Continued from ...
Saturday Oct 14
3:22pm

Figaro was still trotting, significantly slowed from his sprint up and out of the cellars.  His hair was all messy and he was wearing the goofiest grin on his face.  He'd just gotten a kiss from Fauna Blake and they were to be dates for the Halloween dance.  Naturally, this news needed to be shared with as many people as possible, starting with his best mates.  He'd been searching for Sasha, and not yet found him.  He was on the way to the library - where he assumed all Ravenclaws always were - and was now trotting down some stairs to the curved corridor that housed an unusual statue.

"Devlin!" Figaro shouted upon seeing another of his Ravenclaw mates.  Devlin Matthews was nearly the coolest, most badass student in the school.  He was dead smart, defiant, laid-back and always seemed to have a really pretty girlfriend.  Not only that, but Figaro was an official member of his hush-hush gang.  He had served as look out a couple of times, really, but in Figaro's mind it was much more impressive.  Another interesting thing about Devlin that Figaro was unaware of: Figaro couldn't read him at all.  With nearly every other student, Figaro had some sort of knowledge, scoop or instinct.  But with Devlin, Figaro nearly always missed the mark.

"Dev!" he said again as he came to a halt near the older boy.  He put his hands on his knees as he caught his breath, but he was still grinning.

"You'll never guess." Pant. "Was wicked." Pant. "First base." Pant.

He straightened up and held the stitch in his side.  He knew that Devlin would be as excited as Figaro's conquest as Fig was.

"So um... I know we got off to a rocky start and all... but I think that a dance is a great way to start over..." Devlin ran his hand through his hair and gave her a winning smile before lowering his head as though he were even bashful about asking her. The stony eyed woman just regarded him coldly, unimpressed, and Devlin sighed. Reaching out, he patted the stone statues head and shook his own. "You're right...That sounds so corny... Perhaps I should bring flowers to sweeten the deal..." He muttered to himself, making a mental note to find out Fauna's favorite flowers.

"Devlin! Dev!"

Muttering a curse under his breath, since he thought he had found the perfect hiding place to practice, Devlin glanced up and saw Figaro running towards him, looking exhausting as usual. He couldn't help but grin a little. Fig was a good kid and useful, in his own way. As long as Dev kept him busy and didn't trust him with too many details, he could count on the younger boy to provide him with all the information he needed. Or a good laugh, since Fig was notorious for being entertaining, whether he intended to or not.

As Sellaphix came to a stumbling halt next to Dev and the statue of the Humpbacked witch, Dev leaned against the old hag and crossed his arms with a knowing smirk. Something good must have happened for the kid to be more talkative then usual. As Fig panted out something about 'first base', Dev grinned in pride. Looked like the kid was finally hitting puberty. "Bloody brilliant mate..." Dev said, giving Fig a high five, "Looks like the Snarks and I gotta teach you how to unsnap a bra for when you round second...." He nudged Fig playfully before standing up and wrapping his arm around Fig's shoulder "But before that, I am glad you are here... I have a job for you."

Figaro revelled in that high five, hanging on Devlin's every word.  Dev always spoke coolly, calmly and far too slowly for Figaro to stand it most times.  He was too oblivious to Devlin to have noticed Devlin had been doing something extraordinarily not cool: rehearsing for a girl.

Figaro laughed at Devlin's notion of schooling him in the more mysterious ways of dating witches.  It was funny.  Because when Figaro thought about growing up and getting married, or whatever, he always sort of figured on a friend-girl.  The nice ones who were easy to get one with.  But from what Figaro saw from Devlin and the Snarks - those weren't the kind of witches you were supposed to date.  You had to get the really pretty, high-maintenance ones, apparently.  So despite his reservations, Fig was on board for Devlin's tutalage.

"A job?" he piped up, just for a second diverted from his excitement about Fauna.

"Yeah, of course. Mad to do it, Dev. Just, just - Devlin we were down in the Common room, and she's like 'Oh Fig I want to go with you'," he quoted in a very lady-like voice, expertly shedding his Mancusian accent for Fauna's southern one.

"And I'm all: 'Yea, Fauna. Mad for it. Lay one on me,'" he continued to re-enact the now fictionalized moment.  He'd moved a step away from Devlin so that he could properly demonstrate the best part.

He bent his knees, held the invisible silohuette of a lady and gryrated his hips. "And then we were all like this and she was all 'Oh Fig, oh Fig!' and I'm all 'That's right, that's right'," he wiggled his hips more, grinning like a cat.

"Yeah, of course. Mad to do it, Dev. Just, just - Devlin we were down in the Common room, and she's like 'Oh Fig I want to go with you',"

"Haha yeah?" Devlin echoed, punching Fig lightly in the shoulder to show approval at his score. His playful and even proud grin fell slightly when Fig continued on excitedly.

"And I'm all: 'Yea, Fauna. Mad for it. Lay one on me,'"

"W..Wait what?" Devlin started, his grin fading completely when Fauna's name popped up. It curled into a deep frown, accentuated by a heavy furrowing of his brow, as Fig made suggestive movements with his hips and faked Fauna's apparent response in a squeaky falsetto. Though he knew that Fig was overemphasizing and probably fabricating most of the conversation, he knew that the kid would never lie to him about Fauna actually asking him to the dance. He wasn't that stupid. But then, perhaps he was since if he had any sort of wits about him he would know that Devlin had a thing going with the pretty Puff. And that stealing his girl out from under him would result in a lot of painful experiences for Fig. He would be lucky to be able to pucker those lips for Fauna's elusive kisses when Dev, or rather Dev's mates, were done with him.

"And then we were all like this and she was all 'Oh Fig, oh Fig!' and I'm all 'That's right, that's right',"

Dev managed, barely, to contain the urge to punch the grin right off of the younger puffs face. His hand balled into a fist, Dev gave Fig a grin that was sorely lacking in humor before chuckling coldly and punching the kid in the arm again, much much harder. Before Fig could catch on that the punch barely missed his smug face, Dev wrapped his arm around Figs shoulder in a tight 'brotherly' hug.

"Look at you... You... you rascal..." Dev managed in a mix between a growl and a smile, his teeth clenched. "... Too bad it was Fauna though... Such a hollow victory..." Shaking his head, he ruffled Figs hair in a brotherly way, saying offhandedly, as though thinking to himself, "... I am surprised though, I didn't think she would pick one of my own mates to do it... Crafty crafty girl..." He sighed, grinning lightly as though he was suddenly reminded of something funny.

Reveling in Devlin's attention the punch in the shoulder caught him off guard.  It hurt. For a moment, his levity wavered.  Devlin was acting strange.  Scary strange.  His smile was sort of clenched.  And he was hugging Figaro very hard.  A little butterfly in Figaro's stomach reminded him eerily of the moments wherein he was about to get into a fight.

Any feeling of pride or triumph had turned into a sort of nervous tension, which he quickly tried to hide.  But he was tense, make no mistake about that.  And Figaro knew what went on at this school.  It wasn't likely that Dev was the one hung up for fightint - it was the Snarks. Who were huge. And unpleasent. 

He laughed and just agreed with Devlin.  "Yea-yea, mate. Right."

But he hadn't really caught that.  Figaro rubbed his hair down after Devlin mussed it up and tested Devlin's grip on him with a slight squirm. Holding fast. 

"Wait, what're you talking about? What's wrong with Fauna? What's crafty about her? She's not that crafty.  Always figured on her being clever..."

Oh but if there were a sliver of malice in the young Hufflepuff's heart he might have been an oil man.

"Wait, what're you talking about? What's wrong with Fauna? What's crafty about her? She's not that crafty.  Always figured on her being clever..."

Figaro, in all his exuberant innocence, caught on a lot quicker then Devlin expected. The nervous laugh and the squirming told Dev that his point was starting to get across loud and clear: You don't mess with Devlin Matthews and you especially don't mess with his girl. He just needed to drive the point home so that Fig really understood...you see... for his own good.

"Oh she is clever all right... clever like a rat. Imagine her using you like that... Just to get me to get all up in arms and jealous..." He shook his head in mock amazement, admiration dripping off of every word. Patting Fig on the back in a consolatory gesture, he sighed "I didn't think she would go as far as using my own mate to do it though... She must have known you would come and tell me right away..."

At this point he was talking more to himself then Fig, as though it was all an inside joke that Figaro wasn't included in. Shaking his head, he finally seemed to notice the shorter boy "Ah... Sorry... I should explain... You do know that Blake and I... You know..." He made some suggestive shakes of his head and sway of his hips before clarifying in a loud whisper "... got a thing going... uh... you know... polishing the old broom... putting the rabbit in the hat... Making a love potion... uh... Boopity Bippity Boppin'?"

He hadn't had a clue Devlin and Fauna were at it together.  Frankly, he never would have guessed.  Devlin went for girls who wore make up and heels and fashiony clothes.  And Devlin didn't stay with anyone girlfriend very long.  It just didn't make sense that he and Fauna would be interested in each other.  And it made less sense that Fauna would care for Devlin at all.  Fig like Devlin, of course - he was smooth and smart and really cool.  But Fauna was nice.  And Devlin was sort of mean.  He didn't get it. 

But he definitely was feeling like he'd been played. And he didn't know who to be angry with, Fauan or Devlin.  But frankly, Fauna had always been nice to him.  And Devlin - well Devlin seemed to have more important things to worry about sometimes than being a good friend. 

Figaro pushed Devlin away hard, breaking free of the condescending grip.  "Gettoff!"

Any triumph or pride Figaro had felt a few moments before was fizzled in the presence of Devlin's far more impressive masculine clout.  Figaro was two whole years younger than Dev and Fauna.  He felt foolish, like some little kid caught trying to shave with his dad's razor. A boy coughing on cigar smoke.

But that little prideful streak that Figaro had, it wasn't done.  It was the same little streak that got his mouth running against Atticus Pennyapple, and that had prompted him to Stupefy Erin Harper.  It was the streak that made him run his mouth when he was better of putting down the shovel and walking away.  But Figaro always seemed to need the last word, to always need to save face.

"Sucks to be you then," he retorted icily.  "If you two were so nicey-nice then why hadn't you asked her?  Not that it matters - she asked me to go with her and I'm not calling it off.  You'll have to find someone else."

"Sucks to be you then, If you two were so nicey-nice then why hadn't you asked her?  Not that it matters - she asked me to go with her and I'm not calling it off.  You'll have to find someone else."

Dammit... Why had he gone with the whole 'make the girl look like a slutty gold digger' plan? It would have surely worked on Fig with most girls, especially the ones that Devlin was normally seen with, but it had been a mistake on his part to use it with Fauna, AKA the paragon of innocence and virtue at Hogwarts. Considering that Fig was in her house and was her friend, Dev should have known it wouldn't work.

The issue was whether he go with Plan B or Plan C. Plan B, AKA the 'beat the crap out of him until he agrees' plan, was easiest. All he had to do was call in his right hands and the dirty work would be done for him. And he would get away with it to, since his right hands were the son and brother of the Headmistress herself. But Devlin valued Figaro as his eyes and ears. Sure the kid had a loud mouth and Dev wasn't sure if he could trust him with the more secretive elements of his work at this time, but he could see real potential in him. He didn't want to cut off that potential so soon, especially when it was working in his favor.

This left Plan C, his least favorite plan, AKA the 'act like a pathetic fool and guilt trip them into it' plan. Dev hated this one because he ended up looking like an idiot who lacked a pair. As Fig's 'boss', Devlin needed to maintain an image and groveling was not the image he had in mind. But... it might just work. Better then punching him anyways.

With this revelation, Devlin immediately got into character. His shoulders slumped, his lids lowered and he heaved a heavy sigh. "Dammit Fig... How could you do this to me?..." He said softly. Sagging against a wall, he looked up at the ceiling for a moment, as though he were trying to maintain his composure "... I mean... I thought you were a better friend then that... I thought I could trust you..."

He now turned towards Fig and locked on a gaze that spoke volumes on how wounded and betrayed he felt at Fig's apparent back stabbing "... What kind of mate steals a girl out from under his mate when he has worked months on getting the guts to ask her out? Especially... Especially after all he has done for him." Shaking his head, he looked away, ashamed for Fig etched in his very posture. "Th..that's just screwed up man."

Figaro had been ready to brace for a shove against the wall, or a threat.  Devlin's gang didn't mess around - they were hard as nails and Figaro had to learn that.  But when Devlin slumped against the wall and actually looked hurt, Figaro was confused and wary.

He furrowed his brows and kept his distance.  Was this some sort of trick? But Devlin's sincerity - bollocks, the man was nearly weeping - made Fig check himself.

"Hold on," he said, still wary, "she asked me... I didn't even know you - I thought you were going with..."

But Figaro trailed off.  He couldn't remember now who Devlin was supposed to be dating right now.  And Fauna had just wanted to go as friends - had Figaro convinced her to go as dates? Did she kiss him on her own, or did he seduce her? Things were becoming unclear.  He just didn't get it.  Devlin could get any witch he wanted.  Shit, Kari Strong and her crew would commit ritual suicide for the privilage.  Devlin had gone out with the best-looking, most popular girls in the seventh year - why would he be nervous about asking out Fauna?

The look on Devlin's face seemed to explain it all.  He was in love. For real. He suddenly felt terrible.  Devlin had done so much for him.  Being a part of Devlin's game had made him feel important.  Devlin trusted him with important stuff.  Even gave him a little cut of the profit sometimes.

He moved closer to the Ravenclaw slumped against the wall, and looked down both corridors.

"Look, mate," he said, placing a hand on Devlin's shoulder.  "I'm real sorry.  I didn't know."

He was torn here.  He didn't want to dump Fauna and suddenly have to go the dance alone like he'd originally planned.  He'd been thrilled. She'd kissed him.  He liked being liked.  But Devlin seemed to be even worse off than he was.  He rubbed the side of his head and sighed.

"I just - why didn't you talk to her before? She's nice.  She'd've gone with you.  Now I gotta dump her?  That's shitty, mate.  I - I don't... I'm not gonna do that."

Dev would understand, right?

"I just - why didn't you talk to her before? She's nice.  She'd've gone with you.  Now I gotta dump her?  That's shitty, mate.  I - I don't... I'm not gonna do that."

Devlin didn't understand. He didn't want to. He shouldn't have to. As far as Devlin was concerned, Fig was the one who wasn't understanding, and by 'understanding' Devlin meant understanding that if he didn't drop Fauna, then he wasn't going to be going to the dance at all, with or without her. Nor, Devlin wanted to further add, would he be going to class for quite a while since the healers would be having quite the time trying to figure out HOW someone got their head THAT far up their rear without breaking their spine. Dev wanted to make this excruciatingly clear to Fig, but thought better of it. So far Plan C was working. Just a little bit more and Devlin wouldn't have to punch the little turd so hard that his great grandchildren were born with bruises.

"I was going to ask her. Tonight in fact." Dev lamented with a sigh "I even bought her frikkin flowers" He hadn't, but how the hell would Fig know? "I was just waiting for the perfect time..." He sure hoped that this would work. If it didn't, then he was slipping and if he couldn't trick Fig out of a date then he sure as hell couldn't trick his 'dear ol' dad' out of an apartment in Diagon Alley, which was on his agenda for that evening. He had to achieve this, it was much more then just getting the girl he wanted, it was a point of pride for him. Devlin worked too long and too hard to lose it all now.

Wrapping his arm around Fig's shoulder, as though they were the best of buds again, Devlin tried to smile "Listen, I am not asking you to be the bad guy and just leave her by the wayside... I just want you to... step down." Pausing he put himself in front of Fig and placed a hand on each shoulder before giving him a very earnest look "...I will ask her to go with me and all I want you to do is to tell her that it is okay, that you will find another date. Hell, I will find you a date. Name a girl and I will find a way to get you to the dance with her." Looking down at Fig, Dev slapped him on the back with a bit more force then necessary and smiled at him "Can you do that for me, Mate?"

Figaro never had been able to read Devlin: the wizard who chose each of his words with such great care that nothing escaped without him intending it too.  Fig's lack of subtlety and tact did the rest of the work.  But one lesson Figaro was learning was the unspoken threat behind everything that Devlin said, just as sure as the Snarks over his shoulder.  Don't get me wrong - Figaro loved being a part of the gang and the danger that went along with it.  It was fun, most of the time.  He didn't take it personally.

But this all didn't seem to fit.  This wasn't about forging parents' notes or getting smart kids to write extra essays.  But the same unspoken threats were there.

He flinched when Devlin put his arm around him.  Dev's words were gentle and placating, but Figaro had been expected Devlin to smack him, or push him against the wall.  The unexpected slap on the back confirmed any doubt Fig might have owned that he had an option here.

He bit his lip and sighed. 

"I don't want to go with a girl," he said sourly.  "Forget it. I'll just go with Xavier and Sasha. Tell Fauna whatever you want.  Hope you two will be very happily ever after."

"I don't want to go with a girl, Forget it. I'll just go with Xavier and Sasha. Tell Fauna whatever you want.  Hope you two will be very happily ever after."

Instantly, Devlin's grin spread ear to ear in a way that did not bode well for Fig if he was lying. That was easy! Good thing it had been Fig who Fauna had asked, since anyone else might have given Dev more trouble. And he really really didn't want to get his hands dirty before the big dance, especially if it got back to her that he was beating people to make them stand her up. This was better for everyone involved: Fauna got to go to a dance with him, Devlin got both his girl and his lackey and Fig got to keep his face. Who said you couldn't have your cake and eat it too?

"You're a good mate Fig..." Devlin said warmly, slapping Fig on the back again, though not quite as hard as last time. But he didn't just leave with that. Instead, his hand slid up and laid to rest on the back of Fig's neck. At the moment it was loose and friendly, but there was a hint of threat in its placement. A threat that stated he could tighten the grip and throttle the shorter boy at a moments notice if forced.

 "Now on to bigger things... More important things... " His grip tightened a tiny bit more and he pulled Fig closer as he went on in a husky whisper "...I was looking over the betting books from the last Magpie game and I noted that someone owes me a small pittance to the tune of 10 galleons...Now... “ He looked away from Figs face for a moment and begin to smooth out his rumpled collar in such a way that the simple gesture had very sinister undertones. Pulling his tie a bit tighter then necessary, Devlin continued “... You know that I am a patient man, especially with my friends, and you did throw me a bone with the Fauna fiasco... SO I am willing to forgive the debt...” He paused, letting Figs hope soar, before crashing it with an abrupt gesture of his forefinger “... IF you do a simple little job for me.”