Ponds Become Clouds [Rhys]

[rhys alexander greyback]

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May 16, 2018
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Nell went back with the girls, and Rhys couldn’t help but feel bad that she had to deal with them. Between them, a shared brain cell with only an eye for boys rather than Potions. But he was glad that the antidote was in his system, now to check if it had worked or not. Rhys knew how brutal teenagers could be. He’d spent six years as a walking punching bag with a quick trigger. And for what? Because they thought it was funny, or they had an opinion of him as a Greyback and a werewolf, or simply because he was an easy target that could hardly fight back. How was giving them a truth potion and often not a Potions partner they trusted any different?

Despite what Rhys had answered, he just tried not to think about the many other things Juniper could have asked about, and he would have been forced to admit here in the middle of a room full of his peers. Rhys had never been so secretive on purpose, but specific details he liked to keep private as they were that intensely personal for him. Even the things Nell knew had taken years for him to tell her, with Sarah, it had been easier because there were things she could understand that others couldn’t. Well, wherever she was nowadays.

He nodded. That was a simple way to test. And she asked her initial question, to which Rhys purposefully responded with something very wrong. ”Chocolate.” It wasn’t that Rhys hated it. He didn’t prefer it. A hot chocolate was tolerable, but for some reason, he’d never obsessed over the stuff as others. But Merlin did it feel good to have that control back of the words that left his mouth—he still felt some anxiety but also a relief. But they weren’t done. Juniper happily took her potion. Rhys’ turn to ask questions.

Rhys hadn’t prepared much for this lesson. Instead, taking that time to dwell on the existential dread it caused him. ”Ok…” He sat up in his chair, wondering if he should just ask the questions he was asked. But getting that baseline seemed like a good place to start. ”What is your middle name?”

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Chocolate. She knew that to be true as well, so unless Rhys had been lying for the last couple years to the point where he could trick the veritaserum, it looked like the antidote was in full effect. Which was exactly how she had predicted it would turn out. Sharp check marks were made on her sheet of paper next to the antidote and potion, indicating that they were successful. That meant her round with both would be more fun than anything. She hadn't thought about how she had made Rhys the guinea pig for this, though it was probably because she wanted to be the one to save him if she accidentally poisoned him. Then she could hold that over him forever.

But now it was her turn and she was in the hot seat. Only if he made it that way though. Juniper was a little too excited for her portion, maybe even more so than for what she had prepared for Rhys's questions. The unknown of what he could ask was exhilarating, and she would have no way to lie to him at all. So with that, the first question came and she grinned stupidly as she answered, "Minerva." That was easy! Almost a little too easy. Except she didn't even start to think about trying to lie, which was part of the lesson. With just answering with her middle name, she couldn't tell though.

Her brain was going a mile a minute, and she tried opening her mouth to lie about her middle name a few times. First, she tried to say Mauve and then Mariam. But both times it felt like something forced her mouth to shut and her brain prevented her from doing anything else. Only Minerva jumped out, trying to be said again. Now that was freaky. "Next?" she asked hesitantly, suddenly aware that the potion was way more dangerous than she had previously thought.

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[rhys alexander greyback]

hide what you have to hide

and tell what you have to tell

May 16, 2018
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys felt as if he’d been finally freed from a tiny cage where the key was just in his grasp. And the inability to reach the key meant he couldn’t stop those thoughts from leaving his mouth. If he was being honest—no, he was done with that. At least for now. An annoyance lingered in the back of his mind. Nobody enjoyed being put on the spot, especially not Rhys, who seemed to invite it nonetheless. This could have been an easy assignment—twelve inches of parchment on how Rhys could not lie about his favorite color. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Nell glance over at him over her shoulder, but Rhys didn’t completely look at her.

He hadn’t even told Nell about Gringotts. But this wasn’t the time to discuss this, so Rhys stuffed it away. The list of questions in his mind was extensive, but he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to most of them. Juniper seemed to enjoy this entire experience, in contrast to Rhys. He looked at her big blue eyes, curiously gazing from behind those large frames. What did they see when they looked at him? He cleared his throat and asked his next question. This had come to mind for some reason and seemed harmless enough. “Back in sixth year, you asked me for help on that Herbology assignment—why?” He couldn’t remember the date, but after they teamed up for potions but before the winter break. “You know that’s my worst subject…”

He'd always tried to tell himself it was fine that he was terrible at Herbology. He was still better than the students who didn’t achieve an OWL. But he didn’t enjoy not succeeding in every way he could. So logically, it made no sense that she needed his help. Then again, he was usually surprised when people approached him for anything that wasn’t taunting. Juniper looked as though she’d physically calmed, less like she was about to hop out of her chair from the excitement of this assignment. It could’ve been some side effect of the potion, or maybe she felt that pressure that Rhys had carried for the past month. It had certainly affected his mood, and it looked like it would continue to do so for a little while. Sitting up a little straighter, his shoulders still couldn’t help but slump. He looked away briefly as he tried to think of another question that wasn’t incredibly personal. This wasn’t the right place for it.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Juniper wished she could lie, only because she wanted to say that she didn't remember what he was talking about. Obviously she knew, because her stupid brain was the type that literally never forgot anything important. And the fact that she had mentally and emotionally beat herself up for an entire week leading up to ask Rhys for 'help' on the assignment. It had been an excuse to get him all to herself for a bit. Eventually that led to time spent studying together, but admitting she needed assistance on a piece of work was a lot harder to do when she was already self-conscious being around him. She was still like that at times, trying to figure out what was and what wasn't correct for a relationship. Or even a friendship. And it didn't help that she was currently under the potion's effects, because she felt the words coming out the second she even thought about maybe lying to him.

"You do kind of suck at it," she admitted freely, eyes widening instantly. "But it was because I wanted to spend time with you. Without anyone else." It didn't feel as bad now that it was out, except that she could feel her face starting to burn. Merlin this thing was way more dangerous than she had thought. Her softball questions to Rhys were nothing like this. The only thing worse had to be a love potion, except she was pretty sure people under that weren't aware. At least then they could be excused for anything they said or did. But this? Nope. Even with her technical capabilities in transfiguration and other classes, she had nothing to fight this. "I know I could have just asked normally...but I didn't know that at the time," Juniper added sheepishly. Why was this so embarrassing?

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[rhys alexander greyback]

hide what you have to hide

and tell what you have to tell

May 16, 2018
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Rhys’ head tilted slightly. His face relaxed as she answered. Now that he wasn’t under the potion’s effects, he wouldn’t say out loud that Juniper didn’t sound all that different under the potion’s effects than when she’d used to correct him in their younger years. But Rhys hadn’t known what answer he expected. He was so used to pity that his brain would look in that direction almost automatically. Or something to do with his permanent position as her potions partner. Or he’d just been that oblivious. That was likely why he hadn’t overthought their constant time together that semester.

A light blush crept onto her face, and Rhys figured she hated this as much as he did. He did his best to suppress a slight grin as he looked down at the fingernail he’d been picking at. Juniper was always so headstrong and sure. It was kind of cute when she got a little flustered. It emboldened him a little, but he couldn't ask the questions he wanted to ask here. Rhys looked up, eyes locking with hers. He decided he wouldn’t push it. ”Have you—“ Their professor announced that class was going to end soon and instructed them to distribute their antidotes if they haven’t already. Rhys had turned to look at where they were speaking, but along the way, he saw a lot of interesting facial expressions among his peers.

Well, that was that. And he felt relieved this little experiment was over with. Rhys grabbed the small vial and held it out for Juniper to grab. The question he’d been about to ask was long gone from his mind, he supposed it would come back later, and he could ask it then. Although she would have the choice to answer or not.

[ end rhys ]

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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There was one more question Rhys had for her, but it was cut off by the professor announcing class was coming to a close. The sudden shifting of chairs all around her made her start to do the same, forgetting momentarily that the lesson at hand was about asking questions and getting truthful answers. Juniper turned back to face Rhys, who was already holding out the antidote. Since everyone else around her was doing the same, she took it and knocked it back. Just like with the veritaserum, the antidote had absolutely no taste. A scary reminder that someone could easily have it slipped into their morning pumpkin juice without even knowing. But that went for most potions they were studying at this level. If it didn't kill you instantly, it could irrevocably screw up your life in a matter of questions or commands. Maybe she was just paranoid.

"Well that was fun," she stated rather cheerfully and honestly, even though she didn't have to anymore if she didn't want to. "The write up on this shouldn't be too difficult, though I wish we'd had more time to ask questions." Really she just wanted to know what Rhys was going to ask at the end, and maybe to give him a few more rounds. If worst came to worst, she had no problem simply making up questions and then honestly answering them as if she was under the effects of the potion. The professor wouldn't care at this point anyways. Both of them were graduating without any problems, and the NEWT for Potions was going to be a breeze. Thankfully veritaserum was an easy enough potion to write about and make. Or at least it was for her. "Lunch?" she asked Rhys as she collected all of her notes into her bag and started to head out of the classroom.

[The End]

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