IWSC Summer Camp
Week 1: Dodgeball
What is dodgeball about except the art of avoidance. Task: Write about avoidance
(time of day) sunset
They've never met outside of a dream, but they are in love. One is the Moon and one the Sun.
(action) Playing the piano
(lyric prompt) "You love me but you don't know who I am. I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand." – Let Me Go – 3 Doors Down
Magic of Music
"I'm out," Draco called back untagging one-half of his wrongly buttoned white shirt.
Lucius couldn't keep a frown off his face as he watched his son's generous interpretation of sprezzatura. It was certainly news to the older wizard that looking just-shagged increased the chances of actually getting laid, but then again he was no teenager anymore and things have changed a lot in recent years.
Draco was out of the house in no time leaving his slightly confused father alone in the huge manor. He just sat there swirling the Firewhiskey in his hand with his eyes still fixed on the door. Almost like he was waiting for Draco to return to explain the world. Everyone seemed to have just moved on while Lucius remained static and forgotten on the chesterfield couch.
Standing up, he walked to the bar cabinet to pour himself another glass.
Not wanting to go back, he walked down the halls towards his bedroom past a couple of parlors and sitting rooms. He stopped in front of a slightly opened door. Lucius was just about to close it when he peeked inside.
The black Steinweg grand piano throned in the middle of the room. It had been years since he had last played it yet there was no dust covering the old instrument. The wooden floor cracked beneath his feet as he slowly stepped into the room.
Weirdly drawn to the piano it was barely a blink when he found himself sitting in front of the keyboard. His Firewhiskey was sitting directly on the black lacquer of the antique instrument. He stretched his finger and let them stroke over the keys to re-familiarize himself with it.
After a few awkward moments in silence, Lucius felt confident enough to press a key; and then another; and another. Muscle memory kicked in and his long elegant fingers danced over the keyboard producing a strangely familiar melody.
He listened closely trying to comprehend what was happening. He felt like he was surrounded by a twisting storm. He closed his eyes and the tornado engulfed him completely. For a millisecond it felt like he was sucked into a deep hole and then everything was calm.
There was darkness all around him. Lucius couldn't see anything. The piano was gone and he felt himself falling onto soft sheets. He wasn't alone. There was a body lying next to him. He felt the heat radiate through the thin cotton of their pajamas.
Suddenly he was tired. He couldn't keep his exes open any longer, not that they were particularly useful in the darkness, and his brain felt hazy from the alcohol. Turning around he pressed his head against the warm body. Inhaling a sweet fruity sense, he relaxed in the unfamiliar surroundings and fell asleep.
His face was pressed against a hard cold surface. Tilting his head slightly, he pressed down the ivory keys of the piano. The vibrating sounds made Lucius jump up. Moving way too quickly too early in the morning his head was spinning.
He squeezed his eyes shut to prevent the beaming sunlight from making his head ache even worse. With his flat hands pressed against his face, he smoothed his skin. He stood up and stretched himself, slowly coming to his senses.
Lucius couldn't believe that he had fallen asleep on his piano. This had never happened to him before and he still hadn't figured out what exactly had happened.
He snuck into his room to get changed before settling down in his office for a long day of work.
Over the following weeks, he found himself returning to his piano. Sometimes he spent the entire afternoon playing without any strange occurrences, but then the sun went down and his fingers developed a mind of their own.
As he spent more and more time in this dreamstate, Lucius developed a more and more clear sight of what was going on. It was like the fog was lifted bit by bit. Her soft curls tickled his nose as her head rested on his chest. With his hand, he traced her womanly cured and pressed the petite witch closer to him.
No words were spoken, yet as time went by they grew closer together. Just thinking of her made his heart beat faster. He couldn't wait for nightfall, anticipating previously unknown to him affection.
Nothing could compare to her soft hands on his cheek or her luscious lips brushing over his. Lucius swung his arms around the petite witch pressing her against his strong frame inhaling her sweet scent.
If he was forever trapped in this realm, in her arms, he would be perfectly fine with that.
Daily life had become a chore. He wanted to get done with work as quickly as possible so that he could return to his piano, to her.
Lucius was anxiously pacing through the library. The shelves were stocked with thousands upon thousands of books yet none of them peaked his interest. Frustrated, he let himself fall onto the chesterfield sofa. He just sat there staring at the ceiling. Lucius exhaled loudly. The grandfather clock was ticking in the background.
This wasn't working. No matter what he did he couldn't stop thinking about her. He longed to let his fingers run through her soft hair, to inhale her sweet scent, and to feel her warmth against his skin. His heart was beating faster just thinking about her.
With nothing to read and in dire need of distraction, he flooed to Diagon Alley. Lucius paid no attention to the crowds of people strolling down the shopping street. He walked fast and with certainty into the bookstore passing right past the popular publications in the front to reach the obscure treasures in the back.
He methodically scanned the shelves, looking for something that he hadn't already in his possession. Shafiq had published his new findings in the field of Advanced Arithmancy. Interested, he reached out.
Someone else happened to have the same idea. Their hands touched, sending shockwaves through his body. He took a step back and took a good at the witch in front of him.
Bushy hair was standing up in all directions. Miss Granger looked up at him. Even with her high heels, the younger witch was quite a bit shorter than him. She looked at him with her big brown eyes. They were standing close enough for him to smell her fruity shampoo…
Lucius closed his eyes, inhaling her scent. He opened them again. Their eyes met and it was like lightning struck him. Suddenly, he knew. It was her. She was his witch. The one he has spent his nights with. and she knew.
His heart was hammering against his chest and he raised his chin. For a long moment he just stood there staring at her.
The girl went to school with his son. They hardly ever interacted and on the few occasions they had crossed paths they weren't exactly civil. Without saying a word he left the store. _
Barely arriving at home, he grabbed the bottle of Firewhiskey. Without even bothering to fill his glass, Lucius gulped the Firewhiskey down. His throat was burning and he let himself fall into his armchair.
For half an eternity, he just remained there sitting in silence. The sun was standing low and he felt an overwhelming urge to play the piano, but he couldn't move. He wanted to see her again, but knowing about their shared history made him apprehensive.
What was he supposed to say to her? That it was all a misunderstanding and he didn't want her to get tortured in his house? Maybe he should simply pretend that none of it ever happened and move on?
As much as Lucius wanted to see her again, he just couldn't. The sheer thought that she might look at him with nothing but despair made his chest constrict. He wasn't a good man and there was no way to hide.
When he was at home the piano was calling so he made a point to spend as much time as possible outside, but no matter where he went she was inescapable. When he went to a cafe, she was sitting on the next table reading a book. When he entered the bookstore, she was already there browsing the shelves and when he just went down Diagon Alley, he spotted her fluffy hair.
He froze for a second struggling to keep his usual look of indifference up, before backing out of the store. As hard as he tried there was no way out for him. Not even in his sleep was he safe from her big brown eyes and her ridiculously soft hair.
Lucius was at the Ministry catching up with associates. The canteen slowly filled with more and more people and then he spotted her. Everything was muted and he had trouble listening to what was being said. All he could see was her.
He finished the conversation on Autopilot. Exchanging the last pieces of pleasantries, he couldn't wait for them to disappear out of his line of sight. While everyone around him left, Lucius stayed seated at the table, his eyes glued to the younger witch.
Once everyone was gone, she jumped up and approached him. Before he had any time to react he felt her wand pressing against his neck. He didn't fight her as she dragged him to the nearest Apparition Point. He held onto her as he felt the all too familiar tug in his belly.
With his eyes still closed, he inhaled her shampoo. For a brief second everything was like it used to be. Lucius was at ease in her arms. The weight that was burdening his shoulders was lifted. His hands rested on her back. He pulled her closer, never wanting her to leave.
Miss Granger hammered her fists against his chest. Her face was red with anger. "You're stalking me only to ignore me. Do you have any idea how infuriating this all is? Just leave me alone if you want nothing to do with me."
The last part was almost like a whisper. His chest tightened and he couldn't breathe properly. You don't want her to leave, a voice from deep inside him was screaming, make her stay.
Another punch landed on his chest. "Just tell me what you want." Tears clung to her lashes.
His hands tightened around her hips. Lucius just couldn't risk letting her get away with no idea on how to fix this. "I don't know what to say," he whispered.
She looked at him with her big brown eyes and he couldn't help but touch her cheek.
"You want someone… like me? Even after everything?"
Unable to utter a single word he nodded.
She looked sceptical. "We don't even know each other and if people would find out…"
"I no longer care about what people think about me." Lucius grabbed her hand and they strolled down the path.
They were listing random things they liked and disliked. The sun was standing low coloring the horizon in a gorgeous red hew. Pausing they watched the glowing ball disappear behind the houses. Lucius wrapped her hands around her as they bathed in the last rays of sunlight.
Slowly leaning forward he placed his hand on her cheek. His eyes were closed as he brushed his lips over hers. His heart rate spiked and he pressed her against his body. She invited him in and he claimed her mouth with an intensity that left no doubt about how much he needed her.
Gasping for air, she moved away. "I guess we should give this a try." She breathed blushing.