With the capture of Verandi Farley and several high-ranking Trossach members, the British wizarding world has finally caught a break. The rate of rogue werewolf attacks have started dropping at a steady rate and, hopefully, things will stay that way. The Ministry is starting to loosen some restrictions, like not arresting werewolves standing on the street for loitering, however there’s still an obvious power imbalance between wizardfolk and werewolves.
The Cotswolds pack are continuing to advocate for the rights of werewolves and petitioning to change the legislation that has been set in motion by the current Minister for Magic, whilst the remaining Trossachs members are trying to stay out of the spotlight and keep a low profile… for now.
Whilst the British wizarding world seems to have calmed down, the same cannot be said for over in Northern Europe where a rebellion of magical creatures has risen. The state of things has gotten so bad that the European Ministry has enacted protocols to protect those under eighteen whilst their adult witches and wizards fight to keep control of their countries.
Students from Durmstrang have been sent to Hogwarts to keep them safe and those not old enough to attend school have been sent to live with relatives or designated British Ministry officials outside of Europe for the time being.
Will the low rates of werewolf attacks in Britain continue? How long will Durmstrang students stay at Hogwarts? Will the creatures usurp the wizardfolk in Northern Europe? Only time will tell.
SEPTEMBER 2019 It's been a very long, eventful summer in the wizarding world. A baby was stolen, several high ranking Trossach members were imprisoned, and werewolf attacks have drastically dropped as a result. What will happen now school has returned?
MAY 2019 An attempt to capture the beta of the Trossachs has been launched. Were the Aurors successful in their mission? Go read more here!
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jun 4, 2019 5:37:21 GMT
Prefect rounds this evening with Aiden were something that Grace had previously been a weird mixture of excited and anxious about, but now they were something she was dreading because... Merlin, she'd made a right fool of herself in front of him not once but twice now. Probably more times, if she really thought about it. But the last time had culminated in her basically running away, embarrassed and wishing the world would swallow her whole.
Standing in the second year corridor, Grace's hands were curled up into balls next to her, fingers biting into the palms because she was early, that was for certain, but he was due to arrive any moment now. Perhaps he wouldn't bring up what had happened near the lake? Wouldn't tease her for thinking they were still talking about birds when, they in fact, had not been? It had been a huge misunderstand and the other night before bed, she'd been hit with the realisation that his offer to 'caress' a 'dickcissel' was not as innocent as she'd thought at the time.
Post by AIDEN VALENTINO on Jun 9, 2019 7:12:58 GMT
The last time he'd spent time alone with Grace Longbottom had been pleasant enough … until the unceremonious end when she'd stormed off in a huff that made her pert bottom bounce despite the fact that he could tell she was trying not to run. Aiden may have made a joke of how boys don't secretly discuss girls - but you'd best believe he discussed that morning, in depth, with his twin sister. Alana had laughed, but Aiden had made her promise to not share the information with her girlfriend - who Aiden did not trust one iota - or anyone else for that matter.
Honestly, it reflected poorly on Aiden's knowledge of ornithology and no one needed to know that Aiden did not, in fact, know everything. Still, Aiden had suffered decent amount of mocking at the hand of his twin as he adjusted his robes and left the Ravenclaw Tower for his first round with Grace. Somehow, through her vampire fangs, she'd perfected the Dickcissel whistle. Aiden gestured with his knuckles scraping the underside of his shaved chin and out, just so his sister knew exactly what he thought of her bull shit.
The moment he rounded the corner to where he'd agreed to meet the Hufflepuff, Aiden smoothed his robes and cleared his throat so that he didn't frighten the girl. "Buona sera, Grace," Aiden said, his tone softer than usual. "I do hope that you had time to practice your 'bad auror' routine because I will be grading this evening," he rustled in his pocket for a moment before bringing out a piece of paper and placing a graphite pencil behind his ear. "How have you been?" They could get through this evening, Aiden was sure of it. She was a goody-two-shoes so Aiden doubted she would cut-and-run like last time. Even now from her stance he could tell that she was here against her will.
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jun 9, 2019 12:03:43 GMT
One thing Grace was thankful for, at least, was the fact that all of a sudden a clearing of the throat marked Aiden's arrival. At least she didn't make an even bigger fool of herself by jumping and shrieking, something that happened quite regularly even when she was expecting someone. Then he said 'buona sera' and by Merlin, she may have been mortified after their last encounter but the sound of his voice was enough to make her tummy flutter. "Good afterno - I mean, morn - evening. Hello. Hi," Grace blurted out, her hands balling tighter with each stumble she took simply trying to say hello. She just sounded so... so silly, and she didn't like it, especially not in front of him.
Then Aiden was asking if she'd practiced her bad auror routine before pulling out a piece of paper and a pencil of all things. Like... like he was a Professor, or something, and Grace's eyes grew wide. "Bad - no, I don't... I'm..." She was still not speaking properly and she stopped for a second, taking a breath to try and gather herself. "I don't think I'd pass that exam. Or... or any exam with being bad because I looked in the library for a book..." Oh, good Merlin, why had she brought up the book? Kicking herself, Grace knew she couldn't quite stop now. "... Um, and there's no... no books on how to be bad anything, really. I think because books are there to help you how to do well at things like..." Well, he probably didn't want to know what books she had stashed in her trunk, what they taught her how to do, and so she trailed off awkwardly.
'How have you been?' was Aiden's next question and for a split second, Grace's brain disconnected from her mouth as she softly admitted, "Embarrassed." A bit hurt, too. Knowing that he thought so poorly of the way she looked to tease her, to make fun by saying, 'a few of them would be quite jealous of you' after she mentioned hiding away in the bathrooms when she got changed. It had definitely made her more self-conscious than ever, hence the baggy jumper she was wearing tonight over her clothes.
Post by AIDEN VALENTINO on Jun 15, 2019 14:13:15 GMT
"Hello. Hi," Aiden replied with a smirk as he watched the blonde girl as she flustered over a simple greeting. Aiden gave Grace a small smile, an attempt to calm her nerves with what he assumed she would like - a friendly gesture. Aiden mentally commended his saintly patience because it was going to be a long arse night if his fellow prefect couldn't even greet him. Thank Merlin he'd popped himself a prophylactic aspirin before venturing out tonight. He did have to admit, though, watching her devolve simply from his production of a pad and pencil, was extremely satisfying and amusing as Hell.
"You're in luck, Longbottom. It's no examination - merely a practical assessment of how much of a good girl you are," Aiden began, then made a "tssssk," sound as she confirmed his suspicions. "You mean you couldn't find more pirate books to teach you how to be bad?" Aiden asked, his eyes wide with feigned innocence in the matter. He slowly put away his pencil and pad, before lifting a pointed finger and clicking his tongue as an idea popped into his head. "Oh, you know, I'll let it slide for this evening. But next time, I'll give you a little hint. If you can't find a book to learn from, perhaps you can find someone to learn from. Do you know anyone bad, Longbottom?"
When he asked how she had been, Aiden was surprised by the answer. "Embarrassed? About what?" Aiden wondered if she had accidentally let out an audible fart in class the other day? Someone had and there were a few accusations that had gone around with a lot of 'whoever smelt it dealt it' but no one actually owned up.
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jun 16, 2019 3:53:22 GMT
Thankfully, Aiden greeted her back a moment later although she didn't expect anything else, really. He wasn't rude by any means, he wasn't going to ignore her... right? Then he gave her a smile afterwards and immediately, her tummy butterflies were in high-gear because it was just so... devastatingly handsome. Goodness gracious, no wonder Faith thought he and his sister were cute. Who wouldn't? "How have you been?" she asked, giving him a small smile back. "How's... how's, um... are you enjoying classes at the moment?"
"A... a practical assessment?" Grace repeated, voice growing high-pitched as she took in the words he said. "I... I don't do well on practical - what happens if I pass or fail? Will I... I've never... never failed a test before. I've never... never gotten into trouble before either, or detention, or... or... I know you're not a real professor or anything and this is just... but I would be in really hot water if I got anything less than an A on an assessment." There she went, babbling like a brook again, and immediately she was biting on her lip nervously, especially as he brought up pirate books.
Without connecting her brain to her mouth, Grace said cluelessly, "Well... most of the pirate books in the library don't really... really give you a guide on how to be bad, they just tell you how to... to... um... make someone walk the plank." And they tell you how to kiss, in great detail... and do other, unspeakable things. "Which... we don't have a plank here, so I couldn't really make someone walk it, or... I wouldn't want to either, and I don't think saying 'arr, me hearties!' will make somebody listen to me either, but... I... how do you make people listen to you?"
As Aiden tucked away his pencil and paper, relief flooded Grace's body for a moment until suddenly he asked if... if she had knew anyone bad, anyone she could learn from and for some reason, her mind turned to those books she had stashed, that taught her to do... the unspeakable things, she'd mentioned before. "I... I'm... I don't... I don't... do you know anyone I could... could learn those things from?" she asked, cheeks turning pink impressively quickly.
Aiden's question about what she had been embarrassed about immediately had Grace's eyes diverting to the floor because... yes, she was hurt but it was silly, wasn't it? She was overreacting, right? There were worse things in the world than... than a boy making fun of her. But he was looking at her expectedly and she couldn't exactly flub it off, not answer him. "Just... just a lot of things," she murmured quietly. "I, um... well. You... you said that, um... girls would be... be jealous of me, and that's... it's not true. I don't think that anyone would..." She trailed off, the awkwardness of trying to explain her feelings around her body becoming too much. Grace changed topics, trying to focus on what else had made her embarrassed. "Then... then the thing with the birds and... I told you... I didn't realise that we were talking about two different things and, um... I don't want you to think I'm some kind of... not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not me, I'm not... I'm not making sense, am I?"
Post by AIDEN VALENTINO on Jun 29, 2019 15:02:06 GMT
That tiny little smile that the Hufflepuff managed to show Aiden was like the smallest ray of sunshine that managed to peep past the foreboding storm clouds of insecurity ... it was nice. Aiden would have wondered why she didn’t manage to do it very often around him, except that she asked him a question without a stumble and as if he were Pavlov with his dogs, Aiden felt it important to reward this good behaviour with an immediate and encouraging reply. ”I’ve been good, thank you,” he said with a smile. ”Classes have been thankfully in eventful and I’m maintaining decent grades. How about you?” All of this would change after the whole DADA incident because he hated being in trouble. In the near future, there would be some bad blood between the usually inseparable Valentino twins. But all that had not yet come to pass
”I guess you’re lucky that Hogwarts banned the use of blood quills as punishment,” Aiden replied smoothly, as if it were the most natural consequence of his prefect pupil not passing the practical assessment. ”Perhaps a detention or two will suffice next time around,” Aiden said with the most serious professor-like tone in his voice possible. This was just ... Grace was too much fun to shit-stir. ”Ahh, but I am a prefect and I can give you detention, and because I play bad auror so well, I know you wouldn’t tell on me for a bogus detention,” Aiden said confidently, his ocean eyes searching Grace’s for a moment. Why... why on Earth would he want to give her detention so much? Like he wanted to spend more time with her?
On the topic of the last time they spent together, discussing pirate literature, Aiden’s lips slowly curled into a rather amused smile the longer Grace stumbled over her words. ”If you need a plank to channel your inner piratess, I’m sure we can improvise. We can march the naughty students into the Great Hall and have them jump off the benches instead. Into a big bucket of water.” When Grace said that she thought saying ‘arrr me hearties’ wouldn’t work so great for her, Aiden couldn’t stop the snort-laugh that escaped him. ”Actually that might just work very well for you; novelty always seems to work for getting the class clowns attention. Let me hear it again? Give it your best piratiness.”
When asked how he made people listen to him, Aiden frowned in thought. He had no answer to that because... they always just had. ”If you say anything with confidence, people rarely argue. Unless you’re Agnes Clearwater and use any excuse to argue just because everyone with pure blood must be wrong about literally everything,” Aiden rolled his eyes, then continued, ”or you could try Mavican’s approach and threaten to cause physical damage to people’s private parts in order to get your stupid point across. She is probably your best bet to learn how to be bad. And a few other tricks from your pirate books.”
Aiden’s keen eyes watched the way that his fellow prefect did a most stunning impression of a turtle when he asked why she felt embarrassed. There was something about it that almost stirred something ... foreign and unsettling... within the young man. He had embarrassed her with a ... compliment? ”I am going to forget, for this moment, that you’ve just accused me of being a liar, Longbottom,” Aiden said, his tone was sharp with annoyance. He let a breath escape him before he continued, ”I was complimenting your physique.” Merlin, was it hot in this corridor? Aiden pulled at the collar of his robes, as if that would help his reddening neck cool down or something.
As if things couldn’t get any more uncomfortable, Grace stammered on about how they’d been talking about two very seperate things and how Aiden was clueless when it came to bird species. ”I don’t presume to think of you being any particular way Longbottom. I know you have a penchant for pirates and ornithology. How about we move on from that and you tell me something else as we walk down these dark corridors looking for opportunities for you to practice your bad auror routine?” Aiden asked and then, before she could take the opportunity to run away from him again Aiden grasper for Grace’s hand. It was a firm hold, for sure, but not one that would hurt and if she tried to get her hand back he’d oblige. ”Just because you have a track record of running away, and we have rounds to complete,” the young man explained before starting in the direction of their particular route of the evening. TAG: GRACE LONGBOTTOM
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jul 6, 2019 10:26:45 GMT
As soon as Aiden shot Grace that smile of his, it made Grace want to melt. Merlin, how did such a tiny thing like an upwards quirk of his pretty pink lips make her feel this way? It was intense, it made her want to do silly things like blurt out how much she liked him, but the fear of rejection was still much stronger. So instead, she didn't, trying her best to focus on their conversation at hand. "I'm, um... glad you've been good. That's good. Wouldn't want you to be bad," Grace said with a nervous little giggle. "Um, well. I... I do well in the theoretical subjects like History of Magic, Potions, Herbology... things where I don't have to cast magic really, I suppose. I... I wouldn't say I'm at the top of the class for any of my subjects." She probably hovered more around the average mark. She wasn't failing miserably, but she wasn't excelling either. Grace's curious eyes turned on Aiden as she asked, "You, um... how about you? Are you at top or a bottom?"
Blood quills had Grace's eyes widening because of how absolutely horrific that sounded, to inflict pain on somebody else. "Isn't that a relief... I, um... gosh, I don't really like pain or... well, on myself. Or others. I prefer making people feel better," Grace told Aiden earnestly, before he started threatening her with detention. Why did that make her cheeks flush? The thought of him sitting behind a Professors desk and making sure she was behaving? "I... but... it's... why... I mean, I wouldn't tell... on you... um, but. It's just..." Merlin's grey beard, she couldn't even speak. That's how flustered he was making her. She needed to remind herself to breathe before speaking next. "What would you make me do in detention though? I know some people have to... to clean and stuff but I like cleaning and being organised and my room's never really a mess and... I don't really feel like that's a punishment, per se."
A plank. He was talking about a plank and Grace's mind instantly was veering off to the, uh... other type of plank featured in her romance book. For a split second, her eyes flickered downwards before she realised just what she was looking at and cleared her throat with a delicate cough as she glanced back up. "I think that'd make an awful big mess," she said, cheeks very much still on fire. Was it possible not to blush around him? No. No, it was not. "I... uhm... arr? Aye? Black... Blackbeard? Who's... who's the class clown? Me?"
Aiden's words about how to make somebody listen to you were wise, good advice in Grace's opinion. Although... how to speak with confidence? She definitely didn't know how to do that. It felt like every time she spoke, she sounded like a blithering mess. She was in the middle of nodding when his next words caught her attention because threatening someone with physical damage? "Private parts? Like your... your..." Grace gestured with her hands, trying to avoid saying the word 'penis' as much as she could. It always made her embarrassed, for some reason, like she was saying a dirty word. It always had, and probably always would. "I'm... well, I don't think... I'm sure... um, even... if... she did damage it, it'd still be lovely? Not that - not that I think it's... I mean, I wouldn't know. I haven't seen -"Obviously. "But... why did she threaten... what silly point? That's awful."
She'd made him angry at her and Grace immediately regretted speaking up, telling him why she had been embarrassed in the first place. She'd... been wrong, apparently, and shame over calling him a liar curled around her body, prickling uncomfortably. "I... just... it's... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... to call you a liar," she said, blinking rapidly because Merlin, she felt so awful she could cry. She didn't want to do that in front of him and embarrass herself even further. So instead of getting upset, she started trying to justify why she'd been skeptical of him complimenting her. He needed to understand why. "I... I don't really like... I don't feel like there's a lot good... a... about it." Gosh, that sounded pathetic. "I'm not fishing... for compliments or... or anything, I just... compared to other people, I just... don't.... compare. I look... I've got all these things... that make me... it's... I'm sorry."
A penchant for pirates and ornithology was... not something most people would say were things they knew about Grace, and it made her let out a startled laugh. "I like other things than pirates and birds... just like I'm sure you like other things than, um... coffee and rings and Italy," she told him with a soft smile, nodding at his suggestion of moving things along though the idea of practicing her 'bad auror' routine was enough to make her nervous.
But then suddenly Aiden did the unexpected, his larger hand wrapping around her own, comfortable and warm and enough to send a wave of shock coursing through her because... he was holding her hand. Holding it. Like they were... like... and when he said it was to stop her from running away, Grace nodded dumbly like this was the most logical reason ever. "Your hand is warm," she said - well, more like breathed. She was still taken off guard.
Post by AIDEN VALENTINO on Jul 7, 2019 17:15:25 GMT
Wouldn’t want him to be bad? Aiden’s smirk was real because had Grace Longbottom not met him at all in this past 6 years? ”Grazie, Grace,” he said, ”I don’t think I could possibly ever be bad. I don’t have a bad bone in my body,” he joked with his best interpretation of an angelic smile. When she spoke of her average grades, Aiden nodded stoically and then gave her a small shrug. ”Well, to be fair, the top two spots are taken by Alana and myself so I wouldn’t stress too hard about something unattainable. Though I always enjoy a challenge... what grades do you need for your N.E.W.T.s?”
Of course the blonde little Puff paled at the mention of blood quills. ”You’re a Puff through-and-through, aren’t you, Miss Longbottom? And pray tell, how do you ’make people feel good’?” his mischievous eyes glanced over the young witch, his monkey brain briefly wondering if she’d secretly been practicing her petting skills. He smirked when she confirmed his suspicions; she wouldn’t have the palle to dob him in.
”So cleaning wouldn’t be a punishment and you clearly want to be punished. You don’t like hurting people,” he said, leaving a pregnant pause just to make her sweat for a good moment or two before continuing. ”But as a prefect and someone without a bad bone in his body, I cannot condone such activities,” he rubbed his chin in thought. ”Your detention will be practicing practical, duelling magic until you can beat me. Just once.”
Why... why did her stunning blue eyes lower? He was used to Grace avoiding his gaze by now but this was the first time she’d ever done that. ”Goodness, Grace, don’t give up your day job. You wouldn’t scare a mouse, let alone any ’hearties’,” Aiden said with a hint of a laugh on his voice. ”I think if you did your pirate routine in front of the class, you might earn a clown class badge, yes. But no, I don’t think of you When I think of class clowns,” that sorely needed to have silencing charms worked on them the moment the stepped foot in the door.
Aiden watched with wide eyes as the girl before him fluttered her hands in the ... very general direction of the place she had glanced earlier and he nodded. ”My penis,” Aiden offered the word, because he was helpful like that. Then it was his turn for his cheeks to flush red when she said that even damaged, she thought said appendage would ‘be lovely’. It was magnificent, like nothing the world had ever seen before nor would see again, of that Aiden had no doubt. However to have Grace Longbottom compliment it sight-unseen? He lifted a hand full of rings to his lips and cleared his throat to regain his composure. ”You have a brother, Grace, how could you never have seen one before?” Dio, the twins must be a lot closer than he had ever realised. There were very few secrets between the pair. ”Mavican threatened to cause my penis damage if I hurt you.” His voice and face both expressed the unspoken question: ’what have you been telling the school bike?’
As Grace haphazardly apologised for calling Aiden a liar, he nodded once curtly. ”Clearly you’ve got a cursed mirror to give you such a distorted image of your looks,” Aiden finally said. He ... he didn’t know how to handle stupid insecurities like this. So he would revert to logic, where he was most comfortable, ”I’d suggest disposing of your current one and purchasing one with a clearer reflection; you are quite attractive.”
Moving on, Aiden was surprised to find that the Hufflepuff hadn’t recoiled as if she were a snail and he were a slab of salt when he’s taken her hand in his own. It was soft and small (though not as tiny as his sister’s) and there was a moment of hesitation before he began a walk up the hallway. ”Rings, coffee and Italia... yep that will be what they will place on my headstone when I depart this world for the Heavens,” Aiden had to laugh as Grace summed up their last conversation. ”Right so what else is there to Miss Longbottom? Did you inherit your father’s famed love of herbology?” stories of Mr Longbottom throwing plants of all things in the Battle Of Hogwarts were legendary.
When Grace mentioned that his hand was warm, he gave hers a little squeeze. ”A by product of a functioning heart,” the Ravenerd offered in reply. ”Just don’t be telling Mavican that my holding your hand hurt you in any way, ok? I’m pretty sure she needs to keep her hands in order to perform her duties on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, so it would be a shame if she had to lose them.” Because she’d lose her life before she came close to harming Aiden’s favourite thing about himself. Yes, her life, not just her freckled hands. Aiden’s jaw was clenched as he thought this, the only outward sign of the murderous thoughts that passed through his mind. ”I’ll let you in on a little secret- I am quite the Quidditch fan. Italia’s hopes of winning the international cup is pretty dismal this season so the Hogwarts Cup for the house will have to suffice.” It was literally the only reason why Alana hadn’t sucked Mavican Jones dry in her sleep since the incident in the Common Room.
”What’s the time? Huh five minutes past curfew and I don’t think that’s a fellow prefect sneaking down the stairs. Ready, Grace? Speak with confidence.”
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jul 11, 2019 11:51:56 GMT
"No, only the best of bones I'm sure. I couldn't imagine that any of your bones are bad," Grace agreed, returning Aiden's smile beatifically. If he was bad, he wouldn't have become a prefect. It was just that simple. At least... in Grace's mind it was. "You and Alana... you're both very talented." The thought of her NEWTs was enough to make anxiety pool in the bottom of Grace's stomach, and it felt like her insides were sloshing about as she thought of the answer to his question. "I... I need an Outstanding or Exceeding Expectations in Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts... I... I think I'll do alright in Potions and Herbology - although, I really don't think Professor Tyrell likes me all that much and she's a bit... a bit... glarey, I've noticed... but the other subjects, I'm not sure. I can't really... I'm not very good at defensive magic, I'm afraid, and Charms and Transfiguration are enough to make me want to wet my..." Grace trailed off suddenly because that was way too much information, and she didn't really need to be bringing up her knickers again, did she? "What do you want to do after school?"
A Puff through-and-through. He made it sound like it was a bad thing, but Grace... she quite liked being a Hufflepuff, despite the rest of the school's opinion on their house. She paused for a moment as he asked how she made people feel good before she answered slowly, "Well, the other day Leo Jordan took me for a ride on his broomstick. I'm sure that made him feel good! He's been wanting to take me for a ride for a while now, after all." It had ended up being pretty fun too, in fact. Grace had been very averse to the idea of mounting a broomstick for a while, but it wasn't as scary as she thought it was. "I didn't break his broomstick or fall off it either so it wasn't too bad!"
"I... I... do I?" she asked, bewildered as Aiden stated that she wanted to be punished. Her mind raced with all the things he could possibly make her to, the strangest of which included doing a handstand on Professor Avery's desk, but then he finally decided after rubbing his chin that she had to practice dueling magic. Instantly, her stomach dropped. "I can't... I don't think I'll be very good at dueling magic, Aiden. I... I'm not very... talented with my wand and producing magic and just... you said you were at the top of the class. If you're the best, and I'm the... not great, how could I possibly beat you?"
Next thing she knew, Aiden was saying the very word that Grace was trying to avoid and immediately, she did her very best impression of a rhubarb with the colour from her cheeks spreading to the tips of her ears and all over her chest in splotches. "You... you can't say that," she whispered, looking around as though all of a sudden the aurors would arrive and arrest him. Her too, probably, for being an accomplice. "I... Arthur's very - I... we haven't had a bath together since we were children, and... and I don't have any... any interest in seeing his... thingy. Majigy. Thing. Or... or anyone elses, for that matter. I don't... I imagine they're quite confronting and... and I'm sure they're fantastic at doing what they do but that's not what I want to do, not before kissing someone, and it's really not ideal for me to do anything without even having gone on a date - well, I don't even know if I've ever gone on a date now because what happened with Wolfgang... it wasn't a date after all and I just... I just..."
She was getting worked up and at this point, Grace's hands had started fanning her face and she really needed to take off her jumper. It was getting way too hot, but then she was promptly distracted as Aiden said that word again and confessed Mavican had threatened to cut it off if he hurt her. Her being Grace... and honestly, Grace wanted to die. Just... curl up on the floor and die. "I didn't... I... has... I don't like that... I don't know why she'd do that because we've only ever..." She took a deep breath, trying to steady of herself before her chest tightened even more. "I did not tell Mavican to threaten your... thing, and I don't know why she did either because I haven't even told her anything about you."
Grace wanted to object to Aiden's claims that she had a distorted image of her looks, that she was attractive, because when she looked in the mirror... that's not what stared back at her. Quite the opposite, in fact. But she didn't want to call him a liar again and so besides murmuring a very quiet, "Thank you," because she didn't want to be rude, she kept her mouth very firmly shut.
It felt... strange, holding hands with Aiden. Different than it had felt when Leo had taken her hand and pulled her onto the Quidditch pitch. It light her insides up with the warmth akin to candlelight, it made her yearn to do this more often. But... they wouldn't, surely. He wouldn't do this every prefects' round, so Grace would just have to enjoy it whilst she could. "I don't think they could put Italia on your headstone," Grace said mildly. Aiden's next question of what else was there to her had Grace pondering for a quiet moment before a soft smile spread across her lips. "I... I did inherit his love for plants. I like tending to them a lot, they keep me calm and... and I like discovering what I can do with the flowers and the bulbs and... and I really like to swim, as well. I don't think I could do it competitively but it's nice." Having access to the prefects bathroom... it gave her ample opportunity to do so now. Whenever she was feeling too overwhelmed, that's what she did. She went swimming. "I bake, as well, when I can. My mum, she runs The Leaky Cauldron, and I help out making sweets during the holidays." She was well aware this was more than Aiden had bargained to hear, but she kept going. "I... I draw too, when I can. I'm practicing drawing people's faces as well, the slopes of their noses and the shapes of their eyes. I... well, you already know that I read, I suppose, but I read whenever I can."
Aiden's response had Grace letting out a laugh, surprised by the straightforward answer. But then he mentioned Mavican again and how she needed to keep her hands and... it had Grace blinking in utter confusion because why on earth would she lose her hands? "I think she... she quite enjoys having hands," she said, nose crinkling. The mention of Quidditch quickly distracted her though, and she smiled brightly. "I'm really bad at flying - well, maybe... flying on my own now, I suppose, but I like watching the sport. Some of them are quite violent though, don't you think? Two of the Slytherin players were knocked in that last game. I hope that doesn't happen when Ravenclaw and Gryffindor play..." Curiously piqued by the mention of the sport, Grace asked, "Do you play Quidditch yourself? What position do you prefer?"
The sound of another person near the staircase had Grace immediately on high alert, but then Aiden was reassuring her. Speak with confidence. With that advice in mind, Grace's hands clenched so hard the bones in Aiden's own hand probably rattled as she said in her loudest voice, "Um, excuse me, but... would you mind going back to your dormitory? It's... it's... very late and chilly. You might catch a cold." She said the last part with conviction too, looking very proud of herself despite the fact she was squeezing the life out of Aiden's hand and the person she was so frighteningly chastising started laughing. "I... I'll give you detention. If... you don't listen."
Post by AIDEN VALENTINO on Jul 26, 2019 12:27:26 GMT
As Grace described how good Aiden's bones were, the young wizard stood that little bit taller and rolled his shoulders back because heck yess he was proud to be the embodiment of perfection... right down to the bone. He opened his mouth a little as he was about to stupidly mention that came down to good breeding and pure wizarding bloodlines.. but he stopped himself just in time. "We are, yes. We work hard too... but naturally gifted academically helps," Aiden said with a nod because he often found it quite annoying when people simply assumed that because the twins were smart, they might not work as hard as other students. In fact, the pair had a harder time containing their smarts to what was socially acceptable in the papers they handed in. He nodded gently as he listened to the grades Grace had to earn for herself and he scoffed a little at the mention of Professor Tyrell.
"Given the Tyrell family situation - all those half-siblings and step-mothers the same age as yourself, her permanent bad mood is understandable," Aiden commented, well aware of the very promenant Tyrell family and the patriarch's pechant for multiple marriages. "What do you find difficult about defensive magic? Perhaps you're a practical learner... like if you were afraid you'd get actually hurt then you'd probably find you're quite proficient." Aiden took a moment when Grace paused and then asked what he wanted to do after school.
"Well, personally I wish to be the second person in the history of wizard and mankind alike to create the philosopher's stone. I have a very keen interest in alchemy and I think it's perhaps the most difficult feat to put my intellect to work on," Aiden said quietly, not wanting to share his aspirations with the entire castle. "As for money, I'll no doubt be gifted a parcel of land for my 18th which will begin my portfolio in real estate like my father."
As Aiden listened to Grace explain that she rode Leo Jordan's "broomstick", the young wizard did his very best not to frown. Really? Grace liked Leo Jordan? All the girls liked the Quidditch jocks, didn't they? "Yeah, I can imagine that made him feel really good," he said, disappointment colouring his reply.
"Shush, none of that," Aiden replied firmly as Grace began to try and convince him that the punishment he'd decided on was not a great idea. "At this point you have two choices; you can either learn how to be a convincing 'bad auror' OR you have to practice duelling magic until you can beat me in a duel. Either way, you effectively win ... people listen to you and your prefect duties are easier or you get better at your magic that will, in turn, increase your chances of good grades. Even if you cannot beat me, I'm sure you'll get better by trying. Plus this is a golden opportunity ... I know a multitude of students that would jump at the chance to try and get me flat on my arse."
Wow, Aiden was almost concerned that Grace was choking by the colour red that she turned when he said 'penis'. "I most definitely can - in three languages," Aiden said proudly but shut his mouth as Grace began to devolve into a rambling mess as she spoke of the fact that she hadn't shared a bath with her big brother and that penises were... "confronting?" he asked, confused by that description. Aiden glanced down at his own pelvic area and decided that yes, it's size and perfection would probably be quite confronting but in a great way and Aiden's attention only returned to what Grace was verbally spewing when she said something about a date with Wolfgang. "You went on a date with Wolfgang? Or.. not? What happened?" His eyes bore into the young woman, searching for answers.
"Well I'm glad you didn't, as I'm rather attached to my penis, both physically and emotionally," Aiden only half-joked, making sure to use the proper word for his thing because he refused point blank to not use the correct terminology. "She does these things and then wonders why no one takes her seriously. Alana thinks I should have told our Head of House about the threat, but that would mean I was taking her ability to harm me seriously."
With regards to Grace's looks, Aiden was quietly glad that she just accepted the compliment. "You're welcome," he said with a firm nod, keen to move the conversation forward because this was clearly uncomfortable between both of them. He tried not to focus on the fact that he'd taken Grace's hand in his own - a strange set of circumstances that now felt quite... nice. Carefully Aiden adjusted his grasp so that his fingers intertwined with Grace's and as the girl began to relax by talking about her father, Aiden too relaxed into this... nice... thing.
"What can you do with the flowers and bulbs other than plant and/or grind them?" Aiden asked, as he was never really all that interested in Herbology other than what it could contribute to the other areas such as alchemy and potions. "I've never learned to swim - there you go, something you're far better at than me," Aiden gave Grace's hand a small squeeze as he gave a small half-smile. Whilst he enjoyed lounging about the pool and beach in their Italian summer homes... he'd never, ever, learned how to swim there. "Ah what kind of things do you bake? At this time of year I enjoy panetone with limoncello... but you can only have a slice or two before the liquor begins to take effect. Makes for a merrier Christmas though," he commented, a smile creeping onto his face as fond memories of slightly drunken Christmas shenanigans came to mind.
When Grace laughed at Aiden's reply about the warm hands and functioning hearts, Aiden cocked his head to the side and smirked. "Yes, I don't think the game is for the faint hearted. I played on the team last year but decided to drop it this year because I was not interested in pursuing it professionally and N.E.W.T.s are more important," Aiden said, carefully kept the fact that he couldn't stand being on the team with Mavican any longer to himself.
After Aiden had given Grace the opportunity to speak with confidence his hand began to be crushed but the young man didn't wince. Instead, he gave her hand a tight squeeze of support and a small nod - yes yes, you ... no, damn it Grace don't worry about their welfare. Merlin, Mordred and Morgana be damned. Aiden wordlessly cast lumos and held the wand up so that the pair of them could be better seen by the student... or, more importantly, the student could see that it was Aiden that accompanied Grace and the death stare that the Ravenclaw prefect levelled on the younger student had him wobbling at the knees. It seemed to be perfectly timed that he ran off to the common room just as Grace spoke of giving them detention.
"Good work, Longbottom. Next time, you can continue to crush my hand only if you lose the pauses and the 'buts'. Next time, if they laugh, it is an instant detention," Aiden said before he continued on their path. "It's tedious to spend time dealing with detention, but they absolutely must not be given room to laugh at you... but it was definitely a solid effort, Grace. I think you might not have to learn how to duel me after all."
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Aug 1, 2019 8:23:31 GMT
Aiden's reply, that he and Alana both worked hard on top of being academically gifted, had Grace nodding although inwardly... she was jealous of that, even if she was hesitant to admit it. She worked hard, yet sometimes it seemed despite her best efforts, she didn't achieve very much in return. It was certainly disheartening at times. "I, um... I wouldn't be surprised if you got Head Boy last year. I thought for sure that Alana would have became a prefect in fifth year, but... I mean, not that prefectship is a sign of academic excellent. Just look at - " Me. The word went unspoken, but it was abundantly clear that's what Grace meant and she was grateful that the conversation moved along before she could start dwelling on it.
"There's... there's a lot of Tyrells, aren't there? Almost more than the Jones' although Ollie tells me they're not all related, that a lot of them were adopted. Their parents must have an awfully big farm to have all those children," Grace mused. She had grown up in a modest home, herself. It was enough to house her parents, Arthur and herself. They'd had a greenhouse out the back, but there was nothing visually spectacular about her home. It was just... theirs. It was beautiful enough for Grace, without all the bells and whistles.
Aiden's question about what she found difficult about defensive magic had Grace's lips tugging into a thoughtful line. "I suppose... I just overthink it too much. Dad says I do that a lot, fret about things. I never mean to. I wish I didn't, sometimes. It seems like life would just be easier if I could just... just turn my brain off, in a way," Grace explained, before focusing on Aiden's words. She couldn't help but crack a small smile as he explained he wished to become an alchemist, creating something as renowned as the philosopher's stone. "I think... I think that's wonderful, Aiden. Truly. Having a goal, a vision... especially one that's so... so difficult to achieve for many, is admirable. Maybe one day I'll see your name in the Daily Prophet, and be able to say I used to patrol with you."
There was a strange tinge to Aiden's next words, one that made Grace blink with confusion. She couldn't quite place it... but for some reason, it made her feel like she needed to clarify, "Leo's become a really lovely friend, the last few months. I... well, I was rather silly and tripped over him, and being around him made me kind of nervous at first - I mean, being around all boys makes me - " Realising she was telling this to a boy who very much made her belly flutter with nerves, even with a simple glance, she cleared her throat, "- but... he's a good, good friend, just like his little brother is."
Grace found herself shushed a moment later and quite obediently like a dog, her lips drew together, causing the blonde to become silent. She listened to Aiden's words, feeling a rush of nerves wash over her as she considered her choices - become a convincing 'bad auror' or 'practice duelling magic.' It was... overwhelming, in all honesty. "I don't... I don't want to hurt you, or get your flat on your... your bottom. I think that's it's a lovely bott - um, I think that's it's a... a... bad idea. I don't want to be hurt either. I just - I can't... I... who wants to, um... to duel you? In Hogwarts? I can't think of many people who dislike you, really." Or she couldn't think of any students who had told her as such.
Aiden was bragging about the fact he could say the... that word in three different languages like it wasn't... wasn't a big deal when it was. It made her feel - it made her flush all over, and Grace let out a loud, high-pitched giggle as she very inappropriately asked, "What languages? Wait, no, I don't... gosh, I don't want to... why would you learn how to say that word in... unless you're saying it to other people. Do... do you? Say the... say it to other people?" Merlin, didn't that make her want to squirm even more, the thought he whispered it tenderly into other people's ears when making love. For a split second of insanity, she wondered what it would sound like in her own - no. No, no, no. "It's confronting because it's... it's someone's private, personal... private property. It's hidden because it's meant to be... you're only supposed to see it when you're - when you... I only want to see somebody's thing when we're... we're together. It's supposed to be... a big thing. Not the - but the moment. It's supposed to be a big moment."
Grace wanted to die when Aiden asked what happened and immediately, her face was scrunching up like she was going to cry and who knew? Maybe she would. The embarrassment from that... and now Aiden was asking and if she didn't tell him, surely Wolfgang would... "He... he just... he didn't like me. He... he just wanted to know about my family - or... or about the Potters and the Weasleys because he knew I grew up with them. He didn't want to... to actually spend time with me," she muttered, before tearing her gaze away from Aiden's. She'd been so stupid to think otherwise. She really had been and ever since it'd happen, she'd been going over their first meeting again and again.
"You can use a lot of flowers and bulbs in potions or pastes, for example. I harvest a lot of them for that reason. It's cheaper than going to the shops and buying them, and satisfying in a way, I suppose... it's rather lovely to see the results of using something you've grown," Grace explained, a smile crossing her face. Then Aiden and his warm, large hand that... gosh, felt so lovely inside of hers, squeezed Grace's palm and she looked up at him, beaming. "Maybe we can go swimming one day, and I can teach you - I mean, since you're teaching me so much already, maybe... maybe I can return the favour somehow? Plus, you'd be in a -" In swimming trunks and already, Grace could feel her cheeks warming once more... because wasn't that just... lovely. "Scones... and muffins, and sometimes little scroll things. Slices, and... and... lots of things really. Maybe I could make some panetone with limoncello - although, oh... I'm not seventeen until August. I wouldn't be able to buy..." Grace trailed off, before glancing at Aiden with curiousity written all over her features. "Have you been drunk before? I mean, not that... not that it's a bad thing, I just... well, I've never really... had the chance to do that... that drinking. Thing. Um."
Aiden didn't yelp in pain at Grace's grasp, or tell her to let go. Instead, he squeezed her hand gently, a sign of support that Grace wasn't sure she was really expecting to come from him. When light was cast, and the younger student fled, Grace whirled around to face Aiden, entire face lit up. "Do you... you'd… you'd hold my hand again?" she asked, latching onto that specific part of what he was saying because… well, she very much enjoyed this part of the evening. The Aiden was telling her she'd made a 'solid effort' and she may not have to duel him and she just… wanted to do something wild like hug him or… or press a kiss against his cheek. But she didn't because it wasn't a very… Grace-like thing to do. Instead, she let her thumb gently caress the side of his hand as she smiled, happiness flooding her every pore. "I… thank you. It's… I didn't think I could do that. But… but… gosh, that was… I feel wonderful."
Post by AIDEN VALENTINO on Sept 4, 2019 14:25:38 GMT
Head Boy. Now wouldn’t that be a grand title to add to this egotistical meglomaniac’s reportoire. ”I cannot deny that it is a position that I covet,” the teenager replied, trying his best to hide the glimmer of ambition that shone in those ocean eyes of his by glancing away from the humble Hufflepuff girl. ”I am not surprised that Alana was not made prefect; she can command a wilful 1,300 pound stallion as if it were no more than a naughty crup, but that’s not always the best way to handle people, is it?” Aiden asked, the tilt of his head making the loose curls seem to bounce in the dim light of the hallway. ”That’s why people like you are far better prefect material. Someone has to sit with the little first years and wipe their baby tears, after all.” He was trying to be nice, to point out a strength even if it didn’t really... caring wasn’t really a thing that the Valentinos excelled in.
”Yes, someone really values his genetic material,” Aiden bit out; he was not a fan of breeders. After meeting Ariella as a professor, Aiden rationalised the sheer amount of Tyrells by the father attempting to get at least one reasonably decent progeny but clearly kept missing the mark. ”Tyrells, Weasleys and Jones everywhere one looks. Narro’s right up there in numbers too,” Aiden wondered if those families did anything other than rut like sheep 365 days a year. Animals the lot of them.
Aiden’s question regarding defensive magic left Grace quiet for a moment; in the light of the various sconces, even Aiden could tell she was thinking very hard. ”Turning off your brain would only be easier in that you would die,” he interjected, finding her logic rather troublesome on that point. ”So not that great a solution, Longbottom.” With her praise of his ambition, Aiden’s already rather poised posture became just that little better again and he smiled right back at her. ”Hopefully my name will be in the papers for that reason and none other,” his chuckle was dark; should he take too long with the stone, he knew his sister would take his mortal life into her own hands.
On the subject of Leo Jordan, Aiden nodded slowly as Grace explained that they were friends. There, again, was the mention of how silly she was around boys and Aiden found this to be incredibly peculiar. Was it everyone with a penis, other than her father and brother? Did young toddling boys make her silly? Did the ancient old men that taught them at this castle? How does one ask without getting a spluttering answer?”So once they’re a good, good friend... do they still affect you like all the other boys?”
Aiden paused for a moment as he listened to Grace vehemently disagree with his ultimatum. She thinks I have a lovely bottom, the comment made his left brow rise in surprise and interest, but he didn’t dwell on it as she continued. ”Well if you don’t want to get hurt, you’ll have to learn quick. Grace, outside these walls it’s dangerous. Hell, inside it has been dangerous even in our time here. You need to learn to defend yourself. If you manage to get me flat on my lovely bott-um, I’ll be fine. It’s no worse than when Alana attempts to make me ride her horrid beasts,” Aiden always fell from those damned horses. It was one weakness in his rather impressive self that he was willing to admit to.
Goodness Gracious, could Grace turn a rather magnificent shade of scarlet? Aiden’s Ravenclaw curiousity almost made him reach out to touch her chest to see if it was as searing hot as it appeared. ”Well... it’s important to be able to communicate about your body in any language you use. Yes I say penis and vagina and talk about sex without calling it the birds and the bees because that term is rather ridiculous. Insectivorous birds would eat bees and they most certainly cannot copulate. It’s important to be accurate ... otherwise it leads to... miscommunications like...”the other morning, between you and I, he finished the thought in his mind.
When we’re together ... it’s meant to be a big thing, Aiden wriggled his nose to keep himself from smirking. Yes. Yes it was a big thing. ”Well don’t worry, Grace, I’m sure your moment will be big and it’s commendable to value sex as an intimate occurrence between two people,” he said with a gentle nod and proceeded along their route in relative silence for a moment. ”I value the same thing,” he said quietly, then half-smiled as he followed quickly with, ”but can still say penis and vagina.”
The young man could see the distress in Grace as she spoke of her date with Wolfgang and before he knew it was happening, his thumb was rubbing the back of her hand firmly. ”What does he think he is? A snake?” Aiden bit out, glaring up the passageway in the direction of the Ravenclaw rooms. His dorm mate would be interrogated for sure. ”I’m sorry that he’d make you feel like that. He should have just gone direct to the sources - there’s no shortage of them at school after all. Weasel.”
”Thus the term ’ enjoying the fruits of your labour’ I imagine. Which plants in particular do you grow? As a child in the autumn my family would visit the chestnut orchard and harvest them to roast up until Christmas. We would have to wait until we left for Mama to cast healing spells on the scratches and bruises ... sometimes we’d get bored and play hide and seek amongst the brushes, you see, and if it was easy to get in it often wasn’t easy to get back out without looking like you’ve done ten rounds in a ring with a tiger,” Aiden mused, pleased that such a lovely memory had surfaced of his childhood with his sister.
”.... I’d... I’d have to think about that offer,” Aiden mumbled regarding the swimming. He was not comfortable being taught something by someone else. In fact, the very idea of being that vulnerably stupid in front of Grace made his skin crawl and it took every inch of his self control to stop himself from shuddering. ”I’d not be Italian if I’d not consumed alcohol - I don’t binge drink like these idiots at school, but vino at dinner has always been available if we have wanted any. Limoncello at celebrations and.. well, more vino. I don’t think it’s possible for me to get drunk like the kids at school parties that sneak it in. How about you, Longbottom?”
A rather pleased Hufflepuff turned back to him after dealing with the naughty student and her smile was... infectious. ”Well, you’ll have to learn to deal without my hand eventually - I cannot detach it for your other patrols, for example, but for this night yes,” he squeezed her hand once more in his, in response to the small rub he felt from her. ”If you want to try again... we can go to the astronomy tower. That seems to be a favourite for curfew breaking?”
Tag: GRACE LONGBOTTOM Note: I am so sorry it’s so long and so late Xx
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Sept 6, 2019 7:29:51 GMT
"I think it's good that you have a goal - or... I suppose, more than one goal that you're working towards," Grace told him with a nod. He seemed to have the confidence to achieve them too, or at least make good headway. She had aspirations herself but she wasn't sure that she'd ever truly... reach them, in all honesty. It seemed like being a healer was just too far out of her grasp most days, like she'd never get high enough marks to get there. Aiden mentioned that he wasn't surprised his twin didn't make prefect and after him sharing his reasons why, she did understand. Alana Valentino terrified the knickers off her, how on earth would a bunch of first years react?
But then Aiden mentioned that she was prefect because she was good at wiping tears away and Grace faltered, the smile on her lips dropping because, "Is... do... do you think that's all I'm good at as a prefect though?" It was a question that left herself open to being hurt by a harsh answer and so immediately, Grace was shaking her head, trying to take it back. "I - don't... don't worry. I shouldn't have - this isn't... I just..." Some days, that's all Grace thought she was good at - being kind, like there wasn't anything else to her. "My, um... my mum was a prefect, back when... I think she was happy when I got prefect, but she and dad weren't expecting it."
Maybe she hadn't explained it properly. "I don't... I don't want to die, I just... I mean more like turning a part of my brain off, I guess. Not all of it, but - it's silly." She quietened down a moment later, wondering why else he'd be in the papers other than becoming a renowned alchemist and stupidly, she was hit with a thought she really should have kept to herself. "Oh, like... like a model? Because I think you'd be a very good one, if you were to become one. You have the feat - not that... I mean, you're a lot more than your looks though. Isn't it funny, that you were blessed with brains and beau -" Shut up, Grace, her mind was screaming with her at this point and Grace's fingers moved to her lips, and she chewed at her thumb nail for a moment. If she had something occupying her mouth then she couldn't talk, right?
"Um..." was Grace's very eloquent answer to whether she still acted like this around boys who were good friends. "I... well, I suppose I don't really have that many boys who are good... friends. I guess... well, I'm friends with Leo and Evan but that's about... I think I'm less nervous because I know they're not going to do anything that's, um... I know that they want to be friends with me and enjoy spending time with me for the most part and that I'm not an annoyance - or not too much of one, I guess, otherwise they wouldn't sit with me." She had very possibly said too much, and yet... she kept going. "It's not all boys. Just... just ones that are..." Cute.
Grace looked away as soon as Aiden's brows raised because he had heard what she said and Merlin, wasn't that embarrassing? But then he was reinforcing that she had to learn to duel and a frown pulled at her lips. "I can't - I just... what if I draw my wand and nothing happens? What if you hurt me?" She didn't exactly want to be in pain either. It didn't escape her attention, however, that Aiden referred to her calling his bottom lovely in his speech and Grace shuffled on her feet before saying, "I'm sorry for - I didn't mean to, um... you're much more than just someone who has a lovely - I mean, it is love - not that I've been looking. I don't - I don't want you to think that I've been... been objectifying your... um, backside or anything."
Before she could start backpedaling on her silly little speech about him and his bottom though, they were back to the subject of calling... those things by the proper name and Grace's bottom lip was straight back to being worried by her teeth because yes, she knew that's what it was called, but it just... "I sound silly when I... I say those things, and I feel like I'm going to get a smack on the bott... on... on my hand for saying them. Like they're... they're bad words even though I know they're not." Was she making sense? Merlin only knew.
Aiden thought Grace's views on... er, copulation... were commendable and she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way. Had he ever... it was silly, she knew it was silly, but the thought of him with somebody else sent a spike of jealously through her. It wasn't like she wanted to... like they'd ever do something like that together, but she didn't want to imagine it occurring with somebody else. But it turned out she was a glutton for punishment because very, very quietly, she asked him, "Have... was it, um... was it a big moment when you - no, that's... sorry. I don't - I shouldn't... that's a bit personal to ask, isn't it?" She felt guilty, in a way, asking for him to answer a question like that. It was none of her business, was it? "I really don't have, um... that many... occasions to say those words anyway."
Grace didn't want to keep talking of Wolfgang, and so she let Aiden's words towards the other boy sit between them, simply nodding at his apology even though he had nothing to apologise. It wasn't like he'd put him up to it.
"I grow a lot of different plants, but a lot of them are just wizarding ones. I like Venomous Tentaculas because they're challenging to work with, and they're really quite rewarding once they're fully grown," Grace explained, but soon a smile broke out on her face because it was nice, hearing Aiden explain about the chestnut orchard and harvesting them and spending time with his family. She enjoyed hearing about those types of things because Aiden sounded happy recounting them.
Grace tried her hardest not to look crestfallen as Aiden said he'd have to think about swimming with her because she was eager to teach him something she was actually good at, but... she wasn't about to force him into it either. Luckily before she could dwell more on the disappointment, the subject was changed back to alcohol. "What's... what's, um... is limoncello like a wine, or...? If you drink too much 'vino' at dinner, do you end up... do you end up drunk or does it take a lot to do that?" She was full of questions, it turned out, and she was certain that her inexperience was showing. "I've never drank anything that... that has alcohol in it."
The idea of Aiden detaching his hand for her to just carry around had Grace laughing, louder than she had at any point that night, and shaking her head. "I think if I were to carry around a disembodied hand, I'd be sent to St. Mungos," she said with a bright smile, before nodding at his suggestion. "Yes, we can... can go catch people out late looking at the stars." With that, she started walking towards the Astronomy Tower.