Hey... we were- nothing! So how are you

“C’mon, you’re way smarter than me,” he whined, knocking into the others side with a playful pout. “At least let me borrow your notes, you know I suck at Astronomy.” The bucket rattled quietly in his hand, swinging violently as the boy picked up his pace to hop in front of his friend's path; he twisted on his heel, hands clapping together pleadingly as the boy began to walk backwards. “Please, please, please. I’ll owe you forever.”

His friend stared. Elsian squinted back, bucket hitting his side as he waved his clasped hands pleadingly.

Victory!

“Yes!” He exclaimed in a whisper. Falling back into step with the other, 2 arms snaked around Henry's neck from behind, thrown over the boy's shoulders from where the Gryffindor leaned on him obnoxiously from behind. “I will literally buy you vanilla shakes for the rest of the school year.”

Reaching the spot he slid away, busying himself with setting up the bucket and pouring the glittery red & green powder into the bucket before hauling it up, tying it in place before rigging it up to tilt with the tripwire Henry had set up. As the other teen spoke Elsian looked down from his work of pouring another tiny extra tube of glitter into the bucket, his toes ached when he relaxed back flat onto his heels. “Yeah, pretty sure.” He was not sure actually. This was a bold-faced lie. Henry should have known better than to let Elsian be the one to spy on people's daily paths.

He fiddled with the glitter; now empty tube being slipped into the pocket of his black jeans when the sound of the camera went off. Grabbing his attention.

“Did you at least make sure to get my good side,” he joked, taking the treat with a grin.

Wrapper crinkling in his hands he popped a piece into his mouth, letting the rich taste melt on his tongue as he took in the finished set up one last time. It looked fine. Was probably fine. He scuffed his shoe against the ground; it was fine. Jeez, all that talk about percentages wasn't good for his nerves.

Seeing the other ready his camera Elsian grinned, striking a goofy pose, all reckless Gryffindor confidence. A pause as Henry began guessing, another bite of chocolate as he shook his head; the next photo got a dashing face of disgust, complemented by the mature sticking out of a tongue as the raven haired boy crouched down in front of his friend. “Ew, no!” He laughed, “not even close.”

‘It begins with a v,” he offered, childishly shoving at the other teens side as he sat down next to him.

Dryly he stared Henry down. “Is it the banner?” The guesses would continue, slowly becoming more outlandish until it was his turn. “Ok, ok. I spy something…” He looked around the hall, eyes scanning over Hery briefly, taking in his shoe laces before pointedly lingering his gaze on a distant wall. “White. I spy something white.”

He laughed quietly, hiding his face in his knees from where he hugged them to his chest as the game once again changed. It was somehow a little embarrassing. “You’re wrong~” he sang. Wiggling his feet he continued, smirking at Henry, “I have fallen off a roof.” A pause. “Many times actually. How have I not broken a bone?”

‘I haven’t kissed anyone before- hey!” He hissed dramatically, lightly smacking at the other as he pelted Elsi with jellybeans. “What sick betrayal is this.” He demanded, even as Henry posed his own 3 choices. “Hnn…” The Slytherin was left to face his friends' scrutiny. “You totally seem like the type to start a fire,” a thoughtful look, “and you would read an encyclopedia just because; I don't think you’ve kissed anyone before!” He declared confidently.

Elsian would deny it to his grave but at least half of the thumb wars that followed had the Gryffindor cheating to win. Nothing was off the table. Including but not limited to Elsian jabbing Henry's sides every time he was able to get an edge on the sleepy lion.

Then the sound of the prank being sprung hit and the 2 quickly fell silent.

Unthinkingly he bolted up before Henry, practically skidding to a stop nearby as his toes dipped into colored powder that’d spread out onto the ground like a sparkling layer of holiday dust.

He stared, silent. Green eyes taking in the sight of Logan, newly looking like she’d been freshly dumped out of a Christmas magazine, coated in the shimmering hues of red and green. Henry cursed somewhere to his left and Elsi just- he couldn’t…

Elsian laughed. Loud, surprised, and apparently the trigger for a full on fit of horrible, uncontrollable wheezing laughter.

“You-” he wheezed, pointing at Logan and looking close to tears, “you just- and it-” He laughed, shaking with glee as he hugged his sides. “Your face-e-e,” he stuttered, choking on a gasp of giggles as he went to the floor, uncaring for the red powder coating his hands and knees as he lost his collective shit.

“I’m dying! I’m dying, I can't-'' He risked a glance at Logan.

And promptly lost his shit again. Air be damned. His lungs could take it.