Reopened Bitter Topics pv harvey

@Brookline Quinn

It was free time between the end of classes and dinner service in which Harvey found himself wandering the grounds. He had ditched his uniform after a quick trip to his dorm, but he was never one to be described as casual. His winter cloak billowed in the wind exposing a Slytherin sweater and black slacks. The destination that had sent him outdoors was the outdoor club area in which he hoped to do a little people watching before they were all in for the evening. Harvey was often drawn here to watch the broom racers practice and had found the sport quite impressive. The mix of flight skills and spell casting all mixed together with the environmental threats had proved to be quite exciting, but what drew him in more were the players themselves. To be able to master all of that at once ought to have meant an impressive witch or wizard.

So, he trudged on and silently thanked Merlin the wind died down a tad as he arrived at the spot. Harvey's beady, almost black eyes spied a witch rising into the air on her broom and quietly watched as she seemed to struggle with the task at hand. Shaky as she may be, he was still impressed by her willingness to keep trying. The fact that she was comfortable on a broom at all was a far stretch more than his own ability. Perhaps one day he might get from point A to point B without veering wildly off track, but the boy would never excel at sports. Yet another reason he was drawn to these athletes as surrounding himself with the strong or magically talented would surely prove to be a boon.

When the witch descended from the skies, Harvey would make his approach. Upon closer inspection the boy would recognize her. Brookline Quinn of the Ravenclaw broom racing team, one that he had made note of before. Not only had her talent caught his eye, but he noticed that her style was quite a bit different than most from the magical community. A muggle born perhaps? No time like the present to make an acquaintance. "Feeling blue?" He had noticed she seemed lost in thought. "Harvey Barrows." The boy extended a rather large hand for a proper introduction. "Looked like you almost had it there. I'm sure you'll master it in no time." Perhaps a bit of flattery would ease any tense feelings.

ℬrookline glanced up to see a underclassmen. A small Snake, at the looks of it, with some peculiarly pointy ears and his green Slytherin sweater. Ugh, just what I needed, she thought to herself, her eyes rolled once, an underclassmen who’s gonna pester and pester me til I snap.

“Feeling blue?” The Snake would start, and his large hand stuck out, (he was pretty small, why did he such a large hand?), ready for the Ravenclaw girl to shake it, “Harvey Barrows.” Ah, why? The worst time for anyone to come and chat. The worst time, Brookline mentally face-palmed but she kept her face natural, reminding herself that she was a little firstie once just like this Slytherin.

“Hi. I’m Brookline. Brookline Quinn.” She nodded formally, held out her hand, not the one with the dark-as-night mark, and shook the small underclassmen’s hand.

What first year shakes hands? I know I’m a pure-blood, and I was raised to do that shit, but I’ve never seen any one round my age do that before, Brookline thought as she nodded along to the boy’s next words.

“Thanks. I guess I’ve been trying, I just can’t get it over that a first year used the most simplest spell and made my Nimbus and I plop to the ground. Well, okay, I suppose some other worthless shit,” Brookline sighed; she wanted to cry. She wanted sob her eyes out, like what the heck was wrong with her?! She was chatting with a underclassmen boy calmly as if she was trying to find solace in him. The Ravenclaw girl could just feel herself in her mind shaking her head, and probably smacking her forehead in frustration.

ooc note: all of Brookline’s thoughts are her own - she’s a bit moody right, heck she’s been moody since xmas but you know the deal. and she usually doesn’t curse too much but

@Brookline Quinn

Harvey wasn't sure if he had caught an eye roll when he approached Brookline, but he didn't let it phase him and he held his ground. It wouldn't be the first time he had interrupted someone when they weren't really looking for an interaction, yet it often seemed that his determination won out in the end. Throughout the year he had learned to let go of that nervousness when approaching a potential new acquaintance. He had no way of knowing what someone was really thinking so why assume the worst? Plus his confidence had grown. If they didn't want to know Harvey Barrows then it was their loss.

When her hand met his in formal greeting it snapped him out of the reverie. It was a rather rigid way for an eleven year old to make an introduction, but in his household there were no exceptions. The first five months at Hogwarts had done little to undo his strict ways. In fact, it had only bolstered his belief in doing so. Another way of putting that would be to call the part-goblin a damn snob! But Harvey liked that he kept to his formal training. He felt it set him apart from most of his peers. That wasn't always a good thing, but nonetheless he kept to it. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

After their introduction was made, Harvey listened on as Brookline expressed her frustration with being bested by a first year. "Oh, I'm sure that was just dumb luck on their part." Again he stuck with the flattery in an attempt to earn her favor, but as she continued her sigh made it seem like that was not the only thing on her mind. Though his nose would wrinkle slightly when she swore, he kept a sympathetic gaze. Natural talent like yours will prevail in the end. I've seen you race before and I bet you make a name for yourself in the sport, but it seems like there is more on your mind?" He guessed with a slight shrug of his shoulder. "What is this worthless...shit?" Harvey attempted to met her at her level, but it would sound silly coming out if his mouth. His inquiry was genuine though.

ℬrookline fiddled with her brown sweater’s sleeve, as she nodded along with the boy’s words. His ‘pleased’ and ‘acquaintance’ would have made her giggle of she was her past self but nothing was going to make her smile or giggle today. She sighed softly again, as she responded to the boy’s refined words, “I guess, me too.” The underclassmen was certainly a pure-blood or had pure-blood parents, considering his fancy chic words.

Harvey had replied to Brookline’s desperate attempt to find hope and it made Brookline snort, her anger scornful. “Oh, it was much more than ‘dumb luck’, that first year was actually pretty damn good!” Almost makes me wish that I was pretty damn good, she thought, her envy multiplying.

Brookline would see the underclassmen’s nose twitch in the slightest, when she cursed. She paid no attention to it but she would bring her hand over to her messy braid, that was on her back. She took out the hair band, and rebraided her hair in perhaps what was worst. Harvey would continue, his words buttered up. Brookline narrowed her eyes, her face puzzled, she had never seen a first year compliment so much unless it was for a motive. Then the boy’s query set her off. He had echoed her words, the swear word sounding strange coming out his mouth. No-one had actually asked what was wrong or how she felt besides her sisters, Marie, Minnie and Lizy, and one of her close friends, @Sage Willows.

“I - I... Well, long story short, my dad’s a complete ass-hole, and everything’s just been so hard, since he left. I’ve basically went from this sweet little happy girl to a moody horrible monster who keeps yelling and cursing at voices and a - a imaginary f-father.” Brookline gave the boy a weak smile, and shrugged, dark blue irises slightly more ocean-like then ever.

ooc note: all of Brookline’s thoughts are her own.

@Brookline Quinn

The slightest upturn of the corner of Harvey's mouth would be the only indication of his satisfaction as Brookline seemed pleased to make his acquaintance. Many would assume that the boy had come from a pureblood family as he was nothing short of formal. While that was surely not true, his goblin grandfather had adopted the formal customs of proper English gentlemen. While many within the magical community had left such rigid customs behind it did set the boy apart. He could rub elbows with the finest of magical families and he aimed to bring such prestige to his name as well. Barrows meant nothing to this society now, but one day it would carry weight.

Harvey simply shrugged as Brookline complimented the first year that had bested her. "Oh, there is plenty of talent at Hogwarts for sure, but look around us now. Just you practicing. Won't be long till you surpass them." The boy doubled down on the flattery. Kill them with kindness his grandfather had said on many occasions. They'd either melt like butter if they were susceptible to such things and then you'd have them. If not, then they would prove to have a brain and that was a quality worth pursuing as well. It was all like fine-tuning a radio his grandfather had explained once. Got to find just the right frequency. Whether Brookline enjoyed his flattery or not soon became irrelevant as Harvey seemed to strike a cord.

His brow rose ever so slightly as she mentioned her father. It would seem that the two of them had something very much in common. Her openness about the subject encouraged him to do the same. "An absent father? I've one of those too. Never even got the chance to know mine, however. Left before I was even born. Don't even know that man's name." While this surely had a different effect on him as it was hard to mourn something you never knew, that didn't mean there was no sense of rejection. "I used to get quite upset about it to be honest. Why be so reckless to father a child if you have no intention of ever raising one?" Harvey was many years away from knowing the power of lust and love, but even with that aside he had every right to hold a grudge. "When did your father leave?"

ℬrookline would catch the boy’s lips turn in the slightest smile. She would had offered him a smile too, if she was her past self. Instead, she went to chew her fingernails, a quite nasty habit of hers, studied her stubby nails.

And you say what’s wrong with you? You basically clawed off your fingernails. No wonder you’re monster! The voice hissed silently in her ear, as if she could feel the soft whisper on her skin.

Brookline narrowed her eyebrows in anger. She could have clamped her hands over her ears to block out the noise but she didn’t want to seem impolite to Harvey, seeming like she didn’t want to listen to him.

She saw the boy’s shrug, and it made Brookline wonder why this younger but complete stranger was taking her side, when the girl who cast the spell was Harvey’s fellow year. Taking a deep breath, as if she was to steel herself, she asked her question, “Why do you keep wording your support for me, a girl you’ve only met minutes ago? When the spell was cast by your own fellow year, whom you probably know of or actually know.” Brookline asked herself, Who taught this boy to flatter people? And why does he do it so good? And that question, yet again, she did not have the answer.

As Brookline would explain the short version of her awful story, she noticed that the Snake’s brow rose, as if in confusion. He would share about his own father, and about how he didn’t even know the lad, his father left before he was born. The Welsh girl gazed at Harvey, thoughtfully, as he shared more. “I... Well, I’m sorry about your father. The reason why I’m upset, is, well, mine never was a great Dad, but I still loved him. And yeah. I get it. My father never really raised me either, just... hung around,” Brookline would say, her brain searching for all the correct words.

Then Harvey asked the heartbreaking question. When did your father leave? Brookline’s lip trembled as she thought about it. And her eyes burned once again, she knew it was a matter of time before the tears would go. She needed to be out of here by the time that happened. She did knew the answer, she did knew that it was on the tip of her tongue but she couldn’t just say it. Although. She had to. Brookline cradled her cheek with her hand as she mumbled into her wrist, “January. The day right before I went back to Hogwarts.”

ooc note:

@Brookline Quinn

Harvey pretended to be distracted by something in the distance as Brookline began to chew at her nail. It wasn't that he judged her for it really, but he had been taught never to indulge in that particular impulse as it had been berated out of him as a small child. His own nails were neatly trimmed and polished just as his tutors had expected of him, but he blinked away the thought and returned his gaze to her. Brookline's brow furrowed at his words. Perhaps an indication he had gone too far with his flattery and her line of questioning that followed made it seem even more so.

Harvey's stance shifted ever so slightly as he put his hands behind his back and clasped them together. His gaze shifted down as well when she spoke. A slight physical gesture to indicate that he meant no offense by over complimenting her. It became apparent to him that Brookline was not so easily won over by mere flattery alone. A trait that only furthered his interest in her as a potential ally with a sharp mind was always a boon. He decided an honest approach was fitting. "Well, I've seen your skill and I wanted to get to know you. Someone is bound to land a spell from time to time. No one is going to win every time, but I admire your wit and determination. Like I said, you failed, but here you are practicing nonetheless. I'm impressed." Hopefully that idea would gain him favor and she'd relax into getting to know him.

The topic of fathers and lack there of could often be a shaky ground to stand on. Harvey didn't want her to get upset and leave so he offered his own experience to provide an olive branch. She was kind enough to offer him sympathy in a time when she might have been consumed by her own heartbreak. He offered his own sympathetic expression as Brookline explained her father left just before they returned to school. "How devastating." Harvey offered with a slight shake of his head. Such a blow right after the high of the holidays. "I suppose I'm thankful I never got to know my father sometimes. He can't hurt me again." The truth was that his absence had left a wound that may never fully heal, but at least he could easily forget about him. "Hopefully your father will realize the errors of his way soon enough. In the meantime. I've got plenty of ear to spare if you ever want to talk about it." The boy pointed to his own elongated ears in an attempt to make a little fun in such a heavy situation.

ℬrookline gazed up from her nails. Harvey’s glance had turned to something in the distance, and the Ravenclaw could have rolled her eyes. She knew that the boy was only doing that on purpose, as she did it, herself, as well.

She looked at Harvey as the younger year turned a bit, his hands now clasped behind his back. He seemed honest as he explained about wanting to get to know her, and how he was impressed of her practicing. “Hmm... Correction: was. I was practicing but you probably saw what happened. Almost ran into a tree, and my spell failed. Although, I appreciate it. Not many people appreciate things much anymore. Especially not him.”

At the sheer mention of him made the young Quinn’s eyes prick. But she continued on. “Sometimes it really does feel like the universe what's me to feel this way. I really hope you don’t reach my state or ever fine yourself out of hope. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, really.” Brookline frowned in thought, and consciously ran a hand though her messy braided hair. She sighed, crossing her arms, and she glanced up at Harvey.

Brookline had just finished murmuring into her wrist, and the young boy had responded with a little shake of his head, “How devastating.” She would only shrug her shoulders even though it was tearing up inside. It felt like a werewolf was trying to rip and wreak havoc on her inside. Perhaps Harvey did understand her? But how could she tell him about the voices and the dark mark when she hadn’t even told her best friends? She squeezed her eyes tight, her lips trembling, trying so hard to keep the tears in. Then she shivered, a blast of a cold breeze hit her face.

Harvey then rambled on about hoping Brookline’s father would see what did wrong and that he offered to listen with a little joke and a point to his long ears. The Welsh girl’s lips twitched in the slightest of a dry chuckle and a weak smile. “Sure. Your ears do look a little longer for a boy small as you.” She responded, she uncrossed her arms, and realized her mistake. “...No offense, though. I was small and still am.”

ooc note: ack, i’m so so sorry for a late response!

@Brookline Quinn

OOC: eek! my turn to apologize for a late response!

Harvey shrugged when Brookline mentioned her recent failure. Practice made perfect, but he felt like that was not what she wanted to hear right now. How many times had he failed his spell work while prancing? Too many times to count, but eventually he got the hang of it and then he could begin to hone the skill. He was only a first year, but with time he would be a great caster. Surely if she stuck with it, so would she.

"People often forget to appreciate the things right in front of them." Harvey agreed. His upbringing had been strict and downright ruthless at times, but he was grateful that his grandfather had honed an observing eye in the boy. He couldn't bare the thought of being one of those daydreamers like some go his classmates, wondering through the day lost in thought and oblivious to the things that really mattered. "Your father could use another lesson." Harvey toed the line of agreeing with Brookline, but not pressing too far as to upset her more than she already was.

"Yeah, the world can be cruel sometimes." Life had mostly been kind to Harvey, but he knew his fair share of lacking hope. Abandoned by his father only to be raised by a mother too weak to make anything of herself and a grandfather that often despised the fact that Harvey was part-human. He was attempting to flatter the girl in an attempt to make a connection, but his understanding about her father was genuine. The boy had no idea just how deep her troubles ran though. As her lips trembled there was no telling how far he'd have to dig to know anything about voices and dark marks. Yet if he did would he run for the hills or would it peak his own dark curiosities?

Fortunately his remark about his elongated ears would save them from traveling too far down that dark path. Harvey only chuckled at Brookline's remark of his small stature. It surely wasn't the first time he had heard that. "No offense taken. It's to be expected of a part-goblin." He admitted to his mixed nature. "I surely won't be the tallest in my class, but it comes with other perks." Harvey finished with a smirk.