Potterheads Unite! discussion
Hogwarts Grounds
>
Forbidden Forest
Mod
Mod
Mod
He used to be so free and out of this world. There was nothing tying him to the ground, everything to him was like the wind. Except his sister, but that didn't really matter.
Now he had Juniper. He had messed up big time and as usual he didn't feel like confronting with her yet. But coincidence was not going to let him enjoy a peaceful afternoon.
The way he was sitting, his back was turned on her. With a swift movement he laid down his back and his head - upside down to Juniper- faced her.
"Hey. Looks like we go to the same places all the time." he said, smiling.
Mod
"We've always been friends Jun. See I even call you by a nickname now." he said giggling.
He wasn't sure he was over his crush but he honestly meant what he said. Juniper obviously felt bad for him and Aito wasn't the kind of guy who soaked around being sad and miserable. He was built that way.
So he locked his emotions and brought his usual self to the surface.
"How've you been? We haven't talked in ages." he said.
Mod
"You were getting red." he explained, still smirking about it.
"I'm doing fine. Working on some new spells, trying to patch things up with my sister." Him mentioning Myriad, Aito regretted it the minute the words left his mouth.
Juniper might still feel weird about her so she wouldn't probably want to hear him talk about it.
Mod
"You didn't ruin our relationship June. You were just an excuse for Myriad to start thinking realistically, as she always does.
We're 7th years. We want different things in life and this is the point we say bye to each other and that is...hard if you consider our past." Aito felt as if he wasn't speaking to someone but to the forest.
Thoughts and fears that came to the surface just filled him up and made him forget about June for a second.
It was a weird feeling. On one hand he was relieved about not being fully concious that she was there, next to him, radiant and beautiful. But on the other hand he felt alone and sad thinking that he would lose his sister at some point.
"Anyway.." he said, waking up. "It's not your fault."
His smile was back and he felt as if his entire being glowed with the yellow sun.
He looked around. "I wish I could live here June. In this tree." he confessed.
Mod
Even with Myriad Aito wasn't the confronting kind of guy. Whenever there was a problem the most he could do was touch her hand and say that everything was going to be alright.
However, he now hesitantly raised his hands and touched June's back for a second before she pulled herself from him. Her embrace was warm. He saw her eyes were watery.
"What was that for?" he asked, with his voice sounding as if he was a child and he was firstly acquiring the meaning of 'hug'.
Mod
He pulled away and sat down, trying not to let this hug confuse him.
"You don't need to be sad for me." he said, making sure she knew that he had noticed her tear.
Mod
Aito's hand clutched and his smile disappeared. In a swift movement he jumped from his 'root' seat and he landed on the ground, distancing himself from Juniper.
He could sense a shock in her aura and a part of his mind felt bad for her. However there was nothing he hated more than pity and for some reason, pity coming from Juniper was making him more angry.
"I don't want you to feel sorry for me." he said, squeezing his hands as if he wanted them to bleed.
Mod
He couldn't figure her out. No matter how many times he'd tried to understand what was it that made him think that she liked him as more than just a friend, he always came to the conclusion that his instinct was right.
Yet he got rejected and he was now stuck wondering why. And what was worse, she pitied him.
"It's okay, it's just a scratch." he said trying to smile. "I should get them cleaned." he said, meaning that he had to leave.
Mod
"Meet me here tomorrow." he said, stabilizing his voice, trying to sound friendly.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he felt as if the forest was making music for them by bringing animals and insects and the wind together.
"I want to show you something." he said, smiling this time.
When she turned around to face him his smile widened. "I can't stand being mad at you. Especially when it isn't reasonable. So just come. I promise it'll be fun."
Mod
He smiled politely and said almost whispering.
"No it's okay."
He let her go, almost feeling bad for littering her white skin with his blood.
"I'll see you tomorrow." he said, bowing his head a little.
Mod
"Hey." he said, before she was completely out of sight. "I'm okay, really. You don't need to feel guilty because you see me as a friend."
Aito smiled carelessly, the same smile he had on when he met her that day on the Steps of Hogwarts. He meant what he said. He was okay, he was satisfied with her being his friend. All the other stuff, he locked away.
Maybe someday... he thought.
"So, until tomorrow my lady." he said, bowing.
Mod
Mod
Aito found his way back to the white wooden tree. The sun was sparkling through its blue leaves and and created a magical shadow on the ground.
Aito carried his two backpacks full of tools, kind of ejoying their weight. He felt good about himself for what he was about to do.
He placed them in a tree 'seat' and sat there, waiting for Juniper to appear. He wasn't even thinking about her with feeling anymore, as if the mind 'lock' he used yesterday was working its magic.
Mod
"Well, it's building tools. I borrowed them from our Muggle Studies Professor since he's using them for teaching us how muggles strive to achieve houses, doors and...stuff." he said, smiling.
"So, I've decided to build one. In this tree. And, if you have time and you're not bored, you could help me."
Mod
"Let's start then." he said.
Unloading the bags was the first thing they had to do. Juniper came up with the idea of organizing the tools so that'd be easier for them to use them.
Afterwards Aito showed her the blueprints he had designed. "I know they're not much, that's why I was hoping you'd help me." he said apologetically.
Mod
Mod
There was a reason why a free bird like himself chose to tie himself to a person like her.
Aito was secretly watching Juniper working. It was not a stalking look, most of the times he was checking if she had hurt herself. But he did notice some nice details about the way she looked at the tree, as if she was wondering what were the right words to describe it in a poem or a story.
She caught him staring and he immediately withdrew his eyes. He didn't want to make things weird again. He liked having her as a friend and that was enough for now.
Mod
Aito kept working hard and he loved how his hands just flew, knowing exactly where they were supposed to go.
After a while he noticed that June was having some problems so he decided to propose a small break.
"Hey Juniper, let's take a break and eat something." he said smiling, taking out some lunch provisions.
He smiled mischievously. "I got them directly from the Kitchen. Elves are pretty nice if you tell them you'll be working all day."
He took a sandwich and handed it to Juniper. "If you're tired we could stop for the day." he said, hinting his way into asking her what was the problem.
Mod
Aito smiled yet once more at her reply. "Good, because I want to work more to be honest."
He looked around and set his eyes to the tree. Leaving the small root-seats untouched, Jun and Aito were working on its stem very carefully, as they were trying to simply improve its existence and not violate it.
"I wonder... what will happen to it when we're done, or when we'll have to go away. Do you think someone will come across it, admire it? Will someone destroy it?
There are so any possibilities it hurts my mind even thinking of them, trying to figure out its future."
Aito kept bubbling without removing his brown eyes from the tree. His little blue mark on his right eye shimmered in the sun, as of excitement. He took large bites of his sandwich and after he was done he took out an apple.
Mod
Aito saw Juniper's discrete smile at his apple and warm memories flooded his mind.
The crazy way he had approached her, any other girl and she would have simply gotten up and leave him on the Steps.
Instinctively he took another apple out and threw it to her. As she caught her face darkened a but and Aito's face frowned.
"Jun, are you feeling okay?" he asked, wondering what was going on in her mind.
((We should finish the house now or time warp it in the next RP!))
Mod
Mod
"Sad. I have to leave Jun." he said standing up.
"I guess fun can't last forever"
((Sorry for the short post but I'm camping and I didn't have time ^^))
Mod
Aito smiled at her response. It was nice, them talking so casual and friendly, without akwards pauses or avoiding each other's eyes. He still felt something for Juniper, it wasn't gone but it was finally silent and calm.
He got back his old self; detached from everyone and everything. Yet there was something different, he had felt that Juniper was acting different around him.
Maybe it's because she's guilt free now. he thought.
He stood up and started packing his tools. In the afternoon, the forest seemed still as if there was no one living there. The sunrays pierced through the trees' green leaves and everything seemed in place, as if someone had drawn the perfect moving landscape.
When the packing was done, it was time for the farewells.
"Well, I guess I'll see you soon." he said, rushing his hand through his messed up hair, not wanting to arrange a specific date feeling it might pressure Juniper to meet him again. If she'd liked his company he was sure she'd tag along whenever. It was simply up to her now.
Mod
Mod
He tried not to dwell on it for his own sake.
You don't want to go back there Aito... he thought.
"I'll walk you to the castle." he said smiling, without letting go of her hand.
Mod
Mod
Mod
Mod
It had been days since Aito had seen Juniper. Their meeting in the Forest continued after that first magical day and soon the house was pretty much set. First it was simply fixing the floor and the hollow white-ash stem of the tree. Then they had created the bookcase, the desks, small extending coffetables made from the same kind of wood as the tree with countless beanbags spread around them.
Aito had felt excited, building something with his own hands, filling in empty memories with the help of Juniper. They hadn't met for a week since the house was finished.
Aito walked carefully around the Forest and he finally reached the small seats that still sourrounded the exterior of the tree. He saw Juniper inside but hesitated to enter.
What was this bad feeling he had?
He shook off his frustration and with a decisive step he wlaked into the small house.
"Hey Jun." he said with a calm voice. Before she looked up he rushed over to his desk and brought out some extra things he had carried. Soon an empty canvas, some brushes and new colors were placed on the lean surface.
He also place his bag full of snacks on a small coffetable.
Mod
"Well, I thought we'd be hungry so I ran past by the kitchen. I think one little house-elf has a crush on me." he said laughing wihle putting the snacks into the cupboard.
"A story?" he said and jumped over a beanbag and landed on it sitting comfortably waiting for her to start sharing.
Mod
Aito's smile transformed into a frozen stare. His mind felt empty and his heart sunk in his chest as he could obviously see that it was their story, it was their life but it had an ending.
No.. he thought. "Wait, what?" he said. Those were the only words that escaped from his mouth.
Suddenly his head was filled with so many kind of different thoughts and emotions that it felt as if someone was poking him with a needle on his face. Some were thoughts of pain and sadness, other of anger and dissapointment.
Yet his body remained seated and his hand still enclosed the green apple she had given him. Even though everything was so loud on his head there was only quiet on the outside.
Mod
"Wait-" he said, gently removing her from his arms and standing up. "I don't understand anything, can you please speak clearly?"
He didn't mean to sound abrupt but he just couldn't contain himself. What hwas happening?
Mod
Mod
She was leaving? But...
"What..?" he managed to whisper. He could see Juniper's tears rolling on her cheeks. The previously warm light coming through the window seemed weird now, as if somehow it was getting colder.
"But you live here, I don't understand. You came to Hogwarts, you live here Juniper!" he said, wihtout realizing that his voice was rising.
"I-"
Aito turned his back on her now. He couldn't bear to look. He wanted her to be happy she was leaving, he wanted her to be positive and cheerful. He couldn't bear looking at her, how broken she seemed having to tell him this.
"How long have you known?"
Mod
But still... All these years, there was no one like Juniper in his life. It was always him and his sister, them against the world. He hadn't felt the need to be bound by anything, he was free like the wind, whirling around and around discovering himself.
But Juniper, she changed him, a little bit of him transformed into something new everyday.
But there was nothing he could do.
He turned around and saw Juniper sitting on the floor, facing down. Her hair covered her face and there were tiny wet spots from her tears on the wooden floor.
He took a step, sat across from her and let her dive in his arms. That was not a friendly hug, not in any way but he didn't care anymore. He touched her head and his right hand circled around her waist.
"I can't help but think how lucky those Beauxbatons girls are... They are going to love you." he said softly.
Just like I did.
((Oh my, I think this is going to slowly kill us. Btw, have you heard from your friend?^^ Just curious, no need to rush her!))
Mod
Aito felt his eyes tearing up at the sound of her voice but he contained himself. He couldn't cry, not while Jun was in that state.
He let go of her and raised her head so that their eyes could meet. "Hey, it's not the end." he said calmly.
"We'll write and call each other." Aito brought forth his carefree smile and with a small move he tossed his green apple to Juniper who caught it with both hands.
Just like that first day.
Even though Aito felt his insides melting away, he felt happy that for on esecond he saw her smiling again.
((I don't know how to separate them now, I mean how to they leave the house..? This is too hard :/ ))
Mod
Aito smiled at her, the kind of sad smile you have when you have to leave behind a favorite book. "So.." he started saying while standing up. "When are you leaving?"
He didn't know how he was keeping it together or how he had the courage to even ask her that. All he wanted to do was hide under a rock and transfigure himself into an ant.
Mod
He turned around to see Juniper hanging out her notebook. He met her writing on that notebook, he still had that page where she wrote him that poem.
"No Jun, you want this with you." he said kindly. "Imagine how much you'll get to write about."
He couldn't accept it. That notebook carried Juniper's life, her dreams, her poetic character. It was too much.
Mod
He then placed her notebook and the wrapped package on the coffetable. He felt as if there was nothing left to say, as if another word was spoken everything would tremble down.
Juniper had her back turned on him now, sucking in the inside of their masterpiece as if she would never see it again. That made Aito wonder, maybe he could do somehting about it but there was not enough time now.
However... There was something he could do, something he felt the need to do. No matter what they had said there was no guarantee that he would meet her again.
"Hey, Jun." he said taking two giant steps closer to her. He was now standing behind her, her back still turned on him. "Turn around." he said, almost whispering.
Juniper, not having realized he was standing so close turned around and her eyes widened when she faced Aito.
"I'm sorry." he said smiling a bit. In a matter of a second, he leaned forward and kissed her, gently brushing her lips onto his own, his hands carefully placed on the sides of her head.
It lasted only a couple of seconds, yet it seemed to him like hours.
((I COULDN'T HELP IT!))
Mod
When they pulled apart Aito was afraid, he had done something he wanted to do but Juniper had stated that they were friends and nothing more. When Juniper spoke, however, he felt a giant wave of relief rushing over him.
"I'm sorry for many things right now. I'm sorry that you have to go. Sorry that we didn't have more time to..." He paused there, not sure if it was wise to continue.
"Sorry I didn't do this sooner." he said shyly after all. Juniper was still in his arms, them being now around her waist.
He felt the sun rays on his back diving deeper and deeper into the ground and realized that it was sunset already. He sighed, slowly removing his arms from her.
((Oh my...))
Mod
Aito smiled as Juniper stood up. He knew she was leaving. He knew they might never even meet each other again, that their letter would someday be a faded memory.
But he didn't care. She kissed him, not out of pity or sympathy, but maybe out of something magnificent.
((I'm leaving you space so that I can see where you are gonna go with it^^))
Mod
Mod
Mod
Mod
Aito took a deep breath as Juniper turned the knob and entered the treehouse. So many feelings overwhelmed him at that moment, when her eyes wondered around gazing at their familiar place and Aito felt as if she had never left.
He stepped in behind her, quietly letting this happen. Even though he should be sad that Jun would be leaving soon, he didn't care about that. He just wanted to spend some time with, any kind of time. He was already thinking of how he would ask her to the upcoming Ball. She shouldn't know about it yet, and he couldn't bear the thought of them not going together.
When Juniper came closer Aito held his breath and accepted her kiss, softly melting on the inside. As if he didn't have control of his own body he hugged her and tucked her in his arms, squeezing her a little bit.
"Jun..." he said. "I want you to go somewhere with me." He whispered the last part, deciding he could not find a fancy way of asking her.
((That's fine. I'm new to this group, so I was a bit confused.))
Lately he had been coming regularly to the forest even though it was forbidden. He didn't even bother coming in the night; that day was filled with sun rays and birds or other creatures' voices.
Fifty feet straight from Hugrid's hut and twenty five feet to the right after the chopped wooden oak tree. It was there that laid a beautiful and majestic tree.
Its stem was whitey ash and its leaves were a dark shade of blue. Its roots cuddled the base of the stem creating small seats, as if the tree itself welcomed visitors. He still didn't know what kind of tree it was and he never looked it up.
He liked the idea of it being a mystery.
He sat on one of those little seats and enjoyed the spring breeze.