Some friendly advice PV Elsian Cox, George Henry Closed

Peace had been broken the moment Finn had laid his filthy mitts on Elsians bed and stolen his sheets.

No it didn’t matter that he had other blankets. No it didn’t matter that he’d found the bloody thing the next day. No he wouldn’t stop throwing pillows at Finn's stupid face. This was revenge. This was retribution. This was what Finn had reaped now he had to pay the price of being the 2nd most annoying dorm mate ever!

Elsian huffed and readied another pillow from his lazy sprawl atop his bed. He’d moved around again through the night and had somehow ended up sprawled out sideways, feet dangling over the edge and huddled under his blanket and many weaponized pillows. It was a point of pride really, his bed that was, he’d worked hard to smuggle his cozy collection in. They also made great projectiles; and it didn’t matter what Finn said or threatened, Elsian always got the pillows back. One way or another…

He hummed innocently, as if actually listening. But even as the ‘peace’ dragged out in silence Finn had grown wise to his games because he immediately tried to talk Elsi down. He immediately threw the pillow at his head. He snickered, a warm satisfaction in seeing the other boy hit. Maybe it was a bit mean, but honestly it was also the funniest shit to mess with Finn and the 2nd year deserved it with how much of a bludger head he’d been.

Another throw, missing as Finn sidestepped it.

A small weight settled on his side and with a groan he sat up, welcoming a certain escape artist of a pet into his arms. “Yeah yeah, I know,” he yawned, picking up a pillow, “you want freedom.” Hair a mess and blankets pooled around him he slowly got out of bed, running his fingers through the messy strands as Kitty happily hung on his shirt. “Food first Kitty.”

He was awake. He didn’t want to be, but he was awake, and that sadly meant getting up. But he could at least make his morning a bit more cheerful by making others suffer with him. Or rather Finn. Basically Finn. The pillow was thrown just as Finnegan escaped through the door. It slammed into the door with a dull twacking sound…




Hnn, he was getting better.

~ 𓋒 ~

Slowly, sluggishly he shuffled to an empty spot at the Gryffindor table, tie half done, hair half-heartedly run through with his fingers and a hyperactive spider with morning energy he just couldn’t comprehend clinging to his robes. Elsian was already suffering by the time he sat down and dragged his plate closer to him, green eyes squinting in the bright morning light unseeing and grumpy even as he halfheartedly piled some fruit and a warm roll onto his plate.

Kitty wiggled, crawling away and under the table. He caught sight of fur, maybe a cat, before she disappeared with the other creature and he knew she was going off to play with one of the other pets. He could trust that. Trust her to return later. He wasn’t about to turn away the blessing of someone else burning off the spider's excess energy. Not in a million years…



God he was tired.

He reminisced about the good old days when he could skip breakfast entirely just to catch those few blissful extra minutes of sleep. When showing up to 1st period a few minutes late was worth it and rarely a crime harsh enough for detention. But that was before he got suckered into a sport. Then he’d actually begun practicing and suddenly breakfast was actually an important meal if he didn’t want to feel extra sick and sluggish by the time practice rolled around because apparently a big lunch wasn’t enough? And skipping meals really sucked when you actually did any amount of physical labor? Like this had been news to him! Really bad news that sucked because he had to make even more lifestyle changes and to say Elsian was not a happy camper into the recent mornings of this year would be an understatement.

Slouched in his seat, face buried in his cup of juice, he was the picture of a defeated night owl. “Mornings should be outlawed,” he grumbled into his cup, almost choking when somebody decided to squeeze and force their way between him and another in the already filled bench. “Mate-!” he coughed, slamming down the cup before it spilled and aiming a nasty look at none other that…

Finn! Because of course, why wouldn’t it be Finn!

With a loud, dramatic groan he slammed his forehead into an empty spot of the table.

For a long moment he didn’t answer. Then slowly, begrudgingly, he turned his head just enough to look at the other from behind messy bangs, cheek pressed against the cold table as he spoke.

“Are you trying to kill me?” It felt an awful lot like he was. “Don’t make me become a poltergeist just to throw you off your broom during every game,” he warned, shoving at the other boy's head lightly as if to make more room, “and no. He couldn’t handle me if he tried.” Meaning of course, Elsian was prone to biting and kicking and throwing things whenever anyone tried so most people just left him the hell alone.

“Yes, poor me!” He exclaimed, straightening with an exaggerated simper, half hiding a dramatic grimace behind his cup as he picked it up and took a sip, “stuck next to a short, bludger brained ass like you.” The younger Gryffindor was playing a dangerous game here so early in the morning. Bony limbs jamming into his side didn’t make for a good start to breakfast, and the threats? Oh ho-

“I’ll just go on a camping trip with my tent after lighting your bed on fire,” he hissed back quietly, though it was also just as much of a way to avoid answering the practice question. Because he had actually, technically, seen said notice board.

He’d also purposely avoided actually reading it in order to claim possible ignorance later but nooooo, Finnegan just HAD to go and play noble.


A yawn broke through Finn's next sentence. All Elsian could do was nod along and hum tiredly, half pretending to listen and half fully focusing on his food. The hard kick under the table would earn a yelp. “OW, what-” He huffed, dropping the roll with a menacing look as he whipped his head to stare at the other…only to be met with more jabbering tangents-! “Oh that's it!” And he lunged in his seat, throwing an arm around the other's neck mid conversation and ignoring the startled yelp of the other poor soul on Finn's other side as he shook the younger boy and dragged him into a headlock. “I do know him,” he began in a pleasant tone, obviously fake, “not well though. Not well enough to know any of that! But you know what?”

He pulled out his wand, grinning and sounding far too cheerful as he roughly stood up, somewhat dragging Finn with him. “You’re right! You should cheer him up!”

And if Finn hadn’t already been trying to escape Elsians playful roughhousing, he was going to regret that in a minute. “How about I change your look?” Elsi teased, pointing the wand to the others head, “I’m thinking fuchsia with hot pink highlights, that outta cheer up anyone who looks at you, Crinus Muto!” Finns' once perfectly normal, mundane hair would be quickly transformed into a vibrant fuchsia! Complete with ‘fashionable’ hot pink highlights.

And just because he could-

He pointed the wand at the boy's tie, then shoes, turning it a matching hot pink with a cheerful, “multicorfors~” spell aimed twice at the younger's poor clothing.

And Elsian?

Oh he ran, laughing as he shoved Finn back into the bench and grabbed his bag, shoving it over his shoulder Elsian threw a bread roll at Finn's face for good measure with a grin before absolutely booking it around the tables towards where George sat sad and listless. Though whether to escape Finn and his new Barbie look or quickly point out Finn's misfortune to George before Finn could do anything to fix it the world would perhaps never know.

Maybe it was a mix of the 2?

Likely a mix of the 2.

He stumbled over someone's book bag, scooting past a few Ravenclaws making their way to Gryffindor to eat with a friend to slink to the Hufflepuffs bench. There was a sliver of open space where no one sat straight across from George “Heeey badger butt,” he drawled playfully, swinging a leg over to slip into the seat across from George, “long time no see.”

Then he paused, obviously thinking better of his spot and slipping under the table to crawl to George's side. There. Now he had a whole table between him and Finn if the other boy came running. Which he didn’t seem to be quite yet.

He wiggled back up from under the table and onto the bench, now seated at his right. And squinted at the other boy aghast, pinning the other with a look, “wow Finn was right you do look like a depressed muppet.”

He rested his chin in his hand, “But that's not important. What is important is that Finn over there,” he gestured towards Finn across the way with a fake grimace, “wanted to surprise you by trying his hand at a makeover!”

“Been like this for the past week.” He shook his head sadly, dramatically, “and it’s out of control really. We were all wondering if maybe you could give him a few tips?”

Monday again. George didn't mind it that much. It was nice to have a full day ahead of you, planned and scheduled by your past self, rather a wide-open weekend you had to find ways to fill on your own. There were only so many books to re-read and trees to flutter about in before the appeal of being a bookish stowaway wore off. It was time, now, to face the world. God, was the world annoying. Throngs of young students flooded the hallway, and a sullen George Henry waded between them, numb to the buffeting tide of yellow robes that he surfed in on.

Dark circles ringed his eyes. He felt it actually quite suited him, and instead of covering them up with makeup, he gave them a tasteful purplish tinge that made him look a bit more sickly and pitiful. If he had been a first year and seen someone looking like this, he would have been absolutely terrified.

He made a point to smile at a few of the younger students that he caught staring.

The Hufflepuff tossed around a bit of sausage and egg with his fork, stabbing and twisting to make it look like he'd eaten something. That ought to assuage any concerns that Jake could have if he saw his plate. It wasn't that he was starving himself on purpose, despite Finnegan's best efforts to make him feel guilty for gorging himself on turkey legs throughout fourth year. He just didn't feel like feasting.

George glanced over to Finnegan and Elsian as he caught a glimpse of them staring, though he didn't immediately consider that they could be conspiring against them. In fact, he figured the conversation wasn't nearly so favorable. He bowed his head and turned away a bit, embarrassed to be seen feeling anything other than haughty and proud. Everyone had the blues after Summer, right? It wasn't that weird that he was... leaning into it so hard.

He chewed plaintively on a bite of sausage as he tried to force himself to eat something before the first class rolled around. One dark eyebrow lifted as he examined Elsian - rarely was the boy so happy to see him unless he had some sort of scheme. The Hufflepuff swallowed the morsel he was chewing and gave his cheery peer a dark look.

"Hi, lion-..." he thought of something unsavory, but held it in, considering they were apparently in the company of a very pink Finnegan. "It has been a little bit..."

Both eyebrows were suddenly plucked upwards as Elsian descended beneath the table. George crossed his legs and made a point of tapping his foot to make it difficult to mess with his laces, wanting to leave no approach unguarded. The crabby badger pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes and glaring at the muppet comment. "Why are you crawling across the floor?" he wondered pointedly.

The explanation that Finnegan had decided to give himself a makeover was obviously unbelievable. Still, it did the trick somewhat. George had cracked a smile despite his best efforts, and was now inspecting Finnegan carefully. "He'd never try and make himself presentable of his own volition," George said, making sure his disbelief was known. "And I know he has a particular disdain for pink hair."

Were they trying to cheer him up on purpose, or just trying to get a reaction out of him for a kick to start the day? He was guarded, but set down his fork and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table as he watched Finnegan. "The tie is very cute, though. You should keep the tie."

F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Some friendly advice, 18th of September 2023 ❧

Finnegan let out an indignant yelp at the sudden unwarranted assault upon his person. One moment he was cheerfully chatting away, the next he was being pulled into a tight headlock. "Get off of me you stupi-"

Wood scraped over stone and his knee banged against the underside of the table when he was torn from his seat. He grimaced, but the worst part was the drastic shift in Elsian's demeanour. That too sweet, sugary voice never boded well for him.

"Get that thing out of my face!" Finnegan protested while he considered biting into Elsian's arm. In hindsight, he should have, because a wink later Elsian dealt his damage. Finnegan saw the flash of light, heard the buzz erupting around the table, noticed the heads turning, but it was only after a full, stunned five seconds had passed that he realized the severity of what Elsian had done.

The pink on his tie and shoes would have been an awful enough prank in of itself, enough to warrant the disappearance of some more of Elsian's bedsheets at the least, but it was what had happened to his hair that really crossed a line. He instinctively reached up, grabbing a lock of his newly colored hair between his fingers and inspecting it. His surprise turned into a unbridled anger as he scanned the room for the culprit.

Finnegan's usual chipper face flushed a deep shade of crimson, nearly matching his newly pink hair. The hum of the Gryffindor table's quieted down, more heads turned, more whispers and snickers were directed his way. He whirled around, searching the hall for that stupid boy who had clearly gone too far this time. It didn't take him long to find that self-satisfied grinning face slipping under the Hufflepuff table where George was seated.

"You!" Finnegan's voice rang out. He bounded over to the Hufflepuff table chased by sniggers and pointed fingers. "You think this is funny? Huh? You're going to change this back right now or I swear I'll make you eat slugs!" He'd already taken out his wand and aimed it at Elsian, well, as best as the circumstances allowed anyway. "Move out of the way George," he growled, waving his hand impatiently like he was swatting some invisible mosquito away. "Cute?!" His voice cracked and pitched up into a squeal. "You think it's cute? Are you daft? It's bloody pink George! I'm not going to keep the stupid tie!" to prove his point, he was already taking it off with one hand and threw it at his useless Hufflepuff friend. "You keep it if you want, now move aside so I can kill him!"

Stamina 10 ✶ Evasion 10 ✶ Strength 2 ✶ Wisdom 3 ✶ Arcane Power 5 ✶ Accuracy 10

@George Henry, @Elsian Cox

A little bit was an understatement. Sure they’d seen each other in passing, maybe given the odd comment or tasteful insult but it’d been far more than a bit since they’d truly spoken beyond a few sentences. Let alone take the time to sit down and actually chat.

“A bit is an understatement don’t you think?” He teased with a boyish grin, promptly dusting himself off as he took his seat. “As for the floor…” The question was waved away as if shooing away a bug in a lazy gesture as the Gryffindor leaned closer to the boy, elbow propped atop the table and chin resting on the fist, batting his eyes at the other dramatically “would you believe I just wanted to be closer to you?”

Of course, it felt like his dramatics hardly affected George. Barreling on as he was to so rudely poke holes in Elsians latest delightful fabrication of the truth. How was he supposed to know the boy hated pink so much? Well, okay, maybe it was obvious but still! George could have had the decency to pretend he believed him. “He said it grew on him,” he lied glibly, dragging a plate of untouched pancakes towards himself, “maybe a phase, you know how that dolt is-”

The nice act dropped the moment Finns yells pierced the peace. Twisting into something sharp and satisfied, as if torn between a scowl and looking horribly smug upon the arrival of the angry ball of hot pink. “I’m sure I have no idea what you mean,” voice even, pleasant as he stabbed at a piece of pancake, “and you’re being rude, can’t you see we’re having a moment?” He scooted towards George, shoving himself closer as if it could save him from Finn's threats. It was with great glee he rested his head atop the Hufflepuffs shoulder just as Finn demanded George to move, slowly taking a bite of pancake as he watched the pink tie flutter uselessly to flop atop the table.

“I’m soothing the sad muppets broken spirit!” He defended loudly, straightening to point his fork at the pink Gryffindor, “we’re bonding. And look, he’s smiling, just like you wanted! Make up your mind you flippy floppy piece of soggy toast!”

Finn was ruining all his hard work.

The whole point of this had been for Finn to cheer up Badger Butt here with his new & frankly ridiculous new look and now he already wanted to back out? After ruining Elsians peaceful breakfast? Never!

“But fine,” he scowled and the fork clattered to the table as he shoved himself up to draw his wand, pretending he was about to fix the wonderful uniform edits. “The pink looks stupid with your black robes anyway.”

He cleared his throat, toeing his bag under the bench to safety as he aimed. Waving his wand and-

“Multicorfors-!” The previously untouched robes bloomed into a bright, sunny yellow that was almost painful to look at. “You’ll never take me alive!” He said with a grin, even as he made a racket & threw the occasional muffin to aid his escape. Ducking down and scrambling under the table with the slam of wood and jingle of utensils as he probably earned a bruise or two for his hasty, spur of the moment escape.

“George save my pancakes!” He hissed loud & dramatic, disappearing under the table.

George watched, bewildered, as Finnegan demanded that he move out of the way so that he could reach his quarry. The older boy simply raised an eyebrow at his favorite lion cub, looking very unimpressed with his tone. "If you get slugs on my breakfast table, I am going to feed you to the giant squid," he cautioned. He didn't have the energy to put much gusto behind the threat, but he hoped that Finnegan's past experience being beaten with flowers would help him make a wise decision.

"I will," said George, as he took the pink tie that had landed on his face and tucked it away in his bag. This would make a nice surprise later, somehow. The prank potential of giving Finnegan his own pink tie was limitless. Maybe once George had a little more whimsy accumulated - for now, this burst of pink was adding a little more color to his pallid world. "I'm not going to move, I'm having breakfast."

The Hufflepuff turned his head to the side to gaze upon Elsian Cox, his so-called 'nemesis' and frequent thorn in his side. In his mind, he considered whether it was worth disrupting his breakfast even further so that Finnegan could kill him. That would make his life a lot calmer, though a calm life was often a boring one. He decided that Elsian could live for today.

"You know - I actually would," said George as Elsian batted his eyelashes. Why was he always so flirty? He didn't think the Gryffindor was actually interested, but he became less certain by the day. Maybe it was a Felix scenario, where the aggression was just motivated by a crush or something. Regardless, George actually did smile again, more fully, as Elsian called Finnegan a dolt. Finn really had to pick better friends. George stabbed at one of his eggs, taking a little nibble of food and chewing as he considered just how close Elsian was getting to him. Was he using him as a human shield? How sweet.

"I am not a sad muppet," said George, his smile dropping. They were making an effort to cheer him up on purpose? George was suddenly embarrassed, conscious of how sad he had been looking. He really needed to get better about wearing his heart on his sleeve. People were liable to stare. But those dreadful thoughts of anxiety and self-doubt were swept away as Elsian redoubled his efforts - earning a full on laugh as Finnegan was now all kinds of pastel pink and yellow.

"You're out of season, Finn. Those are spring colors," George scolded him, wagging a finger. "And besides, you're not a spring. You look pale."