Toujours Pur (dot) Net

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"Don't worry about it!" Halley reassured her with a wave of her hand. Her cheeks reddened ever so slightly at the prospect of entertaining Vincent – Halley didn't know how to qualify dancing with Vincent shortly followed by a kiss and quick get-away. Was that a good time? It sure wasn't a bad one. However Halley wasn't about to make this about her and Vincent – Hannah wasn’t about to get off that easily.

It took Halley a moment to put the names together – after all, Halley and Autumn didn't talk much about her sister, especially since May – but upon understanding Hannah, she couldn't help but feel less confident in her words. While their Ball dates weren't the same, but just as Stephen and Autumn are best friends who are now dating, Hannah probably assumes so are Richard and Milley. And it made sense. However, if in this equivalent Halley was Hannah, then Halley did not kiss Stephen. twice. It couldn't be the same. She just needed to show Hannah that, and then go find Richard life isn't dull around here, dark lord around or not. "You can't know that Han!" she tried to refute her last exclaim, "And who says it’s the same thing as with Stephen and Autumn? For one Stephen didn’t kiss me, nor I him" she pointed out the most obvious difference, "have you guys talked about it?" she asked in a softer tone – confronting the manner seemed like the obvious way to understand what's going on. And if Hannah wouldn't get her answers, Halley sure will.

[wingardiumleviosa!]

Talking never got Hannah very far with Richard. Nothing she said ever made sense. The level of frustration increased incrementally around the Head Boy. She couldn't handle everything coming at her - the emotional upheaval of the the Battle, the return to Hogwarts...and her increasing physical attraction to the Head Boy, coupled with her emotional dependancy on him and her desire to reciprocate his affections. She felt so overwhelmed.

"Well, of course, we talked about it," Hannah explained, "Well, we yelled, and that's when he kissed me the second time, after I yelled at him about Milley."

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Halley wasn't sure how to proceed from here; she didn't want to prod on what exactly they were talking – yelling – about, and either way, chances were she wouldn't know how to help even if Hannah had told her exactly what went down. It wasn't like she was any expert for the matters of the heart – her track record shows the exact opposite. Not to mention her own current mess with Vincent well, not 'mess' she corrected herself, and it surprised her. However she didn't ponder long on the meaning of it, since she was supposed to be helping Hannah out, not think about her own problems.

She was now more then ever sure about one thing – she was going to have a little chat with her fellow Gryffindor, who apparently is quite the ladies man. Giving Hannah an apologetic smile because her following words by all means did not come out as a scold, but as a suggestion, "erm, perhaps next time you see Richard you should ask him about Milley again? No shouting this time?" she suggested, hoping Hannah wouldn't understand this in the wrong way. "Plus, its Richard he probably doesn't even know this himself. Boys do that. They haven't got a clue…" she said with a hollow laugh, having an odd sense of déjà-vu as she said something very similar to Autumn when they discussed Stephen.

[wingardiumleviosa!]

The fact that Halley suggested she talk to Richard without shouting was a clear indication of how unaware the girl was of the situation. It hadn't been easy keeping track of everything and everyone so it wasn't surprising the advice came out as it did. However, she was fully aware that she couldn't face Richard, not yet.

"I don't know if talking's the best idea," she admitted, "It's the strangest thing, how someone can bring the best AND the worst out of me. I don't understand it."

Hannah sighed, averting her gaze from Halley and instead looking down at her hands.

"I just get so frustrated," she finally explained, "I want to be that girl. I want to be the girl he has fun with. I want to be the girl he looks at the way he looks at Milley. Instead, all I do is burden him with my problems. I guess I just want to give back for all the times he was there for me. He saved my life. I just...I want to be there for him too. But he seems like he has his whole life worked out. He doesn't need my help for anything. I don't know how to love him. But I want to."

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Eeeeeh was mostly what went through Halley's mind as Hannah spoke about Richard and love and all that stuff. Even when the Seeker had a boyfriend she was never the fluff kind of girlfriend maybe that’s why he went on and cheated she thought angrily, but it didn't not reflect in her face for she didn't linger much on that thought, but was focusing on Hannah instead. The Prefect was obviously undergoing serious emotional turmoil, and Halley – who couldn't keep her mouth shut [though really how could she the girl was weeping] – was now supposed to help her. How on earth am I supposed to give her advice? she thought worriedly, wanting to help her friend, but not sure how. She listened as she spoke, wondering how Richard looked at Milley and why she hadn't noticed it 'Cause you're as oblivious as him she reminded herself, a faint smile creeping on her face, which she quickly got rid of – luckily Hannah was looking away so no harm done.

This is way too complicated for me "Maybe the best thing you can do is let him be with whomever he wants to?" she suggested, and hurried on seeing as those words were not comforting at all "I mean, you say you love him but that he apparently likes Milley, and is happy with her?" she asked but kept on going nevertheless "so maybe doing him good is letting him be with her?" she said thoughtful, knowing full well this wasn't good for Hannah, "I mean, if what you really want is him to be happy – then maybe you should give him time to get his head on who he wants to be with?" she asked uncertain if her words made any sense or were even helpful at all. "Sometimes loving people is knowing how to let them go" she added softly, looking at Hannah. She felt odd saying those words – the words her mother told her when she left her father. Back then she hated her mother for leaving and taking her away from her dad, but the fact that those words came to her now, she wondered if maybe she had been wrong? Not the point. Not even the same thing she thought mad at herself for even feeling remorse for her mother. Trying to put on a small warm smile for Hannah, Halley added with a lighter tone, "Richard? Seriously?" she asked as if not understanding what the Prefect saw in the Head Boy – Halley could never see him in that romantic way, sure he was always there for her, but kissing him?! I have Vincent kissing me and that’s more than I can handle. Richard on top of everything, haha she thought amused.

[wingardiumleviosa!]

Hannah listened intently to Halley's words, despite the fact she was not even looking at the younger girl. She understood where the words were coming from and they made sense. A part of her needed to keep him close but another part of her just wanted him to be happy. Maybe it was for the best if she kept her distance, as difficult as it seemed to be. She needed to let him go. She needed him to see she wasn't so reliant on him.

"You're right," she finally said, considering all the advice Halley had just given her, "He needs space...he probably wants it after the mess I've made of things."

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I am? was Halley's first thought and then, of course I am! she had to suppress a chuckle, remembering in Brad's words in the beginning of the year. "I think it's more because he's a boy who doesn't have a clue really. It takes two to tango" she said with a kind smile, glad that Hannah was being reasonable, but not wanting the Prefect to blame it all on herself. Richard wasn't all innocent in this whole thing. "But yeah, best leave him to himself for the time being." She told Hannah, yet different thoughts ran through her head, Space eh? Keep on dreaming! she was already planning her random bump in with the Head Boy.

[wingardiumleviosa!]

After talking to Halley for a moment, she felt better. Despite her earlier reliance on Richard, she felt she could handle the space issue, even if it meant aversion at all costs. But Richard always had a knack for being at the right place at the right time. She decided she couldn't be alone. After all, his main concern was always on her well-being. If she could come across as someone who was doing better, doing well even, this would work out so much better...

"So we never talked about you and Vincent...he happens to be a good friend of mine. How did it all go for you after I ditched?"

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While Halley was glad for the change in subject for she figured it meant Hannah was doing better well, she's not crying, so there's that but the new subject, well, wasn't really something she wanted to talk about – even if all she had been doing lately was think about Vincent. "Oh y'know" she said with a shrug to emphasize how not-big-of-a-deal it all was, even though it really was "we talked, we danced…" she started, not sure whether or not to confide in Hannah – she was never keen on spilling her guts, but she was good friends with Vincent, so she's bound to find out, to point running away – "he kissed me and then he ran away and I danced with Zacharias" Halley said faster then usual, as if saying it faster would make it less awkward or embarrassing. Whereas she looked at Hannah all the time she tried to encourage her, now the Seeker's gaze was fixed in the flames dancing in the firelight.

[wingardiumleviosa!]

"HE DID WHAT?!"

And the righteous indignation kicked in, causing Hannah to look as though she was ready to kill someone. That was no way to treat someone like Halley, kind, compassionate, sweet. She curled her fist up in a ball.

"I will hex him the next time I see him, I swear!"

She might or might not have been overreacting - but she was still upset about Richard. It kind of bleed through everything.

"You give a guy an opening and he completely screws up..." she said, shaking her head, "You want me to sort him out for you? I'm so sick and tired of stupid boys not knowing how to treat us girls!"