(Hogsmeade) Atop a Hill

[Alex Doyle]

It had been a long day and as usual Alex found himself growing bored, he loved the castle and its grounds and everything about it, but there was only so many times in one day you could walk around them without growing restless, and Alex was a restless soul. It was mid May so the weather was warm, which was fine with Alex, there was only so much cold he could deal with. Things had been pretty hectic lately, what with studies and finals and blah blah blah, he didnt have much time for himself, or his friends.

Finally he found himself walking on the gravel path heading out of the school grounds and down into Hogsmeade. The streets were pretty full, so Alex had to dip and dive, and weave in and out of people. It was more hectic down here than up at the castle and Alex didnt even think that was possible. Finally he dipped out of the crowd and found himself with his back against the wall, "Its like fighting a pack of wild boars!" He sighed to himself, but he knew were he wanted to get to and the only way he could was to weave out of the crowd.

Taking what could only be described as a deep breath, he dived back into the corwd, "Hey! Ouch! Hey!" he found himself saying over and over again. Finally the crowd dispersed and Alex made his way up a hill, he liked to come out here usually at dawn or just before sunset. However it was neither of those times right now. He climbed up the hill and sat on the rock and looked over the lake below.

[Girty Hubbles]

“You have already missed the show. The Giant Squid was tormenting some third years who had stolen a boat and they were rowing it around. They started whacking its tentacles with their ores which just made the whole situation even better. I did not see which Professor came out but they were having a go at everyone and then to top it off they fell out of their own boat to howling applause of the student”

Girty still laughed about the whole saga as she wondered over and dropt down on the rock next to Alex offering him some of the jelly beans that were in a small brown back she had in her hands. The Hufflepuff had spent most of the day on top of the hill looking out over the lack and the small village just waiting and enjoying the quite. It has been some time since her and Alex had seen each other and she often came here to see if he would turn up merely out of curiosity more then anything else.

She had only left to get some more sweets when she was convinced she caught a glimpse of his face through the crowds and that gave her a little bit of hope. But as she now sat next to the Ravenclaw on the rock overlooking the splendour of the lake glimmering in the May sun light Girty could not help but grin.

[Alex Doyle]

Alex looked up at the sound of a voice, it seemed to have startled him out of his thoughts, though when he saw the speaker, he grinned. "I always miss the good shows" He laughed, "It would have been funny to see them fall out of the boat. Though alas, Alex always misses things" He looked up and smiled at Girty, "Good thing I have you to fill me in on things"

He shuffled over on the rock a bit. He was taking up most of the room on it and he didnt want her to be uncomfy or to fall off it. He smiled when she offered him some jelly beans and took a couple with a thanks, hug and a grin. It had felt like forever since he had Girty had last seen eachother, and though he wouldnt say it, he had missed her.

"So, what brings you out here today then?"

He laughed and ran a hand through his hair. The day had been hectic and stressful, though he was sure it would brighten up now he was with Girty, everything seemed to since all the two ever did was laugh with or at one another. He looked back down to the lake smiling, he liked the way the hill ran smoothly down to it, however, he was content to sit on the rock for now.

"On my way here," he told her, "I was sure i was in a pack of wild boars or something." Laughing he shrugged and looked at her, "Seriously! I've never been elbowed, pushed and hit more in my life! Crowds these days are not easy to get through, at least bruise free anyway"

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty continued to laugh and picked out a few Jelly Beans of her own before popping each one into her mount individual chewing on them slowly as she lost herself in her thoughts. But as Alex voice floated over towards her Girty turned and looked at him while placing yet another Jelly Bean in her mouth and she listened intently to his question as if he was a professor asking her a vital question in class however the answer she gave was slightly more cryptic then a straight answer.

“I am guessing the same thing as you, but then I was here first so that means you are doing the same thing as me.”

She shot him a playful smile at Alex and followed his gaze down to the bottom of the hill and the lake. They had spent so much time on this hill in the past, it was their spot and they would sit here come rain or shine and talk, have fun and roll down the hill making sure you could stop in time before you reached the lake (on more then one occasion they had ended up looking like a drowned rat.)

“Oh tell me about it.” She chipped in as Alex talked about the hoards of people in the village. “I had to abandon any form of manors and actually push way across…I even purposely hit someone in the back to get them to speed up. I am a very bad person.”

However she did not show much remorse as her regretful tone was soon overcome by laughter and bark of a laugh escaped her mouth. Her mother would be dreadfully disappointed with her manors but then it did not matter as she was not here.

[Alex Doyle]

Alex enjoyed being here, more than he enjoyed being back at home and he loved being there. He didnt much like huge citites which was why he loved the little village in Cornwall where he lived. Occasionally he would go down to the Muggle Village to see his muggle friends, they all knew about Alex and what he was so it wasnt complicated. However, he enjoyed being here more when he was with Girty, it was like their own private place where nobody else came, they had both come here since the first year when the two had first met and become nigh unseperable.

"It would seem as though we both had the same idea, you havn't been here too long, have you?"

Alex knew what her cryptic answer meant, because he came down here too, for the same thing. Hoping to see Girty, however, he hoped she hadnt been here too long because then he would feel slightly guilty about making her wait, even though he didnt know she would be here anyway. He looked at her and gave her a big smile, Alex remembered most of the conversations they had ever had, he remembered all of their silly little plots and tricks they ever did. He even remembered nearly getting them both killed more than once, she knew every little thing about him, because he had no secrets from her. He trusted her more than he trusted himself, but then again, that wasnt always too difficult.

He laughed as he looked down at the lake, "Remember the first time I fell in" he said, looking a little to his left, "Right there, by that tree" he shook his head as a grin crossed his face, "I was so surprised that I had lost my footing I grabbed you and we both went in" He smiled as he looked at her, seriously it had been too long that they had not spoken.

"Oh dear" he laughed, "Bet they'll have a lovely bruise, i know your hits too well Girty and they always leave a mark" he pulled back his left sleeve and shown her the scar which she had given him in their first year, "Trip to the forest, i dont think anyone has dug their nails into me harder"

[Girty Hubbles]

There are a few things that people have to be aware when studying the behaviour patterns of Girty Hubbles and that is no matter who she is around, no matter their age, gender house or blood she would act the same around them all. But there is something that was in the list that had caused a small problem and instability in her and Alex’s friendship and that was the houses they were from.
Their first three even four years at the school was when these two where at the height of their friendship having endless adventures, inside jokes and basically a hell of a lot of fun. But it when they were in their fourth year Girty found other friends inside her own house and the pride of being a Hufflepuff grew and grew. The time she spent with Alex decreased, there adventures in the forest almost stopped and they hardly ever talked. During those years Girty would always come to the hill and hope that on days like today Alex would turn up and ever since entering her last year in the school Girty has been spending many weekends on the hill, her closest friends had all gone as he found herself longing for the past, a time when she had been happy and the person behind that happiness was Alex.

“No…no I have not been here long.”

She looked over at him with a fond smile and chuckled softly, she would have waited all day if she had to just to be able to laugh with Alex once again. It seemed that reminiscing about the old times was on the cards and that was just what Girty needed she was able to laugh at the memory of her and Alex tumbling into the lake, the sensation of the cold water soaking through her clothes and chilling her to the bone, but also how after the first cries of anguish had past the laughed took over once again and the splashing fights begun. However when he rolled up his sleeve and showed her his scars she could not help but laugh.

“Oh comparing war wounds are we?” She raised her eyebrow at him and reached down and rolled up her left trouser leg and pointed to a long scar down her shine. “Second year in the dungeons you pushed me and I feel down the steps remember. I can not remember why…did I insult for hair or failed to laugh at one of your terrible jokes?”

[Alex Doyle]

The last couple of years, the ones where Alex and Girty hardly ever spoke or saw eachother, had been, well, different. They had both moved in different circles, she had gained new friends in Hufflepuff and he in Ravenclaw. It seemed to be the one thing that kept them both apart. He knew that she had once fell in love, and Alex didnt want to get in the way of that so stayed away so not to confuse her. Alex had missed their late night wanders, adventures and their long talks. The feeling he had, right now, sitting on this same rock with her once more, reminded him of being in the first year to the fourth year. Nothing could beat the way he felt when he sat with her, every inch of him tingled with happiness and laughter. It showed now, that no matter how long the two were apart, their friendship was strong, it was able to withstand time.

He had missed her these past few years, he too often came here in just a small hope that she might be here, though he never found her. Not until today, the wind was warm, though it was certainly breezy, but he wasnt cold. In fact he was quite warm and couldnt remove the smile that was on his face at finally seeing his Hufflepuff friend again. A lot of Ravenclaw's told him he was wasting his time with her, that her pride of being a Hufflepuff far outweighed the fact of interhouse friendship. Alex, though not wanting to believe it, for years couldnt help it. Though he never gave up, he never gave up on the fact that one day they might share the same laughter they once did.

"Well, I guess... Im happy you werent waiting long"

He looked at her and laughed too, running a hand through his hair and looking down at the ground. He watched as the grass blades swayed in the slight breeze, after years of hardly associating, here they were, as if those years never happened. Alex never told her, but even through those years he was always watching out for her, he knew that the death of her ex-love was heartbreaking for her, and he hated to see her in such a state, but he was also seeing someone at that point, and she was extreamly jelous of Girty because she knew of their closeness. Wherever Alex went, his ex followed so he never managed to give her a shoulder to cry on. Though now, it seemed time had passed and she had healed, which he was happy about.

He looked at the scar and remembered doing it, he laughed. "I think you did both" he said with a nudge, pushing her off the rock and onto the grass, but losing his own footing and going with her, they fell and became a tangled mess of arms and legs, eventually when he was able to untangle his legs and arms from her, he found himself propping himself up by his hands, which were either side of her neck, laughing he added, "Sorry about that, didnt quite go to plan"

[Girty Hubbles]

Alex’s smile was so hypnotising, his characteristic hand sweep through his hair made Girty’s smile grow even wider as for that small moment he was the centre of her attention and nothing mattered. However as his gaze dropt to the grass Girty looked away back over the lake while rubbing the back of her net nervously and she took a deep breath as she reminded herself that she had Simon, Alex was just a close friend who she had not seen in a very long time.

She looked back over at Alex, he was still focusing on the grass as a light breeze blew over the hill and made his hair ripple around and dance around in the wind but slowly he raised his head and looked over at her leg and his laughter sounded out around them. Straight away she joined in her mind flashing back to the fateful day and the memories of the steps getting closer, the sound of Alex’s laughter mixed with concern and her own laughter and groans as she saw the blood pouring out her torn trousers.
The pain soon became reality more then a memory (although not as painful as before) as Alex pushed her off the rock. Trying to save herself Girty reached out and took hold of his top and but as a result she ended up pulling him with her.

The ground appeared quickly and Girty head smacked down on it, her legs waved around in the air and Alex came down with her and once their limps all settled he was slowly pushing himself off the top of her and as soon as his eyes met hers her laughter stopped and all Girty could do was stare up at him, she felt a strange sensation spread through her stomach and she gritted her teeth together trying to ignore and force herself to believe it was because she had hit her head.

“It is quite alright.” Girty mumbled as her eyes darted across his face, however it was then she realised that she was still clinging onto his top. Releasing the fabric Girty gingerly raised her hand to her face and flicked the odd strand of hair out of her eyes. “I have a nice view.”

Her eyes grew wide, a mouth dropt open slightly and her cheeks started to turn a light shade of pink as her brain registered what she had just said. Swallowing hard Girty wanted to say something or wiggle out fro underneath him as her imagination started to worry that Simon would suddenly walk up the hill and find them….but yet she did not move.

[Alex Doyle]

His stomach was in a knot, and his throat was dry. His hand kept darting nervously to his hair, though his palms were clammy, and he could hear the pounding of his heart in his chest. He wiped his palms on his jeans and looked nervously over at her, trying to keep his gaze from being nervous, but failing miserably. After these years apart, Alex thought he would have gotten over his childish crush on Girty, but it seems as though his feelings still remained. He gave a nervous laugh, he couldnt help it, he loved being with her, and yet she made him nervous at the same time.

He knew she was looking at him, he could feel her gaze as though it was piercing him, but he tried with all his might not to look back at her, he was scared of what he might do or say if he did. He chanced a glance out of the corner of his eyes, only to meet her gaze, he quickly smiled and put his hand back in his hair, laughing again. It was one thing he couldnt help but do when he was with her.

When he pushed her off the rock, her hand flew out and grabbed the neck of his shirt, instantly he lost his footing and fell with her. Thier mass of arms and legs seemed to be fighting with eachother for some control, once they finally had that, Alex looked at her, he really looked at her, his eyes wandering over her features, her brown hair, her eyes, her nose, her mouth, everything. He was entranced by her and he couldnt help it.

He smiled when she said it was alright, and he had noticed she still had ahold of his shirt. He felt for a moment, in the tension between them that she was going to pull him to her, obviously, he wouldnt have complained. Though her next line took him by surprise. He smiled at her, moving some of the hair out of her eyes, and tracing his hand down her face. Still smiling he said, "So do I" His hand lingered on her cheek, and for a while, it seemed as though time itself had stopped, and nothing but the two of them were in the world. He was nervous, and he was shaking, but he kept his smile, and his gaze locked with hers.

[Girty Hubbles]

They continued to look at each and Girty dared not breath in fear of losing the moment, this perfect moment that a number of years ago Girty would lie in bed dreaming about but now she was feeling guilty about it all. She was just about to look away from Alex to regain her composure when she felt his touch on her face. She closed her eyes and had to try and steady her breathing as he slowly traced his hand down her face until her stopped at her cheek, her eyes flashed open to see what the matter was and all she could see was his smile, his gorgeous perfect smile.

Girty chest was pounding so hard so thought it was going to explode out of her chest, her breaths were short and sharp and her mind was spinning. She could not work out why she was feeling like this, she never had felt like this with Simon but here she was with Alex and the months and years of silence seemed to fade away and she felt like she did in the third year when she just wanted to embrace him and never let go but she could not do that she could not do that to Simon she cared for him to much.

“I…I….” Girty tried to talk her mouth was dry and her could not tear her gaze away from Alex, she did not want to ruin everything but she had to. Her smile faded and a small frown spread across her face as she pushed away Alex’s hand and wiggled her way out from underneath him so she could sit up straight.
She could not look at her heart felt like it was tearing her in two and her mind was screaming at her for doing such a stupid thing. Raising her knees up to her chin she wrapped her arms her legs and kept giving nervous glances over at Alex.

[Alex Doyle]

Even the wind seemed to be perfect, rustling her hair in that perfect way it did. He had wanted this sort of situation since he could remember. He wanted to say so much, wanted to tell her what had been in his heart for so long, yet no words word form, and the only thing he could do was lightly stroke the side of her face, and smile. Hoping that these gestures were caring enough to explain to her how he felt for her.

The time that passed, he didnt know how long, but his heart was pounding, his lips were dry and his whole body screamed at him to just go for it. Yet something held him back, and at this moment he didnt know what it was. How long he had felt like this he couldnt even say, he couldnt even begin to explain, she opened her mouth and tried to speak, but yet no words came. He watched as her smile faded, and found his own dissapearing, she pushed his hand away and Alex stood up so she could wiggle from underneath him easier.

"Its alright" He spoke, though his voice was a little shaken, "Its alright, I understand, dont worry about it" he turned around and walked back to the rock, picking up his jacket, he went to walk away. Taking a couple of steps away, he stopped and sighed. This could be his one chance, and if he walked away now he would only regret it forever, and yet her actions had spoken that it couldnt happen. He turned back to face her, his heart was heavy, for somewhere inside him he knew, she knew how he felt. No matter which way he looked at it right now, it seemed nothing less than rejection. He had gotten way ahead of himself, pushed the boarders of friendship way back and stepped over the line, the line that he should never have stepped over. Still, he couldnt help how he felt and looking at her now, he knew he had confused her, but what could he do?

"Girty..." He began, then stopped and began to pace. He put a hand on his head and tried to think but his thoughts were scrambled, he turned to her and sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her like he used to go, giving her a hug and resting his head on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." He sighed, "Im just sorry" He gave her a small kiss on her cheek, a friendly one, like he had done so many times before, and stood up. He walked past her, and began walking back up the hill as if to walk away...

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty’s lowers lip was trembling and for some reason she felt like she wanted to cry but there was no reason to. She was only doing what any person would do if they were in a relationship with someone else…but then Alex was not just anyone he was the original he was the one before Thom had infatuated her mind. Girty felt rage built up inside her and she subconsciously started to stroke her left shoulder thinking that it would somehow make it better but the thought still raced through her mind.'Why could he have not done this all those years ago?'

Her mixed up emotions were thrown into even more turmoil when Alex walked back over to her and wrapped his arms around her like they used to. She squeezed him tightly gathering the fabric of his top in between her figures once again and rested her head on his shoulder listening to his soft voice apologise. He was shaken she could hear it in his voice and sense it in his body language, but this reassured Girty with one thing, she was not the only person this confused.
Slowly Girty had to let Alex go as he moved to stand up, but as he did he kissed her on the cheek. Her hands automatically rose to it and gently stroke the cheek while watching his back as he walked away. Her next few actions seemed such a blur with just one motive in her mind that Alex could not just leave like this.

Scrambling to her feet Girty quickly walked after him, his pace begin so slowly that a flobberworm would have overtook him in seconds, but that was better the shorter distance to walk meant Girty had less thinking time to think about her actions. As soon as she was right behind him she tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention and slowly Alex turned round and as soon as their eyes met Girty knew what she had to do. She took hold of his left hand, stood up the tips of her toes and gently kissed him on the lips enjoying every second of it.

[Alex Doyle]

Alex was most certainly confused, of why he had done what he had done, he never had any reason to suspect that Girty even thought of him as more than friends, and the more he thought about this concept, the more stupid it seemed. He silently yelled at himself for ever thinking she would ever like him, she was far better than he was, he knew she was. She was too good for him, how could he ever think he could make her happy and give her what she needs?

He was torn between staying with his arms around her, and leaving. He knew the latter of the two would be best, at least for now until this little hurdle was small enough for them to get over. Though, he didnt doubt Girty could get over it, but Alex thought he never would, for over six years he had felt for her, she was in the very core of him and he couldnt let her go. Yet here he was, walking away from her. He wasnt smiling, which was very rare for Alex and whenever he didnt smile, people knew something was up. Todays events in his mind proved to him he needed to let her go, he couldnt cling onto something that wasnt there. It was pointless and would only end up driving him mad, not to mention hurting him like hell.

He sighed as he walked, slipping on his coat. He was walking slowly, he didnt know why but he figured he didnt have it in him to run away, which was what his brain was screaming at him to do, yet his heart was saying stay. But Alex was doing neither. He felt a tap on his shoulder and thought Goblins were attacking, well no he didnt but his heart gave a jolt as he turned and saw Girty stood there, his mouth dropped open and his heart felt like it was about to stop. He looked down when she took his left hand, not entirely sure what was going on, but before he could ask, he found her lips on his own. He was taken by surprise, but he couldnt say he didnt want it, he had done for years. Slowly, he put his right hand around her back and pulled her closer to him, not wanting to let go as he returned her kiss.

[Girty Hubbles]

The kiss continued Girty felt Alex gently place his hand on her back pulling her closer and kissing her in return. Girty’s heart gave a leap as he did as her mind was finally allowed to rest and know that he had liked her, does like her however there was now the small problem of telling him about Simon…but then that could wait.
Reaching up with her free hand Girty did what she had always wanted to do and ran her fingers through his soft hair and as she slowly broke away from the kiss and dropt back down onto the flats of her feet she could not take the smile off her face.

Her chest was heaving with every breath she took the adrenaline from the kiss still pumping through her veins. That had been the most rebellious thing she had done in her life and she was surprised how quickly the feelings of guilt and insecurity passed, it suddenly dawned on her why Dan found this sort of thing appealing.
With another smile Girty looked up at Alex and stared wistfully into his eyes trying to work out what it was that he was feeling at this moment, if he was feeling the same as she was and more importantly if he was going to stay. Girty did not want him to leave and although the kiss had been a last resort as she could not think of anything else to say she always thought actions spoke louder then words, she had feelings for Alex but everything had been thrown up in the air there was no order, no stability.

“Are you still going to leave or are you joining to join me again at the rock?”

She shot him a flirtious smile and she started to turn away slowly slipping her hand out of his as she walked back to the rock. Her heart was still pounding but the sensation in her heart was different it had gone from longing to happiness it was no longer a stabbing pain but a tickling that just made her want to laugh even more.

[Alex Doyle]

Alex coud have stayed like this forever, with her in his arms, being this close to her, being able to feel every strand of electricity between them. He kept her with him, and he was sure this memory would stay with him for all eternity, no words could describe the way he was feeling right now, he could write a whole library full of books and not properly explain the feeling he was having right now.
When he felt her hand run through his hair, he chanced to deepen their kiss. Letting his tongue run ever so lightly over hers, smiling as he did so. It only lasted for a minute or so, but it felt like a lifetime as everything slipped away. When she pulled back, he half groaned because he really didnt want this moment to end.

He smiled at her, and with his left hand, he raised hers to his chest. His heart was pounding and he wanted her to know that, to know what she does to him. He gave her a smile as he looked at her, all the care he had ever felt for her, shown in his eyes, and in his touch as he moved a strand of hair from her face. His chest was rising and falling irregulary, as his heart pounded on his chest, threatening to jump out.

He didnt know what had possessed her to kiss him, but he was glad she had done. His feelings were strong for her, stronger now than ever before and he couldnt hide it from her. Smiling as she asked him about the rock he grinned,

"I will join your Ladyship at the rock" he said with a little bow. He felt like he could do a dance right about now, his heart was dancing, his mind was dancing and it was taking an awful lot to stop Alex from dancing!