(Lake) Picnic on the Beach

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace had not seen Bog in the longest time and it was eating at her insides. She was dying to see him but with her patrolling and both their studying for their N.E.W.T.'s they never seemed to come together. Grace had had enough and had planned a lovely picnic for them. It was a windy day, scattered clouds travelled fast by, but the sun shone brightly against the gnashing teeth of the wind. Grace walked towards the lake, picnic basket on her arm.

She found a lovely grassy spot and put the basket on the ground next to her. She pulled out her wand and began practicing her wordless magic (something she had been doing lots of lately). The blanket in the basket shot out and flared open but crumbled into a heap on the ground. With a little help from her, the blanket was spread out and smooth. Then came the food, treats as she had developed a sweet tooth recently, such as strawberries and cream, chocolate éclairs and custard tart. Cutlery, crockery, vase with a yellow rose all set themselves on the blanket.

Grace, proud of her handy work, sat on the blanket and surveyed the scene. It's perfect, she thought, smiling and folding her hands in her lap. Now all there was to do was wait for Bog to arrive.

[Henry Boggleworth]

Looking pale and wane compared to his usual cheerful and bright self Boggleworth scanned the pretty little note sent from his beloved, crumpling the paper in frustration he sorely wished he could spend more time with her, but life was just so very hectic, he barely had time for sleep; the dark rings under his eyes were becoming evident and even his face seemed a little more haggard and drawn than ever. Stuffing the note into a pocket he decided enough was enough, the rogues would have to wait.

Yes he'd done the unspeakable, the one thing from his past he'd sworn he'd never fall back into, being isolated and alone as a rogue, looking after solely himself. Gobien a supposed powerful member of the Rogue Wizards who were striving to become a real threat as a unified team, had come to Boggleworth knowing that he'd stood up to the Ministry before, and even knowing an inkling of Boggleworth's dark past; how could he refuse? What else lay before him in his future? Sorely he wished to remain forever with Grace, but they were drifting inexorably appart, their love was undoubtedly still strong but fate seemed to have deigned that their lives tread seperate paths, and who can strive long against the inexorable pull of fate?

So Boggleworth had secretly began working for the Rogues on top of his studying too, it wasn't a match made in heaven. He'd slipped them daily information regarding the Ministry's actions at Hogwarts; mainly the usual patrols, patrols and more patrols. Yet any information he could scrounge was invaluable for the Rogues, perhaps they were even indebted to him? If only.

Yet deciding that the Rogues could wait for a single report, they may even worry that he didn't meet them at the very edge of the forest, which would serve them right, Boggleworth scrubbed himself up, wanting to look the very best for his darling, but knowing it was impossible given the state he had let himself decline into, yet his natural decent features still showed through, only slightly diminished as he strode with a fixed smile down towards the lake to meet Grace.

On seeing her his fake smile slipped into a genuine radiant one, "Grace," he exclaimed joyously rushing up to give sweep her off her feet into a sweeping hug.
"It's wonderful, what a spread, but how are you?" He demanded knowing work had been her pure focus for quite some time.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace had become worried, tapping her thumbs on her legs, looking around anxiously. He hadn't arrived yet and she could scarcely begin to think why. Had she fallen so much out of his favour that he would stand her up this way? Not a chance, Grace thought. She knew Bog and she knew that he did care for her deeply however distracted and unfocused upon her he may be. So she calmed herself, tucking her long hair behind her ear as she waited more patiently now.

She didn't have to wait long. She happened to look towards the castle and she saw Bog rushing towards her. Grace jumped to her feet, smile spread across her face, and she opened her arms for the hug she knew was coming. He lifted her off her feet and she bent her knees, raising her feet, and laughed as she soured through the air. When she was on the ground again, she smiled at him. "I'm wonderful," she said, putting her hands on his cheeks, "now that you're here." She pushed herself up and kissed him. Dropping her hands to take his, Grace said, "I've been working very hard, trying for O's in all my classes."

It was then that Grace saw the deep set tiredness in Bog's eyes, the heavy bags under his eyes. She wished she could help him carry whatever burden he carried but she knew how reserved he was about such things. Still smiling, she pulled him by his hand towards the picnic she had made. "Look what I made," she said, wrapping his arm around her. She missed that touch more then she could say and wanted it even more then that. "I hope you're hungry," she said and smiled up at him.

[Henry Boggleworth]

Fervently kissing Grace with a passion of prolonged absence, somehow they just didn't seem to see each other much these days, Boggleworth set her down gently upon firm ground; of course that was after spinning her around several times to make her pretty giddy.

Blushing ever so slightly at Grace's comment, for he felt very guilty that he hadn't purposefully made time to be with her often enough, Boggleworth caressed Grace's hands a look of guilt spreading across his grim features. Turning the situation around he promised fervently "well I'll have to see you more often then won't I?" He grinned gazing in awe at the majesty of the picnic, stomach unashamedly growling at the delgihts set before it, Boggleworth chuckled, "strange that you work too hard and me not enough, we need to swap a little," though at the minute I may even be working more than Grace he thought resignedly, not allowing his annoyance at his heavy workload; due in particular to the rogues, to show.

Holding Grace tightly to him, but not in a bear hugging manner, he felt the gentle rythmic beating of her warm heart and his smile somehow brightened further. "Wow," he breathed in awe licking his lips at the sight before him, more so Grace than the actual food. "I'm ravishing," he joked, "well no I'm more ravenous for you." Without warning Boggleworth cupped Grace's chin in a warm hand and brought her lips to his, in a soft and tender kiss. "I love you so much," he breathed eyes shimmering with unshed tears, the fear of losing her was so great it made him afraid of being with her, in case he did something so utterly stupid that would tarnish their wonderful relationship. One hand curling around Grace's slim waist Boggleworth ran another gently through her hair, feeling how lovingly washed and cared for it was, his tongue brushed his lips as he drew the girl he loved so completely into a passionate embrace and heart-stopping kiss.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace laughed, throwing her long hair back, "you most certainly will." She smiled up at Bog. She had seen how he worked and in a self satisfying way she had to agree with him: they did need to swap some time. She was working very hard to get as many O's in her N.E.W.T.'s as she could and she had scarcely seen Bog lift a book. She felt betrayed, almost, that he wasn't doing as she was to ensure a future for himself, a future that they would share.

When he turned his attention from her to the picnic she had prepared for him and she saw his reaction, she laughed again. "I'm glad to hear that," she said, and looked up at him before she had hear the rest of what he had to say. When she did, she laughed again, blushed but didn't deny Bog another kiss. She smiled coyly up at Bog and said softly, "I love you too." In recent weeks she had begun to doubt it, if she loved him as much as she had once done, for this avoidance was not just due to the work load, Grace knew that much of herself.

All her anger at being kept in the dark, and her frustration, and the ignorance she felt spilt down her cheeks, hot and wet, glistening in the sunshine as Bog kissed her more longingly then before. She pulled away from him after a long moment, wiped her cheeks with her hands and smiled, with a sniff. "Well, I'm famished," she said, distracting herself. She pulled from Bog and took a seat on the blanket she had laid down and reached for the plate the chocolate éclairs were on and she took one, before offering them to Bog. She knew it wasn't proper food but she had worked hard on preparing everything and her sweet tooth was raging to be satisfied, as she was but that would come later.