QLFC Round 7
Team: Tutshill Tornados
Position: Keeper
Extension: Yes
AN: I loooved writing this story even if it was a little bit hard as I don't quite have neither date culture nor experience, so I tried to put together good memories and dreams to create a date on Hogwarts grounds.
I mentioned a portion of lyrics from a song called "Stairway to heaven" by Led Zeppelin, but as you may know I don't own it, just love it and had this big head cannon where the boys sang it.
Planted next to the lake on Hogwarts grounds was a willow tree. It had been planted long ago and had seen many generations of young wizards grow up and become themselves. Its protective and kind shadow had been used against the sun by several teenagers over the years from the beginning of spring to the last rays of sun of autumn, and, during the cold season, it offered a very appreciated shelter against the wind or the rain.
Unlike its whomping cousin, it was quiet and took each student under its wing watching them from its highness and fondly remembering their younger years. Age had brought it a wisdom that most humans lacked, it was not surprised anymore at their antics and had learned to precisely observe their behaviour to decipher their complex human habits.
On a spring day, so many years after its plantation that it could not even pinpoint it, a couple of boys approached it, a basket in hand. It was used to see them as they were a part of a famous group of four boys who spent almost their whole summer under its branches. That day, only two of them had come. There was a tall and skinny boy with hazel hair and amber eyes who always took care of everything that was put into his hands or under his eyes. He was accompanied by another tall boy but this time with long black locks which fell over his grey eyes. He was carefree and full of life, laughing wildly at a discreet comment the quieter boy had made.
Even if the tree was more used to seeing them in company of two other boys, it didn't find it extremely strange to have them here by themselves as they always seemed to share a different bond. While the relationship between the group was fluid and jovial, filled with jokes and laughter as well as honest speech, the two transpired proximity and peace, something calmer and more profound if that was even possible.
As they settled down on a blanket, the tree could see that they seemed to stand closer than most friends did. Were their hands touching? Yes, they were. Even though they didn't actually need two people to sort through what they had brought, the pair appeared to take any opportunity offered to touch each other. Hands brushed, smiles grew, and laughs echoed in the sun.
When each item had been set down, their hand fell on the ground, close; so close that the fingertips were touching. Suddenly, with an apprehensive look on his face, the raven-haired boy put his own hand on the other's. A sharp intake of breath responded, followed by a sweet smile as their fingers intertwined for them to hold hands properly.
They were nervous, that much was obvious. The tree couldn't exactly say why, but their small smiles and giggles told everything. It was not something bad happening, just something new. Something wonderful and exhilarating judging by the grins that were slowly edging on both of their faces.
The willow had never seen so much silent understanding from two teenagers. They had yet to utter a word while having already told so much to each other through loving looks and smiles. They did not need to talk to each other to feel good together; they enjoyed the peace and the company quietly with their soul instead of their minds.
After a while, though, one of them talked. He suggested to start eating and the proposition was eagerly accepted. Never once did their hands leave their safe shelter and it didn't seem to bother them.
Eating was a way less quiet affair, and the tree could feel their teenage energy despite the former calm demeanour. Banter accompanied the several dishes they had brought, and laughs echoed clearly in the spring air.
The lunch quickly ended, or it appeared so, as the calmer of the two settled against the willow's bark and opened a book. He was promptly disrupted by the other who put what seemed to be a chocolate bar under his nose with a grin.
"Come on Moony eat up! You can't read on a date anyway! Here's your favouritest chocolate. I'm sure you can stop reading for it."
"Favouritest isn't even a word Padfoot!" the other hissed, rolling his eyes, "But yeah, I can stop reading if you want me to. And it's not only because of the chocolate you know…" he replied.
The pair was then staring in each other's eyes as they shared some chocolate, play-fighting about some futile grammar point which did not interest the willow. Instead, he focused on the little glances thrown by each boy all over the other's face with adoration in their eyes. At one point, the boy named Padfoot appeared to find a smudge of chocolate on Moony's face worthy enough of his attention to erase it with his thumb. The other boy stilled as the hand lingered on his cheek for seconds and a slight shiver ran through his body.
Time seemed to stop for the two teenagers, it did not for the willow for whom all seconds looked alike. A moment passed, maybe several, and the two hadn't moved. Actually, they had, but it was almost invisible as a thumb brushed against a cheek and the tip of a tongue ran over lips. After another eternity, one of them leaned forward, bringing their lips together.
A world of sweetness and care developed between the two as they kissed gently. It was nothing impressive or overly passionate, yet it carried all their feelings which seemed to overwhelm them as hands tangled in hair or roamed over their sides. When they pulled apart their eyes were bright, and their smiles had grown, if that was even possible. Muttered love words were exchanged, and butterfly kisses sprinkled their cheeks for some time again.
The birds which had taken refuge in the willow's higher branches chirped, imitating the two lover birds from the ground. Their voices soon met the chords of a guitar that the dark haired had started to play. His hand ran on the strings as his voice accompanied the beautiful melody. It was soon joined by another one, high and graceful. Together, they sang what the tree knew to be a song by Led Zeppelin from what it had gathered when overhearing musical conversations. The wind carried portions of the lyrics which caught the attention of the wise tree. It talked about a bird singing in a tree and most of all how easy it is to be misgiven.
From the willow's perspective that summed up their situation. The setting was captured so perfectly the author might be with them. Mostly, they were young, innocent, and believed in better days. The tree knew better. He knew that the days would come darker and darker as it had already started. Their childish hope was a complete misgiving.
Yet, when he looked at their eyes bright with love and their bodies lost in the music and each other, it could not stop itself from wanting to believe they were right to be hopeful. Better days would come, and the wisdom of the smart willow would be wrong. Nothing but better days should come for a pair like that which embodied by themselves the ideal of all relationships humans wanted. Did they know it? Surely, they didn't, but they had all their life to discover it. They didn't yet know they had gold in their hands, but they treasured each other as much.
On this consideration the tree watched them one last time exchanging timid "I love you"s hidden behind banter and hugs before giving them the privacy they so rightfully deserved and focusing its old mind on other things such as the form of the clouds and the melody of the birds.
The boys would surely come again. The tree knew they were going to last. It had never seen such a profound bond between two humans in his long life. The only other two beings he had seen share this kind of relationship in which communicating was useless -since both understood what the other thought- was between a wolf and a dog who sometimes roamed in the park during the full moon nights, but that's another story…
Moon-star-and-chocolate