The McGarry-Selwyn Peace Conference PV June Selwyn

August 28th was probably, by far, the strangest day in June Selwyn's life, and all because of that stupid bottle game. She hugged, she was kissed, she watched her best friend slap someone in the face on her behalf (twice), and more than a fair share of incoming first years probably viewed June as a monster. Suffice to say, June was not in the best of mindsets.

But it was fine. Everything was going to be fine. Everything. was. fine.

After a very unproductive day of feeling anxious and filled with regret, June went to the only thing she knew without a doubt would help. Reading.

Perhaps it was a bit pathetic, June thought, that books brought her such stability. Others might have gone and talked with a friend, or aired out their feelings through exercise or creative expression. But June was not such a person, and so she just read her stupid books every stupid time she felt stupidly stupid. Which was more than she'd like to admit.

Book tucked away under her arm, June began the trek up to the top of the quidditch stadium, the quietest place to read. She'd been there a few times before to read "The Splintered Heart", the book George had recommended to her at the start of summer, and while it wasn't the most comfortable of spaces, it was certainly out of the way.

As June rounded the corner to her typical spot, she let out a soft gasp. There, sitting just a few metres away from her reading space, was Bubba McGarry. Bubba McGarry who looked like hell. Who looked like he had no rest and had been slapped twice, quite hard, the day before. June unknowingly let out a quiet "Shit" as she stood there, rooted to the ground, unsure what to do next. So far her options were to learn to apparate perfectly in the span of the next two seconds, or simply die on the spot. One of the two.

Whatever gods were up there had clearly decided that today was a good day to fuck with Bubba. He would not get his wish for solitude. Not even close. Who would turn up to his little hidey-hole but the root of all his problems, the lovely June Selwyn. Bubba quickly calculated his options. He could try to become an Animagus - he didn't know how so probably not. He could try to be a chameleon and blend into his surroundings - he had never shown such a skill before. He looked behind him: he could hurl himself from the top of the stadium and see if he could magically stop himself from falling. That seemed like a high-risk maneuver. He decided he'd just have to face her.

Which was just great. He was not ready for this at all. Not after last night, not after all the awkwardness and pain and yelling and.... more pain. He also knew that the only way to solve this problem was to face it. As painful as that might prove to be. He stroked Kalle quickly a few times as he tried to build up his courage to say anything. Whatever color was left in his face drained immediately from it. He finally managed to choke out a few words, "Wait, please, don't go."

Interacting: @June Selwyn Mentioning: N/A

The moments that June and Bubba held eye contact at the top of the London Quidditch Stadium were probably some of the most painstakingly awkward moments in June's memory. What does one do in a moment like that?

While trying to think of something to say, June's gaze drifted towards the cat in Bubba's lap. The soft rising and falling of his breathing, the slight movement of his tail, it brought a sort of comfort to June. She wished she'd brought Lars with her to camp, rather than picking him up with the rest of her belongings at the end of camp. When the moments of silence turned into what seemed like minutes, June decided that she didn't need to be here. In fact, she needed to be anywhere else but here. Maybe that hidden room in her tent would be unoccupied when she returned..

Just as June made the slightest movement to turn and leave, the young Ravenclaw spoke. "Wait, please, don't go." June turned and faced him, folding her arms in front of her as she gripped her book, holding it like an anchor. She stared at him, the look clearly one of annoyance and anger, but if one studied her face, they would detect just a trace of something akin to concern or regret...

She stood firm, unmoving. "What do you want, McGarry?"

Bubba no longer wanted to be there, and he could tell by the look on June's face she didn't want to either. He couldn't blame her, he would like to be as far away from him as possible if he were here. Still, this was as good a chance as any to try and make it right. As if he could ever really make it truly right. How do you say something as terrible as he did and make it right? He supposed all he could do was try. If she didn't want to accept an apology, that was her choice, and he wouldn't begrudge her if that's how she felt.

He screwed up his face in concentration and focused very hard on overcoming his fight-or-flight response. He finally opened his mouth and tried to start talking. He would have to imagine that as he did so, he looked as pale as any of the ghosts that inhabited Hogwarts. He finally started talking in a voice barely above a whisper, it was all he could muster.

"I..." He struggled to begin, "I didn't know I'd ever said anything to you until Maggie told me what I said at the detention..." It was taking incredible concentration and willpower to continue, he really wanted to just collapse but pressed on, "I... when Alan was talking about what happened to George... something... I can't explain it but... something happened in me..." He trailed off, it could've been for five seconds or five minutes, he really couldn't tell. "It was like I was pulled back to that night... like I was there again..." He had to get an endpoint soon because he really was going to collapse. "It was like one minute I heard Alan talking... and the next he wasn't... and I looked over and you... you were gone... but your stuff was still there."

He stopped and took a few deep breaths. He'd gotten through a lot but he still hadn't apologized. He gave Kalle a few strokes down his spine for encouragement. They must've been rougher than he'd intended because Kalle shifted uncomfortably. At any rate, it seemed to calm Bubba because he was able to continue stronger, but still very quiet and very pale.

"I... Look I don't even think I was fully conscious when I said what I said but..." It was time, he took a deep breath and finally found a bit of a voice. "I'm really sorry for what I said, please... understand... I would never wish that only my worst enemy... never even joke about it... I'm just... I'm really sorry."

Interacting: @June Selwyn Mentioning: N/A

Bubba was very clearly trying to come up with his response. Of course he was, just trying to find something else terrible to say to make June feel like...

Oh.

June's demeanour softened as Bubba began to speak. He... he didn't know? As his words trailed off, June sat in one of the seats a few spaces down from Bubba. She watched as he tried forming his sentences, mostly successful. And then, he apologized. Which was very strange, June thought. She hadn't expected that. George Henry hadn't even technically apologized to her, and he was the one who had really wronged her in the first place. And yet, here he was, apologizing for his words.

The Slytherin drew in a long breath, taking in all of this new information. He did truly seem sorry. A moment passed, maybe even two or three."I accept your apology," June finally let out. "You clearly regret your actions, so whether they were conscious or not isn't particularly important to me." She sighed, re-adjusting herself in the slightly uncomfortable seat. June looked him in the eye. "Thank you for apologizing. And I'm sorry for.. For all that happened yesterday. I didn't tell Maggie to do any of that, you know. I never would have wanted someone to get hurt on my behalf." (Although, though this clearly was not the place to say so, June was incredibly grateful to Maggie for standing up for her.)

Bubba's expression brightened considerably to a state that could be considered at least approaching mildly distressed, which was certainly a major upgrade from the downright alarm verging upon the point of a panic attack he'd been feeling before. He didn't really know June and he didn't expect them to become bosom friends or anything after this but at least he hoped they could be cordial in social situations. He was just happy she accepted his apology so at least he had the weight of that off his shoulders.

As he prepared to say something in response, Kalle had apparently decided he'd had enough of Bubba's somewhat rough pets for the time being and stood up, meandering over in the general direction of June. He slowly walked over and hopped up into the seat next to June, sniffing her warily for a couple of moments before finally curling up and laying down in the chair (within petting distance should June desire to attempt it).

Bubba finally figured out what to say, "Thank you for... well I don't know if understanding is the word but for at least accepting my apology... it takes a little of the weight off." He said, a bit more strongly and evenly, even though his throat was still a little dry. "And don't worry, I didn't think you'd asked her to do anything, and frankly after I found out what I'd said, I feel like I got off pretty easy, was really a horrible thing to say." He started to look off into the distance before adding, "Plus, I get the distinct impression that you have no problem taking care of yourself."

Interacting: @June Selwyn Mentioning: @Maggie Hawkins

This was unpleasant. Yes, Bubba had apologized, but June's impression of the Ravenclaw wasn't exactly glowing before he had spoken to her at the detention. He was the first one to disrupt the thing anyways, what with asking George to demonstrate the knockback jinx and all.

June drummed her fingers on the cover of her book when Bubba's cat (at least, she hoped it was Bubba's and he hadn't just stolen someone's companion) lept up next to her. June looked at the peaceful cat, trying to resist the urge to pet him. After all, this was probably Bubba's cat. June sighed, this was stupid. She was overthinking things. Again. She reached over and began to scratch the handsome feline behind his ears.

Now Bubba was thanking June for accepting his apology? A look of confusion breezed across June's face, before quickly being replaced by a polite but neutral expression. "It was terrible," June nodded. "I'm sorry you had to go through that." She left it at that, having learned her lesson on prodding into people's pasts. Her cheeks flushed every so slightly at the compliment she was given (And he was complimenting her? What was going on?). "Thank you. I think I disagree, though, the last time I tried taking care of things myself I got lectured by a prefect in front of a bunch of classmates." June pulled her hands into her lap, still uncomfortable with everything that happened that day. Sure, George was over it, and that was probably the most important thing, but what about all her other peers who might not ever know the two made up? That June regretted her decision? She gulped, pushing down her feelings until she couldn't feel them again.

Much better.

"What were you doing all the way up here?" June turned, taking in the large stadium again. "A bit weird that we both ended up here. This has been my reading spot when my tent is too busy to focus."

As he had his first actually normal conversation with June, the knot in his chest continued to ease more and more. He still wasn't feeling all that great but it was getting a little better. For the first time, he was actually glad that June had found him up there. They probably wouldn't be friends anytime soon, if ever, but at least they could be just a little awkward around each other moving forward.

He hadn't even really noticed Kalle had gotten up until June started petting him. That was another good sign. Kalle was an excellent judge of character and if he thought June was ok she probably was. It had also just occurred to him that he wasn't even sure how June felt about cats, "Err..." great job, started off with a stutter, "Kalle isn't bothering you is he?"

Bubba could tell that she was feeling a little odd by his rambling statements, hopefully, she understood saying what he'd said was like running a marathon, but still, he should try to say something a bit more coherent. "It's... it sucks but it's what it is. I've been learning to live with." He paused, not really sure what to say, "George and I talked after the detention and that helped. It's like, obviously not the same things happened to us, but like... same but different... hell, that probably makes no sense. Sorry, I'm getting a bit rambly."

As she talked about getting pulled up for 'taking care of herself' Bubba tried to think of something to say to her. That was, needless to say, very awkward, but that happened sometimes. In any case, he was certainly not in any position to critique her after what he'd done. "Well," he started, searching for the right words, "I think it's better to sometimes get it wrong than to just let people always walk over you, everyone makes mistakes." It probably sounded stupid but he thought there was a kernel of truth to it.

Bubba gave a wry chuckle when she asked why he was up there as he looked around the stadium, it was a majestic view, "I mean, first of all, look at me," he gave a weak smile as he indicated the bruises on his cheeks, "I'd rather not have to explain that to everyone I see down there." He then took a bit more sober tone as he gave the real answer, "Honestly, I figured that by now everyone in camp knew what happened last night. And I was, still am, feeling a lot of shame now that I know what I did." He paused before he continued, "I really just wanted to try to shut myself away from everyone and be miserable for a bit. Have a self-pity party." Determined to move past it and try to have a semi-normal conversation he added, "I can see why you come up here, it's beautiful, quiet, perfect place to chill."

Interacting: @June Selwyn Mentioning: @ N/A

One of the last things June Selwyn thought she would ever do is sympathize with Bubba McGarry. And yet, here she was, listening to his garrulous goings-on about detentions and George and whatnot. But for all this interaction was, awkward, clumsy and cloddish, it certainly was not bad. Which just made everything weirder.

June shook her head at Bubba's concerned question over his cat; "Kalle", apparently. It was a nice name. The cat wasn't a bother at all, in fact it was nice to have at least one other living creature in the midst of this conversation. She nodded silently as Bubba went on, not particularly wanting to add anything to what he was saying. She thought for a moment on what he said. Was it really better to be wrong than to let people walk over you? Neither were particularly great options, but failure was something June simply could not and would not live with. She supposed she would live with option "C", none of the above. Never be wrong and never let anyone walk over you. Perfectly reasonable.

June gave a sympathetic smile as Bubba yet again opened up to her. June wouldn't particularly be excited to spend a day amongst peers after being slapped twice the day prior, so she couldn't exactly blame the boy. "Oh, come on now. The most people would know is that Hawkins slapped you twice out of nowhere and that you would rather leave an activity entirely than have an interaction with me. Some could argue her reputation was dinged the most out of that." The latter was followed with a small joking laugh, June wasn't extremely hurt over the fact that she'd been rejected. Not that the other option was that appealing, anyways. "I'm sure much more embarrassing things happened yesterday. Besides, I'm not the kind of person to go off spouting terrible things about others at every chance I get. I learned my lesson plenty after... after that." June took a deep breath, her gaze turning towards McGarry and his bruised cheek. "I don't think anyone would know what you said other than Maggie. At least, she's the only person I told."

A pity party... Perhaps that would have been more productive than doing nothing for most of her first year. Just acknowledging the feelings and, well, feeling them for a moment in order to get them out of your system or something. Oh well, too late now.

June smiled as she looked out across the stadium, the tents and students who inhabited them so small from this vantage point. She closed one eye and pretended to squish one of the tents between her fingers. "It is quite 'chill'," June agreed. She just sat for a moment, a soft breeze blowing a strand of hair into her mouth which she quickly tucked back behind her ear. Silence was wonderful in small doses. She finally let out a defeated sigh. "We really started off terribly, didn't we..."