reel it in (open)

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It was the warmest day of the year they'd had so far, and a lot of the students were heading outside to the grounds and lake for some much needed sunlight. Atticus had got up early and woke up his dorm mates, asking them if they wanted to go fishing. He'd managed to find an old fishing rod from the muggle studies classroom and had been reading up on the practice, now raring to go while it was still early.

After a lack of response, he'd gone to the lake by himself. Later on, after being completely unsuccessful in catching anything, he was sat by the lake flicking through a fishing book. He'd been joined by Wade who was practicing his swinging technique, and had dug up some worms in the vegetable patches. Then Lien had come along and sat by him, reading a book of his own: for once it seemed to be a fiction book, and nothing to do with studying for the exams.

"You should know the most about this Wade, you've got muggle parents. Don't they go fishing?"

He shook his head. "It's a miracle Ptolemy had gone this long without Alayna nagging..." Thius needed Bellona to get enough distance from Ptolemy's charisma to realize he is utterly unattainable. "And Hector's Hector. My brother just wouldn't like his sacred business time disturbed..."

And he'd have an easier time asking her out if it was just the two of them.

"Anywhere in particular you'd want to go for lunch?"

@Bellona Lestrange

"You do?"

Awww, Marilyn still can't resist Wadeykins even when she's a bit mad at him.

"Just don't look at her boobs again, okay?!"

@Wade MacKenna

Chuckling softly, Hermione was amused watching Atticus proclaim his admiration for her; it was always such a great feeling to know that she was able to help yet another person each day. That was why she stepped down from her role as Minister to better serve the citizens in magical Britain.

"Some of the gossip I've heard in these corridors since I've begun working here is atrocious..." Of course, she'd never utter a word about them as she respected her students' privacy. That was part of being a counselor.

"Do you have any housing plans once you're out of Hogwarts?"

@Atticus Nott

"Hmm... all right then," she said, sounding slightly disappointed. Her three warriors will just have to gather up again in Slytherin quarters this evening, then she'll be queen of the common room! So long as Jeneva didn't say too much to put her down, like she always did...

Urgh.

"You... didn't just want to go to the Great Hall?" she asked, surprised. Did that mean he was willing to go further afield?

@Melanthius Burke

Wade huffed through his nostrils.

"I ain't gonna look at her skanky tits, okay?!"

He'd just have to make sure he kept eye level with her whenever she was in the room, or not look at her at all.

"Yeah... I do. So c'mon already!" Grinning, he took her hand and pulled her towards the lake, throwing out his jacket for her to sit on. She'd probably complain about the muddy bank or something next, knowing his luck. At least he was learning, slowly. He was getting there, slowly. He sat down and started pulling off his boots, then stuck them right into the water. "That feels pretty good, actually."

@Marilyn Grayson

He was going to go above and beyond to secure her. It was all part of wooing, it came with pursuing. Thius needed to stake his claim and make sure Ptolemy knows his place. The latter can wait...

"The weather is far too lovely to go in the castle for lunch."

@Bellona Lestrange

"Yeah... it's pretty bad. It gets to everyone. They don't really say anything, but you can tell it does. At least I don't have to hear a lot about James anymore: maybe here and there, but it's nothing like it used to be. It used to annoy me hearing some of the things that were said about him."

Particularly concerning his sexuality.

"Er... well..."

He glanced at Lien.

"I'm sure I can think of something. For now, I'll just stay with Mum and Alayna. Unless Alayna will go to Rowle... actually, that's likely. Why haven't I thought about this yet?!" He was living in a bloody bubble!

@Hermione Granger

Being dragged towards the water, Marilyn was afraid that she was going to somehow fall in. Her outfit was simple, but cute, and she didn't want it to be covered in lake muck!

"Is the water warm?"

Then she noticed the jacket for her to sit on, and she blushed madly. Wade was being a gentleman!!!! Was Thalia seeing this????

@Wade MacKenna

"Can we go down to Hogsmeade? Would it be allowed?"

This was all a little bit strange: she didn't quite know what to make of it. It was almost as if Melanthius wanted them to be alone, without anyone else...

But Melanthius had looked at her. He had looked at her like mudblood MacKenna had, but she wasn't nearly as uncomfortable about Thius looking. Actually, she'd quite liked it. Ptolemy didn't look at her like that, she'd noticed. But perhaps he just wasn't as obvious? He'd looked at other girls while he was with Alayna before now...

@Melanthius Burke

The few weeks of dealing with that was absolutely horrible; she had spent the entire time worrying for her godson, especially as he managed to stay MIA within the castle walls. At least with him at home, Ginny was able to let her know how he was doing.

"It's good to think about it now so you can make arrangements for the Easter holiday and when you graduate. I'm sure your friends will be very willing to help you out!"

If it really came down to it, she would offer him a room within the Weasley family.

@Atticus Nott

"Nah, but it ain't cold," he replied, grinning up at her. "Just do it - live a little."

@Marilyn Grayson

"Any specific restaurant or food down there that you're craving?"

Whatever she wished, he'd grant. That was his role, and he would carry it out. Now that he was able to get a more proper look at her without any distractions, Thius was appreciating what she was wearing. He wouldn't mind if the skirt was shorter, like with what she wore when they first dueled, but the fact he had to imagine more was increasing his desire. How much would he have to impress her to find out what was going on underneath?

"We have old money, we can get away with it."

@Bellona Lestrange

Marilyn took off her sandals as she looked down at the water. She can do this, she can do this. The current being generated by Macmillan was causing the slight tides of the lake to be more apparent.

To begin with, she stuck her big toe into the water.

@Wade MacKenna

"Yeah... but I really should stay with my Mum. She's completely on her own at the moment. I'd like it if she could be happy with someone. I know she spends time with Carina's Dad as they're both on their own, but..."

He just felt guilty to be leaving her.

@Hermione Granger

Hermione frowned hearing his worry for his mother. It was terrible how much Daphne went through... She was thinking of reaching out to her to at least show support if it couldn't go any further than that.

"You really love your mother, Atticus. Although it seems scary, I'm sure she'd want you to follow your dreams and enjoy your freedom as an adult."

@Atticus Nott

"Maybe... afternoon tea, if we're going to Hogsmeade. At Puddifoot's."

She smiled widely at him. That would satisfy both her savoury and sweet cravings, and there was space outdoors where they could sit. It was a perfect combination, as far as she was concerned.

"Yes - that's exactly what I'd like."

@Melanthius Burke

Smiling, he affirmed, "Puddifoot's it shall be then." It was a rather romantic choice, so at least it'd be the right atmosphere to ask her out at, and it wouldn't be weird if he pulled out a tin of sticky toffee pudding there.

He got this. He got this. He can do it.

"Shall we move onto teaching you some new tricks?"

Thius pulled out his wand and conjured a few sparks to warm it up.

@Bellona Lestrange

"Maybe..."

He knew where he wanted to be. Looking over at Lien, he wondered if it would be immediate between him and James: that they'd move in together. Part of him hoped he could be with them. What about Macmillan? He didn't like the idea of being apart from him, either. He couldn't imagine not being around them all the time...

Atticus sniffed.

@Hermione Granger

"A SHARK?!"

Marilyn shrieked, jumping onto Wade.

@Wade MacKenna

Now all she could think about was lunch!

"Oh - yes. Okay..."

Nodding, she took out her wand. Ptolemy and Hector had seemed to have disappeared from her mind for the time being.

@Melanthius Burke

Laughing hard at her reaction, he caught her in his arms as she lept onto him.

"Sharks ain't in the lake, stupid. They're only in freaky places like Australia, with loads of man-eatin' jellyfish."

Nice. She was now sitting on his lap. He made it very clear that she shouldn't be in a hurry to get off him, by pulling his arm around her waist.

"Ya so easy to mess with."

@Marilyn Grayson

"So, the Metelojinx allows you to create a localized cloud of rain showers. Depending on the effect you're intending for, the intensity of the rain can vary. If it's particularly weak, you may end up with your opponent receiving a few sprinkles... Watch."

He pointed his wand towards a bush that was a few feet away and twirled it. Within seconds, a light, steady rain appeared.

"There is also a counterjinx, but I shall teach you that once you're comfortable enough with this."

@Bellona Lestrange

"Mhm," she acknowledged, keeping up.

Perhaps her dreams that she kept having of winning Professor Riddle's appraisal at the front of the class would become a reality. It was strangely gratifying to have someone of his standing to even say 'well done', let alone earning the admiration of both him and her peers.

Just sometimes those dreams got... scrambled.

"The incantation?"

... and became very different to just earning others' attention...

"I can't remember from when you used it, and obviously - I was concentrating."

... and she would start to be adored and touched by them...

"So..."

... and she would touch them too.

@Melanthius Burke

"You mean there aren't sharks in there?!"

She sort of wanted to slap him for messing with her like that!

"There's man eating jellyfish?!"

That made her lose the rest of the statement. Marilyn ended up making a piercing shriek.

@Wade MacKenna