Despite her overwhelming desire to get her hands on a wand a perform the magic she'd long waited to perform, the prospect of doing so unsupervised and without any formal education brought a sickening feeling to her stomach—especially after Mr. Fudge nearly set the sand ablaze. She may have been daring, but stupid she was not!

A small spread on her lips as she reached out a nudged his hand backwards.

"I think it would be quite hypocritical to scold you for doing careless magic and then do the same myself," she admitted, her cheeks flushing a soft pink hue. "But perhaps we can practice again—when school starts, that is. I would like that." If they ever got to go to school, that was.

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Harumpf, was the only natural noise he could muster as she rejected holding his wand. He wanted her to cast some magic! But, ugh, she was so annoying and so, putting the wand back into his pocket, he sighed a little.

Though when she said she’d like to practice with him when they started school, Paxton felt his stomach churn a little. What on earth was that? He could feel his cheeks warm up a little and he looked around almost panicked – what on- was he embarrassed? Nervous? Excited?

No.
Paxton furrowed his brows toward Flora and pouted before opening his mouth, “I think I’m hungry.”

Yep.
That was it.
Paxton Fudge was hungry and not at all flustered at her mentioning wanting to spend time with him again.

“Are you hungry?”

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His only response was a subtle flush to his cheeks—no acceptance, no refusal. She wasn't sure whether to feel rejected, disappointed, hopeful, or nervous as well, so offered little more than a small smile and a shake of her head.

"Not really. I had quite the breakfast this morning," she responded, looking at his expectantly as if she was trying to grasp what was going through his mind. "I am mourning the taffy I never got, though!"

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Paxton nodded as he thought on her words as if he was coming up with some sort of scientific plan of action for how he could rectify the taffy-mourning situation.

Mostly, though, his over-exaggerated expression was to cover whatever it was he was feeling in his stomach. He smiled toward her awkwardly then frowned toward the floor, jerking his head back a little as he tried to come to terms with what he was feeling.

He turned back to look at Flora and huffed, “Oh okay. I don’t- but- Oh!” He smiled brightly, “I know where I can get some taffy!”

Holliday.
She always had sweets.

“My sister probably has some,” he said quietly, holding his hand out to her with outstretched fingers, “Come! We’ll get some!”

He’d not really held someone’s hand before – even when they came with him on adventures.
Though he wasn’t really thinking on his actions – he just knew he was enjoying his time right now and didn’t want to walk away again only for her to run away a second time!

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Mr. Fudge sure did have a penchant for adventuring, but it was one that Flora didn't share; the thought of running off—even with the addition of an outstretched hand that brought a smile to her lips—still made her nervous.

"I don't know what kind of person keeps taffy on them at all times," she commented with a girlish giggle, tentatively reaching out to take his hand. "but it's the kind of person I aspire to be!"

She hoped she didn't regret this.

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“And I aspire to get all of the sweets from people like that!” He said as he took her hand.

Once his fingers wrapped around her hand, Paxton stopped for a moment and looked at their clutch of one another. Hm. She had soft hands. They were a little cold, though. But it was pleasant. It made him feel good. Strange.

Mentally shrugging, Paxton smiled and pulled Flora with him, “Come! They’re probably in her bedroom – and I know where she hides all of her things!”

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With pink cheeks and a nervous smile, Flora nodded at Mr. Fudge before casting a glance over her shoulder. What could be the harm in a little taffy, even if it meant wandering about? There were adults everywhere and she was just a child—wasn't that what she'd spent the last half an hour preaching about?

"Let's go," she agreed before they presumably ran off.

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