toss open every door and run down every narrow pathway of her mind to search for an inkling of what had happened that night, but there was nothing. "... Why...? Why have I forgotten so much? I... I don’t understand. People keep telling me they know me when I don’t know them." She had tried to ignore it, especially after she had admitted to losing memories to Jack and it had resulted in a violent outburst from him. "I... I think there’s something wrong with me, Matt. It’s like I’ve forgotten months of my life a-and... I don’t... I don’t understand how or why." She took in a breath to calm herself before continuing, "The day that I went on that dare date with Levi... I went because he seemed to know a part of a poem I had written."

She released Mathias’ hand and leaned forward to dig inside of her leather bag. From it she would withdraw a worn notebook with a daisy print pattern. She flipped through several pages of doodles, ideas for poems, and torn pages that a past Winnie had sent to Burnett. She finally landed on a page that was dated ‘June 18th, 2021’. "... It’s this page... He seemed to know the contents and... Levi, he plays guitar too. A song that was familiar to me. I don’t understand how he could have known." She pushed the open journal towards Mathias so he could read the contents. Hiding the contents under a reductio because it's a spoiler for Levi until he posts in our thread.

Reducio

[font=Segoe UI]

June 18th, 2021

His bright eyes of warm honey, spun like soft moss,
Strumming heartstrings like the wires of a guitar,
Sweet melodic promises placed me at a loss,
Eyes of shimmering gold, holding an evening star.

His soft tresses crafted by Eden herself,
Although my feelings sprout like a drenched flower,
Secrets that I only whisper to myself,
I fear if he knew he'd hold my heart's power.

Beautiful slpendor, how can I even compare?
In her soft ache the flowing water has won,
There I falter; a plain Jane, simply unrare,
The moon cannot win against the light of the sun.

My cursed heart he will never recognize,
Trapped in my silent reverie, made of dross,
My mind soars to thoughts of his eyes,
Those warm honey orbs, spun like soft moss.[/font]

"It is fine," Mathias replied. He liked the peace the infirmary had to offer, the smell of betadine and astringent cleaner were quickly forgotten once he became acclimated to the space. "I spent a lot of time sleeping," he also claimed. It was a nice way of saying 'screaming' considering how slowly (it felt) skelegrow worked and the caustic sense that came with some of the more foul concoctions utilized to expedite his recovery. Had he been a muggle, he would have been in this bed for months rather than weeks.

The change of pace was pleasant enough, he needed to build his relationships and his image so he never felt moments such as these were a waste. It was easy to forget that this was a farce, when living a role sometimes the wires get crossed. He felt a modicum of happiness, peace even as they chatted about a subject he had interest in -- human psychology. Something he realized after the fact, it left his stomach unsettled.

His parents were not as pleasant a conversation, not to Mathias. It was not that they were cruel, but rather he considered them an embarrassment. The two of them were purebloods, they came from good families. They had the connections and the opportunities for so much more and yet they were satisfied working a shop. It was a waste of potential, a waste of talent. Yet it seemed to make Winnie happy. Of course it would, the girl would get excited over mayonnaise.

"Oh! Can I visit someday?"

"A bookshop?" Not the most interesting place to adventure to but an easy one to oblige. "I you want to, it is mostly old books and my family's writing," nothing particularly interesting. Of course Mathias was blind to the relevance of Winnie's interest as well as the relevance of his parents choices but he was a child himself and lacked the focus on matters he erroneously presumed were irrelevant. He was in more ways than he understood, was his father's son.

"They," his parents "would actually like you," he admitted. They had a fascination with 'muggle things,' much like himself even if it was for the purposes of contrasting them with the wizarding equivalent. His extended family seemed to echo the same sentiment -- muggles and other outliers in wizard society such as half-breeds and sentient magical beings deserved certain rights and opportunities. It was a common talking point, at least publicly. The messages he got directly from his parents was more... mixed. More about that at a later time.

He confessed to a rocky history. One where he was not the 'perfect' boyfriend. One where he was not the pleasant, polite youth that Winnie had come to know and of course adore. Perhaps there was a bit of guilt that fueled the half-confession, but in truth the confession was a tool to not only isolate Winnie, but to solidify their relationship. The forgetfulness potion that the strawberry juice was imbued with only granted him a fresh start, it did not create the sentiments Winnie had developed or erase the legacy of the events witnessed at the Blossom Ball. People talked and Mathias knew that, he had to not only plan for that but he needed to also make the best of the information they shared.

"I have no idea why," Mathias lied when Winnie lamented over her memory loss. "But we are wizards, everyone here has access to dangerous potions and spells," Mathias suggested. Winnie was still holding his hand, he gave her hand a squeeze with his own. "I would not put it past someone to dose someone else," he explained as he implanted a fear that she had likely already considered. He let out a sigh, "I have always been careful about what I eat and only eat what I get from home. It is the same for my whole family, but we have always been careful about this sort of thing." A truth actually, in a way at least. He was well-aware of what the elves were doing and that they were the source of the fog that left most of the students and staff 'compliant.'

She would mention Levi. Mathias' favorite shiny plaything. She would show the poem, mention that he could play the guitar and for a second it felt as if someone had removed a breath of air. Levi did suggest, no brazingly claim, that there was some sort of physically romantic link. He was a jealous person, even if the token of his alleged 'affections' was merely a tool for higher purposes, she was still his. Yes, that was all it was. Emotionless possessiveness.

"Looks like you had a..." he had to consider the right word and settled on the term "thing with Drakos," he exhaled as if he was unsettled. The date -- June 18, 2021, a few weeks after the ball and a few weeks before she had taken the drink and forgotten the last few months. "I-I don't need to know," he closed the book after skimming the contents. "I am guessing something happened and I am terrified to know the details," he frowned. His 'ex' was really messed up, at least that was the story he was going to leave Winnie with.

"Has he ever given you anything to eat or drink?" He was planting a concern, a fear and a breadcrumb trail. Mathias, the broken-hearted boyfriend recovering in his hospital bed while his ex made moves on his girlfriend. "Unbelievable," he muttered with a tone of disgust. "Jack's instability would have been better spent on Levi," he verbally griped before he stopped himself as if he remembered something. "I mean-- I am sorry," he attempted to dismiss the verbal expression of anger that he purposefully displayed. "This is just mad," he laid his head back in the bed as if he was fatigued.

The Ravenclaw nodded her head. After what Mathias had been through the boy definitely needed his rest. It was a miracle he could stay upright after receiving such a brutal beating. Matt might not have been physically strong, but he certainly wasn’t weak willed, at least in Winnie’s eyes.

"Yes... Is that so shocking?" She offered him a sheepish smile at his comment, "I like bookstores. There is something so calming about the scent of books. How parchment feels against your fingers." She carefully lifted the tome Mathias had given her moments prior, running her finger along the spine. "Admittedly, my interests are usually in nonfiction tales, but I also like the idea of reading more about magic. There’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book."

"... They would?" Winnie had been curious about Mathias’ family, especially his parents. She would want to make a good impression if she ever had the chance to meet them. Hearing Matt say they would like her put her at ease. "My mum would like you too. I... Told her about you in my letters home." She admitted, a soft blush burning on her cheeks. Her mother had requested to write Mathias, a thought that had horrified Winnie. "She wants you to visit the farm during winter break. I told her that was fast but... W-We don’t have to talk about this now." She was far too flustered to ask him outright, anyway.

In truth, it relieved Winnie to discover she and Mathias had a questionable start to their relationship. It made the reaction of a few people make far more sense. She felt like she was slowly regaining some control of her own sanity. Besides, their past didn’t matter, it was their future that mattered. Winnie was going to ensure she protected him. He was all she had left.

"You’re right, I know you are, but I just feel so uneasy, Mattie... What’s stopping it from happening to me again? W-What if..." What if she forgot about Mathias completely? She could not even whisper the thought to him. She had grown so attached to him so quickly. The two weeks she had spent without him had been two of the loneliest since she had first arrived at Hogwarts. Without Mathias, she had no one. Forgetting would mean she would also forget how the boy made her feel, but that thought was of no comfort to Winnie. "You don’t...?" That would explain Matt’s frail frame, but that brought up new concerns for her. She would have to get her food elsewhere. She knew how to forage and how to fish. She could request her mother to send her supplies. That wouldn’t help Matt, though. "... I... will start being careful about what I eat. I’ll cook for myself from now on. Are you getting enough? I can cook for the both of us."

Winnie’s complexion paled at Mathias’ next words, "N-No... I would never!" She gasped out, quickly shaking her head. Sure, she found Levi handsome in the traditional kind of way. He had nice hair. Nice eyes... Hazel, an added bonus, as was his ability to play an instrument, but she also found something about him disconcerting. The way he seemed to question her relationship with Mathias with an unnerving confidence, as if he were in on a secret. "W-When did we start dating, Mattie? What was the exact date? Couldn’t this be about you? He must have seen it somehow..."

She paused at his next question, a frown pulling on her lips. She reached forward to place a hand on her boyfriend’s shoulder. "It’s okay, Mattie. I... The only thing I can remember was the chocolate-covered strawberries he brought to our ‘date’ after truth or dare..." Oh Merlin, she had eaten them, gorged herself, really. “You... You don’t think he could have...” The Ravenclaw trailed off, her eyes growing wide as a horrified expression crossed her features. "Merlin... Oh... No, that..." Levi Drakos was poisoning her? She didn’t want to believe it, but it was the only thing that seemed to make an inkling of sense. She gasped when the Slytherin laid back against bed. Silently, she laid down next to him, having to turn on her side so the two of them could fit. Her eyes scanned over the boy’s face before raising her arm and offering the boy a hug. The gesture was an attempt to offer him some form of comfort, but also because Winnie needed it too. This new information... The idea that Levi Drakos could have done something so terrible to not only her but also Matt… It was terrifying.

Well, he learned something new to store away for a later date. She liked books, she claimed to prefer non-fiction tales but in truth he did not see that when he saw her. He saw someone that was enamored with fantasy, that likely saw herself as a princess rather than an astrophysicist. Not that there was anything wrong with that, it was an expectation. A cultural yearning for the ultimate aspiration, being born of value. Ironic really, one would vehemently deny the want to be ruled unless they were ruling. There is no actual want to be equal, everyone wants a little bit more. To be equal someone needs to come down to the level of the rest while the worthless are elevated.

She would likely enjoy The Tales of Beedle the Bard as well as a few other older fairytale manuscripts wizards grow up listening to. Yes, he was paying attention.

He would make an off-handed comment about his parents. Yes, they were purebloods. Yes, he was a pureblood also. Yes, they expected that he produce a pureblood heir. More than a pureblood heir, a Seer or someone with special skills, if not psychically-inclined. Winnie was the antithesis of what they would have expected and sought for their son in spite of their middle-class status. They came from old money, their home, his clothes, their things reflective of their excessive wealth, yet they insisted on lowering themselves to the role of lowly shopkeepers in a dusty shop.

Yes, as clever as Mathias was, there were some facets of adult living he failed to comprehend.

Yet more than that, their approval of Winnie. They would approve. At least in form and in word. They would treat her kindly, they would parade her about proudly. In truth she would be little more than a circus sideshow, something to be seen, something to be discussed. Not something to be loved, not in the long term and most certainly not in the way she wanted or arguably deserved. Even he felt the pang of something unpleasant although he could not put a finger on exactly what it was.

He did accuse her of having some sort of dalliance with Levi, the perennial thorn in his proverbial side. Why was it he always wanted the same play things? Little did he know, Levi wanted ALL the playthings. It was just that winnie was presently being played with that piqued Levi's interests. There was a touch of jealousy in the words, he could not help it, it was just there and stubbornly refused to excuse itself in spite of the fact that he was well-aware that all of this was a farce. "It doesn't matter either way," he muttered a bit disgusted with himself but the tone might have carried over to a disproval of Winnie's choices. It fell during a time period where allegedly he and Winnie would have been dating. He wondered how or why considering her obsession with the ginger twins (Ruka and Jack) Levi was able to infect her so quickly, it was troublesome but he was far from beat.

"W-When did we start dating, Mattie? What was the exact date? Couldn’t this be about you? He must have seen it somehow..."

The one question be could not give a specific answer too as there might be contradictory information available. So he did what he knew best, he lied. His mouth opened slightly and remained in place while his thoughts caught up with him and he concluded on the sympathetic "I'm not sure," perhaps he was poisoned as well. "It is a bit fuzzy,"he continued to lie with a furrowed brow as if he was struggling to remember events that never happened. "It was a sort of progressive thing that just happened, we might not agree on the start dates" at all "but I felt the first week of June?" The inflection of a question as he waved his hand almost as if to dismiss it. "I mean, I uh-- dunno," he grimaced. "I got hit in the head a few times," a callback to Jack as a potential cause for his amnesia and to give her a pang of guilt. "Not that it matters really," he smiled weakly. "You make me happy."

She would try to explain herself, search her memory which was addled with the very poison he had given her and try to make sense of the reality he had provided her. It was of course all lies. Well, most of it was. There were bits of truth here and there, enough to superficially confirm what he has said. She would have to be a madwoman to search too deep and that was the intention, to allow her to think herself mad for doubting, for looking, for questioning. she would remember the chocolate covered strawberries Levi provided her with. Really? He could not have been any more cliche? He felt a wave of heat rise from his stomach that briefly flushed his cheeks before he pushed it back down. No, no, no. He does not get that satisfaction, he just suffers. "You have to be more careful, he is a scary guy. Creepy in fact. Who knows what he has done that you do not even remember," he planted the indignant seeds of paranoia. "I dated him for awhile I think?" Another potential victim. Gaps in his former love affair with Drakos in part explained. "I adored him, but... he can be really scary." He frowned as he looked down at his bedsheets.

"On a better note, I am going to be able to attend classes like normal tomorrow I think," he gave a tired-appearing smile. "It will be good to get back to normal," he claimed as he looked at the door and at the time. It was getting late, but that was the point. Fill her head with worry and then send her off to bed. Let her stew on what he said, prevent her from storming up to Levi and accusing him directly. She would repress it, resent him and ultimately fear him. As she should.

The 'nonfiction' tales Winnie was referencing were mostly myths and legends. It was definitely not because I meant to write 'fiction' >.>; In truth she adored fantasy tales, mysteries, and horror novels. Her taste was rather fluid and would change with her mood, which is why she often carried three different books with her. A book of wizarding fairy tales would definitely delight the young Ravenclaw.

There was no question in Winnie's mind that Mathias would be adored by her mother-- why wouldn't he be? He was well spoken, well dressed, treated her daughter kindly (as far as she was aware) and literate. Her father's family would appreciate that he was a pureblood, although they may also argue that Winnie was not in the right to date him, considering her blood had been mixed.

Winnie's head fell downcast at the Slytherin's comment. "It does to me." She admitted. "I don't like the thought of even being close to someone who isn't you." Especially if that person happened to be stealing the precious memories she had presumably created with Matt. Levi seemed to possess a power over her, at first she had mistaken it for an attraction of sorts, but now... It was clear that she was reacting in such a way because the even the sight of the boy gave her fearful chills.

A few weeks into June. That meant the poem could have happened before they were official. Winnie often grew flustered and daydreamed about romantic clichés, flowers, shared kisses, poetry... But she would not have been unfaithful. Still, something wasn't quite adding up, but she wasn't going to push him any further. "Right..." The line worked, she did feel a pang of guilt. "It's okay, Mattie, you've been through a lot." At least the snake's injuries hadn't been fabricated. His affectionate comment brought the colour back in her face, a rosy hue that spread across her cheeks "I care a lot about you, Mattie. I'm at my happiest when you're by my side."

Mathias' uncertainly helped the Ravenclaw fill in the blanks, on a test that was rigged, that was. Levi, the boy who had apparently dated her boyfriend and publicly humiliated him, was the cause of the Slytherin's sorrow. "... Do you think he could have stolen my journal?" That had been on her mind since the day that Levi had recited poetry to her. "I'm... Still not entirely sure if this is about him, but there are too many things about him that do not add up... If I stay away from him, you should too... I don't want you to get hurt."

Her offer of a hug rejected, she nodded and sat back up in the bed. In truth she did not want to leave him, it had been so long since she had seen him, but she also didn't want to drain the redhead completely of his energy. "You probably need your rest." She slid off of the bed and onto her feet, leaning down to reach under the bed and shoo Pumpkin. The ginger cat would scurry towards the door in wait of it's owner. "I'll stop by tomorrow morning... Maybe I can walk you to class?" A normal would be nice. A reliable routine to fall into. Still the seeds of fear had been planted, and Winnie would likely toss and turn the entire night, her mind creating possible scenarios. She also didn't want to chance Mathias running into Jack. "I just want to make sure you're safe... I meant what I said; I really do care about you. I think it's..." She couldn't say the word, her face burning again. "W-Well, you'll understand when you read the poem." She grabbed her satchel and quickly slid it over her shoulder.

Mathias and Winnie could not be more different yet she grasped onto the things that made them similar. The aspects he liked the least about himself. The shame he felt towards his parents and their choice to live lives of mediocracy. It was easy to dislike someone that represented everything he rejected, yet she was frustratingly tolerable. He was not entirely certain how, it was not something that could be quantified.

People say love changes people but it was far too early to consider the word. He was not a better man because of it, if anything he was agitated. Agitated at himself as well as at those that threaten the security of this farce. It did not have to be her, it could have been anyone with similar breeding and temperament. In his selfishness he regretted nothing even as something real started to develop in the cockles of undeveloped heart. He did not regret the guilt she was suffering, it might not even be possible for him to feel actual remorse. If so, it was a noval sensation.

She offered to walk him to class. A morning jaunt to their first early morning class sounded oddly pleasant. "I would like that," he claimed and it was not even a lie. A weight could be felt in his stomach as he realized the words that had escaped his mouth. He would take pause, Winnie was talking, a constant state of affairs. The hell did I just say? It was something he would say, but it was something that would have been said from a place that had a plan. There was no plan, no further intention. It was something even worse, something revolting -- it was the truth.

He found himself irrationally angry over Levi, the prissy wizard that was probably more feminine than his actual girlfriend. What could Winnie be possibly attracted to? Why did he even care? He did not need to target Levi at this point, yet he continued for the simple reason he wanted Levi to keep his dirty hands off his playthings. His possessive nature refused to consider the notion of sharing, reviled the consideration that she might actually prefer him. It was a mystery to him why he would even care but he did.

He needed to get his head in the game.

This was a game.

He would thoughtlessly fiddle with the poem she had left him. His hands were releasing a nervous energy as he watched her depart. Somehow he felt lonesome. He did not feel that way before. He frowned, his head would rest on the pillow. It was not his personal pillow, just some pillow supplied by the wing. He would watch her leave and frown.

He felt conflicted.

Once she was gone he would unfold the poem she had left. Admittedly he did not understand it. He read it thrice but what filled his mind was not appreciation or wonder but the petty concern that he was uncertain the words he read intended to be his were written with more or less fondness than those written for Levi. He let out a sigh, a bit slow on the uptake he was clever enough to realize this pain he felt in his chest. "God Damn it."

Eventually he would have to let her walk away.

@Winnie Harper & @Levi Drakos