Ignorance Is Bliss [Ondina]

[grey xavier slater]

Ondina Nell Weasley

Grey was standing alone in the boathouse waiting for Ondina Weasley. He wasn’t sure when this had started, or when he really first noticed how he felt about her, but it was like being hit with a train and now he was along for the ride. He hadn’t consulted his sister about what Ondina was really like yet, but he did recall Edmund saying something about her at one point; that she was part of the crowd that Theodosia hung around. Eddy-boy must have been wrong, because there was no way someone like her could be part of a group as caddy as that. As far as he was concerned, she only stuck with them because her cousin was part of it. There was absolutely no way someone as smart as Ondina would willingly subject themselves to terrible people.

Pacing back and forth a few times anxiously, he wasn’t really sure what was about to happen. She was apparently going to meet him here. He had approached her earlier in the week, still unsure why he had been so forward about it, and asked her to show up at…what time was it supposed to be again? Checking his watch, Grey tapped it a few times with his finger. That’s right. Two in the afternoon on November 26th. He had been running that through his head over and over again all week. Somehow he had managed to get his work done, but all he had done in class was stare off to the side. He couldn’t get her out of his head. There was no way it could be...the door to the boathouse clicked open before that thought could complete itself. Grey whipped around from his spot on the other side of the structure, half-hoping it was a random person so he could buy a few more minutes to think it all over again, and half-hoping that it was Ondina.

[Deleted]

grey xavier slater

Ondina hadn't thought it would work. Really, she hadn't. Nor had she thought that Grey would so blatantly and boldly ask her to meet him at the boathouse at a very specific day at time. She must have given him a little stronger of a dose then she'd intended. Could you blame her though? She was bored, frustrated and angry. Cassius had moved to the other side of the world, no warning. And in his sudden absence Ondina had felt a strong desire to wreak havoc. So why not on Grey Slater? Theodosia had already made a pass at his sister... What was her name again? It didn't matter. And she'd basically left the older brother to Ondina and the other seventh years to deal with. So yeah, she might have sneaked him a love potion. It wasn't like she was ashamed of it. Oh, if she were caught she'd play the good little girl and pretend she'd liked Grey for years and just gotten so desperate for his attention. She was a pretty good actress.

Vain as she was, Ondina stopped by the common room to touch up her hair and make up before heading out to the boat house. The old door creaked as she unlatched and pushed it open. Immediately Ondina's brilliant green eyes spotted Grey, standing there like a startled dear. With the smallest of breaths, Ondina donned a pleasant smile as she took a few steps inside and closed the door behind her. Her hands clasped behind her back, and she tilted her head just enough to make the whole look as sweet, and almost timid as possible. "I'm sorry, you weren't waiting that long were you?" She asked, her voice matching her body language.

[grey xavier slater]

Ondina Nell Weasley

The door opened all the way and Ondina stepped into the boathouse. Grey tried to say something but couldn’t find the words for it. His mind had a million things rushing to it, each one seemingly more important than the last. He stood still, mouth probably hanging open. She was possibly-no she was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. He already knew that of course, but that was the only thing that kept pushing his other thoughts aside. Why had it taken him seven years to figure this out? There could have been so much more if he had realized how he felt earlier on in school. Her eyes stuck out the most on her. The emerald green was impossible to tear his gaze from. And then there was the smile…the minute she did that it was like he had been shot in the heart with another one of Cupid’s arrows. The sharp twang in his chest reaffirmed everything that he had been feeling lately. He couldn’t let her go, no matter the cost.

As she spoke up, asking him if he’d been there long, Grey found himself soaking in every word. It was all directed him, for his ears only. He shook his head furiously that he hadn’t. That was a lie of course, he had been there for almost two hours, pacing back forth like he had just been doing. It had been impossible to sit still in the common room all morning. Other Gryffindors were starting to look at him like he was crazy or something. Was it really that bad to be in love? Sure there were some ethical questions still, on whether or not Ondina was part of the group that tormented his sister, but he was sure he could sway her from doing that anymore. She was too perfect for that. He took a few steps forward, finally finding some kind of sentence that made sense, at least to him. “Thanks for coming. I’ve been thinking a lot lately and I…I...” And what? It was somewhat embarrassing to say it, even if it was at the tip of his tongue. He couldn’t finish the sentence like he thought he could, instead fumbling over incoherent words and growing increasingly frustrated with himself.

[Deleted]

grey xavier slater

Grey didn't answer her question. Instead he had this goofy look on his face as if he couldn't make sense of his own thoughts, mouth slightly gaping open and everything. He managed a headshake though, so at least he wasn't too dumbfounded to not have understood her. That was good. She hadn't given him too much to cease his ability to function... But she must have given him a pretty strong dose. She'd have to make sure to be a bit more careful for the next one. At long last though he finally seemed to make sense of his thoughts and words started to pour out but he stopped before finishing, leaving Ondina to try and decipher his words.

She took a few steps closer to him, hands still clasped behind her back and her smiling turning more understanding. "About what?" She asked innocently, but then feigned an apologetic look, unclasped her hands and rested one against her collarbone. Such a timid show she must be putting on. "Sorry, that was too personal, wasn't it? Did you... need someone to talk to about it?" She intentionally corrected herself. Part of her wanted to gag at this act she was putting up, but the rest of her thought it was fun. Tricking people into thinking she was something she wasn't. Manipulating them into get close enough that they wouldn't be able to get away when she finally struck.

[grey xavier slater]

Ondina Nell Weasley

About what? What was it he was going to say? He was lost in her eyes again, and that's all that mattered to him right then. She stepped closer to him and he felt his chest tighten up slightly. For some reason he wanted her closer, but at the same time, every step felt like he was getting stabbed over and over again. It would be silly to say but he began to think she could hear his heartbeat audibly since it had started to become a deafening roar in his ears, each step closer being somewhat of a tease to see what he would do. Grey swallowed, but his throat was dry and wracked with nervousness still to actually respond in any shape or form.

He watched closely as she moved her hands from behind her back to her neck. For a split second he kind of wished he could hold onto them. They looked so delicate. Porcelain-like. He had heard from someone, as he had asked around about her for the past week, that she had some health issues. There was something oddly appealing to the idea of having hold of someone so fragile, like he was protecting it from being destroyed. And yet, she wasn't in his grasp. His fantasy snapped in half as he realized this, and he decided to take everything a little more serious. That thought was a possibility should he try hard enough.

"Need someone to talk about it..." he repeated, mainly to himself so that he could remember what they were talking about. Grey looked away from her for a few seconds as he contemplated it all again. It was now or never. If he didn't act immediately, someone else could pounce at the chance he left them. "I guess anyone would work...but it's about you, so maybe not." He stopped himself again. That wasn't even making sense to him, how would Ondina figure it out. Furrowing his brow, he tried once more. "Sorry. I've had a lot of things up here lately and I'm having trouble sorting through them." He motioned with his hands around his head. She was definitely going to think he was a nutter. "It's just, I can't get you out of my head and I don't understand it. I don't like people...but for some reason there's an exception for you." Grey stopped for a second so she could hopefully process everything. "So I guess what I'm trying to lead up to is, I was wondering if you'd go to the Yule Ball with me. If you're not with someone else already." He bit down onto the corner of his lip, something he couldn't recall ever doing before, waiting anxiously for her response. He had wanted to say more, but felt that this would satisfy him for now.

[Deleted]

grey xavier slater

Oh, Grey was seriously squirming, and it took all of Ondina's self control not to grin. She couldn't completely hide it though, but thankfully was able to turn it into a smile. She was curious though about what it was he wanted to talk about. She could think of a number of reasons, but she didn't know Grey well enough to be able to make a good guess. How was the potion affecting him? She'd heard that some people took to it differently. Like her Uncle Ron, he'd been an absolute lunatic from what she'd heard. Was Grey the same, or somewhere else on the spectrum?

Ondina raised an eyebrow as he again struggled to get out his thoughts, this time rambling. Intentionally she took another step closer. She was now just out of reach, but close enough that only one more step from either of them would change that. She wouldn't take that final step. If anyone would take it, she wanted it to be him. She wanted him to feel like he was making the final decision, even though... It was really her's. She was the one that had dosed him after all! Her hands dropped to her side as she tilted her head back just a little to keep eye contact. "About me?" She feigned innocence, sounding and looking slightly stunned. That stunned look was replaced by a soft blush, and coy smile as he mentioned that he couldn't get her out of his head. "I'm an exception?" She asked, hesitation in her voice, as if worried that he might change his mind about what he was saying.

Finally though, he managed to spit out what he was saying, and she made her smile grow bigger. Brighter. Ugh, it made her sick pretending to be so happy and innocent, and... well good! But she had too. And she knew she was pulling it off well. "No one's asked me. . To the Yule ball, I mean." She started, clasping her hands together again, this time in front of her and smiling as she tilted her head to the side. "Yeah, I'll go with you."

Seriously, Ondina should be a professional actress.

[grey xavier slater]

Ondina Nell Weasley

He was normally able to keep cool in situations like this, well, not like this exactly because he had never actually done this before, but tense situations always seemed to be a breeze for him. And yet this one wasn’t for some reason. Something about the crazy levels of anxiety that had been rushing through him all day to ask Ondina to meet him, and then finally ask her to the Yule Ball, were just too overwhelming for him to handle this time. Why was this happening again? That’s right, the answer to that question was inconclusive so far. He had no idea what had prompted him to do this, just that he had to no matter what. Luckily for him though, she had said yes. That was all he had heard, not that she wasn’t going with anyone else, but that she said she would go with him. Grey Slater. He felt like he should be overwhelmed with emotion, like he should be happy about that. He was, but not the type of happy he thought an answer like that would elicit.

It was like a completely different switch had been flipped. Goal one was accomplished, and yet he didn’t want the conversation to stop there. That would be a waste of their time; especially after he had been waiting there for the past few hours. The boathouse wasn’t necessarily too close to the school either, so he’d feel terrible having her show up just to answer that question and then leave again just like that. It seemed…inconsiderate of sorts? He still wasn’t sure though, which seemed to be a common thing with him lately when it came to the subject of Ondina. “So…what now?” That wasn’t what he had meant to say, but it came out anyways. Grey had barely thought about the last few things he had said anyways, since he was still lost in her eyes. That seemed more important to him anyways.

[Deleted]

grey xavier slater

Grey wasn't moving. If anything he seemed even more at a loss then before, as if he hadn't excepted her to say yes and thus hadn't planned on what to do next. It was almost... well adorable, his uncertainty. Now that she thought about it, she didn't know if she'd ever seen him date anyone, so she wasn't even sure if he'd ever been confronted with this sort of situation. Of course it was against his will but he didn't need to know that. "We could talk, if you wanted." Ondina started to say with a smile. "You know, I never thought you noticed me. Different houses and all. Most people.... Well, I don't think they ever really notice me, when I have so many cousins here as well. I'm just one of many Weasleys." She was laying it on pretty thick, but she wasn't just throwing it out with no warning. She was playing the part of the little school girl, happy at being asked to the school dance. It was true though.

Ondina was 'just another Weasley'. She'd heard it countless times growing up. As if she was only noticed or recognized when her family was involved. She hated that. She was sick of being one of many. Perhaps it was that desire to be recognized as more then 'just another Weasley' that drove her to this, besides the already stated reasons of boredom and frustration. "I think that's something you can understand. I remember your older sister. Always lived in her shadow, didn't you? The only Slater anyone ever talked about back then was her." She was trying to make a connection between them. The potion would do a good job at messing with his head, but wouldn't leave anything to chance. She wanted to find similarities between them, as if to connect the dots. So he'd think he liked her for a reason and not just for the hell of it. He'd be less likely to consider foul play that way.

[grey xavier slater]

Ondina Nell Weasley <3

Talk? Ondina would stay and talk with him? Grey could feel his heart skip a few times. He could do that. The more times he ran that through his head, the happier it made him for some reason. He had reasoned with himself already, prior to getting to the boathouse, that Ondina’s answer was more than likely going to be a no. There was no way he would have been the one to go with her to the ball. But now he was. And she was fine with talking to him longer. It was like a dream come true. There was no way this was real. He felt bad though as she said she didn’t think people noticed her, with all the other Weasleys around. That made sense. There were quite a few of them now, but at the same time didn’t that make it a good thing? If she wasn’t noticed as much, that meant she could do whatever she wanted to without any problems. He would have killed to do that. “Well I…” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t at first.” He wasn’t sure how to continue to explain it, since he still wasn’t sure when this had started. “But now I do.”

Swallowing, his throat somewhat dry now, Grey continued. “I think its fine that you aren’t seen like the rest of them. Must be rather freeing, honestly.” That was a positive statement coming from him. Especially with how Ondina turned it to him, and his comparison to Claire. He frowned as she said that he probably lived in her shadow, or at least understood what it was like. Maybe. Maybe not. It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned that, outside of him bringing it up. “I guess.” He spoke up. “At the same time, I only do things for myself now. Not for her, not for our parents.” Grey let out a small laugh. “Turns out, she was doing the same thing, trying to live up to standards. I don’t really blame her anymore for that though…but yeah, I understand what it’s like to not be noticed.”

[Deleted]

grey xavier slater

Ondina smiled brightly at how flustered he was. Clearing his throat and trying to form his thoughts into words. She really needed to lower the dose, she wanted him to at least be able to function like a normal human being, obviously. "I'm glad." She answered with that same sweet tone she'd maintained most of the conversation thus far. Brushing her hair over one shoulder, she twirled a lock of blonde hair between her fingers. "It is nice when people can see me, and not just the last name." Though, she didn't necessarily want people to totally see her, because where was the fun when people knew all her tricks?

She continued to twirl that lock of hair and tilted her head as he answered, laughing and explaining that he only did things for himself. "That's good. It's better to do things for yourself then someone else. For what it's worth, people notice you now. How can they not?" To be fair, she'd noticed him, not in a good way, but noticed him none the less.

(Dear heavens, this one is late. Sorry! Do you want to end it with your next post?)

[grey xavier slater]

Ondina Nell Weasley <3

Ondina was glad. Her saying that made his heart skip a beat, or flutter, whatever it was that people always said it did in situations like this. Grey had actually done something right for once. He hated taking initiative if it didn’t have to do with the paper, but lately that had been different. It was kind of nice. Especially because this meeting had apparently made both of their days.

While he could spend the next eternity staring into her eyes, the slight motion of Ondina twirling her hair around her finger kept distracting him. None of this seemed remotely real, and yet it all was. He couldn’t respond to her question about people noticing him now, his fixations solely on every twist of her hair, every syllable that rolled off her lips. Scary how much detail he had noticed in her already, but he felt it was necessary to get to understand and know her better. “The same could be said for you.” Grey muttered out, almost inaudible to himself, in regards to answering her question. How could anyone not notice Ondina? He had ideas, but couldn’t really make sense of them.

The hair twirling was really getting to Grey now. He wasn’t sure what else there was to say since he hadn’t anticipated it to go this well. All of his attention was on Ondina’s hand, spinning her blonde hair back and forth. He mentally stopped himself before his mind wandered further, clearing his throat again. It was better to step away now, since everything had gone well. No reason to push his luck just yet. “I uh…I have to go do something, but I guess we can nail down the details at a later point.” Grey turned to leave the boathouse and Ondina behind, something he really didn’t want to do. “Thanks for saying you’d go with me. It’ll be fun.” Pushing the door open, he stepped out into the cold air. He had to have sounded like an idiot. None of that really mattered though, since he was going to the ball with Ondina Weasley. Mission accomplished.

[THE END]