(Open) Running From the Betrothed

[Maeve Malfoy]

Entering Hogsmeade for the umpteenth time in her life, Maeve headed for the usual shop she hung out in while she was allowed out of Hogwarts. Yeah, that's right, the Honeydukes shop. One of the many places Maeve could actually stand to be in while her 'friends' fought stupidly about the most smallest things. She decided to take that opportunity, and left them grunting at each other, which, after these few years, she figured that they were trying to yell and argue.

Maeve was close to the candy shop when something caught her eye. She was not going to live today down, was she? Turning her head, causing her blonde hair to fall from behind her ears, she saw what she had hoped she hadn't and wouldn't. Her betrothed.

"Maybe he's here with someone else and I can tell mother and father that he cheated on me, acting like I cared. Even though I wouldn't." she mumbled to herself, and turned her head back to the store a little. She wondered why he was even here when he was to attend Durmstrang.

But, of course, Merlin had something against her. What had she done to deserve this? Her betrothed had spotted her and was heading this way. Maeve made a quick decision and decided to use her small figure to her advantage.

She ran. She ran until she thought he was far enough behind not to see her duck into a shop. Maeve quickly walked through the store before she came to a complete stop. Bending over slightly, Maeve breathed deeply and got her heart beat back to normal, although it didn't really change much, Quidditch was harder than that.

Maeve straightened up, and fixed her hair behind her ears. She was about to smirk when she heard the door open and a familiar voice call her name. "Bloody hell, does he not give up?" she whispered to herself before starting to run.

Or at least, try to run. Maeve's head had been turned to see behind her when she started and has knocked into someone, landing on them slightly, she caught herself mostly with her hands. Maeve looked down at the kid's face she landed on to see he was staring back at her. She got off of him and looked back towards where she heard her fiance's voice.

Turning back to the boy, she said, calmly, "Please help me." And it wasn't easy, her asking for help. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

And this was a desperate time!

[aiden]

Aiden had come to Hogsmeade alone. He knew most of his friends would be in the Three Broomsticks, wondering where he was, but Aiden was quite content being on his own for once. He wondered through the crowded streets, stopping at a few shops to gaze through the windows. He had a small bag of coins in his pocket, begging to be spent, but Aiden fought against it. He was always using his money to buy random, meaningless objects. He couldn't help himself, though. He mostly spent his money on gags and tricks from Zonko's. It would take a whole 5 minutes for Aiden to spend all his money there. Which was the very reason he avoided that shop altogether.

He couldn't ignore Quality Quidditch Supplies, though. Even as he attempted to pass by, he caughta glimpse of the newest equiptment in display and had to duck inside. It was a little crowded, but nothing compared to how it usually was. Aiden pushed his way through the crowd, stopping to examine some body armor. He needed new gloves. His old ones were getting worn beyond use. Aiden was a Chaser, though he often played Beater as well. Chaser was his true position, though.

Aiden shifted, aiming to head towards another shelf, when a blonde girl suddenly ran into him and knocked him to the ground. Caught off guard, Aiden looked up at her for a moment. He raised both eyebrows in amusement as she quickly stood. She looked anxious, like she was running from something. He was even more surprised when she glanced back at home, asking for help. Aiden pulled himself to his feet. He had no idea what she meant until he spotted a man headed towards them, looking at the girl. Aiden smirked slightly. He supposed he was in a helping mood. " Come on."

He grabbed her hand and quickly began pulling her through the shop. Lucky for them, this was one of those rare stores with two exits. Aiden knew the shop well and found the other door easily. Once outside, he followed the path, not running but walking rather fast. He didn't want to attract unwanted attention by running. That would make it easy to spot them. He turned down another corner before pulling the girl into an alley after him. He stood with his back against the wall, leaning casually. This was always a good hiding place. You could see everyone who passed, but they rarely ever saw you. Aiden looked back at her and smiled slightly. " Did I help at all?" He questioned.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve thought that the boy would say no, truthfully. Because she seriously knew that she would've if someone came up to her that she barely knew. Then she felt his hand take hers, and she felt a slight tug as he pulled her along. Maeve was a little shocked that he'd actually help her. Another reason why Maeve wouldn't have was the fact that if she knew the person was rude, she would've casted them aside. Wait, did she just call herself rude?

Taking her mind of her thoughts, Maeve took a look at the boy. He looked oddly familiar to her. She knew she'd seen him through the halls, but without his school robes on, she knew she most likely wouldn't remember his house. If she couldn't tell by the face that he was a Slytherin, than he wasn't one. But at the moment, Maeve didn't care what house he was in, Slytherin or not. Just get her away from him and she was fine with this guy.

Now looking ahead of them, she noticed he brought her a back way. She was a bit lost, but she went with him. Following him through the back path, Maeve was trying her best to pay attention to the path, after all, maybe she could use this some other time, but her mind wondered to thinking who the boy was who was helping her.

When he suddenly stopped, she mimicked him and leaned against the wall. She caught his smile and nodded. "Yeah, it did." That smile he gave her caused her to think of who he was again. Then it clicked.

Merlin really hated her. He was a Gryffindor, she saw him inbetween classes. She didn't know his name, but definantly knew he was a Gryffindor. Now that she was out of harm's way, or her betrothed's way, it mattered. Various questions formed in her head of how she could have let him help her. Well, if she didn't know his name, possibly he didn't know hers. She could get out of this.

"Well, um...." She slowly walked around him trying to think of what to say. "I should leave you and-" She heard him again. Crap, maybe....

Maeve instantly went back to this guy's side and clang to him. "Or I could stay for a bit." she whispered. Until the sounds of her name had eventually faded away, she was still holding to him, just in case. "Thanks," she said, lifting her head up to her rescuer. Maybe he wasn't that bad, just because he was a Gryffindor.

[aiden]

Aiden took a quick moment to study the girl he had just helped escape. It didn't take long for him to realize she was a Slytherin. He had seen her sitting at Slytherin table in the Great Hall, as well as passed her a few times in the halls. It was amazing how difficult it was to recognize people straight away when they weren't in their school robe. But a Slytherin. And he was a Gryffindor. This was an odd situation. He wondered if the girl next to him realized she had just allowed when of her sworn enemies to help her out. Aiden allowed himself in an inward smile at the thought.

He heard her speak and glanced her way once more. This time, the smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He could tell from her expression she had realized who he was. It looked like she was struggling to decide whether to just run off or stay. On one hand, he was a Gryffindor. On the other, he had just help her escape from someone. Whoever he was. Aiden watched as she backed around him, heading towards the exit of the small alley. " You're welcome." Was all he said, still smirking slightly. This really was odd...

The girl suddenly froze. Aiden raised his eyebrows slightly, wondering why when he suddenly heard a voice calling someone's name. From the look on the Slytherin's face, he was obviously the same guy they were now hiding from. She hurried back to Aiden's side and clung to him and they were both silent as the guy passed by. Aiden shrugged his shoulders slightly. " You can hang around with me for a bit. Doesn't matter." He answered her. He smiled when she thanked him once more. " No problem. I'm sure there's a good reason why you wanna hide from that guy." He added, his smile growing slightly.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve held on to him, unconsciously, as she just stared at him. She thought of what he said, and she thought he couldn't be more right. She slightly turned her head. There was a great reason why. The guy had obsessed over her since they were little and she hated him. He was a right foul git thinking he owned her.

Now, this guy Maeve was holding on to seemed okay. Gryffindor, but okay. After all, she had decided she was going to give him a chance at being friends if he wanted it...and if she didn't back down. She saw the way he smiled and acted. She had always wanted friends like that. Hopefully, he'd give her a chance, too.

"Stupid betrothed." she mumbled. Maeve thought about what else he had said. Looking back at the Gryffindor, she asked, "Did you just say I could be with you for a little while? Do you know who I am?" She noticed that she was still holding to him and let go, blushing slightly, wishing that it wasn't showing too bad. She hated when it did.

She backed a way slightly, giving him room to move. She saw his face and his smile grow. She wanted to smirk at him in return, but her lips betrayed her and she smiled back instead.

[aiden]

Aiden furrowed his eyebrows together." That guy was your bethrothed?" He asked, sounding surprised. " Wow...I'm guessing you don't like him." He said with a small smile. Aiden didn't blame her. Being forced to be with someone you had no feelings for was awful. People should try to understand that. It wasn't for fair. Especially for someone as young as they were. Not even adults yet. " Well, hopefully he'll get the point and leave Hogsmeade. Especially if he can't find you." Aiden's smile turned into a small grin.

The girl was still holding onto him and realized, letting go rather quickly. Too be honest, it hadn't bothered him at all in the first place. He chuckled. " I know you're a Slytherin. And I know I'm a Gryffindor." He said, perking an eyebrow. " And I think we both know both that means, but I'm not much for house racism." He smirked. " Like I said, you can hang around with me. I don't mind. I mean, it's better than hanging out by myself." He added, shrugging his shoulder slightly. " I'm Aiden, by the way."

He carefully looked out the alley. " Doesn't look like he's around. I think you're safe for now." He spoke, glancing over his shoulder to give the girl a small smile. He stepped out of the alley before looking back at her. " Come on."

[Maeve Malfoy]

So, he knew what house she was in. Wasn't exactly what Maeve had in mind, but fine by her. She meant her name, although, she wasn't surprised he didn't know it. She didn't know his until he introduced himself.... Aiden. Where had she heard that before? Probably in the common room from the older Slytherins.

She looked at him. "Yes, he is my betrothed. Been that since I was eight, I believe. You guessed almost correctly. To say I don't like him is an understatement. Let's just say I wish he would fall off the face of the earth, shatter into a million pieces, be further ripped apart by blast-ended skwerts, and burn in hell. Even that doesn't sum it up, although it's quite a nice picture to me." she smirked at the boy.

Maeve followed him out a bit. "Glad you don't mind I'm a Slytherin." she said quietly, her tone changing from being happy about her betrothed ending to a little shy. Oh yeah, her parents would not be pleased about that.

"Oh, and I have a name, too." she went back to smiling a bit. "It's Malfoy." Her hand hit her forehead and she shook her head. "Oh, no. I mean, Maeve. Call me Maeve. And I would be delighted to accompany you." She just went over the lines of a Slytherin, and she knew it.

[aiden]

Aiden let out a laugh. " Wow. That's pretty vicious." He grinned, when she told him exactly what she wished would happen to your betrothed. " I like it though. It's creative." He complimented her with another laugh. " But since you were eight years old?" He continued on a more serious note. " That's almost crazy. I think it's a little unfair. You shouldn't be forced to be with someone you don't want to be with at all in the first place." Aiden said, shaking his head slightly. He didn't know what he would do if he ever had a betrothed when he was 8. Probably do the same thing she was doing. Run away.

He waited for her to follow him out of the alleyway. He smiled at her. " It doesn't really matter to me what house you're in. Like I said, I'm not house-racist." He smirked. It was very true. He'd rather pick his friends based on their personality and they actual person they were rather than their house. She seemed nice, funny, and not too mention she was extremely pretty. Especially her eyes. Aiden shoved the thought from his mind. At least for the moment.

He laughed as she hit herself in the forehead. " Ouch. You do that often?" He teased. He looked both ways up and down the street before looking back at her. " So Maeve...what would you like to do?" He questioned her, smiling slightly.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve once again, turned light pink in her face when he laughed. She loved that laugh, and he was good looking....Woah! Gryffindor and Slytherin! Maeve reminded herself. But he doesn't care. Ah, the voice of reason... Maeve hated, yet love, that voice. She was definantly feeling something, and she had just met this boy. "Yeah, my parents don't care. It's all about money, power, and heirs. Always has been." she smiled. "Just gotten used to it, even if I hate it."

She studied him a little more, and seemed to get lost in him. She mentally shook her head this time and said, "Yeah, I do that a lot when I do stupid things. Not saying that I do stupid things all the time. More like when my cousins and I do stupid things. It doesn't really hurt anymore." she explained slightly nervous. Why, Merlin? Do you have something major against me? What had she done?

Maeve gently took one of his hand in hers, deciding to be a little gutsy. "Why should I get to chose? All I'd want to do is walk around and hide from him. How about we do what you want to do? And talk about you. After all, you know a little about me and my life. Like do you have a betrothed?" Maeve knew the answer to that one, but wanted to ask anyway.

[aiden]

Aiden made a face. " I don't think I could get used to that. You have to be a strong person to even consider dealing with a betrothed. Especially one you dislike." He said, giving Maeve a small smile. He couldn't imagine his parents planning for him to wed a girl when he was at an age were girls still had cooties. Now, it must have been even worse. Considering there were others your age around you would be interested in. Of course, Aiden knew his mother wouldn't dream of doing that to him. Not after her own marriage problems. " Maybe you'll get lucky and you won't have to be with him." He suggested, shrugging his shoulders slightly.

Aiden laughed. " It's cool. I do stupid things a lot. Sometimes anyways." He admitted with a mischevious grin. " Actually, I get into trouble a lot." It was true. He naturally a curious and adventurous type of person. If he wasn't always doing what he was supposed to, then everyone assumed he was up to no good. Aiden couldn't help it. He was a bit of a troublemaker and had been since he was a young child.

Aiden looked down the street once more, trying to decide on a general direction. He felt Maeve slip her hand into his. He raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised, but happy all the same. They had just met, yet Aiden could already feel some sort of connection between them. Gryffindor and Slytherin. Could you imagine? Aiden smirked, shrugging his shoulders. " Because I'm undecisive." He told her with another laugh. He finally did choose a direction though and began walking off in that direction, Maeve by his side.

He had no idea what he wanted to do or where he wanted to go, so settled on just walking and talking for now. " You want to talk about me?" He questioned, surprised. A small smile played about his lips at her question. " No, I don't. And if I did I would be doing the same thing you are. Hiding from them." He grinned.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve laughed a little when he made his face. Being betrothed can make you look that way. "I'm not strong, I can tell you that much." she said, returning the smile. "Like you said, hiding from them. That's all I can ever do." She looked up at him as she walked along with him. "I'm not that lucky. When my parents want me to do something, I have to. Get used to, and hate it."

She gave him a look that said, 'Really?'. "You get in trouble for the stupid things you do? Why not blame another person and run?" she laughed again. "That's what my cousins and I do all the time here." she grinned. "It's quite fun. Especially when it's a ghost, or a first or seventh year."

She looked ahead as well when he turned his head. "Undecisive, huh? Many people are. Did you know that when people are undecisive it means either they don't know what the other person likes or dislikes, or it's because they don't want to seem like an idiot in front of people?" she glanced at him again. There was no way this boy, Aiden, was an idiot. He just didn't seem to some off as one, and he certaintly didn't look it. He looked like a normal boy with handsome looks and.... Gryffindor. Remember Gryffindor. Remember, he doesn't care and you don't either.

"Of course I want to know you. Who wouldn't?" She thought a little. "Never mind, don't answer that last question. Stupid since I asked that, huh?" she smiled. "You could probably list off a lot of Slytherins who don't like you. Anyway, tell me about yourself. It seems your parents aren't like mine, since they don't have a betrothed for you. Do they care who you love?" she questioned, grinning back at him.

[aiden]

Aiden shrugged his shoulders. " Hiding is better than nothing. But not many people our age would be able to handle having a betrothed. It would be too much." He said. He knew he wouldn't handle it well at all. It would have made him a much more angry person than he was. " That's even more unfair. You should be able to make all your own choices. Maybe when you're older they'll get it." He suggested, speaking of her parents. He was lucky he didn't have that problem with his mother. Yet his mother was the only parent he had. He chose to ignore the fact he once had a father. Aiden was the one who had to look after the family now.

Aiden laughed again. It seemed he could laugh and smile a lot around her. It was another thing he liked about this girl. " All the time. For setting off fireworks and dungbombs, and a bunch of other pointless things." He grinned. " Well, I usually try not to get caught. I'm pretty good at hiding from the teachers and prefects now. I know the castle pretty well." He explained.

Aiden nodded. " You know, I think you're right. I don't know what you like or dislike." He agreed with her. " Sooo...why don't you start telling me. I don't care what. Just anything you like or dislike. It's a start on getting to know you better." Aiden smiled. He wanted to know Maeve of course. She was...well...so far an amazing girl. Why wouldn't he want to know her?

Aiden chuckled. " Not a stupid question. Especially considering who I just told you how I want to know you." He shrugged his shoulders slightly. " Eh. I could name a few, I guess. I don't know many of them by name. In fact, I don't know many of them at all which makes it a little unfair since they don't like me." He said, rolling his eyes slightly. He grinned along with her at her next question. " I don't know my father very well. Haven't seen him in years. But my mother doesn't care who I love, as long as I love her and treat her right. Which I plan to do."

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve held his hand a little tighter. "You're right. It is too much, and unfair. But that's the way my family's been for a few generations." She brought her face up until she was a few inches away from his, and looked him in the eyes. She whispered, "And I am older. They still don't care, no matter how much I beg them to get rid of him." She pulled away, still holding his hand. It was warm, and she liked the feel of it around hers.

"So, you know the castle pretty well, huh?" she smirked playfully. "Do you know all the passageways to get to the classrooms without going down the halls? That's how my cousin and I place the bombs in the classrooms we don't like. But, shh." She placed her free hand's index finger to her mouth. "Don't tell it was us, the teachers still think it's the Ravenclaw fourth years." she grinned. "Blaming other people's quite easy when the people are just standing right there, not doing anything but gawking."

She went back to smiling again. "Okay, I'll tell you a little bit. But on one condition. I tell you a few things, then you tell. We'll keep going like that until we can't think of anymore things we dislike and like." She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Agreed?"

She turned to him, once more. "You sound like the Prince Charming every five year old girl fawns over and dreams of having. Then when they turn into teenagers, doesn't believe there is any more and they're all taken. But, you proved this teenage girl wrong." She turned a bit pink. This boy was certainly making her feel weird, but she liked it a lot.

[aiden]

Aiden smiled slightly as Maeve moved closer, till she was barely inches away, and whispered into his ear. His smile grew ever so slightly. " Well then, I guess you'll have to find some way to get rid of him." He whispered back, his honey colored eyes twinkling mischeviously. " I mean, we could always run away. Maybe to Australia. The weather's nice there." He suggested, shrugging his shoulders. He gave her one of his infamous grins before straightening up. He gave her hand a small squeeze. He liked the way her hand fit into his just right. It was a nice feeling.

Aiden nodded proudly. " I know very well." He answered her question. " I know most of the passages...maybe not all of them. It's how I sneak around the castle. Especially when I'm not supposed to." He smirked. He let out a laugh at her story. " That's you with the bombs?" He questioned with a smile. " I really thought it was the Ravenclaws." He chuckled. " But I won't tell. As long as you don't tell it was me who set off the fireworks during dinner last month." He smirked. What a great prank that had been. Best of all, no one knew it had been him.

Aiden nodded in agreement. " That sounds like a good plan." He replied. " I'll start, I guess." He thought for a moment. " I'm obsessed with horror movies. I actually like to read. And I hate fruit punch." He said with a grin. Random facts, but important if you were to know him.

Aiden smiled. " Well, I don't think I'm Prince Charming...Not even close." He laughed. His smile grew. " Well if you really think I'm Prince Charming, then you gotta be Cinderella, right? I mean, as long as you don't turn into a pumpkin or whatever she does at midnight..." He trailed off before giving her one of his crooked grins.

[Maeve Malfoy]

Maeve saw his smile grow again, and it only caused hers to grow as well. "You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Running away with you to a different country, different continent? I like it. I wonder what my parents would say, if ever they heard I ran away with you." she laughed a little. "It wouldn't go over so well, I presume. But, I wouldn't care. I'd be with you." she felt his hand tighten it's grip, she couldn't help but smile more.

She smirked back at him. "Ah, where do you sneak off to, my dear Gryffindor, and why are you causing trouble?" she joked. "That was you? Really, the whole fireworks was all you? I thought it was Bella. I guess I better take down those expolding curtains I put up this morning around her bed." she grinned. "Or I could just let them off, and say I don't know who did it. I could say it was a little Gryffindor sneaking around past bedtime, too, though." she said, mock seriously.

She turned her head back to him quickly, causing her blonde hair to fall out in her face again. "You like to read? That's great! I do, too. But, I like to watch adventure and action films more than I do horror. I also like to sit by the lake and draw, something not even my cousins know about me." she added with a wink. "Something I dislike...hm...well, you already know two things, my parents and my betrothed. So, another would have to be those school robes we have to wear. It gets so hot and I don't know why they make us wear them." she shook her head. "But, if you want to know one thing I hate more than my betrothed or parents, it would have to be not getting what I love." she added.

"You'd make the perfect Prince Charming. From what I see you are the best one I've ever known, the only one. She doesn't turn back into a pumpkin!" she laughed. "She turns back into the maiden girl she was before. But in the end she gets Prince Charming." she smiled when he gave her his crooked grin. "And I'll only be Cinderella, if you be Prince Charming. Although, out of all the girls, why me be Cinderella?" she asked quietly.