Style {open}

[Deleted]

we go crashing down

and we come back every time

Andy was the youngest of three. The youngest Lestrange. The accident. The backup. The unwanted. All of this being true, she was still required to act just as perfect and proper as her other siblings. She was raised never to put her elbows on her table or slurp her soup. Being raised as such, she was never allowed to have temper tantrums. The one, maybe two times, she had tried as a child always ended in some kind of harsh punishment. She wasn't a stranger to being slapped across the face and being told to stay indoors until the marks were gone. Soon she learned to just be quiet and submissive at home, like her siblings were.

But when she came to Hogwarts she soon found a room, a room where she could do anything she wanted. She often wished for a room with good acoustics and a music stand. That's where she found herself today. Today. It was supposed to be a normal day but it hadn't turned out that way at all.

What do you do when you find out your perfect big sister really wasn't what you thought? Andy had just learned that Aurora was just like her in so many ways, but she had been punished ruthlessly for it and And hadn't.

She could feel that choking sensation in her throat. Her tongue tasted like blood. Had she been biting her cheek? Her heart was banging like a drum in her ears. Her knees were ready to buckle down.

Andy stood in the middle of the room, violin and bow in either hand, resting them at her sides. Would the music even make a difference right now? She tightened her grip on the wood before letting out one long scream before lifting the violin to her neck and starting to play. And she played loud.

[Deleted]

So...Phil was rather ashamed to admit this, but he had kind of stalked Andy in the halls.  Well, it wasn't like he had any creepy motives in mind.  In fact one couldn't blame him for being curious about what she was planning on doing.  He and Andy were friends, so it was understandable for him to be curious about what she was doing all alone in the long corridors.

He had followed her quietly from behind, careful not to reveal himself by any sudden movements that would cause noise which would, well,  bring attention upon himself.  And, of course, he had trailed after her from a distance.  Maybe Phil would've thought to just casually approach her and ask her what was up, but, the thing was, he noticed that Andy was looking...distracted.  She didn't look like someone who was eager to talk at the moment.  This made him feel even more intrigued, albeit concerned, even more so when it was evident that she wasn't making her way to the Gryffindor Tower. 

Once he had climbed his way up to the hall of the fifth level corridor and took a few steps forward, he caught sight of Andy disappearing into the Room of Requirement.  Ah, the Room of Requirement.  So that was where Andy was headed...he could imagine someone who was stressed entering there to seek whatever that could give answers for their problems and needs.  Perhaps he should just leave her alone.  But, she was his buddy, and his curiosity was peaked to the point where he wanted to walk in there and see what was going on for himself.  In fact, he actually knew what kind of a room Andy would usually want to be in--a room where she could play her violin.  He didn't mind listening to some smashing songs played by her, either.

All he needed to do was to seek a room with a music stand and a good instrument that she would use for her playing.  She had told him once that it was the kind of room she preferred.  He wasn't sure if she was using that kind of room at the moment, but he didn't of any other that she would seek besides that one.

He had crossed the hall toward the place where the door should be.  He stopped for a moment, wondering if he should do this.  He was not a nosy person, and he usually would be too shy to anger people by making himself look nosy.  But, for some reason unexplainable to him, his curiosity and concern won out.  Therefore, he passed by the door three times thinking about what he needed in the room.

And then the door appeared...

He took a deep breath, swallowed, and then opened the door.  He quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind him before turning to face forward and see what was going on.  His ears had been met by the sound of violin playing...loud violin playing; granted, the tune was nice, but it was louder than what he usually heard when people played the instrument.  His eyes met the figure of Andy, playing her heart away.

He stood there, looking at her with a mix of awe and consternation.  She looked pretty fierce, playing passionately like that.  But was she venting her negative feelings by playing harshly? What had been bothering her in the first place?                           

Tag: @lestrange
Notes: Sorry, just had to use that gif >.>

[Deleted]

we go crashing down

and we come back every time

Andy let her soul bleed into the music. She had a music stand beside her, but it was empty. It was always there whether she had music on it or not. She often left it there empty to remind herself that this one was part of her life that she actually had control over. She shut her eyes and let herself play whatever came out. This song was loud, fast and low pitched. It exemplified exactly how she was feeling in ways that she couldn't put to words.

After several minutes, maybe longer, she finally stopped for a moment to breathe. She felt a choking sob break from her throat as she lowered her violin and bow. Her fingers were throbbing from pressing so hard on the strings and her neck hurt from holding the violin in place while she played so furiously. She took a few deep breaths, keeping her eyes on the ground before realizing that she heard someone breathing.

She looked up, ready to rip her intruder a new one, but it was only Philip. Well, not only Philip. She felt the knot in her stomach loosen a little at the thought of him. Phillip. The boy she had been afraid to talk to because of his last name. If her parents knew she was friends with a Longbottom. He had been so gentle and kind to her since day one, and she tried to resist his friendship. Now she couldn't imagine experiencing this breakdown with anyone else. "Phil," she said, her lip quivering and her eyes filling with tears again. She bit her lip, trying to steady it and gently placed her violin and bow on the stand beside her before take a step down from the little stage.

"Could you... just...come here," her hand flew to her mouth as her hands started to shake.

@philip

[Deleted]

Phil had been standing there in a trance-like state, taking in Andy's impressive performance in awe.  It just seemed so powerful and charged with emotion.  It was a sight to behold and could really get the audience to be caught up in the performance.

But, eventually, she stopped playing, and that was when he snapped out of the trance and came back to reality.  Oh, bloody hell, now Andy was going to know that he had sneaked in on her! How was she going to react? Was she going to be furious? He became tense and a nervous expression formed on his face. 

When she turned around, he was prepared to explain himself.  Phil wasn't sure he had the correct words in mind--his brain was formulating multiple explanations at the same time.  He just wanted to listen to her music.  He saw that she looked troubled and wanted to ask her what was wrong.  If he was clever enough, he could find a really good excuse for him to be in a room that had to do with music, which as not going to work at all, as Andy knew he didn't play a single thing.  Of course, either one of these excuses would follow after an apology.

She was looking at him now, and his heart skipped a beat.  The look she was giving him, however fleeting it would be, held much conviction (to him).  Nope, he wasn't in her good graces.  He took a step forward.  "Andy...I..."       

He stopped attempting to stammer out a nervous apology and reason for his presence in the Room of Requirement with her, for she began to...cry.  Good Gryffindor, what had happened? He knew that she wasn't feeling good, but just what, what specifically had hurt her enough to make her weep? Now he was really worried.

His eyes widened.  "Andy? What's wrong?" When she asked him to come toward her, he was quite happy to do so.  He was relieved that she wasn't scorning his companionship, too.  Phil would've understood if she wanted him away from her at the moment, but it felt nicer for him to be able to be there for a friend in need.

Phil immediately strode over to where she was standing and stopped in front of her.  He stood there, staring at her.  She was obviously distressed.  He'd never seen her like this.  She always seemed like a tough and independent girl in his opinion, almost Alice-like, but of course tough and independent people had their moments when they were at their breaking point.  They were still human.  And anyway, maybe she had feigned toughness to serve as a guise to cover up any hurt she was feeling. 

Perhaps he had coincidentally come at the right time to witness this side of her, and he hoped that it was for the better.  Maybe he could help her solve any problems she was having.  It was never a good thing to keep all of that stress inside.  Phil usually wasn't afraid to confide his troubles in his father, and he did have friends who he trusted.  Was Andy one of those people who were too prideful to seek comfort or help?  He hoped not.  Then again, she was crying freely in front of him and not turning him away, so he took it as a sign that she wasn't going to leave him in the dark as to what was going on.

He took a deep breath before he, somewhat shyly, extended arms, reaching out to her.   He wrapped them around her and pulled her into a hug.  "Andy, what happened? Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice filled with both entreaty and disquiet.        

Tag: @lestrange

[Deleted]

i wish you were

Right here, right now

Andy hadn't even noticed that she had possibly scared the crap out of Phil with her death glare a moment before. She was too busy suddenly feeling incredibly grateful that he was here. Which was strange. She was usually incredibly not okay with anyone seeing her in this state. But for some reason it was okay right now. Actually, she had probably never been to live level of upsetness in her entire life. She had never felt this way before. Maybe that's why it was okay for someone to be there for her...

But a part of her new that it was only okay because it was Phil.

Soon he was standing before her, asking her what was wrong and offering his arms. Andy was never much of a hugger, but she leaned into him, almost putting her entire weight against his chest. She didn't wrap her arms around him, however. She just bent her elbows and flattened her hands against his chest, her right hand clutching his shirt tightly.

He spoke again asking her what happened. Why she was crying. Her body began to shake with raking sobs as she buried her face in the front of his shirt. She wasn't ready to answer him yet. She didn't even know what she was going to say. She let her left hand slowly clutch his shirt as well, until she was practically gluing him to her with the grip of both hands.

Maybe hugging wasn't such a  good idea, because this was an entirely new sensation. Andy had never, ever hugged someone this closely in her entire life. In fact, she was sure she had only giving someone the side-arm hug maybe one time. She wasn't used to so much physical contact, especially not contact that she was giving into fully. She started to doubt the moment now. She started to doubt his arms. She loosened her grip on the front of his clothes and just let her hands flatten against his chest once more. She pulled her head back slightly, but she wasn't ready to pull away completely yet.

As she looked up at him she probably had dark circles around her eyes from wet mascara. Why did she even bother wearing make up, anyway? She tried not to think about that, nor the insecurities of how pathetic she actually looked as she choked out an answer, "would you... how would you feel about me living with your family?" Wait, that wasn't what he had asked. Then why had that question popped into her head first?

That was when she realized why she had hesitated at Nevilles offer. Well, one of the reasons. Mainly she wasn't sure if she could face Aurora every day again. But there was something else. She wanted to know what Philip thought about it. "I mean. Your father offered..." she pulled back a little more now, but she didn't take her hands from his chest. "That's not why I'm crying. I mean..." now she wasn't making any sense.

@philip

[Deleted]

Well, guess what? Phil wasn't exactly used to hugging, either.  He was probably a little too shy and awkward to--heck, he didn't even hug his own siblings.  However, pulling Andy into a hug had been an impulsive and immediate reaction to the sight of her crying.  It just occurred to him, without thinking twice, that he could comfort her best with this affectionate action.  Phil didn't fully realize it, but deep down he was a gallant young man.  Any gallant young man wouldn't stand still and do nothing while a pretty girl, especially one who he cared for, was in distress.

Even if she didn't hug him back, she seemed to have completely melted into his embrace.  He continued to hold her in silence, letting her sob against him.  She was obviously in no state to be talking yet, and he patiently waited for her to calm down and regain her composure.  One always needed to be calm in order to think clearly he talk, yes? But the way she was crying hard only served to make him feel even more concern.  Whatever had happened to her must've been horrible...especially when Andy wasn't easily intimidated.

Finally, she calmed down somewhat.  He felt her hands against his chest and looked into her face when she looked up at him.  Her face was wet with tears, and the mascara was kind of soggy as well.  Almost instinctively, he released his hold of her from one arm and moved his hand toward her face, wiping away the tears.  He wasn't sure about doing the same to the mascara, though.  He was afraid of leaving smudges and smears behind, and she might end up hating him for that.  A girl's face was important to her, after all.

The question that she asked him made him stare at her aghast.  That honestly came from out of the blue.  Her...living with his family? Where had that came from? Why would she need to live with his family? Well, where had that idea come from, anyway? He had heard that the Lestranges were a family of creepy people, and there had been an incident involving her and her sister that was kinda fishy.  Namely, Aurora and Andy had been taken out of school for awhile.  Philip doubted he would've enjoyed living in a family like the Lestranges.  Still, though, he hadn't expected them to go live with his family as a result of being dissatisfied with their family...he didn't even know what her relationship with her family was like.  Just because they were evil to others didn't mean they were evil to their kids (sadly, it was actually the case).

"I...I don't think I would mind at all," he said truthfully, because Andy living with his family sounded pleasant.  He would have a friend under the same roof, and that sounded enjoyable.  "But...why..."

And then she explained.  She didn't say it clearly, but it seemed that his father had offered for her to live with the Longbottoms.  Why would his father do that, he wondered? He didn't doubt that his father would help kids in need, but what exactly was going on? "He offered for you to live with us?" he asked quizzically.  "I mean...that sounds really great, but...why exactly would you need to stay with my family?" He wanted to know the reason, but he totally was not opposed to her living with them.  He realized that his question might sound like he was a bit bothered by it, though, and he added quickly, "It doesn't really matter, though.  I'd make you welcome on my part, anytime.  I just want to know the reason for it to serve my own curiosity, that's all."

           
Tag: @lestrange

[Deleted]

i wish you were

Right here, right now

As Philips hand moved toward her face, Andy flinched back just a little bit. She wasn't used o someone reaching toward her face with good intentions. Her eyes widened a little and her eyebrows raised as his soft skin gently wiped the tears from her cheek. Now that was an entirely new sensation. Someone actually caring that she was feeling this badly enough to try and remove the evidence?

He said he wouldn't mind at all around the same time that Andy had said that his father had invited them. She could see the confusion play across his face asked he repeated her words in question form. She suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed that she had asked him about this at all. That she was crying in front of him. That she was leaning into him, letting him wipe her tears away. In that split second he almost pulled away until he said that sounded, really great. This caused her to allow herself to stay his his arms a little longer.

"I understand you wanting to know why, I didn't think you were being... bothered," she said, reassuring him that she understood why he was asking. "But that's where it gets complicated..." now she finally started to pull away from him, feeling his hand slid across her side and she removed herself from the embrace--this almost made her want to slip back into it, but no. She had to speak clearly now and who could speak clearly when their heart was beating so loudly in their ears?

As she packed up she slowly lifted her hands from his chest, just now realizing how incredibly intimate that hug actually was. She took an extra step back to give herself some space, something she actually understood. "He's offered a way out of my family for me and Aurora. Our family is... well, we have good reason to want out," she started.

She turned away from him, to the side, running through the thoughts in her head as she put sentences together. "But I'm not... I'm not sure. I mean, I'll gladly leave my parents home but... I barely know your father. Or anyone in your family," she turned back to him with a slight smile, "except you, that is. And also," her smile vanished, "my sister and I we... we don't speak. We've been wrong about each other all these years and now I don't know if I can face her, you know? I don't know if I want to share the same room as her. I don't know if I can do this." Her eyes started to fill with tears again, but this time she just turned farther away instead of going to him.

@philip

[Deleted]

He sure was glad that she understood what he was saying.  It was such a new topic, one that had never found its way to him before, that he wanted to treat it sensitively in the case that he blundered by accident over unmarked territory.  Perhaps he needn't have worried, not with Andy. She wasn't an idiot.  No, but she was still emotional and he figured she could possibly be feeling touchy at the moment.  She was definitely not as cranky and explosive as Jude, but who knew what someone who was still feeling rotten would do.   

That's where it got complicated, she said.  Oh boy...this was making him even surer that this was messy business.  But what messy business? This was what was causing a ping-pong game to go on in his brain.  He knew too little of the situation to even make guesses and yet all things possible were forming in his mind, for he realized now that there were many things going on in his father's life that he didn't know.  Neville wasn't just teaching herbology and going back to the Leaky to visit his mum.  He was definitely up to something totally unpredictable.

He allowed her to move away from his embrace, of course.  Mainly because he was too focused on what she was saying, and, well, if she decided that was enough, then why force her? Phil was content to have been able to hold her during those moments when she had been sobbing her eyes out.  At least he had been able to offer that much comfort.

As she began to back away from him, Phil slowly lowered his arms back down to his side and kept his eyes glued on her, waiting for her to continue speaking.  And she did continue...she said that Neville had offered her and her sister a way out of their family, and from what Phil gathered from what she said, it was because the family was a less than desirable one to be in.

Even in the state of shock that he was, Phil was able to make light of this new revelation.  So...his father was being a good Samaritan, taking in these two girls who were being abused by their, well, abusive family? That...that made sense.  It was like his father to do such a thing.  He just wasn't sure how his father found out about that or whether there was a confrontation, however unlikely, between him and Rabastan, which he was sure was ugly if it ever happened, or if Aurora told him about being abused or he coaxed it out of Aurora because he sensed her evident distress.  Or maybe Andy was the one to tell him? Right now it seemed that she was too confused and surprised to have been the one to inform Neville, but who knows; the human brain was complex. 

All in all, Philip had no idea how Neville came to know that the Lestrange sisters were in need of help.  Phil knew his father had ways.  He was a brave, competent, strong man who often handled things well and had control over situations.  That was the benefit of being Neville Longbottom's son--there was always someone you could turn to for protection, guidance, advice, and help when you were in trouble.

But did it matter how Neville found out? That could be asked later.  For now, what mattered was that Andy was having qualms about staying with his family.  What she was worried about was that she barely knew anyone in the Longbottom family, aside from him.  That was understandable, although he was ready to assure her that the members of his family were a lovely lot--or, at least, he could envision Henry and his mother welcoming the girls with open arms. 

Alice though...he didn't know.  Surely she would have the heart to understand their plight, although knowing how reserved and distant she could be, not to mention, how Ravenclaw-disliking she was (Phil had learned about his sister's aversion to Ravenclaws, although it had taken some time for him to understand; for one, she had always wanted to be a Ravenclaw and it was like her to get jealous because of that thwarted desire, second, he had some Ravenclaw friends to told him that Alice didn't seem to like that even if he assured them that it was just her being her regular quiet, slightly cold self, and third, well...probably wasn't a third).  He didn't know how she would take Andy, but he didn't know how it would be like with Aurora under the same roof.

Okay, so totally going back to Andy.  Another issue she had that Phil had never known that she had before was her estrangement from her sister.  There was no doubt that the two of them were not close at all from what Andy said; hell, it sounded a lot like they had a bad sibling bond.  That hit home with Phil, just a tiny bit, perhaps.  He and Alice.  In his early childhood, they had been on a totally different wavelength.  It was definitely better today, but they still weren't that close, either.  And being as self-conscious as he was, sometimes he felt that their relationship was awkward.  In a way, he could commiserate with Andy on that.

Now it was his turn to speak, sort of.  The more she had spoken, the more she turned away from him.  Phil took a step toward her, and without thinking twice, he reached out with his hand and laid it on her shoulder.  After hugging her, he felt a little more at liberty to comfort her with physical contact like this.  And besides, she was definitely in need of a peace of mind.  Her misgivings and fears were very much real.  She was going to live with a man and his family who she barely knew or would know if they accepted her or not, and she was going to have to be thrown in with a sister who she was on confusing terms with. 

"Hey, Andy...it'll be okay.  I totally understand what you're afraid of," he said.  "But trust me, it'll be okay.  You can do this.  My father is a very kind and loving man.  My mother is pretty much the same.  Between the two of them, you and your sister would feel right at home."  He smiled slightly.  "I younger brother, Henry, will also be your best friend.  And Alice..." His smile faltered.  "I'm...I'm sure she'd understand."  Alice was intelligent.  She wouldn't need to be told twice what trouble the Lestrange kids were facing, or the gravity about it.  Surely Alice would at least be civil, right? He hadn't known his sister to be cruel before.  She was subject to small humanly mistakes in her personality, but she was definitely not evil.  Never that.

He took a deep breath.  What could he say about her sister? He didn't know Aurora.  He could speak for his family, but how could he speak for Aurora? "I know that it's going to be hard to have to...you know, be so close to your sister when you've...misunderstood each other so."  He paused for another breath before continuing, "But I think that having to put up with her would be better than to go back to your family.  If I can be honest...I don't think you have a choice, really."  Oh, bugger, that would sound as if he was telling her that she would just have to live in hell because there was nothing she could do about it! He quickly added, "It might seem impossible to you right now.  But I believe you'll gradually grow used to it once you settle in.  Plus, your life would be changed--you can focus on that more than your troubles with your sister.  In fact, maybe you can bond with her over this and the two of you can reconcile.  And, of course...I'll be there for you, so if you ever find yourself feeling glum or upset, you can always go to me."  He smiled then, even though she probably wasn't seeing the smile.  But aside from deciding to cheer her up and make her plight seem lighter, he had unknowingly cheered himself up, too.  He liked the notion of being there for Andy when she was not feeling well.  If she felt too overwhelmed, there was no reason for him not to be there to help, right? In fact, he could be her guardian and guide in the household, someone who she could depend for emotional support and assistance in getting acquainted to her new abode.  Now that sounded quite nice.  He was looking forward to that, even as he stood in the middle of the Room of Requirement, his only objective being to make the girl in front of him feel better.              
           
Tag: @lestrange
Notes: Please excuse any typos and awkward grammar/word usage spoofs XD.  It be rather late and I best go to sleep now <3.

[Deleted]

i wish you were

Right here, right now

At the mention of Phils mother Andy perked up a little bit. She was extremely curious about the woman ever since Neville offered for her to join the family. She wanted to collect all of the information she could about Hannah. When Phil said his parents were kind and loving, Andy couldn't help but smile hopefully at the thought of meeting her.

Though, at the mention of Henry and Alice-Andy froze up a little. She wasn't on good terms with her own siblings, what would it be like having brand-freaking-new ones? A new brother and sister? Wait. No. Two brothers, Andy couldn't think about Phil as a brother, though. That thought was just far too weird for some reason. No, she decided not to thank about that. She was also surprised when his hand landed on her shoulder, but she didn't pull away.

"Hey, I'm used to sisters who don't get along," she said- encouraging Phil that she understood. She would except much from Alice, nor from Henry. Though, the youngest Longbottom did seem like a riot. She had never really gotten to know him before, so that could be fun.

As he expressed his understanding about her situation with Aurora, Andy just nodded. It really would be the hardest thing about all of this, and she didn't really have a choice. "You... you're right," she said as he continued to tell her that she would be able to get used to it. that things would be okay. The thought of her reconciling with her sister was a little out there, but she didn't want to elaborate on that. She did however want to elaborate on his offer that she could go to him whenever she wanted.

"Really? I mean... thank you," she said as she felt herself start to lighten up a little. She stepped in closer to him, "I've never really... felt like I had someone like that. I guess," she smiled at him, sort of an embarrassed smile. A small laugh escaped her lips as she pulled him, softly and slowly, into another hug. "Sorry," she muttered into his shoulder, "I just never realized how good hugging can actually make you feel," she was smiling now as she felt his warmth in her arms.

@philip

[Deleted]

Phil wondered if he should mention that he was quite used to sisters not getting along as well, in a way.  Well, rather, it was a brother and a sister who hadn't started off as the best of friends--him and Alice.  Sometimes he slipped in a snide comment about Alice now and then with his best friends when he was joking, but he wondered if it was appropriate to do so right now.  It just didn't feel right, for some reason.  Therefore, he refrained from doing that.  Instead, he was happy that his words seemed to be getting positive responses from her.  He was glad that she wasn't responding with doubts.  He would understand if she had a tough outer shell to crack, but it was easier to have her agree with him.  Of course, it might be harder once the events happened for real, but for now it was good to see that she was being optimistic. 

From what Phil could figure, Andy was independent--and overly so.  She probably had no one to look to for guidance and support, and only herself to go about in life.  He never doubted that the Lestranges were a cruel family and not the warmest to their children.  Members of that wretched family had harmed his grandparents.  He obviously did not blame that on Aurora and Andy (although the older brother was questionable), but he was not left in the dark about how the Lestranges could potentially be abusive, autocratic, callous, and overly stern with their children, pressuring them to rise to the top and not accepting failure or mistakes.  He felt bad for Andy and what she had had to go through.  If only her parents had been like his.  It didn't help that she didn't have her siblings to turn to for closeness.

He was about to ask her about that, deciding that she would trust him enough to confide in the shabby treatment she got from her parents.  But it was then that she hugged him, and this time she started the hug, not him.  He was a little surprised, but then he laughed slightly and hugged her back.  He wasn't used to hugging, but it felt right to hug Andy right now, as he had been wanting to give her comfort and her giving him a hug meant that she had cheered up some--not to mention, that he had gained her trust which he was sure was not easily earned.  He smiled at her.  "So this means that you're willing to live with us?" he said earnestly.  "I hope it makes you feel better," he said.  "Like, less sad and...well, protected.  I don't hug a lot, but I remember hugging my mum as a child whenever I was upset.  It did wonders to make me feel safe and sound."  He was a little embarrassed admitting this, but he wanted Andy to feel secure too, and he hope that a hug was able to provide that security.  At least some. 

He held her for awhile, taking in the unfamiliar feeling of hugging a female friend, someone who wasn't his relative.  It wasn't all that unpleasant.  He glanced at her dark hair, marveling that he could just poke it by lifting his hand.  She was so close to him, closer than he could've imagined they'd ever be in proximity.  Phil finally gave her a pat on the back before releasing her.  He glanced around at his surroundings--the empty, lonely, vast Room of Requirement.  It felt rather devoid of life.  "Well...I guess you might not have the muse to play more music," he commented, although it went without saying that after balling up and crying, and then confiding in her doubts, she probably wasn't up to playing on her violin.  "So...what say you that we walk back to the Common Room together? Or maybe the kitchens to get a snack."     

((Sorry for lateness T_T))

[Deleted]

"So this means that you're willing to live with us?" Well, it seemed like that was what she was saying didn't it... had she made a decision? In all reality, she knew she had made the decision right when Phils father had offered it. But she needed a little clarity. Phil was that clarity. "I... I think that's what I'm saying, yes," she answered, a little shock in her voice. She laughed as he explained that he had really only hugged his mum as a child. "I'm pretty sure I've only hugged one person in my life at this point..." she said, just as embarrassed to admit this as he was to admit his lack of physical contact. "You... thank you. For just being the best person I know," that wasn't entirely true, for Professor Longbottom was proving to be quite a selfless person as well. She was pretty sure she'd love his mother just as much. Erh, like her.

Her minded almost wandered for a moment. What would it be like to have parents that she actually cared for? And cared for her? The idea was so foreign to her, it almost seemed laughable. Luckily, she had Phil here to remind her that this was real life. That people could really care for one another. As they held each other, she was starting to believe that this could be true. The idea almost made her giddy.

As he patted her on the back, Andy knew it was time to separate. A part of her really didn't want to, but she brushed that aside. They had lives to live, after all. At his mention of returning to the common room  or the kitchens, Andy nodded. "A snack might do me some good. Yeah. Yeah, let's go," she straightened out, placing her violin back in it's case before the two of them headed out the door together. For the remainder of their visit together they refrained from talking about anything to serious. Just two friends, eating snacks and enjoying being around one another.

Once they separated to their dormitories, it really hit Andy what this was going to be like. She almost ran to Professors Longbottom right then...

@philip
notes: i'll start the xmas break thread!