i may be bad but i'm perfectly good at it

[briannaclodagh]

It was dinnertime and while all other students were eating their hearts content in the Great Hall, Brianna found herself holed up in the library occupying a table all to herself. She had just finished her daily routine of flying around the pitch and practicing new throwing angles. Upon realizing how much time she spent out on the pitch Bri opted out of dinner in favour of inhaling a small sandwich so she could get some work done. She didn’t even bother heading up to the Ravenclaw tower to change. Clad in a pair of black short shorts, a t-shirt and a light purple hooded sweatshirt Brianna sat shivering in her chair. Sure, when she had been up in the air doing crazy stunts, adrenaline pumping through her veins her choice of attire was perfectly fine. She had managed to work up quite the sweat that she barely even noticed that the castle was noticeably cooler than usual. Settled down in the ibrary, her heart returned to a nice and steady beat and Brianna could feel her teeth chattering as goosebumps began lining themselves up on her leg.

Assorted notes and books were scattered all over the giant table as Brianna poured over all of them in an attempt to complete all her homework before the weekend began. Sure, there was always the option of completing her homework during the weekend when she had two full days to do so, but she wanted to get everything out of the way so she could start getting ahead and make time for extra-credit and more flying practice. Truth be told, Brianna felt herself being stretched so thin that she was sure to snap at any moment. Between all her NEWT level courses (nine of them to be exact), her prefect duties and quidditch captain duties, Brianna barely had enough time to even breathe. She knew she was setting herself up for an unbelievably successful future, but getting there was a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, being so frantic and busy kept Bri distracted and kept her mind clear of specific thoughts; mainly her mother. Once in a while the horrid woman who had so heartlessly abandoned Brianna dn her father crossed her mind. More often than not, she had thought about tracking her down just to prove that her life was just fine without a mother in her life. She wanted to prove to the woman who didn’t want her that she wasn’t even needed, and that Bri would turn out to be an even better woman than she coud ever be. Realizing she was getting distracted from her homework over a poor excuse for a human being, Brianna quickly snapped back to attention, mind set on finishing her blasted essay.

Returning to her books Brianna picked up her quill to begin writing her dreaded Transfiguration essay. Before she even got a word written down a figure stepped up behind her; blocking all her light and casting a shadow over her parchment. "Excuse me." She snapped rudely turning her head to glare at the person who had interruped her much needed study time "You're blocking my light."

tag: zane & charlotte
word count: 524

[ZANE ALEXANDER HAMMOND]

Send an anonymous owl to a certain Hufflepuf claiming to know who she’s crushing on, check. Move his brewing kit to the desk across the room…or anywhere else that isn’t near one of his roomie’s beds or trunks or what have you, check...more or less. That was one account where he wasn't going to argue with them, since the majority of them had a thing for arguing with their fists when asking nicely for the fifth time around didn't amount to much. Granted, he might have gotten around to it a bit earlier if their versions of asking nicely had actually been..well...the least bit pleasant. As it was, anytime someone got all huffy about something he was generally liable to shrug them off and make some vague, off-handed excuse as to why it couldn't be done until later on in the week. The best he'd come up with being 'I can't get that cauldron off of your bed right now, if I spill even the tiniest bit of it, it'll turn your sheet pink and and they'll smell like a rhino's arse for weeks.' He never did get around to explaining why his cauldron had ended upon Fabien's bed in the first place.

All he had left now was to tidy up the pile of clothing that had been creeping around his bed, growing steadily for nigh on a week now…definitely less check where that particular task was concered, but hey, it’s the thought that counts right? Honestly, they were nutters if they expected him to clean a)when he was told to do so (told, threatened, it was all the same too him, really) and b)on a bloddy weekend. What a waste! He’d much rather be doing something productive, like harassing the eldest Lestrange sibling, or taking his broom for a quick spin before practice started up again. And Merlin, what a day he’d had, though none of it had involved doing anything that anyone else was likely to define as particularly productive, or productive at all really, but he’d certainly enjoyed himself. Though, another thing or two to do to finish off the day wouldn’t hurt. He had been rather neglected today, and that just wouldn’t do.

He pulled his legs to his chest, setting his hands atop his knees and steepling his fingers in a mock sinister pose, tapping them together every so often for added effect. Eventually, someone was bound to make their way over and ask him what in the hell he was up to, right. Eventually…eventually…”oh hell, this is taking too long”

[/color]he huffed. Patience never had been one of his virtues.

Resolved as he was to find himself some company to pass the time, and seeing how dismally empty the Slytherin common room seemed intent on remaining, Zane found himself vacating the plush green armchair in which he’d taken up residence for a good portion of the day. There now, someone else can have it. It’s a good deal less fun without someone to share it with, not that he could remember the last time he’d convinced someone to cram themselves into that particular chair with him. Snooty people and their need for personal space, he just didn’t understand it. Then again, if it was warm and involved people, he was there, so it really wasn’t the sort of thing that he would understand.
Zane shook his head at some mock offense committed against him in the past in regard to issues of personal space, which didn’t lend well to tugging a shirt over his head. He found himself momentarily disoriented, his head stuck halfway down an armhole. Why did this always end up happening? He really did need to pay more attention to his shirts…tricky little buggers.

With a low growl, he tugged his head from the armhole and made quick work of popping it out the proper hole. “Second time’s a charm,” he informed the empty common room, apparently pleased with himself for whatever reason. ‘Yes, this’ll do,’ he thought as he peered at himself in the small mirror that had been set over the fireplace. He couldn’t rightly remember who’d put it there, probably one of the girls, but at any rate it certainly came in handy from time to time.

Running a hand through his hair once, then twice, and headed for the door. That ought to do it…now where to go? He wasn’t in the mood for a visit to the pitch just yet, his limbs being a bit stiff from the day’s lack of movement, so that was out. He wasn’t particularly hungry (and he could always raid the kitchens later in the night if that changed). Not that then. And finally…the library! He hadn’t been there in…well, ages really. Studying wasn’t exactly his forte or rather, not something that he ever bothered with, regardless of whether or not he needed it (which he was convinced he didn’t). Surely there’d be folks in there at this time of night, still early enough for folks to be getting a head start on their schoolwork, were they so inclined. It was decided.

Whistling a cheery little tune of his own creation, Zane wandered through the halls, glancing curiously at any and all who passed them. Forth year Gryffindor. Nope. Second year Hufflepuff. Nope. And when he finally made it to the library, a familiar face. Sixth year Ravenclaw, books and notes spread out all around her caught his eye. The opportunity to interrupt her studies was just too good to pass up, and so he headed over to her and positioned himself just so, doing his best to block the light so that she’d be forced to take note of his presence.

“Excuse me, you’re blocking my light.” Presto! “Well then, I guess you’re just gonna have to move somewhere else then, aren’t you?” he snapped back, trying his best to keep a straight face.It lasted all of fifteen seconds and then a grin broke through. Eyes bright with mirth, he leaned forward to wrap his arms around her, wondering if she’d even bother to protest. It wasn't exactly a proper greeting for the middle of the library, but Zane was never one to split hairs. A greeting was a greeting. “Of course, you’re going to have to take me with you.”

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tagging brianna & charlotte
word count: 1103

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[briannaclodagh]

Incensed over her intruder’s tone of voice Bri resisted the urge to reach for her wand and hex the idiot who had so rudely interrupted her much needed homework time. Not only did he cast a dark shadow over her parchment papers, he had the audacity to tell her. She had clearly marked her territory we with the mountainous pile of parchment papers and textbooks, what gave him the right to tell her to relocate. Prefect or not, the thought of whipping around and hexing him until his face resembled something like a dung-beetle was highly appealing to Brianna at that moment. After all, there were only so many hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a month and so on and so forth. All her time needed to be accounted for since her hectic schedule seemed to be rather overwhelming yet not quite enough to warrant her the use of a time turner. She simply did not have the time to deal with prattling idiots who had nothing better to do than be a nuisance to all those studious minds hard at work in the library.

Before she even got a chance to snap back in reply she felt a pair a warm, familiar arms wrap themselves around her petite frame and almost instantly her anger faded into more of an irritable state. In truth, Brianna hadn’t felt those particular pair of arms around in her in over a week and had she been any less busy and frantic she probably would have felt slightly neglected. Lucky for her, she had been hard-pressed for time that entire week that she barely even noticed their absence in her life. Having been reminded of what she was entitled to (being the bestfriend of the owner of those arms and all) Bri realized that she did rather miss their company, as well as his; not that she’d ever admit it to him or anything.

“Pain in my ass number one, reporting for duty aren’t you?” She drawled out, squirming uncomfortably in the clutches of one of her bestfriends, Zane Hammond. Possibly her favourite person to spend time with, Zane was so immune to her wit and sarcasm that he took whatever she shot at him with such grace; it was almost admirable. He had been a constant source of amusement, support and companionship for just over five years and just recently he had become a source of affection and physical relief. Their fifth year proved to be a notably important year in the history of the pair’s friendship. Overworked, overtired and just generally stressed out over their OWLs on top of quidditch practices for both of them, Brianna found herself seeking release in her best friend over her physical frustrations. Not saying she lacked that particular type of affection from the assorted male population of Hogwarts, but with those guys came little strings and conditions that she did not have the time nor energy to fulfill. With Zane, he wanted from her the exact same thing she wanted from him, absolutely nothing. Above all they remained good friends and had never let the knowledge of their occasional hook-ups ruin their relationship.

“What do you want Hammond?” she said, twisting around in his arms so she was facing him. She craned her neck slightly so he could catch sight of her particularly coy smirk, reserved only for him. “Didn’t quite get enough last week?” She had sought him out after a particularly frustrating transfiguration lesson that left her tense and annoyed. Usually a quick study, Brianna was particularly irritated to find that transfiguration was definitely one of her weak points. She had just managed to scrape up a high enough OWL to remain in the NEWT level course. Shooting Zane a wink she then wiggled in his embrace to position her hands on his chest before proceeding to shove him lightly away from her. This certainly was not the time or place for such public displays and she didn’t want anyone to come by and get the wrong idea. Despite her rather over-exaggerated reputation among the male population at hogwarts, she did have a reputation to uphold as a prefect. Any affection directed towards her raven-haired friend was most definitely reserved for places of the more private nature.


tag zane & charlotte
word count 719

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[ZANE ALEXANDER HAMMOND]

Arms still draped around her, Zane bore the brunt of Bri’s sharp tongue with the graces of a saint. Any of his fellows would have hexed her the moment the first sharp word spilled past her lips, and he had little doubt that those cautiously observing the interaction between the two sixth years from behind their books were waiting for the hexes to start flying. Any minute now, they were likely thinking. After all, very few students ventured to give the Slytherin upperclassmen any sass, lest they wish to end up in the hospital ward. That wasn’t to say that the Slytherin’s possessed more skill than their fellows when it came to spell casting, but that there was a certain fellowship among those in the house. They had a reputation to maintain. Ah, yes, he imagined that this must, indeed, be a sight to behold. And, as far as Zane was concerned, so was Bri. Something about seeing that spark of fire in her eyes whenever he irked her made him smile. And so he was doing just that, or grinning like an idiot rather as she snapped at him. Of course, he wasn’t without a retort or two of his own. It wouldn’t do to let her win all of their verbal battles.

“Pain in my ass number one, reporting for duty aren’t you?” Shifting a bit, he reached up to twirl a strand of her dark hair around one of his fingers. ”Aye, that I am, cap’n hardass,” he replied, affecting a mock cockney accent as his eyes sparkled with the laughter he didn’t dare to expel. Oh, that little nickname would do the trick well enough. No need to add insult. That wasn’t part of the game.

”What shall I do for you today? Shine your shoes, botch your homework, unbutton your blouse?” That was the usual order of things...well, minus the shining her shoes bit, even Zane had standards, lost and confused as they often were.

“What do you want Hammond?” His expression became a tad more serious as she twisted around to face him. Ah, but she was lovely when she was riled, all fire and sharpness and character. And there was a smirk. Coy. Tempting. It seemed he hadn’t been amiss in suggesting that last bit after all. “Didn’t quite get enough last week?”

Zane’s laughed as she untangled herself from his arms and pushed at him. ”How could I ever get enough of you?” How, indeed, he wondered. Their relationship was a marvel as far as anyone in the know was concerned, the occasional hook-up, the snappy comebacks, the surprisingly close friendship. More than once he’d been asked by one of his fellows how he did it…not that he’d understood what in the seven hells they’d been talking about until they’d framed it a bit differently. ‘How do you keep emotions from complicating everything after you get girls in the sack?’ Tone had implied that they’d thought it a talent of his. Egads was he gaining a reputation? Well, that would certainly get the attention of a certain overly confidant blond. Maybe it was time for another little wager? But no, in the end he’d told them the truth, or the truth as he saw it. He’d simply stated that he didn’t get anyone anywhere. It was true enough as he saw it. Getting implied coercion on some level and Zane was many disreputable things, to be sure, but a liar wasn’t one of them. There just didn’t seem to be any point in it. A lie here, a lie there, and suddenly you couldn’t keep Wednesday’s lies from last Saturday’s, and the world was toppling down on you in avalanche of he said she said. Nope, best just to keep to the straight truth if you wanted to make sense of anything.

“Now as for what I want,” he added as he pulled out a chair and leaned over it rather than seating himself. Really, he seemed as at home in the library as he did in the Slytherin common room, though it was unlikely that he ever ventured into it when he wasn’t looking for someone or something to distract him from a given day’s boredom.

After a moment’s consideration he shift and leaned closer, his words becoming a little more than a whisper in her ear. “Why don’t you come find out?” And then he was gone, darting away and disappearing behind the nearest bookshelf, heading for the one of the shadowy alcoves near the back stacks.

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tagging brianna & charlotte
word count: 788

[briannaclodagh]

Brianna’s eyes narrowed at Zane’s rather endearing nickname for her. He knew how much she despised being called cap’n hardass, thus she gathered being the reason he called her that in the first place. Nobody irritated her quite like Zane did, as his persuasive nature often won her over and convinced her to do things way beyond her comfort zone. It was against her nature to do things that boy often conned her into doing, and yet she always had so much fun doing them. She wasn’t exactly a model prefect, but she tried her best to keep him in line, - most of the time

Zane was one of the few boys Brianna couldn’t live without. Most of the time, she was okay with being on her own and being very independent when it came to other boys. She never once let herself need anybody, until she met Hammond of course. She was the one person she could count on to be exactly what she needed him to be. He never asked for anything more than she was capable of giving, and after her disastrous break up with Luke Lupin, he had been the one to console her, no questions asked.

Although, if we were going to get down to the dirty details, Zane was partially to blame for the deterioration of the couples’ relationship, him and the fact that the boy had proposed to her. The occasional quick shag or random snog behind Luke’s back with Zane made Brianna realize that she was incapable of such commitment at this young of an age. Though it hadn’t directly been the boy’s fault, she couldn’t help but feel that he played a crucial part in her realization. Sure she missed Luke, more than she had ever missed anyone. He had been her first love, if one could call it that; Brianna knew she cared deeply for the boy, whether it was the love she claimed it was would be forever unknown to her.. Thankfully, her hufflepuff ex-boyfriend had been too innocent and naïve to realize what she had been doing behind his back. Though she wasn’t exactly pursuing an avid affair with Zane, she had still be unfaithful to Luke. It was one of the few times she had lied to anyone. Brianna prided herself in being insensitively honest, but her determination to not hurt Luke any more than necessary took priority over everything.

She felt the heat rush to her face when he suggestively mentioned unbuttoning her blouse. Thankfully her dark skin tone made it impossible to tell that she was blushing, something she could thank her deatbeat mother for. For everything that woman had done to hurt their family, at least she had been somewhat useful; although being born wasn’t really something in her control. As he twirled her long, soft hair around his fingers Brianna felt her hands unconsciously moving towards the hem of his shirt. It was a habit of hers when she was feeling particularly, affectionate. Clutching the bottom of his shirt between her hands she began to tug on it lightly, rubbing the material between her forefingers.

Brianna’s ego swelled slightly with his words; though she was far from conceited it was nice to feel wanted and attractive. ”You’ll be sick of me one day Hammond, just you wait”; or vice versa. She knew that the day was inevitable, and that their unconventional, physical relationship would one day come to a screeching halt. Perhaps he would commit himself to another girl, and though the idea of losing Zane to some other girl irked Brianna, she wasn’t the particularly jealous type. Brianna found that the best part of their friendship was knowing that no matter what they did together, nothing would ever change between the two of them. If they ever chose to put an end to their intimacies, Brianna had no doubt that they would just revert back to their childhood days of witty banter and platonic time well spent together.

Now as for what I want. It appeared as if he was going to join her in her studies. Though she never minded his company, Brianna did have a lot of things to accomplish that day. She was beginning to fall behind, and as much as she’d hate to admit it, she let her relationship with Luke interfere with so many of her responsibilities. It was time to get back on track and having Zane hovering over her light was far fro helping.

Feeling a tingle shoot up her spine, Brianna let a small, soft smile spread across her face as she felt his breath tickle her ear. Though it was highly inappropriate to be so intimate in such a public forum, she couldn’t ignore the thrilling feeling rush through her body. Zane always knew how to drive her insane. With his body so near to her face, Brianna inched forward to place a soft kiss on his shoulder, opening her mouth to bite down slowly. If Zane were to ask her to leave the library at that moment in pursuit of more, entertaining activities, Brianna didn’t know if she had the willpower to deny him. Sure they had been together the week before, but a week was a long time; especially in Brianna’s world.

Brianna stifled a loud groan when he pulled back and retreated in the dark of the library stacks. He had gotten her so riled up that she certainly wasn’t capable of paying attention to her schoolwork now. She contemplated saying in her seat, waiting him out until he got bored enough to surrender. Unfortunately, the pains of being his best friend meant that she knew him rather well. He was certainly capable of hiding out all night if the situation called for it.

Rising to her feet she cautiously stalked off towards the stacks, determined to wring Zane’s bloody neck once she got a hold of him. She didn’t have time for this. A quick snog in the broomcloset? Sure; but there was certainly o time for a ridiculous game of cat and mouse. ”Hammond,”, she whispered angirly, trying not to draw attention to herself, ”I swear to gods, if you do not come out this second I will never sleep with you again”. It was an empty threat, but perhaps he would fall for it.


tag zane & charlotte
word count 1057

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