A-maze-ing(Peyton)

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Daniel wasn’t sure why he responded to the Blishwick flier that came in by owl. He had also stopped trying to figure out how owls continued to find him when his location was ever changing. Possibly he was lonely, sure he enjoyed being out on his own this summer but it did have it’s moments where he was bored of walking or flying and had no one to talk to. Aside from the beach party he hadn’t seen many people. Adonia once or twice, Crayla twice as well which he didn’t know how that kept happening. Even his ex was on the list of the few people he had seen since summer started. It was a depressingly short list when he thought about it but that couldn’t be helped. Most of his friends from America weren’t lucky enough to come early. They had to wait till school officially started.

Besides the first round didn’t end terribly, Vi and him just talked and that was it but still he didn’t die at the end. That could be considered a success with how school years at Hogwarts seemed to go lately. Still he was the one to sign up, he couldn’t ignore it when he was actually matched with someone. The chances of this being anything other than a nice distraction were slim and while he didn’t hold out hope for anything else. Hopefully it would be like the last round. Besides whatever this hedge maze thing was it seemed interesting enough. Daniel got ready and showed up early partly because he didn’t want to be late and also this was a palace. This whole summer was about seeing the sights of England so why not another palace too.

When it was about time Daniel stood near the entrance to the maze. It was a little weird there wasn’t anything about how to find your blind date when here. Which only made this just a little more awkward as he waited for someone to show up.

@peytonbainbridge

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After everything that had happened at the end of the school year, with the attack on the visiting school’s returning transportation, the Bainbridge clan had decided to travel on a much-needed vacation to the beach. But after that was said and done, being home was quite peaceful. So peaceful that when she got the flyer in the mail for this Blishwick blind date thing, she quickly signed up. If all her siblings, or at least, most of them had found someone that they were dating now – then so should she. Plus, if it failed, at least, she could tell her friends that she had tried. When she learned that she had been paired with someone, she was excited, especially as she read through that the date would take place at the Hampton Court Maze, she grew even more excited. At least she’d have fun if this ended horrible, and maybe she’ll even make a new friend out of the ordeal if they didn’t click.

So she quickly got ready, throwing her long mane of blonde hair into a messy bun atop her head, pairing that with her favorite yellow crochet collar dress & a pair of brown flats. She was dressed nicely, but not too nice that it didn’t look casual. Quickly she grabbed her purse so that she could carry her phone and keys to the Bainbridge’s home, before making her way out of the place and to where her date was supposed to take place. The notice had told her what time to show up and where to stand to wait for her date, so that was what she did. Or at least, she showed up at the exact time and noticed a young man standing there. Quickly she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her pale ear and went over to him somewhat awkwardly. She cleared her throat before plastering an excited smile upon her lips, “Hi—uh, this is awkward, but are you waiting for a blind date?” she questioned. She wished the paper had said the name of the person she was supposed to meet; it would make things a lot easier.

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358 words ;; @crimson1

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Daniel took the time as he waited to consider how this blind date thing could have been made simpler. He supposed putting their name would kill the point of the blind date if those two people knew each other. Still it would help if they had some way to identify who their date was. Daniel was fine with just waiting though, he wasn’t about to ask every random girl who walked by if she was waiting for a date. There was a small laugh as Daniel did think about that idea. It would probably get him kicked out if he had for harassing strangers.

Still he wasn’t waiting long till one girl began to approach. The letter did at least tell them where they should meet so it was a reasonable guess this was her while she walked this way. “Actually yes I am. Are you here to tell me my date decided to stand me up?” Daniel joked for a moment as the girl asked if he was waiting for a blind date. This would appear to be his date for certain. That or Blishwich made the terrible decision to have multiple blind dates take place at the same time and date. As far as first impressions went things seemed to be going alright. The girl seemed nice so far, she was pretty and most importantly she wasn’t one of the few people he wished it wouldn’t be. “I’m Daniel,” finally introducing himself as he extended a hand toward the girl. “So you want to try and solve this maze together or the first one to get to the center buys the other a butterbeer?”

@peytonbainbridge

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The joke that came from the brunette before her made a small smile appear on her face and a laugh leave her lips, quickly she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her head. “Hopefully that wasn’t what you want to happen because sadly, that is not the case,” she said in her joking way back to him. He had a sense of humor; she’d give him that. His name was Daniel; it went well with his face as if the name was created just for him and she smiled, taking his extended hand in hers. “Peyton,” she said with the same smile plastered on her face, his hand was warm and eloped her own. Butterflies flew through her stomach, why was she so nervous? “I’m fine with whichever, we could mix both?” she questioned with a raised eyebrow, “First one to figure it out, while together getting to know each other, buys?” she added. She was fine with whichever, but if they decided on the latter idea, they wouldn’t get to know each other as well until later.

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@crimson1

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“Oh no, I much prefer someone show up than to be stood up.” Daniel replied smiling back to the blonde in front of him. “In most cases at least. There are one or two people I’d rather have been stood up by but that’s not you.” Daniel added only slightly kidding but off the top of his head there were one or two people he would have liked to avoid. “That’s a pretty name.” He replied with a smile, this was a date after all and he should be complimentary and it wasn’t a lie either. Peyton was pretty and so was the name. Peyton explained about how they could mix both ideas of getting to know each other and getting to the center first. “That could work I suppose. It would help with not getting lost in here or at least not getting lost alone.” He highly doubted anyone would get that lost in there but still one person would be at the center for who know how long. “Better lost together than lost by ones self. Ready to go?”

@peytonbainbridge

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When Daniel said that he preferred someone showed up instead of being stood up, though adding that there were at least one or two that he wished wouldn’t show, he concluded that she was not one. She took that as a compliment and fought the warming of her cheeks away by tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Well—I’m glad I’m not one of those possibly two you wished would have stood you up,” she said in an almost kidding tone that he had given. She was glad because this would have led to awkwardness if it wasn’t, though they didn’t know each other, she doesn’t even remember him if he was at Hogwarts or still is. However, the moment he told her she had a pretty name, she could no longer hide the blush that was sparking its way up her cheeks, “Thanks,” she almost stuttered. “Daniel is a pretty nice name as well,” she said with a smile on her face. When he mentioned it was better getting lost with someone else than alone, she almost said something that would have embarrassed the crap out of her, but she refrained. “Yup, let’s go!” she said as she started heading towards the entrance, glancing over her shoulder to make sure that Daniel was following. Did she seem to eager? Was this “date” already doomed?

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@crimson1

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Daniel nodded as Peyton explained how she was glad she wasn’t one of the people he was attempting to avoid. It would have been hard for her to be one of those few people as they never met and so far he didn’t have a reason to assume she would have been anyway. Still he could only agree being glad she wasn’t also. “I couldn’t agree more, much rather be on a date with someone I like.” Daniel replied with a laugh as it would help a date succeed to say the least. Peyton started to blush and Daniel just smiled a bit more while she returned the compliment about his own name. “Thanks, I was on the fence about changing it but I guess I’ll keep it if you like it.” He was just joking after all as he never had anything against his name. As they both agreed to explore the maze together instead Peyton got excited and led the way. It was cute seeing someone being excited about a blind date. Both times he just did this out of boredom and his last blind date didn’t seem to care one way or the other. “Lead the way. I’ll keep an eye out for Minotaurs,” He joked as this was just a muggle maze after all and he even questioned if those were real to begin with for a moment.

@peytonbainbridge

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A small blush crept up Peyton’s pale cheeks, and she let out a laugh, “I couldn’t agree more. It means the date will go by much more smoothly,” she said with a grin on her face. And then she found herself laughing once more, telling her that he thought about changing it but would keep it because she liked it. He had a nice sense of humor; she liked that. Maybe signing up for this blind date wasn’t a bad idea after all. She smiled, “I would kill to see a Minotaur in a muggle maze, let me know if you see one,” she said with a small laugh as she led the way into the maze. In the beginning, it was just straight ahead, but as they grew deeper inside she could tell that there was a turn coming up and they would have to decide if they wanted to go left or right, she turned to him gently as she walked. “Left or right?” she questioned, wanting his opinion since she didn’t want to seem like a huge control freak on which way they would go.

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@crimson1

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“How smoothly did you want this date to go anyway?” Daniel replied in a friendly yet teasing tone. Not trying to be mean but he was always saying something like this just for laughs. “I’m just kidding. I prefer it going smoothly as well.” Was what he added just to make sure she was aware he wasn’t trying to be a jerk, just making a joke. It was something he tried to make clear with people that didn’t know him well, which was a lot of people since he started going to Hogwarts. “I get the feeling you’d be the first person I’d tell the moment I saw one.” Daniel explained as they were together in this maze. Of course he would say something if he actually saw one. Coming to their first turn Peyton asked which way they should go, Daniel wasn’t sure so he just guessed. “Left?” It was said more as a question but this time he began to lead the way turning left. “So did you sign up for the last blind dating thing Blishwick did?”

@peytonbainbridge

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A small blush appeared on the pale blonde’s face as Daniel asked how smoothly she wanted the date to go, and she shrugged rather embarrassed at the question. She wanted it to go extremely smoothly, but sometimes things didn’t turn out that way. She hoped it would go good enough that she made a friend out of it, maybe more if the fates were kind. “I’d prefer it to go smoothly as well,” she said with a small laugh as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It was then that he said that he had a feeling that she would be the first person he stood before picking the direction of left and began leading the way. When he asked about her signing up for the blind date last year, she shook her head, “No I didn’t. I missed the date to send it in, but I got it this time,” she said with a smile. “I’m guessing you did?”

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@crimson1

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Peyton agreed with him about this going smoothly and he just nodded. Daniel was glad she didn’t get mad or annoyed at his first comment as he was just making a joke after all. “I’ll try to make sure that it does. At least on my end.” He replied not intending to cause any problems for anyone on this blind date anyway. The maze looked pretty much the same as they walked but that was probably the point after all. It was a maze after all and they wanted people to get lost easier. "No promises on if we get lost or not in here." Daniel added with a laugh. Peyton explained how she hadn’t signed up for the last round of blind dates but asked if he had. “Yeah, the first time I thought it was just some prank going around but it turned out to be real. It went alright I guess. We just talked awkwardly in the schools courtyard.” He explained looking back toward Peyton as he was leading the way now for a moment. They soon came to another turn and he just smirked for a moment. “Okay you’re turn, which way my lady?” Daniel asked still with a small smirk as he bowed and gestured toward the next turn, just having some fun.

@peytonbainbridge

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Peyton just smiled at him, thinking about just how smoothly she’d love for the blind date to go. She’d never done one of these before; she found it quite exciting to be a part of it. But as they walked, her mind in a jumble – like always – she felt like she had been seeing the same sight for hours now. She had never done a maze before, and soon she realized there was a reason for that. It was then that Daniel made a joke about getting lost or not within the maze, saying that he made no promises on which outcome would become of it. “I rather get lost with someone else than alone, if I'm totally honest,” she said with her laugh. She was glad at this moment she had talked him into doing it together than making it a race because she already felt lost within the endless shrubs.

“It does seem like a prank…” she said in agreement, but she found herself frowning a bit when he mentioned that the date went alright, though filled with awkward small-talk in the school’s courtyard. “Oh—do you and the other person still talk?” she questioned curiously, her tone of voice anything but jealous or annoyed, she sounded perfectly normal and merely curious.

They quickly stopped after that or rather paused for a long moment when it came to another fork in the maze. She found herself laughing as he called her ‘my lady’ and even bowed and gestured towards the next location, she smiled. “Oh how kind of you sir,” she said with a giggle before pointing towards the right side, “I choose right,” she said as she slowly moved towards that way.

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@crimson1

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Peyton explained how she’d much rather get lost with someone else. Which he couldn’t argue as he’d prefer to have company in those moments as well. “Don’t worry, I’m fine with getting lost with you if it happens.” Daniel teased for a moment looking toward Peyton with a friendly smile. While the maze looked all the same it shouldn’t be too hard to find someway out. It was just a muggle maze after all, it wasn’t meant to keep people in here forever. It was just a fun thing for people to attempt so it either couldn’t be too hard or there had to be a way to get out if you were truly lost in it.

As she agreed that this whole thing did seem a little like a prank Daniel just nodded. “Yeah I didn’t realized it was real till people started getting matched up. It was interesting hearing who got matched up with who though.” He paused to laugh as he thought of one of the date he had heard about. “One of the Gryffindors even got matched up with one of their cousins from what I’ve heard.” He got out through his laughter, he felt a little bad but he also couldn’t help but laugh about how awkward that must have been. Peyton asked if he and his first blind date still talked. “Not since the date but she was nice enough and a Slytherin at it too. I haven’t met many nice Slyhterins since I started going to Hogwarts.”

While Daniel bowed he could hear Peyton laugh before saying how kind it was of him. He got back up and just smiled. “Well this is a date after all, if there was any time to a gentlemen it would be now.” Daniel explained as Peyton decided on right and he just followed her lead down another hedged pathway of this maze.

@peytonbainbridge

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Peyton felt the unwanted blush appear on her pale cheeks once more, damn her family for being pale as hell – or at least, for her skin being the one that was as such. She smiled, knowing he was teasing about being fine with the idea of getting lost in the maze with her if it happened of course. She knew he didn't wish it upon them, hell she wasn’t either, but if it did come to pass, then they had each other to keep the other sane. The maze kept looking the same the further they got into it, twist and turns seemed to be the way they came from. She wondered if they were getting closer to the end or just further away from it.

She smiled, “That’s true, some odd matches probably came out of that…this time as well,” she said with a small laugh on her lips. It was then that he revealed that he heard that two family members got matched up, though they were cousins, and she instantly wrinkled her nose. “Well—that’s a bit awkward, I would have hated getting matched up with a family member,” she said truthfully, a laugh once more leaving her lips. Learning that he got matched up with a nice Slytherin, one that he hadn’t talked to since she nodded her head. “There aren’t many of those to come by,” she breathed out truthfully. She only knew a small handful of Slytherins that she deemed nice, one of them being Lydia – but even she had her moments.

Another laugh left Peyton’s lip, a feminine giggle at that, as he explained that this was a date, and this was the best time to be a gentleman. She quickly nodded her head, her eyes lined with wetness from almost crying in laughter, “That is true, though one should always be a gentleman,”

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@crimson1

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Daniel smiled as Peyton agreed with him about the odd matches that probably happened last time and then brought up with time as well. He hadn’t even thought of all the odd or mismatches that would happen this round of blind dates from whoever this Jimbo was. It’d be interesting if only a little to hear the rumors about this event when he got back to Hogwarts. Especially with the rest of his fellow Ilvermorny students joining in this time. “Thankfully I don’t have to worry about that. I don’t have any siblings nor cousins.” Daniel explained with a small laugh before he continued. “What I lack in gifts from family around Christmas time. I make up in not having to worry about going on crazy blind dates... with a family member at least.” He finished teasing for just a moment, not in a mean way but just having some fun.

All he could do was nod in agreement as Peyton said there weren’t many nice Slytherin around school. It wasn’t like he ever went out of his way to run into students while at school but running into a Slytherin had typically been the worst. “Which house are you in anyway? I Just realized how awkward this would have gotten if you had ended up being a Slytherin.” It was funny to just realize that after talking, in a way, bad about Slytherins but seeing as she didn’t get mad he could only assume Peyton wasn’t one anyway. It was nice that she was laughing so often and it certainly seemed genuine as she told it him it was true but he should be a gentlemen at all times. “Sorry, I wasn’t aware I was going to get a manners lesson and a blind date today.” He said merely teasing as he knew what she was getting at.

@peytonbainbridge