16 Jun 2018, 17:03
Tree Trouble
Constantine nodded his head, trying to see the best in people, just like Maisy had been doing. He didn't believe for one second that the boys had done it just to intrigue her, and had not realised the full consequences of their actions. The Hufflepuff knew it was set up for somebody to get hurt, a malicious joke that wasn't funny however you slice it. He could imagine them laughing, about how a first year Slytherin broke her arm, or worse, in an attempt to find fairies that didn't exist. Constantine let out a sigh, in what appeared to be an effort to calm himself down. "They probably haven't been down to the tree, only heard about it. We were probably just roped in to test the waters, and I don't think anyone would've expected such an aggressive willow, so maybe it wasn't their aim to hurt us after all." He agreed through a smile and gritted teeth. The last thing he wanted to do was spit out a jumble of profanities, and make Maisy distrusting of her own house.
"So you won't go to the Hospital Wing, but I have to? I must admit, your logic is quite flawless." Constantine teased, brushing his fingers over the cut. Most of the blood had congealed, although it wasn't a bright idea to leave it that way. "Hm. I guess the toilets will do, though I don't really feel like being asked how I got it." He admitted sheepishly, wincing as he swiped over a particularly sore spot. The Hufflepuff shook his head, "Well, it hurts a bit. Only a tad, though. Kind of like, a really large paper cut." Constantine answered. It did hurt, it was bound to after being caught at such a force.
Constantine took Maisy's hand, using his other arm to help support him to his feet. "You're right, I don't think it'll do us any good being out here." He agreed, dusting himself off.
"So you won't go to the Hospital Wing, but I have to? I must admit, your logic is quite flawless." Constantine teased, brushing his fingers over the cut. Most of the blood had congealed, although it wasn't a bright idea to leave it that way. "Hm. I guess the toilets will do, though I don't really feel like being asked how I got it." He admitted sheepishly, wincing as he swiped over a particularly sore spot. The Hufflepuff shook his head, "Well, it hurts a bit. Only a tad, though. Kind of like, a really large paper cut." Constantine answered. It did hurt, it was bound to after being caught at such a force.
Constantine took Maisy's hand, using his other arm to help support him to his feet. "You're right, I don't think it'll do us any good being out here." He agreed, dusting himself off.
16 Jun 2018, 17:34
Tree Trouble
It was a stretch - naive as she was, even she knew that much. The boys couldn't possibly have been at school as long as the had, and not known what would happen. Still... it was nice to hear Constantine backing up her suggestion, even if it was quite possible he didn't mean a word of it. A part of her felt guilty, though, in trying to justify the actions of the older students, and her brows knit slightly as she considered it, "Do... do you think they'll try it again? Those boys? With someone else? I would hate for anyone to get hurt..."
Biting her lip, she shook her head, and when he teased her, she grinned a little sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders, "Okay, fine. We won't go to the hospital wing for you, either. Maybe you'll get a scar... That'd be kind of neat. I heard my brother Charlie telling Auggie, after his bike accident, that girls like scars... Though I'm not really sure what meant by it."
Dusting herself off after he'd climbed to his feet, she looked at her wrist, which had mottled a little with bruises. Giving it a bend, she grimaced, but a second wiggle allowed for more give and she nodded, satisfied it wasn't broken.
"Constantine..." She said, after a moment or two of walking, "Do... do you think I should tell someone? About what they did? Really? It's okay, you can be honest..."
Biting her lip, she shook her head, and when he teased her, she grinned a little sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders, "Okay, fine. We won't go to the hospital wing for you, either. Maybe you'll get a scar... That'd be kind of neat. I heard my brother Charlie telling Auggie, after his bike accident, that girls like scars... Though I'm not really sure what meant by it."
Dusting herself off after he'd climbed to his feet, she looked at her wrist, which had mottled a little with bruises. Giving it a bend, she grimaced, but a second wiggle allowed for more give and she nodded, satisfied it wasn't broken.
"Constantine..." She said, after a moment or two of walking, "Do... do you think I should tell someone? About what they did? Really? It's okay, you can be honest..."
16 Jun 2018, 18:24
Tree Trouble
Constantine hummed thoughtfully, clearly mulling it over. "Whilst I know it isn't what you'd like to hear, it's quite possible, yes." He replied truthfully, picking a few stray blades of grass from his robes. The boys that had targeted Maisy were most likely bullies, at worst. In Constantine's experience, people like that simply wouldn't go away even if ignored, you had to confront them in some way or form. Even then, it would be difficult to change someone set in their ways. "I can't even say that you're the first, think of how long they've been here. " The Hufflepuff added seriously.
"I'm not sure what he means, either. Though, I'm sure nothing can mess up my good looks." Constantine joked, pulling a stupid face. A scar was the least of his problems, at the moment. "I'll just pretend that I got it whilst fighting a dragon or something." He exclaimed, within a peal of laughter. Truth be told, it would also teach him a lesson, to be more careful in his surroundings. After all, Hogwarts was a big place - who knows what else inhabited it.
Constantine was still eyeing up Maisy's injuries as she spoke, a bit too obviously. "Yes, I do. People like that shouldn't be here, especially endangering other students like that." The Hufflepuff replied, a little quicker than intended. The mere thought of them getting away scot-free was enough to send his anger spiralling back. "I mean, it's just not right. If we don't stop it, who will? Will it be when a student gets k-...hurt by one of their 'hilarious' jokes?" Constantine said, softer this time.
"I'm not sure what he means, either. Though, I'm sure nothing can mess up my good looks." Constantine joked, pulling a stupid face. A scar was the least of his problems, at the moment. "I'll just pretend that I got it whilst fighting a dragon or something." He exclaimed, within a peal of laughter. Truth be told, it would also teach him a lesson, to be more careful in his surroundings. After all, Hogwarts was a big place - who knows what else inhabited it.
Constantine was still eyeing up Maisy's injuries as she spoke, a bit too obviously. "Yes, I do. People like that shouldn't be here, especially endangering other students like that." The Hufflepuff replied, a little quicker than intended. The mere thought of them getting away scot-free was enough to send his anger spiralling back. "I mean, it's just not right. If we don't stop it, who will? Will it be when a student gets k-...hurt by one of their 'hilarious' jokes?" Constantine said, softer this time.
16 Jun 2018, 18:38
Tree Trouble
She laughed as he mentioned his appearance, and while Maisy wasn't exactly a judge of appearances - given at eleven years old she had very little idea what made a person good looking to begin with - she had to admit he was probably right. All the same, she had to hope it wouldn't scar, because looking at that for the next six and a half years of her life was only going to drive the guilt home all the more. She could very well have gotten him killed, and whatever he said, that thought broke her heart...
"Maybe you ought to go a bit smaller than dragon..." She said with a small smile, "If they're the size of the great hall like Eevee says, I think they'd leave a great deal more damage than that." Rubbing her wrist, feeling for tender spots, her smile faded as he continued, and her eyes fell to the ground ahead of them.
"I was afraid you'd say that. But I guess... I guess you're right." She'd been thinking it as well, the idea that they might try it again with someone else. Someone who wouldn't be so lucky, "But maybe... maybe we could figure something else out. What if we just... talked to them? Told them what happened? Maybe it'd be enough if they saw how stupid their joke was... how dangerous?"
"Maybe you ought to go a bit smaller than dragon..." She said with a small smile, "If they're the size of the great hall like Eevee says, I think they'd leave a great deal more damage than that." Rubbing her wrist, feeling for tender spots, her smile faded as he continued, and her eyes fell to the ground ahead of them.
"I was afraid you'd say that. But I guess... I guess you're right." She'd been thinking it as well, the idea that they might try it again with someone else. Someone who wouldn't be so lucky, "But maybe... maybe we could figure something else out. What if we just... talked to them? Told them what happened? Maybe it'd be enough if they saw how stupid their joke was... how dangerous?"
17 Jun 2018, 09:58
Tree Trouble
"Well, I'm hardly going to say I was fighting a pixie. I'll settle for a bowtruckle - those things are bloody dangerous." Constantine laughed. They were also small in size, although they can do a lot of damage to the facial area. He shuddered just thinking about one going near his eyes. However, he didn't reckon he'd ever fall unfortunate enough to have that happen, considering he'd never do anything to make them attack.
"Are you sure about that?" The Hufflepuff's face wrinkled into another frown at the concept of talking to them, face to face. He'd probably be a little too reckless in front of them, after all they'd done. Personally, he didn't think they were worth being spared from a teacher's punishment, though seeing how much it meant to Maisy, he might as well give it a try. "Well, we can give it a try, I suppose." Constantine sighed reluctantly, "However, if this doesn't work, promise me we can tell someone?" He asked afterwards. Constantine wasn't sure where to start on this plan. He couldn't go into the Slytherin dormitory, and he wasn't allowing Maisy to go inside to confront them by herself. "Do you know where we can find them?" Constantine said, clueless.
"Are you sure about that?" The Hufflepuff's face wrinkled into another frown at the concept of talking to them, face to face. He'd probably be a little too reckless in front of them, after all they'd done. Personally, he didn't think they were worth being spared from a teacher's punishment, though seeing how much it meant to Maisy, he might as well give it a try. "Well, we can give it a try, I suppose." Constantine sighed reluctantly, "However, if this doesn't work, promise me we can tell someone?" He asked afterwards. Constantine wasn't sure where to start on this plan. He couldn't go into the Slytherin dormitory, and he wasn't allowing Maisy to go inside to confront them by herself. "Do you know where we can find them?" Constantine said, clueless.
17 Jun 2018, 12:42
Tree Trouble
"A bow...truckle. Those are the ones that look like little tree people, right? Like Groot! Oh..." Laughing, she shook her head, "You probably don't know who that is. Nevermind!" At any rate, she hoped that he wouldn't need to tell anyone what happened, once they'd gotten him cleaned up. The truth had a way of coming out, and she didn't want him getting into trouble for her... Not for anything.
As they continued up the hill towardd the school she opened her mouth to answer him and felt it snap closed again, her eyes staring ahead at the top of the hill line. Four bodies stood silhouetted against the brightness of the sun, varying heights, but all of them with the same bulky, broad shouldered build.
Currently, they were hunched over, and the sound of laughter resonated, rolling down the hill. In her mind, that sound had already been replaying. It was the same nasty, hateful laughter she'd heard when they told her about the fairies.
Breathing in, she reached rather suddenly for Constantine's arm, and held it in a vice like grasp, shaking her head, "You know what? I'm sure they learned their lesson. I don't really see much of a point, confronting them about it... We should go."
As they continued up the hill towardd the school she opened her mouth to answer him and felt it snap closed again, her eyes staring ahead at the top of the hill line. Four bodies stood silhouetted against the brightness of the sun, varying heights, but all of them with the same bulky, broad shouldered build.
Currently, they were hunched over, and the sound of laughter resonated, rolling down the hill. In her mind, that sound had already been replaying. It was the same nasty, hateful laughter she'd heard when they told her about the fairies.
Breathing in, she reached rather suddenly for Constantine's arm, and held it in a vice like grasp, shaking her head, "You know what? I'm sure they learned their lesson. I don't really see much of a point, confronting them about it... We should go."
17 Jun 2018, 17:11
Tree Trouble
Confused about the sudden silence, Constantine looked to Maisy. She looked rather distant, afraid, at a push. The Hufflepuff followed her stare, squinting as four figures came into view. It was quite ordinary to see friends hanging around on school grounds, although this group seemed rather off putting. As they neared closer, Constantine picked up on their emerald robes, and tall, daunting stature. Now, he immediately recognised they were far bigger, and therefore far stronger than he was. However, he also recognised, by the way Maisy looked at them, exactly who they were. Constantine eyed the bunch in disdain, suppressing a scowl.
Constantine grumbled - not because he had been tugged at, but because Maisy had decided to avoid the conflict entirely. "How have they learnt their lesson?" He crowed, gently prying the Slytherin's fingers off of his arm. "They don't even know we were hurt, so how could they?" Constantine continued. He had half the mind to simply walk up the rest of the hill and give them a piece of his mind, but Maisy's hesitance had swayed him slightly. The Hufflepuff clenched his jaw, running his fingers along the cut. It just wasn't fair. Why did the people who held the most power always abuse it? Constantine kicked a tuft of grass in his anger, sending the clump flying.
Constantine grumbled - not because he had been tugged at, but because Maisy had decided to avoid the conflict entirely. "How have they learnt their lesson?" He crowed, gently prying the Slytherin's fingers off of his arm. "They don't even know we were hurt, so how could they?" Constantine continued. He had half the mind to simply walk up the rest of the hill and give them a piece of his mind, but Maisy's hesitance had swayed him slightly. The Hufflepuff clenched his jaw, running his fingers along the cut. It just wasn't fair. Why did the people who held the most power always abuse it? Constantine kicked a tuft of grass in his anger, sending the clump flying.
17 Jun 2018, 17:22
Tree Trouble
Swallowing, Maisy shook her head. He was right, again, and she wasn't going to argue with him about it. It wasn't right, or fair, the way the boys, even now, even knowing what might've happened, could stand there laughing about it. Had they followed her? Watched her crouched over like an idiot, looking for footprints? Had they seen the tree nearly smash her and Constantine to bits? And they were still laughing.
It wasn't as if she were unfamiliar entirely with angry, but so rarely did she ever see much worth in expressing her feelings that in that moment she felt genuinely confused, and more than just a touch frustrated. Confrontation was a matter she preferred to avoid at all costs, but Constantine's irritation was evident and turning to him, she shook her head.
"What can we do? If we tell on them and they lie about it... say they never told me? There's four of them and one of me. And they'll just... they'll make it worse. They had their fun, right? That's all they wanted. To see someone fall for it, and I did, and it's over." Frowning, she moved to step in front of the Hufflepuff, standing expressly between him and the boys, "They don't even know who you are right now, and I'd rather keep it that way. I don't want them messing with you, too."
It wasn't as if she were unfamiliar entirely with angry, but so rarely did she ever see much worth in expressing her feelings that in that moment she felt genuinely confused, and more than just a touch frustrated. Confrontation was a matter she preferred to avoid at all costs, but Constantine's irritation was evident and turning to him, she shook her head.
"What can we do? If we tell on them and they lie about it... say they never told me? There's four of them and one of me. And they'll just... they'll make it worse. They had their fun, right? That's all they wanted. To see someone fall for it, and I did, and it's over." Frowning, she moved to step in front of the Hufflepuff, standing expressly between him and the boys, "They don't even know who you are right now, and I'd rather keep it that way. I don't want them messing with you, too."
17 Jun 2018, 17:49
Tree Trouble
"Alright then, fine." Constantine huffed in frustration. The Hufflepuff stood, fixed to the spot, his arms folded tightly over his chest. "If we don't do anything about it, I guess I'll just have to watch them every minute of the day, then." He stated, watching them over Maisy's shoulder. How could he leave knowing that their next victim could be selected at any moment in time? Of course, what he had said was mainly a bluff; realistically, he couldn't just follow them about without skipping out on lessons. "I don't understand why you're willing to let them get away with it...how is that reasonable?" Constantine argued, confused.
And it's not over, is it? What if they do the same to you again?" He repeated. Their fun would simply never be satisfied, not ever. As long as there was someone smaller, and weaker, people like that will continue in their ways. "So what if they mess about with me? It'll go straight to a member of staff. If that doesn't work, I'll simply take matters into my own hands." Whilst Constantine didn't have knowledge on how to duel, or even more complicated spells, he did know how to get back at someone. Living with Montgomery had given him a valuable lesson - it was an eye for an eye, prank or be pranked.
And it's not over, is it? What if they do the same to you again?" He repeated. Their fun would simply never be satisfied, not ever. As long as there was someone smaller, and weaker, people like that will continue in their ways. "So what if they mess about with me? It'll go straight to a member of staff. If that doesn't work, I'll simply take matters into my own hands." Whilst Constantine didn't have knowledge on how to duel, or even more complicated spells, he did know how to get back at someone. Living with Montgomery had given him a valuable lesson - it was an eye for an eye, prank or be pranked.
17 Jun 2018, 18:27
Tree Trouble
"You don't mean it!" She said with a small, desperate cry, a frown falling to her lips as she shook her head, "Please... Just let it alone!"
Her eyes stung, and blinking, she glanced back over her shoulders at the boys. Their amusement over the situation seemed to have faded for the time being and instead, they were standing around in a circle, throwing small pebbles at each other. Every time a pebble hit one of them, a burst of laughter would arise from the other boys.
"You might not care if they mess with you, but I do!" She said with an indignant sniff. Looking back at him, her expression softened and she bit nervously at the edge of her nail, "And even if they didn't, you could get in trouble, and then how would I feel? You're my friend, Constantine. Do you think I want that?"
But as the words poured out, she felt a twinge of uncertainty. What if they didn't stop? What if they weren't satisfied with one prank? There were still a few months left in the school year, and there was no telling whether or not they'd leave well enough alone, and she wasn't looking forward to being their outlet for amusement... nor did she exactly fancy the idea of them pulling pranks on anyone else.
"What... what would you do, anyway?"
Her eyes stung, and blinking, she glanced back over her shoulders at the boys. Their amusement over the situation seemed to have faded for the time being and instead, they were standing around in a circle, throwing small pebbles at each other. Every time a pebble hit one of them, a burst of laughter would arise from the other boys.
"You might not care if they mess with you, but I do!" She said with an indignant sniff. Looking back at him, her expression softened and she bit nervously at the edge of her nail, "And even if they didn't, you could get in trouble, and then how would I feel? You're my friend, Constantine. Do you think I want that?"
But as the words poured out, she felt a twinge of uncertainty. What if they didn't stop? What if they weren't satisfied with one prank? There were still a few months left in the school year, and there was no telling whether or not they'd leave well enough alone, and she wasn't looking forward to being their outlet for amusement... nor did she exactly fancy the idea of them pulling pranks on anyone else.
"What... what would you do, anyway?"