Debate: Slytherin common room
Auction: " This is impossible."
Disney, Mary Poppins: cheerful, umbrella, efficient
Count Your Buttons: "Aim for the moon and land amongst the stars, or whatever it is."
Lyric Alley: For we are glorious
Ami's Audio, B-List: Write about someone who thinks they're average
Sophie's Shelf: BlaiseMillicent
Film Festival: embarrassed
Word Count: 475
Blaise wants nothing more than to go to bed, but he doesn't complain. He sits in silence, watching as Millicent tries, once again, to Transfigure the umbrella into a walking stick. It's past midnight, and the Slytherin common room has been empty for hours now. Still, he refuses to give up.
"This is impossible!" his girlfriend groans, gripping her wand so tightly that Blaise is worried it might snap.
"It's not," he assures her.
Maybe it is. He hates to admit it, but Millicent is terrible at Transfiguration. He's tried so many times to find a quick and efficient way for her to learn, but she still struggles.
"It is," she argues, slumping back and glaring at the umbrella. "What's the use? I'm stupid. Well, at least, I'm just average. Plain, boring, average Milly."
Her cheeks burn a deep red, and tears swim in her brown eyes. Blaise hates that she feels embarrassed around him. He has tried again and again to remind her that he loves her, that he will never judge her.
"Aim for the moon and land amongst the stars, or whatever it is," he says.
He doubts it's right, but he tries. It's supposed to be encouraging, but it just sounds ridiculous coming from him. At least Millicent smiles. He'll take that as a small victory.
"Why are you so cheerful?" she asks with a roll of her eyes. "Shouldn't you be fussy from your lack of beauty sleep?"
Blaise smirks, shaking his head. "Nah. That'll be in the morning, after I've only managed like an hour of rest."
Millicent opens her mouth, undoubtedly to apologize, but Blaise cuts her off with a kiss. His fingers run through her golden brown hair as he pulls away. "I don't mind sacrificing a few hours of sleep if it helps you," he tells her.
She scrubs her palm over the back of her neck, offering him a small smile. "Why are you so nice to me?"
It's a question she's asked him several times before, one that's been echoed by several others in their House. Everyone is so quick to dismiss Millicent as average and unimportant, but he sees so much more in her. Maybe she's rough around the edges, but she is one of the funniest, most lovable girls he's ever known. He wishes everyone could see what he sees.
"Because you're glorious, and I love you," he answers.
Her lips twitch like she wants to say something, but she remains silent. Instead, she shrugs before fixing her attention on the umbrella once again and raising her wand. "I love you too," she say, and, with a flick of her wrist, she mutters the incantation again.
The umbrella is still an umbrella, but it twitches this time, as though it wants to change.
Blaise grins. He knows she has it in her.
