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▬▬"If you don't expect to like someone and then you do, that's an incredibly exciting moment."▬▬

Chadwick wasn’t sure about his feelings toward Finley, he definitely liked the boy, as more than a friend. However, Finley probably just liked him as a friend? They had been on several trips to Hogsmeade together, and hada hung out with Finley’s dad, the guy was actually pretty cool. They had gotten food together, and it had drawn a lot of pointing and whispers. Chadwick had thought nothing of it, their friendship was a weird one that had arisen from enemies, to acquaintances, to the best of friends, yeah it was a little weird. That was, until Callie had implied that he was going out with Chadley on dates, or... that’s what Chadwick thought she meant. “Have you followed your heart to the one you love?” Surely that was insinuating they were more than friends....

Relationships of any kind were complicated.

Chadwick was pretty excited for his plans tonight, whether they were friends or... more than friends? The park was fully decorated for the holidays, trees covered in lights, a few extra ornamental light displays were also about the park. All the colors, yes this would be perfect. Finley had his surgery on his eyes a few weeks prior, and it had been successful, he said it was very cozy. Not exactly the way Chadwick thought of it, but if the guy was happy.

Of course, since then he hadn’t gone out of the apartment much... if any? He definitely hadn’t seen the colors of the lights in the park. Chadwick was ready for that. He had put a blindfold over Finley’s eyes, and told him it was for his own good, he wouldn’t want to be overwhelmed by everything, but they had plans. He then grabbed Finley’s hand, not entwining their fingers, but just holding it, dragging him where to go, and gave the occasional “watch for that bump”

When they had gotten to the park Chadwick stopped in the middle, and whispered to Finley, “I hope you're ready...” he pulled off the blindfold, “Happy Holidays Finley Archer.”

▬▬"If you don't expect to like someone and then you do, that's an incredibly exciting moment."▬▬

Chadwick grinned when Finley mentioned his eyes, and thought that Finley was super cute with the little blush. ”They’re actually purple; yeah purple is a very common eye color.” He laughed, hoping that Finley wouldn’t b e offended by his words, of course the boy didn’t know all the colors yet, it was just a matter of time though. ”You’re right, they’re blue. Didn’t I tell you before, once someone sees my beautiful blue eyes they fall in love with me? So what do you say Finley, have you fallen madly in love with me now? Wanna go on a date?”

Wait. Had Chadwick just asked Finley out on a date? No no no he couldn’t do that what was wron with him. You don’t just ask expel out on dates! Maybe it was just the Christmas Air making Chadwick feel confident. ”I uh mean. Yeah, never mind. Come on, there’s a really colorful rainbow one down this way, I can’t wait to how it to you.” He took Finley by the hand, so they wouldn’t get separated of course, and pulled him toward the display. ”I think the ministry wanted to get some leprechauns to help with the display, get some pots of gold for laughs... but it didn’t work out so they just put clouds down on the bottom. still pretty cool though.” Chadwick did quite enjoy this display, it had so many colors to it. He began wondering... were the lights fueled by electricity? Surely not... they must have spelled them. He made a mental note to find that spell.

▬▬"If you don't expect to like someone and then you do, that's an incredibly exciting moment."▬▬

Chadwick grinned when Finley agreed to the date that Chadwick had stumbled upon asking. He squeezed Finley's hand, "I think I would like that. Hogsmeade weekend." He thought back about the previous times they had hung out, without putting an official label on it. "I'm glad you enjoy the lights. And enjoy the idea of going on a date with me. If you enjoy the thought of going on a date with me... as much as I enjoy it..and have enjoyed the past few times we've hung out... I don't know... I was wondering...would... can we... willYouBeMyBoyfriend?" He probably should have waited until later to ask about that... but shouldn't they just.. clear the air? Get it all out? If it was horrible then at least they had the rest of break to let it move on.

Verine had always been a very free and open spirit and all her career she had been working with assistants who already knew something about potions and wanted to do it. If they didn’t want to do potions, Ver got that, and would have rather helped them with what they wanted to be good at. She hadn’t quite understood that her first years hardly knew anything and the second and third years weren’t always intrinsically motivated by it. She had approached professorship the same way she had her potioneering mentees-- be their friend, answer questions, give them time and independence to explore and offer resources and alternatives.

Yeah. Towards the younglings, Verine’s first year of teaching could probably be described as a train wreck. Broom wreck. A fourteen-broom pile up.

Ver hadn’t realized it was all that terrible over the school year. Everyone seemed like they were having fun? Or maybe they just enjoyed having the time to work on homework or catch up on sleep. But towards the end of the year she had been talking to a few students and realized these kids were not prepared for Professor Whitethorne’s class in 4th year. Ver felt like she had failed her students. She had half wanted to quit-- clearly she was much better at research and even development than teaching.

”But you’ve wanted to be a professor for so long. Do you really want to give up?” Elmond had asked gently when she freaked out again.

”Forget giving up, I’m surprised Timothy hasn’t fired me!”

”But he hasn’t. So what do you want to do about it?”

Ver wasn’t sure. That evening she’d apparated to Hogsmeade-- at least over the year she had practiced enough that apparating to and from Hogsmeade was no longer a safety risk-- to pick up a few special ingredients and books. As usual, Ver lost track of time reading and the moon was already high in the air. She ought to head home. But instead, Ver found herself wandering Hogsmeade Memorial Park and wondering if she was actually cut out to be a professor. Maybe she ought to stick with research.

Verine sighed, staring across the Black Lake. She startled at another sound behind her and noticed someone wandering through the flowerbeds. ”Hello?” she called cheerfully. She drew her wand from its belt clip. ”Lumos. Good evening! Sorry to bother you!”

At the greeting, Verine thought for a moment she had run into a student. The young lady could be a seventh year maybe? It took a moment for Verine to place the face ”Professor Whitethorne?” Abruptly she remembered her fellow potions mistress. ”Sorry, hello! And please, Verine’s fine. We’re colleagues.” Ver dimmed the light a little, strolling a little closer.

She made an uncharacteristically self-depreacting huff. ”Well, maybe not for much longer, but still. May I call you Adalaide?” She stopped with a smile not far away, tucking the light away and letting her eyes readjust. They were certainly not strangers, they hadn’t nearly enough time to talk. considering Professor Whitethorne taught night classes and Verine commuted home every night. There was the occasional night Ver was at Hogwarts at 4am, trying some new brewing tactic in her office or reading something from the Library. Ver had some inkling as to why those classes were at night--Adalaide Whitethorne looked far too young to have over twenty years of potioneering and instruction under her belt. She had looked up all her unfamiliar professors' graduation years to see if maybe they could have met at some party at some point or another in school and remembered that Professor Whitethorne was only a few years younger.


Perhaps, Ver thought disappointingly, I should have done more to reach out. Then those poor kids might...I dunno, not be going in blind in a few months? She perked up a moment later though. Well , here was her chance! No time like the present! Professor Whitethorne might be the perfect person to ask about teaching potions.

”Out for a little midnight gardening?” she asked amicably. If her husband wasn’t such an early sleeper she might have taken to midnight gardening as well. Her worries and mental debate swirled a little under the surface. She wasn’t sure how she wanted to talk about this yet, or even what to ask. ”Would you mind some company?”