The moment of truth Closed

Rosie couldn't help but smile. Howie brought that out in her. "You don't have to be Minister of Magic if you don't want." She laughed and shook her head. "Go home to the bakery if that's what you want." She sobered slightly, her voice taking on a more serious, meaningful tone. "I just mean that you should do whatever you want. In the muggle world or the wizarding one. I believe in you."

She sighed and bowed her head, looking at Howie through her lashes. "Sorry." She was always embarrassed when she let some of the passion that she usually kept tucked away peeked out. Especially when it did so in the form of impassioned speeches. "But anyway, I figure the Prime Minister probably knows about wizards. Probably even has a whole department. It was to keep a lot of effort and probably lots of cooperation to keep an entire culture completely hidden. I mean, that's a ton of work." She shrugged. "I could be a Hogwarts ambassador too, I suppose. And there's probably tons of work at the beginning of the school year." She shook her head, imagining the job. "But after the muggle parents understand what's going on, it would likely die down." Just then, as if someone actually turned on a lightbulb, Rosie got an idea. "Maybe I can do both! Like... ambassador, but I can volunteer free time to helping families like ours. What do you think?"

Howie leaned in a bit closer towards Rosie as she spoke. It was rare when she let her passion break through, and her words meant a lot to him. She truly believed in him. His parents had always been supportive, but they only saw him as a poor kid from the village. What else could there be for him. They had no money to send him to University, and Howie’s grades at his muggle school certainly wouldn’t get him any scholarships. They had worked their whole lives towards opening the bakery, it was honest and hard work, and something they would be proud to leave thier only son. 

Things were different now though. Howie was a wizard and now had access to this amazing new world, like being born anew. He also had Rosie, who’s words filled him with confidence. She was right, he could do anything he wanted. Howie smirked as she apologized. “Don’t be sorry Rosie. You’re encouragement means a lot to me.”

"Maybe I can do both! Like... ambassador, but I can volunteer free time to helping families like ours. What do you think?"

“Honestly Rosie, I think that would all be great for you. You’re always so understanding with people, and who would be better to represent us to the muggles. Seriously, I think you’d have knack for it, the best of both worlds all balled up into one.” He squeezed her hand as he spoke, hoping she believed it as much as he did. Howie looked deep into her bright green eyes, he was so happy that he had met her. His eyes drifted towards thier hands, they had been intertwined all throughout thier conversation. They had become best friends, but it had quickly grown to something more. What that was, Howie still wasn’t sure. He felt the time had come for them to figure it out. His eyes went back to hers. 

"Thanks, Howie. That means a lot." She wanted to hug him in that moment, but there were still far too many eyes on them. When Howie squeezed her hand, she grinned. Close enough. Wordlessly, Rosie returned Howie's gaze, her smile fading with the tone of their conversation. As Howie's eyes drifted to their hands, she watched him. What was he thinking? When his eyes met hers again, she somehow knew that they were on the same page. "We need to talk, don't we?" She glanced around again. God, these people were nosy. They couldn't talk here. She bit her bottom lip as she thought. There was only two places that might offer them any privacy for this conversation. Either the abandoned toilets or a walk on the grounds. Of the two, she much preferred the lake and the open air. "Walk with me? I don't have class for awhile." Yes, she knew this might be reminiscent of the night this started, but there was something poetic about that.

Reluctantly, Rosie released Howie's hand. Leaning over she grabbed her bag that had been sitting on the floor. She opened it, revealing her school books, quill, and yes, even the pen that had originally brought them together. She gathered her precious letters, she would have to reply to those soon. Maybe she would make time after class. She would write her mother again, too. She stored the letters between two of her class books and closed her bag.

Howie gave her a pressed lip smile as thier eyes met. He searched the green orbs for some sign of what she might be thinking, trying his best to read her emotions. Howie was sure that Rosie liked him, and if it was anything like he felt towards her, she liked him a lot. However he was nervous about having a conversation about it. What if she didn’t want to be his girlfriend? The situation that they were in now worked well enough. Couldn’t they just remain best friends who liked each other...and held hands all the time...and kissed. Howie shook the thoughts from his head, he was being foolish. No, the time had come for them to discuss their feelings for each other and decide if this was going to be more than ‘best friends’. Howie opened his mouth to speak.

"We need to talk, don't we?"

Another smile broke out on his face as he chuckled a little nervously. “Yeah...I think we do.” He was relieved that she was thinking along the same lines, that he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stop thinking about it. Howie turned his head, scanning the Great Hall, so many people. 

"Walk with me?

His face was filled with relief, that was a much better idea than trying to discuss it here, with all these damned nosy students. “Yeah, of course. Let’s get out of here. Want to go outside. It’s too busy here in the castle, we might have more privacy out on the grounds?”