Blades And Bruises PV Matthew Campbell Finished

Date: January 30th 2025

The past month had been well and truly a shambles and almost everything about it for the negative. With the many growing pressures that built up around the young boy it was fair to say that he was drowning and despite the friendships he had made Matthew didn't wish to burden any of them with a lifeline. With every spare moment he had researching different mending charms and desperately trying to find the answers from professors and textbooks he was at the brink of collapse when Avis had found him in the great hall.

Frustration was never a very productive emotion and he had existed in what seemed like a perpetual state of it since the godforsaken rager. The world was spinning off its axis and Matthew was barely holding on but just when all hope seemed diminished and his fingers felt themselves lose their grip a hand shot out to help. Avis' joy at whatever she was brewing up in her mind completely knocked him out of his warring mind and recentred him in the now. Certainly there was a whole list of things he was failing to manage and fix but the girl had helped him overcome a huge obstacle and in her sparkling bright eyes the first year shine was still so present. The raven brimmed with the innocent joy of magic and he couldn't help but lose himself in that.

Knowing it would do no good to bring her down in his spiral he found himself readily accepting her proposition without even remembering to ask what it even was. All he knew was that he was to meet at the lake after classes and perhaps that simplicity was enough. The crisp late January air was so cool in his lungs it smothered all of the excessive fire that had latched onto them instantaneously taking his breath along with it into the air. It was like all of his worries and problems flew away with it and for the first time in a while he really felt like he took a breath, like things felt normally.

In the winter chill the great lake had completely frozen over, a most pristine dazzling sheet of ice covering the murky depths below while the soft winter sun reflected lightly on the surface. The whole castle truly did feel more magical when coated in a dusting of snow and Matthew took the first real look at it with fresh eyes, not the worn ones that had been lost in books and reaped with dark circles. Out here he could simply be a boy again unburdened by the world's pressures and troubles and my did it feel freeing, like soaring miles above had though he'd never admit it to his tutor.

Scanning the area as his brown hiking boots found soft purchase in the snow he spotted Avis across the way her dark brunette hair flowing in the wind like a commercial freeing up her face to show that easily recognisable grin. The cold air accentuating the rosiness of her cheeks and a spark in her light blue eyes that matched the ice she looked so excited which in turn had the young Slytherin's heart racing. Whatever she had planned was sure to be fun and the kind of lightness he so desperately needed. Feet suddenly running to meet her his eyes baulked as they caught upon the ice skates knowing the trouble he was about to face, why did it always have to be sport with this one he mused to himself his face warmed with a smirk.

Giggling gently like a child once more he spoke to her with nothing but grateful happiness for her presence, "So I'm guessing you're forcing me onto that then? Tell me Greymond has someone sent you to Hogwarts to endanger my life or is it just your natural prerogative?" There was so much life in his voice as he teased that he truly didn't recognise himself from the fury he had been stewing in of late but he couldn't help but sigh with relief as some of the weight lifted from him. Unlike that day at the quidditch stadium Matthew promised himself he would trust Avis judgement, after all he needed the break.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond

Avis’ eyes lit up when she heard hurried steps crunching softly through the snow towards her. She turned to see Matthew Campbell, his brunette curls slightly mussed up from his short journey through the frozen tundra that was Hogwarts’ Grounds. Avis gave him a wide smile which he returned with an amused smirk.

She let out a snort at his jesting accusation. “Actually Campbell, I’m being paid loads of Galleons for this particular assassination attempt, seeing as the last one failed,” the girl joked, tying up the last of her laces and standing with an ominous wobble. She grimaced down at the skates. “To be completely honest, this is my first time on skates so I might accidentally kill both of us this time,” Avis admitted with another wobble.

Gesturing at her brother’s “borrowed” skates still on the ground, she gave him a wicked smile.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Can’t embarrass just myself out here,” she said and turned towards the lake, breathing in a cold shock of air. “Hope they fit alright! They’re my brother’s and he’s definitely a bit bigger than you but it was all I could find,” she called back, throwing out her arms for balance as she took a cautious step forward.

Avis was grateful the boy had accepted his fate so easily. She, of course, wouldn’t have blamed him if he refused to join her but she was proud that he was approaching her silly idea with some enthusiasm, noting the life that had come into his voice when he spoke and the rise in confidence since their flight lesson. She sighed happily. The Ravenclaw had been so excited to see him that she realized she’d forgotten all about the predicament at home. Avis glanced back at him and couldn’t help another warm smile as her worries were momentarily wiped away.

Looking forward, she stepped carefully onto the ice with one skate. The other one followed soon after and after a precarious moment of instability, she managed to work her way into a standing position, knobby knees bent awkwardly and skinny arms sticking straight out at her sides. Here goes nothing.

@Matthew Campbell

Date: January 30th 2025

Instantaneously all his troubles were cleared as light reignited his golden flecked eyes and a carefree chuckle broke from his voice as relief washed over him. With all the fighting and anger he had been suffocating in this last month it was a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by someone who made breathing feel easy and made airy his heavy shoulders. Even more laughter filled the air as she wobbled her way towards the ice hair blowing effortlessly in the wind. The whole atmosphere was so polar opposite from how he had been feeling and he didn't realise until that very moment just how much he needed it.

Throwing himself down into the snow he began to exchange his incredibly sensible hiking boots for the completely nonsensical ice skates, I mean truly, how anyone could stand in these let alone skate was a miracle. Scoffing at the girl as she had the gall to pretend she would be the embarrassing one he rolled his eyes saying, "Oh come off it natural athlete you'll probably be doing aerial turns given half a second, while my coordination on the ground may be better than the air I've never been one for sport. Always last picked I'm afraid - though I doubt that was for my lack of talent." While what Matthew said could have been construed as upsetting he said it with all the casualness of a throwaway statement affirming the girl he had long since moved on from it.

Tying up the final lace he watched as the girl took timid steps onto the ice all sprawled out like some kind of roadkill victim and he couldn't hold the burst of laughter that broke from him but as she turned back the lightness on her face was brighter than the sun itself. Still in a fit of laughter he began standing arms gripping his ribs in pain from the hilarity. "You know what on second thought you may be right Greymond I've never seen someone look so unstable, it's a shame I don't have my phone we need St Mungo's on speed dial!" Completely forgetting that Avis was unlikely to know half of what he just said he was sick of waiting around and decided on a very different tactic to the careful attempt of the younger.

Launching himself into an all out run he flung himself onto the ice managing to control the unsteady devices long enough to surpass the girl whom he stuck his tongue out as he passed. Boots strung double tight to account for the additional room his brain became gloriously clear as all he heard was the gentle slice of metal on ice carving out the path he left behind. Matthew wouldn't like to have said he was a natural but the evidence stood for itself... until about five seconds later when the overconfident boy swiftly met ice falling squarely on his butt. The slipper cool of the perfectly blue ice felt refreshing to his skin as he stretched his fingers down to run over the smooth surface. This truly was the perfect idea, he had been burning so hot with impassioned anger he forgot what it was like to not.

When the pairs eyes met the raucous laughter that filled the air between them was such perfect harmony of friendship and untainted fun. No matter the struggles in life, moments like this were what it was all about. Moments like this had been exactly what he had promised his mum and his smile was so genuinely thankful as it lingered on his friend. Still howling he found just enough to strength to blame her for his misfortune as he pushed back up ready for take two "That, that was your fault you know. You brought me too big boots on purpose!"

Interacting with @Avis Greymond

Avis rolled her eyes at Matt’s obvious enjoyment of her struggle but a reluctant smile crept onto her face at his contagious laugh. Every chuckle from the boy sounded as though he hadn’t truly laughed in ages, making his mirth sound absolutely genuine. She begin to giggle at him, unable to hold back her own laughter at the ridiculous way he was clutching his obviously aching ribs as he succumbed to a fit of giggles.

“Just wait til you get on the ice and then we’ll see who’ll be laughing!” Avis retorted to his jest, her voice amused and her eyes lit with humor.

The girl was about to ask what exactly “speed dial” meant but she didn’t get the chance. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise when the usually reserved boy leapt onto the ice, his golden flecked eyes lit with determination and excitement. He managed to skate right past Avis and she received a cheeky stuck out tongue as he went. She let out a sharp laugh of disbelief and made a face at him in return.

She watched with a jealous smile as he glided away, looking uncharacteristically comfortable on the ice. Had he skated before?

No sooner had the thought entered her head than the Slytherin and his head of messy brown curls toppled over, landing hard on his arse making Avis involuntarily wince.

“Merlin Matt! You alright?” she called and started shuffling forward, cursing herself for not knowing how to move these skates any faster. It seemed she’d finally found the one physical activity she couldn’t quickly adapt to.

The girl glanced up from her unstable feet to meet her friend’s eyes, a worried expression clouding her face but it soon melted away when she saw him laughing heartily at himself. Avis couldn’t help but join in and as his fall replayed in her head, she found herself unable to stop.

Merlin, it felt good to laugh again. She hadn’t realized how long it had been since she’d simply let go of her worries and enjoyed the moment, which Matthew seemed to help her do effortlessly.

As she finally shuffled up to him, Matthew had gotten to his feet already, looking wuite ready to try again despite his fall. She took a breath in between fading giggles, her eyes still watering.

“You looked absolutely ridiculous, just so you know,” she teased, a mischievous look on her face.

The girl snorted at his response and shook her head.

“I thought you would never notice!” she laughed but was cut short by another wobble. Avis threw out a hand to grab a much more stable Matthew’s coat arm for balance, barely managing to keep herself from repeating his mistake from before. She grimaced as she let go and wobbled again, the familiar rise of anger making her throat feel tight. Avis hated it when she couldn’t get something right the first time. It was a ridiculous notion that she’d been trying to get over ever since her mam had pointed out that mistakes were important to make in order to learn but sometimes the anger was hard to control.

Her cheeks heating and adding to the already rosy effect on her face, Avis turned to her friend. “How did you glide like that? I can’t figure out how to balance on both skates much less one at a time,” she grumbled, looking down hopelessly at her feet. A sudden thought occured to her from before as her eyes lit up again.

“And what is… speed dial?” she questioned slowly. Avis had seen Muggle telephones before. They carried the small flat rectangles with them wherever they went but for the life of her, the Ravenclaw couldn’t figure out what they were for.

It seemed as though Matthew would have to be the teacher this time.

Date: January 30th 2025

If he hadn't already been crippled by laughter the worried look on Avis' face as he fell just sent him sky high hardly able to breath with the level of madness. It didn't last long though as the raucous laughter over took them both upon realising he was ok. Eyes watery bordering on full scare tears they joined each other side by side both looking immensely uncomfortable in balance but enchantingly comfortable in soul.

The audacity of the young girl to claim that he looked ridiculous when he had just witnessed her shuffle over so slowly he was adamantly sure a sloth would have reached him quicker. Yet nothing could break the elongated grin permanently affixed to his face, gone with the fall were any notions of the months events. This was to be a day of fun and laughter filled hilarity. It seemed karma was paying them each their dues as when the nefarious girl admitted to her absolute betrayal she found herself wobbling and clutching onto the oversized fabric of Matt's coat, one of his father's collection. Leaning over clutching at his stomach with his one free arm he felt his innards howl once more, truly seeing the typically athletic girl struggle was providing him with wonderful distraction.

When he reached back up the girl had a childish sort of frustration aimed at her feet that was endearing, it struck him that even angry the girl couldn't muster up a truly withering stare. As her cheeks warmed further under the heat of the thwarting skates his eyes watched her grumbling hopelessly. This simply would not do, she was not allowed to be sad when surrounded by such beauty it was just unacceptable and if he had to fall on his arse a million times to help her figure it out he would. "Avis Greymond if you can get me to fly we can work out skating. First of all you're thinking about it to much, you just have to let the ice do the work. Here surely four feet are better than two." Stretching out his arm he offered it to her in interlock preparing to skate in collaboration his eyes a flashing dare to trust him while his own devilish grin warned her against.

Knowing she wasn't one to back down from a challenge it was almost a guarantee she wouldn't be able to resist his temptation but hesitation seemingly had stopped her in her tracks. Matt was truly surprised he knew her to be a thrill seeker but when she asked her next question he realised that such a pause was not from a lack of decision, no it was from the classic pureblood confusion. The young snake swore he spent near enough half his day explaining his sentences to the ditsy heir's and heiresses of the school. Quirking his head he put on a funny voice and said "Ah Ms Greymond I see we are eager for a lesson in muggle studies, well speed-dial is a rather ancient term my father would use to mean calling someone quickly. You see we have these things called mobile phones, and they allow us to contact anyone on the planet with another one regardless of the distance. Instantaneously that is, so you can see my lack of care for sending owls as pretty as they are."

Arm still outstretched he waited patiently for the girl to take him up on his offer as he goaded her further saying, "I'm afraid lessons can only continue on the move though unless your worried about being attacked, I hear there's a girl around these parts that pushes innocent, angelic boys off of quidditch stadiums." With his eyes flashing in challenge the gold picked up on the warm winter sun his smirk was a picture of mischief.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond

Despite the disappointment in herself, Avis couldn’t help but offer her friend a grateful smile. She realized he was quite prepared to return the favor she had given him during their impromptu flying lesson and to her surprise, the girl completely trusted him, especially with the way he was grinning at her, making light of her wobbly demeanor and making her laugh so hard.

Answering the dare in his eyes, she narrowed her own in a playful manner.

“Right then, Professor Campbell. Lead on,” she said in a joking voice with a slightly nervous undertone that she desperately hoped he didn’t notice.

However at her first shaky step towards his outstretched arm, Avis froze in place. Why was she so scared? The girl could fly hundreds of meters in the air and had never had a single whim of fear but put her on a solid surface and suddenly nerves overtook her. She grimaced but luckily Matthew was there to offer a distraction as he answered her question in a funny voice. Avis giggled despite her hesitancy to move.

Her eyes widened slightly at his description. It seemed Muggles had some sort of magic of their own.

“Y’know, I always feel so lucky growing up as a witch when I see Muggles, but sometimes it’s funny to think of how behind the wizarding world is,” she pointed out thoughtfully. It took an owl almost two days to get a letter to Mam. Muggles could talk to each instantly wherever they went. It was incredible.

Curious for more, Avis opened her mouth to ask another question but was met with a challenge from her friend, whose waiting arm still stretched out between them. At the last part however, she stuck out her tongue at him and found herself shuffling forward, looping her arm through his as tightly as she could and glaring up at his golden flecked eyes as they flashed brightly every so often in the waning light of the winter sun.

“I think you’re forgetting that angels have wings, Campbell. Said girl would only push someone she knew could fly,” she replied in a matter-of-fact voice, perhaps missing the meaningful undertone to her last sentence.

Once more, Avis glanced down at her skates but this time with a determined expression. Arm in arm with her trusted friend, she took a breath and slid forward, cutting the ice with her skate. The other foot soon followed and the stability Matt’s arm was offering supported Avis’ confidence as it grew. She absentmindedly stuck out the tip of her tongue to focus as she put one skate in front of the other, slowly gaining speed.

As she finally felt a bit more comfortable moving forward, she turned again to her friend.

“Can I ask you another question now?” she begged eagerly.

Date: January 30th 2025

Progress was slower than either of them would like as they started to gracefully glide through the ice but there was something so peaceful about the slick sound the metal made as it grazed through the smooth sheets below. Light dusting of snow covering the crystalline mix of transparent and white with the murky depths of the black lake hidden far below.

Smiling as bright as the sun itself as they skated arm in arm he returned his gaze to Avis when she asked him for another question. There was a lightness to his features that didn't appear all that often when others posed the same proposal for he knew Avis simply wanted to learn. Unlike those of Slytherin who wanted to mock or make him feel isolated for his culture the raven was just curious about a world she knew not off much like he was too. Which led perfectly into the devilish gleam in his eyes forming.

"You may, but only once I ask you one first!" The words came out a little too excitable and he found himself almost stumbling skates flinging either side of his body fumbling him about before he regained his composure and laughed off the incident. While throwing him off balance slightly in confidence it did well to reinforce the logic in his brain and so withdrawing his cherry wood wand from inside his father's jacket he held it ready with a Spongify on the tip of his tongue in case it began a necessity. Matthew didn't really recognise just how clumsy he was but the bruises that littered his body from lack of focus given to spatial awareness were all to aware.

Wand prepped and balance restored he let out a small laugh and meeting the girls eyes he asked, "Can I ask what your mother does? I don't really know very much, well actually I barely know anything about the magical professions. Obviously there's teachers and aurors but well I guess I don't really know what options I have in the future. I just wondered what your parents.. er I mean your mum sorry," Matthew's face rushing bright red at the slip up. Of all people he knew the pain of being asked a question about someone lost, even if her father wasn't gone in the same way. Resignedly he wished to release himself from her arm in case he had messed things up but as that would likely make them both fall he simply opted to avert his gaze for a moment. Shame welling within his heart.

Leave it to him to take a genuine moment of happiness and contort it into a mess.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond

Avis made a face at Matthew’s announcement, only for her expression to slip into one of shock as he stumbled, bringing her with him.

“Merlin’s Great Bollocksing Beard,” she muttered through a clenched jaw, not realizing how ridiculous that phrase must sound to her Muggle born friend.

Clutching tightly to her only source of stability (which was less than stable at the moment), Avis managed to stay on her feet and was grateful to see Matthew pull out his wand. His last precautionary spell had proven to be quite helpful when the two were practicing how to land while flying a broom and she had full confidence in his abilities now.

After a bout of nervous laughter and a playful glare at her skating partner, Avis looked up in surprise at Matthew’s question. She supposed it made sense that he was asking about wizarding professions, as he had no real examples himself but his accidental mention of “parents” suddenly threw her back to the holiday break when she’d learned that the term “parents” was indeed still relevant in the present tense.

Avis couldn’t help her mouth suddenly going dry and her focus drifting at the thought but just as she was floating into the distraction of recent events, her friend’s arm loosening in hers ironically pulled her back into the present moment and she glanced up at the boy’s reddened expression, his gaze shifting to the side in embarrassment. Suddenly, Avis realized, if anything, he knew how it felt for someone to bring up an uncomfortable topic and it served as a reminder that she wasn’t alone and might as well open up about the situation to someone who understood. Maybe that’s what she needed.

“It’s ok,” she said gently, tightening her grip on his arm to pull him back into the conversation. “Mam does tailoring and laundry for our neighbors… Muggles actually… and Da was- is- an Auror. He disappeared on assignment,” she finished quietly and then realized those career options probably didn’t help him much. The serene sounds of their skates on ice cut in and Avis blushed, suddenly embarrassed by the second of silence after sharing her da’s situation with something outside the family for the first time. “But! You could be all sorts of things when you grow up! You’re good at thinking up good spells to use when you need them,” she cut in, gesturing at his wand with a slight wobble as her arm moved out of balance. Taking a breath and regaining her composure, she offered him a small smile. “You could be all Curse-Breaker! Or… or a pro dueller or even an Obliviator,” she suggested, her brain reeling.

Avis flashed him a grin. “Now you’ve asked your question. My turn! What’s the Slytherin common room like? And are there any nice ones… besides you, of course… or are they all just stuck up purebloods?” she half-joked, changing the topic and hoping to pull him out of the awkwardness from before. The question was impulsive to be sure but in reality, the girl had no love for the House due to her brother’s prejudice and her own brief experience.

Anyway, talking about Da had been much easier than she’d expected and it helped her believe he was actually out there somewhere instead of shutting down any thought of his return. And to Matthew, she was grateful for that small start towards hope.

Date: January 30th 2025

The sound that ripped from his lungs with her wild magical phrasing was almost certainly infernal. A howling laughter that stung at his eyes but when it tempered by his anxiety and guilt it left the air around them heavy with silence. Heavy until the girl beside him gently pulled his arm tighter anchoring him to a conversation he thought he had wished had never come up. Yet as she spoke Matthew wondered just how long Avis had been holding onto this secret. His mind derailed with a sad pang hoping she hadn't burdened it all alone this entire time.

Before he could jump in and try to redeem his earlier fault the girl had blushed crimson as bright as himself and he found the words died in his throat as she changed the subject trying to help him in spite of it all and complimenting him. Matthew was terrible at any number of things but one particular failure was his ability to take a compliment he always deflected and rarely ever accepted. In truth his opinion of himself had been so low for so many years that unless his success came with a physical representation like a grade or an award it was rare for him to ever believe any praise as much as he desired it. Those feelings had only worsened over this last month but times like this proved he was still capable of getting out of his head, at least for the most part. "I know a few spells but you will too in no time, for now maybe just focus on your balance or Merlin's great bollocksing beard might get you whatever the hell that means!"

Just as he was about to continue with fascinations over what an obliviator was his mind was stunned to quietude as Avis flashed him a smile signifying that he better keep shut as it was her turn to question. Not that she would know it and Matthew certainly wouldn't give anything away masking his pain behind a well timed eye roll but the question was a sore point at the moment. Slytherin was his worst enemy and the last place he wanted to be or talk about, but often having fantasized about what life might've been like had he been handed a different house he could completely understand the curiosity and in reality the place was his favourite part of the whole snake pit. Eyes glossing over in dreamy bliss he spoke softly at first, "The common room itself is miraculous, by far the best part. We're skating above it at this very moment. There are these large glass windows that overlook the great lake submerged in its depths and trust me when I say you could sit there for hours. In the morning light little dances of sunlight breach through the water and create streams of glistening light across the floor. The stonework itself is all dark and gloomy like deep slate but there are roaring fireplaces and comfy arm chairs to relax in with a book, then of course there's a lot of snake decor but there's also a small bookshelf area and tea area and somehow, even in the dark of the dungeons, every so often it feels homely."

As soon as he finished painting the mental picture of the room his eyes darkened and lowered a sigh releasing itself from his nose in a strained fashion. His entire body seemed to decompress or deflate and their skating slowed, "Then there's the people. I wont say they're all bad, in fact there's some older students Illowy Magnard and Tristan Theramin who are almost like big siblings to me, though you can't tell anyone or Illowy will have my head. They were there last year when things got really bad." With the presence of their names and his joke, at least he hoped it was a joke, the tension that had rooted in his veins eased and his eyes lit again with warm golden flecks but not for long as he went on, "Then there's Archer Duncan, we're friends now, I think, well he's not really in the best place to ask but we're better than before, we uh- didn't exactly see eye to eye at the start. Stuck up pureblood things. I'm on the Vipers duelling team which is progress so the captains Prat Pass and Cass Ito are alright but I don't really know where I stand with them." The more he spoke the more the sadness kept creeping in reminding him of all the pain this past month had caused and all the pricks that were responsible.

"Most as you said are purist bastards who either don't give me the time of day or treat me like shit and now I have to have my own room commandeered by the most idiotic one of them all Colin McCoire who is basically responsible for my foul mood the entire month." Anger was beginning to rise to a boil and he had to stop them coming to an abrupt halt that threw them off their rhythm completely. Taking a deep breath he reached for his ring and raised it to his face trying to calm himself until the cool embrace of his calming aura kicked itself into gear and stole away his anger. "Sorry Avis, I shouldn't let myself get worked up like that they just- it all just gets a bit much being there knowing for the majority I'm unwelcome." A wicked smile crossed his lips though with his next statement that he barely spoke aloud more of a whisper to himself, "I'll get him back for it."

Clearing his throat to release the last dregs of anxiety and hide his mischief he reached out his arm again and with a friendly smile born from his ability to be calm once more he asked,
"Care to join me again, or am I too much of a flight risk or uh- skate risk I guess? Either way you must tell me what an Oblivitor is." Butchering the pronunciation that had slipped his mind during his tirade.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond