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Raphael Caelan McLaggen
HOGWARTS ALUM DAILY PROPHET NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER
161 posts
played by Jenny
you don't realize the value of a moment until it's a memory
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last online May 3, 2024 9:42:28 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 10, 2021 4:48:13 GMT -7
Post by Raphael Caelan McLaggen on Feb 10, 2021 4:48:13 GMT -7
Rafe felt a rising sense of panic at the thought that the situation was spiraling out-of-control. Brígh’s expression was stormy, her face matching her red hair as she started to put the puzzle pieces together. He really couldn’t blame her, because he’d been doing an absolutely terrible job of keeping it casual, and apparently this thing-not thing between them was one subject Addy had been keeping Brígh informed about, even with all the distance of the past year. Addy’s answer was unusually vague, especially considering that she was a very precise person who always had the right words to say. It told Raphael that she also had absolutely no clue how to respond to Brígh, who was starting to oscillate between confusion, anger, and sadness. He swallowed thickly and rushed to correct her as Brígh pointed out that they could have told her. “There was nothing to tell,” he rushed out quickly, the words blending into each other in an attempt to just get it all out at once. Rafe felt his face fall at the thought, but he pushed on anyway and told himself he wasn’t going to get emotional about this. Because that was what he and Addy had agreed. Every time it happened, they sat down to confirm that it didn’t change anything – that they were still friends first, and friends only. No extra, confusing emotions attached. He could feel his heart break a little every time he had to say it out-loud, but he stuck to it anyway because...it was what they had agreed. Rafe could see that Brígh was hurt at the thought that there had been this big secret they’d been keeping from her, and he could imagine that Addy was freaking out at the thought that this was going to change things for the group. Okay, so he was going to need to do something to save this situation. Especially to remove the pitiful look on Brígh’s face and ensure Addy wasn’t on the hook for anything. So he said what he needed to – even if for him, they were pretty much all lies. “There’s nothing to tell, because nothing’s going to happen again. It-it was a mistake. And it didn’t mean anything.” Raphael actually wasn’t sure he would be able to say anything else on the subject, so he rose suddenly and set his phone down on the edge of the hot tub. “It’s our big reunion,” he said, forcing an insincere smile on his face. “So I brought some photographs I developed for you. I’ll go get them!” He didn’t wait for anyone to say anything else as he shot out of the tub and back into the main area. He found his backpack easily, but didn’t open it right away to find the pictures he had spent weeks choosing and developing as a ‘welcome back’ gift for Brígh -- her favorite places around Hogwarts, pretty and unusual things he had come across. Cheesy stuff like that. Instead he sat down on the edge of the bed (not caring one bit that he was still wet), and put his head in his hands for a few moments. After several deep breaths, he carefully unzipped his bag and removed the folder. Raphael made his way back slowly, and avoided making eye contact with Addy as he set it down gently by Brígh and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Sorry Brígh. Don’t be mad, please?” addilyn elara slater BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
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addilyn elara slater
HOGWARTS ALUM HOLYHEAD HARPIES RESERVE PLAYER
365 posts
played by vanessa
I just wanna feel somethin', tell me where to go
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last online May 5, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 10, 2021 9:31:49 GMT -7
Post by addilyn elara slater on Feb 10, 2021 9:31:49 GMT -7
Don't stop, just keep going on I'm your shoulder, lean upon It felt that the more she tried to play it ‘cool’ and act normal, the worse she was managing it. Plus, once Brígh caught on to something, she was hardly likely to let it go. Addy knew that well enough, so any attempt at this point to wear her usual veil of denial was futile. Addy watched as her friend’s face turned a familiar shade of red. Addy felt a sinking feeling in her chest, lying was not a quality she had ever aimed to be good at by any means, and she certainly didn’t like lying to her two closest friends. And she imagined had it been Brígh and Cheese instead, she would have been felt about the same. There was one last tiny string of hope that perhaps Brígh was thinking about literally anything else, but then she was quickly disproven. Brígh refilled her glass, and Addy had to quell the urge to drink the entire glass. She placed it down at the side for now. The awful sinking feeling in her stomach hadn’t quite left.
She wasn’t sure what to say, what to do. It wasn’t like Addy to not know what to do in a situation. She didn’t like this feeling one bit. But before she could answer, she heard Cheese speak up, but with his words, she found her head had quickly turned to look at him. Though his voice was rushed and even a bit panicked, Addy saw the look in his eyes. He was taking one for the team—where the team was him and Addy. Still, she supposed she didn’t speak immediately because it was shocking. Cheese spoke again, and Addy was a bit taken aback…’ It didn’t mean anything.’ She looked away from him and stared at the bubbling water in front of her instead, trying to process why that had just felt like a small kick in the stomach. ”He’s right. It’s not going to happen again.” Addy agreed, though she couldn’t look at him when she said it. As much as she wanted the group’s dynamic to be normal once again, she felt incredibly bothered now. Raphael got up out of the hot tub, and Addy couldn’t help but watch for a moment as he walked away, but then she forced herself to focus on drinking more whiskey.
She scooted over and looked at her friend with an apologetic look, a pleading in her eyes for forgiveness. ” I’m sorry, Brígh…I wanted to tell you, but it was…it felt complicated at the time.” Cheese’s words still lingered in her mind, but so did the memories of all those conversations regarding what had actually happened in those extra Quidditch practices. Addy drank more whiskey in this attempt to push down her current mix of turbulent emotions. Emotions, unfortunately, were not something she excelled at. It didn’t factor into school or career prospects, so it hadn’t been a priority, but now she felt her inexperience was throwing her completely off balance. Also, Addy realized, as far as Brígh knew, it had only happened one time. That sinking feeling grew worse when she realized that the real bulk of the story was still missing. But now that most of it was out in the open, she could try and prepare for that conversation.
Addy knew what Cheese was grabbing, he’d been so excited when he’d completed it. She recalled that happy look on his face and the glint in his eyes, the one he got when he was going on about something to do with photography. Now, at least, they could hopefully switch the topic to something a bit lighter. ”We’re sorry Brígh…” She said again when Cheese returned. ”You see why we need you back? We’re obviously hopeless without you.” She added with a chuckle, she didn’t want to keep feeling this discomfort, and Addy was just about almost done with this next glass of whiskey as well. Still, Addy was speaking some truth. If not Addy, then it was absolutely Brígh who was quick to say something about anything if she saw it. What would have happened if she’d been around to call them out earlier in time?
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BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
HOGWARTS ALUM LIFE ALUM CURSE BREAKER
348 posts
together with Aidan O'Cuinn
played by ana
I've been lost, I've been found but I don't feel down
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last online Apr 8, 2024 10:12:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 10, 2021 13:07:08 GMT -7
Post by BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH on Feb 10, 2021 13:07:08 GMT -7
Brígh could feel the anger bubbling just below the surface. She made a mighty attempt to staunch it, but it finally boiled over. She didn't want to be accusatory, but she was hurt by the fact that her two best friends had been hiding such a monumental secret from her. Brígh's words bit even her, and if that didn't break through to them, the devastated turn of her lips certainly would. It wasn't the subject matter of the deception, more the fact that there had been something to hide in the first place. Brígh valued honesty along with daring and loyalty above all else. That her two best friends had broken her moral code was hard to forgive.
But forgive - well, Brígh was already ready to do that. She was an easy to rile, easy to pardon. The exoneration died in her throat however, at Cheese and Addy's next determined words. The looks they gave each other, the grief-stricken glance made it even more blindingly obvious to her. They were lying to her again. The thing, whatever had transpired between those two... it wasn't nothing. She could read these two like a book, and their story ended in tragedy. But they were here together - they all were. Cheese and Addy had the chance to rewrite that ending, to give themselves a fighting chance.
Cheese disappeared, intoning about wanting to show her something. The pair kept murmuring apologies, but they fell on deaf ears. Brígh stared blankly into the foamy water, her mind racing. When Cheese returned, Brígh stood up abruptly. "I just need a moment," was all she said as she slipped out of the jacuzzi and quickly retired into the house. She made a beeline for the bathroom, locking the door firmly before sinking onto the closed toilet seat.
Had she missed the warning signs? Or had they simply developed because Brígh hadn't been there to even out the dynamic. If Cheese and Addy had found each other without her, upon graduation and beyond they would surely find each other again. She thought perhaps they had just kick started this thing early, with her missing. Brígh wondered if they had considered the consequences. What if they broke up? Was that what they were so afraid of? The awkwardness, the inability to speak their own minds. But what was the sense in starting this at all? They were all young, and Brígh knew just as well as anyone how hard it was to handle that flighty temptress, love. The anguish in losing one another, of pretending it had meant nothing at all... it disturbed Brígh. It was so hard to find something so wonderful and pure like that, why deny it?
Brígh scrubbed her hands over her face, mulling over the situation. It was certainly sticky. She loosened a reluctant laugh at her own innuendo. She rose from the seat, and stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had lost some of their brightness, but otherwise it was the same. The energy between the Alphabet gang had been altered, but the change had happened before Brígh had even known of it. This was how it would be now. She would either be forced to accept it, or to welcome it. "Your two best mates are waiting for you in the hot tub right now." She nodded firmly to herself in the mirror, before unlocking the door and sauntering back to the jacuzzi. She paused a few metres away, wrapping her arms around herself as she appraised the pair, still in the same spots she had left them albeit with grim looks upon their faces.
"You two are idiots if you keep trying to pretend this is nothing. You should accept it for what it is - whatever it is. Our friendship changed from the moment when you... well, you know. Slept together. And we can either deny it and pretend nothing happened and be miserable, or we can face it head on and accept that you two are sickening and made for each other." Her voice gained strength as she went on. "Personally, I like a bit of change. Keeps things interesting," said Brígh, placing her hands on her hips in a very Brígh-like way. She flicked her hair over her shoulder before rejoining the pair in the hot tub, taking a long drink before addressing Cheese and Addy once more. "So, twiddle dee -" That was Cheese "What's in this folder? Naughty photos of Addy?" said Brígh, a hint of mischief twinkling in her eye.
Raphael Caelan McLaggen addilyn elara slater
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Raphael Caelan McLaggen
HOGWARTS ALUM DAILY PROPHET NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER
161 posts
played by Jenny
you don't realize the value of a moment until it's a memory
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last online May 3, 2024 9:42:28 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 11, 2021 1:38:33 GMT -7
Post by Raphael Caelan McLaggen on Feb 11, 2021 1:38:33 GMT -7
Watching Brígh walk away was like a stab to the heart – mostly because it confirmed his worst fears that they’d wrecked the group dynamic. It had been – well, not easy, but easier to ignore the deeper implications of this tension between him and Addy when it had just been the two of them. Most of the time, they could hang out with some semblance of normalcy, but every now and then they needed some space and spent time awkwardly avoiding the other until things had smoothed over. It would be impossible to do that with Brígh, and it wasn’t even fair to consider the option because it put her in the middle of a very uncomfortable situation. He had hoped that his cobbled-together explanation, plus whatever Addy had said to Brígh during his absence, would be enough to move on. But as Rafe moved into the place Brígh had left open while she’d stormed off, it clearly wasn’t. Okay, not the end of the line just yet. Raphael had automatically begun to avoid eye contact with Addy again, because it was almost too much to look at her after saying it had all been a mistake and meant nothing – but no, that was part of the problem. How were they supposed to be a gang of best mates if he couldn’t even look at one of them? So he forced himself to meet her gaze. He had absolutely nothing else to say about the thing (nothing that wouldn’t make him feel worse, at any rate), so he swallowed thickly and tried to consider the best way to move forward. What would normal, not-spooked Addy say? She’d probably suggest they need a plan – since following a plan is always better than just winging it (allegedly). “We can still turn this around,” Rafe began in a subdued voice. “I can show her the photographs, and she can tell us what she got up to in Ireland. We can play a few rounds of Exploding Snap or something.” It sounded kind of weak following all the heavy things that had just been said, but he didn’t have anything better to offer. Rafe didn’t want to talk anymore about what had happened. His feelings hadn’t changed, and he assumed Addy didn’t have anything new to say either. So when Brígh finally made her way back, Raphael opened his mouth to put the plan into action, when the words died in his throat. It seemed impossible that one person could blush so much in the span of one evening, but he was somehow managing it as his cheeks turned red again. Raphael couldn’t deny how much he wanted Brígh’s words to be true – the term ‘made for each other’ echoed around in his brain until he was dizzy from the thought. But she’d clearly misunderstood the situation, and that made it hurt worse than when it was his mind coming up with those sorts of things. “Brígh, stop,” Rafe finally managed, although he couldn’t think of anything else to say. It was still possible to recapture the dynamic of how things used to be. It had to be possible, because there was just no other alternative. He startled slightly and blinked stupidly at Brígh at the new nickname, although he seized the opportunity to respond to the joke and move on. “Actually,” Rafe began, matching her mischievous tone, “I followed you to Ireland. Those are my stalker photos of you. Jimmie Blishwick chewed me out in front of the entire Courtyard for taking pictures without permission, so I decided to lean into the whole stalker persona.” It was easier to joke about that situation after the fact, since in the moment Rafe had wanted nothing more than to slowly sink into the ground and never emerge. addilyn elara slater BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
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addilyn elara slater
HOGWARTS ALUM HOLYHEAD HARPIES RESERVE PLAYER
365 posts
played by vanessa
I just wanna feel somethin', tell me where to go
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last online May 5, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 11, 2021 2:45:50 GMT -7
Post by addilyn elara slater on Feb 11, 2021 2:45:50 GMT -7
Don't stop, just keep going on I'm your shoulder, lean upon This was exactly what Addy had been trying to avoid, though her will power had been waning the further along they had gone into the term. She didn’t want the distraction this year, she had too much to do with her classes, Quidditch, chess club, charms club. She still hadn’t decided on her career but now the only thought that ever popped up in her head was that face, that goofy grin and that look in his eye when he looked at her. It left an ache in her chest especially when they were purposefully creating space. Cheese had returned and Addy hoped that they could move forward and get back to a dynamic that was more familiar, comforting and took away this awful feeling in her stomach. She knew she’d drank an abundance of whiskey rather quickly but she’d felt this before. However, she got up and left her alone with Cheese and there was a moment of panic that she felt. First because Brígh seemed incredibly upset by this and she felt awful for keeping secrets and second, she hadn’t been ready to be alone with him after what had just been said.
They were alone and there was just silence, all Addy could hear was the bubbling of the hot tub and she unknowingly sank a little bit in her seat and further into the water. His words still run in her mind, and even though it was more or less what she had been telling her self sine the summer time it had hurt when he had said them. After a moment she heard his voice, it had lost its upbeatness from earlier but didn’t have the panic either. Addy made herself look back at him, that look in his eyes from earlier hadn’t left. ”Yea, that sounds fine…” It hadn’t been the reunion she imagined at all, though probably neither of them had imagined this. It was supposed to be fun, full of laughter and lots of whiskey so they could complain about their hangovers in the morning. Addy felt like a failure of a friend on so many accounts, it hurt her to see her friends upset but also to feel that defeat. Addy had looked away and back at the bubbling water when she heard Brígh’s voice and she felt her eyes go wide and her face felt hot from blushing.
She turned to look at her, but when she opened her mouth to speak nothing came to mind. What did one say to that? Addy probably looked like someone had just thrown cold water in her face, what did Brígh see that they both seemed to be missing? She looked down again, and Cheese asked her to stop. But Brígh wasn’t one to let something go when it was in her hands and Addy drank more whiskey from her glass rather quickly until it was empty. At least Cheese seemed to be moving forward in changing the topic, joking about his incident with Jimmie earlier in the year. She couldn’t help but chuckle despite her mortification just moments earlier. ”I’m honestly surprised she left you alive after that.” Addy commented. But then she held out her empty glass to Brígh. ”Brígh, as payment for all the homework I’ve ever helped you with—I’m going to need you to teach me that charm.” Addy requested. She felt warm from the hot tub and from the incredible amount of blushing, but she could also feel the buzz creeping in. It was…different, she felt more relaxed than she had been though she was thankful for that.
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BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
HOGWARTS ALUM LIFE ALUM CURSE BREAKER
348 posts
together with Aidan O'Cuinn
played by ana
I've been lost, I've been found but I don't feel down
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last online Apr 8, 2024 10:12:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 11, 2021 5:54:31 GMT -7
Post by BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH on Feb 11, 2021 5:54:31 GMT -7
Rather than exploding, as Brígh so often did, she took a step away from the situation. Quite literally, fleeing to the bathroom to have a think through and compose herself. Criticisms of her own self flashed through her mind as she sunk onto the toilet to mull things over. She wanted her best friends to be happy, and by the looks on their faces they wouldn't achieve that without being together. They had unwittingly changed the entire dynamic of their gang, but there was no going back on it now. They didn't have time turners after all. And if they could go back in time and change it, would they?
Brígh sauntered back out to the hot tub, saying her piece. She wondered when she'd become the wise one. Things must have been really dire if she was the one imparting these words on her two best friends. She glared at her two friends, still skirting around the issue while they had drifted closer to one another in their absence. "No, Raphael, you stop," said Brígh forcefully. "I let go of something like this once. I regret it every single day," she continued. "When you have the chance to fall in love, you should never, ever, ever let it go."
The regret of how she had handled the situation with Albus still weighed heavily on the young witch. She had hopes to improve it but... after all, it had been a year. A lot could change in a year. Addy and Cheese were an example of just that. She took a deep, steadying breath, forcing herself to move on. If they were going to dance around their feelings for one another, Brígh couldn't change that. But she knew that this would have a lasting impact on their friendship.
Brígh allowed a begrudging smile as Cheese mentioned he had swiftly become her stalker. "You always have my permission, twiddle dee," said Brígh. "But I would have loved to be able to practice my look on you," she added playfully. "Though it would have paled in comparison to Addy." She wouldn't completely let go of that one. Addy joked that it was a shock that Jimmie had let Cheese off the hook alive. "Or we could very well be talking to an imprint of a departed soul..." She reached over and poked Cheese's shoulder. "Definitely solid." Brígh wordlessly cast the refilling charm on their drinks, taking a deep draught before finally acquiescing. "Fine. But I expect you to continue helping me with all my homework. Arithmancy is boring as balls," she murmured. She returned her hawkish attention to Cheese. "So do I get to see these stalker snaps or do I just imagine them?"
Raphael Caelan McLaggen addilyn elara slater
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Raphael Caelan McLaggen
HOGWARTS ALUM DAILY PROPHET NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER
161 posts
played by Jenny
you don't realize the value of a moment until it's a memory
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last online May 3, 2024 9:42:28 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 12, 2021 3:06:58 GMT -7
Post by Raphael Caelan McLaggen on Feb 12, 2021 3:06:58 GMT -7
The sound of his real name coming out of Brígh’s mouth sounded so wrong that Rafe just stared. Every typical thought that went through his head was replaced by one resounding observation – Oh Merlin, I’m in so much trouble. He had no clue what he wanted to say, because really what was there to say? Setting aside the use of the L-word (which was its own can of worms and made Rafe’s heart stutter and stop completely), he couldn’t help but agree with Brígh. He’d had the worst crush on Addy for ages, the sort where he pushed down the warning signs and attributed them to any other cause. That summer, he had been so excited when something had finally happened between them, as if one thing would naturally follow the other. That maybe she might feel the same way. But the sobering conversation they’d had afterwards, and the troubling cycle they’d fallen into of repeating that incident whenever things started to feel normal…well, it had given him all the answers he needed. Fine, he could accept the bottom line. And now he was just trying to be a good friend, even if he couldn’t quite remember what that looked like. Where the line was. Still, by the way Brígh continued to talk, and the complicated mix of feelings present in her face, her train of thought didn’t just seem to be about him and Addy. That veered more closely into Addy territory, because while he and Brígh were best friends and had gotten into all sorts of crazy situations together – he didn’t really do the girl talk. And whatever may or may not have happened with Albus Potter, Raphael was content to just get the summary of whatever they decided afterwards. In the interest of fully moving on, especially because there was absolutely no way he would ever win a fight against either of them, Rafe just muttered petulantly, “…now you sound like my mum.” He fervently hoped he would never hear Brígh use his full name ever again. The new line of conversation was much easier to tackle, and Rafe jumped at the opportunity. “Oh right, this look. Are you going to share exactly when and how you learned how to pose like that?” Rafe said in a playful, if not slightly accusatory, tone. Because that was definitely not something she had learned at Hogwarts, and now he had to wonder exactly how boring her time in Ireland supposedly was. He cracked a smile as Addy wondered how Jimmie had left him alive while Brígh checked to see if he was actually solid. “She didn’t want to kill me. Just make me her helpful little elf who takes pictures for the paper.” That was what he figured, anyway, because Jimmie definitely had the ability to murder him with a single look but Rafe had somehow ended up as the paper photographer without remembering how exactly he’d agreed to that. And he brightened as Brígh asked about the photographs. “Okay, so imagine the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. Double it, double it again, and you’ll get close to how amazing these turned out,” he teased as he rose to carefully open the folder with a dry hand. Despite experimenting with a digital camera this year, for these Raphael had stuck with his tried-and-true film photography techniques. Addy had been with him while he’d set the scene for some shots – the Black Lake in the dead of winter, owls in flight from the top of the Astronomy Tower. Others he’d taken by himself – a close-up of ivy creeping up a wall, a sunset shot he’d taken from Hogsmeade (which had also landed him in detention for being out so late). Rafe wasn’t a prideful guy, by any means, but he knew when his work was exemplary – and only the best for his best friends. addilyn elara slater BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
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addilyn elara slater
HOGWARTS ALUM HOLYHEAD HARPIES RESERVE PLAYER
365 posts
played by vanessa
I just wanna feel somethin', tell me where to go
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last online May 5, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 12, 2021 9:40:01 GMT -7
Post by addilyn elara slater on Feb 12, 2021 9:40:01 GMT -7
Don't stop, just keep going on I'm your shoulder, lean upon Even Addy stopped thinking and looked when Brígh said ‘Raphael’ instead of the usual ‘Cheese’. If anyone was going call him Raphael or Rafe, it might have been Addy—but it was the group’s habit now, six years running. It only made her realize that Brígh really was trying to make a point, though, when a certain word that began with the letter ‘L’ made an appearance. Addy looked away. That word hadn’t really floated through her mind—well, she wouldn’t ever admit whether it had or not, not out loud. It wasn’t on her priority list of things that she needed to focus on, nor did it have anything to do with her career prospects after graduation. Was love going to get her a job? No. But her NEWTs and extra-curricular would. Cheese didn’t acknowledge said word either, but Addy knew what Brígh was talking about and why she would feel that way. Addy’s stomach did a small flip—she thought about how it must look from Brígh’s perspective and how she might feel about it outside of just being left out.
But boy did Brígh know how to plant an idea of a seed, Addy wished she knew that refilling charm—she was tired of thinking. All the whiskey she had drunk was starting to make her brain a bit fuzzy—she kept thinking about the summertime. The person she had seen the most was Cheese, but it had seemed so natural from the Spring term. Brígh had gone to be with her family, and they had other friends in their friend group, but the two of them had mainly spent time together. Addy knew that day over the summer where suddenly they looked at one another and paused that something had clicked, but she hadn’t done her usual of stopping and making some plan—deciding her next steps forward, for once she had just acted. Addy glanced at Cheese again as he mumbled a complaint about his real name being used. She supposed it was like when her full first, middle and last name were used at home, and she knew she knew there would be disappointing words.
Trying to control when she would blush now became futile, but she turned and leaned one arm on the edge of the tub to face both her friends as they discussed the latest ‘photo collection by Cheese’. He had an eye for these things, grouping shots together in a creative way, and she’d wholeheartedly supported this idea as a gift for Brígh. ”You know I’m interested in this story as well.” She brushed off the comment about herself. Maybe if she’d been another glass of whiskey or two further, she might have said something snarky back. Still, trying not to let her mind wander with a brain muddled by alcohol was a bit more difficult now—maybe she should have stayed sober. ”Rather tall for an elf….” She muttered, sipping on her newly refilled glass of whiskey. ”Teach me that charm, and I’ll do all your homework…” She jokingly responded. She would never do their homework for them, but she was happy to help in exchange for a small lecture on procrastination. She gave Cheese a side-eye. It still felt…weird to look at him, but she supposed she might as well get used to it. And not that she minded the view by any means.
Cheese was going on about his latest photo album creation. He always was excited to share how he viewed the world. Watching his eyes light up from how dull they had just seemed a few moments ago….well he seemed okay now. He’d seemed so defeated despite his words, and it had left Addy uneasy. She hadn't decided what to think of it all yet. Though she couldn’t help but grin a little at seeing how happy his photography made him. ”He’s been working on this all year.” She commented, driving the point home (hopefully) that Brígh had been on their minds and her absence missed.
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BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
HOGWARTS ALUM LIFE ALUM CURSE BREAKER
348 posts
together with Aidan O'Cuinn
played by ana
I've been lost, I've been found but I don't feel down
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last online Apr 8, 2024 10:12:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 13, 2021 8:47:24 GMT -7
Post by BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH on Feb 13, 2021 8:47:24 GMT -7
Frustration rolled off Brígh like a wave at the antics of her two best friends. How difficult was it for them to understand the point she was trying so hard to make? It seemed quite clear to her that they were denying deeper feelings, a mistake she had made and they both knew how much she regretted it. It felt almost like a slap in the face that they could so easily rebuff her advice when she was speaking from experience. It felt weird, the way Cheese's full name rolled off her tongue, and both looked at her strangely. Brígh glared at them, but cracked a reluctant smile when Cheese muttered something petulantly.
Cheese explained jokingly that he had been stalking Brígh and she flicked her hair playfully over her shoulder, stating that she could have practiced her look more. "Studying fashion magazines, darling," she said in the poshest voice she could manage. "It's terribly boring when you're not you know... otherwise distracted or doing schoolwork when you're locked away at home," she added. Addy begged for Brígh to teach her the refilling charm she had perfected. Brígh shot her a secret smile as Cheese retrieved the folder. "Incantation is repleo. Just imagine filling up the glass," she said with a shrug, before returning her attention to Cheese as he passed over the folder with a dry hand.
Brígh was at a loss for words as she flicked through the beautifully developed photos. Her eyes were drawn to the patterns Cheese had so expertly captured, the movement based on the angle lense. Brígh paused at the one of an owl taking flight from the Astronomy tower, her fingers lightly tracing its shape. "Oh Cheese, this is amazing," she murmured at last, feeling a prickling sensation behind her eyes. She looked up at him, beaming. "You made this for me? Makes me feel like I never left," said Brígh, carefully placing the portfolio out of danger's way and drawing him into a tight embrace. "Thank you. Thank you both," said Brígh, glancing over towards Addy.
Composing herself, Brígh scrubbed her hands over her face. She didn't want to admit that the photos had really dug deep into her heart, reminding her why these two were her best friends despite the fact that they had found one another in her absence. "Right, Addy. Fancy trying that refilling charm?" asked Brígh, draining her glass and holding it out to Addy to attempt the charm.
Raphael Caelan McLaggen addilyn elara slater
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Raphael Caelan McLaggen
HOGWARTS ALUM DAILY PROPHET NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER
161 posts
played by Jenny
you don't realize the value of a moment until it's a memory
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last online May 3, 2024 9:42:28 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 15, 2021 4:45:57 GMT -7
Post by Raphael Caelan McLaggen on Feb 15, 2021 4:45:57 GMT -7
There was definitely something missing about Brígh’s explanation as to where she had learned to pose like that, and she was definitely lying about being locked away at home all the time. But Rafe didn’t want to push that much, for two wildly different reasons. The first was rather obvious – the real answer would probably (no, definitely) make him blush and regret asking, so it was better to leave that topic for Addy to ask about when he was far, far away. And the second? The group finally seemed to be moving on from their earlier confrontation about the sort of trouble Addy and Rafe had gotten themselves into. He wasn’t a confrontational guy by any means, and he’d rather not challenge Brígh on a subject that was sure to somehow end with him getting in trouble (again). So he only muttered, “…right,” in a disbelieving tone before deciding to move on. This was their first time seeing everybody together in a year, and he wanted to enjoy it. Brígh’s reaction was everything he’d hoped it would be, and Raphael happily watched her examine each photo. He exchanged a pleased look with Addy as she commented on how long he’d spent working on it. Brígh had paused on the photo of the owl taking flight, and Rafe eagerly added, “That was one of the hardest to capture. I had to slow down the shutter speed and even then, most of the photos came out blurred. But totally worth it, right?” One of the perks of being so committed to Art Club was the easy access he had to other students with the same interests. Many of these photos were highly technical and required a lot of practice to nail down the technique. It was easier to admire the final product when you didn’t have to stare at 15 other failed shots with a blurry or overexposed subject, but that was part of why he kept coming back to the club since first year. Between the staff supervisor and the other students, Rafe had learned so much about photography -- and this was one subject where he was an eager student. “I volunteer as a test subject!” Rafe interjected playfully as Brígh instructed Addy to try out the refilling charm. She was already holding out her glass, so Raphael quickly snatched his almost empty one from the edge of the hot tub and clinked it against Brígh’s to push hers back before Addy could grab her wand. After the conversation they had just had, Rafe finally understood why people drowned their sorrows in alcohol. The situation he’d gotten into with Addy could be seen as painfully awkward or tragic if one looked at it sober, but the firewhiskey had already taken the edge off and Rafe was eager to chase that feeling. So really, it was no wonder that he didn’t make it to midnight. Of course there was no way he could keep up with Brígh and Addy as they went through the whiskey, and not too long later Rafe found himself drooping and losing focus of the conversation easily. “Happy new year,” he murmured as he sloppily made his way to the couch, although he didn’t hear a response as he'd already collapsed on the sofa and felt his eyes slide closed. addilyn elara slater BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH [Ugh, I’m sorry this is so terrible. But end post Cheese!]
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addilyn elara slater
HOGWARTS ALUM HOLYHEAD HARPIES RESERVE PLAYER
365 posts
played by vanessa
I just wanna feel somethin', tell me where to go
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last online May 5, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 16, 2021 0:31:01 GMT -7
Post by addilyn elara slater on Feb 16, 2021 0:31:01 GMT -7
Don't stop, just keep going on I'm your shoulder, lean upon Addy did and didn’t like the muddle way her brain felt with all the whiskey she had rapidly consumed. In a way she felt relaxed but then she would tense when she couldn’t stop certain thoughts from running through her mind. Brígh had used a very heavy word and that was the last thing she wanted to think about. It wasn’t part of the plan, it wasn’t going to garner her any praise from people of influence. She just couldn’t go down that road or anywhere near it for that matter. Addy could feel Brígh’s glare and she avoided looking at either of her friends for the moment though it had come to the point where she didn’t have to look at Raphael to know very well what he looked like without a shirt on. At this point, it seemed ingrained in her mind and her growing inebriation let her linger on that mental image longer than normal. While they seemed to move on, neither was going to continue talking about the subject for now and they could get back to the real purpose of them being here.
Addy rolled her eyes at Brígh’s hair flip. If ‘Fashion magazines’ was her excuse, then Addy and Cheese had in fact been practicing quidditch all those times. But before she could comment, Brígh came to her rescue and finally taught her the charm. She watched her face light up as she flipped through the photos and Addy slowly smiled. She’d felt awful at seeing her friend look so hurt a while before but now that was replaced for the moment with happiness and that was all they had wanted. Cheese had happily and excitedly shown Addy the final product before the end of the term, he might as well have been skipping that day. It was a beautiful collection and Addy could recognize his eye and his style for capturing moments, he’d done a wonderful job. Even now as he happily explained how he captured a particularly good shot of an owl flying away from the tower his eyes sparkled in that way they did. Addy caught her self and looked back at Brígh instead when she felt she’d lingered a few seconds too long.
There was a pause, but not of awkwardness but Addy could read her friend as well as she herself could be read. The gift had its intended effect and she was glad, though it wouldn’t fix the earlier hurt she had caused. Addy grabbed her wand but Cheese had just about tripped over Brígh and pushed his glass in the way. Shaking her head, she managed to give him that look she gave any of her friends when she thought they were being particularly silly. ”Repleo” She spoke and Cheese’s glass was full once again. Once he had gotten out of the way things seemed to settle, all their glasses were full and they continued to look over the photographs and tell stories of the entire previous year (at least that didn’t include Quidditch practice). Though it didn’t take long for Cheese to excuse himself and stumble over back inside. ”Happy new year…” Addy muttered, blinking extra as she found her vision was slow to focus.
How much had she drank? She had no idea, and with this charm it was hard to keep track. Now that it was just the two of them she scooted closer to her friend, leaving her glass behind her for a moment. ”So….fashion magazines? She asked, giving Brígh a sort of dramatic side eye. Truthfully, Addy had never drank this much before. She’d tried firewhiskey but not enough to have this much of an effect and she’d avoided it—there was much to do and not enough time to be hungover. ”I missed you Brígh.” Her face was sincere and she gave a sort of half smile. Maybe it would have been easier to get through this past year with her nearby, or maybe this thing with Cheese wouldn’t have escalated in the way it did. Hell, maybe Brígh would have stopped it in its tracks entirely and talked some sense into her the way Addy usually did with all of them. Turning to sit sideways she leaned agains the edge of the tub with one arm and leaned her head against her fist. It was good to be reunited with her oldest friend again. Plus come January it would be the real reunion with Dicky and Eggy, it had been far too long since the five had been altogether.
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BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
HOGWARTS ALUM LIFE ALUM CURSE BREAKER
348 posts
together with Aidan O'Cuinn
played by ana
I've been lost, I've been found but I don't feel down
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last online Apr 8, 2024 10:12:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 18, 2021 4:04:53 GMT -7
Post by BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH on Feb 18, 2021 4:04:53 GMT -7
Brígh was overcome with delight and emotion, fearing that she would burst into tears. The photos had been so thoughtful, and any doubt that Addy and Cheese had not missed her vanished. They were three parts to the whole, equal and unyielding. They would never be complete without the other, even if something romantic blossomed between the other two. Brígh knew in that instant, even though everything would change, things would stay the same. She would still be able to rely on Addy and Cheese in the darkest moments, be able to trust them with her life should it come to it. The bond between them was unbreakable.
Time passed slowly, idle chatter filling the void of silence, but not unpleasant. The trio kept refilling their glasses, Addy and Brígh taking turns. Brígh nodded at Addy's excellent attempts - the red head had always excelled in charms for some reason. Even at Hogwarts, she had considered joining the Charms club but decided that would be too much academic effort. Especially with the Gobstones team to lead. Around half past eleven, Cheese tottered off back in the house, muttering about a happy new year. Brígh was unsurprisingly more clear than the two of them, even as Addy mumbled a similar greeting. She couldn't help but snicker at the antics of those too, before refilling her drink and taking a sip. Certainly, her head was fuzzy and thick, her inhibitions limited. Perhaps it was the warmth of the hot tub that was lulling Addy into a daze.
"Come on," Brígh chirped, tugging Addy's arm and leading the way out of the hot tub. Cheese had collapsed on the couch - well, at least there would be no funny business with Addy tonight - so Brígh led the way to the bedroom, passing Addy a towel as she went. Wrapped up in the fluffy cotton, Brígh wrapped an arm around the blonde and gave her a squeeze as she mumbled how much she had missed her. "I missed you too. I don't know how we made it through the year... ok well I know how you did it," said Brígh with a smirk. She paled at the mention of fashion magazines, and took a long drink before revealing the not-so-secret secret.
"Truth be told, I did study magazines to get the looks. But... oh Addy I had a lot of sex this past year," she said in a rush, her already flushed cheeks deepening in colour. "It was just... I had nothing else to do! So I gathered a harem of Connor's... wait, they were actually all called Connor," Brígh murmured thoughtfully. "I'm helpless without you two. I let my hormones overrun. You've gotta save me. I wonder what Al would think. Ooh, there was also this cute druid I met called Aidan. He seems so sweet. But Al, yes, did I tell you I'm seeing him in a few days? Maybe things will finally come together for us.." mused Brígh.
addilyn elara slater
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addilyn elara slater
HOGWARTS ALUM HOLYHEAD HARPIES RESERVE PLAYER
365 posts
played by vanessa
I just wanna feel somethin', tell me where to go
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last online May 5, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 19, 2021 1:58:49 GMT -7
Post by addilyn elara slater on Feb 19, 2021 1:58:49 GMT -7
Don't stop, just keep going on I'm your shoulder, lean upon Addy was happy that Brígh enjoyed her gift. It was also a nice way to transition from the earlier awkward conversation into something that felt much more normal. Despite all the changes, they had missed her terribly. Addy regarded Brígh as her best friend, but one didn’t realize how attached you were until they were gone for a while. A year was a long time when they saw one another, usually in the summertime between terms. Was Cheese…Raphael right in saying what he had said? It wasn’t going to happen again? It was a mistake? When Addy let her mind wander to that question in the brief moment of silence they had after he had left to go inside, Addy wasn’t sure if her stomach turned slightly from the whiskey or from emotion. The thought that she had fully given herself to him and he called it a mistake—well, it sat very uncomfortably with Addy. She wasn’t the type to make mistakes. She wasn’t supposed to make them.
Brígh grabbed her arm, and they exited the hot tub, the chill of the cold air hit her wet skin, and she shivered a bit. They walked inside, where it, fortunately, wasn’t as cold, and she looked at Cheese on the couch with her unfocused eyes until Brígh led her down to the room. Once they were wrapped in towels, she felt a bit better, though the hug from her friend helped as well. Still, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes a bit though she had moved her head as well and swayed a bit in her spot. ”Shut up…” Addy responded almost playfully but definitely sarcastically. Besides, it was time to get into other details. They didn’t usually tell Cheese, but he ended up learning from their constant chatter together. But then, as she watched her friend quickly explain the magazines and then much more than that and her face turned the same shade as the Gryffindor scarf she usually wore.
Addy sat on the bed, still holding her own glass of whiskey until Brígh continued to explain. She blinked a few times and stared until the initial shock wore off. ”…How many…Connors?” Addy asked, but her tone was of pure curiosity and fascination. She had paused when she was about to say ‘boys’ but considering her added detail. Well, it seemed she hadn’t been the only one that had been a bit busy this past year, although Addy had been busy enough with just one let alone a harem. Addy laughed a bit. Clearly, they needed each other more than they thought. ”Merlin…we’re hopeless without each other. You have a harem and I only had Cheese.” Addy continued to giggle a bit. All of Brígh’s words blended together a bit in her usual fast speech, but Addy tried her best to focus on her words. Then she brought up Albus. She drank more whiskey. The burn didn’t seem as bad anymore. ”Is it a date?” Addy asked curiously. ”Who’s Aidan? Was he in Ireland?” Addy couldn’t help but spit out questions. ”So…” Add began, leaning in. ”How many?”
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BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH
HOGWARTS ALUM LIFE ALUM CURSE BREAKER
348 posts
together with Aidan O'Cuinn
played by ana
I've been lost, I've been found but I don't feel down
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last online Apr 8, 2024 10:12:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 24, 2021 4:57:43 GMT -7
Post by BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH on Feb 24, 2021 4:57:43 GMT -7
Brígh grinned devilishly at her friend as she poked fun of how Addy had spent her year without Brígh. Whilst she had been long suffering back in Ireland, Addy had managed to keep herself busy. Now that the initial shock at Cheese and Addy's coupling was over, Brígh was quite pleased that the other two had found one another. She was confident as well that no matter what happened, their friendship would remain intact. Brígh was of the opinion that her, Cheese and Addy were inseparable, no matter what. She'd never felt a single flair of attraction towards Cheese, mostly because he hadn't blossomed into Hot Cheese until very recently. But still, Brígh considered her other best friend to be objectively attractive but felt no spark of romance with him whatsoever. He would always just be Cheese to her.
Finally, Brígh let Addy into the secret of her harem. She barked a laugh, nearly spilling her whisky all over the bed sheet. "Oops," she murmured, taking a long drink to rectify future situations. It came out all in a rush, her magazine studying, her posing practice and the boys that she had entranced with her new found ability. She found herself mentioning Aidan, the lovely druid she had met just a week ago. Brígh hadn't expected anything of the sort when she had met him, but Aidan had made an imprint on her mind. "Oh no, Aidan is a druid who works with Eli! You remember Eli, right? Lovely lad, miss him. Hope he doesn't kill me because I didn't write heaps while I was away...| she mused, then shrugged. "Connors... more than two but less than five," said Brígh with a blush. Thinking back, she'd gotten quite experimental with those boys, even if they all shared the same name.
"You're right. Clearly, we can't function without each other, so you'll need to become a curse breaker with me and we can have unending adventures and you can do your tech design too. I can help test. I've got a harem, they've got to be useful for something," said Brígh with a giggle. "Well, perhaps harem in the past tense. I have no intention of speaking to any of them again, now that I'm back at Hogwarts. Now I just have to woo Albus. I think it's a date but... who knows. He's responded to my letters but what if he's not really interested anymore? I mean... what if he found someone.... someone better?" asked Brígh in a very small voice, desperate for confirmation from Addy that no one would be better than her.
addilyn elara slater
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addilyn elara slater
HOGWARTS ALUM HOLYHEAD HARPIES RESERVE PLAYER
365 posts
played by vanessa
I just wanna feel somethin', tell me where to go
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last online May 5, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Feb 26, 2021 1:38:38 GMT -7
Post by addilyn elara slater on Feb 26, 2021 1:38:38 GMT -7
Don't stop, just keep going on I'm your shoulder, lean upon Addy knew that no matter what happened in the new year, Brígh was never going to let go of the fact that Addy and Raphael had been sleeping together since the summertime. Then again, she supposed she could merely bring up this new harem she had just explained. They both seemed to have had their fun in their own ways. In her inebriated state, she couldn’t stop her friends’ previous words from running through her mind, and at the same time, how Cheese had so adamantly insisted that it was all nothing and would cease to continue. But Brígh’s almost spilling her entire glass of whiskey on the bed they were sitting on, and Addy let out a giggle, drinking from her own glass. She was having a bit of trouble keeping track of Brígh’s explanations. Truthfully it was a challenge sober, though Addy and Brígh had spent the last seven years frequently in each other’s company to where Addy knew what Brígh was talking about most of the time when others would stare blankly.
Addy’s gaze went to the ceiling as she furrowed her brows in concentration. So many names, not enough whiskey. And she drank more while she tried to keep it all straight in her mind. ”Eli..yes, I remember him.” He had been a year above them and therefore had already left Hogwarts, though he was originally from the States. ”A druid?” Addy was intrigued now. She knew the druids, of course, but aside from seeing them occasionally around exam-time, she hadn’t had the opportunity to really interact with many, let alone any near their age. And then Brígh answered the question that Addy had been the most curious about. Sex was a typical topic among the teenagers at Hogwarts, though Addy supposed she was new to the playing field. School and her extra-curriculars took up so much of her time, dating had not been anywhere near a priority for her. Plus, it was a topic she’d rarely broached with her parents and a sort of a part of the Slater minefield she was navigating slowly since she was focused on other things.
”Five!?” She repeated back a bit loudly, forgetting to control the volume of her voice and a look of shock on her face. Had it been anyone else, she might have judged just a little bit, but this was one of her closest friends, so she was more surprised than anything. Here Addy thought this ongoing fling with Cheese was a bit scandalous, but it was still just a single boy. ”Did you date any of them? Were they cute?” Addy’s face was that of a typical curious teenage girl wanting to know the latest gossip. It was clear even drunk that they had much to catch up on in terms of details. Addy took another sip of whiskey, lost in her thoughts. She didn’t even notice the burn as she thought out loud. ”I can barely keep one and you managed five.” It was a thought that was both amusing and sad to Addy, but she didn’t focus on the thought as Brígh brought up Curse Breaking.
Her eyes went wide. It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered the job, but with the qualifications needed, she might as well become an Auror like Claire. Despite all her careful maneuvering around her parents, it was sure they would have preferred that even if it hadn’t come up at Christmas dinner as much as Claire’s current position had. ”Curse Breaking? But it’s so dangerous! Then I might as well become an Auror.” Addy attempted to drink from her glass but then realized it was empty. There was a clearly annoyed look on her face as she looked around for her wand. ”I could’ve sworn…” She muttered before pausing at the mention of Albus. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Addy said confidently as she leaned forward to look Brígh in the eye, at least as best as she could, swaying slightly. ”You, Brígh, are the best. If he doesn’t realize that—then he isn’t nearly as smart as I thought he was.” Addy was confident in her statement. She thought the world of her best friend as she did her absolute closest friends, and it didn’t matter who Albus was related to—she’d happily tell him he was an idiot to his face any day of the week.
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