“Sometimes you have to make your own mistakes,” she replied managing a wistful sort of smile. “I wouldn’t have listened if either of you had said anything any way…I was too stubborn back then.”
Noticing the smirk on his lips and punched him playfully. It was true that years ago when she had just started dating her ex-fiancé she had refused to see any of the negative aspects of the relationship instead insisting it was what she wanted. She had worked so hard convincing everyone that she was actually in love with her ex and that it wasn’t some desperate attempt to regain the approval of her parents that she had even convinced herself for a short time. She knew his smirk though had nothing to do with the past; she was still too stubborn for her own good sometimes.
With an exhale that sounded like a short laugh she added, “You and I were never the ones who were good at seeing when we were forgoing what it was we wanted for ourselves when there was the possibility of pleasing someone else. I miss having someone to point out when I’m being a pigheaded idiot.”
Sipping her drink again a guitar on a stand in the corner caught her eyes and a smirk formed on her lips as she looked over at him again and said, “Do you still play?”
Anna had a point and Isaac nodded slightly in agreement at her assessment of them both. The only difference was she had tended to realize what she was doing before someone pointed it out to her. Usually Marian had to practically slap him upside the head to get him to understand that he wasn’t really living his own life.
“Do you still play?”His eyes wandered over to the guitar and then he downed the rest of his firewhiskey. A grin spread across his features as he glanced over at her. She was probably the only person who knew he had any musical talent, and part of him preferred it that way. He liked having a few secrets, especially at Hogwarts where rumors and news spread like wildfire…even if it was something completely mundane.
“From time to time,” he said, his grin turning into a smirk. “Was that a request to do so?”
She was certain that there would be times that it would be a little frightening to have someone who basically knew the entire tale of her life on the staff. They had stories about each other and the mischief their little group caused during their time at Hogwarts that some people probably wouldn’t believe. There was also a level of trust that those stories weren’t going to start circulating.
“Yes,” she said after another sip of her drink. “It’s seems fitting…Hogwarts, firewhiskey, you singing…It’ll be like old times. Except we’re not freezing in the middle of the night somewhere.”
She smirked slightly as he set his glass down and stood up to grab the guitar from its stand on the other side of the room. It wasn’t quite like old times, but it was close. The more familiarity she found the easier it all seemed. Finishing her drink as he turned the guitar and sat on the edge of the overstuffed chair across from her, she smiled a bit when he then started strumming the familiar chords of one of the songs she remembered from years earlier.
“I was hoping for something mellow,” she added.
Isaac knew what she meant, although it certainly wasn’t completely like old times. They were missing the glue that had held their trio together over the years. Without Marian letters and visits were only occasional. Without Marian they never would have really met being sorted into different houses. The deceased woman’s connection with both of them had been the reason for their friendship.
He took a moment to return the guitar. With the draft in the castle he wasn’t surprised that he needed to do so, it was nearly winter and instruments tended to be temperamental when the weather changed. After a moment he began strumming chords choosing something she would know.
He laughed a little at her comment, glad she appreciated the choice. His love of Muggle music had started early on, and this was one of the few songs they had all agreed upon. He started singing softly the familiar lyrics flowing without much thought.
“You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night
You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You...all I want is...
You...all I want is...
You...all I want is...
You...”
His voice had always had a rich quality to it, and she rose slowly from the sofa to look out the window. Leaning against the out cove she closed her eyes as she just listened. She had always been a little envious of his musical talent as she was of her cousins. She was completely lacking any sort of artistic ability, but now it didn’t really bother her.
When he finished she heard him set the guitar aside and a moment later she felt his hand on her shoulder. The touch caused a tear to roll down her cheek and she turned quickly to burry her face on his shoulder as she realized she could no longer hold back the tears she had been fighting for a week. His arms wrapped around her and she suddenly became fully aware of the fact that there would be a lot of not so good days in her future before she could go back to being truly and completely happy.
He wasn’t entirely surprised by the sudden display of emotion and figured she had probably been holding it in for a while. He pulled her into an embrace waiting for the tears to subside. She had been his rock when Marian was killed, and part of him was very aware of the fact that he was now returning the favor.
“It’s going to be ok, Anna,” he said when she finally pulled away and brushed that the wet spot her tears had created on the shoulder of his robes. “Not right away of course, but eventually it will be. It probably doesn’t seem that way now…but it does get easier with time.”
He didn’t know the whole story, but part of him wanted a word with Wilton. He and Anna had seemed the perfect match, but the woman before him was clearly hurt and she had already been through enough with her family as far as he was concerned. No matter how tense things had gotten with his father he had never once worried it might come to being disowned completely.
“I know,” she said softly. “At least intellectually I know that. On an emotional level, I’m still trying to believe it. I’ll get there eventually.”
She wiped the last remaining traces of moisture from her face, looking at him apologetically for crying into his robes. It was completely surreal, but she would learn to accept life for what it was in the present moment. She managed a weak smile as she glanced up at him.
“I’ll be fine…really,” she assured him. “I…what do you say to a walk? Maybe you could introduce me to more of the staff before dinner.”
“I can certainly do that,” he said, returning her small smile. “I’m glad to see you here, you know. It’ll be nice to have another friend inside these walls.”
He led her towards the door, leaving the firewhiskey and glasses to be cleaned up after dinner. It seemed they had both been lacking a completely trustworthy confident as of late and perhaps that was reason she was able to find her way back to Hogwarts. Locking the door he led her back down the hall to begin introductions.
End Scene
The song is U2’s All I Want is You. You can hear it at link.
[Dec 1] Snapshot: Friendships are one of the best measures [Isaac/Arianna]