Trudy Gamp is as subtle of a nesting dragon (![]() ![]() @ 2013-01-22 20:16:00 |
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It wasn’t that Sebastian was entirely unaware of what his friends were doing, but an effort to be less jealous and sorry for himself meant that he was being a bit reclusive. Just a little. So while he might have missed some explosions on the journals, he didn’t miss the look on Trudy’s face when he spotted her in the common room. It was not nearly the happy look that should be gracing someone in a new relationship, as far as Sebastian was concerned (because he was so knowledgeable about these things, of course), so instead of finding a corner for himself to pretend to study but in actuality play more solitaire, he walked over to where Trudy was sitting and sitting down next to her. Surely she wouldn’t mind. “Hi, Trudy,” he said with a smile. “How are you?” Trudy was sitting looking at her textbooks. Not even Transfiguration could get her mind of things. Shouldn’t she be happy? Trudy thought she should be. But there was so much going on that was just eating away at her. Trapped in her mind of thoughts, ignoring the outside world, she was a little startled when Sebastian sat down next to her. “Oh, Hi.” She forced some semblance of a smile on her face. “I’m okay.” Well that was a lie. “Well not really but I’ll figure it out.” She focused on him for a moment, “And you, how are you?” She had noticed his lack of presences lately, well it just seemed like he was not involved as much. Trudy was worried she had done something, or that something had happened. “I’m fine,” Sebastian replied, looking down at his hands for a moment before looking back up at Trudy. “Really. I’ve just been studying a lot.” Well, that was a lie, unless studying how to win at solitaire was something that counted. “Everything was getting dramatic and weird with the Slytherins that it seemed safer to keep things mellow.” Watching her for a moment, Sebastian finally nudged her slightly with his elbow. “You seem a little melancholy, Trudy. Are you sure you’re okay?” Trudy nodded her head in agreement, “That is true, keeping it mellow is not a bad idea.” She could not argue with the idea of keeping your head down and studying. “Plus studying it probably a good thing right?” Trudy wasn’t about to assume he was doing anything else, because that was what she wished she could be doing. Instead she was stuck with her thoughts, the drama of her friends, and her cousin not really speaking to her. She wished she could just forget about it all. Feeling the nudge she shrugged in response. “I should be happy. But the reaction of some of my friends has got me question whether I have made some right decisions.” Trudy didn’t want to hurt Graeme, she genuinely did like him. She had been so happy, until she told people. That wasn’t right was it? She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees and placed her chin in her hands. “I should be happy about Graeme in I, and I am, but everybody else is bringing me down.” Sebastian pursed his lips as he listened, though that soon turned into a downright frown the more that Trudy spoke. He hadn’t realized she was getting quite as much animosity for it as she was, which made him feel worse because he probably should have been more aware. For all his proclamations of defending Trudy and Graeme’s relationship against naysayers, he wasn’t really doing much of anything. He certainly had yet to punch anyone in the face. “Who’s being awful?” he asked. Trudy looked over at him, she did give him a look that read you should know, it’s obvious. It would be the same people who hated she was friends with Graeme and Sebastian. It was always the same people. “My cousin isn’t speaking to me really, or at least not the same way.” That was the biggest sting. “Araminta is flat out against it and says so. And Vera and a number of people that claim to be my friend.” Trudy sat back and looked at Sebastian. “I know I shouldn’t let it bug me, but I do. I know I should focus on enjoying the fact Graeme asked me and this is something new.” But still the fact people she liked and valued the opinion of were so against it, it was just make it hard to really enjoy. Okay, so he should have known that, and it was stupid to ask, but Sebastian didn’t want to jump to conclusions on the off chance it wasn’t people like Aloysius Nott causing trouble. Even though his automatic reaction was to blame the Slytherins for everything. He couldn’t help it that they were always at fault for horrible things. “It’s hard to do something when whole loads of people seem upset at you for it,” Sebastian said after a moment. That much was true. He found it hard to exist when whole factions of people thought he ought not to just because of his blood. “But has it occurred to you that maybe they aren’t really good friends if they can’t accept you and your choices?” It was a sad truth, but he was right. “I know you are right. And the ones I care about the most are trying to accept it. So that is something right?” Trudy hoped that was something. “It just hurts that Aloysius is being like this, but...” She trailed off not sure what to say after that. It was hard to talk about and she knew things were going on with him. “I just don’t want Graeme thinking it is him you know, because it isn’t.” Trudy was worried about that, really worried. He deserved to have a happy girlfriend. “Anyway, I can’t be surprised. Got enough of the lectures just being friends with you guys.” She nudged him with her shoulder and gave a genuine smile. “But that didn’t stop me so I can get over this.” Trudy hoped she was saying something true, it just didn’t feel like it right now. “Your friends should want you to be happy,” Sebastian said, with a small smile. It seemed simple enough to him. Your friends were your friends, even if they made dubious decisions. Like, if Olwen decided to go off and get herself a Slytherin boyfriend. Sure, he’d be a little suspicious (for Slytherins truly did seem to be the root of all evil), but he’d support her. Because that’s what friends did! So it made Sebastian really sad to see that Truly’s friends and family couldn’t be happy for her. That had to be hard. “I’m sorry,” he finally said. “I’m sorry that people are making it so difficult. I think you and Graeme are great together.” Sebastian made her feel better, and at least someone thought they were great together. “Thanks, I know you are right.” She really did appreciate his words and the fact he even took the time to sit down. That was what a friend was supposed to do. “I think we are pretty great together too.” Trudy relaxed a little, and a sighed before deciding to pick another topic she felt like she needed to talk about. “Are you okay with what has happened?” Trudy paused trying to find out how to word it without being offensive. “I know I’m not the only one who has seen the pattern, but with the whole muggleborns being targeted it seems. How are you handling it?” Trudy rarely thought of Sebastian as a muggleborn, well not until her friends start shoving the words fake Black in her face. “I worry about you sometimes.” “You shouldn’t worry about me,” Sebastian said immediately, offering a smile that he didn’t entirely mean but hoped seemed genuine enough. He was aware enough of the fact that bad things kept happening to people who happened to have less than “pure” blood, and it did make him a little nervous. That’s why he was glad for the defense practice Mairead had set up, and the time that Reuben had taken with him to also work on defensive spells. But he couldn’t walk around school living in fear. That just wasn’t going to work for him. “I’m worried about Grizel and everyone who’s been targeted so far.” And sure, he’d been targeted by “Muffy” but that was awhile ago, and he’d been mostly left alone since. “But I’m going to,” Trudy wasn’t going to not worry about her friend when things kept happening to other muggleborns. It was sort of heartless that she wasn’t exactly bothered by it, but more bothered by the fact it could be one of her friends. While sure Jane and Grizel were friendly to her, and she liked them well enough but she didn’t put them down in her circle of close friends like Sebastian. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. Or Graeme.” It had been a worry since telling Aloysius that something could happen to Graeme simply because she had said yes to him. “But you are going to keep safe yes?” “Of course!” Sebastian said enthusiastically. “I’m going to keep perfectly safe, and I’m going to make sure Graeme does too! I can’t stop you from worrying, but I promise I’ll do my best to stay out of trouble.” Which didn’t actually mean much, because doing his best was probably not nearly what it needed to be to keep him out of trouble, but it sounded nice and Sebastian really didn’t want Trudy to worry. “You should just enjoy being with Graeme and being at school and not having to take OWLs like me, because I’m pretty sure I’m going to fail them all.” “Good,” Trudy said with firmness that was not exactly intentional. If he was going to attempt to keep out of trouble that was all she could ask. Though there was this suspicion that it wasn’t going to help as much as she would hope. Despite not wanting to she was going to worry about the both of them. A little laugh escaped, “I will enjoy being with Graeme, but maybe not all the school part.” Trudy wished classes would end, but then when was she ever really interested in a class that wasn’t Transfiguration? “But as for OWLs, don’t worry. I’m sure you won’t fail them. I have faith.” She smiled at him, “And if you ever need help let me know, I may be able to offer some aged wisdom.” “Well I’ll let you know if I end up frantic in a few months,” Sebastian said, before smiling and pulling out his deck of cards. “So, any chance I could interest you in a game of something? It might be a fun way to distract you?” “You better,” she smirked, “Though I do hope you don’t end up frantic.” That was the last thing she would wish on anyone for OWLs. She has heard stories of people ending up ill over them. “And you know a game of cards sounds like the perfect distraction.” Trudy was extremely thankful Sebastian had sat down and dragged her from her thoughts. See, she did have friends who wouldn’t judge her for things. |