Post Ball walk Open Finished

Howie walked silently next to Rosie down the steps from the large oak doors and onto the grounds of Hogwarts. He carried their plate of treats and looked up to the night’s sky as they set a path for the lake. It was a stunning array of stars and the moon shone bright, casting a dull light across the grounds. Smiling to himself, his thoughts drifted over the past couple of days. Never would he have expected for things to go so perfectly. 

As they reached the shore of the lake, Howie took a moment to observe just how beautiful it was here, completely different from what he knew back home. Looking down from the sky, his eyes met Rosie’s, as they both exchanged smiles, the moons reflection making her eyes shine bright.

“It’s quite beautiful innit?” He replied to her, as a sudden breeze blew in off the water. Reaching out, he took the glass of punch from her. “Thank you.” He said with a smile. Noticing a slight shiver from her, he set down the punch and their plate of snacks. Howie slid off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Rosie’s shoulders, just like his dad had taught him. He giggled as he did, for it was much too long for her, and the brown tweed clashed with her pretty white dress, but hoped she appreciated the gesture anyways. Bending down, Howie retrieved the assortment of goodies and held it out for her. “Strawberry?”

Rosie beamed when Howie wrapped the jacket around her. She too giggled. Rosie struck a pose playfully modeling the jacket. She may look silly, but thanks to Howie, she was warm. "Thank you." A thought struck her and she frowned slightly as Howie leaned over to get the snacks. "You're not cold, though, are you?" She accepted the strawberry from him, her fingers brushing against his as she did. The touch of their fingers made her blush again. "Thank you." Her voice was softer this time, shier, in a way.

She brought the strawberry to her mouth and took a bite, biting into the chocolate coating with a crunch. Swallowing her treat, she looked out at the lake for a moment before speaking. Without looking at her friend she smiled as she spoke, "I'm glad you were here tonight, Howie." She turned to meet his blue eyes. Momentarily surprised that she hadn't realized before how pretty they were. "I was afraid I would be in a corner alone all night. But instead... my night turned out really well." She was going to say she was having fun, but the word didn't seem to fit.

She looked up at the sky. Millions of stars twinkled down at her and she couldn't keep the smile from her face. She looked back to Howie. "I know we were going to walk, but what do you think about just... looking at the stars. It's such a clear, beautiful night."

Howie burst into a fit of laughter as Rosie struck her pose in his jacket, glad he had met someone who shared his goofy sense of humor. “You’re most welcome Rosie, and don’t worry about me, I’m quite comfortable.” He replied to her concerns between giggles. Something about her presence filled him with warmth.

A tingle of electricity shot through his hand as thier fingers brushed together, a bit of color rising in his cheeks as well. The recent memory of them holding hands shot through his mind. Just do it! 

He answered her thank you with a soft smile. Feeling the need to occupy his hand he grabbed a strawberry as well, downing it in one big bite as he returned his gaze to the lake. He grinned as she spoke. 

“I’m glad I was here too...I mean, I’m glad we ran into each other. I thought the ball might be a bit of a drag, but it turned out pretty darn good huh?” He replied as thier eyes met again. 

“Yeah, this sky is too good to pass up.” Turning his eyes to the stars he seemed to draw the courage he needed from them. Ditching the now empty plate, he let his hand slide down to his side. Reaching out he took her hand in his. “I really like you Rosie.”

Rosie tossed the leafy part of her strawberry onto the empty plate. The night was so quiet that you could just barely hear the leaves brush against the plate as it landed. It really was a beautiful night. She watched Howie as he spoke. He was always so happy and full of energy. It was one of the things she like about him. But now, she could tell he was nervous. Why? Because of her? "Its been the best night I think I've ever had." The butterflies that had seem to permanently take up residence in her stomach were having a field day tonight.

She turned her face back up to the stars, her hands at her side, so she was caught by surprise when Howie again took her hand. She turned her green eyes and met his blue ones, a slow smile breaking out on her face. She had, somewhere in the back of her mind, rationalized holding hands earlier by telling herself it was just because of the dance. But now, away from everyone, away from the music and festivities, Howie had chosen to take her hand again. In a moment of uncharacteristic bravery, she laced her fingers with his, like she had once seen in a movie. That's the way you were supposed to do it if you liked them more than friends... right? Anyway, it felt right.

“I really like you Rosie.”

Her eyes widened in surprise at this admission before she put herself in check. He could of course mean just as a friend. But friends didn't hold hands like this, did they? No, it was clear how he meant it. "I really like you too, Howie."

Howie’s chest puffed up with the sense of elation that was now pouring through it. She, Rosie Turner, likes him back! The nerves and slight bit of anxiety that gripped him moments ago, now vanished, his usually face splitting smile took back its rightful place as he looked down at her.

His father had spoken to him about this before sending Howie off to Hogwarts. Howard Sr. had told him tales about crushes and liking girls, an idea at the time that Howie thought would never happen to him. The thought of shooting off spells and flying brooms was all he had anticipated upon his arrival, but it turns out the real magic was disguised behind a pair of bright green eyes.

Howie felt Rosie intertwine her fingers in his, in a most satisfying way. Obviously this is what his hand was born to do, what had it been doing for the past eleven years?! 

“Cool!” He blurted out in response, the pleasure running through his mind had obviously dulled his thinking capabilities. Seriously dude! She says she likes you too and you say cool! Real smooth! Laughing at his own dumb words, he said, “Sorry! What I meant to say was, that makes me very happy. I’ve never liked a girl like this before, or ever had anyone like me. I’m really glad we met Rosie.” He gave her small hand a slight squeeze as he said the last statement.

Rosie laughed with Howie after his "blunder". She didn't really think he could do anything to look silly. Everything Howie did was 'cool'. She ginned, not taking her eyes from his. "Well, it is cool." She squeezed his hand back. "I've never liked anyone either. I'm really glad I met you, too. I didn't think that anything like this would happen here."

Rosie looked up at the stars and wondered briefly if Howie would still like her tomorrow or if it was only the magic of the ball. That was a worry for tomorrow, she supposed. Without letting go of Howie's hand, she lowered herself to the ground. Yes, it meant her dress would get dirty, but suddenly, she just wanted to gaze up at the stars like she had done with her mother when she was younger. "Come on, you can see the stars better when you lay down."

Looking at the stars like this made her think of her own family, her mother in particular. Waiting for him to get to the ground, she used her free hand to pull her hair free of its bun. If she was going to lay on the ground, at least she would be comfortable. As she pulled the hair tie out of her hair, her mass of red curls fanned out behind her, falling to her back. She looked up at Howie expectantly.

Howie was in bliss as he laughed with Rosie. It was just so easy to be around her, so comfortable. He had always been a confident child, never shying away from being himself, but before Hogwarts he had always been and outsider, often looked at as an oddball, with a quirky sense of humor. None of that seemed to be present here at Hogwarts, and especially with Rosie. 

“I know right. I mean it’s crazy that we are at a school for magic but school was always kind of a drag for me. Never really fit in all that well, ya know? I never would have expected to meet someone like you.” He replied.

He followed her gaze back up to the stars and before he knew it he felt her going to the ground. Looking down, he smiled as she laid back, releasing the curls he liked so much from thier restraints. Howie held firm to her hand and allowed himself to sit down on the ground, following her request. Laying on his back he could have cared less that his suit would get dirty, he would have laid in a mud puddle for this moment. Hand in hand they laid there gazing up at the sky together. 

“I love how many stars you can see out here. It’s nothing like back home.” His free hand shot up to the sky, pointing. “See that really bright one there! I think that’s the North Star.” He said excitedly. “Me and my dad used to try and find the constellations out in our garden.” He said as he rolled his head over to look at her.

Rosie’s gaze followed Howie’s finger when he pointed to what he thought was the noth Star. “I think you’re right. That one is brighter than the others.”

She felt Howie look at her and she turned her head to meet his eyes. Those eyes. Every time she looked at them she melted. She fought against the color threatening to rise to her cheeks. My mum and I used to look at the stars, too." She turned her gaze back skyward. "Its not like this in London, either. With all the light pollution, you're lucky to see the north star and the little dipper. Might see Orion sometimes, too." She turned her head back to Howie. "What's your family like, Howie. They sound so nice." She knew that Howie's family had a bakery, but that was about it. A thought struck her and she laughed softly. "I don't even know your last name. Mine is Turner, by the way." She winked playfully.

It briefly crossed her mind how comfortable she was with Howie. She was discovering a whole new, more playful side to herself that she hadn't before known existed. Of course, she had never had a social life before now. What would she have been like if she had? Did it matter?

Howie was lost in those bright green eyes. The cool breeze blowing softly through her curtain or red curls. “Yeah, we live a bit outside Manchester, so the light pollution isn’t too bad, but you still can’t see all that much. Ya can pick out the major constellations most of the time. We used to keep a star chart.” His mind wandered back to his father. They would have spent nights like this filling it out...Howie wondered if he was still doing it in his absence.

“My family?” He thought about it as her question registered. “Yeah, my folks are really nice. It’s just the three of us, oh and there is Otto, our cat. He’s a tabby. My parents never thought they could have kids, but then I came along. The ‘miracle baby’ according to me mum. So yeah, it was just me. No brothers or sisters, but it was good. We are all really close. We stay in a small apartment above the bakery...did I tell you that already? Anyways, we got a nice little garden out back that I tend to with my mum. We don’t have much, nothing fancy if you know what I mean.” His eyes wandered to the outdated and obviously used suit he had worn. “But I don’t mind. We come from a small village, and almost everyone comes to us for my parents baked goods, so that’s worth something right?”

Her next question made him laugh softly. “Oh yeah! My surname is White. Howard Reagan White the second, at your service.” He gave her a mock salute with his free hand. “Rosie Turner eh? I like it, has a good ring to it.” He smiled as she gave him a playful wink, gosh she’s cute!

“So tell me Rosie Turner. What’s it like to grow up in the big city? Tell me about your fam...” Howie let his words drift off. He had momentarily forgot about Rosie’s rocky relationship with her mother. “Sorry...I didn’t mean to bring it up. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” He gave her hand another squeeze.