paintitrainbows | what comes up when rain comes down?

[The first Defense Against the Dark Arts class passes without incident for most years and houses. The students are all very enthusiastic about them, far more than they have been about the last couple of DADA teachers. it all goes smoothly.

Until the fourth year Ravenclaws' class.

It goes alright, at first. The students each have their turn with the boggart, some with more success than others, but Professor Lupin coaches them all through it.

Except then it's Edward's turn. For him, the boggart didn't turn into some monster or animal or what have you, like with the others. In his case, the boggart starts to change into a person. Someone all too familiar for him. And he doesn't handle the sight well.

Professor Lupin steps in quickly, handling the situation as well as he can. Putting himself in front of Edward, so the boggart focused on him instead. And after taking care of that, he dismissed the class as smoothly as he could, so he could focus on the panicking teenager.

Most of the other students are distracted enough by the excitement of the class and getting to leave a little early, but some do talk about what happened.

So sooner or later, Oswald will overhear about some sort of incident in Professor Lupin's class involving Edward. As well as some further comments...

"Who do you think that man even was?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Well, he must be pretty scary!"]

[that...explains why Edward isn't waiting at their usual spot, where they meet before potions. He manages to catch the arm of the robes of one of the other students, getting out of them the incident--at which point, he's turning and bolting for Professor Lupin's office, heart in his throat. The classroom is empty when he gets there, and Oswald looks around, breathing hard--] Edward?!

[before he can stop himself, he's already calling out for his friend, looking around for where he might've gone. At which point he spots the door to the professor's office. Oswald jogs up to it, moving to pound on the door, already calling for Edward again]

Edward! Edward, it's Oswald, are you--

[The door opens. It's not Edward, at the door, but Professor Lupin. He looks slightly surprised, but it quickly changes to sympathetic and he smiles a little.]

Well... I'm guessing you must be one of Edward's friends, then.

[Behind Lupin, Edward is visible, sitting in a chair looking... pale and a little shaken, still. Staring wide eyed over to the door, now.]

[Oswald blinks as the door opens, head tilting back to look at Lupin in his threadbare-ish robes--] Uh, yeah, he's my best friend. Is he--

[which is about the point he notices Edward, and he's moving to shove past Lupin without a second thought so he can get to his friend] Edward!

[Lupin doesn't even blink as Oswald pushes past him, not really thinking anything of it. Worried best friend, he's got it.

And as Oswald gets closer to Edward, he can see that Edward's eyes are a little red, like he's been crying. Not to mention he's going a little red in general and he ducks his head a little, embarrassed.]

Hey...

[Oswald slows as he gets closer, stopping by his chair, clutching at the strap of his book bag]

Hey. You, uh...you weren't at our spot so I...I came looking for you. [yeah there's worry writ on his face] You okay?

I'm--

[Edward swallows. Glances at Lupin, briefly, and leans down to grab his own bag, as a cover for trying to hide his face.]

I'm fine. Let's just go.

[Lupin frowns a little, at that. Taking a step towards the boys, clearly worried.]

Edward, you--

[But Edward's already standing up.]

I'm fine.

O...okay. [Oswald glances at Lupin now, too, but with suspicion.] Right. We don't wanna be late for potions. Professor Mooney's gonna lecture me if we're late.

[Edward gives Lupin a challenging look. And he just... sighs. Knowing there's no talking to Edward like this.]

Alright. You two be on your way now. But Edward, I just want you to know... [He pauses, for a second, trying to determine how much he can say without giving too much away here.] If you want to talk, later, my door is always open. There's nothing to be ashamed of.

[But Edward... doesn't especially want to hear it right now.] Whatever. [He just walks out, not checking to see if Oswald's following. He just wants to be not here right now.]

[and Oswald will, predictably, scramble after him. He sends one more suspicious glance Lupin's way before following Edward out.

He'll catch up with him in the hall, now mostly empty.]

....Edward?

[Edward slows a little, letting Oswald catch up. He's keeping his gaze fixed downwards, which mostly just makes it look like the floor has horribly offended him somehow.]

I'm fine.

[He just repeats himself, as if saying it again will make it be true, somehow.]

[...there's no one around. So Oswald reaches out, catching Edward's hand, pulling him into the shadows of the hall. His teeth sink into his bottom lip, and he looks a bit apprehensive]

...Edward. Um, listen...[he sucks in a breath] You, uh....you don't have you tell me what happened. But...I'm your best friend, remember? [he leans in a bit, lowering his voice to a whisper, like it's a secret, just for the two of them.] You don't have to lie to me, okay?

[Edward lets himself get pulled along, almost limply. For as much as his attitude says otherwise, there really isn't a lot of fight in him right now.]

I'm not lying. [Yes, he is. And maybe it would be a more convincing lie if he could actually look up at Oswald. But then, he's not just trying to convince him, right now.] I'm-- Nothing happened, it was stupid, just...

[....it's a little disappointing, but...Oswald just tucks his book back behind himself, tugging on Edward's hand a bit to get him closer, and slings an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into something that's not quite a hug, but pretty close] Okay. Nothing happened.

Yeah. Nothing.

[He repeats it for his own sake, too. And he appreciates Oswald's closeness, right now. Even if he still can't look up at him.]

Let's just... Let's get to class?

Right. [he nods, but won't move away until Edward does] Professor Mooney's gonna lecture us, but I think we're her favorites. [he's grinning a bit]

Well-- [Edward breathes carefully a second, trying to make sure he's steady enough.] Well, maybe if everyone else paid as much attention in class, they would be, too.

[And he starts to walk. He's fine.

He's...

He's fine.]

[....it looks bad. Edward doesn't look fine. But Oswald isn't going to push. What's he supposed to say, exactly? Or do? He doesn't know, so he'll just...be there. They're partners in potions anyway, so he'll get to be near him at least.

So he'll make sure to keep up with him, though, babbling at him about the upcoming Quidditch match this weekend on their way to the dungeon.]

[When the boys enter the dungeon, there's a small hush that falls over the class. Professor Mooney turns, briefly, from the board where she's writing some sort of list. Her eyes flick over the two of them, sharp, assessing]

Good of you to join us, boys. Take a seat.

[her tone brakes no argument, and then she's right back into the lesson.]

[Edward just nods, vaguely, taking a seat. He doesn't say anything, doesn't... really do much of anything. Just gets his book out and tries to follow along.

Tries being the key word here, because he attempts to keep up with the lesson but the material's not really registering the way it usually does.]

[that's...a big concern. Edward is usually so involved and interested in his studies. The fact that he isn't and is so clearly rattled is a big red flag. And this isn't Fish's first rodeo. So once the class gets started on their brewing, she'll head over to their table]

Any questions? Mr. Cobblepot? Mr. Nashton?

[Edward blinks a little, at Professor Mooney's arrival. And he just... shakes his head.]

No, professor.

[Nothing.]

[. . . . . .]

....wonderful. Mr. Cobblepot, do you know what ingredients you need to get?

U-uh--[Oswald's head jerks up, taking his attention (and worried expression he can't quite hide) off of Edward and to Fish] -yes! Yes, Professor.

Good. You go get those, and Mr. Nashton will take care of the preparing the cauldron and organizing the order of the recipe. [she bends down, just a little, so she can look him in the eye. Perhaps get him to focus, if nothing else]

Won't you, Mr. Nashton?

nothing to fear but

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