Fall from Grace

Percival blinked at the question and thought about it as they walked. “If another Auror went missing?” he repeated, then nodded to himself after a moment. “I think I’d do everything I could to find them,” he said, "I wouldn’t just sit around knowing a friend was in trouble." Whether they were an Auror or not, he'd do anything in his power to help.

He smiled a little then, “I think that’s what being an Auror’s really about, right? Protecting people..."

He followed beside her again while she kept his books hovering in front of them. When Maisie mentioned what she had been working on earlier, he tilted his head, “Jasmine stitch?” he asked, clearly unfamiliar with it but still interested in hearing more about it, “That sounds nice. My mum likes making things too." He looked toward her again and offered a genuine smile, “I’d love to see the stitch you made. I'm sure it'll be pretty." He felt himself blushing a little after giving the compliment, but he meant it.

She just had this feeling about her that made him confident in anything she did.

As they reached the turn toward the dungeon stairwell, he stopped glanced back at the floating stack of books, and then at her wand. She wouldn't be able to come with him to the Common room, and he didn't want her to drag his stuff all the way down, only to have to then walk back up the stairs again.

"Maybe this is a good place to show me? If we go further down, you'll have to get back up, too."

@Maisie Gemmell

"Yes, if another auror went missing," she repeated. This was serious business; they were going to find Avis' father if she had anything to say about it. Thankfully, his response was a helpful, positive one. She smiled lightly, excited to tell Avis that she'd found a future auror to help them! Not that the girls needed protection. They were extremely self-sufficent. But help could become part of the plan certainly.

“Jasmine stitch?” he asked as they walked.

"It's a more complicated one, so I think I just need to practice," she affirmed, knowing that's how it was with every single sitch, every single craft. Strangely, practice didn't seem to help her in duelling at all. But it was a frantic thing, not at all like the easy way a crochet hook could move through the yarn. In fact, it wasn't at all like the easy conversation she found herself in.

Soon, she learned the reason he was interested: his mum made things too. "Oh?" she asked, "What does she make?" Maisie was always excited to learn from other makers. He seemed to blush slightly not unlike she had done when he assured her it would be pretty. This compliment she felt much more comfortable taking. "Thanks. Like I said, I think I will get it."

Soon enough, they reached the stair that led down to the dungeons, and presumably the Slytherin dungeon down there somewhere. She thought this was the place to say good-bye, but first he wanted to see the scarf in making. "Oh, right, of course," she said as she lowered her wand, ending the spell and placing the remainder of the books on the ground. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out the beginning of the pale blue scarf to show him. The stitch looked like little stars or flowers from the way the yarn was knotted. Or, that's how it was supposed to look. "They're not even yet, but I'll get it," she said. It would have been nice to show him something good and well made, but such was the process of learning. And somehow, she didn't think he'd mind that much.

"Do you think you'll get down there okay?" she asked, hoping to make sure he was laright before she left him. "I can float the books down a bit further if you like, considering stairs seem to be your nemesis." Her tone was light-hearted.

It had been a pleasant walk.

@Percival Rocier