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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2017 9:26:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 9:26:30 GMT -7
Dominic was intensely focused on his schoolwork in the library. He was a dedicated student, and it showed in his work. Still, when he looked up from his corner when he heard the sound of someone in the stacks nearby, he smiled when he saw who it was. Diana.
Now, he and Diana hadn't really been open about their relationship. They were good friends, actually having real conversations and she was the only person that Dom would take to his brother, Alexander, about. He hadn't seen her since he got back during the carnival, at least not in a private space where they could talk. This was the perfect chance for that.
"Well, well, well. Still beautiful," he commented, giving a low chuckle and tilting his head to the side, a habit he seemed to have in common with Lily Potter and Ondina Weasley, apparently... "hey," he greeted, closing his book and standing.
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2017 13:05:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 13:05:20 GMT -7
It was rather unusual, Diana and Dominic's friendship. They got along, quite well in fact. But at the same time neither of them were much interested in showcasing their strong friendship to anyone but each other. It was... Nice. For Diana it made her feel like it was hers, something she could have without her brother or multiple sisters getting involved or trying to take. She wouldn't accuse them of trying, though. Because honestly? Diana knew better. She knew that the act he put on with Cara was only that; and act. And as long as he didn't bring up his terrorizing Kinsey she could pretend that didn't exist. It would actually probably surprise all of her siblings if they ever found out just how close she and Dominic really were.
She'd heard about his return to school but thus far hadn't had a chance to see him. Well... see him in the appropriate setting. That and she'd been.... Busy. With what though she'd never share. Couldn't actually, not that she would even if that were the case. She had to keep her secrets. Hers... And other peoples.
Today she'd been in the library, a place she knew she could work without being disturbed by her sisters or any one else. She was down one of the dustier aisles, one that few frequented. It's contents were old, archaic, and generally uninteresting to anyone that didn't understand their full potential. But Diana? She knew. She'd studied many of the books in this aisle since third year. She understood it's contents. Understood it's potential. Today was more of a leasure researching session. Brushing up on a few things she hadn't spent much time on before now. When.. She heard a familiar voice. She stopped her browsing, her hands dropping from the book spins in front of her and she turned to the owner. "Dominic." She greeted casually with a small smile. Stepping away from the book shelve to approached the table he'd been working at. "Only back a few days and already hard at work? I'm impressed." Oh, Dominic was a stereotypical Ravenclaw in that regard. He had a few months worth of classwork to catch up on, of course he'd already be busy.
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2017 13:19:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 13:19:46 GMT -7
She stopped, her hand dropping as she turned to him and he smiled leisurely at her. The only difference in his smile was, that it was genuine. Very, very, very few people got to see that smile. She approached him as he stood, and for a moment, he almost moved toward her. They weren't necessarily 'hugging' friends, though. He had zero of those. Well, aside from goofing around with Ondina and some of the other hexens. But now that he and Raven weren't exactly involved anymore... he was still hoping his snake friends would hand out with him.
But that didn't matter, right now. Diana was there, speaking about how she was impressed that he was already back to work. "Well, homeschooling can only teach so much," he said, giving a sigh. He dropped his hand onto the table and tapped the top with his middle and pointer finger. "Sorry I didn't explain why I left. You been doing okay?" he asked, his shoulders slouching his a little -- something he did to combat his height.
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2017 14:01:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 14:01:42 GMT -7
There was that smile, and Diana knew that even though he'd been gone so many months that their friendship hadn't dwindled. It was still there, as strong as always. Her own smile was still subdued but there was a warmer hue to her eyes. While Diana had never been good at... expressing her emotions her magical ability to change her appearance seemed to have no problem conveying. "I don't know, I think self teaching can be quite effecive." As she knew from personal experience. Again, Dominic didn't know just how effective she really was at it.
His leaving had been quite... unexpected and sudden. Her smile shrank just a little, but she forced herself to shrug instead of dwell on any hard feelings. She had secrets of her own, she couldn't condemn him for having his own. "It's fine. You must have had a good reason." And she wouldn't make him share it if he didn't want to. "But yeah... everythings okay. You?"
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 7, 2017 10:45:21 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2017 10:45:21 GMT -7
She said that self teaching could be effective and he nodded, giving a little shrug. He knew that too, for sure. His eyes caught that slight change in her eyes. That was one of the first things he had noticed about her, the fact that she couldn't really control what her eye colors did. "I guess. I've done my fair share," he admitted with a shrug.
She shrugged as he apologized, and he didn't notice her smile fall. He was too busy feeling bad about it, and looking down for a moment. She said it was fine, and that he must have had a good reason. Then, she said everything was okay, asking about him. "I'm... fine. Back to normal, sort of," he said with a small shrug.
"Want to sit down?" he offered, gesturing to the table before going back to his seat and settling in.
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 9, 2017 5:50:19 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 5:50:19 GMT -7
Dominic's answer earned her smile a touch. He was a Ravenclaw, after all no doubt he'd done quite well during his absences. But having actual teachers did always make it easier.
He... actually looked genuinely sorry for leaving. Diana wasn't expecting that. Dom had a strong, sometimes overwhelming personality, and she wasn't afraid to admit that he could be incredibly selfish at times. But seeing that look? Well it was that sort of thing that made it easy for Diana to consider him a friend. And.. okay maybe she was a little selfish herself and liked that most people didn't see this side of him... "Only sort of?" she repeated, an eyebrow raised. Sort of still left a lot open for interpretation. As for his offer... Diana nodded and pulled out the chair across from him and dropped her bag onto the floor before sitting down.
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 10, 2017 12:04:02 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2017 12:04:02 GMT -7
She sat down, questioning the 'sort of' part of his answer. He nodded, not saying anything for a few moments. He readjusted his books, looking down at them as he tried to decide if he had anything to add. Or rather, if he wanted to add...
"Alexander got sick," he finally admitted. "I mean... he still is but it was such a shock and so my parents brought me home. He's... surprisingly handling it well," well, it wasn't surprising for Alex. He was always the inspiration of the house, overcoming any obstacle in his way. He was, in a word, amazing. Dominic knew that, and he loved his brother for it. But so did everyone else, loved Alex more than his older brother...
"Multiple Sclerosis," he named what ailed his brother, raising an eyebrow to see if she knew of it. She was a halfblood after all, right?
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 14, 2017 12:45:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2017 12:45:32 GMT -7
Diana knew who Alexander was. Dominic's squib brother. She wasn't sure how many people Dominic actually told about Alexander, but she knew it wasn't the most common knowledge. Squibs weren't exactly common. Nor did Pureblood families like to make them publicly known. But she did know that she was one of the few Dominic had trusted enough to talk about his brother around. And not just in passing. Sometimes she felt like she knew him just through what Dominic had told her. As he explained though that Alexander was sick, sick enough to warrant bringing Dominic home, her she's slowly widened. That wasn't good. But... handling it well? Was it a condition then? If he was just sick he would have gotten better.. right?
Dominic answered that question without her needing to ask. Multiple sclerosis. Despite being half blood, so being raised with a magical parent, her father was muggle. Which mean she did have a good knowledge of the muggle world even though she strongly preferred the magical. So the naked ailment actually made her cringe, knowing just it was. "How bad is he..?" she slowly and quietly asked though it must have been severe to bring Dominic home. "Is any treatment helping?" MS was one of those ailments you couldnt cure. You could only hope to... try and slow down the progression.
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 24, 2017 7:21:33 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 7:21:33 GMT -7
Diana made it clear that she knew what he was talking about. That she knew about the disease. After moment, she asked how bad it was, and if any treatment was helping. Dominic nodded, trying for some kind of a encouraging smile, but coming up short. "It's in beginning stages," he explained. "And he's confident that he's going to still live a full life. He still plans to play baseball and everything," he said with a little shake of his head. His little brother was better than him in every way, he knew that. If Dominic had been faced with such a challenge, he probably would have just given up, stayed at home and not bothered to try and improve his life in any way. "The treatments are indeed taking well," he added. "The doctors say it is probably in part because of how much confidence Alex has and handling all of this," he found a small chuckle. "He's not going to let something as 'simple' as a degenerative disease take him down," Dominic explain, his tone a little sarcastic as he quoted his brothers words.
He didn't realize it at first but he was slowly leaning forward as he talked, until now, when his forehead made contact with the table. He kept his head there, and didn't make any attempt to get up. He knew he should be happy that Alex was doing so well but the horrible thing was that he wasn't. He was miserable. He was constantly worried, constantly jealous, and constantly aware of the fact that Alexs sickness had made him even more important in the family than he already had been for so many years. Now Alex wasn't just a squib, he was more than that. He was a warrior, with the courage of a dragon and the smile of any angel. Taking everything in stride, and even encouraging Dominic to do the same. As much as Dominic disliked to parents for the way they had treated him differently than Alex, he appreciated how much Alex actually loved him. He and his brother had an incredible relationship, better than Dominic deserve from anyone.
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 24, 2017 8:05:29 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 8:05:29 GMT -7
Diana didn't speak as Dominic explained. About how it was only the beginning stages and the treatment so far was effective. How his brother was handling it well and not wanting to let the disease stop him from living a full life. While Diana had plenty of siblings she knew Dominic only had one, so it was probably unusually difficult for Dominic. Things like that... they didn't just affect the person. They affected everyone around them. And as Dominic laid his head on the table it was clear his how much it was affecting him. Despite his not being able to see it, she slowly nodded in understanding.
There were a few ways she could approach this situation. Her normal response would be to keep to herself and stay rather serious. She was, in fact, a rather serious person to after all. Or she could reach out to her friend and see how she might help. If he needed help. It was hard to tell sometimes when people wanted comfort or a distraction. After a moment she opted for the second option. Being across from him at the table made it easy to carefully reach out and rest a hand on his shoulder as he continued to lay his head on the table. "I'm sorry." she spoke softly and quietly, hoping that it would sound as sincere as she felt. "Those sort of things... are never easy." while she didn't know what it felt like to be exactly in his shoes she had gone through Kinsey's ability development (though she hasn't told Dominic anything about it) That had caused quite a bit of turmoil in the Bainbridge family. And her own parents had had quite a scare with Diana personally last year... but that was an entirely different matter.
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 24, 2017 8:30:18 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 8:30:18 GMT -7
Dominic felt the light pressure on his shoulder, and was surprised that he didn't jerk away. If anything, he leaned into the touch a little bit. She said she was sorry, adding that she knew these things were never easy. He didn't make a sound right away, but instead just kept his forehead on the table.
He took in several deep breaths, his body expanding and deflating with each of them. Until he finally looked up at her. He rested his chin on the table instead of his forehead. He probably looked like a sad puppy, for lack of a better expression. "Thanks,"he said softly, frowning. "I think I'll just stay here for the rest of my life," he added, his voice still a little flat, but a hint of humor laced through it. His two toned eyes rested on Diana's. Her eyes were different colors sometimes because hers changed, which, in a way, reminded him of his own eyes. Maybe that was what drew him to be friends with Diana in the first place, the fact that they both had interesting eyes. He had noticed hers very early on in their friendship. And there they were, right in front of him, something to anchor to.
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 24, 2017 8:44:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 8:44:46 GMT -7
Diana didn't leave her hand on his shoulder for long, but long enough for the gesture to be understood. When he moved so his chin was on the table and he could look at her once more she pulled her hand back and folded her arms on the table. No doubt he was going through quite a lot right now, and Diana didn't know how many people he trusted enough to talk to about it. But as she was seeing in her own life, keeping things to yourself sucked. She might not be able to share what was happening with her but at least he could get the feelings out.
His comment made the corners of her lips twitch upward in amusement, her eyes warming a little more. Her natural (or at least the color she kept them normally) eye color was a deep brown but they were almost the color of honey now. "I think the librarian might have a few choice words about that." she answered, lightly teasing him back.
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 24, 2017 9:01:56 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 9:01:56 GMT -7
Her eye color honeyed and he actually almost sighed at seeing that, but he didn't. Her comment made him chuckle and he lifted his chin in order to sit up again. "They don't have to know. I can easily rotate between shelves and... On top of shelves?" he raised an eyebrow at the shelf beside them, looking up toward the top. It was a biiiiit high. He shook his head, "okay maybe I need another hiding place. Any suggestions?" his voice was back to it's gruff and grumbled nature. It always came back to that.
He knew he couldn't stay at Hogwarts forever, of course, but he was glad he at least had another year. He liked it there. Liked studying and learning things and being noticed. Especially that.
@diana
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Aug 24, 2017 9:13:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 9:13:20 GMT -7
Diana's own eyebrow rose to match his own and she turned her head to look at the same shelf as him. "I doubt on top would make a good hiding place." she answered as she turned her head back to look at him once more, that soft smile still in place. As for where might be a better place to hide... oh Diana knew a few places that would work. She used quite a few to practice and study with Professor Kamuntu. They always used out of the way rooms they wouldn't accidentally be stumbled upon. But she couldn't give up any of those locations. So instead she shrugged. "I read somewhere that during the second war several students actually lived in the room of requirements." ir was a generic answer but still true. It'd be easy to lock yourself in there without any fear of being found. "But you'd need to convince someone to bring you food, otherwise it wouldn't really work for 'the rest of your life'." she added, smiling a little wider.
@dominic
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last online Mar 28, 2024 4:52:36 GMT -7
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Sept 1, 2017 7:04:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 7:04:39 GMT -7
She agreed that the top of the shelf wouldn't make a good hiding place and he sighed. Then, she said she read that students lived in the Room of Requirements and he raised an eyebrow. He remembered reading that. The... Dumbledores Army, or whatever. She suggested he would need someone to bring him food and he smirked, leaning forward. He clasped his hands together and rested them and his elbows on the table, "are you volunteering? I mean, what kind of friend would you be if you didn't?" he suggested, chuckling a little. Her smile had grown wider, too, which was making him feel a little better.
"Or I could just ask the House elves but... they might turn me in," he suggested with a faux frown. "I guess you're my only hope, Di," he added, looking straight into her eyes with a slight pout on his face. What? She was his closest friend, who else was going to feed him? Certainly not any of her sisters. Cara would be appalled at even the thought of helping someone else out for once.
@diana
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