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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 6, 2008 16:23:25 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Slipping on a pair of comfortable slippers, figuring that after the amount of walking she had down earlier that day her feet would enjoy the break, she grabbed a light jacket and tossed it on, heading out of the common room. She was technically running late, but she didn't think he would mind. It was only a few minutes after all. Nodding to a few people she passed in the hallways, she sent a small smile over to a fellow class mate and hurried down the stairs. Tapping her fingers impatiently when they decided to move when she had gotten half way down, she sighed to herself, wondering why she was in such a hurry. It wasn't as if she hadn't spent time with him before; nor was this the first time she had ever been late. Shaking her head at herself, she slowed down her pace, finishing her descent down the steps at a normal pace.
Reaching the front doors, she pushed them open eyes moving instinctively over to the Black Lake. It was almost impossible to exit the school building without seeing the large body of water, an even in the dark of night the refection of the starlights and lit candles inside the school could very easily be seen. The sight was always enough to bring a smile to her face, but right then there was only one thing she was looking out for and that was the familiar shape of one James Potter. Making her way over to the Forbidden Forest, she grinned when she first spotted the outline of a broom stick propped against a figure. That could only be but one person. Slowing to a stop next to him, she let her slipper clad foot bump in to his, saying, "hey, you. Long time, no see."
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 6, 2008 17:07:36 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
"Keeping you up?" Giving him a small shake of her head, she replied with, "too much noise in the common room, anyway. Wouldn't go to sleep any time soon." Taking a quick look around the empty lawns, and the creature filled forest behind them, she moved her gaze back on to him, smile still on her face. It wasn't until she heard the soft thuncking of the broom hitting the forest floor that she realized James had moved closer. Amused as she took in his next words, and the look that had crossed his face, she couldn't help but tease him. "Why? You've seen me in my pajamas before. Why would tonight be any different?" Grin turning playful, she pulled open the sides of her jacket, saying, "sorry to disappoint you. T-shirt and shorts, just like any other night."
Letting the coat fall back in to place, she moved her eyes back to the fallen broom stick. "Out for a fly?" she asked. She wouldn't be surprised, really. It was more unlikely to see him without his broom than with it. "Or were you simply cleaning up the dirty tree trunks?" she joked. Studying his face for a long moment, she brought her fingers up to play with the lining of her jacket, she derived a small comfort from the fabric, a bit confused at why she felt she needed the comfort in the first place. And why her heart rate was picking up, and why his light blue eyes seemed to be even brighter than normal tonight.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 6, 2008 17:56:47 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Narrowing her eyes in confusion as she listened to his words, feeling as if his eyes were burning a hole through her, she tilted her heads slightly to the side as she contemplated his words. Slight blush crossing her cheeks when he said her clothes weren't going to last long, she said softly, "James, please don't. Not right now. I don't think I want to start off our last year together with a one night fling. You're my friend, and I don't want to lose that." Standing still for a moment as she let her words sink in, she moved to the side, bending down to pick up his broom; feeling the grain of the wood beneath her finger tips as she ran them over it, she frowned as she thought silently to herself.
She had known him for years - having met their first year at Hogwarts, they had quickly become friends, and she valued that friendship more than she cared to admit. Despite how her breath had caught in her throat when he commented about flying with her, about all the things he was promising without saying, she couldn't do it. Not if she was simply going to be another girl he could claim on his list. Brandi had lasted six years so far without giving in to him, and she wasn't going to now, no matter if a large part of her wanted it. After watching him win the heart of one girl after another she had learned quickly that he didn't do long term relationships, and that was fine. For him. There was no way she was going to get on a broom and take a romantic fly around the school in the dark of night, when she knew that in a few days it was all going to be taken away from her once more. Silently holding out the broom for him to take, she gave him a sad smile. "Thank you," she said quietly, "but I can't."
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 6, 2008 19:16:48 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
That last comment brought a smile to Brandi's face. "You? Keep your hands to yourself? Now I have to go with you, if only to see if you can." Glad to be back on familiar grounds, where she could tease him as much as he liked to tease her, she moved her eyes back to the broom in her hand. Tossing it from one hand to the other, its tail balanced on the ground, she laughed and said, "you do that sudden plummeting to the ground thing that you're so found of, I swear I'm going to kill you. After I've pissed myself of course."
Not particularly wanting to think about going to the bathroom on herself, or the feeling of her stomach dropping out along with the broom, she held out his stick once more. "You should probably get on first. Forget the whole 'lady's first' thing; want you to hold the bloody thing still for me," she joked. She quite liked flying, not as much as some other people, nor was she ever going to become a huge fan of Quidditch, but a pleasant flight around the grounds would be nice, especially if it was with him. A moment after that thought crossed her mind, she told it to sod off, and to go bother someone else. Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 6, 2008 21:19:20 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Laughing along with him when he commented about golden showers, she adopted a mock affronted tone and placed both hand on her hips. "I will have you know that I don't just pee for anyone. You should be down on your bended knee, begging me to give you the honor." Although it was all very amusing, Brandi personally was not a fan of that particular sexual past time, and was quite glad to learn that her companion wasn't, either.
Straightening the bottom of her jacket, she pulled the zipper back up, knowing from experience how cool the night air could be. It probably wasn't the smartest thing she was going to do, and she could quite easily catch a cold, but past flights had taught her that as long as she didn't think about the fact that she was cold, she could trick herself in to believing otherwise. And if that failed, well James was sure to be warm.
Accepting the offered hand with one of her own, she swung her leg over the broom stick, keeping her hand in his for support. "I think practice is a bit of an understatement," she joked as she made herself comfortable behind him, only then taking her hand back. "I should probably take the Flying Class again with the first years." Wrapping her arms around his torso, she had to almost forcibly push down the fluttering butterflies in her stomach, and ignore the wonderful smell that was emancipating from his neck. Linking her hands together in front of him, she hugged him a little as she scooted closer, not wanting to fall off the tail end. "Okay, I'm ready," Brandi called to him, turning her head so she could rest it on his upper back and still be able to look out over the Black Lake. "Whenever you are," she added with a small smile. More excited than she cared to admit.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 7, 2008 9:30:25 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Giving a roll of her eyes at the thought of eleven year old boys getting their eyes full, she had to laugh when he commented about the loss to the quidditch team. "Typical," she laughed, clearly amused. "Don't want to do anything to harm future generations of quidditch players. I guess it's up to you then to attempt to teach me how to stay on a broom for longer than five minutes. Best of luck to ya." Hearing the remark about the small fee, she moved her hand slightly so she could poke him in the stomach. "Hush, you," she said, laughter still in her voice.
Tucking her knees in close to the broom, unconsciously holding her breath as he counted down to the moment they would take off, she let out a small relieved sigh as they safely ascended in to the night sky. Picking up her head from its spot on his back, she gazed out in wonder at the site the castle made below them. The lights form the Great Hall flickered with the flame light, the relection of the building on the still of the lake was nothing if not surreal, and the cool night air rustled through the tree tops beneath their feet. This certainly wasn't the first time she had see this view, but it never failed to take her breath away. Returning her head to the comfortable space between his shoulder blades, she smiled, eyes not moving from the site below. "It's gorgeous," she breathed, hugging him slightly in thanks for giving her the chance to experience it.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 7, 2008 11:09:33 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Letting the quiet of the night settle around her, she smiled softly as she took in the surroundings. From her position she could hear the soft, comforting sound of his heartbeat; if she wasn't so acutely aware of the body in front of her, and the warmth radiating outward, she could have easily snuggled into his back and taken a quick nap. Of course, that was before he suddenly decided to do the one thing she asked him not to. Diving straight down toward the lake, Brandi wrapped her arms tighter around him, holding on for dear life. "James!" she yelled at him, eyes squeezed tightly shut. It wasn't until she felt the water beneath her clad feet, and heard the sound of splashing water behind them that she spoke again. "You are horrible."
Slowly opening her eyes, and gently loosening her grip on him and his shirt, she sat back up and moved her gaze to his face. Despite the fact that the plummet to the lake's top had scared the crap out of her, she couldn't help but smile softly at his offer. The world at there hand's? She didn't think she had ever heard anything so sweet from him before. Certainly not in an offer to her. "Paris," she replied with a smile. "I want to go to Paris." Shaking her head at the thought, and knowing that they didn't have the time to fly across county, she amended her statement. "I want to go to Paris someday; how about we just head of to Hogsmeade for now?" Looking in to his face, she ran her eyes over his square jaw, his straight nose, his dark brows, his light blue eyes, and forgot all about where they were, and what they were doing. It didn't matter where they went, or if they stayed right there over the lake, as long as they went there together she wasn't going to complain.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 7, 2008 15:56:23 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Trying to imagine what it would be like to swing her legs over the edge of the Eiffel tower, eyes taking in the blinking lights of the city, the moon peaking down through the clouds above; Brandi felt sure that no matter how magnificent she tried to make it, nothing would compare to the actual thing. Privately thinking that now that the idea was in her mind she would have to go, she turned her eyes back down to the lake beneath their feet. A small splash coming from the edge of the water signaled that they weren't alone out there, and helped to bring Brandi out of her daydreams.
Just in time, too, as James was suddenly whipping the broom back around and taking them off in the general direction of Hogsmeade. "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that you use that technique to get girls to hold on tighter," she called over his shoulder in to his ear, chuckling quietly. The move worked, too. At least for her. She had instinctively squeezed him tighter at the sudden turn, and the increased speed wasn't exactly going to make her loosen her grip.
Staying as still as she could as they moved closer and closer to the wizarding town, she furrowed her brow in puzzlement as she tried to figure out where they were going. There were only so many places that would be open this late, and thus the selection was rather limited. That being said, it wasn't until their feet touched down that the realized where they were. Staring at the darkened building, and watching a few heavily clad people enter, she gave a small jump of surprise when James' voice came from off to the side. Sticking out her tongue at him and his comment, she climbed off the stick, rather thankful to be back on solid ground.
"You have a very immature broomstick then. Besides, you would have helped me. You wouldn't have let that mean old sweep stick throw me off, would you?" she asked, deliberately sticking out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. She had half a mind to cross her arms across her chest and give him puppy dog eyes, but at that moment her stomach gave a small rumble and the fact that they were skipping out a feast came back to her. "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner," Brandi offered, picking up his broom and offering it out to him for the third time that night.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 7, 2008 18:17:01 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Letting her pout turn in to a soft smile to match his, she brought her right hand up to rub the back of her neck, slightly embarrassed at with the intensity he was looking at her. Staring back in to his eyes, trying to discern what was going on behind them in his mind, and the meaning behind his words. Was he simply joking around, teasing her and he so frequently did, or was he proposing for a second time that night for something a little more than friendship. And if he was, did she dare accept? Lord knew that she wanted to go in that building knowing that she was on a date with the one person she wanted more than anything else, but at the same time the thought of having the date end badly, or, potentially, going so well that she would want more. The second option was so terrifying that she could feel her stomach flip, and her blood rushing through her veins. And by terrifying she meant absolutely thrilling.
Staring at James silently, agonizing over what she should say, how she should act, she knew that the last thing she wanted to do was laugh it off if he was being serious. That would be such a horrid way to respond, and she didn't think she could make herself do it. Not when she wanted it so badly. Resting her hand on the juncture of her neck and shoulder blade, she bit the side of her bottom lip, eyes not bothering to cover the thoughts that raced through her mind.
After a long moment of silent contemplation, she gave a small nod of her head, smile tentatively pulling at the edge of her lips. "How could I possibly resist having a date with the famous James Potter." Although she had given him her answer, she could still feel her heart beat pounding, her mind questioning whether she had answered the question he was really asking, or if she had read in to it too far. The urge to reach forward and remove his hand from his pocket and link it in her own was strong, but fear kept her root to the ground, waiting for him.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 8, 2008 10:19:17 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Standing perfectly still as she waited for James' reaction, she held her breath, not daring to breathe lest that somehow effect his response. Suddenly feeling like she was the biggest idiot in the world when she saw the look on his face, and took in the fact that he had yet to speak, she realized that she must have made a huge mistake. Wondering if she should apologize, or if that would simply make the situation ever more awkward, she opened her mouth to say something, she quickly shut it again when she saw the smile growing on his face. Heart skipping as she realized that her words weren't going to be refuted, she smiled back at him, stomach flipping for an entirely different reason.
Eyes on his as he moved closer, wrapping a warm, comforting arm around her waist, she unconsciously leaned in to his side, bringing her hand around to rest against the small of his back. Smile etched on to her face, she kept her eyes on his face, watching in wonder as they walked together, amazed at the fact that he was here, with her, apparently as happy about that fact as she was. It wasn't until her companion started speaking again that she noticed where they were, and who was standing in front of them.
A bit more than simply surprised when the gentleman allowed them to entire his restaurant, she smiled at James when he held the door open for her. Giving him a mock curtsy for his efforts, she laughed at herself, pressing the door open from the inside, holding it open for him in return. "You didn't have to do this," Brandi told him, slightly in awe of seeing the room so empty. She didn't think she had ever been in the Three Broomstick when it was anything less than overly crowded. There was something almost surreal about the experience, but at the same time, just the whole fact that he had gone out of his way to ensure that they would have a nice meal was rather romantic. "Come on, let's so sit down" she said, smiling over at him out of the corner of her eye, reaching forward to take his hand in hers as she led him over to a small booth by the window.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 8, 2008 18:23:21 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Feeling her hand being tugged in the opposite direction, and turning her head to where he was taking her, she smiled softly. "You're being oftly romantic," she said appreciatively when he lit the fire in the grate. Eying the two couches, she paused for a half second to debate where she should sit, and was quite glad when he made the decision for her. Making herself comfortable in the plush sofa, she stretched her feet out toward the fireplace, contemplating slipping off her slippers and warming her toes.
Looking up when the bartender came over, she smiled up at him, indicating that she was ready to order. "I'll have the chicken alfredo, please. With a gillywater. Thank you," Brandi said, turning her head to look at her partner while he made his selection. Waiting until after James had ordered and the man went to the back, she shifted over slightly so she could lean back against his side, head resting on his shoulder. Reaching up to take hold of his hand once more, she brought it closer to her, consequently wrapping his arm around her shoulder, allowing herself to study and play with his fingers. "I trust you," she said after a moment, responding to his promise of not regretting their date. She had waited too long for this to go in to questioning his motives; she couldn't help but trust him - she had known him for years, and he had yet to let her down; directly at least. "Thank you for doing this," Brandi added, leaning her head back so she could look up at him from her position. "For bringing me here. It's nice." Smiling at him, she wished she had chosen a better word to use than nice. It just seemed so inadequate. This was so much more than nice, and she hoped she'd be able to thank him properly at some point.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 9, 2008 11:41:26 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Closing her eyes when she felt a gentle kiss pressed upon the top of her head, a soft smile could be seen on her face. It felt so right to sit there next to him, pressed against his side, his arm around her shoulder. Pausing in her examination of his fingers, she brought up hand to link her fingers in to his, letting their hands rest against stomach. Wishing that this moment could last for the rest of the night, she cursed herself silently when it was she who ruined the moment by moving her head.
Looking up when she heard the oncoming sound of footsteps, she removed herself a bit reluctantly from James' side, giving him his hand back so he could address the drinks. Accepting the held out glass with a smile of thanks, she swung her legs up beside her on the couch, leaning her shoulder against the high back of the sofa. Taking a sip of the thick, red wine, she grinned around the edge of her glass at his question. "Well," Brandi started, giving an exaggerated flip of her hair, and bringing her free hand up rest against her chest, sticking her nose up in the air. "I will have you know that I'm next in line to be Minister of Magic, and I happen to have a contract with both the Chuddley Cannons and the Weird Sisters. I'm going to be the world's first Quidditch playing singer. Quite the show, if I do say so myself."
Not able to keep a straight face through the charade, she laughed at herself, taking another sip of her drink as she pondered what to tell him that he didn't already know. "Well, don't tell any of the other Gryffindors, but I happen to be in love with the color green. I think I would be skinned alive if they knew I liked anything associated with Slytherins. Let's see... Oh! I'm allergic to shellfish. If I ever have any my throat swells up and I can't breath. Best to just stay away from it all together," she laughed, remembering the last time she had dared to try the sea food. She had spent the next two days in St. Mungo's, under a spell to help her breath. Not a lot of fun. "Your turn, Mr. Potter," she said with a small nod. "Tell me something about you that I don't already know."
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 9, 2008 15:24:12 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Laughing along with him, she had to admit she was glad that he wasn't much a fan of fish either. That along with the fact that he was ordering the same this she was showed that hopefully they had a fairly similar taste. The pleasant feeling of his fingers running through her hair, she nearly purred. She had no idea what it was about finger playing with her hair, but it had to be one of the best things in the world, and it was a sure fire way to get her to melt. Hopefully he wouldn't notice the big puddle she was turning in to; it would do to have her completely at his mercy this early in the date.
Amused as he replied in the way she expected him to to her comment about her favorite color, she went to raise her eyebrow at him when she heard the end of his statement. Looking away, not able to keep her eyes on him, she felt a stab of pure guilt at his words. If only he knew how close he actually was. It didn't matter that she couldn't remember the situation surrounding her receiving the dark mark, that didn't take it off of her arm. Drawing her left arm subconsciously closer to her chest, she swore she could feel it pulse at the simple thought of it. Agonizing over whether or not she tell him upfront. She hated not being honest, but she hated admitting what she was even more.
Grabbing for the first thing to get her mind off the topic of potential, or in her case apparent, dark marks, she looked back on him with a raised eyebrow at his comment about his father catching him wanking. "I bet that was entertaining," she laughed, rather wishing she could have seen the look on his father's face. Pushing her previous thoughts from her mind, vowing to come back to them at a more appropriate time, she settled back in to her former position next to his side as he talked about his future. That wasn't the answer she had been expecting, to be honest, but she couldn't deny that it was a nice thought. She had known James for years, and she loved him dearly for who he was, he was one of her best friends, but with that one comment it was as if he was maturing before her eyes. "Traveling? I don't know if I can picture England without you. Where are you going to go?" Not admitting how her heart had missed a beat when he had mentioned possibly moving, she kept her eyes on his, trying to read if he was being serious
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 9, 2008 18:06:42 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Ducking her head out from under his arm, she gave the bartender a grateful smile, thanking him graciously for their meal. Rearranging her legs so she could sit cross legged on the couch, she brought her bowl and napkin closer to herself, she set the bowl on her lap, twirling a forkful of noodles on her fork. Looking up in time to catch the smirk on his lips, she raised her brow in response. "Oh, I think I'm safe. You try anything and you'll end up with a face full of hot pasta," she warned him jokingly. She didn't think she waste such a delicious meal on his face, to be honest. Of course, if it became necessary to do so, she could always nick his own food away from him.
Giving a satisfied hum of pleasure as the warm, cheesy noodles and chicken exploded on her taste buds, she smiled sheepishly. If she wasn't careful she was going to make a fool out of herself by eating too quickly. Forcing herself to take a slower bite, she kept her eyes on his face as he spoke, only distracted as he brought a bite up to his lips. She found it rather fascinating to watch him eat a simple piece of chicken, but for some reason it was one of the most captivating things she had seen in a while.
Nodding herself out of her stupor, she thought about her answer to his question. If her father had his way then she'd be faithfully serving the Dark Lord in whatever way he deemed fit. But that wasn't the question he had asked her, was it? He wasn't asking what her father wanted, he was asking about her own opinion. "I think I'd like to be a Healer," she replied slowly, knowing that it was an odd profession for someone who didn't like the site of blood. "I'm not entirely sure of how I want to go about it, or what path to take, but I do know that I want to help others, and I've always kind of imagined myself working at St.Mungo's."
Taking another bite as she pondered the possibilities the future held, she looked back over at him, asking the obvious question. "Everyone assumes you're going to be doing something with quidditch. Did that thought ever cross your mind? With only one more year to go I'd guess that scouts and agents would be lining up to talk to you about signing. Any plans?" If she wanted to be completely cliched she could have asked about Auror training, but James was not his father, and she somehow didn't see him working under him at the Ministry.
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Post by Brandi D'acanto on May 9, 2008 19:15:53 GMT -5
Can we climb this mountain I don't know Higher now than ever before No we can make it if we take it slow Let's take it easy Easy now Watch it go
Smirking slightly as his reply to getting food in his face, she had to admit that it was an obvious solution to the 'problem.' Not that she had much objection to him trying something, but she wasn't about to let him know that. In fact, she wasn't entirely sure that she would be able to stop him even if she wanted to. Her logic and the rest of her were in two completely different places at the moment, and somehow she didn't see the former winning any forthcoming battle. "Gee, when you put it that way it doesn't sound as glamorous," Brandi replied to his question with a small wrinkling of her nose. Sure she knew that it wasn't the cleanest job out there, but she hadn't thought about it in quite that way before.
Surprised when he said the very thing she had been sure he wouldn't want to do, she looked at him with raised eyebrows. It made sense really that he would enjoy being an auror, and now the traveling and moving to a different country made more sense, but still... "I have to be honest here. I just can't see you working for your father, either. Then again, I'm not so sure that you'd have to. Auror training takes a few years, and your father may not be the Head Auror by that time. Although... I guess people will always try and compare you to him, no matter where you go. Guess that sounds a bit depressing, but you know you're not him, and the people who matter know you aren't, so who cares what some obnoxious person who has never met you before thinks? You should do what you want to do, where you want to do it, because it makes you happy. You shouldn't try to please everyone else." Taking one last bite of her dinner, thinking that if she ate any more her stomach was going to explode, she set her bowl back down on the table, taking a quick sip of her gillywater before moving back to her comfortable position on the sofa.
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