i’m going to shine my rusty halo [vi]

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Most adults were smart enough to avoid Diagon Alley during the month of August; the Hogwarts students had just received their shopping lists, and as a result Diagon Alley and the surrounding area was inundated with students. It was hell to try to get anywhere, but especially Flourish and Blott's or Quality Quidditch Supplies, the two favored stores of the younger children, especially. Dustin didn't need anything from either of those shops - he was among the category of adults that had enough brains to realize it was a bad idea to hang around Diagon in August - but he was still walking by in hopes of seeing someone in the streets. Someone was unspecific; there was one person in particular that Dustin wanted to see, though he doubted that she would stoop so low as to do her own shopping. The Slytherin girl he had met when he was still in school seemed a bit too upper-class for such a chore. Despite that, Diagon Alley was the best lead he had on where he could see her again, and he did want to - see her again, that was. She was more interesting than the Gryffindor girls he had met, who were all bluster and shouting and look-at-me. He liked that. Still, trying to pick her from the crowd was a fruitless task, and Dustin was preparing to give it up if he didn't get results soon.

@vi

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So far, Viovinnia's summer had consisted of many out-of-the-ordinary, frequent trips to Diagon Alley. If asked why, Vi would simply state she felt like elsewhere for a change. She didn't have to tell anyone her real reasoning behind it, which was something she kept trying to will herself to forget about. But every time she found herself in Diagon Alley trying to distract herself, she found herself looking for the Gryffindor boy.

Vi had met the blonde Gryffindor shortly before he graduated and she had found herself... oddly taken by him. She found herself wanting to know more about him, and to be around him... it was a very odd, unfamiliar thing for the young Nott. But so far, she had not seen him this summer or since the day she had left school. She had heard through the grapevine (and some prying at the hands of some third year Gryffindors,) that he was a professional Quidditch player. That had been something he didn't mention and for some reason, Vi found that appealing. So that was why he was always so hard to find. He was just much busier than she was.

The Slytherin was walking down the alley when she just happened to brush shoulders rather roughly with someone going the opposite way. Vi turned her head rather sharply to spit out some asinine insult when she immediately found her voice stuck in the middle of her throat. It was the Gryffindor boy.

@dustin

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The funny thing about looking for someone in a crowd was that everyone started to look like that person, so much so that when Dustin bumped against a girl who looked much like the Slytherin that had captured his attention so thoroughly, he assumed that it was just his mind playing tricks on him. When he paused to apologize, though, Dustin realized that it wasn’t his imagination. The girl he had run into was indeed the girl he had been searching for, and he was left in the unique position of being momentarily speechless. "Hello.” He finally managed to say after a moment of absolute mortification. “I don’t normally run into such pretty people on the street, so excuse my lack of articulation.” Dustin flashed the Slytherin a smile, hoping that his overt, albeit slightly lame, attempt at flirting would be enough to avoid a verbal thrashing.

The milling and seething of the crowd was forceful enough that Dustin was more or less shoved into the Slytherin’s personal space, though his apologetic frown conveyed his discomfort with the situation. He wasn’t claustrophobic, per say, but he didn’t like sharing his bubble with other people – that was why he had become a Seeker, and not a Chaser or Beater or something. Besides, being forced to be more or less chest-to-chest with a girl he had a crush on wasn’t much good for anyone involved. Don’t look down her shirt. Dustin reminded himself as he was left standing very, very close to the girl. He hoped his breath didn’t smell. That would stink…literally.

@vi

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Viovinnia had not been expecting to run into the exact person she had been looking for-er-trying to avoid. She was at a loss for words as she looked at him, her mouth still hanging open in slight awe. She certainly didn't want to be the first one to speak and was glad that he had taken that plunge and spoken first. It wasn't until he spoke that Viovinnia had felt much more at ease with the situation. When he finished off his words with a smile, the Slytherin narrowed her eyes at him a moment before letting her lips curl into a smirk. "Smooth," she commented, nodding at him once, in reference to his words. Vi wasn't naive, she knew when a guy was trying to flirt wth her. Usually it would result in her rebuffing them but she rather liked his attempt at the gesture.

The crowd around the two of them seemed to steadily be growing and before they knew it, it seemed like they were shoved closer together. That's kind of what they got after just standing in the middle of a busy street, after all. Viovinnia caught the apologetic look on the blonde's face but she preferred to wear a smirk. Vi normally did not like being so close to people like this, but she found being close to the blonde rather enticing. She let her head tilt ever so slight to the left as she looked slightly up at him, as he stood only a few inches taller than she did. "What did you say your name was?" She asked him. Vi hardly ever remembered names because she simply did not care to remember most of them. But she had forgotton his and that fact had bothered her for quite some time now.

@dustin

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Dustin hadn’t been expecting a response to his less-than-superb attempt at flirting, but the Slytherin girl seemed more impressed than he had expected. Considering he had expected her to spit in his face – most Slytherin girls he had tried a line on did just that – that wasn’t saying much, but still, he was proud of his attempt, especially given the circumstances. The girl didn’t seem all that bothered by their closeness. While he was uncomfortable, she just looked vaguely amused, smirking up at him. His level of discomfort lowered markedly when Dustin discovered that she hadn’t remembered his name any better than she had remembered hers. Names were not a strong suit of Dustin’s, so meeting someone equally untalented – or perhaps more blasé about the whole matter – was refreshing.

“Dustin Bainbridge is the name, Seeking is the game.” He said with a wink. That had become his de facto greeting since he had become a member of the Falcons. People recognized him on the streets without knowing exactly how, so he had perfected the one-liner to make the initial greeting less awkward. Asking for others’ names, though, never became less awkward, so Dustin just decided to bite the bullet. “And what would yours be?” The Gryffindor tried to make eye contact with the Slytherin, but it was difficult considering their height difference and proximity. After another moment of thought, he found a comment to fill any silence that might result from the name exchange. “Because, you know, bumping into pretty girls also happens to have an adverse effect on my memory.” If he hadn’t made his interest obvious enough from his first comment, hopefully the second one would assure the girl got the message.

@vi

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Usually, Vi would write off most Gryffindors she met. Many fell into that typical "lion" stereotype; too loud and too proud. She was never a fan. But this blonde Gryffindor seemed different. He had not struck her as the typical Gryffindor type... that and he wasn't particularly terrible to look at either. Perhaps that was why he had made such a lasting impression on Viovinnia. Suddenly she could hear her brother's voice in her head: "I told you so."

As he said his name, Vi immediately recognized it as one she had heard all over the castle. She couldn't believe she forgot... he was the one with the many sisters, two of which were in her year. He was by far the most interesting, though. And he wasn't just a Quidditch player but a Seeker. Impressive. She had to admit, even his little attempts at the "pick-up lines" were impressive. "Viovinnia Nott," she responded, raising her chin slightly with pride. It helped in looking him in the eyes a little more. "I must say, you've got the shameless flirting down to a 'T'." She gave him a blatant thumbs up and then tilted her head to the other side now. "But I'll admit you get away with it nicely." It was certainly working on her.

@dustin
FKDDS:FDKFDS SO CUTE THEYARE

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Nott. The name sent a chill up his spine, and Dustin wasn’t sure whether it was a good one or bad. He knew the name – someone with that surname had been accused of being a Death Eater, if he wasn’t a mistaken. His mother had warned him to stay away from those types, but Dustin couldn’t help but feel a little thrill at the idea of walking on the edge of danger. He was most certainly a Gryffindor in that respect. Besides, just because she was related to a Death Eater, maybe, didn’t mean she was a bad person. That was how Dustin justified himself in talking to her, at least, because his mother would probably be horrified with the whole situation – which, naturally, only made him want to continue talking with the girl. Viovinnia, Dustin reminded himself. He was not going to forget her name a second time.

“Who says it’s shameless?” Dustin challenged, flashing her a smile. “Maybe I’m horrified with myself, but maybe I think that getting to hear you talk just a little more is worth the shame.” At least she had understood that he was flirting, because Dustin wasn’t sure if he could be any more blatant. “I’m glad that I’m getting away with it, though, because I’m more than a little terrified of the fangs in that pretty little snake mouth.” He met Viovinnia’s eyes, unable to resist winking at her. This was fun. Playful. Much better than flirting with a Gryffindor girl, that much was certain.

@vi

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Aside from hearing Dustin's last name all over the castle because of his many sisters, Viovinnia could not recall ever hearing of the last name 'Bainbridge' before. It must not have been a last name that really socialized with the same circles as her parents did. Vi knew her parents had a very... specific taste in company. Like Marcus and Pansy Flint, for example. Or the Lestranges. Usually only socializing with people of higher social standing whom they had something to gain from... like an inheritance.

Another smirk slowly appeared on Vi's face, pleased at the blonde's answer. "You should be," she replied, meeting his eyes. She didn't miss the wink, either. He was smooth. But Vi was never so easily swayed. Well, he had gotten this far... and that was certainly farther than many other boys. "So, Dustin," she liked the way his name sounded. "As much as I like the lack of space between us, I suggest we find a bit more of a... less crowded place so I can hear some more of those lines of yours." The idea of being alone with the Seeker excited Vi more than she wanted to admit. But She rather enjoyed that fact.

@dustin

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Dustin’s advances were given another smirk, and he was beginning to think that the expression was more of an invitation than a rebuke like it was with some people. Viovinnia certainly wasn’t rejecting his advances, though he wasn’t entirely sure how to read how well she liked them. It would come in time, he supposed; learning someone’s name took him a long time, but learning what made them tick took even longer. When Viovinnia suggested that they find someplace less crowded, Dustin arched an eyebrow. “Who says that a less crowded space means more space between us?” He asked, trying to match Vi’s smirk, though his seemed less effortless. “I know plenty of places where you can hear me just fine and we can stay this close.” Well, most of those places were closets, and that didn’t seem to be Viovinnia’s style. Still, Dustin was more than willing to stay close to her. The original discomfort he had felt at invading her personal space had dissipated since she didn’t seem to mind the proximity at all.

“If you insist upon moving, though…” He said, snagging her hand so they wouldn’t get separated as he pulled them both through the labyrinth of the streets. Dustin was surprised to find that her hands weren’t cold and clammy, like he had expected. They weren’t warm, either, just…cool. Not quite soft, but not quite rough. He liked them. Dustin was so distracted by Viovinnia’s hand that he almost missed the alleyway he had been looking for. It was barely more than a crack in the wall, so people tended to ignore it, and its narrowness allowed for the closeness he had come to crave. As a bonus, it also wasn’t a closet. “So, what part of you do you want me to praise next? Your hair, your eyes, your brain? I take suggestions.” He didn’t want to let the move break up the flow of their conversation, so Dustin started right back up as if they had never taken a single step. The only problem was that he had forgotten to drop her hand. Accidentally, of course. Totally accidentally. 

@vi

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Vi raised an eyebrow at Dustin. She rather liked the way he thought. In fact, there were several things she rather liked about him. Aside from his not-so-stereotypical Gryffindor-ness, she found herself wanting to run her hand through his shaggy blonde hair to see if it was as soft as it looked. She let a humorous huff from her nostrils. "That sounds perfect," she replied, raised her eyebrows once, fully interested in what those places were.

Viovinnia had not been expecting, at all, for the Seeker to snag her hand and begin leading her through the crowded streets. If it had been anyone else, Vi would have snatched her hand away as quickly as they would have grabbed it, but she found herself rather fond of the way his hand felt. As she held on through the crowd, she could feel a few small callouses presumably from Quidditch and his broom. It was a minor detail that, normally, Viovinnia would not even bother to note on a person. The Seeker had pulled them off into some small alley suddenly and Vi looked around, raising another eyebrow. "Nice choice in real estate," she commented with humor in her voice.

It took a moment for Vi to realize that she still held onto Dustin's hand. She looked down at their hands held together and then up at him. "How about my hand? You seem rather fond of that," she smirked playfully. In all honesty, Vi actually found herself wanting to know more about him. So, instead of loosening her grip or allowing room for Dustin to let go of her hand, she tightened her grip ever so slightly as she gently swayed her hand back and forth with his, mindlessly. "So, are you a professional then, Dustin? A Quidditch player?" She held her same smirk as she looked at him. Vi really did enjoy saying his name now that she remembered it.

@dustin
Seriously I can't with them omg

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Dustin quirked the corner of his lips up in a half-smile when Viovinnia commented on his choice of the alley. “Well, it has everything I promised, doesn’t it?” He said leaning back against the brick casually, extending his elbow so he could still hold onto Viovinnia’s hand. He had the decency to look the slightest bit chastised when Vi made a jab at his continuing to hold onto her hand, but didn’t let go. Considering she tightened her grip instead of loosening it, Dustin figured he had made the correct choice in that department. “You seem to be rather fond of mine, too.” He teased, unable to help poking fun at the fact that for all her cool and collected exterior, the Slytherin was holding his hand like they were just dumb kids trying to act like they were adults in love.

“I do.” Dustin confirmed, taking his eyes off of their joined hands for a moment to look Viovinnia – he really needed a nickname for her, that was quite a mouthful – in the eyes. “This will be my second year as the Falmouth Falcon’s Seeker. I’m in line for the captaincy position next year.” It was an unofficial hierarchy, of course, but Dustin had more than proved that he was an able player and a leader that would have some backbone, more than could be said of some of his teammates. He liked having friends, sure, but Dustin wasn’t afraid of stepping on a few toes, as long as it was semi-accidental. It was kind of how he didn’t mind his proximity to the Slytherin girl, because he could pretend it, too, was accidental. “What about you? What do you live for?” He was interested in seeing what made a girl like this tic. Probably nothing frivolous. Viovinnia had gravity to her that Dustin had never felt before, and it wasn’t just because she was Slytherin. It was because she was herself.

@vi

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Viovinnia's right side of her mouth twitched into another smirk as she raised an eyebrow at Dustin. "That it is," she replied. It was a nice little alley... perfect for any snogging that may take place and Vi couldn't help but think of the possibility as she looked at Dustin, who returned the comment of her being quite fond of his hands as well. She shrugged nonchalantly. "Your hand's alright," she said, her thumb gently rubbing against his own, absent mindedly.

Vi raised her eyebrows at the next piece of information Dustin gave him. "Ooh, captain, huh?" She repeated, an amused look on her face. "That's impressive. You must be very good then." Vi had never taken an immediate liking to Quidditch. It was never a huge deal in her house, aside from her brother having a natural talent for it. Honestly, Vi never even bothered to go to any of the games during her short time at the school. Though, she found herself wanting to see this blond in action. At his question, Vi found herself momentarily stuck. She had never before been asked such a question so she wasn't sure how to answer. What did she live for?

After a moment of silently swinging she and Dustin's hands together, she found an answer. "I'm a fighter," she finally stated, simply.

@dustin

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Dustin made a face when Viovinnia said that his hand was alright. "No better?" He asked with an arched eyebrow. As a rule, girls didn't hold hands of guys they thought were just alright if they didn't want to. Dustin certainly wasn't forcing the Slytherin to keep hold. If nothing else, it would at least coax her into giving a compliment. Dustin had always wanted to be complimented by a Slytherin, not that he would tell anybody that. It was a part of a secret bucket list that he had started the day he had met Viovinnia. Kissing a Slytherin was also on that list, but again, he would deny everything if asked.

"Seekers have an interesting dynamic with the rest of a Quidditch team." Dustin replied, suddenly entranced with Viovinnia's thumb moving across his. He began drawing circles on the back of her hand with his own thumb while continuing to speak. "Since we don't really have to cooperate with anyone else in the game, it puts us in a better position to see the team as a whole. Emotional distancing can make great leaders, or it can make horrible ones." The jury was still out as to which kind Dustin would be.

Apparently stumping a Slytherin was also on his bucket list, because Dustin felt an odd thrill when Viovinnia didn't answer his question immediately. "Well, I'm a lover, so this might not work out." He teased, wondering if she would understand the joke.

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Viovinnia saw the look on Dustin's face and she just looked at him and gave him a mischievous smirk. It was odd to her how Dustin seemed to be on quite the same wavelength as she was; it was very odd. But the more she thought about it, the more she thought about how her brother said she would understand his infatuation with the Shacklebolt girl when she 'would find someone who meets her gaze with their own, and understand everyword.' She hadn't been expecting it, but she was feeling that with Dustin. At least, so far.

Viovinnia listened to what Dustin said about Seekers, really just liking the sound of his voice when he began to talk about something he was obviously passionate about. It held a small smirk on her face as she tilted her head to listen to him, only barely aware of the circles he was tracing on the back of her hand. It had just happened, their hand holding. Vi hadn't thought much of it and she certainly didn't want to let go now; she liked it quite too much. But she wouldn't tell him that. "Where do you think you stand?" She raised an eyebrow at him, in reference to what type of leader he believed he would be. Vi, herself, was quite interested.

The Slytherin quite enjoyed the Seeker's sense of humor, as odd as it was. She narrowed her eyes at him but still kept that same little smirk. "No, I suppose it won't," she said, still rubbing his thumb softly with her own. "But I've never really been one to really fall into those... stereotypes, if you know what I mean." Lover, fighter; Vi was more than willing to give whatever this was... a shot.

@dustin

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Dustin had finally ascertained that Viovinnia’s default facial expression was smirking. He actually kind of liked her that way; a smirk was powerful, more powerful than a simpering smile. He hated when girls simpered and giggled and tried to get a boy’s attention by being a ditz. That seemed to be the Gryffindor preference, and surprisingly enough, the Ravenclaw one, too. At least the girls that had flirted with him had been that way. Then again, being a Quidditch star wasn’t exactly a good way to attract the normal girls. Only ditzs really wanted to be some star athlete’s arm candy, didn’t they? Well, that made a lot more sense. Somehow Dustin didn’t think that the Slytherin girl would be content with being his arm candy.

“I’m not sure yet.” He replied to Viovinnia’s question. Honesty was the best policy, right? “Besides, would you believe me if I said I was a great leader? I’m not above exaggerating to impress somebody.” Dustin had already laid it on pretty thick with the whole ‘pretty girl’ thing, so he decided to pull back and simply say that he would overstate his talents to impress any person (though it was true he tended to do it especially much with the opposite sex).

Dustin nodded when the Slytherin said that she didn’t like to fall back on stereotypes. He tried to be the same way, though he was only marginally successful. Still, stereotypes could kill a relationship like theirs so easily. Gryffindors and Slytherins didn’t belong together – that was what they had always been told, right? That didn’t explain why this Slytherin made everything feel so easy, though. “I understand.” Dustin said with a nod. “Too often we let ourselves see only who we think people should be, and ignore who they actually are.”