Read Me Like a Book

[Cage Wakefield]

In short, Cage felt terrible.

His meeting with Violet had gone all wrong, and he had found himself digging his hole deeper with her, so deep past the point of getting out alone. But then again, he didn't know what he himself wanted from their relationship, at least not yet. Cage didn't want marriage, or at least he had ingrained himself to think that. He thought that once he embarked in marriage, he would become the cruel man that his father emulated. Cage had little to do with the man on purpose, and he hardly wanted to turn into him like Merry had. Of course, Cage did not have the distance from himself to see that he was by no means his father's son in actions at all. In fact, they were quite opposite.

Though that was beside the point. Regardless of his fear of matrimony, Cage knew he would soon need to wed a woman. A woman that would not drive him to distraction or meddle with his business or his hobbies. A woman that would be cozy enough, but then take to her own hobbies when he needed privacy. But after meeting Violet, he wondered if he didn't want a woman all over his interests all of the time. Their vivacious conversation on books had stimulated Cage, made him giddy and passion, true feelings that he'd hardly let slip around others for years.But now he was questioning every resolve he'd ever made.

Including his resolve to not speak of his childhood or his parents to anyone. His one rule with women? Don't let it get personal. He was their means to an end, and he was satisfied with that, or at least he told himself that. But now he'd frightened and hurt Violet, and she was not so silly as to let it go. She knew there was something else, and she had to assume the worst in him, he was sure of it.

So Cage had sent flowers. Dozens of lavish, enchanted violets that would remain beautiful and unwilted for weeks past their real expectancy. Books. Clever books that he'd either already red or had multiple copies of. Ones she could add to her collection. And notes. Notes telling her he was sorry, but not much else. As none of it was fit to put in a note.

He'd let her be for nearly a week, and now he could bear it no longer. Cage went up to the castle, directing himself straight to the library where he knew her to be hidden out in. And he slipped in, looking about for her. Cage's hands were tucked respectfully behind his back and he was a vision of affluence in the dark green suit and black necktie he wore, much different from the loose shirt and waistcoat he'd worn at their last meeting. But his eyes were soft and most importantly, remorseful, as he approached her desk, clearing his throat slightly.

"Miss Ollivander," Cage spoke, his gravelly tone gentle. "I should seek out your help for a moment. You see, I'm looking for something quite particular. If you are not busy f course."

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet would have preferred to simply forget all about Cage Wakefield. She'd thought that perhaps she might have found a kindred spirit who enjoyed books as much as she, and would have a lasting friendship with him. Instead however, he had obviously wanted more than that. The meeting had started out well, but had ended horribly. She'd literally ran out of his home. When she returned to Hogwarts, she decide to erase it all from her mind (figuratively) and simply not think of him again.



It was then that the violets and books and notes started coming.. and continued to come. By the end of the week, her quarters were filled to the brim with enchanted flowers. It was yet another weakness of Violet's, she could not turn down a gift. She treasured gifts in a way that was probably not healthy. She hadn't received gifts much as a child and now that she was an adult, she adored them, even if they were from a man who she wanted to pretend didn't exist.



Not a single reply was sent to him. She didn't want to encourage him at all or allow him to think that she had forgiven him. She simply wanted him to let her be. It was not to be so - she ought to have known, he'd proven himself persistent once already.



She looked up from the current book she was reading - one that belonged to the library - and was surprised to see him before her. Violet closed the book and set it aside. There were a couple of students reading at a table in the corner. If they were to look up they would be able to clearly see the two adults. Opting to remain professional, she barely masked her annoyance in quietly asking, "What is it?"

  

[Cage Wakefield]

Her annoyed tone was to be expected, though Cage was slightly taken aback by it. To know that she was still so ill with him after all of the apology gifts, though of course it was totally acceptable. He had been a cad and an idiot, and he wasn't sure on how to fix it.

She was reading her book and Cage stepped a little closer, his voice in a hushed tone, as he was aware they were in sight of students, if they chose to look up from their studies. "You see, Miss Ollivander, there is this dreadfully beautiful woman of whom I have been an incomprehensible ass towards," he began in his hushed, apologetic tone. "Perhaps you know her. She is a bookish soul, a kindred spirit to mine, and I hardly know what to do with myself around her. I've acted like a terrible child grasping for a toy, around her."

Cage bowed his head, chuckling once at how true the words were. He had acted much like a child, grasping for what he wanted with no endeavor at being much of a gentleman. "I'm not sure she understand quite what she's done to my brain. Or why I act the way I do. i should love to...to explain it all to her. If she would listen of course."

Cage lifted his eyes again, his dark irises trying to find some measure of hope in her stormy eyes, but he hardly could tell anything. They were mysterious and stormy, and he didn't know what to think of her in that moment. He wouldn't have blamed her for chucking a book at his head.

"You wouldn't happen to have a book on that, would you?" he questioned with an apologetic, almost impish face.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet's red brow arched as she listened to him. She glanced in the direction of the students, who had not yet noticed the man's presence. It wasn't that uncommon to have adults walking about Hogwarts. Many were there on business for one thing or another, mostly to speak to the Headmaster or a Professor. Some liked to use the library since Hogsmeade lacked the resource.



It was much harder to ignore his advances when it was in person. The remorse in his face made it incredibly difficult for her to reject him again. She felt herself soften, despite her attempts to be stubborn. Violet was a compassionate soul and was not able to hold grudges against someone for long - especially if they were as persistent as Cage.



After studying his face for a moment, she sighed softly and rose from her seat, "This way." Without looking behind her, she led him toward the restricted section. The rope that blocked the entrance was moved quietly aside. She led him into the very heart of it, far from prying eyes and spoke in a low voice, "I'm listening, Mr. Wakefield." She crossed her arms over her chest expectantly, her grey-blue gaze met his own for a moment.



She believed she wouldn't have to worry about students over hearing them here. It was set at the back of the library on the opposite side of the room from the students. Nor would they be able to come inside and find her, since they needed a note from a Professor giving them permission to enter. She hoped it would be quick however, since it would appear odd for her to disappear for long length of time - especially with a man.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

Cage followed Violet as she led him through the labyrinth of bookshelves, back to the restricted section. He could remember coming there once in school, his friends causing mischief through the game of dares they played. He'd gotten so much detention for it, but it was a fond memory in the least.

Cage found himself very aware of Violet's presence in the secluded area, and even more aware of her beauty. She seemed to grow more beautiful each time he saw her, and there was something about the irritated set of her person that just made him crave her. But that was beside the point. he was here to apologize, and nothing more.

"I'm not exactly sure where to start, Miss Ollivander," Cage spoke, his demeanor broad and affluent. He had shaved that morning, and his skin was smooth and soft, and he was looking quite impeccable, the part of the gentleman that Violet apparently wanted to see. Though he'd be damned if he admitted to dressing so for her sake. "So I suppose I must start at the beginning." Cage looked down for a moment, collecting his thoughts and wondering if it was pointless to be there. In truth, he wasn't sure why he was.

"When I was a boy, my father all but hated me. He and my older brother are much the same, and they continue to hate me to this day. My poor mother died during childbirth, because of her weak health as my father says. I've always been the black sheep, and my childhood was...bleak at best. I sought refuge in books and my friends at school once I finally got there. In fact, I dreaded coming home, being ridiculed and hated by my father and brother was a horrid way to spend summers."

Cage chewed on the inside of his lip for a moment, turning to finger the spine of one of the old, leatherbound books on the shelf beside them. "I grew older, and everything I did was to spite the man. My biggest fear has always been becoming just like him. Becoming a cruel and cold father, and a worse husband. I learned through the family that George Wakefield treated his horses better than he did his wife. I suspect her health was weak because of the neglect." Cage paused, a long and lone ache in his chest for the woman he didn't know. He wished to know her...but he just never had.

"I am scared of marriage, because I fear becoming cold and crass like him. I need to feel needed because I was never needed as a child, I was simply a waste of space. And women tend to never need you for more than getting away from their circumstance in our level of society, Violet. And if I could feel needed and help women escape for a couple hours, I would do it. Self-destructive at best. I've never hurt a woman, nor have I taken advantage of one, and you'll take care to remember that. I never take what one is not already willing to give."

Cage turned his dark eyes to her, wondering if any of what he said made sense. He studied her dark eyes, though he was as much at a loss of knowing what was behind them than before.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet listened to his tale and couldn't help but feel sympathetic toward him. Her own story was not all that different. She had a father who did not want her, who regretted her very existence. She even had brothers who outshown her simply because her father favored them. The difference however, was the way that they had dealt with it. He had developed a fear of marriage while she craved it - simply because she wanted someone in the world who would be able to give her the sense of being wanted and cared for, for once.



She didn't know what to say. It was a difficult story to hear and she believed he was even worse off than herself. To be afraid of marriage? He was wealthy and had a high status in society, not to mention he was handsome and relatively younger than the other eligible bachelors, any girl would love to marry him. Violet knew of many who wouldn't care how badly they were treated - if they were able to claim his status and wealth as their own, they would be satisfied.



"Cage," She began, but stopped. What could she say? What was there to say? She knew everything now, but did that really change the fact that she did not want anything to do with him? Yes, yes it did. "Why are you telling me this?" She asked finally, "It is not as if I've asked you to marry me."



After another moment, she added, "I had once thought that we would have a great friendship." Granted, he was handsome. She had never thought anything past that. She had given up on marriage and no longer bothered with imagining herself marrying every eligible bachelor she met. Violet didn't need to sell anything. She had moved on and while she wasn't thrilled with the arrangements, she was content at least.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

"Because I want someone, anyone to just understand," he finally admitted. Cage looked at her, offering her a gentle smile, a crooked one, but an honest one.

"Because of all the things I have, and all the people I know, I still feel so blasted lonely," he spoke. Cage looked at her, tilting his head. He was hardly sure as to where he was going with this at all, as his head stopped thinking ages ago. But there was something about her, something he wanted to soothe, but not carnally. Well not just carnally.

Cage wanted to think that he could be a good husband. He was a lover of many, but that was because he didn't have a single one to love. If he did...he would do anything for her. And Violet could provide excellent company. And she read. She was just as passionate about books as he, and she had an agreeable temperament.

"I'm a good man, Violet. Honest, I am. I'm loyal and honest, and I would give my life for those people that I love." Cage paced a little, frustrated at himself again. He looked at Violet once more, taking a deep breath and sighing.

"I don't want a friendship with you. I...would like to court you."

And saying it felt...different than he expected. He expected hearing chains and nails in a coffin. But he felt flighty and nervous and deeply...relieved. He looked expectantly at her, his dark eyes searching her expression again.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet certainly knew what it was like to be lonely. She hadn't had any friends in school. The only socialization she had received was from discussing her assignments and extra credit essays with her professors. She supposed the teasing and general ignoring that her peers did didn't count for much. Her father and brothers avoided her and if they ever spoke to her, it was usually something cruel. She knew, if all people, what it was like to be lonely.



The sudden announcement caused her to gasp. If they had not left her desk the student would have noticed for sure. The wide, rounded eyes of the librarian were shocked and her mouth in a very unladylike 'o'. Her cheeks burned hotly and she stumbled to make sense of it all. Court her? Him of all people? Now? When she'd finally given up hope?



"I - I.." She stammered, "I.. don't know. I cannot.. I mean.." Violet knew she ought to accept. She had seen his home, he was wealthier than her father and could take good care of her. He was handsome and had good connections in society. It was everything she had once wanted... but something held her back. Or someone, rather. Even though she knew that it was far from possible, for his current station of employment made it difficult to even own his own home, much less bring a wife into it, she couldn't help but hope. It was a realization that struck her suddenly, that she might have been smitten with the man. What did it mean?



She turned her back to him so that she could think, unable to meet his expectant expression. What could she say? What did she want to say? "I just.. it is so sudden," Violet finally managed whilst turning back to face him once more, "I... I need to.. I need to think."

  

[Cage Wakefield]

Cage knew that she would hardly make it easy for him to court her, and he was certain he wouldn't have wanted her any other way. He watched her and watched her mannerisms, and he frowned. Was there someone else then? He decided he didn't care. He would do his best to make her love him, to make her choose him, as he would hardly marry her any other way.

"Alright, Miss Violet," he conceded, looking at her. "But I feel I should warn you." Cage stepped a little closer, but not so close as to make her uncomfortable.

He looked at her dark, blu-grey eyes and he looked at the contours of her face. She was sweet, with enough fire to satisfy him as well. And she was smart. Intimidating almost, more intimidating thatn any other woman he had know. But he would hardly give up. It wasn't in his nature to.

"I'm going to make you love me, Violet. Or at least I'm going to try," he spoke softly, a smile on his face. It was a challenge and a chance he would take. Just this once.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

He did not seem to be put off by her hesitation. It may have been her imagination, but he seemed to be even more determined than before. His statement made it clear to her that this was the case. It sounded to her like a promise. She knew not what to think of it.



"I should get back to work," She said finally, unable to meet his gaze. Violet moved to skirt around him in order to return to her desk. They had been in the restricted section for long enough. It would only be a few more minutes before someone came looking for her. Or rumors started.



The Headmaster was not merciful. If he had any scandal at his school at all, he would get rid of it in a blink of an eye. She did not want to lose her job - not only did it give her money of her own, but she enjoyed it and it gave her a sense of purpose.