March 24th, 1888 - Hogwarts Classroom

Don’t run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is

After the abysmal patronus lesson, Emmeline had been in something of a funk. She seemed to be struggling in all aspects of her life and despite having received a Valentine from Mundugus she still felt awkward and embarrassed.  Surely he'd done it to simply make her feel better about everything but it just left her even more confused and unsure of herself. When Handsome had asked her if she needed help with anything, she'd quickly asked him to study with her. He'd at least done something with a patronus once before so perhaps he could help her.

They'd already been at it for some time but she had yet to actually manage anything once again. She was frustrated and it was evident by the consistent furrow of her brow.

"I'm never going to get this!" she exclaimed in exasperation as she fell to the ground and sat down in a huff, "And if I can't managed something like this how will I ever even be remotely considered for Head Girl?" She felt on the verge of tears but she'd fight that tooth and nails. She was not about to cry in front of him.

Handsome Whitledge

The following 1 user Likes Emmeline Woodcroft's post:1 user Likes Emmeline Woodcroft's post
   Handsome Whitledge

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#LovelyLadySet

Handsome was by no means perfect in Defence Against the Dark Arts class, but considered himself one of the more useful students — but that was just his opinion. Miss Woodcroft didn't seem to think he was useless, though, which had made him beam with pride for some reason or another. She was one of his closest friends at school, he thought, and validation from friends was some of the best type of validation... right?

"I couldn't do it last year, but I still got head boy," he pointed out, sitting himself on the ground next to the other Gryffindor. "I'm no Professor Sleptov, but I can do my best. I'm still not perfect myself," he pointed out, reaching over to touch her arm encouragingly.

  

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— set by MJ —

Emmeline couldn't help but to sigh even as Handsome tried to reassure her. Perhaps it was just a combination of everything but she was feeling utterly defeated more often than not as of late. It was getting more and more frustrating but there was nothing that could be done other than to continue trying. She just hoped it would pay off in the end.

"But you've at least produced something," she said in rebuttal, hardly noticing the reassuring touch on her arm, "I'd just like for something to go right in my life for once."

  

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#LovelyLadySet

A single brow cocked, Handsome let out a half-hearted laugh. The thought of casting a patronus — a charm that was difficult for any witch or wizard, let alone a student — being the judge of whether someone was a failure or not seemed ridiculous. Considering her background (which was no fault of her own), Miss Woodcroft was definitely a success.

"Do something right? What have you done wrong, Miss Woodcroft?" he teased in an attempt to lift her spirits. The only person who was allowed to be down on themselves was himself.

  

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— set by MJ —

Emmeline took in a deep breath before letting it out in exasperation. Handsome would certainly never understand her plight. He lived a life of privilege and was a man. He had far more opportunities at his disposal than she did and could honestly get by with less than perfect scores or results. Those were things she couldn't risk in the slightest. Even the smallest slip of her grades would see her out of school as her scholarships were the only things actually keeping her there the way she was.. Her sister and she had had to keep exemplary grades to even get to their NEWTs.

"Everything I do has to be right," she said with a shrug and a bit of a sigh, "I have to prove I'm worth even keeping around otherwise what's the point?

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Returning the exasperated sigh — only his was more of a teasing mockery — Handsome stood up once more. If she really wanted to practice patronus-casting, they would, but he certainly wouldn't be putting up with her nonsense.

"Patronus casting is not on NEWT examinations. There's plenty of skillful adults who can't cast it, Miss Woodcroft; don't panic," he assured, promptly motioning for her to stand up in front of him. "Anyways, even if your grades dropped down to where they only offered you a partial academic scholarship, you're a prefect — they pay for that, too." She'd be fine. It wasn't like she was dumb or anything.

  

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— set by MJ —

Emmeline watched as he stood up but didn't follow suit right away. Instead she glared up at him and even stuck her tongue out him much like a petulant child would. The grin on her face, however, showed just how serious she was. She couldn't hold the glare for long and eventually giggled. He was right but she didn't have to make it easy on him in return.

"Ok, fine," she said as she finally stood up and stood next to him with her wand pulled out, "Professor Sleptov kept saying you had to really feel your memory but I'm starting to wonder if I even have a happy enough memory to manage one." She took in a deep breath regardless and focused on her memory of getting her kitten. She chanted the incantation to produce...absolutely nothing. As per usual.

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Handsome couldn't wipe his own smile off his face as she rose in front of him. No matter what he said, she still thought, for one reason or another, that she was incapable of advanced magic. Bullshit.

"I don't believe that for a second," he insisted, taking slow steps towards her. "Even if that were the case, it's not a memory you need, but rather the happiness that comes from them. Memories are usually the easiest way to bring that happiness to the surface," he explained, getting closer and closer to her.

He stopped within two feet of her before flashing a wink.

"Tell me, Miss Emmeline Woodcroft: What makes you happier than anything?" he teased.

  

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— set by MJ —

Emmeline felt the burning in her cheeks as he stepped closer to her and knew she was probably fully red in the face once he winked. She simply wasn't accustomed to being in such close proximity to members of the opposite sex and it was a bit disconcerting for her.

Clearing her throat, she took a step back and looked away from him. "Do you think a hope for something particularly happy would work?" she managed to get out though she was quite certain her face was still beat red.

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Handsome couldn't help but throw back his head and release a loud, hearty laugh at Miss Woodcroft's reaction. She so easily fell victim to anything suggestive — even if he was only suggesting that he was flirting with her. As his laughter subsided into quiet chuckles, Handsome shook his head.

"You never cease to amuse me, Miss Woodcroft. Does it really take so little to make you go red?" he teased, taking an (albeit innocent) step forward. "If you're going to hope for something happy, you have to let it consume you. Imagine yourself succeeding; imagine your wishes coming true," he continued.

  

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— set by MJ —

Emmeline couldn't help but to turn an even brighter shade of red as he laughed and then proceeded to take a step toward her once again. Oh he really was being a special kind of awful to her! It was almost as if he enjoyed seeing her squirm.

"Yes, it does," she nearly exclaimed while taking another step back. She was starting to feel warmer than usual, almost as if the room was sweltering with heat. Fanning herself with her hand, she simply nodded in response to his description as she took a moment to really try and think of something that could bring out such feelings within her. With a deep breath, she took up her wand and tried again while doing her best to ignore Mr. Whitledge's close proximity. She thought she saw the barest glint of a shimmer be emitted in the end and her eyes widened as she let out a squeal of excitment. "Did you see that!?" she asked, turning her excitement toward him again.

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Handsome decided to lay off for the moment and take a step back so she could actually concentrate on casting her patronus, which coincidentally was the reason they'd come here in the first place. As amusing as it might have been to see Miss Woodcroft squirm and turn bright red, he imagined she didn't appreciate it as much.

"Good!" he said, watching her wand glimmer. It still wasn't a patronus, but it was more than it had been. Hopefully they'd get somewhere by the end of the day. "Now again," he urged, keeping a comfortable (for her) distance away.

  

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— set by MJ —

With the distance between them, Emmeline was feeling much more comfortable. It wasn't that she didn't like Mr. Whitledge but the fact was he was a gentleman and she was very much a pristine young lady. Other than that kiss with Mr. MacFusty, the very thought causing her cheeks to tinge red again but hopefully for only the briefest of moments. Regardless of such things, she was feeling comfortable and that meant she was able to focus a bit more on the task at hand.

Another deep breath. Another incantation chanted. Only this time, there was nothing once again. Her brow crease in frustration, hating how fickle such a thing was. Focusing on happiness again, what she assumed true happiness to be, she said the incantation again and ended up with a faint glimmer once again though nothing more than that. She didn't show as much excitement that time, having clearly hoped for something more. She wiped at her brow though and let out a sigh. "Who would have thought such a thing was so tired?" she asked, looking to Mr. Whitledge with a faint smile.

  

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#LovelyLadySet

The small smile she cast in his direction brought the first indication that his feelings towards her may be more than friendship: his heartbeat sped up, followed by a feeling of dread. That feeling was certainly one he didn't get with other ladies he was friendly with (such as Miss Midford or Miss Gallivan), and the sudden image of Maddie in his mind brought him to the conclusion that he was feeling guilt. But why? What about Miss Woodcroft was so enticing that (and did he really just think that?) he'd forget for a split second that Maddie had his heart?

He didn't even realize he wasn't answering Miss Woodcroft's question, instead staring at her in complete silence, his brows furrowed and his lips in a straight line. Miss Woodcroft like MacFusty, and MacFusty was his friend. He had to shake that feeling, just in the event that MacFusty decided he did like Miss Woodcroft.

"I - uh - I'm getting tired just watching," he responded with an uneasy laugh. Yup, he was fucked. "Perhaps we should both retire for the evening and - uh - try tomorrow." Dammit, Whitledge.

  

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— set by MJ —