F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Homecoming, July 2023 ❧

Out of nowhere the end of the year had pounced on him. Packing had been a blur of running around his dormitory, finding things he'd forgotten he even possessed and heaping it all into his trunk. Though he'd been wanting an owl of his own all year, he was glad not to have to deal with one on top of trying to recover all his socks. The journey back was a happy, fuzzy blur punctuated by a heavy bouts of silence. He'd never quite made friends like he had at Hogwarts and the thought of being even just a few weeks without them dampened his mood.

There was at least one terrifying bright spot to look forward to. At the end of their last charm practice session he had asked @June Selwyn if she would like to come visit over the summer. To his astonishment she'd said yes and even seemed relieved that he had invited her over. Something had been up with her for quite a while now, but he hadn't yet dared to ask her about it. Girls were such a mystery at times.

Finnegan tore his eyes from the window. There wasn't much to see anyway, a dark blue hue had been draped over the outskirts of London as evening came creeping over the horizon. If there hadn't been three other students crammed into the same carriage, he might've risked a few more glances at June, seated across him, while she slept. He'd been tired too but jumbled thoughts had kept him awake. The prospect of introducing her to his parents, meeting her dad, showing her his home, all while somehow keeping her safe from his overexcited sister was more daunting to him than the first time he'd mounted a broom.

At long last the train came to slow, grinding halt. The lights that had been dimmed sprung back to life, as did the passengers. There was a bustle of kids gathering their stuff, saying goodbye to their friends and squeezing their way out of the huffing and puffing train. He grabbed June's shoulder and gave her a light shake. "We're there," he said, "in London," he added to help her sleepy brain reorient itself.

After he'd nearly been crushed by his own luggage, he made it safely across the platform, and after some final waves goodbye at some friends in the distance, turned back to June to make sure she was still with him. He motioned his head toward the barrier separating the wizarding world from that of ordinary muggles and took the lead. The change in sights and sounds was a little startling, it wasn't quite as busy here and he managed to spot his parents within seconds.

His dad was always easy to find, he was tall, rugged and towered over his plumb mother. "Mum, dad!" Finnegan beamed. For the first time in long time he completely forgot about June, abandoned his luggage in the middle of the platform and made a beeline for his parents. His father got to him first, picked him up with both arms and squeezed every last bit of air out of him before playfully throwing him over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Put him down Owen, people are watching!" his mother fretted. "Oh, come here!" There was another suffocating hug while his sister ran off to rescue his luggage. "Oh look at your hair!" If it were up to her he'd have a tidy cut like his father; she always thought he let it grow out too much. "-and don't think we don't know what you've been up to," she rattled on, trying to sound stern. But Finnegan had turned to look over his shoulder, half-expecting for June to have disappeared.

Rose Conner was two years younger than Finnegan but had the same brown hair and the same nose. She greeted June with a bright smile, "are you Finn's friend?" She tugged at her brother's trunk, trying to get it to move. "Dad said you'd be staying for a bit and I helped him move the mattress upstairs and we cleaned his room because it got all dusty. Can you do magic too? Are you a real witch? I thought witches were ugly, he is, but you aren't. Can you turn my goldfish into a dog? I've always wanted a husky, my fish is kind of boring. I hope you like pizza because my mum said we'd have some on the way, we've gotta drive alllll the way back to Wales and it takes hours and hours, but they're letting me stay up late so-" she just kept going, one word after another tumbling breathlessly out of her mouth. In all of the ten seconds Finn had spent greeting his parents, his sister had already ruined the first impression of the Conner family with her annoying chatter.

"Let me take that," Finn insisted with just enough politeness not to seem like he was liberating June from Rose's yapping, though he was. He sort of bumped her out of the way with his hip, grabbed the handle of his trunk and fired and apologetic look in June's direction.

"Ah, you must be June," Owen said, offering a polite but firm handshake. Caitlyn Conner was far less restrained and embraced poor June like they'd known each other for years. She probably thought June needed a good old cwtch for being left with relative strangers in the heart of London. "You both must be terribly tired after such a long trip," she said. "There's a lovely little restaurant just around the corner. Was your father coming too, June?" Finnegan was curious to meet the man, June seemed to admire her father a great deal, though it hadn't been entirely clear if he would be joining them for dinner.

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

June had been tired. For a long time, now, in fact. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even Maggie, but end of terms were difficult for her. Two points, she had been two points away from possibly getting the first 'E' of her life. Life wasn't quite as exciting, as shiny, as hopeful as it was at the start of the year. Beat up, that was a good word for how she felt. As if she'd been sucker punched over and over again. And, in a sense, she had been.

She wasn't in the mood for chatting with anyone on the train ride home. After a quick "see you later" to Maggie, and some goodbyes to the friends and acquaintances she'd acquired over the year, she slept. Her dreams were jumbled, anxious, dark. Physically dark, that is. Not psychologically. Tones of gray and dark smoky purples morphed into the face of her father, then Finn, then her mother. And then Finn again, before...

"We're there." A soft jostle brought June back to consciousness, back to her waking reality. That same face, Finn's, looked down at her. "In London."

Pulling herself upright, June rubbed her eyes, clearing them of her leftover dreams. She followed in step behind Finn, a dazed expression firmly planted on her face. Partially because she was still recovering from the trip, but she had been in this state for some time now. The pair stepped beyond Platform 9 3/4, standing firmly in the muggle world. June watched as Finn spotted his parents, running off without her. And without his luggage, which clamored to the ground, bringing June out of whatever trance she had found herself in. "Finn!" June called after him, trying to pick up his trunk in addition to hers, slowly making her way over.

"Are you Finn's friend?" A young girl tugged at Finn's trunk, trying to help June. What then followed was one of the most powerful torrents of words June had ever heard.

"Here I thought professor Browne talked quickly," she mumbled under her breath. She smiled, knowing this must be Rose. "Indeed I am, and you're his sister, right?" In a whirlwind of motions, she found herself giving a practiced handshake to Finn's father, and then trying to be comfortable with the tight, comforting embrace of his mother.

After a second to re-orient herself, June nodded. "Yes, that's right, he should be around here somewhere..." She twisted her neck around, trying to find a familiar face.

"There's my girl!" A pair of arms wrapped around June, planting a kiss on the top of her head. June's face lit up as she whipped around in her father's arms, holding him tight. "Good to see you, Junie."

She squeezed his hand before turning to face the Conner family. "Dad, this is Finn," she gestured with a bright smile, "and his sister Rose," another gesture, "and his parents."

Phinehas smiled and shook Mr. and Mrs. Conner's hands then Rose's, "Phinehas Selwyn, pleasure to meet you. I've heard a great deal about your son!" He finally turned to Finn. "All good things, don't you worry." He offered his hand for Finn to shake. "Your parents have good taste in names," he'd joke. Clapping his hands, he'd turn his attention back to the group at large. "Right then, I was told there would be food! Who's hungry?"

F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Homecoming, July 2023 ❧

Finnegan shook Phinehas Selwyn's hand limply and almost dropped it halfway through. He'd heard a great deal about him. "Really?" He threw a bewildered look at June before the assurance came that it was nothing to worry about. So she had talked about him when she'd been at home. Was that a good thing? He'd kept June's very existence a secret for the longest time until he'd written his mother about her and gotten the thimble back. She probably knew exactly what was going on, she had an uncanny knack for reading minds sometimes. Not his dad though, he couldn't tell his left sock from his right.

"I'M STARVINGGGG!" Rose bellowed, it was astounding how someone so small could make so much noise. "I could eat a whole cake by myself I could!" Finn thought the worst had been over after June had survived one of his mother's hugs, but he'd underestimated his sister's ability to embarass him. His soft snort at her antics failed to go unnoticed. "I really could!" she insisted, stomping her foot. Mercifully, as they got moving, her next victim was someone other than June.

"Exit's right this way, it may be a bit of squeeze in the car but..." his mother's voice was drowned out by the reverberation of King's Cross station. The Conner ladies flanked Phinehas on either side, both of them talking and neither showing any sign of stopping soon. In the meantime, his father had loaded up their trunks on a trolley behind and followed from a distance.

"It was nice knowing your dad," Finnegan muttered with a telling smile. "And they call me the chopsy one in the family. Do you still have your herbology earmuffs? You might need them, honest."

---

The car, that astounding muggle invention, was not made for six people. Somehow, someway, without any charms work, they managed to squeeze themselves and their trunks into the second-hand Honda Civic. It turned out that Ma Conner had a rather loose definition of what "just around the corner" meant. Finnegan didn't bother to try and keep track of time, it was impossible to focus anyway with all the chatter going on. At least his parents were getting on well with Phinehas it seemed, that was one less thing to worry about.

They stopped at a pizza place at the side of the road that he vaguely remembered having been to once before. His mother - having an instinct for these sorts of things - took June aside to study the menu while his father was trying to get Rose to lower her volume. It was already dark out and instead of catching up to June, Finnegan felt inclined to hover around her father. A handshake and a few hastily exchanged words were hardly a proper introduction after all.

"I've heard a bit about you," he started cautiously, before dropping down to one knee, pretending to tie his shoelaces. "You're a writer, right? I am not sure you've passed that down to June... I mean," he switched shoes, "she can be quite creative, but I think she worries too much about how things can go wrong. Everything is always perfectly planned with her," he chuckled before bouncing back up to his full height. "You could easily write a book about her I reckon..." He certainly could.

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

Selwyns were not loud people. Outspoken at times, perhaps, but not loud. June flinched slightly as Rose announced her hunger for the whole world to hear, but quickly settled once more and chuckled at the youngest Conner. Thankfully, however, Rose was not her conversation partner as the two clans made their way out of the station.

A car. June's stomach did a flip of excitement and anxiety. She knew what they were, of course, every wizard did. But to ride in one? Her excitement was briefly interrupted by Finn. She laughed, feeling more at ease as he joked with her. "He's been dragged into conversations all his life, I'm sure he'll manage. My muffs are at the top of my trunk if we need them though," she smiled, a brief moment of silence before her curiosity could no longer be contained. "Are we really going in your family's car? Is it big? I've heard they run off of combustions, but I can't imagine something like that would be pleasant to ride in, would it?"

It wasn't.

June kept her eyes fixated on the road ahead of them as her stomach lurched with every jostle of this forsaken automobile. Not to mention it was incredibly cramped. Any attempt at conversation with the Slytherin would be met with curt answers as she tried to keep her stomach down.

She quite literally leapt out of the vehicle once they arrived at the restaurant.

After a moment of staring at the concrete ground and convincing her stomach to settle, June found herself escorted to look at a menu that sat outside the establishment by Finn's mother. A welcome opportunity, as June was realizing just how out of place and out of sorts she felt here.

She eyed the menu, grateful for a cuisine that she was familiar with (unlike Maggie who had been rambling about some Scottish-sounding 'Donald' restaurant). June sighed, the fatigue from the day catching up to her.

"Did you enjoy the journey home? I've heard it can be quite long." Caitlyn stood beside June, eyes trained on the menu.

June gave a polite nod. "It is long, but to be truthful I slept most of the way. I got a later start on packing than I'd hoped."

Caitlyn nodded, a hint of something in her eye that June couldn't quite place. Whatever it was, it felt good, felt safe. "Well, I'm sure you had a lot on your mind. I remember the end of the school year being exciting, but also quite stressful. Lots of change, saying goodbye, final exams," June tensed for a moment, "quite a lot happens in those last days."

"Mmm," June agreed. "It feels like a lot more happened than last year, that's for certain." An accurate description. "Then again, last year I didn't have the opportunity to look forward to spend time away from home." June turned and gave a genuine smile, unaware of how her statement could come off. But it was true, the prospect of exploring the muggle world with Finn and his family was a very exciting one all on its own, only added to by the fact that 'home' was not going to be a particularly pleasant place to be this summer.

Her kind gaze not revealing anything she may or may not have noticed (but definitely noticed), Caitlyn grabbed June's hand. "We're happy to have you with us, June."

Off to the side, Phinehas Selwyn was getting his first glimpse into June's social life, he'd not met any of her Hogwarts friends before (at least anyone he hadn't already known before June started school). He watched as the young Finnegan tied his shoes, giving an amused chuckle as he heard the boy's analysis of his daughter. "Well, now I know you must be her friend." He looked on as June glanced over the menu a few yards away. "She can be quite particular, that's true." He'd leave it at that, the practiced tradition of family appearances still present in the man, though far less than the rest of his family. "She tells me that you gave her a very kind gift on her birthday, though. Pastels are a very thoughtful gift. And she's also mentioned that you're a creative yourself." Phinehas gave Finn a nod as he stood up from tying his shoes. "Maybe if I end up writing a book about her, you could illustrate it?" Likely not a serious proposition, but a vote of confidence. Phinehas surely appreciate those during his years in Hogwarts.

Once Caitlyn was satisfied that June was properly oriented with the menu, and Rose had been convinced to a somewhat reasonable volume, the group reconvened. June walked beside Finn as they headed inside. "Your mum is very kind," she spoke quietly. June's stomach rumbled, she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and the meal was rushed at that. She blushed, "Seems we're here not a moment too soon."

F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Homecoming, July 2023 ❧

His mind was cast back to that blustery day he'd caught June out in the courtyard. He still had the pictures, buried in a sketchbook at the bottom of his trunk. Phinehas surely wouldn't be suggesting he'd illustrate any book if he ever got to see the charcoal monstrosity Finnegan had created. "Thanks but I wouldn't recommend it," he warned Phinehas with a knowing smile.

He quickly joined up with June and nodded in response. "She works with kids a lot." For a moment he wondered if he ought to clarify that he didn't think she was a kid - thirteen-year-olds definitely weren't kids anymore - but ultimately let it slide. "Apparently I'm kind, thoughtful and uh, oh, yeah, creative" he wiggled his eyebrows at her as they squeezed through the entrance. "I'm illustrating his next book." He didn't think it smart to tell her what it was about though.

A wall of warm air hit them along with the buzz of conversation and the clinking of cutlery. A young, smiling waitress guided them to a table in the corner next to wall filled decorated with vintage movie posters. Maybe it was mean not to tell June that the pictures weren't supposed to move, but he decided he'd let her figure that out herself.

He'd barely plugged his bum on one of the seats when his dad began asking the inevitable questions. "So how was the year? Any spells to win the lottery? How many rabbits did you guys pull from hats?" As if that insuation wasn't enough to make him want to kill himself, he got a ruffle through his overgrown hair to boot.

"Two billion three hundred million nine thousand and twenty-four," Finnegan replied with a dramatic eyeroll.

"That's a lot," Rose giggled.

Drinks soon arrived, something without too much sugar for his sister, a fizzy drink for himself, and something a touch stronger for the adults. It took all of his wit and charm to continuosly steer the conversation away from charms and potions, his worst classes, and more toward Quidditch, though he made a point to avoid telling his parents about the time he'd been hospitalized by a bludger. "Do you play a sport too, June?" Caitlyn asked sweetly. Rose had finally quieted down for a bit and actually seemed to be listening for a change.

"She does broom racing," Finnegan blurted before June could even answer. "It's alright, not as good as Quidditch though." He wrinkled his nose at her and briefly bumped his shoulder against hers.

"You actually race on brooms?" Rose eyes had become the size of saucers. "Wow!"

Between taking sips of his drink, Finnegan took his time to really look at June. She was pretty as ever but there was something off about her still. He couldn't really remember the last time he'd genuinely seen her excited or happy. And just now, back in the car, she'd been so very short with her answers. Something was on her mind, something that she desperately tried to plaster over with quick smiles, but he hadn't the faintest idea what it could be.

The subject of conversation turned after their pizzas were served. "So Phinehas," Owen started, "what exactly is it that your wife does? I heard she was indisposed tonight but-"

The elbow his mum launched into his dad's side nearly knocked the cutlery out of his hand. There was a change in the air faster than any magic could ever dream to achieve. Even his dad, who had never been the brightest bulb in the shed, got the hint. Only Rose seemed to be unfazed by what had just been brought up. Between boring adult talk and seeing how many slices she could stuff into her face at once, she had choosen to focus all her attention on the later.

Finnegan looked to June first, then to her father. Both of them had fallen silent. Had he missed something? All this time he'd not really questioned why just June's dad had showed up. He'd presumed that her mother was busy doing whatever it is that grown witches do, or maybe she'd be joining later, he really hadn't given it any thought at all.

Whatever was going on her, he could tell it was bad from the way he noticed June tense up next to him.

"So how's your pizza, sweetheart?" His mother tried to save the situation, but he wasn't listening, not to her anyway. Something told him his quick Chaser's instinct were about to come in real handy.

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

It was always a marvel to June just how little muggles knew about magic. They had theories and legends, sure, but the idea of muggles being so fixed on the topic of rabbit conjuration was always amusing to June. She was about to helpfully explain that she was excited to learn such a thing in her fourth year before Finn paid the question no mind, joking in response. June's face flushed just a tad, embarrassed that she hadn't picked up on the fact that his father wasn't entirely serious about wanting to know about the happenings of their transfiguration classes.

June took a sip from her lemonade as she listened to Finn regale his quidditch stories. She made a note to actually attend one of his games in the new school year. "Do you play a sport too, June?"

The racing captain's face swelled with pride as she took a breath to answer, only to be outpaced by Finnegan once more. She scoffed jokingly, jostling him back. "Racing is far more fun. You can't use spells and potions in quidditch, now can you?" Or rocks for throwing, but that one was probably best unmentioned for now. June turned to Rose, finding the girl's fascination quite endearing. "I don't just race on brooms, I'm also the captain of my house's racing team." It sounded very impressive, especially to those without access to the Basilisk's very sad track record. "Much more thrilling than quidditch, mind you. What's the point of buying a fast broom if you can't actually use it in the open?"

Mr. Conner was a well-meaning man, that was clear from the way he interacted with his family. But he didn't seem to be the most perceptive, or perhaps discerning mind. At least not at the speed necessary to avoid certain interactions. Games and dances around topics of conversation was something the Selwyn family was well practiced in, and often being faced with a different sort of communication was a welcome break. Not this time, though.

June chewed on the end of her straw as she stared emptily at the table, her half-eaten slice of pizza now seeming much less appetizing. She closed her eyes for a moment, blocking out the world. Breathe, Selwyn. One, two, three. With a deep breath and a brave face, she looked up at the adults. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need to use the restroom." She smiled, placing her napkin on the table as she stood.

"June's mother and I are separated, actually-" June heard the voice of her father as she walked at a brisk pace toward the back of the restaurant. He wasn't offended, he never was. Of course apologies and assurance that no offence was taken would follow, surely, but June wouldn't bear witness to it.

She made a sharp right, the opposite direction of the ladies' room, yes, but the location of an empty room used for private events. A quiet room far enough from the crowd and noise to allow herself a moment of repose.

She sat on the ground after she slipped into the dimly-lit room, not bothering to close the door. June swore under her breath at herself as tears began to gently creep down her face. She told herself she wasn't going to cry anymore. But she hadn't seen her father since April, and wasn't particularly interested in processing the state of her family while she was at school. So here she was. Crying. Alone. Again.

Pathetic.

F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Homecoming, July 2023 ❧

He almost choked on his drink when she dared to say - with a straight face no less - that racing was far more fun. Somehow, in their year long of knowing each other, the topic of either Quidditch or Broom Racing had never really come up. Maybe they'd both subconsciously avoided it, both knowing they would never be able to persuade the other. He'd never gone to one of her races, never really thought about how much the sport meant to her. In his defense, between Quidditch practice, homework, and his struggles with Charms, there wasn't all that much time left in the day.

Just as he was about to challenge her to race - he was rather confident he could beat her - his dad had to go and ruin it all. Not two seconds after June had excused herself, Finnegan got up, mumbled something about having to go too and chased after the blur of whipping blonde hair. Rose piped up, feeling left out, but his mother swooped in like a hawk. She let him leave while his father was apologizing profusely to Phinehas.

From the very edge of his hearing, he just about caught the man's explanation.

June's mother and I are separated, actually.

He stumbled forward, half-tripped over his feet, cursed under his breath and scanned his surroundings for that familiar blonde head. Where had she gone? Why hadn't she told him? A lot of things June had said and done in the last few months at Hogwarts snapped into place. It should have been a relief that the world made sense again, that he finally knew why she'd been more distant as of late, but he felt like he was drowning in concern and confusion.

There, he caught just a glimpse of her hurrying away from the toilets and into a side room. She must not have noticed the "Authorized Personnel Only" sign on the door, and the June he knew would never, ever have entered it without cause. In a twist of irony, he slowed his pace and halted before the door after she'd gone through. Under any other circumstances he would've barged in without a moment's hesitation. It wasn't the sign that stopped him, it was June.

What if she just wanted to be left alone?

The door wasn't closed, but it wasn't wide-open either. While he hesitated, waiter walking by shut the door in passing without bothering to look inside. Finnegan chewed on his lips. Perhaps he should head back, get Phinehas, let him deal with this. But would she really want to see her father? Wasn't the entire reason that she'd walked off to get away from anything or anyone to do with her family?

Unable to remain standing in the middle of the restaurant without inevitably attracting someone "helpful", he decided to take the leap and walked up to the door. First he tried peeking through the keyhole, but it was too dark on the other side, so he put his ear to the door instead. For a while, all he could make out was his own pounding heartbeat. The cozy clatter of cutlery and the buzz of couples and families chatting amongst themselves was distracting. He put up a hand against his ear and listened close, but it was little use. Was she still even there?

A waiter carrying a large tray of clinking wine glasses came out of the kitchen at the far end of the hall threw a quizzical look at him. "Are you lost?"

Finn jolted and jumped away from the door like someone had just put an electric current on it. "Oh, no I-" he swallowed down a gulp, "I was just looking for the toilet."

The waiter didn't seem entirely convinced but had better things to do than babysit children. After he'd quickly pointed out the way back to the toilets, he moved on and Finnegan - who had pretended to head back - spun around on his heel. This time he didn't hesitate, though he was cautious to open and close the door as quietly as he could manage.

It was dark inside, though some light from the streets still flooded in through the windows. It rather looked like a private dining space, judging by the collection of unused chairs and tables that had been neatly arranged in the corner.

His eyes fell on June.

He'd never seen her like this before.

She's crying. For a second he just stood there, frozen, numbed into indecision by the sight of seeing his best friend sitting hunched over on the floor. Her soft snivelling was clear as day now, there was no doubt about it.

"June?" he croaked. His throat had gone parched all of a sudden. "Hey..."

No more words followed, no thoughts came to mind, his limbs just moved on their own accord when he sank into a crouch beside her. For a second he remained that way, present but hesitant, his mind a barren wasteland. There was nothing he could say to make things better.

Then he sat down next to her and without thinking slung a skinny arm around her shoulder and gently pulled her in. "Shhhhhhh". He gave a reassuring squeeze like the ones his mother used to give him when he'd gone out, played too rough and got himself hurt. Burying June's face in the embrace of his baggy sweater was not how he had expected the evening to go, but it seemed the right thing to do. "It's OK," he whispered. "You don't have to talk about it, we can just sit here, it's alright."

His cheek brushed her hair when he leaned to rest his head atop hers. "I should've brought pizza," he mused after a while.

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

June didn't even realize Finn was there until she felt his arm around her, pulling her into a warm hug. She didn't need to look up to know it was Finn as she held him tightly. He still smelled like the Hogwarts Express, like old train compartment with a hint of sugar. Slow, soft words were mumbled into Finn's sweater as June couldn't find it in herself to break away just yet. "I'm just so tired of crying..." After several moments, June finally pulled back, resting her head on her friend's shoulder as she stared into the emptiness of the room, not bothering to move him off as he leaned his head against hers.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, leaving space for fresh tears to fall down her cheeks. She felt like someone was always picking up the pieces for her. Like every effort she made to turn herself into a capable brick had failed, and she had somehow become a porcelain vase destined to shatter over and over again. And while it was nice to have friends who cared for you in such a way, the reality was June was embarrassed that she needed comfort from her peers so often. Why couldn't she manage to toughen up, to grow some thick skin?

And then the knife twisted again as June remembered that there wasn't anything she could have done to toughen up enough for this, for her mother's betrayal. The rush of emotion returned, such a thing was bound to happen when you kept your emotions so under wraps, and June let herself cry. And really cry, not the quiet tears she had allowed herself. She pressed into Finn's shoulder, trying to protect herself from the whirlwind of her thoughts. It was nice to not talk, not be asked questions. Finn probably heard it himself, anyway, it was a luxury not to have to speak the truth out herself. June didn't know how long it had been before she was able to take a deep inhale, steadying her breath enough to speak. "I thought it'd be okay if I ignored it," she admitted mostly to herself. She scoffed, "That hasn't worked out too well, now has it..."

F I N N E G A Nx⳧xC O N N E R

☙ Homecoming, July 2023 ❧

For a while, the two of them inhabited a tiny corner of the world together, leaving the bustling atmosphere of the restaurant far behind. The chatter, the playful banter he'd shared with June about quidditch and broom racing, all of it seemed distant now, like memories from another lifetime.

June's muffled sobs resonated against his chest, each jolt and ragged breath letting out days' worth of pent-up anguish. In that dimly-lit room, to an audience of forgotten chairs and tables, Finnegan pulled her into a warm embrace. They had known each other for a year, went to a ball together, spent hours after class practicing his charms, they'd shared in little games and carefree banter, celebrated her birthday and yet, she had never truly let him in.

He'd known for a long time that something was awry, but with how guarded she had been and how reluctant he had been to pry, a kind of silent understanding had formed between them. An invisible brick wall made out of the secrets they kept from each other. But now the first stone had come loose and a little light was shining through. A confession lingered on the tip of his tongue and in that light he found the courage to speak his truth. He opened his mouth to whisper it into her ear, but a different force stopped him now from uttering it.

This wasn't the right time.

It never was, of course, but he knew he would not come to regret his choice to keep quiet. June had plenty on her mind already, he'd just make things that much harder for her if he told her now. The best he could do right now was to be a sponge, to soak up the grief and pain, to share the burden. He'd wrapped both his arms around her now feeling none of his usual reluctance and gently rubbed her back.

After June had steadied herself, Finnegan gave a final squeeze, then pulled away, his hands lingering on her shoulders. "You know," he said earnestly while he tucked a loose, blonde strand behind her ear. "The sorting hat was going to put me in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, it told me so." He sought out her eyes and spanned a bridge of truth between them. "Then it asked me what the bravest thing I'd ever done was and, well, I thought of this one time I was struggling with something and asked for help." He gingerly lifted his hands from her shoulders but maintained a steady, earnest gaze. The details of that memory would have to wait for another time. "That's when it sorted me into Gryffindor. Sometimes the best and bravest thing you can do is ask for help." He cocked his head slightly and offered a faint smile, "like when you're rubbish at charms."

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

June sniffed. "All the Sorting Hat did for me was call me stubborn," she chuckled as she wiped away her fresh tears.

Her gaze fell emptily on the room in front of them. "I don't even know how people would be able to help if I was able to ask for it." She fiddled with the edge of her sleeve. "And I find that incredibly hard to do. I told you before, Finn, you're much more courageous than I am." She took a deep breath, slumping against the wall as she let her body relax.

Her thoughts wearily bounced around in her head, her internal monologue mere white noise. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she whispered. "I don't even know how to tell people, I don't even know if I should." The gears in her brain began to turn once again as she continued to calm down, the presence of her friend a comfort to her. "It may not seem like it when you see my father now, but we come from very different families, Finn. That's not a bad thing, it's just..." June sighed, there were so many layers to everything, nothing was simple. Well, almost nothing. "It's not just me I have to think about, I think that's what I'm trying to say."

June looked into Finn's eyes, a weak but sincere smile on her face. "Thanks for coming after me and helping me, even though I couldn't ask for it." She took a deep breath, her sobs and ragged breathing now gone. "I have a lot to learn from you." June herself wasn't even aware how significant this was for her, to admit weakness, to acknowledge a lack of excellence in an area of her life. And yet here, in a dim room with her friend, it felt like the easiest thing in the world to do.