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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 26, 2006 19:31:36 GMT
Grace had stayed in the common room after everyone had gone to bed. She was already in her pj's and had her knees against her chest and her feet on the seat next to her. She was staring into the fire that was roaring in the grate.
She had not been particularly interested in what the other hufflepuffs were talking about. She had been lost in thought. She had been thinking about Bog. She had not seen him in ages and she was glad about that too. She had done a few things she regretted now but did not know how to tell him. She did know she had to.
Her thoughts were interrupted by someone who had noisily entered the common room.
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 26, 2006 19:45:23 GMT
Boggleworth had been away a long time, he'd missed the first few days of the begininning of term, and quite frankly he didn't know or care of what day it was. But his name was cleared, he hadn't seen Grace properly for a long time, other than a short meeting at the hospital, he wished to see her first and tell her the good news.
It looked like his luck was in, but Boggleworth was nothing like his former glory, his face had deep lines and sorrows that shouldn't appear on such a young man showing the difficult times that he had somehow pulled through. He hurriedly smashed his way into the common room, and breathed a sigh of relief that Grace was there, and even better, alone.
He rushed over to her and embraced saying "Grace, oh, how I've missed you! How are you?"
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 26, 2006 20:17:39 GMT
Grace gasped as she was embraced abruptly. It was Bog! oh no, oh no! "Bog!" she stuttered. "I - um, you - um ..." she couldn't get her thoughts straight. She tried not to let him see she was tired and worried. She put on a big smile and said, "hi!"
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 26, 2006 20:22:47 GMT
Immediately Boggleworth knew something was wrong, to try to lighten the mood and to let Grace speak he said
"what's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Come on Grace I can see right through you, and vice versa, so spill the beans, what's your prob? You not what I always say" he intoned
"best to let it all out, is that annoying? if it is then tell me!" he laughed feeling much better being with Grace again.
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 26, 2006 20:34:24 GMT
Grace frowned and stared into Bog's eyes. It's not a cat, she thought. Don't think about that! Grace's heart was beating in her throat. She was breathing rapidly. She grabbed Bog and kissed him, there was nothing else to do!
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 26, 2006 21:01:53 GMT
Boggleworth's eyes opened wide with the kiss, his heart beat quickly, it was in his mouth threatening to be lost in Grace's and then his love for her would consume him. But he gathered together his wits not wanting to make a total fool of himself and faint right there on the spot.
His cheeks burned red, but that was mainly hidden under the grime of the past weeks.
He still had sufficient brains left to realise that Grace was trying to cover up something, but he didn't care he just wanted this kiss to last forever...
He abruptly pulled away gasping "much as I would love for that to continue for all eternity, there's something your not telling me, come spit it out!" he said ernestly his innocent sharp eyes holding Grace's in place. He smiled then thought what the heck, why not just kiss, but then Grace spoke...
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 26, 2006 21:17:45 GMT
"I can't tell you!" Grace cried, "I just can't! You'll never forgive me!" Grace knew he would find out some way or another. It would be better if it came from me, she thought, but how can I tell him! How can I break his heart!
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 26, 2006 21:21:17 GMT
Boggleworth laughed loud and long, strange in the situation but he couldn't help himself
"oh Grace I could forgive you if you destroyed the universe itself! Come on just tell me, and stop your tears, I want to see smiles, no more tears from you!" He said earnestly. Holding Grace's hands in his he willed her to speak and tell the truth.
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 26, 2006 22:22:06 GMT
Grace looked away from Bog, took a deep breathe, and pulled her hands out of his. Suddenly, she cupped her hands on Bog's cheeks and kissed him again. Then she pulled out of the kiss, keeping her hands on his cheeks, and looked into his eyes. For a moment she almost lost her nerve, but then quickly said, "I'm sorry, Bog, I really am, I didn't mean to, it just sort of happened. I was missing - and you weren't there - and then I - I don't know! It just happened! I didn't want it to! But I did! He was there and you weren't! I'm so sorry Bog!" Grace sighed, let her head drop and ran her hands down his neck and onto her chest. She firmly grasped his collar, to hold herself from falling.
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 27, 2006 10:50:15 GMT
Boggleworth was amazed to begin with he didn't know what she was saying, but then the words and meanings sunk in, he was shocked to the core, he knew there'd be something wrong, but of this magnitude, he hadn't expected in his wildest dreams, nightmares even.
His face broke and tears sprang in his eys as realisation sank in, he told himself not to panic and to over-react but it was useless.
In a way he had known the day would eventually come but so soon, why so soon? he thought a beautiful lady like Grace can't be mine forever, but still, no I must hold my head up high thoughts like these sped through his head each more crazy than the last, how long has she secretly loved another? Did she ever even love me at all?
He breathed a ragged breath and for once he was utterly speechless, he just sat with wide eyes, not even able to wipe away the tears that rolled down his cheeks, he felt powerless, dead inside. He just sat, collapsed in the chair, speechless, staring, blinking through the tears wondering why Grace would leave him. Maybe he had the wrong end of the stick but he wasn't to know, he turned away and sank lower into the sofa, he wanted to stop acting so foolishly, to rise out of this sudden pit, but he just couldn't his spirit had fled and now he just lay in the pit of despair, though he wanted to comfort Grace, this time he couldn't bring himself to even utter one word...
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 27, 2006 11:38:29 GMT
Grace was sobbing. Then Bog pulled away from her. She snapped her gaze to his crest-fallen face. "Bog ..." she didn't know what to say; there were no words to excuse what she had done, nothing she could do to make the situation better. "I'm sorry ..." she couldn't say anything else. "You weren't there! And I needed you! And I still do ..." she moved closer to Bog, wanting to reach for his hand, but she knew it was not the right time. "I still need you, Bog, I always have and always will. Can you ever forgive me?"
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 27, 2006 11:47:20 GMT
Boggleworth sat staring dumbly at Grace, he wanted to speak, but the words just wouldn't come. He was torn between shouting and raging and just crying. Unable to choose he just sat and stared. He cleared his throat but couldn't think of what to say, he was utterly speechless, his eyes betraying his feelings of doom and despair.
He sat there in silence for a while then abruptly snarled "I can forgive my murderer, but yours how could I? Can you forgive yourself? That's the question, and if it's a yes then I am yours for all eternity, and if it's no...then I still am."
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 27, 2006 12:07:20 GMT
Grace took in a deep, shaky breath. She could not forgive her weakness nor could she forgive herself for hurting Bog. She looked away from him. She was ashamed of her actions. She would not forgive herself. Grace looked back to Bog; her eyes were shining with tears. She avoided the question. Instead she said softly, almost whispering, "Bog ... I never meant to hurt you, I'm so so so sorry! I'm sorry I gave up on us and made myself feel better by hurting you. It was not my intention."
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Post by Henry Boggleworth on Aug 27, 2006 12:34:47 GMT
Boggleworth sighed regretfully, "I don't mind you hurting me, it's hurting yourself that I can't stand, don't you dare feel guilty," he shouted grabbing Grace by the shoulders
"you've too much guilt already, for things you have no fault over. I forgive you totally" he lied then continued earnestly, "so forgive yourself." He smiled weakly pretending nothing was wrong, whilst inside he was still in turmoil
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Post by Prof Grace Marks on Aug 27, 2006 12:53:56 GMT
Grace lulled back and forth in Bog's strong grip. Her head fell forwards and a tear fell onto her forearm. She whispered, "fine! I forgive myself," she raised her head and forced a smile, "there!" She was lying through her teeth. But she just wanted to see Bog smile at her like he used to, she wanted him to hold her in his arms like he used to. She wanted him to tell her it was all going to be alright ... like he used to. But he wouldn't, things had changed, the air she breathed was tense and the lies smothered her smile.
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