[HC.Room] If Only, if only

[Olivia Costa]

The commonroom was quiet this evening, which was odd. Usually there were more kids running about in here, being crazy like only kids can. The silence was actually nice, it was easier to concentrate then. It was hard to finish homework when first years were trying to pull pranks on each other.

Olivia plopped down in one of the chairs and set down her parchment on her lap. Another essay for another class, they just seemed to build up as she got into her older years. Ah well, enough complaining, time to start. Liv tapped her quill against her chin and stared up at the ceiling, trying to decide how to begin the essay.

After a few moments of this, she just sighed and set the blank parchment aside. Olivia would get back to that after an idea struck her. Now was some time to catch up on some reading. Humming softly to herself, Liv leaned over the armrest of the chair and tried to reach her book laying next to the chair. Seeing as her arm was too short for the task, she had to lean over the chair some more.

Soon enough, Liv was bent over the armrest while she tried endlessly to reach the book. Most other people would probably just get up after this tactic didn't work. But not Liv. If at first you don't succeeded, just try, try again.

There was a small scream on her end, and then a thump. The poor Puff had leaned over the chair too much, and toppled onto the floor. Well, at least she could reach her book now. Rubbing her sore side, Liv used the chair again to try to help herself stand.

[Gray Deluca]

He would be damned if he was going to spend his whole day in the Common Room. Gray was more of an outdoor person and in his mind, he could get into less trouble being outside in a huge place as there were less people to run into who he didnt like, or vaguely the same number but spread out over a large distance so he had spent most of that morning by the lake, skipping stones and wading in the shallows. Gray wasnt bothered about the Essay's he had a fairly quick mind and he knew he would make something up, or just copy from a book either one worked. Studying, well working of any kind just wasnt Gray.

It was while he had been in the lake he had gotten the bite mark on his arm. Though he figured he deserved it in a roundabout twisted kind of way, he had been walking in the squids home so obviously it was bound to be peeved at Gray wasnt it. Gray had been facing the shore when he felt something slither around his arm and pull him further out, obviously at first he panicked as he realised he was going to be squid food. The squid had released it's grip on Gray just long enough for him to reach his wand, though as he cast a spell, the things teeth managed to grab Grays arm and sink in. It was pretty deep, but nothing a bandage and a few well chosen spells couldnt cure. Certainly nothing he was going to the Hospital Wing for anyway.

As he walked into the common, he beheld a sight he didnt know whether to find amusing or not. Olivia was leaning over the chair clearly trying to grab a book she couldnt reach. Now if she had thought about it, she could have been very lazy and just accioed it to her. It seemed to take her a while to even get the tips of her fingers on it, by this point, Gray had conjured some bandages and had them wrapped tightly around his left arm. He had studied conjuring spells due to his tendancy to injure himself. Probably his own fault it always was.

When Olivia fell, Gray couldnt help it, he let out a laugh, though when she didnt emerge for a while Gray went and peeked around the chair to see if she had killed herself by doing that. Though she appeared to be alright as she was pulling herself up by the chair, with a grin, Gray took ahold of her arm with both of his and helped her up, despite the fact it sent a rather nasty shock through his own.

"That was entertaining" Gray smiled as he looked her over to see if she was alright, "But not something that is adviseable, are you alright?"

[Olivia Costa]

Olivia was faintly aware that someone had come into the commonroom, but she was far too concentrated on her task. True, it would be simple just to accio it over to her, but where was the fun in that? Where was the challenge? Olivia Costa was not a lazy person, and she wouldn't settle for magic solving simple problems she could do herself.

Someone let out a laugh as she fell to the ground. After getting over her little daze, Liv had finally managed to get a firm grip on the chair and was trying to hoist herself up. Someone else grabbed her arm and helped her up. A blush worked it's way across her face at the fact that someone had seen her little tumble. It wasn't exactly graceful, or very lady-like for that matter.

"Well, you know me, I live to please."

Olivia grinned up at Gray and worked to fix her currently unruly hair. "It was only a small fall, I think I'll manage." Her eyes strayed to his bandaged arm, and she let out a gasp. Liv quickly dropped her hands from her hair and gripped his arm lightly -- making sure she wasn't hurting him -- to inspect the wound more closely.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

There she went again, being her worrisome self again.

[Gray Deluca]

Gray saw the faint blush creep up Liv's face as he helped her up, stumbling over was one thing, but doing in front of someone else was entirely different. He smiled, seemingly glad she was okay, she had the book she needed so he assumed she was going to go back to studying, that was until she began to speak anyway. He nodded when she spoke, sometimes she did do silly things but that was one of the reason Gray liked her, besides, she stopped him going to far when it comes to his irrationalities. People knew they could get out of hand sometimes.

"Yeah, I know you do."

Gray nodded when she said she'd be okay and turned to walk away, though when she grabbed his arm, it didnt matter how gently she did it, it still sent a painful shock right through him and down to his core which made him shudder a little bit. The bandages were doing their job, they were quelling the flow of the blood, which was still seeping as the white cloth slowly turned a dark shade of red. Sometimes Olivia worried too much.

He pulled his arm back and looked at it himself, he would say it looked worse than it was but he didnt know if it did look worse than it was. All he knew was the squid bit him and there was probably a trail of blood leading people right to the Hufflepuff common room, though if nobody touched it he was fine, it didnt hurt him. Sure it ached and kinda throbbed, but it didnt pain him. Raising an eyebrow at her concernedness, Gray let out a little laugh and nodded his head.

"Liv stop worrying I'm fine." He smiled at her, "It was only a small bite of the squid, I'll live if nothing else."

He thought about joking saying he might have to get it amputated but that nerved him so he decided against it, besides, Olivia would most likely throw that book at his head and he didnt need another injury to add to his track record he already had. He put his arms behind his back, not really knowing why, maybe to stop her from grabbing it again or maybe not. Who knew?

"What essay you writing?"

Great conversation Gray well done.

[Olivia Costa]

Olivia quickly withdrew her hands as she felt him shudder. Oh dear, she had hurt him again. At his laugh, she placed her hands on her hips and looked up at him. "Don't tell me it's just a little bite. From a squid no less! I'll worry all I want thank you." She clicked her tongue at his bandage job and gestured over to the chair.

"Sit down and let me redo the bandages, then I'll stop bothering you."

Liv walked over to where Gray had gotten the bandages, and grabbed some for herself. She made her way back over to the chair and scooted another one up closer to the one she had been sitting in earlier. Olivia pointed to the arm rest, silently requesting him to place his arm there.

"Transfiguration paper. My mind's blank at the moment though." She frowned slightly and glanced back at the piece of parchment. With a small shake of her head, she returned her attention back to Gray and his arm.

(Short << )

[Gray Deluca]

He smiled and shook his head, sometimes Olivia over-worried. Though it wasnt difficult to worry about Gray, he was irrational and more often than not reckless so it naturally got him into quite a bit of trouble, but you would never know about him nearly being eaten the way he goes on about it. He knew he was top of the list for squid food earlier and he's saying it was just a bite. Nevermind, Gray just didnt like people worrying over him, sometimes it felt like his mother was here in Hogwarts with him, she worried enough he didnt need everyone else worrying too.

"Liv! Seriously I'm fine its no big deal."

Sometimes being around females was more effort than it was worth, it was like they constantly wanted to mother you. He was fine with these bandages he'd put on just a moment ago, despite the fact the white cloth was now a deep red but Gray didnt care. All he wanted to do was go upstairs and lie down, possibly sleep the rest of this dull Thursday afternoon away but no.

"Fine, fine!" Gray waved his arms in defeat, "I'll entertain you I suppose"

He wandered over to the couch and flopped himself lazily down on it, throwing his head back over the back of the couch and placing his arm on the arm rest he waited until she decided to do whatever it was she was doing. He closed his eyes, Gray didnt see the fuss, he had been bitten by a squid. It wasnt like he was going to turn into a squid three nights of the month was it?

"Never did well with Transfiguration myself," Gray laughed, he had the theory down, but he just could transfigurate much, "Rather you than me though love, Cant say I'd like writing one of those"

[Olivia Costa]

Olivia was not the pushy sort, but this was a different case. He was already bleeding through his bandages, and he was telling her not to worry! "Maybe not to you, but I won't let you go off anywhere like that." By the look on Gray's face, she assumed that he thought her to be insane. Hmm, maybe she did over worry sometimes.

"Oh don't give me that look Gray Deluca. I'm not dragging you off to the gallows now am I?" A smile tugged at her lips as she set to working on his arm. Slowly and carefully, she began to remove the bandages he had placed on their. Her nose wrinkled slightly at the smell, but otherwise she didn't mind it. Liv placed those bandages aside and began to re-bandage his arm. "Tell me if it's too tight."

"It's not that bad once I get an idea." She shrugged softly then stood up again. Liv grabbed the old bandages, pursed her lips for a moment, then tossed them into the fire. That was a good way of disposing them so no one else found them and decided to do something stupid with them.

Liv hesitated, before returning to her seat. She tugged lightly at her sleeve and glanced back up at Gray. Now that she had no reason to fuss over him, he probably wanted to get back to whatever he was going to do before she interrupted him. "You can go now if you want, I'm done bothering you." Olivia grinned slightly and glanced back down to her lap.

One of the many problems Olivia had to live with was the fact that she was never very good at starting up her own conversation. Although people tended to feel very comfortable by her, she did not always feel the same. Most of the time, people just spoke to her just to get something off of their chest, then walked away. To say that she was socially awkward would be harsh, but she certainly wasn't a social butterfly.

[Gray Deluca]

He huffed and he fuffed, he didnt like having people run around after him and fussing over him like this. This is what mothers and wives were for, thankfully he didnt have the second one. At this thought a small smile crept upon Gray's features, even though his head was leant back, the apple in his throat moving up then down everytime he swallowed, he remembered someone used to have a fascination of watching that.

"I never said you were Olivia Costa, I just dont see the huge fuss about a small cut on my arm!"

Small cut was a bit of an understatement, and it was clear by now Gray didnt like having fusses made over him, he was sure Liv knew that but like the concerned friend she looked after him anyway. He felt the old bandage come off, the dried blood on the bandage was merging with the blood still seeping from his arm. He wasnt looking but he assumed it to be infected, he'd go to thw Hospital Wing later and pick up an antidote.

He gave a little jump as she finished wrapping the new bandage around, it wasnt too tight it just hurt him again, he held his arm near him rather protectivly his eyes scanning it then he looked up at Olivia and smiled in thanks to her. The idea of throb killers wasnt a bad one right about now, and he had an urge for some chocolate, nothing to do with the bite obviously unless the Squid got tastes for chocolate, he had been craving it since he walked in here.

"Thanks"

For a moment Gray watched as the bandages burnt and crackled in the fire before looking to her and standing up as she spoke. He walked past her picking up his black jacket and headed to the exit of the common room, though stopping as he looked to the top of the entance. Sighing he turned and walked back into the common room with a shrug and a little grin on his face.

"You coming to raid the kitchens?"

[Olivia Costa]

A small smile was evident on her face as she worked on Gray's arm. He obviously didn't like the fact that she was worrying over him, but that was just Gray. He didn't seem to like people fussing over him, but for some reason he allowed Olivia to worry over him. It was strange, but she chose not to question it.

Gray jumped as she finished, and a worried look cross her face. After he smiled though, she quickly returned to the favor. Silence fell between the two, and Liv reached over to gather herself up on the table. Book, check, essay, check, quill, check. She glanced back up at him as he thanked her, and a new wave of color found her cheeks again. "No problem."

Olivia was ready to get up and walk back to her dorm when Gray turned around and came back. She blinked up at him, quite obviously shocked by the fact that he asked her. "I-um.." Liv blinked down at the ground, looking quite flustered. "..Sure. I'd love to." She set her books back down and nervously brushed her hair from her eyes.

[Gray Deluca]

He watched as she looked dumbfounded at the fact he asked her to go to the kitchens with him. He knew she didnt really mix with others, she helped people out and exchanged a few words and Gray found himself wondering if she classed anyone as a friend. Gray looked at her with a little smile as she flustered and agreed to go down to the kitchens with him. Gray wasnt bothered about the lonely walk, neither did he feel like he owed her anything but he figued a bit of company wouldnt hurt and he did enjoy talking to Olivia.

"Good then," Gray smiled and threw his jacket over his shoulder, "You might want a jacket, the halls are quite cold."

He waited for Liv outside the common room, smiling at a group of Slytherins who scowled at him but knew better than to start anything due to professor's company. He was leaning against a wall, the stone was cold against his back, he figured Liv would be fluffing her hair or something, seriously girls couldnt go anywhere without making themselves look good. Pushing himself off the wall he walked back into the common room and up the stairs. Just outside the girls dorm he knocked on the door,

"Liv, I'll be waiting outside the common room for you."

He nearly added, 'Your hair is fine' but somehow managed to hold himself back and not say it, though at the thought a smirk appeared on his face as he walked down the steps and back into the common room, his eyes falling upon the bandage still burning in the fire, a few first years wondering what the bandage was used for, instinctivly, Gray covered his arm with his jacket and with his free hand, grabbed his wand and cast an extra fire spell, causing the bandage to smoulder and turn to nought but ash, the first years looked disgruntled but didnt say anything as he walked out and waited with his back on the wall once more.

((Sorry about the delay, I suddenly found myself busy ))

[Olivia Costa]

"Um..right. I'll just run up and get that then. I'll only be a moment."

Olivia turned and grabbed her books again. She glanced at Gray for a moment, making sure that he wasn't joking. Well, he seemed like he wanted her to come. A grin flashed across her face before she made her way up the stairs to her dorm.

None of her dorm mates were in the room, and for that she was greatful. Many of them liked to nit and pick at her, trying to get her to open up to them she assumed. Liv popped open her trunk -- as neat as ever -- and pulled out one of her jackets. She held it up for a moment, making sure it was the right one, then slipped one arm into it.

She barely had her coat all the way on when there was a knock at the door. Olivia jumped in surprise. Gray's voice came from the other side of the door as Liv worked to straighten her jacket. "Alright." She called, before stealing a glance of herself in the mirror. Shaking her head a bit at herself, Liv opened up the door and made her way down the stairs.

It was quite surprising how quietly she could move, and in no time flat she was out the common room. Liv scanned the halls for a moment, then spotted Gray and made her way over to him. She nervously tugged at her sleeve. "Why don't you lead the way?"

(( It's alright xDD And hey, do we want to continue this thread in the kitchens? Or just keep in this one? ))

[Gray Deluca]

Gray waited outside the common room for her like he told her he would. He had only been there a moment or two when she came out, he leant up off the wall as she came over and told him to lead the way, he spotted her tugging at her sleeve but didnt really pay much attention to it as he nodded and began to walk down the corridor. He could only assume Liv hadnt been to the Kitchens before.

"You ever been to the kitchens?"

There had been a silence between them, which wasnt uncommon as Gray wasnt much of a talker unless it was a thought that should stay in his head, they never did stay where they were supposed to. He put his hands in his jacket pocket. It was late, probably boarderlining eleven or something by now as he looked out of the window and noticed it was a full moon, he pointed to it and pulled Olivia to the window where you could see it hanging over the lake casting a silver glow onto the water, but also making the forest look more eerie.

"And look, I've not changed into a mad raving Squid who wants to eat people"

He stood there watching the reflection of the moon for a moment on the lakes surface before turning and walking back down the corridor. He hadnt been to the lake at night on a full moon before, and if they still had time he thought about dragging her down there, either that or he would go next month on his own, either way he wasnt bothered. He liked the silence of the night and the smell of the night air.

"Here we are"

With that he tickled the pair as the portrait opened revealing the Kitchens, when he walked in a hoard of House Elves attacked them wanting to know what they wanted, this never failed to make him laugh as he tried to get his footing so he could let Liv through without standing on one of them.

((We may as well keep it running through here, save making a new thread xD))

[Olivia Costa]

"In all my years here, I haven't. Sad, isn't it?"

Olivia shook her head. But, that sort of made sense. Liv never really liked to wander out alone, at night, to go anywhere. She wasn't scared really, just uncomfortable. Plus, some of the strangest men liked to wander around at night, present company not included.

There was a small tug on her shoulder, and Liv was spun around so she could look out the window. She blinked up at the moon, perfectly in awe at its beauty. With one hand, she reached up at pressed her fingers lightly against the glass, like she was reaching for the moon. But, after Gray spoke again, she remembered she wasn't alone and quickly dropped her hand.

"You never know, the transformation could be triggered by something else. Maybe if you see sushi or something."

Liv laughed softly at the thought of Gray suddenly transforming into a giant squid. It would definitely be a funny sight. Gray's voice brought her out of her daydreaming as she found herself face to face with a painting. Blinking a bit, Olivia let out a small gasp as it swung open, and Gray walked inside.

House Elves nearly pounced on her as she entered, and she blinked down at them. Not entirely sure what to do, Liv looked up at Gray for help.

[Gray Deluca]

Gray just laughed and shook his head, it wasnt sad that she hadnt been to the Kitchens, not many people could find it easily anyway. He was getting a sense, like a tingling in his stomache as if trying to tell him something like Liv wasnt used to going out at night. Then again thinking on it, he didnt think he'd ever seen her leave the Common Room after a certain time, that was a little, well she was missing out.

"Stick with me and you'll be breaking more school rules than you thought possible," Gray laughed, "No seriously, Im always up for night time wanderings. In my opinion they are the best time to wader around, especially outside the castle."

The two of them stood by the window, he was glancing at the moons reflection, not the actual spheric object in the sky and he was watching as the silvery glow danced on the slight ripples coming off it due to the breeze. He turned his attention back to Liv when she answered him though, and at the Sushi comment he couldnt help but laugh. The mental image he had was rather entertaining but nothing he was willing to share.

"I can imagine myself going crazy when I see sushi, I dont think I'll ever look at it in the same way again"

It seemed the two of them were having similar mental pictures of Gray trasforming at the sight of sushi. With that though he carried on walking and once he found himself in the Kitchens, laughing at the elves he looked over to Liv who seemed to be a bit lost. With that, he suddenly had an idea, which she would be able to tell due to the smile forming on his face. Bending down to the house elves he spoke.

"We're going for a sort of midnight feast thing down by the lake, pack us up anything sweet and tasty and possibly a few butterbeers and we'll be hightly grateful." He stood back up as they all rushed off and turned to Liv, "Up for a midnight feast?"

[Olivia Costa]

"Oh dear, I've befriended the rebel. My mother will surely scold me for this."

Olivia flashed a grin up at him and laughed. In truth, her mother probably would scold her for that because "A lady always follows the rules." Well, she just wouldn't tell her mother about this then. It would be her on little secret.

"Well, I'll make sure to keep you away from any sushi then. Wouldn't want you going squid on me."

Liv joined in his laughter, actually surprised how easy it was to talk to Gray. Many other times when she tried to talk with people, she felt somewhat distant from them. She could understand what they were talking about, but somehow she couldn't relate. Standing there, laughing with Gray, that was a new experience for her.

A smile was etched onto Gray's face as he bent down to whisper something in the house elf's ear. Olivia raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the elves again as they began to bustle around the kitchen. Midnight feast? Where? In the kitchen?

"I've made it this far already, why not just go along with it." A small grin curved her lips upward. "I'll try it."

Luckily, Olivia hadn't eaten a lot at dinner. She found herself without an appetite when she went down, and just nibbled on a few things. Some of the girls just assumed that she was conscious of her weight, but that was hardly true. Liv learned a long time ago not to care what people thought of her.