I've Got a Secret, Can You Keep It?

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

@'Handsome Whitledge'

Emmeline was, luckily, quite the early riser. Even though it was the weekend, she didn't have the slightest problem getting up to attend the early morning meeting Mr. Whitledge had called for the Gryffindor Prefects. The other prefects didn't seem to be quite so keen on the early mornings though so it appeared to be just her and Handsome for the time being.

Early as it was, they sat in relative silence for a small amount of time before chatting idly about random things while they waited for the other prefects of their house. Emmeline had been talking about her latest attempt of a piano solo when a familiar form came down the steps from the boys' dorms. Her speech faltered at the sight of none other than Mundungus MacFusty looking as though he were headed out to the Quidditch pitch for what she assumed would be some personal practice. He acknowledged the two prefects sitting by the fire with a slight nod of his head and a friendly smile, causing her cheeks to flush a bright crimson. He was gone then, leaving Emmeline without having finished her sentence and in quite the obvious daze.

She looked back to Handsome rather quickly, the blush unmistakable, and at a loss as to what she'd even been saying. "Where were we?" she asked quickly, hoping her peer wouldn't comment on what had just happened.

The following 1 user Likes Emmeline Woodcroft's post:1 user Likes Emmeline Woodcroft's post
   Mundungus MacFusty

[Handsome Whitledge]

Handsome had called the Gryffindor prefects for an early meeting, and while more than he and Miss Woodcroft had arrived, they were the only two seemingly there. Their conversation had begun with schedules and tasks for the upcoming week, but had slowly descended into personal, somewhat random chitchat. That was, at least until MacFusty left the dormitory Handsome himself had left earlier than morning. Handsome offered him an acknowledging smile and a wave before his eyes turned to the red-faced Miss Woodcroft.

Oblivious was not the perfect word to use to describe Handsome. Especially after dealing with the loss of his mother, Handsome had grown far more attentive in his attempt to soothe any somber feelings his siblings had been dealing with. Nevertheless, blunt was also not the word that could best be used to describe the head boy. While he himself believed he rarely missed any small detail, he wasn't the one to point out others' mistakes—or in this case, their obvious (and likely private) emotions. Instead, he cocked a brow at her and smiled knowingly when she turned back to face him.

"Piano solos. Instruments. Music class, perhaps," he listed off, holding back a chuckle. "I think I was talking about quidditch."

  

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

Emmeline felt her blush only intensify at the knowing grin she witnessed on Handsome's face. He knew. Of course he knew. She'd just made an utter fool of herself. Again. It hadn't even been that long since she'd fallen in front of Mr. MacFusty and laid on the ground in embarrassment for quite some time. It was awful feeling as though she lost all control of herself whenever he was around.

"Yes, Quidditch," she said, "I must admit, I know very little of the sport. Those of you that play are quite brave though." She hoped she still wasn't blushing as much but she did quite envy Quidditch players their bravery. She couldn't imagine being so high up in the air and partaking of a sport the way they did.

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

Feeling slightly guilty that he'd further embarrassed Miss Woodcroft, Handsome bit his lip in an attempt to rid of the smile that was plastered to his face. Quidditch—that's what he needed to focus on. He has no business meddling (or even questioning!) other people's feelings that were meant to stay private.

"I don't doubt you could do it if you so tried," he said, allowing his facial muscles to relax. "You're a Gryffindor, and a prefect at that. I don't think they'd appoint you if they didn't think you were brave," he explained, brows raised ever so slightly.

  

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

Emmeline was quick to shake her head as a response. She was far from brave, of that she was certain. Her clumsiness and inability to keep her senses around Mr. MacFusty was proof enough of that. That wasn't all though. The very thought of being up in the air made her shudder. And she did just that as the thought crossed her mind.

"No, really. Being up there in the air with nothing but a thin piece of wood for support.." she trailed off with a shudder, making it more than evident she had an issue with the heights. "I can manage being a Gryffindor and a prefect but Quidditch," she didn't finish that sentence either, instead simply shook her head. She'd leave that to those who already played.

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

"I suppose the air isn't meant for everyone," he teased with a raise of a single brow. The air wasn't event the best place for him; he wasn't natural at it, and it was something he'd had to grow used to over time. He wasn't like those quidditch players who would ride brooms everywhere for the thrill and do risky tricks for the fun.

"Do tell me, Miss Woodcroft, are you acquainted with any of the team members apart from Mr. MacFusty and I?" he asked curiously, unable to rid of the amused twinkle in his eye.

  

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

Emmeline blushed, again. Or even more, rather. She could no longer hide the fact she was blushing, especially as she ducked her head some. She was just glad that the other prefects were either preoccupied in their own conversations or had wandered off to do their own thing since their meeting had been concluded.

Unable to actually meet his gaze, she missed the amusement in his eyes. "Actually, no," she admitted. "I supposed I would know their names but I don't truly know the others," she continued with a slight shrug.

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

It was very obvious now—beyond speculation, in his opinion—that Miss Woodcroft was harboring a crush on his friend. He didn't know what to do with that information, so was left struggling to hold back chuckles as the female prefect continued to stumble over her words.

"Don't worry, Miss Woodcroft," he said quietly (and sincerely, for that matter). "I won't tell anyone—especially you-know-who," he added jokingly, trying to catch her gaze.

  

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

He did indeed catch Emmeline's gaze as her head shot up to look at him wide eyed. She really had been that obvious, hadn't she? She wondered if Handsome had been there or heard about the day she'd tripped over nothing simply because she hadn't been able to take her eyes off of Mundungus.

"Oh I'm such a fool," she said with an exasperated sigh, "He probably doesn't even know my name. And it isn't as though anything could even come of it." There was an obvious flicker of defeat in her normally bright and happy eyes as she looked at the Head Boy in front of her. She didn't even know why she was telling him such things but having someone to actually talk to about it all seemed to be exactly what she needed.

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

His amused smile quickly fell into one of pure pity. He could only imagine what it would be like in Miss Woodcroft's position: being a young girl harboring feelings for an upper class boy in the year above her. MacFusty never struck him as the romantic sort, but Handsome didn't think him that oblivious.

"I'm sure he knows your name," he reassured, "you are a prefect after all. You should try talking to him more; he wouldn't dismiss you." School was likely the only place where the two could mix without any speculation—and he knew that from his own issues.

  

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

Emmy's eyes only seemed to widen more at the mention of talking to him more. All she could do at first to respond was shake her head. She couldn't even be in his presence without turning a bright shade of red and the last time she had talked to him had been when she'd tripped. And even then she'd mostly talked to the ground out of pure embarrassment!

"That would be the catch," she started with another slight shake of her head, "I can't talk to him. Not without making a fool of myself. I can't even be around him without getting all tongue tied. As you just saw." She gave him a pointed look then just to emphasize what she'd said though luckily her face was slowly reverting back to its normal shade instead of the bright flush of crimson.

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

Handsome frowned. He didn't really know what it was like to be tongue-tied around his crush; he and Maddie had been good friends before their feelings had evolved, so there was little embarrassment in the air when they spoke to each other.

"He's nothing but friendly, though," he pressed. "It's all in your mind. Maybe you just need to get to know him through group activities—mutual friends even," he said, cocking a brow teasingly.

  

[Emmeline Woodcroft]

A brow of her own was raised at the latter suggestion. Emmy was sure Handsome would help her if she asked but she still wasn't sure if it would even matter in the end. Mundungus lived in an entirely different world than she did, a world she'd never even considered for herself. Still didn't consider for herself.

"I don't know," she said with a shrung, "Even by some crazy chance he had the slightest inclination for me, it would never do. He's a MacFusty after all. Meek and timid doesn't exactly fit with that type of family."

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

"Meek and timid?" he scoffed, shaking his head. "You're not meek and timid! You're just - er - a little shy. And you can't tell me you think all MacFustys are the same." He wasn't really sure what Munny saw in girls, but he didn't think Emmeline Woodcroft was inherently undesirable. She was a lot like Maddie in some ways, but like... he didn't want to get her in bed or anything.