Lots of things can be done quietly (Hugo)

[Aelius Narcissus Dyne]

Once more it was becoming difficult to find a quiet place to himself. Hogwarts, it seemed, was a place where the ability to hear one's self think required superhuman hearing. And while muggles might consider him superhuman, his hearing wasn't much different from anyone elses and his patience was beginning to thin. Even without anything to study, Ael found himself taking refuge in the library more often than was usual for him. It was mostly to dodge girls or avoid the questions of those in his transfig class regarding the miniature explosion that happened when the interim professor decided to make an example of him for not following her instructions to the exact letter.


It was getting harder and harder to keep himself glued. Maybe, he wondered as he leaned against the shelf behind him and ran a hand through his hair, it would have been better if he'd just waited until the grief of losing his mother had passed before trying to fit in at a new school. Maybe he should have tried harder to keep himself together after it. Either way, nothing seemed to be working here at Hogwarts.

People asked too many questions. Nobody ever asked if he was okay.

If they did, they'd know he wasn't. He wasn't at all.

[Hugo Weasley]

Hugo would never admit but he loved the library. The quiet atmosphere and the countless tomes of magical knowledge were a comfort to the boy that was a troublemaker and a loud Quidditch player most of the time. Slouched back in a comfortable chair with his feet up on the desk he was deep in thought while reading. His eyes scanned every word quickly, taking in as much as possible. The book detailed advanced transfiguration magic he had yet to study at school. Hugo wanted to impress Professor Decorus.

As he read Hugo would regularly mouth the spells as if he was using muscle memory in order to remember them. When he wasn’t mouthing words he bit his bottom lip. An old habit he had been told to stop countless times because it made him look ‘stupid and ridiculous’, though Hugo had never put much stock in those comments. The spells in the book seemed quite tricky and would definitely require a lot of practice before he ever got them right.

Stifling a yawn Hugo glanced at the nearest clock, his eyes widening as he realised the time, he had spent nearly three hours in the Library. He rarely did that, despite how much he enjoyed the quiet surroundings. He quickly packed up his things and flung his bag over his shoulder as he stifled another yawn and his stomach rumbled. Just in time for dinner, as well! He thought to himself as he made his way out of the library.

Out of habit he looked down the aisles he passed, empty bar a few students except for the very last one before he left the Library. This one contained Aelius. Hugo was still undecided on what he felt about the Russian transfer student. Sometimes he was plain rude and obnoxious, but then he could be a nice guy. Hugo’s stomach gave another rumble, a clear indication for the boy to go find some food but a Gryffindor to the core he couldn’t help but poke his nose around.

“Hey Aelius,” he said stopping in front of him. “You alright?”

[Aelius Narcissus Dyne]

Ael wasn't aware of someone in front of him until he heard Hugo speak. When he did, he seemed to come out of his thoughts with a flinch. The turmoil in his heart seemed apparent on his face, though he quickly masked it and simply shook his head. No. He wasn't okay. But the more he thought on it, the more likely it became that nobody would understand if he talked about it.

"I've just had a rough day, Hugo." the young man said quietly, still holding onto his arms and not budging from where he was leaning. "I feel like I'm falling apart and that I should have waited a year before trying to go back to school."

[Hugo Weasley]

Hugo took a slight step back when it was obvious Aelius was feeling upset. He didn’t want to intrude on his personal space. Most people would have gone in straight away to hug someone Hugo preferred distance when he was upset, so that was how he treated others. Aelius’ entire body posture was shouting out that he was upset over something. Hugo guessed some girl had turned him down before he said he should’ve waited.

Instantly, Hugo softened a little inside. He had gotten to know Aelius quite well and he thought he was quite the arrogant guy. Smoking and chasing anything that was human and had a pulse had been the traits Hugo had learnt to expect from the boy, but as he revealed that he was falling apart Hugo felt a tug at his heart. He had always loved a sob story.

Situations like this were always a little awkward. Shuffling on his feet he took a little step forward, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it worse,” Hugo said empathetically. “How long has it been since... errr since your mum passed away?”

[Aelius Narcissus Dyne]

How long *had* it been? Physically, he knew it had only been months. Emotionally, it all still felt like yesterday. Coming in from a quidditch match. Elated because he had won and eager to tell all at home about it. But finding the headmaster waiting for you in your dorm, with his somber face ten times as somber as he asked you- as softly as possible- to please sit down and asking your classmates to all find somewhere else to be, that had scared him. He might have fooled around a bit, but it certainly didn't warrant being in that much trouble. And when he was told that he'd be returning to Moscow for a few weeks to attend his own mother's funeral, Ael remembered distinctly wishing that the man had been there to expel him.

It had become harder to smile after that. And even if his father and grandparents felt it best that he soldier on through Hogwarts, some part of him still wanted to curl up and hide. That Hugo had caught him so vulnerable would have outraged him mere months ago. But now? He was too worried to notice just how much of himself was being laid bare.


"Few months ago. Just after OWLs." his reply came, his cold blue eyes looking up at Hugo searchingly. Just why did he want to know. And, more importantly, why did he feel like telling him?

[Hugo Weasley]

Hugo watched Aelius with a keen eye, for he knew that he could even fathom what it would feel like to lose his mother. He didn’t even want to think what losing his mother would feel like. He loved his mum so much, to think of her gone was awful. Quickly, he pushed the thoughts out of his head and brought himself back to Aelius. Hugo didn’t know what to say. He had not point of reference to base anything to say back to the boy.

All he could do was empathise. Somehow.

Edging forward Hugo outstretched his hand, gently patted Aelius on the shoulder. “I am really sorry to bring it up,” Hugo said with a sympathetic face. “Though they say that talking about it helps,” he continued, almost babbling now, he couldn’t stop. “Sorry, I really should just stop talking.”

Pulling back once again, Hugo felt like a child that had gone too far with questions and now feeling sorry for themself. Clutching his arms to his by Hugo kept his eyes on Aelius. He kept his mouth shut.

[Aelius Narcissus Dyne]

Aelius had wanted to reach out and take that hand back when he felt it pulling away. There was a sudden- almost violent- need to be close to someone- anyone- in that moment. A light shining through the fog of his misery. But it was fleeting and his pride wouldn't allow him to look that desperate. But he couldn't just let the redhead leave. He didn't want to be alone.

"I'm sure my loss is only just a symptom of what's wrong with me, Hugo." The young elementalist said softly, eyes falling to the floor once more. "And believe me. There a lot wrong with me."

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