Edgar is a sparkling sight (bonesie) wrote in an_ill_wind, @ 2009-06-02 19:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | - backstory, dorcas meadowes, edgar bones |
Backstory: April 1974
Who: Edwina and Dorkface
What: Best friend bonding back in 7th year
When: April 1974
Where: The Gryffindor common room
Rating: PG
Status: Completed log!
Edgar had a moment to himself. They seemed to be rare lately; there were times when splitting time between his responsibilities as Head Boy, class work, quidditch, and his social life became overwhelming, and he couldn't tell up from down anymore. But it was late and he was caught up--he'd spent most of the evening with Cally, albeit doing homework, but still time with just the two of them--and now he was sitting in a chair by the fire, feet propped up, rereading the new edition of Quidditch Through the Ages his father had owled him two weeks ago, completely absorbed in the section on Tutshill (surprise, surprise). Very nearly everyone had gone to bed--only a few stragglers lingered, finishing up last minute assignments. It was quiet, and a welcome change from the insanity that had become Ed's day-to-day life.
Dorcas was most definitely not studying. Although she had been with a Ravenclaw, maybe that counted for something? No, probably not. There had been very little studying going on in the empty classroom they had snuck off into and while she hadn't exactly intended to break curfew, keeping it really hadn't been on her mind either. But now that she was on her way back to the Gryffindor common room, she moved as quietly as she possibly could through the halls, hoping to avoid any of the prefects or professors out on patrol. She let out a sigh of relief when she finally reached the portrait guarding the common room door and whispered the password, intending to sneak up to her dorm without anyone who mattered noticing her late arrival. Stepping into the common room itself, she lifted her finger to her lips to make sure the few younger students in the room didn't say anything and then froze at the sight of someone's much-larger-than-a-third-year's feet by the fire. Whoever it was had their back to her and their face was shielded by the high back of the chair and Dorcas could only hope that it wasn't that annoying sixth year Prefect who seemed to be born with a rule book up his arse. Dorcas tip-toed towards the stairwell and decided to chance a look towards the late night reader.
"Oh! Hey Ed," she said cheerfully as she recognized her best friend. Sure, he was the head boy, but it was Ed. Dorcas made a half-hearted attempt to straighten her clothes and hair before going over to the fire and flinging herself into the chair opposite of his.
Caught up in his book, Edgar hadn't heard the portrait hole open, so when Dorcas spoke he very nearly jumped out of his skin. Then he realized who was talking about what was happening, and raised his eyebrows at her, setting the book down open in his lap. "Hello," he said, slightly amused, his quirk of a smile betraying him. He looked at his watch and shook his head. "Tut tut, it's past curfew Miss Meadowes. You were out past your bedtime."
"Was I? I hadn't noticed," she replied teasingly. Really at this point her pretty blatant disregard for the rules was just accepted as one of those things. At least that's how she looked at it. She stuck to the big rules, she didn't hex her fellow students or anything like that (unless they were Slytherins, of course. Or if they really deserved it.) But curfew? Eh, curfew was a silly rule anyway. "Let me guess, studying again?" she asked as she reached for the book in his lap and snatched it away. In part so she could see what it was, in part so she knew she had his attention. Well at least it was quidditch instead of some boring transfiguration text or something, although still... history. Ew. "New edition? How much could have changed since the last one?"
"Updated for the new teams in the league and then for that whole mess with Carl Tukplot trying to buy out Tutshill from under Sammy Wainer," Edgar said, stretching his arms up. Dorcas had never really been a fan of quidditch, not the way he was. He'd been raised on it nearly as much as manners and proper grooming techniques. Especially Tutshill. Edgar figured he'd be disowned for going for a different quidditch team before he'd be disowned for marrying someone who wasn't a pureblood. "Bleeding buggerer. It's quite interesting. And there's a lot more pictures."
Dorcas laughed, shaking her head. Oh she loved playing the sport, flying around with bludgers coming at your head from every which way and she loved the camaraderie of being on a team, but she'd never really been one for watching others play. Where was the fun in that? Still, she was well used to Ed and his obsession with Tutshill by now. "And yet I'm guessing nothing you didn't already know," she teased as she tossed his book back towards him. "You could recite the entire team's history in your sleep. Maybe you already do. I'll have to check with the Prewetts on that one. Anyway, aren't you going to ask why I was breaking curfew?" she asked, leaning back in her chair and putting her feet up with Edgar's on the ottoman.
"Do I have to?" Edgar asked, smiling wryly. "Likely you were off in some place or another, snogging somebody or another. Unless you actually were attending a study group in the library, in which case I may quite literally die of shock," he teased. He marked his page in his book and closed it, setting it aside. Now it was Dorcas time. Once upon a time they'd been inseparable. They'd been best friends since first year, and they'd spent the majority of their time with one another. After fifth year there'd been his prefect duties, and that had taken some of his time. Then he'd started getting interested in Calypso as well, and over the course of sixth year, their relationship had steadily progressed, taking more time away from Dorcas. Then this year, on top of having a girlfriend, he'd been made head boy, which was practically a full-time job a lot of the time. Setting the example was the most daunting--it didn't leave much time to just be silly and lame and his usual easy-going self.
"I'll have you know I was buried under a mountain of Transfiguration texts!" she replied, attempting to feign indignation for a few brief moments before breaking into a grin. Not that her story was even remotely believable. She wasn't even taking Transfiguration as Edgar well knew and really, she couldn't have truly lied to him even if she'd wanted to. And that was the downfall of being best friends with the head boy. For all she got away with (whether because Ed just didn't make a big deal about things like breaking curfew or because it was her, she was never quite sure) if he ever seriously confronted her about something, they both knew she'd cave in a matter of seconds. "Or you know, under Campbell in the Transfiguration classroom? Something like that." It wasn't that Dorcas was in any way a slut, or even much of a flirt for that matter. She'd never even had sex, she just liked snogging! And considering that she spent most of her time around guys, it wasn't that surprising that she ended up making out with some of them sometimes. Was it? Well she didn't think it was.
Edgar rolled his eyes. "Right," he said, mirroring her grin. He never really thought too much about her snogging blokes here and there; she'd do what she wanted to do regardless, unless Edgar put on his responsible trousers and used his stern voice to make sense and reprimand in the way that only best friends could. Either way, it was just harmless, what she was doing now, and generally it was with the same guy for a period of time before she got bored and moved on. Edgar didn't really understand it, but it was one of the many differences between the two of them. They tended to balance one another out. He had the steady significant other, while Dorcas wasn't really the sort (at least as far as Ed could ever tell). "Given you're as studious as a table leg, I can't say I'm too surprised."
Dorcas looked oddly thoughtful for a moment, although there was still a mischievous smile spread broadly across her face. "I think the table leg wins out actually. At least it helps support studying?" She, on the other hand, tended to do all she could to discourage her friends and housemates when they started breaking open the books, especially when she was bored. Which was frequently. Of course over seven years they'd managed to come to some sort of truce that meant she didn't insist upon distracting them all the time. "Besides, there's still two months until NEWTs, I don't see why everyone is making such a big deal about them. Either you pass or you don't and unless you want to go be an Auror or something it's not like it matters. I'm thinking of protesting them. For... causing undue stress or something."
"Protesting NEWTs?" Edgar laughed. Many, many times he had been on the receiving end of Dorcas' pleas to say to hell with homework and go faff off instead. In spite of all his duties and classes, Edgar did still manage to make time for his friends, and for Calypso, and that very often included lazy downtime and doing nothing at all. But he didn't take a break between classes, and unlike most of his schoolmates, he didn't use spares to play pick-up, or charm suits of armor to swear like sailors at passersby. "Good luck with that. I think you'll have a bit of difficulty canceling out a process that helps students specialize in whatever it is they want to make their careers out of."
"Well I figured I wouldn't actually be able to get them cancelled," she admitted. "Just... sitting out in front of the great hall with a big sign or something! I'll have to come up with a good slogan for it." Brilliant (at least in her own mind) and mischievous plans were definitely Dorcas's forté although she knew well enough by now not to expect Edgar to get involved with most of them. Especially those that involved blatantly challenging authority. But that didn't mean she was going to stop trying! And this was admittedly one of the ones she was less likely to actually go through with, but it was a nice thought anyway. Definitely better than spending the next two months cramming for exams she was woefully unprepared for. "Maybe just something simple. Like... NEWTs Oppress! Hmm... no, still needs work."
"Suffocate the NEWTs," Edgar suggested ruefully, shaking his head at her. He was always left wondering what she would come up with next. "And I think your enthusiasm for protesting is misplaced if you're going to be devoting your time to a one bird sit-in against exams."
"Suffocate the NEWTs! I like it!" she declared cheerfully with a cheeky grin. "And you underestimate me, Ed! I'm sure I can get some others to come protest with me. Maybe not the seventh years, but I've got some of the younger kids wrapped around my finger. All I've got to do is hand them a sign and they'll come following! I'm sure of it!" Okay so coercing an army of third years into protesting the NEWT exams might be over the line but it was a damn funny thought.
"You would be the one with mindless peons," Edgar said. "That politician the papers keep talking about, Voldemort, with the cult, he could take a few pointers from you in wrangling up people who'll believe whatever they're told." He was joking, of course. The papers never seemed to give enough details on what the man was doing, but it was all way too suspicious for Ed's tastes.
Dorcas made a face at Ed's mention of Voldemort. Politics usually wasn't something that interested her beyond the excuse to get a good bit of righteous indignation going at the latest form of government oppression and she didn't know any more than Edgar about what Voldemort was up to, but she too didn't think it could possibly be good. Not with some of the comments she was reading that were clearly not-so-thinly veiled purist bullshite. "Better to use my superpowers for good," she declared firmly. "Besides. They're not mindless peons! They're devoted protégés! You should try to get some of your own, they're really damn handy."
"That's what prefects are for," Edgar said grinning widely, though he was kidding. He was a fair guy, and nothing resembling a dictator where being Head Boy was concerned. He delegated where necessary, but he and Emmeline conferred on everything important, and definitely got a lot of input from everyone at the group meetings. "I just send them out and they do my bidding. It's an excellent arrangements."
"Ahhh, the power of the well behaved," Dorcas teased with a laugh. "I'd say it was a pity I didn't make Head Girl but I don't think I'd have made it a week. I'll have to settle for third years, I guess." She gave an overly dramatic sigh at that, although she was still grinning quite broadly as well. Really, she was probably the least likely candidate for a Prefects badge in their year. Well the Prewetts probably gave her a run for her money, but whatever. "But you know, you could send the sixth year prefects to come protest with me. S'not like they've got anything going on. It'd be good for them! Character building and all that!"
"They're busy having a panic over their first set of NEWTs and selling bullshite 'stress cures' in the form of doxy droppings," Edgar said, rolling his eyes. "Not that they wouldn't love to see exams lit up in flames, I'm sure, but they don't have the time to commit to your cause."
"See? This is exactly why we need to protest them!" she replied with a firm nod, although any attempts at seriousness were betrayed by the smile she couldn't keep from her lips. "Sixth years shouldn't have to be stressed about NEWTs already! Although... well now you've given me an even better idea! I should charge them to come participate! All in the name of stress relief, of course." They both knew she would never actually do such a thing - for one thing it would require far more organisation than Dorcas was inclined towards and for another, she thoroughly believed in free mayhem.
"It's too much work for you. You'd get bored and try to make me finish it, and that wouldn't reflect very well on the head boy. Especially the head boy who is planning on applying for auror training out of school. My NEWTs are rather necessary," Edgar said knowingly, eyes sparkling. He hadn't told Dorcas yet. He'd been hemming and hawing over what he was going to do after school (because he was surely going to do something), debating between the aurors, the hitwizards, and foreign diplomacy (as encouraged by his father).
All discussion of protesting NEWTs was forgotten at Edgar's news and her eyes widened as she let out a little squeal of surprise. And then promptly launched herself out of her chair to give him a good natured smack to the arm. "Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded. "Oh Ed, that's great! You'll be an amazing Auror, I'm sure of it!" Despite her general distaste for most forms of authority, she still viewed the Aurors with a good deal of respect. They were noble, devoting their time to fighting Dark wizards, after all. Not mindless Ministry bureaucrats like her older brothers. And as far as possible careers went, she really couldn't think of anything she thought he was more well-suited for. Although... sitting back down, this time at the edge of her chair, she asked, "Have you told your father yet?"
Edgar shook his head. "Nope, not yet. I sent off my application, though--they'll call back for interviews before the school year is out and then base final acceptance on my NEWT scores, which shouldn't be a problem," he said confidently. "Dad'll be a bit disappointed. He thinks I've got a real political mind. But I would just rather be doing something more hands on. Professor McGonagall and Professor Chatam both both gave me glowing references for my wandwork, and Professor Dumbledore gave me one for my prefecture and head boyship, which I think will be the real clincher there." Edgar was grinning widely now. "It feels so, so good to actually commit to a decision."
"They'd be idiots not to take you," she declared firmly. And really she couldn't see how Ed wouldn't get accepted, even without a recommendation from Albus Dumbledore himself. That was just the icing on the cake. "Besides, one of us has to have a real job and better you than me. I'll just come crash on your sofa."
"You know it'll always be there for you," Edgar replied. "Besides that, you know you're going to make your mark. Real jobs are probably overrated anyway."
"That's what I keep saying! The overrated part, anyway. The rest of it I'm not so sure about, but I figure something'll fall into my lap eventually. I hope. Otherwise I'll just have to be the house guest that never leaves. We'll be a hundred and twenty and I'll still be sleeping on your sofa. Although I hope by then you'd be able to upgrade me to a spare room or something," she replied with a grin.
"Given the amount of money I'm coming into next month when I turn eighteen, I could probably buy you a house if you really wanted one," Edgar said, half-jokingly. He would always take care of Dorcas, no matter what happened. And he had the means, so why shouldn't he share the wealth, as it were? And if he was going to be working anyway, his inheritance was just going to be sitting there anyway. Might as well do something with it. "Never mind a room."
"Shhhh, I like to think you're going to be as poor as the rest of us," she teased, although really the rest of them weren't exactly going to be struggling for money either. Really how had she ended up surrounded by wealthy pureblood children? "Besides, you don't really want to give me access to your inhereritance. I'll spend through it by Christmas. And all on completely ridiculous things. Like flying carpets. And gold quidditch brooms. Not for flying, of course. Just for staring."
Edgar laughed. "If you bought a hundred things every day for the next two years I'm not sure you'd go through half of it," he admitted honestly. He found the actually number in the vault that would be his a little more than overwhelming. "Never mind the rest of the Bones fortune and I'll the land I'll be entitled to if I want it when I get married. If I want it anyway. I'll probably just tell Dad to leave and and we'll split it amongst ourselves when the time comes. I don't want to live in that place. It's too huge. And proper."
"Well I better get damn good Christmas gifts out of this deal, that's all I'm saying. And birthdays. But you don't really want to get rid of the house, do you? You can fill it up with lots of little Bones kids! And you know I'm always happy to help with un-propering the place. Add in some shag carpets, Muggle posters... We'll have those hallowed halls properly corrupted in no time!" Dorcas's eyes flashed mischievously at the mere prospect.
Edgar shook his head. "I'll keep it; it's been in the family for generations. It's full of history. But I don't want to live in it anymore, no. I want to start my own history. I'm... well I'm tired of living in the shadow of my surname. There's more to me than being a Bones."
"Of course there is! You're Ed," she replied as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. Really she didn't give a rat's arse about the family name or any of that shite. "Ed, the fantastic Auror who is going to save us all from dark wizards everywhere! And once you finish your training, I'll make you a cape and a suit made out of bright red spandex and everything!"
"And I will never wear it," Edgar said, laughing at the image that popped into his head of himself dressed that way. "And I know. But you know what Dad's like. It's all about living up to the Bones name and making my mark and etcetera. It's been something I've been told since I was in the womb for Merlin's sake. It could be worse, though. I could have spent my childhood being told what dirt everyone who isn't a pureblood is. Though I still think that if Calypso wasn't pureblood that he would've told me to 'find something better'. You should've seen the face he made when he found out she was a Doge." His expression darkened. "He didn't say anything, but I know what he was thinking."
"You better wear it! If I go to all the trouble of making you a costume I at least should get to take embarrassing photographs of you in it!" she teased, sticking her tongue out at him. "And if your dad isn't proud of you for becoming an Auror then he's an idiot," she added bluntly. "Although if you really want to give him a heart attack, tell him you broke up with Cally and are dating me for a while. Then when you tell him you've gotten back together with her, he'll think it's brilliant! Not that you should actually break up with Cally."
Laughing, Edgar shook his head. "You know I'm a terrible liar in an capacity," he said. "I couldn't keep dating Cally in the meantime a secret, and besides that, he can kiss my arse anyway, at this point. Let him antagonize Jon for a while and leave me be for the first time in eighteen years."
"That's the spirit!" Dorcas replied, grinning cheerfully at Ed's sudden bit of defiance. It was a small step, but she was always a fan of telling authority figures to go to hell. "Besides, you and Cally will get married, have lots of beautiful pureblood children," she said, unable to help rolling her eyes, "and he'll shut up about it, I'm sure."
"I hope I have daughters," was all Ed added before looking at his watch. "It's getting pretty late, Dor. We should both head to bed."
"Only if I can teach them how to not be complete girls all the time," she teased as she stood, seeming to bounce up out of her chair in a thoroughly unnatural movement. "Fine, fine, you need your beauty rest and I have dreams of Ravenclaws to see to."
"You'd hate to see me if I didn't get at least five hours," Edgar said, standing as well and collecting his book. "I'm practically a hag."
"You mean you're not already?" Dorcas asked, feigning confusion as she looked up at Edgar with a puzzled expression on her face. "I've been so confused all these years!"
"Har de har har," Edgar replied, rolling his eyes. "Good night, Dorkface."
"Good night, Edwina!" she replied, sticking out her tongue again before bounding up the steps to her dorm.