It Takes Two To Tango PV June Selwyn Closed

A tug at her hand led June to say quick farewells to the group that had surrounded George. Apparently he did know Finn. June let herself be led to a small, quiet alcove once Finn grabbed himself a hot drink. She sat down, adjusting her dress to get herself comfortable as she leaned against the stone wall.

Goodness, that blustery September day felt so long ago, and yet it had been only a month. "We should head back to that spot in the owlery sometime," she nodded. "That was a fun day. I'd still love to see some of your drawings at some point, too."

A dream? June thought to herself for a moment. Hogwarts didn't exactly feel like a dream to her. Perhaps in the sense that sometimes nothing makes any sense. She took a breath to respond when-

"But then I don't think I could dream up someone as nice as you."

For a moment, June stopped breathing. She hadn't had an auditory hallucination just then, had she? Was there something in her drink? She did see someone's head turn into a pumpkin after taking a sip from their goblet... Her cheeks flushed red from the compliment, still unsure exactly what he meant by it. "Well, I, um.." Finally, logic settled in again. Finn was June's friend, it was completely normal for friends to compliment one another. "Thank you," she smiled.

The subject quickly turned to siblings, more evidence he meant his words as a friend. "So your sister is 10 now, right? What's her name, are you close?" June sighed lightly, "No, it's just me. Which is fun most of the time, I love my parents very much but..." She fiddled with the appliques on her dress, "Sometimes it gets lonely." After a moment, June looked into Finn's eyes, "Which is why I'm really grateful for friends like you."

His stomach turned at seeing her fumble for words. He'd blown it, messed up, pulled about, done himself in; she was going to jump up and leave him there because he couldn't keep his mouth from running ahead of his brain. She looked shocked and why wouldn't she be? She was a second-year, a sweet girl with a million friends and a gifted witch to boot, there was no reason for her to hang around him. Without anymore secret attics to show her, what was the point? He doubted she would be very interested in learning about soccer's offside rule, or about NASA spacecraft for that matter.

But instead of leaving, she thanked him, or that's what it sounded like anyway while he hid behind his drink. He smiled a watery smile back at her over the rim of his teacup, grateful that she'd went along with the change of topic.

"Aye, she's ten," he croaked. He'd gulped down too much of the hot tea too quickly and the ginger tickled at his throat. "Her name's Rose, we get on like best butties (=friend, buddy) most of the time." He couldn't help but smirk a little.

"But sometimes I wouldn't mind being alone like, she's a proper chopsy one, just never stops talking.. He took another sip. "I'm only saying I'd have twice the allowance and mam and tad always think I'm eating all the sweets when it's her, it is." He groaned at that. "She always gets away with everythin'."

"I guess," he continued after a careful sip of his tea, "I know what you mean about being alone. I missed my mam much the first nights, but it's awright now." He met her gaze and for the first time didn't feel a sudden urge to look away. There were fine flecks of grey in her blue eyes he hadn't noticed until now and he cocked his head at her, like she was some curious specimen of bird he hadn't seen before, then smiled. "I'm glad we're friends too," he whispered, "oh, that reminds me!"

He set his tea aside, bowed his head and let his mussed hair fall away to reveal a thin, leather strip that hung around his neck. The smell of too much cheap shampoo was hard to miss.

"Here," he said, after he had undone the silvery clasp that held the necklace in place. "My mam made this for me, it's part of the costume." He dangled the simple necklace in front of her, there was very small, silver-gray bucket-shaped thing at the end of it. "It's a thimble, it's for, well it's a muggle thing, you wouldn't care to know- Uh, I thought it might look better on you, boys aren't supposed to wear necklaces, innit?" He scooted a little closer, opened up the clasp and held out the necklace before her. "May I?" he said, his voice slightly husky from the spicy tea. "It'll look well lush (=good, nice) on you."

Interacting with: @June Selwyn

Rose... June found herself tensing slightly as Finnegan talked about his sister. She never quite understood siblings, the way they spoke about and acted around one another. "Well, your sister sounds like quite the handful," June said with a giggle. "I'm excited to meet her next year."

June nodded sympathetically as Finn talked about missing his mother, able to relate. She was close to her parents, and although the freedom was nice, she still missed the comfort found in her parents' presence. Her attention was drawn back to Finnegan as he removed a small, unassuming necklace. "That's very kind of your mother to make something for your costume, just for a ball," June remarked. "A thimble, I know what it is. One of my cousins really enjoys cross-stitching, she uses them often."

As Finnegan held out the necklace, June's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. A gift? For her? "Oh, um, sure!" she exclaimed, turning so that Finnegan could easily clasp it around her neck. She couldn't believe that this piece of jewelry was for her.

"Why was this a part of your costume, if I might ask?" June inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her. She felt the cool metal of the necklace against her skin and couldn't help but wonder about its significance."

"Ah," Finn said, glad that she appreciated the necklace. "It's a muggle custom, a kind of charm," he blurted, rather pleased with his own quick thinking. "My mam said it was to bring the wearer good luck and happiness, so I couldn't think of anyone better to have it than you." He smiled at June, feeling a bit embarrassed by his own sentimentality. "Not that I think you're unhappy or unlucky or... well maybe you're unlucky you got stuck with me, but-" his voice trailed off. It was probably for the best. He muttered something about hoping his sister would get her letter too, but it didn't much matter. His mind was elsewhere anyway.

His finger brushed past the nape of her neck when he clasped the necklace in place. It was a slight touch, hardly intentional, lasting no longer than second, no more noticeable than a breeze, and yet it was the most significant thing he'd done all week. If he didn't know better, he would've thought someone had cast a levitation charm on him and made him hover a few inches off the ground.

Soon his hands fell by his sides and he took her in, despite the urge to look away or hide behind his tea again. She seemed so beautiful and confident. How on earth had he ever managed to persuade her to come with him? She must've had droves of boys asking her out, and yet she'd chosen to go along with him. Maybe she just pitied him, he was a rather pathetic wizard after all.

"It looks," he began, then paused, realizing just how dry his throat had become. "It looks real lush on you," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. After another sip of tea, he managed to find his courage and his voice again.

"What about your family like? I don't know much about them. All, witches and wizards, aye?" His eyes turned soft and dreamy between careful sips of his tea. "You must have the most amazing home..."

Interacting with: @June Selwyn