Entry tags:

! log, 1998-april, character: merry goshawk, character: thorfinn rowle

WHO: Thorfinn Rowle and Merry Goshawk
WHAT: Finn has something important to tell Merry.
WHEN: Wednesday afternoon. (backdated)
WHERE: London.
RATING: CUTE
STATUS: Completed in GDOCS

Finn was certainly disappointed, but he also felt a little relieved. The waiting had been the worst part, and now that it was over he could go back to life as it was before the election. He could focus more on Merry, he could start a new job even if it wasn’t as Minister for Magic. There were plenty of things to still be upbeat and happy about. He wasn’t going to let it sour his mood too much.

And of course, there was something he’d been meaning to tell Merry for ages that got put off because of the campaign.

Deciding it was a good day to take a ‘mental health day’ for the both of them, Finn had gotten dressed in a more relaxed fashion than he had in weeks, forgoing a tie entirely, and headed out of his home to pick up Merry. He walked the length of the walkway until he was outside his front gate, and apparated to a street nearby her home, opting to walk the rest of the way like a good Wizard and gentleman.

Once he was close enough, he knocked gently on her door. “Merry, it’s Finn.”


Truth be told, Merry was a little relieved herself. Well, okay, more than a little. Merry was a lot relieved. She wanted Finn to be happy, and she thought he’d be great as Minister, but throughout his campaign there had been a nagging awareness at the back of her mind that she would not make a good Minister’s girlfriend.She was weird. She was awkward and undignified and had a tendency to run her mouth without thinking things through first. Just about the only thing she was good at was Oblivating, and that wasn’t a bad thing to be good at, but it wasn’t really impressive, either. Chances were, she figured, if Finn got elected, she’d get left behind sooner or later. Which ultimately would probably happen anyway, if she was being reasonable, but she wasn’t ready for the relationship to be over yet. Or ever, but Merry knew that people didn’t always or even usually get what they wanted.

Morose thoughts didn’t suit her, and she was easily distracted from them by the knock on the door, which sent her flying to open it. She attempted to slow down and appear calm at the last moment, but Merry Goshawk never really appeared calm, so it didn’t really work, and anyway she forgot her intention to be dignified for once as soon as she got a look at her boyfriend, looking more relaxed than he had in weeks; she flung herself at him, pulling him into a hug.

“Don’t be sad, people are thick,” she said in greeting, because ‘hellos’ were overrated anyway.


There was never a dull moment with Merry. He’d barely registered the door opening before she flung herself at him, pulling him into a great big hug. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her closely. Whatever sad expression might have been on his face melted away in favor of something a bit more happy, contented. It had never crossed his mind that Merry might not have been the best candidate for a Minister’s girlfriend, or eventual wife. He had never once thought that her oddities would be a negative thing for such a position. He simply enjoyed her, everything about her, despite their vast differences.

He didn’t release her right away, finding comfort in the hug he didn’t know he needed, but eventually he did let go and kiss her cheek on the way, letting his hands slide down her arms until they reached her hands. “They most certainly are extraordinarily thick.” He agreed, giving her another smile. “I’m not sad, Merry. I’m disappointed, because it feels like a lot of hard work was done for nothing, but I know that’s not true. I’ve set myself up to be a strong candidate for another election down the road and I’ve gotten myself noticed, and may move around in the Ministry for a better job. A lot of smaller successes came from this.” He knew all those things to be true, and all his closest friends were telling him the same thing. It was not a total loss.

“But I don’t want to talk about election things. I’ve been neglecting you through this whole thing and I hate that. So today is all about you. Where would you like to go, love? I’ll take you anywhere.”

The look on Merry’s face at that was utterly bemused. “You haven’t been neglecting me,” she said, using Finn’s grip on her hands to tug him into her building. No sense standing around on the porch until they were ready to go, after all. “I can take care of my own care and feeding, Finny. Promise.”

Still, the idea of a day spent together wasn’t one she was going to argue. She freed one hand so that she could tap at her chin, exaggeratedly thoughtful. “Anywhere?” she asked with a cheeky smile. “That’s a grand offer, Mr. Rowle.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He replied, smiling at her. “I know you can take care of yourself, Merry, I just meant that I missed you. I haven’t been able to spend nearly as much time with you as I’ve wanted to these last few weeks, and it has certainly made me miss you.” He was pulled inside the house, and the second they were out of public view and in the safety of her home he swept her up in his arms, moving her to the closest wall and pinning her there, giving her a soft kiss.

“Grand offer indeed, though nothing is too grand for you. Come on, anywhere. Where would you want to go?” He asked again, looking excited at the prospect. “We’re wizards, Merry, we can Apparate anywhere and be back in time for dinner, which, by the way, there is a bit of a party happening at my place tonight and you are invited. A bunch of my old school friends and some ministry people, et cetera.” Death Eaters, basically, not that she knew that. “So anywhere for the day, your choice, no rules.”

Merry grinned, letting herself be pinned against the wall even after Finn stopped kissing her. “Mmm,” she hummed, “I guess telling you to take me to bed isn’t ambitious enough.”

She leaned in to steal her own quick kiss before ducking under the man’s arm and spinning away, across her living room so that she could pace as she thought. “Anywhere, eh? Anywhere. It’s a very big place, anywhere. And you know me. I want to go everywhere.”

He could have stopped her if he wanted, but he let her duck under his arm and walk across the room. Finn couldn't help but grin at her. Merry, his ray of sunshine even on this cloudy day.

"I'll take you everywhere, Merry." He said, grinning as he crossed the room towards her. Taking up her hands again, he held them in his. "Because I love you." He stated it simply, very matter of fact.

"But maybe for today we stick with one place."

Brown eyes widened to the point that it was almost comical, because no man had ever said that to her before. Sure, Merry had had a boyfriend or two in school, but they'd never been all that serious.

In fact, she couldn't remember the last time anyone had said that to her at all. Her parents weren't particularly demonstrative, and she didn't have those sorts of friends.

She’d have pinched herself, but Finn was holding her hands again and she didn’t really want to take them back. “Did you mean to say that?” she asked instead, blinking. “Because it’s okay if you didn’t but you should probably take it back then.”


Finn waited for her response, eager to hear it - but she looked surprised, confused maybe. When she went ahead and told him he could take it back, he nearly laughed. But he had the feeling that maybe Merry didn’t hear this sort of thing often, and that she wasn’t sure he meant it. It saddened him, just a little, that someone so wonderful could feel so unloved. Had he done something to make her think he didn’t mean his love?

“No, Merry. I’m not taking it back. I love you, and I mean it. I’ve fancied you since I first laid eyes on you and the past few months we’ve spent together have been some of my best. I absolutely, truly, without a doubt love you very much.” He explained, squeezing her hands for emphasis as he said it.

“If -- if you don’t feel the same way, I fully understand. You don’t have to. But I love you, and I wanted you to know that.”

Oh. Well then. Merry blinked at Finn again, but she was smiling now like she couldn’t help it. “Don’t be thick,” she said; probably not the most romantic thing a person could say when told someone loved them, but as far as she was concerned it was legitimate. “Of course I love you. You’re funny and brilliant and- and, I don't know. You're Finn. I love you."

It had just never occurred to her that the feeling might be mutual.

"Good. I'm happy to hear that Merry." He kissed her again, this one more tender than the earlier kiss. After another moment he kissed her cheek and tugged on her hands.

"So, where do you want to go?"

Feeling a little giddy now, Merry bounces on the balls of her feet. “Hmmm, Egypt? Egypt. I’ve always wanted to see those pyramids. Plus,” she added with a smirk, “work on my tan. And it’s exotic. What do you think?”

Egypt was not what he expected, but then, he never expected anything Merry threw at him. She was wonderfully exciting in that way. “Egypt sounds brilliant.” He had to admit, he wouldn’t have thought of it but he felt the same way. Certainly something he had wanted to see himself. “Maybe wear shorts, then, not a miniskirt?” He said with a laugh. “If we’re going to be climbing Pyramids and all that.”

Merry glanced down at her legs and grimaced. "Good point. Wouldn't want to give any muggles an eyeful. Give me a tick? Unless you want to come watch me rifle through my wardrobe til I find shorts."