Isn't This Exactly Where You'd Like Me [Dominic]

[Deleted]

She was back to her N.E.W.Ts studying once again, walking out of the Great Hall with her face planted in a book. This time she'd opted to study for Potions. She was secure in the subject enough to know she would pass it no problem but it didn't hurt to look over it again. She'd scheduled her day out so that she could plan her study time and it was still early, breakfast still going on in the Great Hall, so she would be able to get to the library and grab one of the more coveted and quiet areas to herself. With quite a bit to get done in such a short amount of time, she wanted the space to herself so she could focus and get through it with efficiency.

She was heading to the moving staircases now, hoping it wouldn't take her too long to catch the set that would take her to fourth floor. She flipped a page in her textbook and looked up just as she knew she was reaching the staircases before her heart jumped into her throat. This felt like deja vu. Nevermind that though, when had he returned to Hogwarts? Not that she had followed his tale but she had heard he'd left the school. Was it actually him or was it just someone who looked like him? That didn't matter either. She swallowed her heart and kept walking in hopes that the guy she assumed who only looked like Dominic Dippet walked by her.

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

Dominic had just left a class as well and saw Liona up ahead. He hadn't seen her since he got back. He felt that familiar surge of exhilaration run through him. The exhilaration that came with knowing he was going to mess with someone. He knew the best way to mess with Liona, too. He had always had an affect on her that he didn't have on many people. It was always entertaining, to say the very least.

He pretended not to notice her as he walked right by her on to the closest staircase, the one he assumed she was going to step onto as well. Once it started moving, he turned around. He pretended to be surprised at the sight of her, and then chuckled, ”we've got to stop meeting like this, Liona,” he said in a soft voice. He took a step up toward her, but he was still two steps down. ”Been a while,” he added.

@lionaanna

[Deleted]

Liona held her breath as the gentleman walked past her because the resemblance was rather uncanny. He boarded the stairs and she did too, placing her hand upon the railing. It wasn't him and she felt a little bit of relief pour through her, looking back into her Potions book just as the staircase began to move towards its destination. And then she heard it. The resonance of his voice surrounded it and she sucked in a sharp bit of air through her teeth, pushing her face down a bit further into the book so he wouldn't see. She could have sworn he was part Veela. Or maybe he was just personally poisonous. She looked up just as he commented that it had been a while and she realized that she had been in this position with him before. This time there was no nervous grasping of her earring. "Hello Dominic. It has been, yes. I heard you had left," her voice was steady as she spoke, also different from before. She'd never referred to him by his last name with an honorific attached to it. For reasons she didn't really understand herself. She noticed then that he was a bit closer than he'd been before. She didn't flinch, but pulse decided it was okay to act a little funny.

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

Lionas face went deeper into her book for a moment and he waited. She lowered it to speak, her tone surprisingly steady. He shrugged, and took one more step up, placing his hand on the railing too. "My skills were required elsewhere for a time," she didn't have to know those skills had to do with supporting his brother back home. "Fortunately the situation was handled well and I'm back now," the situation was indeed handled well on Alex's end, but not really on his own. Dominic had almost lost it at the sight of his brother in the hospital and hearing the diagnosis. He wasn't actually as strong as he pretended to be where his brother was involved.

"Been lonely around here the past few months?" he guessed, taking that last step so he was right below her now.

@lionaanna

[Deleted]

Things started to get a little bit trickier as she decided to take another step closer to her. Her eyebrows raised slightly and she covered her surprise by shaking her head so it would seem as if she was interested in what he was saying. What was it that he had said again? She had heard the words 'skills' and 'well-handled' in passing but his mentions of him being back were heard loud in clear. He had returned to Hogwarts Castle. "Well it is good that you were successful with your task," she commented and the words sounded unnecessary even to her. She said them to try and fill the spaces, the one he'd taken up as he'd stepped closer and the one she wanted to create in relation to the two of them. She had always played this game of 'Keep Away' with him. His question penetrated the fog and she immediately thought about Jamie. Jamie Greyback whom she had pursued in letters and now was actually seeing relatively regularly. She didn't know if he was referring to her specifically or if he meant it in that way but she wouldn't answer as if he did. "It's difficult to be truly lonely at Hogwarts. I'm sure you know that though."

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

He didn't respond to her words, about how it was good that his task was handled well. It was good, actually, really good. Well, the best it could be in a very, very bad situation. But there wasn't much else he could do.

To his question about loneliness, she remained vague. She mentioned that it was difficult to be truly lonely at Hogwarts, something that she assumed he knew well. He shrugged, "it's a lot easier than some people think," he countered."In fact, I was feeling rather lonely being back, so its nice to see if familiar face," he said, his voice growing soft. "I'm sure you've been keeping busy, though? You're easy to like, I'm sure you've had no trouble," he guessed. He honestly didn't know anything about her life these past few months. It was kind of annoying, actually. What had she been up to?

@lionaanna

[Deleted]

Dominic commented that it was easier than people thought to be lonely at the school and she disagreed in her head because she never felt alone so she just couldn't relate. And then her eyes softened as his voice softened because apparently he considered her a familiar face. One that he was pleased to see if the change in his voice was anything to go by. It was surprising, really, and unexpected. She didn't want to be too moved by his words though; it would be a matter of time before he wouldn't be alone. "Busy with this and that, yes. Exams coming up. Graduation coming up," she replied instead to his inquiry, still not quite answering the questions she was assuming lay under his words She also didn't comment on the 'trouble' aspect of his questioning because he was trouble and he'd found her so she didn't know if she couldn't answer it honestly without saying too much. "And you? Have you had any trouble adjusting back to school life? Have you been keeping busy?"

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

He knew just how to manipulate his voice to portray whatever emotion he wanted to. He could be an actor, if he wanted to. Not that he was even a little bit interested in that idea. She said that she was busy with 'this and that', including graduation and exams. He bristled a little. Graduation was a very touchy subject for him. Most of his friends graduating, his best friend graduating, his ex girlfriend who he still considered a friend graduating. Graduating, graduating, graduating. And what would he have left? Kinsey. Basically. Which was nothing. Nothing.

She asked about him, if he'd an any trouble adjusting back to school life, if he'd been keeping busy. He sighed, glad for an excuse to put on an act again. "Adjusting to school has been alright. I like school," that was honesty, "but as for being busy..." his eyes met hers, "I'm afraid I do my homework quickly and efficiently and then have very little to occupy my time... perhaps you could fill that space, Liona?" his voice was soft again.

@lionaanna

[Deleted]

Dominic spoke about how he was adjusting well to school again, how he actually liked school and she wasn't even a little bit surprised. He'd been put into Ravenclaw for a reason, he did well in school and knowing that he actually liked school made it more surprising that he'd been pulled out for the period of time he'd been gone. She was really curious now as to why he hadn't been pulled out. What task had been important enough to need his full attention. Her focus was torn with words he'd followed up with. She had to exhale entirely because if she'd inhaled at all, she would have coughed. This was the Dominic she remembered. The one who played too many games. She fill in his unoccupied time? He must really had been feeling lonely then, which was odd. Wasn't he close with that silly little mean girl clique? "I don't think either of us have the time for that game, Dominic." her voice was filled with a calm that she didn't quite feel, "I'm sure there are others that can, yes?" Knots. Her stomach was in knots. But she knew better. She knew that this was something that she didn't want to get involved in. And what she had with Jamie was new. Why jeopardize that over something that she knew would go nowhere?

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

She said that neither of them had the time for 'that game' and he chuckled, especially when she added that there were others who could fill his time. "I suppose but... none of them are quite right," he countered, his right eyebrow slowly raising. "Plus, you graduate soon. I don't want to miss out on the opportunity before you run off and I never see you again," he said with the safe low, slightly husky tone. It seemed, though, that Liona had something tethering her to reality. Something tethering her away from him... and now he was curious as to what that was. "Unless," he paused, leaning back a little, "you're not available for such an arrangement? Is that a valid concern?" maybe she could give him a clue, or maybe she would tell him outright... he was interested to see what she was willing to offer.

@lionaanna

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She wanted to move right past him and continue walking up the stairs because they were getting closer to the floor she wanted to be on. He didn't deny having other distractions but apparently none of them were quite right. She wasn't stupid enough to believe that she would be 'quite right'. She was just stupid enough to wish she could try to be. Apparently he thought that this was his opportunity, that he would never see her again so he would try and she wanted to say that it was a small world and that he probably would. She didn't want him to think she was hopeful though. "I think the better question is do I even want such an arrangement," she deflected so she wouldn't have to answer. She didn't want to talk about Jamie with him. "And if I did, wouldn't I have approached you about it by now? I think those are both valid questions." She wasn't trying to come off as mean, her tone was just matter-of-fact without any of the teasing she should have placed in her tone because he made her... feel off kilter. It was like he was a weight on her chest that just wouldn't let off enough so she could breathe easier. She should leave soon, maybe that would help.

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

She corrected him, not really answering his question. She said that she would have approached him by now if she wanted an arrangement with him, and he raised his eyebrow even higher. "Okay, they are. Very valid," the stairs were starting to line up with the next floor. "This your stop?" he asked, though he didn't step out of the way. She could easily go around him, sure, but it was the thought that counted. He was challenging her. Was little Liona Zabini brave enough to walk away from him, now that he had been gone for so long? Had she gotten over her little crush, or whatever the hold he had on her was? He was curious, to say the least, but mostly just incredibly amused by the entire situation.

@lionaanna

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Liona gave a firm nod as he agreed that her questions had been valid. She as just glad he was done scrutinizing her and the pressure in her chest had alleviated just a bit. The stairs was just about to reach their destination, slowing to align themselves with the foundation of the next floor, when the Ravenclaw boy asked her if this was her stop. She wanted to roll her eyes, of course it was her stop. It was the reason she'd taken the stairs because she'd known they would be going to this floor. The only reason he'd taken these stairs was to bother her. He didn't move out of her way though, which meant he was playing more games with her. He watched her closely and she didn't want to disappoint. The pressure was back though. "Yes. Would you be so kind and step aside? I wouldn't want to risk stepping on your shoes or falling," her tone was polite but she felt like she couldn't breath again. She really wanted him to move. She didn't want to get too close to him. That would be dangerous.

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here

[Deleted]

He considered not stepping aside, but he figured he had played enough of the game for today. It wouldn't be as fun if he used up all his energy on her all at once. He very, very slowly took a step aside, nodding toward the landing. "Don't trip," he said in a soft tone, not smiling but rather just watching her with intent. He was going to let her pass, but he wanted her to squirm a little as she did. He had only barely moved out of the way, so it wasn't like there was a lot of room for her to get by.

@lionaanna

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After a beat or two, he stepped aside though only just enough to give her room to squeeze by. That left her a bit disappointed and yet she felt a bit of relief. After expressing such concerns, she would have expected a gentleman to offer his hand to her and assist her by. She liked the little reminders that this Ravenclaw was not a gentleman. If he had offered him her hand she would have had to touch him and she really did want to avoid that, though he really wasn’t giving her much choice. The stairs had paused and she knew she needed to get to the top or she may find herself waiting again. "I will see you around, Dominic." she commented on an exhale before she moved. She placed her hand on the banister to steady and moved as best as she could past him without making it obvious that she was attempting not to touch him.

Tag; @dominic
OOTD; Here