Violins, and Showmen. PV Avery Chen Closed

Habib was back! And Avery was excited to meet up with his old housemate for dinner today. He rushed from the Rehearsal Room, violin case in tow. It had been a while, and it was strange not having the showy boy around at all last year. He missed Habib's antics, and the boy had become a bit of a partner-in-crime by helping him rescue a poisoned Hunter Argentum, who somehow refused to go to the Hospital Wing.

Over the years, Avery had grown accustomed to the fact that many of of his classmates simply left. They disappeared for all sorts of odd reasons: transferring to different schools, or simply withdrawing without notice. It was usually difficult to deal with the news of another classmate leaving, especially if they were his friend, but one somehow became accustomed with the reality over time. So, it was even more exciting when the trend was broken and someone who'd left actually came back.

He spotted the boy piling food onto his plate contentedly. With a wide smile, Avery slung an arm around his housemate. "Hey, so good to see you again, Habib! How do you feel coming back to Hogwarts? And where've you been, mate?" He felt like he had so many questions to ask Habib; so much to catch up on. The questions he asked were obviously loaded. Would the boy respond happily? Unhappily? Avery had no idea what to expect, in terms of what Habib might've gone through while he was absent for an entire school year. In the meantime, he decided to follow in Habib's footsteps and heap a few large spoonfuls of mashed potatoes and meat onto his plate.

Habib looked up to see, an old friend. Avery. He grinned, the boy looked a little tired. Judging by the violin case in his hand he seemed to have run all the way from the rehearsal room, to here. Habib Remembered Avery with a positive light. They had worked together to deal with Hunter Argentum. Habib grinned
"Dragon pox, nasty fucking disease, left me bedridden. I spent most of my year, stuck in some shitty Mungo's office" Although my embarassment of a mother didn't help things but that was neither here nor there. "But screw all that shite. I'm back and stronger than ever. Heck I signed up for the duelling team. The Showman of Slytherin has returned!" He said loudly earning glances from frightened firsties Ooc, faceless NPCs. Not mentioning anybody Which he grinned at. Habib. Turned to face Avery properly "So how about you? Heard you've become some quidditch bigshot, getting any lady attention." He said with a nudge and a wink. He had honestly missed, the boy. Avery had a certain magnetic pull that gathered people around him. Habib had no doubt that he had retained it. Returning to hogwarts, had been a clusterfuck of emotions. The embarassment of being held back still burnt brightly Remember it wasn't your fault Habib wondered how many times he would have to say it before he finally began to believe it. Habib, didn't know what compelled him to blurt out these next words but he said them all the same. "We are friends right?" He asked tentatively.

@Avery Chen

Avery stuffed a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth as he listened intently to Habib's story. "Dragon pox!" he exclaimed in frightful surprise mixed with awe. He could only imagine the pain and torture of that nasty affliction. Yikes, that sounded like a life-threatening year for Habib. "Well, now you have a story to tell -- you got dragon pox and survived! Nothing can really take you down now!" he said with a smile. Look at that, another show to add to Habib's repertoire. "Let me know if you ever want to toss a few spells around together to practice some dueling!" he offered with a wave and a shrug. It had been a while since he had some spellwork practice himself.

Avery laughed as the nearby firsties glanced over, his laugh sounding a little closer to a cackle these days. Maybe it was Vale Ashwood's influence -- who knew? It was different being an upperclassman these days. Gone were the days of being the youngest, most innocent, least knowledgeable and gullible firsties. Mostly, at least.

As Habib asked about him, his smile widened. "Quidditch bigshot? Haha, you bet!" he responded without a second's delay, taking all the credit he could get, which he thought was well-deserved. "I'm a first-string chaser now, instead of a second-string keeper when you last saw me. Quidditch has been taking up a lot more of my time the past year, so there's less time with this guy here," he said, patting his violin case, a bit wistfully.

"But yeah, also, usually just getting the attention of one single lady," he said with a grin. "You remember our Queen of Fright, Vale Ashwood? She's my girlfriend now," he said, just a tad bit of color coming to his cheeks, which was quickly doused with a bite of roast pork or beef or something. "Have you gotten to know any second-years recently? Or mostly been busy with all the work you have to catch up on?" he asked, wondering how Hogwarts was feeling upon Habib's return. Was it strange coming back, joining a year of different students?

When Habib asked tentatively whether they were friends, Avery didn't even have to think about it. "Yeah, of course!" he responded, nudging the boy with playfully in the ribs with his free elbow. "I think you're one of the coolest second-years I know! You're already a cool guy, so you definitely won't need any help, but I'm sure if you tell everyone you're Avery Chen's friend, they'll be dying to talk to you even more!" he joked with a chuckle.