[Courtyard] Cloud Nine

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ashton Laurent sat on a bench in the courtyard, staring up at the sunny sky. It was a surprisingly warm day considering it was fall. The weather matched his mood, bright, cheerful, ready to take on the world. He sighed happily and looked down at his left hand. The diamond and sapphire ring sparkled in the sunlight. A bright beaming smile filled his face as he thought of that fateful day. Ash sat there, lost in his thoughts, when he heard someone walk up....

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan looked out of the window and saw the sunlight shinning down on the grounds outside and he suddenly felt trapped inside the office. With a slight laugh Dan pushed himself out of his chair and slipped his jacket on trying to avoid the look Girty was giving him, in fact he also purposely failed to hear what she was saying to him.
Dan walked down the corridors with a smile on his face and just like her overlooked what his own sister way saying he also chose to ignore to pestering students asking him to double check homework, punish someone or stop one of the castle ghosts from throwing dung bombs.

Stepping outside leaving the murmuring of students behind him Dan entered the courtyard, the sunlight shinning down upon him and a light blinding him. Wincing the professor looked around the courtyard to try and see where the light was coming from and lo and behold Ashton was sitting on a bench admiring something on his fingerer.

“Got a bit of bling there Ashton?”

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash looked up at the sound of Professor Hubbles' voice. "Yeah." he replied smiling. He looked down at the ring again, "It's from Cris."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan listened to what Ashton had to say walking closer to the bench where he sat not quite understanding why Cris would by Ashton a ring. Standing in front of the Ravenclaw Dan stroked his chin and looked down at the ring on his finger, it was very nice and would have cost a lot (unless it was a grandmothers or something) but then Dan noticed the hand and finger is was on.

A smile spread across the Head of Hufflepuff’s face as the old superstitions came to mind. There always seemed to be one for every situation and although they may not have always come true there was normally some sort of common sense behind it.

“Ash mate, I am not sure if it is the same for gay guys but you do know it is bad luck to wear a ring on that finger unless you are actually getting married right?”

Dan started to laugh a little harder until the thought past through his mind that maybe it was because he was, I mean it was not everyday you gave someone a ring like that. The laughter soon died off his face and Dan looked down at Ashton for once in his life being serious.

“You are not actually getting married are you Ashton?”

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

“Ash mate, I am not sure if it is the same for gay guys but you do know it is bad luck to wear a ring on that finger unless you are actually getting married right?” Ash laughed at Professor Hubbles' words, "Yes, I know." Then Professor Hubbles' words turned serious, “You are not actually getting married are you Ashton?” Ash just sat there for a moment. Should he tell Professor Hubbles? Why not? He'd already seen the ring, there was no hiding it. Ash sighed and gathered his resolve. "Yes." he replied with a smile.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan was actually surprised at how much he wanted to know the answer to this question, even if the two people involved in the relationship were not in his house he still could not help but feel like it was his business. Maybe it was because he was the one who helped Ash and Cris in the forest with Alexa, maybe it was because Ashton always seemed to confide I him but as soon as the Ravenclaw looked up at him a smile on his face and said the simple word of yes it felt like Dan had been slapped around the face.

Running his hand nervously though his hair Dan sat down on the bench next to Ashton and tried to find something to say to him. He knew he should say congratulations or something along those lines but Dan could not get over the fact that he was younger then his sister and was engaged to someone who he had only been with for a few months.

“I…er…congratulations Ashton. I am glad to see you so happy.”

He turned to look at him giving him a small smile but it soon faded as questions filled his mind as for some reason he felt older brother mode kicking in. However seeing as Ashton was not his brother Dan bite his tongue to make sure he did not say anything he would regret.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash smiled, "Thank you Professor." he looked up knowingly at his teacher, knowing that he was most likey thinking that Ash was a bit young. "Oh, and I am seventeen. I just decided to repeat my sixth year." he said with a slight smirk.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

So Ashton was already thinking about is age well at least Dan would not have to push that point forward although it did seem that seeing as they both had 2 years of school to go it was a bit premature to be getting engaged it is not like a ring would make them love each other more, sometimes Dan even doubted that marriage did. Girty often commented that she did not need a small slip of paper to tell her that she loved someone.

With a small sigh Dan looked out over to the fountain in the centre of the courtyard and watched the water thinking back to only a few months ago when him and Ashton were sitting just like this although they both were feeling slightly different that day.

“Look Ashton it is not your age that concerns me.” Here he went, brother mode was on. “It is just that a few months ago we sat in this very same courtyard and you were heartbroken about a certain Gryffindor telling me you still loved him. Do you really think you are ready for an engagement let alone marriage?”

A frown creased its way across Dan’s brow and he looked at Ashton full of concern, he just did not want to see him heartbroken again as he knew just how it felt.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sighed, he knew Professor Hubbles had reason to be concerned. He smiled, "Yes, I am." He looked up at the sky, then back over at Professor Hubbles, "I've never been more sure of anything in my life." He sighed, "I finally realized that I didn't love Maxi anymore, not in that way at least, and that it was time for me to move on." He smiled, "Maxi felt the same, so we just decided to be friends." He sighed slightly, "I am a little worried about what the other students will say though. What if rumors start flying again? I don't want all the drama again."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan listened to what Ashton had to say taking great interest in it all as he could not help but feel concerned about the whole thing. In his mind there were so many potential problems that could easily get in the way and ruin a relationship, his concern was only increased when Ashton’s main worry was what people would say about it all. At that point Dan could not help but laugh and he looked over at Ashton shaking his head.

“Well you engaged to a guy who only a few months ago used to go out with your sister, your old boyfriend is now straight and your worried that wearing a ring on your finger is going to add more drama.” Dan nervously ran his hand through his hair. “Ashton there are muggle TV shows with less drama then that.”

Dan still could not but have the nagging feeling about what he said about moving on from Maxi…and to achieve it so quickly as well. No matter how hard Dan tried he could not get over Dia he just guessed it would be that difficult for everyone who confessed themselves to be in love. But then that is Ashton thought he was in love with Maxi then would he be totally sure that after a few months everything would be ok for him and Cris.
However these were thoughts that he did not to say out loud, he was sure that Ashton would have thought over it all…he was a Ravenclaw after all, so there was no need to lecture to much.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash listened as Professor Hubbles talked of all the things that were already causing drama. "I know I've only been dating Cris for a few months, but... I don't know... the feelings...are...hard to explain." He sighed, "I guess the best way I can explain it is that, Cris has made the happiest I've ever been, even happier than I was with Maxi, as hard as that may be to belive." He smiled, "And, I can't really see myself with anyone else."

The Ravenclaw sat in silence for a minute, "I know this probably, well, okay, was a rash decision, but I honestly feel that I'm making the right choice." He laughed again when Professor Hubbles mentioned that his ex was straight, "Well, straightish." he replied. Ash sighed slightly, "What will Felicity and Bradyn say?" he asked apprehensively.

Ash looked up at the sky, wondering why the hell he was even asking such a question. It wasn't like he actually cared. Right? Maybe he did... Yeah right! answered a voice from inside his head. Ash didn't care. Why should he? They didn't care about him. Right? Maybe they do answered the voice, Maybe they're just being stubborn like you, and don't want to admit it.

Ash sat there trying to figure out whether or not he cared what Felicity and Bradyn thought, as he thought about it, he couldn't help but think about the good times they used to have. Quidditch practice, band practice, terrorising first years together, throwing eachother into the lake, visiting Hogsmeade... they had done everything together. Ash smiled sadly as he thought of all these things. "Sometimes, I wish things could go back to being how they used to be, and that none of this had ever happened." He gave a small smile, "But then I think, if none of this had happened, I wouldn't be sitting here enagaged to the most wonderful person ever." He sat in silence for a minute before finally speaking, "I may have lost some friends, but I've also gained a love, and a new perspective on life. And somehow, that makes everything olay."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Ashton seemed very determined that nothing would change his mind on the matter and in a way that was a good thing as Dan could not help feel that he will not be the only person to raise these issues with the Ravenclaw. But from what he explained it did seem that Cris made him happy and that was the important thing, if you could find someone who you could be yourself with and they will make you smile even on the days when you just want to curl up in a ball and be left alone. Nodding his head to what Ashton was saying although he was slightly taken aback when he mentioned that Bray, Fay and Ash were not talking to each other.

However as he thought on it more he did notice that they had not been seeing them together, he was clearly so caught up in his own world that Dan had failed to notice that their was a problem among some of the most prominent students in the school. Making a mental note not to make the three of them work together in the next charms lesson Dan looked back at Ashton as the passion and love for Cris in his voice became clearer.

“We do all need friends though Ashton.” Dan commented after the Ravenclaw had finished talking. “We need more then one person to fall back onto if things go wrong.”

It may have been a rather sombre answer and not the one that Ashton may have wanted to hear but Dan had the life experience to prove that this was true. If things went wrong in this relationship (and Dan still could not help but feel like something would, after all it was a very big commitment to make at the age of seventeen) then who would be their to help you pick up the pieces?

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sighed, he knew Professor Hubbles was right. But he just couldn't make Fay and Bray understand how much he wanted to be their friend again. He looked up at Professor Hubbles, "I know, but I can't seem to make them understand that I want to be their friend. Everytime I try to get close, they push me away."

He frowned slightly, his sapphire eyes were clouded with comfusion and hurt. "Finally I just gave up. How am I supposed to reach them, if they won't listen to me? What do I have to do to prove to them that I am serious about being friends with them?"

Ash stared down at the cobblestone path, was it really worth it? Should he continue to try? Or was their friendship beyone repair? A small defeated sigh escaped his lips, and his shoulders dropped. "I just don't know what to do anymore." he whispered in a small voice.