Noted PV Howard White

@Bloom Silverton

Howard had spent Spring Break at Hogwarts just like he did all of the other school holidays, but the time off from lessons hadn't been the fun he was hoping for. Sure, he had found some joy in the peace and quiet, plus it left plenty of time for some Quidditch practice, but the memory of the Mid-spring Celebration had haunted him the entire time. The brawl he had found himself caught up in had stoked a part of his nature that he thought he finally had under control and the disappointment that came with that hung heavy on his shoulders, but that was nothing compared to the fact that he may have ruined things with Bloom.

After months of dancing around his feelings, Howard had finally built up the courage to express how he felt to her, but just as he was going to make his move that decision to put Falentra's name into the Goblet came back to bite him right on the ass. He had spent every night in his dorm room agonizing over why he had put her name on that damned piece of parchment! Was it his subconscious still harboring some feelings towards Fal? After all this time was there still something he had left unprocessed? No! Howard was often a complicated emotional being, but one thing he knew for sure was that he wanted Bloom and he wanted her bad! But how was he ever to convince her that Falentra's name on that parchment meant nothing. That it was just a coincidence of catching her scent the day he had filled out the form. Howard never expected to be picked as champion, never in a million years did he think that name would come forth. Had he known he would have put so much more thought into the name chosen for his "Special" person. He still didn't even know what the hell that even meant!!

BANG!

Howard let his fist smack the desk before him as his frustration overflowed. Not an uncommon sight for those that sat around him as he was no stranger to dramatic action, but what was more surprising was the fact that he was there before Bloom. This day had been approaching for sometime now as the fifth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had shared this time slot for History of Magic, but what made matters worse was the fact that she sat right in front of him all year. Her scent would reach him as soon as she entered the classroom. How was this going to go? What would her reaction to him be? There was a moment of hope as her eyes met his as she made her way to her seat. Howard sat up straight, he smiled, his head fell into his hands as she cooly turned away.

The cold shoulder! The worst sentence a man can receive! For a brief moment he had the urge to shout and make a scene. To yell his feelings for all to hear, but embarrassing her in front of the entire class wouldn't help his case. So, he he did what any mature teenager would do. He began to scribble a note on a spare piece of parchment.

Hey! Can we talk? Please! I know I've made a mess of things. If I could just explain...

Howard wasn't good with written word, but there was no way he could sit through this class without trying. He leaned forward in his seat and his long arms reached out to toss the note onto her desk.

Howard White was not easily ignored...

@Howard White

Welp.

The ability to ignore Howard worked for a hot minute. As Bloom was staring blankly at the words in her textbook, a piece of paper dropped onto her desk from behind. Bloom's heart began to race. Was he really passing notes in the middle of class? What if they got caught? She was definitely not in the mood to go to detention. But... she had to look at what he wrote. How could she not?

Bloom opened the piece of paper to see what was written inside:

Hey! Can we talk? Please! I know I've made a mess of things. If I could just explain...

She took a deep breath. He wanted to talk and explain himself. The last thing she needed was to hear that he was going back with Falentra. Her heart already hurt thinking that she misread their friendship. It had to be only that: a friendship. Nothing more. She already made up her mind over spring break in thinking that he was going back to the bomb-shell Slytherin fifth year.

Bloom opened her backpack located on the floor next to her chair and took a blank parchment out. She inked her quill and looked at the blank parchment. What should she say to him? Bloom moved all of her hair to one side, exposing her neck and jaw, and leaned against her right hand. Should she be angry? Sad? Frustrated? She was all of them. She inked her quill once more and began writing:

Howard... You don't need to explain anything. I get it. You and that bitch Falentra are meant to be and I just want you to be happy. Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl.

Bloom paused and re-inked her quill. She wanted to write more. She wanted to share with him how she really felt about him and that what she wanted most was him, but instead, she placed her quill down on the desk and she folded the paper. She looked at the professor, trying to make sure that they were not looking their way. When she felt the close was clear, she made her move.

Note in hand, Bloom lowered her arm to her side and stretched it behind her ever so slightly, touching Howard's knee. She looked to the side, her eyes peeking back at him. Her heart fluttered, and yet, it was slowly shattering again-- just like the night of the Midspring Celebration.

Bloom could feel her body and mind pulling and twisting in so many different directions. Her heart was shattering, her hormones were raging for Howard, her mind was filled with so many thoughts and worries... At this moment, being a teenager sucked.

@Bloom Silverton

Howard's knee bounced up and down with anticipation as he watched her read the note. What was she thinking? How did she feel?! His heart quickened as she brought out her own writing utensils and began to jot dow a reply. This could all go terribly! What would Howard do if she told him to bugger off? Should he accept defeat or fight for what he wanted? Should he go all our or be patient and wait for the bridge to repair? How can so many questions and feelings filter through one mind in such rapid succession. One thing was certain. Being a teenager could really suck...

Not but a moment later Bloom's arm would rest against his knee as she passed her note back to him. There was almost a feral impulse to reach out and attempt to run away with her, but he would compromise with the beast that was a hormonal teenaged boy and settle with a slight touch of his own. As his long fingers took the note from her, his index finger would rest for a moment on her hand. There! That was a great way to let her know how he felt.

NO!! Howard's head slumped again as he pull his hand away and read the note. His worst fear of what was happening came true. Bloom thought he still had feelings for Falentra! How could she not with that stupid goblet spitting her name out next to his. Stupid "special" person! Stupid damn question in the first place! Merlin's beard! Why did he put her name down!!! He fidgeted in his seat as he thought of what to do. There had to be a way to fix this! His quill began to scribble away as he inked his response.

Bloom, please. I swear it's not like that between me and her anymore. I can explain. Let me just...

Howard couldn't find the right words to explain how he felt about Bloom. How she constantly slipped into his thoughts. How he had agonized over the break about their current situation. How even now the scent drifting off her hair was almost intoxicating. Just then a thought would slip through the turmoil.

Just give me one chance to talk it out with you. Meet me in the Room of Requirement? Tonight after dinner? Please!!

It was a last ditch effort to prove his feelings. With a gentle nudge on the shoulder he would pass the note. Back to where it all began...

@Howard White

All it takes for hormones to rage was one touch. As Bloom was handing off the note back to Howard, he had taken the note, only to leave a lingering touch in its midst. Bloom wanted to grab his finger and pull him in, but instead she slowly moved her hand back onto her desk. She looked at her hand, hoping to see a mark of proof from the touch she received. The feeling on her hand and throughout her body began to dwindle away.

Bloom was nowhere near focused for class. Their first day back after Spring Break, and here she was passing notes with her crush without a inch of concentration on her studies. It was up to par for her in terms of not understanding her studies as well as she should, but it was typically her choice. She looked down at her book and just stared at the words, not comprehending anything written. Her mind was jumbled.

A nudge of her shoulder woke her up from staring blankly at her textbook. She reached behind her and grabbed the note. Her heart fluttered. He's not interested in her? she questioned, and reread the note, wondering if she had read it right. But why would he put her as a special person? There were so many questions Bloom could think of, that she thought it fine to give him a chance and explain. Answers were needed.

Fine.

What else could she say? No? He was pleading to meet with her. He set up the date, time and location. Even if she had said no, she would have still gone out of curiosity. It was best to be honest about her intentions.

Out of their bubble, she could see that students were moving their desks closer to the person next to them. Paired reading. Bloom felt her desk get nudged by another fifth year student who sat across from her. Bloom moved her desk which was now perpendicular from Howard's and straight-on from her partner. From the looks of it, they were definitely paying attention to class. "Sorry, what page are we on?" Bloom said, with a sheepish smile. When given the page number, she quickly flipped the pages of her book and looked at the topic. It seems that they were learning about an early war that happened so long ago. "Can you read first?" she asked her partner.

As her partner was reading, she couldn't help but look at Howard. Her chocolate eyes were searching for answers. What was going to be his explanation? Maybe his interest wasn't Falentra after all. Maybe it was Serena instead. That would make more sense. When it was her turn to read, she looked back at her book and read the next paragraph to her partner. Thankfully it was a small paragraph and her partner started up again in pattern.

There better be things to throw.

Bloom added in her note. She then folded the parchment and reached over, placing the note as a bookmark in his textbook. Again, it was her turn to read. This time, a longer paragraph. She read it as fast as she could. How long was this section? She wanted the pair readings to end, but the way they were seated, she didn't mind the occasional glimpses of Howard from the corner of her eye.