coalstonefyre

[coalstonefyre]

[coalstonefyre]

“Yeah, b-best to not.” Coal agreed, knowing that the potential of getting them both into trouble would be even higher if they were to go back to his home. Even with the sheer possibility of exposing one of his mates to the kind of person his father could be… Well, Coal didn’t think his father would actually do anything to harm Eveleen. He was genuinely nice to his other children and would probably just take her home to her mother, but the moment he got back from that… Coal winced at the very thought of what he might have to endure as a repercussion. It was something he and Eveleen both understood without having to really talk about it, something they shared only with each other. Ember would never understand it. The things they had to deal with would be completely foreign to an only child who had always been doted upon as though they were the sun itself. He honestly didn’t think the Stonefyres would care when Eveleen showed up to visit, not after the winter break when he’d found them on the train. Both girls had had bags full of snacks but Mrs. Stonefyre had sent Eveleen back to school with proper fitting clothes, a winter coat that zipped, and shoes Ember had claimed were ‘too slippy for me broom.’ They had simply been Christmas gifts because ‘Mammy always goes all out. It’s her favorite.’ They’d brought snacks for him as well and it had been so nice to be back with his mates after the two awful weeks home. Spring had been just as bad and he had been dreading the summer ever since. He wished he could just stay at school at the very least but the kids needed watching.

“M-mrs. Stonefyre said you c-could come the wh-whole summer, if y-you wanted.” The Hufflepuff reminded his mate, wanting her to feel more comfortable about the idea of going early. Even if he had to stay in the city, it didn’t mean she did. Her mum didn’t seem to care either way from what she’d told him and if that man was going to be lingering around the apartment… Well, Coal wanted Eveleen as far away from him as possible. He tapped his fingers on the table top, eyes looking around the otherwise fairly empty shop. The clerk was starting to eye them a bit apprehensively, as though they might be getting up to some kind of trouble. “I… I d-don’t want you g-going back home, Eveleen.” Coal stated as firmly as he could, pushing up from his seat. “And I’m n-not letting you st-stay out here b-by yourself. It’s n-not safe. Even the park.” He shuddered at the idea of it… Eveleen was so small. She would fit just fine in a playground tunnel, but the very thought of her being there all by herself, asleep with no one around to watch her back… It would be like putting her on a plate and serving her up to some creep. While young, Coal was more than aware of what kind of people existed in the world and leaving Eveleen out here alone would be just as good as sending her back home in his opinion. “We’ll go to th-the p-park and in the m-morning get you s-sorted. N-never mind my father. C’mon… This g-guy’s getting n-nosy.” He nodded a bit towards the clerk.

Rising fully from his seat, Coal reached out to pluck Raisin up from Eveleen’s lap, tucking her under one arm and taking his mate’s hand with his other. He pulled her to her feet, careful to make sure she still had a hold on the Sprite before leading her out of the shop. The streetlamps flickered a bit as they walked, the occasional car passing as he headed in the direction of the park after asking which way it was. Not far, just a couple of blocks. Everything would be better in the morning, as it always seemed to be. For now they just had to stick tight together and wait the hours out. Of course, this would have been easier if someone hadn’t stepped out of an alleyway they were passing by just across the street from their destination.

“Aw, lookie lookie. A little man and his ickle girlfriend. What’re you doing out so late? Don’t you know it’s not safe for kids?” The older teenage boy grinned, his pock-marked face full of smugness as two of his mates joined him, fully blocking the sidewalk now. “Be a shame if something were to happen. Give us all your cash and we’ll make sure nothing does.”

The Runaways

Eveleen awoke to a crash coming from down the hall followed by a shrill cry of pain. Her eyes went wide, instantly alert at that voice. It was her mother. 

Eveleen had always been a light sleeper, but she became even more so when she returned home and there was a strange man living in her apartment. Mary had introduced this large, balding, sour faced man as Larry Steele, her new Daddy. Eveleen had pursed her lips as she sized him up. New Daddy implied she had ever had a father at one point, which just wasn’t the case for Eveleen. The young witch hadn’t even bothered to shake the man’s hand. As far as the Ravenclaw could see, there was nothing separating this guy form the other sleaze bags her mother had brought home before. Larry hadn’t liked that and told Eveleen flat out he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect like that under his roof. His roof. That was laughable. But he had warned her, none the less; another act of disrespect and he’d fix her attitude problem, as he so eloquently put it, with a hard slap across the face. Eveleen had glared at him, but kept her mouth shut.

Eveleen hadn’t believed him at first, used to the new men Mary brought in trying to assert their authority in front of her hoping it would inhibit Eveleen from having any form of a presence in her own home. But then she had noticed the bruises on Mary’s arm. And one morning there had even been a black eye after coming home from the pub. Mary had said she fell, but Eveleen knew her mother well enough to know when she was lying. She had spent her entire life looking ou for Mary after all. What had Mary done, putting them both at the mercy of this brute?

Larry was just the next of several bad decisions in Mary’s short life. And knowing her mother, Eveleen was certain there was sure to be more after. However that didn’t mean Eveleen didn’t love her mother…in their own strained way. And it certainly didn’t mean she’d stand by and let some meat head toss her around. Eveleen was a witch for Christ’s sake. She knew about the underage magic law, but she also knew it wasn’t punishable if the act of magic was done in self defense.

So Eveleen grabbed her wand from her night stand once fully awake, and bolted from her room down the hallway just as she heard another heavy crash that sounded like glass. Eveleen threw open the door at the end of the dark hallway to see the mirror that was usually over her mother’s bureau tipped and shattered, with Mary’s crumbled body underneath. Glass lay scattered around her mother’s small form, refracting the little light bouncing through the darkness from the the bathroom. Eveleen watched as Larry tossed the mirror off of Mary and grabbed her hard by the arm dragging her up off the ground.

“Get up!” He barked at her. Mary struggled to her feet and tried to pull away, but Larry threw the woman in the direction of the bed. Her legs buckled against the foot board, sending her body onto the mattress with a defeated flop. It was then that both Mary and Larry noticed Eveleen at the door. Mary looked to her daughter, her face finally catching in the light allowing Eveleen to see the split lip and blackened cheek bone.

“Baby, go back to bed.” Mary rasped out. But Eveleen stood defiantly in the doorway and raised her wand instead, trying to think of any defensive spell she could as Larry charged forward. The brute snatched the wand from Eveleen’s hand before a spell came to her panicked mind and chucked it into the hallway before backhanding the girl so hard across the face  she spun and fell down in the door way. She heard Mary shriek, but all Eveleen saw was stars as the world moved around her. She crumpled instantly, her head bouncing hard off the floor as she fell. Larry kicked her body out of the doorway and slammed the door shut.

“Call the police!” She heard Mary shout, “Call and run, Eveleen!” Eveleen stared blankly at the ceiling for a few moments trying to gather herself. She focused on the stinging of her cheek, letting it bring her back to reality as the walls stopped spinning. Then everything became instinct, self preservation. Eveleen scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her as she ran back to her room. Eveleen grabbed for her cell phone on the night stand and immediately dialed the emergency number. 

“112, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked only one or two rings in.

“Uh h-hi,” Eveleen stuttered, “My address in 32 Ashwell Ave Brixton, Apartment B5. He’s beating us.”

“You better hang up that fucking phone!” Eveleen heard Larry roar from down the hall.

“Help is on the way,” The operator assured. Eveleen didn’t say goodbye before ending the call and making for her door. She needed to leave. Where was Raisin? Eveleen was running into the living room when she was yanked back by her hair. Eveleen cried in pain as Larry nearly lifted her up off the ground by her hair alone, Eveleen’s tip toes only skimming the rug. But then there was a vicious hiss and Larry was the one shouting in pain as he released Eveleen. The Ravenclaw fell again, dropping her phone and wand. She looked back to see Raisin with her fur on end, hissing ad spitting at the violent drudge in front of her. Eveleen scooped up her cat and her things before jumping back to her feet. She ran to the door, shoving her feet into her shoes as she left, not even closing the door behind her.

Eveleen ran until Raisin was whining in her arms, needing to be let down from discomfort. By the time she stopped, she was two blocks away, alone in her night gown in a dangerous part of London. No money, or bag. Just her wand, her cat, and her phone. She stopped, panting as she fell onto a nearby bench under a street light. The adrenaline was leaving her, she was exhausted. The tears came next. Sobs then had Eveleen bent over herself. The streetlight flickered above her eerily, letting the darkness of the night close in on her on the too quiet streets. 

What did she do now? 

Where did she go? 

What happened to her mom?

Eveleen wondered these things in rapid succession all knowing she could not go back until Larry and the police were gone. She would probably have a bruise on her cheek, social services would take her away if she was there. Would she still be able to go back to Hogwarts in the fall if she was in the system? She needed help, but who could she call? Nan was dead, she didn’t have her aunt’s number. She couldn’t call the neighbor who’s number she had for emergencies. That only left one person; Coal.

Eveleen tried to take a deep breath, to control her breathing, but it didn’t work. She sobbed some more before her fingers were still enough to go through her contacts to find his number. She was lucky to have gotten it before the end of their first year after finding out he was also living in muggle London. She had planned on contacting him to organize their trip to go see Ember this summer, but not about this. Never this. Eveleen didn’t have much choice in the matter no though. She needed someone, anyone. Ember couldn’t be contacted unless it was by owl. Where was she to find an owl at this hour?!

“Eveleen?” She recognized the voice on the other end as the gentle, nervous redhead she had met earlier that September.

“C-Coal?” Eveleen asked, teeth chattering form nerves. “C-Can you come g-get me please?” Her voice was a squeak by the end as the tears came back, just as hot and wet and urgent as before. “H-He was h-hitting us” Eveleen struggled out, “I don’t h-have a-any pants or m-money a-a-and I c-can’t go home.” Coal was quiet on the other end before he finally asked,

“Where are you?”  Eveleen looked up then and saw a twenty-four hour laundry-mat across the street from her. She followed the sidewalk with her eyes down to a set of lights and a street sign that read ‘Cromwell’

“I-I uh,” Eveleen paused to sniff and wipe at her nose with the back of her bare hand.”I’m a-across from a laundry mat called ‘S-squeakies’ a-and it’s on Crowell in B-Brixton.”

“Go in the Laundry mat and wait for me.” Coal instructed voice steadier than Eveleen had ever heard it.

“O-Okay.” She managed, “Please h-hurry Coal. I’m s-so scared.”

“I’ll be there soon,” He promised. “Bye” The line went dead and Eveleen used the neck of her yellow nightgown to wipe at her face. Raisin jumped onto her lap, kneading at Eveleen’s thighs trying to comfort her.

“W-We’ll be okay.” Eveleen told her familiar, “Coal is coming.” She gathered her cat and two things before making her way into the laundromat. It was a dated thing, with cracked linoleum and rusty spots on the machines. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, but it was the bell on the door that alerted the teenage looking boy working the counter to her presence. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then gave her a once over. His mouth thinned and he looked back down to his phone, ignoring but also allowing Eveleen’s presence in the laundry mat. She took a seat by the window so Coal could see her when he got there as Raisin curled on her lap.

[coalstonefyre]

Coal smiled a bit, glad when Eveleen took the cup from him to put on her eye. The cold would help reduce the swelling and maybe the bruising, at least a bit. It wasn’t much but it was all he could do to help heal the injury she’d sustained at her place. Something that should never had happened to her. Eveleen was too small, too kind hearted, to be treated with the kind of violence she had suffered tonight. No one deserved that, but especially not his friend. His mother disregarded her, left her home alone a lot, and brought home strange men when she did come back. He frowned, crossing his arms on the table in front of him and resting his chin on top. It was late, he was tired, but there was no way he was going to be leaving Eveleen alone any time soon. The world around them wasn’t a kind place, especially this part of the city but they would still be safer together than apart. Coal was getting taller and with that, came the natural strength most teenage boys ended up with. He would be thirteen in September, one of the oldest in their year, and he was no stranger to getting into fights. If it came down to it, he would do his damndest to protect Eveleen long enough for her to run. For now, they would be safe in the shop. At least for a while. The clerk would probably only let them stay for so long before he’d be shooing them out for loitering without buying anything else. He frowned, staring at Eveleen. Her skin was pale under the white florescent lights that dulled the color of their surroundings, but it made the contrast of her bruise all the more startling. Just looking at her had Coal’s stomach churning with fear at the idea of sending her home. Back to where she had gotten hurt in the first place. He wished he were older, that there was more he could do for her than a stupid small cup of icy fizzy drink in a run down corner shop.

“Th-the note wasn’t v-very sp-specific.” Coal nodded, referring to the one given to them at the end of term. It was a reminder, that underage wizarding children were not allowed to use magic outside of school. They might as well have left their wands at school for all the good they would do them over the summer. Not that they had learned a ton of spells yet, but enough to at least defend themselves a bit if need be. Aside from that, the note had not properly explained what would happen if they did do magic outside of school. There was a lot of speculation of course. Expulsion, wands snapped and the magic world banning them was the most extreme version, but Coal doubted that would be the case unless they were repeat offenders or something. And shouldn’t there have been special circumstances where magic was acceptable? Like if they were in actual trouble? He didn’t blame Eveleen for thinking about it. He would have to, if it had been him in her position.

“You shouldn’t g-go back.” The Hufflepuff frowned, wishing it was a possibility for her. But where else could she go? There weren’t a lot of options for a twelve year old that didn’t involve getting picked up by someone who nefarious plans or the cops who would take you right home. It was that or entering the foster system, which Coal knew neither of them wanted despite how bad home was. The idea of running away was nice until you found yourself without anywhere to actually run off to. He nodded, knowing exactly what she was talking about. She’d tried, then had to go back. “O-once. I was… eight. I d-didn’t get very f-far.” Coal grimaced at the memory, not liking to think about it. He’d made it to the next borough over before he’d been picked up by the police. His dad had been the angriest he’d ever seen him in his life and Coal would never forget the beating he’d gotten when they got home. He could still feel the sting of the belt on his backside just thinking about it.

“Y-you could come t-to mine… B-but w-we… We’d have t-to be s-so sooo quiet. And y-you’d have t-to hide on the f-fire escape wh-when the kids first w-wake up o-otherwise they m-might see you i-in my room. I-I’m not a-allowed anyone over. Th-they’ll tattle.” Coal sighed, wishing he had a better option. His eyes trailed across the shop, over the snacks and a basket of fruit on top of one of counters. He stared at the bananas and apples for a moment. Apples… Aha! “When’re you supposed t-to go to E-ember’s?” He asked, his attention turning back to Eveleen. He knew the girls had planned on Eveleen visiting for at least part of the summer. Ember’s mother had personally invited Eveleen back at the end of the winter holidays, insisting she come again. Stay the whole summer if she wanted to. Coal wasn’t sure what the entire plan was, but… “M-maybe you could go e-early? I th-think I’ve got a couple K-knuts here s-somewhere. Th-that should b-be enough to send a l-letter from the p-post office in D-diagon Alley, yeah? We c-could take the underground. Go when it o-opens. J-just have th-them come get you.” He’d be in a load of trouble for not being in the apartment when his parents needed to leave for work, but it would be worth it if they could get Eveleen someplace safe.

The Runaways

Eveleen awoke to a crash coming from down the hall followed by a shrill cry of pain. Her eyes went wide, instantly alert at that voice. It was her mother. 

Eveleen had always been a light sleeper, but she became even more so when she returned home and there was a strange man living in her apartment. Mary had introduced this large, balding, sour faced man as Larry Steele, her new Daddy. Eveleen had pursed her lips as she sized him up. New Daddy implied she had ever had a father at one point, which just wasn’t the case for Eveleen. The young witch hadn’t even bothered to shake the man’s hand. As far as the Ravenclaw could see, there was nothing separating this guy form the other sleaze bags her mother had brought home before. Larry hadn’t liked that and told Eveleen flat out he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect like that under his roof. His roof. That was laughable. But he had warned her, none the less; another act of disrespect and he’d fix her attitude problem, as he so eloquently put it, with a hard slap across the face. Eveleen had glared at him, but kept her mouth shut.

Eveleen hadn’t believed him at first, used to the new men Mary brought in trying to assert their authority in front of her hoping it would inhibit Eveleen from having any form of a presence in her own home. But then she had noticed the bruises on Mary’s arm. And one morning there had even been a black eye after coming home from the pub. Mary had said she fell, but Eveleen knew her mother well enough to know when she was lying. She had spent her entire life looking ou for Mary after all. What had Mary done, putting them both at the mercy of this brute?

Larry was just the next of several bad decisions in Mary’s short life. And knowing her mother, Eveleen was certain there was sure to be more after. However that didn’t mean Eveleen didn’t love her mother…in their own strained way. And it certainly didn’t mean she’d stand by and let some meat head toss her around. Eveleen was a witch for Christ’s sake. She knew about the underage magic law, but she also knew it wasn’t punishable if the act of magic was done in self defense.

So Eveleen grabbed her wand from her night stand once fully awake, and bolted from her room down the hallway just as she heard another heavy crash that sounded like glass. Eveleen threw open the door at the end of the dark hallway to see the mirror that was usually over her mother’s bureau tipped and shattered, with Mary’s crumbled body underneath. Glass lay scattered around her mother’s small form, refracting the little light bouncing through the darkness from the the bathroom. Eveleen watched as Larry tossed the mirror off of Mary and grabbed her hard by the arm dragging her up off the ground.

“Get up!” He barked at her. Mary struggled to her feet and tried to pull away, but Larry threw the woman in the direction of the bed. Her legs buckled against the foot board, sending her body onto the mattress with a defeated flop. It was then that both Mary and Larry noticed Eveleen at the door. Mary looked to her daughter, her face finally catching in the light allowing Eveleen to see the split lip and blackened cheek bone.

“Baby, go back to bed.” Mary rasped out. But Eveleen stood defiantly in the doorway and raised her wand instead, trying to think of any defensive spell she could as Larry charged forward. The brute snatched the wand from Eveleen’s hand before a spell came to her panicked mind and chucked it into the hallway before backhanding the girl so hard across the face  she spun and fell down in the door way. She heard Mary shriek, but all Eveleen saw was stars as the world moved around her. She crumpled instantly, her head bouncing hard off the floor as she fell. Larry kicked her body out of the doorway and slammed the door shut.

“Call the police!” She heard Mary shout, “Call and run, Eveleen!” Eveleen stared blankly at the ceiling for a few moments trying to gather herself. She focused on the stinging of her cheek, letting it bring her back to reality as the walls stopped spinning. Then everything became instinct, self preservation. Eveleen scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her as she ran back to her room. Eveleen grabbed for her cell phone on the night stand and immediately dialed the emergency number. 

“112, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked only one or two rings in.

“Uh h-hi,” Eveleen stuttered, “My address in 32 Ashwell Ave Brixton, Apartment B5. He’s beating us.”

“You better hang up that fucking phone!” Eveleen heard Larry roar from down the hall.

“Help is on the way,” The operator assured. Eveleen didn’t say goodbye before ending the call and making for her door. She needed to leave. Where was Raisin? Eveleen was running into the living room when she was yanked back by her hair. Eveleen cried in pain as Larry nearly lifted her up off the ground by her hair alone, Eveleen’s tip toes only skimming the rug. But then there was a vicious hiss and Larry was the one shouting in pain as he released Eveleen. The Ravenclaw fell again, dropping her phone and wand. She looked back to see Raisin with her fur on end, hissing ad spitting at the violent drudge in front of her. Eveleen scooped up her cat and her things before jumping back to her feet. She ran to the door, shoving her feet into her shoes as she left, not even closing the door behind her.

Eveleen ran until Raisin was whining in her arms, needing to be let down from discomfort. By the time she stopped, she was two blocks away, alone in her night gown in a dangerous part of London. No money, or bag. Just her wand, her cat, and her phone. She stopped, panting as she fell onto a nearby bench under a street light. The adrenaline was leaving her, she was exhausted. The tears came next. Sobs then had Eveleen bent over herself. The streetlight flickered above her eerily, letting the darkness of the night close in on her on the too quiet streets. 

What did she do now? 

Where did she go? 

What happened to her mom?

Eveleen wondered these things in rapid succession all knowing she could not go back until Larry and the police were gone. She would probably have a bruise on her cheek, social services would take her away if she was there. Would she still be able to go back to Hogwarts in the fall if she was in the system? She needed help, but who could she call? Nan was dead, she didn’t have her aunt’s number. She couldn’t call the neighbor who’s number she had for emergencies. That only left one person; Coal.

Eveleen tried to take a deep breath, to control her breathing, but it didn’t work. She sobbed some more before her fingers were still enough to go through her contacts to find his number. She was lucky to have gotten it before the end of their first year after finding out he was also living in muggle London. She had planned on contacting him to organize their trip to go see Ember this summer, but not about this. Never this. Eveleen didn’t have much choice in the matter no though. She needed someone, anyone. Ember couldn’t be contacted unless it was by owl. Where was she to find an owl at this hour?!

“Eveleen?” She recognized the voice on the other end as the gentle, nervous redhead she had met earlier that September.

“C-Coal?” Eveleen asked, teeth chattering form nerves. “C-Can you come g-get me please?” Her voice was a squeak by the end as the tears came back, just as hot and wet and urgent as before. “H-He was h-hitting us” Eveleen struggled out, “I don’t h-have a-any pants or m-money a-a-and I c-can’t go home.” Coal was quiet on the other end before he finally asked,

“Where are you?”  Eveleen looked up then and saw a twenty-four hour laundry-mat across the street from her. She followed the sidewalk with her eyes down to a set of lights and a street sign that read ‘Cromwell’

“I-I uh,” Eveleen paused to sniff and wipe at her nose with the back of her bare hand.”I’m a-across from a laundry mat called ‘S-squeakies’ a-and it’s on Crowell in B-Brixton.”

“Go in the Laundry mat and wait for me.” Coal instructed voice steadier than Eveleen had ever heard it.

“O-Okay.” She managed, “Please h-hurry Coal. I’m s-so scared.”

“I’ll be there soon,” He promised. “Bye” The line went dead and Eveleen used the neck of her yellow nightgown to wipe at her face. Raisin jumped onto her lap, kneading at Eveleen’s thighs trying to comfort her.

“W-We’ll be okay.” Eveleen told her familiar, “Coal is coming.” She gathered her cat and two things before making her way into the laundromat. It was a dated thing, with cracked linoleum and rusty spots on the machines. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, but it was the bell on the door that alerted the teenage looking boy working the counter to her presence. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then gave her a once over. His mouth thinned and he looked back down to his phone, ignoring but also allowing Eveleen’s presence in the laundry mat. She took a seat by the window so Coal could see her when he got there as Raisin curled on her lap.

[coalstonefyre]

“Okay.” Coal nodded, knowing better than to press the subject of food when Eveleen insisted that she wasn’t hungry. He couldn’t make her eat if she didn’t want to and he wasn’t entirely sure how much cash he had on him. It wasn’t a lot, but probably enough for that hot cocoa he was thinking of previously. Maybe later then. His own stomach wasn’t exactly happy, but it was the kind of ache he was all too used to. Though, it had been harder closer to the beginning of the summer when he had gotten familiar with having three square meals a day plus whatever snacks he could possibly want throughout. There had been no empty nights at Hogwarts, always satisfied, never wanting for anything when it came to his basic human needs. It was true he had shot up again, his height stretching in a way that made him feel awkward on his legs as he tried to adjust to them, leaving him leaner and more spindly than he had been at the end of the school year. Hopefully the rest of him would catch up so he wouldn’t be a reed-thin, the type of guy who looked as if the wind could blow him over or he could break in half just by bending down. Like one of those performers who walked on the tall stilts. His hoodie hung long on Eveleen as she rose, tucking herself into it so that she had much more coverage than her little nightgown had provided, the yellow thing worn out and definitely too short on her. His own eyes darted to the attendant at the counter and he soundlessly accepted Eveleen’s hand with his own. The last thing they needed was for someone to come asking them questions and bringing them home in the middle of the night. His father would have a whole lot to say if that happened and he wasn’t sure what the reaction Eveleen would receive would be, but probably no better than his own, perhaps even worse judging by the bruise currently marring her pretty face.

Leaving the laundromat took them away from the sanctuary and warmth it had offered but Coal had long since stopped being afraid of the dark. It wasn’t his first time wandering the streets after hours and it probably wouldn’t be the last, but his concern for Eveleen did made him a little more jumpy tonight. Usually he stuck close to home, going a couple of blocks down just to stretch his legs, to get out of the apartment for a while, away from the crying of his little brother who still woke in the night. His stepmother would shush him, doting upon her baby boy like he was some kind of angel sent from above instead of a drooly little monster who was always breaking things and getting Coal in trouble for ‘not watching him properly!’. It was easier to blame his brother, to resent the fact that he was the one who was well cared for, the one who was loved, while Coal was simply shoved off to the side and forgotten unless he could be useful.

The pair walked for a little while, Coal keeping a tight hold on Eveleen’s hand, keeping her towards the inside of the sidewalk, away from any potential cars and pulling her to cross the street whenever he spotted someone suspicious up ahead. Usually drunkards with nothing better to do than potentially pick on a couple of kids. He only stopped when Eveleen did, pausing under a flickering street light to look up at him. He frowned, his blue eyes finding her brown ones as she thanked him for coming to get her. The redhead gave her one of his rarer, soft smile, squeezing her hand tightly. “It’s what m-mates do, y-yeah?” Coal insisted. He hadn’t, for one second, thought of not coming when she had called him, voice full of fear. He never would have left her out here by herself, even if he got caught and in trouble later. There was no way he was letting her wander around alone, let her go home to where she had gotten that bruise in the first place. “I’ll a-always c-come, Eveleen. Always.” Coal promised sincerely before they started walking again.

The convenience store wasn’t far at all, just a shop on the corner with lights shining out the windows. This one had a bell on the door as well and booths towards the back for patrons to sit at with their snacks or coffee, to read a paper or something. Coal fished a hand into his jeans, feeling at the money he had in there, knowing they would have to be thrifty. If they were only allowed to stay if they bought something, Coal would gladly spend his last coins to keep Eveleen some place safe and warm for a bit. His eyes roved over the shelves, taking in the snacks. His stomach gave a gentle rumble that he hoped the Ravenclaw couldn’t hear as he kept a hold on her hand. His eyes finally alighted upon the drink station going straight to the ice dispenser in the middle. Coal headed over to it, plucking up one of the smaller cups and finally releasing Eveleen’s hand so he could put ice into, following it up with some Sprite before capping it and adding a straw. He grabbed up Eveleen’s hand again, heading for the counter and paying for the drink before leading her towards the booths. The guy behind the counter eyed the warily but didn’t say anything really as Coal took a seat and pressed the cup towards Eveleen. “H-here. Stick it a-against y-your face, it should help with the sw-swelling.”

The Runaways

Eveleen awoke to a crash coming from down the hall followed by a shrill cry of pain. Her eyes went wide, instantly alert at that voice. It was her mother. 

Eveleen had always been a light sleeper, but she became even more so when she returned home and there was a strange man living in her apartment. Mary had introduced this large, balding, sour faced man as Larry Steele, her new Daddy. Eveleen had pursed her lips as she sized him up. New Daddy implied she had ever had a father at one point, which just wasn’t the case for Eveleen. The young witch hadn’t even bothered to shake the man’s hand. As far as the Ravenclaw could see, there was nothing separating this guy form the other sleaze bags her mother had brought home before. Larry hadn’t liked that and told Eveleen flat out he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect like that under his roof. His roof. That was laughable. But he had warned her, none the less; another act of disrespect and he’d fix her attitude problem, as he so eloquently put it, with a hard slap across the face. Eveleen had glared at him, but kept her mouth shut.

Eveleen hadn’t believed him at first, used to the new men Mary brought in trying to assert their authority in front of her hoping it would inhibit Eveleen from having any form of a presence in her own home. But then she had noticed the bruises on Mary’s arm. And one morning there had even been a black eye after coming home from the pub. Mary had said she fell, but Eveleen knew her mother well enough to know when she was lying. She had spent her entire life looking ou for Mary after all. What had Mary done, putting them both at the mercy of this brute?

Larry was just the next of several bad decisions in Mary’s short life. And knowing her mother, Eveleen was certain there was sure to be more after. However that didn’t mean Eveleen didn’t love her mother…in their own strained way. And it certainly didn’t mean she’d stand by and let some meat head toss her around. Eveleen was a witch for Christ’s sake. She knew about the underage magic law, but she also knew it wasn’t punishable if the act of magic was done in self defense.

So Eveleen grabbed her wand from her night stand once fully awake, and bolted from her room down the hallway just as she heard another heavy crash that sounded like glass. Eveleen threw open the door at the end of the dark hallway to see the mirror that was usually over her mother’s bureau tipped and shattered, with Mary’s crumbled body underneath. Glass lay scattered around her mother’s small form, refracting the little light bouncing through the darkness from the the bathroom. Eveleen watched as Larry tossed the mirror off of Mary and grabbed her hard by the arm dragging her up off the ground.

“Get up!” He barked at her. Mary struggled to her feet and tried to pull away, but Larry threw the woman in the direction of the bed. Her legs buckled against the foot board, sending her body onto the mattress with a defeated flop. It was then that both Mary and Larry noticed Eveleen at the door. Mary looked to her daughter, her face finally catching in the light allowing Eveleen to see the split lip and blackened cheek bone.

“Baby, go back to bed.” Mary rasped out. But Eveleen stood defiantly in the doorway and raised her wand instead, trying to think of any defensive spell she could as Larry charged forward. The brute snatched the wand from Eveleen’s hand before a spell came to her panicked mind and chucked it into the hallway before backhanding the girl so hard across the face  she spun and fell down in the door way. She heard Mary shriek, but all Eveleen saw was stars as the world moved around her. She crumpled instantly, her head bouncing hard off the floor as she fell. Larry kicked her body out of the doorway and slammed the door shut.

“Call the police!” She heard Mary shout, “Call and run, Eveleen!” Eveleen stared blankly at the ceiling for a few moments trying to gather herself. She focused on the stinging of her cheek, letting it bring her back to reality as the walls stopped spinning. Then everything became instinct, self preservation. Eveleen scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her as she ran back to her room. Eveleen grabbed for her cell phone on the night stand and immediately dialed the emergency number. 

“112, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked only one or two rings in.

“Uh h-hi,” Eveleen stuttered, “My address in 32 Ashwell Ave Brixton, Apartment B5. He’s beating us.”

“You better hang up that fucking phone!” Eveleen heard Larry roar from down the hall.

“Help is on the way,” The operator assured. Eveleen didn’t say goodbye before ending the call and making for her door. She needed to leave. Where was Raisin? Eveleen was running into the living room when she was yanked back by her hair. Eveleen cried in pain as Larry nearly lifted her up off the ground by her hair alone, Eveleen’s tip toes only skimming the rug. But then there was a vicious hiss and Larry was the one shouting in pain as he released Eveleen. The Ravenclaw fell again, dropping her phone and wand. She looked back to see Raisin with her fur on end, hissing ad spitting at the violent drudge in front of her. Eveleen scooped up her cat and her things before jumping back to her feet. She ran to the door, shoving her feet into her shoes as she left, not even closing the door behind her.

Eveleen ran until Raisin was whining in her arms, needing to be let down from discomfort. By the time she stopped, she was two blocks away, alone in her night gown in a dangerous part of London. No money, or bag. Just her wand, her cat, and her phone. She stopped, panting as she fell onto a nearby bench under a street light. The adrenaline was leaving her, she was exhausted. The tears came next. Sobs then had Eveleen bent over herself. The streetlight flickered above her eerily, letting the darkness of the night close in on her on the too quiet streets. 

What did she do now? 

Where did she go? 

What happened to her mom?

Eveleen wondered these things in rapid succession all knowing she could not go back until Larry and the police were gone. She would probably have a bruise on her cheek, social services would take her away if she was there. Would she still be able to go back to Hogwarts in the fall if she was in the system? She needed help, but who could she call? Nan was dead, she didn’t have her aunt’s number. She couldn’t call the neighbor who’s number she had for emergencies. That only left one person; Coal.

Eveleen tried to take a deep breath, to control her breathing, but it didn’t work. She sobbed some more before her fingers were still enough to go through her contacts to find his number. She was lucky to have gotten it before the end of their first year after finding out he was also living in muggle London. She had planned on contacting him to organize their trip to go see Ember this summer, but not about this. Never this. Eveleen didn’t have much choice in the matter no though. She needed someone, anyone. Ember couldn’t be contacted unless it was by owl. Where was she to find an owl at this hour?!

“Eveleen?” She recognized the voice on the other end as the gentle, nervous redhead she had met earlier that September.

“C-Coal?” Eveleen asked, teeth chattering form nerves. “C-Can you come g-get me please?” Her voice was a squeak by the end as the tears came back, just as hot and wet and urgent as before. “H-He was h-hitting us” Eveleen struggled out, “I don’t h-have a-any pants or m-money a-a-and I c-can’t go home.” Coal was quiet on the other end before he finally asked,

“Where are you?”  Eveleen looked up then and saw a twenty-four hour laundry-mat across the street from her. She followed the sidewalk with her eyes down to a set of lights and a street sign that read ‘Cromwell’

“I-I uh,” Eveleen paused to sniff and wipe at her nose with the back of her bare hand.”I’m a-across from a laundry mat called ‘S-squeakies’ a-and it’s on Crowell in B-Brixton.”

“Go in the Laundry mat and wait for me.” Coal instructed voice steadier than Eveleen had ever heard it.

“O-Okay.” She managed, “Please h-hurry Coal. I’m s-so scared.”

“I’ll be there soon,” He promised. “Bye” The line went dead and Eveleen used the neck of her yellow nightgown to wipe at her face. Raisin jumped onto her lap, kneading at Eveleen’s thighs trying to comfort her.

“W-We’ll be okay.” Eveleen told her familiar, “Coal is coming.” She gathered her cat and two things before making her way into the laundromat. It was a dated thing, with cracked linoleum and rusty spots on the machines. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, but it was the bell on the door that alerted the teenage looking boy working the counter to her presence. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then gave her a once over. His mouth thinned and he looked back down to his phone, ignoring but also allowing Eveleen’s presence in the laundry mat. She took a seat by the window so Coal could see her when he got there as Raisin curled on her lap.

[coalstonefyre]

Coal hated the summertime. Normally it was pretty bad in general, but now that he had been to Hogwarts, had discovered what the world could be like away from the crushing environment of the apartment he had grown up in? It was about a million times worse than it previously had been. Coal had never, in all his life, had friends before. Within his first week away at school he had made two best mates that he spent the majority of his free time with. A cousin, who he hadn’t known existed, and a smaller girl with hair that sometimes seemed to make up half of her height. It had taken getting used to, having friends and learning how to interact with them but it was something Coal had been all too happy to do. Ember had gleaned onto him that very first morning and taken it upon herself to become his friend whether he wanted to or not. She had also introduced him to the world of physical affection he had seriously been lacking previously. Ember was always touching him in some manner or another, whether hugging, hand holding, bumping into him or licking his face in that way she had. Things had only gotten better with the introduction of Eveleen Swan, a fellow London dweller whose ragged, too small clothing and seemingly shy demeanor had given him a kind of kinship he hadn’t known he was looking for. Eveleen understood what it was like to come from a home where you weren’t exactly a priority to your parents. Where it didn’t matter if you had clothing that fit or all the supplies you needed for school, if you went to bed hungry because someone had forgotten you existed yet again. Neither of his new mates had picked on Coal for his worn out clothing or the fact that he didn’t have all the books he needed for classes. Instead, Eveleen had found a spell to patch holes, the best at figuring out magic out of the three of them to be honest and somehow, brand new books, still wrapped up in packing paper and string, had appeared on top of Coal’s trunk one morning without a single word as to where they had come from but he knew. It was obvious in the glances Ember gave him when he pulled one out of his bag. His cousin, with the brand new robes black as night and bright white uniform shirts that had obviously never been worn before. Her regular clothes were more worn, but not because of lack of care from a parent, but rather, because she was so careless, so unworried about what would happen if she tore her jeans to shreds or outgrew them. It was Ember who got care packages regularly through the post, letters full of drawn hearts and pressed flowers, freshly picked apples and sweets, homemade jam and soaps that she had no inhibitions about sharing. It was Ember that Coal was jealous of, not in a way that made him resent her, but because she had someone who cared about her, loved her, and it showed. He and Eveleen didn’t. The brunette had received a few short letters from a mother who seemed to be trying but not at the same time, one who appeared to care more about herself than her daughter from the selfish contents of the single paged communications. Coal got nothing. No notes, no packages. Nothing until he’d tried to ask if he could go home with Ember for the winter break and received a simple ‘No. Come home.’ in response. It had been the same when he’d inquired, carefully, quietly, if maybe he could go to the same mate’s house for part of the summer holiday. Coal was needed at home, to look after his younger siblings while his father and step-mother were at work. To make sure they stayed out of trouble and had everything they needed throughout the day. He had yet to tell the girls he wouldn’t be able to make it, partly because he knew it would make them sad, but also because he didn’t want to think about it. September. He just had to make it through until then and he’d be able to go back to school where life was better. Where there were people that cared about him.

It was quite late, Coal already settled down in his bed but unable to sleep as the noise of the streets outside came in through the screen of his open window. It was familiar but not as welcome as the quiet of the Hufflepuff dorms. The gentle crackle of the fire, the way the sunlight streamed, golden, through the high-up windows, the snoring of his house mates, the earthy smell of the soil in all of the potted plants that were scattered about. Coal missed it, desperately, as he leaned up against the wall from where he sat on his mattress set directly on the floor next to a simple small dressed that also served as his nightstand. His school trunk was shoved into the space at the other end of his mattress and that was it for his bedroom that had never been intended to be a bedroom. Not like the bigger space his two younger sisters shared with their bunk beds and numerous toys, or the one their even younger brother had all to himself, still contained to a crib. Coal’s room was nothing more than a walk-in closet, the door opening only just wide enough for him to get in, the dresser blocking it the rest of the way. He’d had to turn it sideways just to get in trunk in and out of the room but he didn’t like looking at the back of the drawers from his bed, the old cardboard backing mostly gone. The Hufflepuff’s fingers moved over the bit of wood in his hands, pressing the blade of his knife through it as he whittled, not caring about the shavings. He was used to sleeping in them anyway. The last thing the redhead was expecting was for his small flip-phone to buzz from where it had been plugged in to charge on the windowsill. He jumped a bit at the noise, dropping his wood and knife onto the bed to rapidly grab for the phone, not wanting the vibrations against the wood to wake anyone up. His father would have a conniption of any of the kids stirred or if he found Coal ‘goofing off’ in the middle of the night.

The Hufflepuff stared at the screen for a moment, his brow furrowing as he read the name, and then read it again just to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating. He and Eveleen had exchanged numbers on the train home, mostly just for emergencies, but neither had called the other yet. There had been a couple of simple text messages, just inquiries on well being, but mostly they had been out of contact for the amount of time they’d been home. It was probably just a mistake, but a gentle twisting in Coal’s stomach told him that if Eveleen was calling, something had to be wrong. So he answered as quietly as he could, covering his mouth as he spoke, voice gentle but worried. “Eveleen?”

“C-coal?” The voice on the other end of the phone was definitely his friend, but she sounded much more shaken than he had ever heard before. Not at all like the bright eyed, laughing girl he had last seen as she bent in half, amused by something Ember had said on the train before they had gotten too close to the station and their moods had gone a bit more morose, sad to be leaving one another but with promises to visit over the summer. Coal sat up even straighter, listening as that scared voice asked him to come get her, that someone had been hitting them, that she was without money or even pants at the moment. Coal’s heartbeat quickened, a hot anger starting to heat up inside of him at the information. Eveleen had been hurt and she needed him. Carefully, Coal pushed up from the bed, asking where she was at, able to keep the stutter out of his voice due to the seriousness of the situation and the fact that they weren’t face to face. Keeping the phone to his ear, Coal tugged on a pair of pants and grabbed a t-shirt, careful not to lose contact with the phone as he pulled it on over his head.

“I’ll be there soon.” The Hufflepuff promised before hanging up, knowing that he couldn’t waste the previous minutes he was allotted per month on his phone even if he wanted to stay on with Eveleen to make sure she was safe while he waited for her. His phone was technically only for emergencies, so that he could be contacted about his siblings, reminded what things were expected to be done around the house by the time his parents got home. Eveleen would be alright as long as she hung out in the laundry mat until he got there. They rarely closed and usually had some kind of attendant just in case one of the machines broke and to keep riff-raff out. Surely they’d harbor a young girl for the little while. Still, Coal moved as quickly as he could while still being quiet. He pocketed his knife, grabbed a hoodie, and slid up his window screen to step out onto the fire escape, climbing down until he was able to jump the rest of the way. He took off running then, his legs long, tall for his age of twelve, almost thirteen, as he raced down the alley and onto the sidewalk.

It took fifteen minutes, maybe twenty, for Coal to traverse the underground, get the right trains in order to make it to Brixton and find the right street. Brixton wasn’t exactly the safest of the boroughs, but neither was his, so he was used to such things. He had his height, his scowling face, and his knife in his pocket as well as fists that already knew how to fight if it came down to it. By the time he saw the sign for Squeakies, Coal was panting. He could see her in the window then, sitting there in nothing but a worn yellow nightgown, her curly hair a mess, and Raisin on her lap. Coal pushed in through the door, ignoring the attendant who looked up from the counter as the bell rang and walked straight over to his mate. He had grown an inch or two in their time apart already, but his face still had that slightly rounded boyish look to it, indicating that he probably wasn’t as old as he was tall. With red cheeks and a sweat forehead beneath his beanie, Coal pulled the hoodie he carried off of his arm and crouched, draping it over the small Ravenclaw’s shoulders. His piercing blue eyes looked her eyes, full of concern as he took in the bruising that had started to develop on her face, the way her lower lips seemed to be bleeding just a little bit. Coal pulled the sweatshirt tighter around Eveleen before he was leaning forward, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. If he had been asked months ago how he felt about hugging, Coal would have made a face and gone silent, but now, after having been loved on every single day of the school year? The boy was definitely becoming much more of a sucker for the physical aspects of affection. He held onto Eveleen tightly, wanting to make sure she knew she was safe now, that he wasn’t going to allow anything else to happen to her tonight, and to help warm her up because for some reason, she always seemed to be cold.

Pulling back, Coal frowned, still not liking the look of his best friend’s face. “W-we should get you s-s-some ice.” He said, his stutter back now that they were off the phone. “Have you e-eaten? I’ve got a l-little c-cash.” Coal knew better than to ask about what had happened just yet. Not here, not right now in the laundry mat where there were curious eyes and ears lurking about. People liked to be nosy and a small girl with a bruising face and a raggamuffin of a teenage boy were not exactly the most inconspicuous of beings, even in this part of the city. He could at least get her a hot cocoa or something, knowing all too well what it was like to go to bed with no supper and uncertain if Eveleen had gotten any.

The Runaways

Eveleen awoke to a crash coming from down the hall followed by a shrill cry of pain. Her eyes went wide, instantly alert at that voice. It was her mother. 

Eveleen had always been a light sleeper, but she became even more so when she returned home and there was a strange man living in her apartment. Mary had introduced this large, balding, sour faced man as Larry Steele, her new Daddy. Eveleen had pursed her lips as she sized him up. New Daddy implied she had ever had a father at one point, which just wasn’t the case for Eveleen. The young witch hadn’t even bothered to shake the man’s hand. As far as the Ravenclaw could see, there was nothing separating this guy form the other sleaze bags her mother had brought home before. Larry hadn’t liked that and told Eveleen flat out he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect like that under his roof. His roof. That was laughable. But he had warned her, none the less; another act of disrespect and he’d fix her attitude problem, as he so eloquently put it, with a hard slap across the face. Eveleen had glared at him, but kept her mouth shut.

Eveleen hadn’t believed him at first, used to the new men Mary brought in trying to assert their authority in front of her hoping it would inhibit Eveleen from having any form of a presence in her own home. But then she had noticed the bruises on Mary’s arm. And one morning there had even been a black eye after coming home from the pub. Mary had said she fell, but Eveleen knew her mother well enough to know when she was lying. She had spent her entire life looking ou for Mary after all. What had Mary done, putting them both at the mercy of this brute?

Larry was just the next of several bad decisions in Mary’s short life. And knowing her mother, Eveleen was certain there was sure to be more after. However that didn’t mean Eveleen didn’t love her mother…in their own strained way. And it certainly didn’t mean she’d stand by and let some meat head toss her around. Eveleen was a witch for Christ’s sake. She knew about the underage magic law, but she also knew it wasn’t punishable if the act of magic was done in self defense.

So Eveleen grabbed her wand from her night stand once fully awake, and bolted from her room down the hallway just as she heard another heavy crash that sounded like glass. Eveleen threw open the door at the end of the dark hallway to see the mirror that was usually over her mother’s bureau tipped and shattered, with Mary’s crumbled body underneath. Glass lay scattered around her mother’s small form, refracting the little light bouncing through the darkness from the the bathroom. Eveleen watched as Larry tossed the mirror off of Mary and grabbed her hard by the arm dragging her up off the ground.

“Get up!” He barked at her. Mary struggled to her feet and tried to pull away, but Larry threw the woman in the direction of the bed. Her legs buckled against the foot board, sending her body onto the mattress with a defeated flop. It was then that both Mary and Larry noticed Eveleen at the door. Mary looked to her daughter, her face finally catching in the light allowing Eveleen to see the split lip and blackened cheek bone.

“Baby, go back to bed.” Mary rasped out. But Eveleen stood defiantly in the doorway and raised her wand instead, trying to think of any defensive spell she could as Larry charged forward. The brute snatched the wand from Eveleen’s hand before a spell came to her panicked mind and chucked it into the hallway before backhanding the girl so hard across the face  she spun and fell down in the door way. She heard Mary shriek, but all Eveleen saw was stars as the world moved around her. She crumpled instantly, her head bouncing hard off the floor as she fell. Larry kicked her body out of the doorway and slammed the door shut.

“Call the police!” She heard Mary shout, “Call and run, Eveleen!” Eveleen stared blankly at the ceiling for a few moments trying to gather herself. She focused on the stinging of her cheek, letting it bring her back to reality as the walls stopped spinning. Then everything became instinct, self preservation. Eveleen scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her as she ran back to her room. Eveleen grabbed for her cell phone on the night stand and immediately dialed the emergency number. 

“112, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked only one or two rings in.

“Uh h-hi,” Eveleen stuttered, “My address in 32 Ashwell Ave Brixton, Apartment B5. He’s beating us.”

“You better hang up that fucking phone!” Eveleen heard Larry roar from down the hall.

“Help is on the way,” The operator assured. Eveleen didn’t say goodbye before ending the call and making for her door. She needed to leave. Where was Raisin? Eveleen was running into the living room when she was yanked back by her hair. Eveleen cried in pain as Larry nearly lifted her up off the ground by her hair alone, Eveleen’s tip toes only skimming the rug. But then there was a vicious hiss and Larry was the one shouting in pain as he released Eveleen. The Ravenclaw fell again, dropping her phone and wand. She looked back to see Raisin with her fur on end, hissing ad spitting at the violent drudge in front of her. Eveleen scooped up her cat and her things before jumping back to her feet. She ran to the door, shoving her feet into her shoes as she left, not even closing the door behind her.

Eveleen ran until Raisin was whining in her arms, needing to be let down from discomfort. By the time she stopped, she was two blocks away, alone in her night gown in a dangerous part of London. No money, or bag. Just her wand, her cat, and her phone. She stopped, panting as she fell onto a nearby bench under a street light. The adrenaline was leaving her, she was exhausted. The tears came next. Sobs then had Eveleen bent over herself. The streetlight flickered above her eerily, letting the darkness of the night close in on her on the too quiet streets. 

What did she do now? 

Where did she go? 

What happened to her mom?

Eveleen wondered these things in rapid succession all knowing she could not go back until Larry and the police were gone. She would probably have a bruise on her cheek, social services would take her away if she was there. Would she still be able to go back to Hogwarts in the fall if she was in the system? She needed help, but who could she call? Nan was dead, she didn’t have her aunt’s number. She couldn’t call the neighbor who’s number she had for emergencies. That only left one person; Coal.

Eveleen tried to take a deep breath, to control her breathing, but it didn’t work. She sobbed some more before her fingers were still enough to go through her contacts to find his number. She was lucky to have gotten it before the end of their first year after finding out he was also living in muggle London. She had planned on contacting him to organize their trip to go see Ember this summer, but not about this. Never this. Eveleen didn’t have much choice in the matter no though. She needed someone, anyone. Ember couldn’t be contacted unless it was by owl. Where was she to find an owl at this hour?!

“Eveleen?” She recognized the voice on the other end as the gentle, nervous redhead she had met earlier that September.

“C-Coal?” Eveleen asked, teeth chattering form nerves. “C-Can you come g-get me please?” Her voice was a squeak by the end as the tears came back, just as hot and wet and urgent as before. “H-He was h-hitting us” Eveleen struggled out, “I don’t h-have a-any pants or m-money a-a-and I c-can’t go home.” Coal was quiet on the other end before he finally asked,

“Where are you?”  Eveleen looked up then and saw a twenty-four hour laundry-mat across the street from her. She followed the sidewalk with her eyes down to a set of lights and a street sign that read ‘Cromwell’

“I-I uh,” Eveleen paused to sniff and wipe at her nose with the back of her bare hand.”I’m a-across from a laundry mat called ‘S-squeakies’ a-and it’s on Crowell in B-Brixton.”

“Go in the Laundry mat and wait for me.” Coal instructed voice steadier than Eveleen had ever heard it.

“O-Okay.” She managed, “Please h-hurry Coal. I’m s-so scared.”

“I’ll be there soon,” He promised. “Bye” The line went dead and Eveleen used the neck of her yellow nightgown to wipe at her face. Raisin jumped onto her lap, kneading at Eveleen’s thighs trying to comfort her.

“W-We’ll be okay.” Eveleen told her familiar, “Coal is coming.” She gathered her cat and two things before making her way into the laundromat. It was a dated thing, with cracked linoleum and rusty spots on the machines. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, but it was the bell on the door that alerted the teenage looking boy working the counter to her presence. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then gave her a once over. His mouth thinned and he looked back down to his phone, ignoring but also allowing Eveleen’s presence in the laundry mat. She took a seat by the window so Coal could see her when he got there as Raisin curled on her lap.

[coalstonefyre]

“You’re more than welcome too.” Coal stated, his voice a bit colder than usual, though not directly at Eveleen, more at the idea of Brian. Part of him definitely didn’t care if something bad happened to Brian, he would have been happy about it, though a smaller bit of him felt a strange, deep sadness at the idea as well. While Brian hadn’t been good to him most of his life, there was still a part of Coal that knew he had once cared about him, at least until he had found out the truth about Coal’s real father. The betrayal of learning that Coal wasn’t his had hit him so hard he had taken it out on everyone he possibly could, including Coal, but had never actually shipped the kid off to live with his real father. Instead, he had used it as an opportunity to make a quick penny, treating Coal like a paycheck instead of a child. The very fact of it soured Coal’s soul, making him grimace and take keenly to the thought of the man’s brain being turned into nothing more than lumpy fluid that could spill out of his ears and nose. The letter had really struck him hard, more than he’d like to admit, even to himself. Eveleen’s touch upon his hand had his eyes raising from his drink to meet hers, blue gazing into brown as she asked if he wanted answers, kissing his palm. It took him a moment to understand what she was saying, that instead of just letting everything go, there was another way they could do this. They could search for his biological mother, the one who had left him behind with Brian, who had decided she didn’t want him.

“I dunno…” Coal frowned, not sure it was the best of ideas. First, they would have to figure out who his mother even was, which could take months, maybe even years depending on how difficult it would be to track down a name. They’d have to start at a hospital, find the one he had been born in and see if they had anything on record, if they could even release it. He was eighteen years old, a lot of time had passed since his birth, would they even still have the paperwork? Or would he have to go to some government department in order to locate his papers. Surely they would have something, would have the name of his mother on them. After that, it could be as simple as an internet search at the closes Muggle library to see if she turned up. But what then? Would the woman who had abandoned him even want to be contacted by him, let alone see him or be willing to talk about what had transpired when he’d been a baby. “Even if we did find something… What about after that? It’s not like she wanted me, so I doubt she’d want to talk either.” Coal sighed, moving to take another sip of his drink, letting the combination of alcohol and lemonade flow down into his stomach. It put a little bit of fire in his belly and hopefully soon it would also help him relax a bit. He fiddled with his cup a bit, running a finger down the condensation on the side before he was leaning a bit, turning his head so that he could rest it down on Eveleen’s shoulder. He breathed her in, releasing her hand to wrap his arm around her waist instead, pressing his nose and then his lips to her neck. “I’ll write Meghan first, see if she has any more information. Then… I guess we can go to London, if you want. I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me. It could wait until summer, that’s not very far away.”

Sitting up, Coal downed the rest of his drink and then pressed hair out of Eveleen’s face. “We should get back, before anyone notices we’re gone. I still have detentions to serve and you have a reputation to uphold, beautiful.” He gave her a gentle wink, shoving the letter back into his pocket even though he knew he would most likely throw it in the fire when they got back up to the castle. He waited for Eveleen to finish her drink, made sure to pay and tip the bartender and then took his girl’s hand again, heading out of the bar. He would drop her off at her dorm and then head down to his own, knowing if he didn’t arrive by a certain time he would be in even more trouble than he already was.

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

[coalstonefyre]

[coalstonefyre]

“If you could survive off chocolate alone, you would.” Coal grinned, though it didn’t quite meet his eyes. He was doing his best to keep a positive attitude, especially considering that he and Eveleen had just reconciled. It was hard though, with the future looming over them like a house of cards that could be knocked over with a simple wrong breath. He sighed, looking down at the wood of the bar, using his free hand to skim over it in a way that would have typically soothed him. It was difficult to tell what kind of tree this was underneath the stain, but if he had to guess, he’d say it was oak. Strong and sturdy, unyielding. A basic but lovely wood. There were many others that would have done better as a counter top, but here in the bar, it would serve its purpose well. Coal had worked with many different types of wood at this point, but he’d found that he did have favorites. Hickory, aspen, and ugh, camphor. He’d only worked with that one once, but the smell and grain of it had been absolutely delightful.

Coal tapped his fingers lightly on the counter as Eveleen ordered for the both of them. He waited until the bartender had turned around in order to look back up at his girlfriend, sky blue meeting chocolate brown for a moment before he was looking back down at the counter top. He sighed, his smile falling now as he turned his hand over beneath Eveleen’s so that he could better lock their fingers together properly. He held onto her tightly, reaching up to tug his hat harder down on his head even though it wasn’t coming loose. It was just a nervous habit he had, readjusting his beanie even if it was completely secure, pins keeping it in place underneath where they weren’t very visible. He wasn’t particularly good at speaking about his feelings, but this was Eveleen. If he couldn’t talk to her, who else did he have? Besides, she was his everything. She deserved to know what was going on in his head, even if the topics weren’t always easy or pretty ones. They had already had an argument over the future and resolved to work on things together, so now was probably a good time to make sure they did that anyway.

“It’s just...” Coal released a sigh, letting his fingers tap out a mindless pattern on the smooth wood beneath his skin. It soothed him a bit for some reason and he glanced back at Eveleen again. “I was thinking about how I can’t ever go home. I mean, it’s not that I want to or anything like that. It shouldn’t matter because there’s nothing happy there for me, there hasn’t been since before I can remember but it was still home, it’s still the place I always went back to. Dad… Brian, I mean, said he doesn’t want to ever see me there again. He wrote a letter. It was pretty bad.”

The Hufflepuff dug into his front jeans pocket, tugging out a piece of lined paper that had been folded over and over again so many times it looked as if it might begin tearing at the bends. It was worn out but the ink was still legible, easy to read. The letter was full of hateful words, blame for ‘making life more difficult than it should have been’ and admittance that the only reason Coal had been kept around was for the monthly income sent by David and Meghan with the intent on it being used to look after the redhead. It was the reason his family lived in a decent apartment and had nice things because certainly Brian’s job would never have provided for both. Now that Coal was of age, they’d have to ‘make do’ but it was ‘worth it to never have to see that horrendous face ever again’. Coal had read the letter over and over again, wishing it would change each time but knowing it wouldn’t. He supposed he shouldn’t care so much, but at the same time… this was the man who had raised him, no matter how badly he’d done at it or how much he openly despised Coal, the Hufflepuff had always been able to kind of brush it off. Maybe it was a bad mood, or stress, or worry, but seeing it written down was a lot different than hearing it every now and then over the few months of summer. If Coal couldn’t be good enough for the man who had, initially, loved him as his own, then how could he be for anyone else? For Eveleen? For Ember and Meghan?

Coal offered the awful letter to Eveleen as their glasses clinked down onto the counter, napkins beneath them to protect the surface. Coal stared at the tall glass in front of him, filled with blue liquid. A slice of orange was on the rim and a cherry floated on top, but the name made much more sense when he spotted the tiny dragon shaped ice cubes swimming in the bottom of the glass, blowing bubbles as they circled the inside of their domain. The peel of the orange erupted in multicolored flames followed by the stem of the cherry, a gentle roaring sound emanating from the clear glass straw. Eveleen’s drink was much more simple. A small glass with chocolate sauce swirled along the insides and a brown liquid with chocolate flakes floating on top of it. The rim had been dipped in even more chocolate and topped with cookie crumble bits. It was definitely an Eveleen style drink, that was for sure. She would most likely enjoy it a great deal.

Coal leaned forward and gave his own drink a sip. It was sweet and tart, like lemonade but with a bite to it that made a fire form in his belly where it landed. It was nice, Coal decided, taking another sip before he looked back at Eveleen with a real smile this time. “It’s boozy lemonade.”

The Hufflepuff offered his girlfriend a sip before he began to relax a little bit, the cold drink helping calm his nerves. His eyes fell on the cocktail menu again, looking it over more closely this time with interest to see what else they might want to try sometime. There were lots of different options. Coal frowned as his eyes fell on one in particular, pointing it out. A caramel apple cider cocktail served with a cinnamon stick inside of an apple. “If we ever bring Ember, you know what she’s picking. That’s another thing that’s been kind of bugging me. All this stuff with her and Anne, it’s not okay. And then on top of it, our dad. Like, part of me wonders why he didn’t fight harder for me after he found out my mum left. Why couldn’t he see how unhappy I was from the photos he got? I mean, I know I don’t take a good one in the first place, but you’d think he’d notice how fake my smile was compared to the older pictures. Did he actually care about me? And if he did notice, why didn’t he do anything? Or did Brian tell him I was fine or… I don’t know. It’s just a lot of stuff that I’ll never have answers for, I guess.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

Coal kept his hand happily entwined with Eveleen’s as they walked down the path. The weather wasn’t terrible, the day full of that mid-spring warmth that still required a hoodie but would also be likely to heat right up within the next few weeks as they got closer to summer.  The Hufflepuff was so glad that they were no longer fighting, that they had been able to patch things up properly even if it had taken several days and a lot of heartache. The separation from Eveleen, no matter how temporary it had been, had done a number on Coal to the point where every time he looked at her he felt his heart swelling with wonder and affection. There was a sense of relief within him that things had turned out alright but also a slight bitterness that reminded him that they could have gone the other way entirely. Eveleen had been upset with him, enough so that they didn’t speak for days and it was something Coal could have done without. He had been properly angry with her as well, but mostly frustrated with fear at what the future was going to bring. Planning… it wasn’t exactly something he had always been good at, but Coal would do his damnedest if it meant making sure Eveleen felt safe and comfortable. It wasn’t going to be an easy road, he knew that much, but they could do it so long as they were together. Coal knew that much.

The redhead stopped, frowning as Eveleen dropped his hand. He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong but found she was looking at herself in one of the shop windows instead. He waited patiently as she pulled out her wand, his own hands going into his pockets as she fixed herself up a bit. Coal hadn’t really noticed that her sweatshirt was stained or that she was wearing those comfy pants she likes for bedtime, but he had never really given much thought Eveleen’s appearance on a daily basis aside from always finding her incredibly attractive. To him it didn’t matter what she had on, whether her hair was a mess, or if she’d managed to not notice the smear of chocolate frosting on one of her cheeks. Eveleen was always stunning in Coal’s eyes. The way her curls never seemed to want to behave, pulled back haphazardly in a hair tie that would get all stretched out and rebel to the point where it eventually broke on her after too much. Even when she had it contained she couldn’t keep the fly-aways at bay as they fluttered on top of her head or fell into her eyes in beautiful little wisps. He loved the way her eyes lit up in the sun, slightly golden flecks appearing in the dark-chocolate irises, deep and full of emotion as she peeked up at him from beneath her long lashes and the way her freckles stood out all the more whenever she blushed. And her curves, good god her curves. Coal could have drowned in the softness of Eveleen’s breasts and hips and thighs and died happy. He grinned as her sweatpants transfigured into leggings, loving the way they hugged onto her all the more.

While Eveleen could have worn a potato sack and looked fantastic in Coal’s eyes, he did also notice when she dressed up more. That one shirt that rode lower than the others, the occasional dress, those stockings… They all made his heart hammer hard in his chest but never so much as her kisses did. Eveleen was gorgeous, no matter what. Coal reached out as Eveleen finished fixing herself up, leaning to kiss at her temple, her hair tickling his cheek as he nodded in agreement. “Banshee’s Bucket it is then, beautiful.”

The pub wasn’t anything like the ones Coal was used to. Newer and up to date, the Banshee’s Bucket was definitely a place that was meant for a younger crowd of adults than the Hogshead and wasn’t someplace you were going to find any students lingering at like the Three Broomsticks. As they pushed through the door, Coal’s face was hit with warmth and perfume, laughter and music filling the air around them. Everything in here was sleek, properly polished woods and metals that had the boy’s fingers itching a bit as he looked around. It was different from the more beat up old woods one would find in the other pubs in town. Even the floor hadn’t yet gotten that worn-down look that came from a lot of foot traffic over time and no one had carved anything into the tops of the tables that he could see. At least, so far. It was a new establishment after all, which meant it wouldn’t always be this nice, but for now, it looked as new as if it had just been built within the past week. He breathed it in, his eyes roving over the floor and the beams that helped hold of the ceiling, trying to figure out what type of wood it was beneath the medium-dark stain they had used. Maple? Oak?

The Hufflepuff nodded, turning his attention back to Eveleen as she asked if they could sit at the bar. Of course they could, if that was what she wanted. Coal grinned, heading more for the back of the room where the bar was located underneath a row of hanging square shaped chandeliers. He pulled a stool out for Eveleen and then climbed up onto his own beside her, moving his hand from hers so that she could properly take up the drink menu. He let it stray down to her knee instead, leaning a bit to read over her shoulder as she perused their options.

“A chocolate fudge martini? Sounds like you.” Coal laughed, pressing a gentle kiss to Eveleen’s cheek as he gave her knee a gentle squeeze. He let his eyes trail down the list, searching until they fell upon something that might be appealing to him. Coal wasn’t much of a drinker, but he had partaken several times before with his mates. Beer mostly, the occasional shot of fire whiskey at a party at Ember’s insistence, and sometimes he would swipe a shot of vodka from his dad… Brian. Not his dad. Brian. At a home that he was never going to return to. Coal’s stomach twisted slightly with emotion but he swallowed it down, unable to deal with the complicated situation properly. On the one side, it was a place that he had grown up, people had had lived with since he had been small, but on the other, he had never really been wanted there, so why did it hurt to know he wasn’t welcome there any longer? Even if his welcome had been very limited in the first place. Coal shouldn’t have cared, but part of him did and he bit his tongue, letting his finger fall on the next cocktail listed without really thinking about it. “Whatever a Blue Dragoon-Lagoon is.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

“Eveleen.” Coal breathed out, his voice gentle as he felt her arms shifting, trying to hug him as she rose as tall as she could up on her tip-toes. She couldn’t quite reach, but it didn’t matter, because Coal automatically hunched his shoulders and bent his knees just enough to accommodate her, wrapping his arms around her waist as hers came up around his neck, lifting her slightly so that they could hold onto one another properly. He curled around her, the tickle of her hair against his skin welcome as he breathed her in, all that warmth and chocolate that he had long ago come to associate with home and safety. Eveleen’s hug was good and Coal returned it with just as much love flowing outwards towards her as she was giving him. He wanted her to know, for certain, that he was going to be there for her no matter what came their way. They would figure everything out together and he would do his damnedest to give her the life he knew she deserved. Free from the worry about where their next meal would come from, where they would sleep at night, and if they would be able to afford all of the other things they needed in order to survive adulthood. Both had been forced to grow faster than any child should and now, at eighteen, they were nearing the edge of the adult world just beyond graduation. But they could do it, Coal knew. So long as they were together, they could conquer anything.

“I hate it too, let’s not do that anymore.” The redhead groaned, having definitely not enjoyed fighting with Eveleen either. It had been awful, arguing with her and then not speaking, wondering if she wanted anything to do with him at all after that. He was genuinely relieved that they had managed to come to a truce, to forgive one another and choose to work to be better as a pair instead of separately. However, Coal was quite surprised when Eveleen was pulling away, slipping back down onto her feet and blushing as she peeked up at him from beneath her wild curls. Then that smile… oh Coal knew th

at look and it served to make his stomach begin to twist with butterflies. What was she up to now?

“A pub?” Coal laughed, but he was nodding in agreement shortly after. If it hadn’t been for that grin on Eveleen’s face and the twinkle in her eyes suggesting she was up to something, Coal might have thought she was testing him to make sure he was going to behave. Instead, he allowed her to begin to tug him along through the shadows, making their way carefully across the grounds. It wasn’t quite dark out, meaning there wasn’t really any reason as to why they couldn’t be taking a nice stroll outside, but Coal tugged his own hood up as well to mask himself from behind. He took hold of Eveleen’s hand, slowing his longer legs to match her pace as they made their way down towards the lake and then a bit around it until they had reached the large stone fence that marked the edge of this portion of the grounds. They weren’t supposed to go beyond it, but there was no one around to stop them at the moment. It was all too easy, slinking along the side of the fence and then out the large iron gate.

Once out, Coal broke into a bit of a jog, releasing a laugh of excitement and Eveleen’s hand as his hood flopped back from his head. He paused a short distance ahead of her, grinning as he waited and began removing his robes. It wouldn’t do to look like students once they got into town after all, there was no way they’d be served in any of the pubs then. He folded it up carefully and tucked it down beneath a bush to pick up later before turning to look up at Eveleen. He rose, reaching back out for her hand, clasping it carefully in his own as he intertwined their fingers together, bending slightly to press a kiss to her temple. “I reckon we should avoid the Three Broomsticks, they know our faces there. But that still leaves the Hogshead and the Banshee’s Bucket.”

Turning his head, Coal glanced back up at the castle with a frown before shaking his head. Ember could do without them for a few hours, she’d be alright. There had been very little time for Coal and Eveleen to spend alone ever since spring break after all. He knew the weight of it was stressful for his girlfriend, on top of everything else as they got closer to the end of the school year. She needed a break, even if it was just a night out together where they could have something resembling a proper date. So instead of letting himself worry, Coal tugged Eveleen close to his side with a smile. “I dunno as you’ll like a pint, beautiful, but there’s other things. Sweet ones too, with chocolate.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

“Eveleen...” Coal stared down at her, his blue eyes meeting her brown as she reached for him. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she hit him or something but instead she was grabbing the front of his robes, tugging at him so that she could have him already full, undivided attention. He watched as her eyes seemed to swirl, molten pools of delicious chocolate full of so much depth and uncertainty. He loved the way her freckles dotted across her nose, how her lashes seemed to go on endlessly as they brushed against her cheeks every time she blinked. He had missed being able to look at her this closely, to see the gentle crack in her lower pink lip where she had been biting at it too often lately, the way the baby curls close to her ears sat against her skin, and that worrying crease between her eyebrows that he desperately wanted to kiss away every single time it appeared. He wanted to reach out, to pull her close so that he could squish the tension out of her, to sooth her in one of the only ways he knew how. But he listened instead, intent on hearing every single word Eveleen spoke to him, to understand what it was she was trying to explain to him.

She wasn’t perfect, Eveleen thought, but she was so far from the truth. Coal knew, in the long run, that perfection was something that could only be seen in the eye of the beholder and his girl, well, she had never watched herself the way he did. While he felt things came easier to her than they did for him, he also knew how hard she worked. The stress she put herself through in order to do well in classes, to push forward and be the rock both he and Ember had always needed to hold them up when things got tough, the mothering hand looking after them when really, he should have been looking after her instead. She was so scared, his girl, of the world that was coming rapidly for them, the changes that graduating would bring. They would no longer have the safety net of Hogwarts to return to, a place to fall when the rest of the world had let them down so hard all their lives.

Coal could remember all too clearly how things had been that first day he had met Eveleen. They hadn’t even been at school an entire week when he and Ember had headed out on the ground to explore a bit. He had trailed along, too tall in clothes that were too small for him, hands shoved into his pockets as Ember jabbered up at him endlessly, explaining how Quidditch worked and that she was definitely going to teach him how to fly much more properly than he’d learn in their lessons that would be starting next month. She’d had her broomstick strapped to her back, taller than her with the bristles inches from the ground and the handle well above her head as she’d bounced along. Their goal had been to go down to the pitch, to see it for the first time and to have him fly a bit with her before she let him have a go on his own. Coal hadn’t had much choice in the matter. To be honest, he was just glad to have an actual friend for the first time in his life. Ember had attacked him their first day of classes, asking him who he was and why the hell did he have her last name. They’d since found out from her mother that they were cousins and that was enough for the both of them.

The Hufflepuff had tugged the new beanie his mate had given him from her winter gear (the one he’d brought with him was full of holes) tighter down on his head and looked up at the sky before becoming distracted by the wild locks of dark hair blowing among the branches of a tree. Eveleen had been tiny and terrified up in that tree, but Ember had gotten her down and she’d gotten even smaller on the ground. She had barely reached Coal’s shoulder and seemed to be made more of hair than she was of body at that point in time. She’d stammered her words, voice soft and nervous, eyes pointed down with pink tinged cheeks and chocolate smeared on the corner of her lips. It had taken time, but soon she’d been giggling and joining them in heading down to the pitch, Ember insistent that she come as well, dragging her along by a hand. Over the years, Eveleen had grown a bit taller but mostly outwards, curving into the gorgeous woman that stood in front of him now, asking him to work with her towards their future. Because she simply couldn’t do it alone and neither could he.

Coal closed his eyes as Eveleen’s fingers found his cheeks. He sighed into her touch, glad she wasn’t too angry with him any longer. He reached out his own hands, much larger than hers and opened his eyes. Coal’s hands found Eveleen’s face, holding it as gently as he would have a ball of delicate blown glass, meeting her gaze with a kind of tenderness only she seemed to be able to draw out of him. “I don’t blame you for being angry, Eveleen. I’m sorry I didn’t listen better before, beautiful. I just… I’m scared too. It’ll be all right though, as long as we have each other, yeah? I promise, Eveleen, that you’re never going to have to live with Mary again. Even if we end up in a little hole in the wall. I’m going to do everything I can to take care of you. You’ve done enough of looking after me, it’s my turn, okay? No more getting into trouble, and I’ll make sure I have some kind of job lined up before we graduate. There’s a lot of intern stuff at the Ministry and some shops in Diagon Alley that need clerks. We can… we can stay in the Leaky Cauldron a bit if we have to. I have enough saved for that. We can do this.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

Coal didn’t wait to see what Eveleen’s reaction was as he bailed from the Great Hall. He didn’t even bother grabbing some toast or something to put in his stomach before the day began, his insides all tangled up with nerves. He knew that it wouldn’t be a good idea to try and talk to her in front of other people, so this was his best bet to get a moment alone with her, if she’d allow it. The note he had left was simple enough, though he hadn’t realized the bit of red on his hand from where he had smudged the heart he’d placed before his name. Coal needed to talk to her though, to have her understand how much he wanted to keep his promise to her. Eveleen… she was his everything. He had always loved her as a best mate, her and Ember, they gave him something to look forward to at the end of every summer, but Eveleen had become so much more to him than just a mate this year. Strong, reliable, smart, loyal, and caring. Eveleen filled in the gaps that had been left in Coal’s heart from the lack of love and affection he had grown up with, oozing into the nooks and crannies like melted chocolate before hardening in place, making him whole in a way he had never experienced before. She had taken every ounce of him and loved him in his entirety. How could he have been so stupid as to ruin something like that? It was as if he’d lost his mind or something.

The Hufflepuff knew he had become too complacent in Eveleen’s ability to get him out of trouble. He knew he should have never had relied on her for such a thing so much, to put her in a bad position of having to lie or wheedle him out of punishments so that he could keep smoking his beloved pot whenever he wanted. But no more, Coal promised himself. He’d do his best to go off it, at least until they graduated and he had a proper job lined up as well as a place for them to call home. He would do his damndest to create a life that Eveleen deserved, to revere her properly, provide for her as much as he could. Even if they ended up in a little hole in the wall of a place and he had to work every dead end job under the sun, Coal would do it if it meant putting a smile on his beautiful girl’s face. But first, he had to figure out if she even still wanted him after their awful fight. He shouldn’t have yelled at her, ugh…

Coal’s leg bounced uncontrollably beneath the desk all morning and then, when lunch came in the form of sandwiches and pumpkin juice, he barely got a few bites down. It tasted like rubber cement in his mouth to be honest and he gave up, trying to focus on his schoolwork while his eyes kept lingering on the clock at the front of the room. Was it just him or was time ticking extra slowly today? Would Eveleen come for him, or would she refuse, think he wasn’t worth it? Coal wouldn’t blame her. He hadn’t exactly been the best boyfriend lately. He got maybe one and a half work sheets done by the time to bell was ringing to signal the end of the second to last period of the day. Coal’s hands gripped tightly to the far edges of the desk, his arms stretched over it, head set down in order to try and maybe sleep through the remaining time. The next bell went off, and Coal’s leg began to bounce harder again, boots tapping against the stone floor as he lifted his head. His eyes flickered from the clock to the door, heart racing as he wondered if she was coming.

The door creaked open, one chocolaty brown eye peeking in followed by a head of while dark curls. Coal’s breath caught in his throat as he listened to Eveleen ask for him. The professor agreed, as was expected, and Coal rapidly shoved his things into his bag, not caring if his papers crumpled or quills broke in his haste. He slung it over his shoulder and headed for the door, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his robes in the process. He averted his eyes to the floor as he reached Eveleen, leaving the classroom and coming to a stop as the door clicked shut behind him. The redhead opened his mouth, but Eveleen beat him to it, stating simply that this was too public. Coal nodded, though he wasn’t sure she would see. Her head was bowed, gazing downwards as she tended to when she was nervous. God, she couldn’t even look at him, could she? Was she that angry with him? Shit… what if she was going to break up with him? Was this it?

Coal could barely keep himself contained as they walked, his pace slow in order to match Eveleen’s shorter stride. He wanted to reach out, to stroke her hair down the back of her head but she had yelled at him the last time he’d done that. He was desperate to wrap his arms around her, to hold her close, kiss her face and apologize for being such an ass, to beg her to take him back even though she technically hadn’t broken things off between them yet. Coal released a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding when they finally reached the alcove that Eveleen seemed to have determined was private enough. It was chilly outside but not too bad, the weather having heated up a good deal since spring had begun. Eveleen would probably be cold though, knowing her. Should he give her his robes?

The Hufflepuff gazed down at the brunette, finally finding her face. Her cheeks were red, her eyes averted as she looked down at her shoes. She was uncomfortable, his Eveleen, that much was easy to tell by the way she was wrapping her hands round each other and scuffing at the ground. Her sneakers were worn out, but still in good enough condition to be worn, but she would probably need a new pair this summer, the rubber beginning to peel around the edges. Coal took a deep breath, closing his eyes and trying to find the words he had been working on over the past couple of days. What did one say in a situation like this? He had tried to think of so many thing. Excuses, apologies, anything and everything under the sun to get her to forgive him, but Coal didn’t know if any of them would be good enough. Not for his Eveleen.

“I’m sorry.” Coal whispered at last, his voice breaking slightly under the duress of the stress associated with their current situation. “I’m sorry I was a shithead and put you in a bad position. I’m sorry I yelled at you and got mad over something stupid. I’m sorry I haven’t… hadn’t been working hard enough on what to do after we get off school. I… I’ve been looking at jobs and stuff, just… You deserve better, Eveleen. You… You’re just so… Everything about you is perfect and I can’t even… I love you. I love you so much and I can’t bear to be away from you for another minute but if… if you don’t want me anymore, I’ll understand. I know I hurt you, I should’ve worked harder to be good enough but I just… I’m just me, Eveleen. I know I’ll never deserve you properly but, if you’ll just… give me one more chance, I promise I’ll try to do better.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

Coal was exhausted. He had spent hours of his time either doing schoolwork, or more likely, perusing the ads in the Daily Prophet. He borrowed one each day from one of his dorm mates, searching for anything new that he hadn’t seen before, locating jobs he thought he might be okay at, usually simple things that one could do right out of school without any kind of prior experience and his current grades. Cage cleaner at the magical post office in Diagon alley, clerk positions in different shops, entry level jobs at the ministry that looked mostly to be janitorial or basic paperwork stuff, and plenty of similar things elsewhere. Coal didn’t know what he wanted to do with himself, but he had plenty of options to get started on making money to put in the bank, to help look after Eveleen, if she still wanted him after their fight. The boy’s mind was full of turmoil, trying to get around the fact that his girl had been so incredibly pissed at him… and then he’d gone and yelled right back at her in his own stress. He was so worried about the future that he hadn’t been able to think about it, and now that she had shoved it into his face, it was all he could focus on now. He pressed through the want ads with a new kind of fervor, a determination to prove to Eveleen that he could do this, that he would be able to keep his promise. Hopefully.

The Hufflepuff most definitely did not want to have to try and figure out where to go after school ended. Of course, there was always the option of moving in with Meghan and Ember, but what good would that do him? He needed to be able to stand on his own two feet, to be a man worthy of the woman he had fallen in love with. Eveleen already had plans for after school, the wizarding library was a good choice for her and he had no doubt that she would be accepted into such a position. She was incredible, his girl. Could he even still call her that? Coal closed his eyes, breathing deeply in the darkness of his dorm. It had been a few days since their fight now and while he had seen Eveleen in classes, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to talk to her. Not until he knew what he wanted to say, to get it right so that she would, perhaps, forgive him and they could move forward in their relationship. All he could see when he closed his eyes though, was Eveleen’s face, tears streaking down her red cheeks as she told him off and then, the shock when he’d rebutted. Seeing her around school was hard as well, especially with the way she carried herself. He shoulders were slumping, her eyes heavy and she looked pale and unkempt in a way that Coal wasn’t used to. Her hair, so wild, had always been kind of messy, but to the trained eye, it was in a state of disarray that he hadn’t seen before. Eveleen was suffering… His poor girl. Was she just as upset as he was? Enough to avoid the shower? Coal had also been skipping meals, unable to eat without everything feeling like mud in his mouth. He didn’t even partake in his favorite hobby of lighting up his pipe, his stash kept safely tucked away in its tin.

It took a while, but Coal made up his mind after three hard, long, pain wrenching days. He couldn’t stand not talking to Eveleen, to figure out where they stood with one another. He knew where he wanted to be with her, to continue on as her boyfriend and to love her, to hold her and press his fingers through those untidy locks of hair until he had given them some semblance of repair. He wanted to press his face down into Eveleen’s neck, to kiss at those soft cheeks of hers, her lips, her hands, anywhere and everywhere that she would allow him to do so. As the sun began to rise, the wee golden light pressing in through the high set windows of Hufflepuff, Coal started to gather his things. He collected his Daily Prophet pages with all of the jobs he had circled and then, the apartment ads. These too, Coal had been looking at. Of course, there would be other options than just magical ones, but this was a start, places with a decent enough rent range that they would be able to handle. It was a lot of studios and one bedrooms, but that didn’t matter to Coal. He would have gladly lived in a shoebox if it meant he got to share it with Eveleen.

After he had gathered up all of his research, Coal neatly folded it together and wrote in an empty space, large fingers smudging the ink a bit. He knew he wouldn’t be allowed to linger anywhere with his current in-school suspension. It was very strict. He had to be in his dorm between six pm and seven am, he could go to breakfast and dinner, but lunch was sandwiches in the detention room where he and his fellow potheads had been placed to do their schoolwork during the day. If he needed the library, he had to get permission and go check out the books he needed before bringing them back to the detention room all under supervision. It was rough, but it was better than being expelled which Coal had Eveleen to thank for. She had really stuck her neck out for him this time and he doubted he’d ever be able to repay her for it. He’d need to talk to her alone though, and in order to do that, he had to ask for one more favor.

Coal waited until he was certain Eveleen would be in the Great Hall for breakfast. She kept a reliable schedule that wasn’t about to break because if it did, it meant she couldn’t make sure Ember was eating as well. Coal got dressed, grabbed his bag and newspaper bits. He paused for a moment and then reached for his bedside table, tugging it open and digging inside for his tin and pipe. He pulled them out, staring down at the items with a heavy heart. He was doing this for Eveleen… With a sigh, Coal pressed both into a small leather pouch he had made ages ago and headed upstairs. The Great Hall was a clatter of the usual toned down noise that came with breakfast. No one was too wild or awake before classes began, making it easier to slip in and out if needed. The redhead looked over the tables, easily located his girls sitting side by side at Ravenclaw. Ember was leaned into Eveleen, a ring of pineapple hanging out of her mouth as she slowly chewed away at it and Eveleen had a bowl in front of her. Oatmeal, most likely. It was one of her favorite things to eat for breakfast, full and hearty and one could add so many lovely things to it. It also warmed her up from the inside. Coal felt his heart ache at this thought, remembering how, just last week, Eveleen had been smiling at him as he’d passed her the strawberries.

Steeling himself, Coal strode across the room and carefully tossed the paper onto the table in front of Eveleen along with the pouch containing the last of his precious weed. He couldn’t face her just yet, he needed to get his resolve about him and he didn’t want to do this in front of half the school anyway. He booked it quickly as he watched her head shoot up, only pausing a moment to reach over the head of another student to grab a slice of buttered toast before he was leaving the room. Coal released a heavy breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and made his way upstairs to the detention room. He’d have to wait until nearly the end of the day but… well, there wasn’t much else he could do. He just hoped Eveleen wasn’t still so angry with him that she’d refuse to speak to him.

Ember sat up, looking down at the newspaper ads curiously, her eyes moving to find the back of her brother’s head as he made a quick get away with his long legs. She was tempted to go after him, but she wouldn’t know what to say. She was pissed at him for hurting Eveleen, but he was also one of her best mates. She didn’t know how to tread the rocky waters that had come up and thus, had, for now, taken Eveleen’s side on the matter without threatening to beat the shit out of Coal to his face. Her eyes scanned over the want ads and the apartment listings, blue orbs moving to the top of the first page where familiar sloped hand writing had been partially smudged but was still legible.

We need to talk. Get me out last period?

There was a strange red smudge after that and then Coal’s name, scribbled as it always was with the ‘o’ looping just as large as the c before falling into a much smaller ‘a’ and regular sized ‘l’.

Ember stared at the page and then moved a finger, pointing at the note to make sure Eveleen had seen it. Her Ravenclaw had a free period during the last class period today and no one would question why the Head Girl would be asking for a student from the detention classroom, something Coal knew all too well. “D’you want me to come with you, ‘leen?”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

“Aye. M’fine.” Ember nodded as she bit into her apple, eyes finding Eveleen’s, the worry obvious on her best mate’s face. She sighed and looked down, chewing away at her favorite fruit as she handled the rest of it in her hands, moving it restlessly from one to the other and not seeming to care about the sticky juice. Seeing Anne was always difficult, being near her, smelling her… it sent a strange stir of pain through her chest, an empty hole that she wasn’t entirely sure what to do with. But Ember didn’t cry, nor did she know exactly how to deal with the emotion of loss in this particularly case. She was slightly numb to the world, medicated with a potion that was supposed to help stabilize her moods enough so that she wouldn’t have another break down that resulted in a hospital visit. So far it was working, making dealing with things easier, but at the same time… toning down her feelings so that she didn’t experience them so strongly. It was strange, being so tamped down, but the special healer she spoke to every other day said that that would pass once her body got used to the potion in the long run. Then it would help her regulate better, the numbness would end and she’d feel better for it. Ember wasn’t so sure, but she didn’t mention this as Eveleen joined her on the bed. Instead, the redhead closed her eyes, relishing her best friend’s touch and the weight of her arms around her. She melted into the Ravenclaw, allowing herself to be held in a way that, only months ago, she wouldn’t have even thought of allowing.

“Sorry, it’s this potion.” Ember admitted, looking down at her apple even as she let herself sink deeper into Eveleen’s touch. Her eyes closed and she focused on the affection, breathing in the familiarity of Eveleen. Chocolate, books, and that perfume she liked. It was soothing in a way nothing else seemed to be lately and Ember drank her Ravenclaw’s touch in like she was parched for it. She hadn’t had much of an appetite either, sticking to simple things that kept her going without making her feel ill. Another side affect. Eveleen was right though, she needed to eat more. Sticking to just apples would be a sure fire way of landing herself back in the hospital or having Madame Weasley yell at her for not taking better care of herself. She also needed to keep her body healthy enough that she’d be strong for when Gryffindor played their next game. Food was essential for that. Protein for her muscles, vegetables for her vitamins, and apples for her soul. “I’ll do better, I promise.”

The Gryffindor set her apple down in her lap, accepting the bowl of peas and carrots, staring down at it apprehensively. She took up the fork though and shoveled some into her mouth for Eveleen’s benefit, chewing away with a sigh. It wasn’t bad, even if the peas felt a bit pasty in her mouth. They were a little overcooked, at least, for Ember. She preferred them raw but swallowed and took another bite anyway. The carrots were delicious and after a few more bites, Ember leaned over to dig into the basket, tugging out a slice of rare steak and biting into it without bothering with a fork or the fact that the bloody juices dripped a bit on her front. The wolf inside of her sighed with contentment. With a smile full of half chewed peas and meat, Ember looked at Eveleen. “Beh’er?”

Ember continued to nom away at the steak for a few minutes before she was setting it down in her bowl and wiping her hands clean on the sides of her hoodie. “Max is tired, but he’s very happy. You’d think Freya hung the stars as far as he’s concerned. She wears him out though. I swear, they have more sex than anyone I’ve ever met, including-”

The redhead froze, her mind trying to press images of blonde hair, rosebud nipples, and the tantalizing scent of feminine arousal out of her mind. She didn’t needed to be thinking about Anne right now. Eveleen needed her, she needed affection and reassurance, comforting. It was her turn to be taken care of. She reached out, taking the picked at roll out of Eveleen’s hands. “You know ‘leen, the cake isn’t gonna eat itself. You don’t have to eat dinner, but at least have some cake. Chocolate always helps.”

Leaning over her best mate, Ember tugged the cake off the bedside table and set it down between them. She picked up her fork and stabbed at the chocolate delicacy, popping the bite into her mouth. She made a show of groaning and chewing before scooping up another bite and offering it to her best mate. “It’s wonderful. Have some.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

“I don’t need pants.” Ember shook her head, having no interest in putting on the jeans she had discarded earlier. She had no problem with the idea of wandering through the castle wearing nothing but a t-shirt and some panties, which, to be honest, she only had on so as not to let her bare butt rest upon Eveleen’s bed. Rules were rules after all, no matter how many times the Gryffindor had tried to break this particular one. She hated underwear, the way it rode up her ass or pinched at her sides if it pulled up too high by accidents, and ugh, how was her body supposed to breathe if she was so tightly contained?! She much preferred to go without as often as possible, only putting them on for snuggling in Eveleen’s bed and when her monthly friend came to visit. She watched as Eveleen’s skirt hit the floor, tilting her head to one side and kicking it out of the way, towards the ever growing mess the dorm was beginning to take on. It really needed to be tidied up, but perhaps another day. Right now, there were other things that needed to be taken care of.

The redhead frowned as Eveleen told her to leave Coal alone. Ember didn’t particularly fancy the idea of getting into a fight with her brother, but what else was she supposed to do? Not defend Eveleen’s honor? Such a thing was unthinkable. Ember stared at Eveleen, not wanting to worry her further than she already was, her resolve to go give Coal a piece of her mind faltering. She didn’t want to upset Eveleen, or make the current rift between her two best mates even larger, so with a sigh, the Gryffind0r nodded, setting her broom off to one side against the wall.

“Alright, I promise. For now.” Ember agreed, though she didn’t know how long she’d be able to keep her word. She was quite miffed at Coal right now, with how he had treated Eveleen and made her cry like this. He should know better, but then, perhaps Eveleen was right and he just needed time to cool off. It was rare for Coal to get angry at anyone in general, despite the constant resting state of his face giving off the appearance that he would gladly kill anyone who got too close to him. Inside, he was nothing more than a giant teddy bear with a sensitive heart who needed reassurance and affection. Ember was still figuring out how to deal with the fact that he was her brother now instead of just her cousin. Of her mother keeping a secret from the both of them for so long, but they had spoken about it. Talked things out the best they could for the time being. It hadn’t changed her relationship with Coal all that much, but it had made things a bit… strained. It wasn’t that Ember didn’t love Coal, she absolutely did. He was one of her best mates and always had been, it was just… strange, learning how to see him in a different position in her life. They shared more blood than they’d previously thought, each a half of their father.

“I’ll just go get food then.” Ember bent down, searching for her discarded jeans and located them shortly. She dug them out from under the pile and tugged them on, the fabric catching slightly on the hair of her legs that she hadn’t bothered to shave off in quite some time. Ember had been doing well about that since before the spring break, but now… well, what was the point? The redhead waited until she heard Eveleen slipping into the tub before she left, shoving feet into shoes and then donning a hoodie on her way out. The castle tended to still be chilly in the spring time with all of its stone walls, but the long sleeves also helped cover up her arms that she didn’t really want the rest of the student body seeing. Her mother had taken away all of her gloves after the incident and had nearly not let Ember come back to school without the reassure of Eveleen and Madame Weasley’s resolve to keep an eye on her.

The Gryffindor made her way downstairs to the Great Hall, a basket in her hand that usually Coal would have taken with him to fill with food for the girls in the evening. She carried it in one hand, swinging it slightly as she entered the large room already full of students eating and laughing. It was a constant flow of voices and scents that the redhead had to get used to blasting against her senses, her nose and ears stronger than they had been last year. She glanced around, eyes taking in her surroundings as she began to load a plate with things she knew Eveleen might want a taste of. Rolls, meat, fruits, vegetables, some butter…

“You can’t just go around punching everyone who pisses you off.” Ember leaned past a pair of second year redheads, a Gryffindor girl who she had seen plenty of times and a rowdy, lanky Ravenclaw that Eveleen was constantly complaining about as being ‘trouble’. The girl was wrapping bandages around the boy’s fingers where his knuckles had begun to bleed, a dark haired boy around the same age behind him complaining about how ‘the asshole deserved it, Rosie, c’mon!’

“Are you quite alright, Ember?” The redhead looked behind her, finding a tiny blonde smiling up at her. Freya was glued into Max’s side at the Ravenclaw table. Ember managed a smile, giving her a nod. She rather liked Freya, she was wilder than she looked, especially from the things Ember had gathered from Max on full moons when he couldn’t really control his emotions and mind.

“Aye. You look well.”

“Oh yes. Maximus just taught me how to configure a particularly difficult set of runes. It’s quite interesting, you should see it. Right, Max? Max?” Freya prodded her boyfriend in the cheek and he sighed, eyes flickering open. He stared at her, looking incredibly tired, but pleased to see her, planting a kiss on her cheek before nestling his head back down on her shoulder. “Oh dear, I’m afraid he was up rather late again last night… My dearest, perhaps it’s time to retire for the evening?”

Ember laughed, watching as the tiny Ravenclaw attempted to hoist her taller than hell boyfriend off the bench and help him stagger towards the doors. The redhead knew well enough that Freya was the reason Max probably hadn’t gotten enough sleep, but she wasn’t about to mention that. Instead, she turned her attention back to finding food for her and Eveleen. Her eyes finally fell upon a large, decadent looking chocolate cake, the frosting swirled and decked with truffles. A real masterpiece that had only a few pieces missing from it. If Eveleen needed anything right now, it was that cake. Stepping towards it, the redhead paused, her nose hit with the all too familiar scent of roses, tea, and baby powder that had her heart aching as well as picking up in her chest. She had failed to noticed the pair of blond heads sitting right next to the cake, which, with the tray of turkey legs beside it, was no surprise to be honest.

Anne and Charles sat together, as was usual lately but Ember typically tried to zone them out when she was anywhere near them. She had been avoiding Anne like the plague ever since the break up, unable to even look at her properly without feeling like she was going to lose her mind. Now, she could see her from behind, the way her robes hung around her shoulders, contrasting greatly with the blonde locks that Ember had adored running a brush through so many times… Locks that had been, surprisingly, chopped drastically short. The redhead winced but pressed through on her resolve, making her way over carefully. Charles’s head turned first, obviously having smelled her coming, but she ignored him as she leaned over the pair, careful not to touch either of them as she reached for the cake.

“Gabh mo leithscéal.” Ember whispered, picking up the platter with the cake on it and moving backwards rapidly, wincing as her arm brushed over Anne’s shoulder. She set the basket down on the floor, keeping her eyes away from the twins as she placed the cake down on the top, knowing it would be the first thing Eveleen might deem worthy of eating, even if she didn’t feel much like it right now. With her mission accomplished, the redhead lifted the basket back up and booked it for the door, heading back upstairs to the Head’s Dorms. She pushed through Eveleen’s door, shutting it behind herself. She carried the basket over to the bed and began to unload it, her heart racing as her eyes watered. Ugh, why did the cake have to be by Anne of all people? She took a deep breath, trying to regain composure. Eveleen needed her right now, she couldn’t fail. It wouldn’t be fair.

“Dinner’s served.” The redhead announced as she shucked off her shoes and pants again, moving to sit on the bed as Eveleen peeked out of the bathroom. She gestured towards the spread she had brought and then reached down, picking up a lone apple to crunch into it. She chewed and swallowed before opening her mouth again, not wanting to get scolded for speaking with her mouth full. “You have to at least eat some cake. This knight battled the ol’ Queen of Broken Hearts to get it for ye. Also, I think Freya has finally managed to fuck Max senseless.”

*Excuse me.

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.

[coalstonefyre]

Ember stared down at Eveleen as the other girl wrapped tighter to her, burying her face against her shoulder in a way that wasn’t super typical of Eveleen in general. The Ravenclaw had always been strong, pushing through whatever came her way and making sure to take care of her friends in the process no matter what she was going through otherwise. A lot of the time Eveleen worried so much about her mates that she forgot to make time for caring for herself, but mostly emotionally. So Ember allowed her to cry, her own arms tightening considerably around the brunette as she pressed her face down against those unruly locks of dark hair. She waited, as patiently as she could, for Eveleen to tell her what was going own, letting her shirt get soaked through with tears and snot. Her arms were firm in their hold on her best mate, eyes gentle as Eveleen finally pulled enough to speak to her, to tell her what had happened. She’d had a proper fight with Coal, a real doozy of one by the sounds of things and Ember’s heart grew more and more pained for Eveleen as she explained what had gone on. Apparently, Coal was not pulling his weight the way he should have been, leaving everything, as always, up for Eveleen to figure out.

Had the pair still been ‘just mates’, this wouldn’t have bothered the redhead so much. But what the absolute hell was her brother thinking!? Promising Eveleen such a thing and then making no effort to make it happen? Didn’t he know how delicate she could be, their girl, didn’t he see how much strain she’d been under recently? Ember saw it. In the hunched shoulders, the late nights studying, the never ending pile of schoolwork and Head Girl duties. She did her best to help, but at the end of the day, Ember was in no state to be taking care of anyone either. At least, she hadn’t been lately. Her own heart had been ripped from her chest and stomped upon by a sweet little blonde who didn’t seem to understand exactly what affect she’d had on the redhead. Enough to tear her apart to the point where she wouldn’t even go back to Gryffindor tower for much other than changing clothes, and she’d been pondering simply just moving her trunk into Eveleen’s dorm instead. If she did that though, Eveleen and Coal would never get any proper alone time, and such a thing weighed on the Gryffindor’s chest. It wasn’t their fault Anne had broken up with her, it was Ember’s own. And while the redhead had been clinging desperately to the comfort her mates brought her, she did try to give them a little bit of privacy now and then. Now though, it was Eveleen’s turn to be distraught, to relinquish the strength she otherwise held inside of her, always the one holding everyone else up so much that she didn’t always realize when she was about to fall too. With Eveleen’s weakness showing, it brought Ember the ability to find more strength within herself, fighting away the depths of despair she’d been wallowing in. Eveleen needed her right now, there was no space for anything else.

“’leen.” Ember spoke gently, pulling back to press more hair away from her best mate’s now tear-sticky face. “Coal could never hate you. He’s the biggest fucking softy on the planet, he was probably just upset. And you have every right to be angry with him for not pulling his weight and keeping his promise. What he did was really fucking stupid, with the weed and all that.”

Carefully, Ember shifted herself to sit up properly, untangling from Eveleen before she swung her bare legs out of the bed. Her jaw was set as she stood up, her own anger at Coal for making her girl cry, for being an idiot and not doing what he was supposed to have been doing, was rising. Did that boy not realize how good he had it? To have been gifted with someone like Eveleen falling in love with him!? Eveleen was the absolute most wonderful person to ever exist in any lifetime as far as Ember was concerned and she would have been just an ounce of lucky if Eveleen had looked at her the way she eyeballed Coal. Not that Ember was jealous, she had long since allowed those feelings to pass through her, relinquishing her own desire for the fact that her Eveleen would never swing in that particular direction. Hell, the Ravenclaw had seemed like she was never going to go any which way until she’d finally gotten with Coal as far as Ember could see. No, it was more that she understood exactly what kind of treatment Eveleen deserved from her partner, to be revered like the goddess she was. Anything else was, simply, unacceptable.

Ember turned, striding into the bathroom and starting the water in the tub, waiting until it reached the proper temperature before she did up the plug. She returned to the side of the bed, reaching down to tug Eveleen to sit up by the hands before undoing the buttons on the cuffs of her best mate’s school shirt. She went for the tie after that, loosening it and tugging it free, up and over Eveleen’s head before going at her other buttons, working her way downwards. The redhead went for her best mate’s stockings next, crouching to pull them down and off, tossing them aside towards the growing pile of their shared clothing. “What you’re gonna do, is go take a bath. Get washed up and changed.”

Pushing back up to her feet, the Gryffindor marched across the room, pants-less and barefoot as she grabbed at her broomstick. She had left it leaned up against the wall by the window, an easy way of moving between the towers if needed, but now she headed for the door, gripping tightly to the black wood in her hand hard. If Coal didn’t end up with a bruise the size of the pain he’d placed on Eveleen, he’d be damn lucky. “I’m just gonna go pay my big brother a friendly visit. He’s down in Hufflepuff right? Those are the rules right now? Back in the dorm by, what was it, seven? I’ll bring back dinner. No studying, just take your bath and snuggle with Princess until I get back.”

Make it or Break it

“Eveleen if you keep sticking your neck out for him you are going to get stripped of your title.” The words were hushed and spoken quickly in the privacy of a stone alcove during midnight rounds. Eveleen had been assigned this week to work with Alice Tearbolt, one of the seventh year Prefects from Hufflepuff. Eveleen rather liked Alice, she was a kind, personable girl. The fact Alice had taken it upon herself to even speak to Eveleen about this instead of keeping her mouth closed as the prefects were expected to do in such instances only assured the Ravenclaw of this girl’s friendship.

“I’m sure there was some sort  of misunderstanding, Alice,” Eveleen tried to sound reasonable as she said this even though it was clear by the crease between her brows that the head girl was clearly worried. Her hands were tightly fisted in her pocket and she was avoiding looking Alice in the eyes. She was slightly embarrassed of the situation, Eveleen, but also worried. Not for her sake, but for Coal’s.

“I know he’s you beau, but I’m telling you this as a mate,” Alice placed a sympathetic  hand on Eveleen’s shoulder and found her eyes. 

Alice and Eveleen had been friends for quite some time, if it wasn’t Eveleen who was head Girl it would likely have been Alice, both had served as their respective House’s prefects since their fifth year. They had grown up having to work together and Alice’s pleasent disposition had Eveleen warming right up to her. Their working relationship had quickly become friendship. If Eveleen ever needed help with anything, Alice was her go to, even over Reginald. But Eveleen had been calling on Alice perhaps a bit too much lately, and it was becoming clear.

“I wouldn’t have had to write a report on it if Bradley wasn’t with me, but unfortunately…” Alice trailed off looking slightly guilty. Bradley was Alice’s male counterpart Prefect, someone Eveleen wasn’t as close too and knew full well had it out for Coal.

Now Coal was by no means a bad person. Eveleen had always known him as someone gentle and loyal. Coal was her rock, there to hold her hand when times were tough and even take care of her when she was sick. She loved him so very much. But just because Coal was like that with Ember and Eveleen didn’t mean he was like that with everyone else. He tended to do what he wanted, Coal, smoking weed with his mates rather openly was one of those things. At least, he was open about it now. Eveleen knew Coal had been smoking since he was about thirteen with some buddies of his. She hadn’t minded it before, they had been careful in their previous years, but now Eveleen found herself having to cover up for Coal and his mates constantly, to the point it was getting embarrassing for Eveleen. 

Coal had been lucky the prefects that found him previously were friendly with Eveleen. They would just confiscate any paraphernalia and give Coal a detention or two that Eveleen could usually get him out of. Bradley was a different story. Bradley was indifferent to Eveleen but disliked Coal and his mates on the basis he felt it made Hufflepuff look bad like they weren’t all doing their best to represent their house. If he finally caught Coal red handed he’d be taking it right to their head of house and then of course, the Headmistress. Eveleen knew Alice wouldn’t have been able to interfere without her prefect title coming under fire.

“So what exactly happened again? Wasn’t it just a spliff?” Asked eveleen hoping for the best. Alice’s face went grim in the moonlight.

“ ‘Fraid not Eveleen.” Alice said with a frown. “They had over seven grams. You know what that looks like.”

“Like they were going to sell.” Eveleen supplied, her face falling. “Coal doesn’t sell though.”

“You know the student handbook better than I do, Eveleen. There’s expectations. Him and his mates will be lucky to not be expelled.” Alice’s face became sympathetic then and her voice became even quieter. She spared one last glance to the empty hallway before she whispered to Eveleen.

“I was able to find out that McGonagal is going to call everyone involved in after second period.” Alice revealed. Eveleen’s dark eyes went wide.

“What?!” The Ravenclaw gasped quietly. “That’s practically no time.”

“But it’s something.” Alice insisted. Eveleen sighed, pressing some hair out of her face as she racked her brain for an idea. She would be risking her position just going to Coal’s defense for something like this to begin with. Being in possession of that much weed was a serious defense especially if Bradley made it seem like they were going to try and sell it. Eveleen knew she had to try something though. For Coal. And maybe… maybe only Coal. She could argue his character to McGonagal if she could get enough upstanding students. 

“Alice would you-”

“Be a character witness?” Finished Alice. She gave a dutiful nod. “Of course.”

Eveleen gave a weak smile. She was a Hufflepuff if there was ever one; just and loyal through and through.

Eveleen was able to assemble and decent enough group of individuals willing to vouch for Coal’s character. Alice of course, three other prefects from various years that were loyal to Eveleen, and even a begrudging Reginald. Eveleen felt that helped the most that morning When the Headmistress had informed Eveleen of what was happening and Eveleen came back with her argument. She, admittedly had fibbed slightly, twisting her argument to make it seem like Coal had fallen in with the wrong crowd with some careful wording. 

Coal was the only one Eveleen was able to make an argument for however. even though he had gotten in trouble just as many times as his mates for the same thing, other prefects were far less willing to make an enemy out of the head girl for writing her boyfriend up. So technically there was less marks against his conduct in his school file. Coal in the end only got a week of in school suspension and a month of detention. Jason and Phill, two of the three mates were given in school suspension, but Jeff who had had the most weed on his person out of all of them had been expelled as it was his third offense. Eveleen had done her best not to gasp aloud at this but her face had gone white when she heard it as she stood off to the side with Reginald. She hadn’t realized his punishment would be that drastic.

Coal, Jason and Phill were dismissed along with the Hufflepuff prefects, but the two heads and Jeff were kept in the office for some times after. It wasn’t till the end of the school day that Eveleen was even able to catch up with Coal in private and by that time she was so angry it was physically manifesting around her as static electricity. Her hair and the fuzz on her school sweater were standing on end as her eyes caught with Coal’s from across the corridor and she started towards him.

“We need to talk.” She told him gravely.