"For a Minute there, I Lost Myself"
Rating: G
Pairing: Anthony/Clare
Characters: Anthony Goldstein and Clare Rivers
Summary: Anthony finally manages to surprise Clare.
Notes: Writing challenge based on lyrics.

"This isn't really like you," he said. He was a hairy-chested caveman, sitting crosslegged in front of me as I actually tried to do my homework. I told him as much, too, but every time, he'd laugh it off. So I found a pebble in the grass and threw it at him.

"No, really," Anthony went on. "I think I saw you smile."

I sighed, meaning for it to sound long-suffering, given that I'd put up with him for the past couple years and I was getting sick of it. But for some reason, I laughed. And then I said, "I did smile. But that doesn't mean it was anything other than a reaction."

"To something you liked."

"Not you."

"Oh, well, that's encouraging," he paused, and I though maybe he'd stand then and leave me alone. Maybe the rest of him had finally gone as numb as his brain, and he just couldn't leave? I don't know. Not that I particularly cared if there was anything wrong with him, because as far as I was concerned, Anthony Goldstein could take all his problems and shove them.

It was hard to concentrate on Astronomy charts with him sitting there, just staring like that. I looked up from the parchment, and I could actually see - for just a split moment - an unsure look in his eyes that I'd never seen before. It was almost instantly replaced by that idiot grin that was his trademark, so I looked back at my writing.

"Happy birthday," he said.

For a moment, I stared down at the paper without saying a word. "It's not my birthday."

"Yeah," he said. "I missed it. Sorry about that. Daphne... Well, I was talking to her and Michael, and she mentioned it was last month..."

You know you're losing yourself when you spare an extra smile for Anthony. I didn't catch it in time, but the funny thing is, he just smiled back. Didn't comment on the smile or anything. Just smiled back. I blinked. "Did you want to walk with me to Hogsmeade next weekend?"

"That'd be nice," he answered.

"Good." I looked from him, back down to the parchment. "Now get your arse moving and let me do my homework, before I turn you into a goat."

And he left.