Whispers in the Hollow

”I'll put the kettle on then.” Ember smiled gently, clutching tight onto Sophia's hand for a moment, watching her attempt to dry off, but knowing it was a little bit pointless with her clothes. Ember would have tried to siphon some of the water off, but her wand was back at the cottage, tucked into her rucksack, inside her wooden toy sword. It was harder to carry it around the less clothing she wore, and it wasn't exactly suitable to leave it lying around with little hands just dying to get a hold on it, so she typically left it home unless she was wearing her jeans or something where she could hold onto it better. She waited for Sophia to gather her shoes and then tossed an arm over her, tugging her close and tucking her up against her shoulder, trying to help keep her warm as she led her back to the wooded path. The sun was nearly set now, the light waning, but the path was beginning to light up with flickering lightening bugs and tiny fairies, the only tell-tale difference the color of their twinklings. The Gryffindor leaned slightly, pressing her lips to the brunette's temple. ”We can change when we get back, Mam's probably already gotten the trundle out for you in my room… if you don't mind sharing a room with me… I mean, I could always sleep with her or on the couch if you'd prefer. I know we've been kind of glued together for a week already, so if you need some time to yourself or anything, you can say so. Me, I could spend every single day of my life with you without needing a break.” The Gryffindor admitted. She was having trouble, keeping her metaphorical dick in her pants now that they were in a place where she was entirely comfortable with herself.

Behave. The redhead told herself sternly, knowing she needed to, lest she scare Sophia away by being a little too welcoming and friendly. Ember veered slightly on the path, taking another one off of it that led, instead, to her back garden. They came out among a bunch of flowering trees her mother had planted, four of them white, the last one a strange gorgeous blue. Ember reached out, patting the trunk of the blue one. ”This one's mine. Me Mam planted one each time she found out she was going to be a mother. The others didn't make it.” The Gryffindor frowned, trailing her fingers along each tree as they passed beneath them. She gazed up at the bright white petals somberly, a frown on her face before she brightened a bit, her step picking up the closer they got to the cottage surrounded by greenery. ”But then I suppose I should be grateful they didn't because otherwise I might not be here and even I was a surprise.” She laughed then, releasing Sophia and racing ahead to the back sliding glass door and pressing it open.

Moving right around to the stove, Ember grabbed the kettle and filled it with water from the tap until it was full enough and then replaced it on the stove. She turned on the heat and then raised her head. ”You go ahead and get your pajamas on, I'll make the tea and be in with it in a few minutes. There's more towels in the bathroom if you need one.”

Ember grabbed a couple of mugs from the cabinet, setting them down on the counter and lifting up onto her tip toes to reach the jars of tea her mother kept up there. The Gryffindor pulled them down, dug a metal strainer out of a drawer and located the tea pot on the counter nearby where her mother had left it from after washing it earlier in the day from her afternoon tea. She dumped some of each tea into the strainer and then into the teapot, waiting as her shorts and hair dripped small puddles all over the wooden floor of the kitchen. The kettle finally let out it's high pitched scream that indicated it was done boiling and she removed it from the stove carefully, pouring the hot water into the teapot so that the tea could steep. She placed it and the mugs onto a tray extracted from behind the dish-rack. She lifted it, starting down the hallway to her room and pausing to knock, peeking in once she was sure Sophia had probably had enough time to change.

”Teeeea.” The redhead chimed brightly, carrying it in and setting the tray down on her dresser, pressing aside from of the slightly dusty trophies that sat atop it from when she had been years younger and participated in broom stunting tournaments. Most of them indicated some kind of first place position in different things, though the Gryffindor didn't think anything of it when one fell off the end and into her now fairly full hamper. She blinked, glancing around her room and noting that it was a good deal cleaner than it had been earlier. Her mother must have picked up her clothes… Speaking of which, Meghan appear in the doorway of the room, already dressed in a long nightshirt that obviously had probably once belonged to her husband, brandishing a hair brush in one hair. Ember's eyes went wide and she backed away, raising a hand. ”No. Don't you dare.”

”Emmi, tá sé ina praiseach!” Meghan retorted, grabbing hold of her wrist and spinning her around to rapidly tug the brush through her slightly curly locks with a harsh yank. She left it stuck there, dangling from the ends for a moment while she pulled the desk chair away from the dresser and pressed her grumping daughter into it. Ember sighed, straddling the chair and allowing her mother to pull the brush through her hair several more time, a sour look ón her face as she glanced over at Sophia, obviously not pleased with her mother's need to get her hair in order before bed when it would just get all messed up again. She sat, waiting as patiently as possible while Meghan ran the brush through her hair, eventually smoothing it out until it was at least satisfactory now. The redhead pressed up from the chair once she'd been released and followed her mother to the door.

”Oíche mhaith, my love. Good night, Sophia.” The older woman reached out, pressing her lips to her daughter's forhead before leaving the room. ”Sleep well!” She called as she headed across the hallway, her own bedroom door closing behind her. Ember heaved a sigh, shutting her door and striding over to her dresser, She tugged open the top drawer and rummaged through it, digging out a pair of silver sleep shorts and a pale blue tank top with an arrow ón the front of it, the symbol of her favorite professional Quidditch team. With her back to her best mate, the redhead promptly shimmied her shorts down until they landed with a thump around her ankles, the fact that she typically always went commando obvious. She kicked them aside, tugging her wet shirt and bra up over her head and flinging them in the direction of the hamper and missing before she pulled her pajamas ón. She poured some tea into a mug and spun around, offering it to Sophia before she strode across the room, the white shag rug soft against her pale freckled feet. She stared down at the trundle bed that had been rolled out from under her own bed, the mattress made up with fresh linens and blankets, all of them clean and smelling of the garden from where they had been dried upon a líne. The bedside table had been pressed aside to make room for it. Ember lifted a leg, careful not to step ón Sopia's bed as she climbed onto her own, flopping backwards against the pillows and letting out a tired sigh. She stared up at the Hufflepuff for a few moments, her eyes a bit droopy. ”I'm not so much in the mood for tea... Lay with mé for a bit?” She asked softly, her cheeks heating up a bit, gazing up at Sophia from behind her still damp, but freshly combed locks.


('it's a mess')

Ember beamed, scooting aside on her bed until she was more towards the wall, making plenty of space for Sophia to join her. She sat up, grabbed her wand from her desk and gave it a wave. The lights of the room went out and with another flourish, the window opened, either side of it pressing outwards. A small breeze blew in, making the white gauzy lace curtains dance a bit, filling the room with the fresh scent of the garden and overturned earth from the window bow beneath the sill. As Sophia laid down beside her, the Gryffindor reached down to the foot of the bed, pulling up the big blue quilt that sat on the end. She let it fall over both herself and Sophia, tucking the edge up under her armpit as she flopped her head back down onto a pillow, burrowing closer to Sophia and letting herself to held.

The Gryffindor had never felt more relaxed than she did in that moment, curled up so warm and comfy in her bed, gazing at those gorgeous hazel eyes, unable to look away from them. She scooted closer, gently wrapping one arm down around the Hufflepuff’s waist and tugging her just a little bit more towards herself, wanting to really cuddle with her as much as possible despite it probably not being the wisest of decisions. Ember hooked one leg over Sophia’s, locking her knee just above the other girl’s, moving her arm up so her hand could find that beautiful face, to feel that soft cheek. She let her forehead fall against Sophia’s, grinning at her, eyelids drooping, blinking and trying to keep them open so she could continue to stare at the girl, but failing miserably. The Gryffindor breathed Sophia in, relishing the absolutely intoxicating combined scents of her Hufflepuff and the forever familiar laundry soap her mother had washed her pillow case with. “I’m so happy you’re here, beag luch.”

Yawning, Ember pulled back slightly as her fingers gently stroked Sophia’s hair away from her face, pressing it behind one ear and continuing to caress her cheek even after the locks were tucked away. She allowed one finger tip to skim gently, tracing the line of those perfect eyebrows, down around one eye and the side of the Hufflepuff’s nose. Ember didn’t hesitate, letting that sole finger run it’s course, centering beneath Sophia’s nose and slipping right on down the vertical middle of the girl’s lips, catching slightly on the lower one as she continued on, not lingering for fear of doing something she shouldn‘t. It headed from Sophia’s chin and trailed upwards, along her jaw line until Ember was back at her ear. She gently grabbed hold of the little mouse’s earlobe, playing with it for a couple of moments before her eyes finally closed and stayed shut. Her hand fell limp but shifted back to life as Ember’s eyes flickered again, fighting against the inevitable sleep that was trying to claim her before she was ready. How the hell was that even possible?

Normally, unless she was entirely worn out from Quidditch practice or playing against her cousins, it took Ember a great deal of time to fall asleep. Her mind and body were usually still wired by the time she laid down, knowing she needed to sleep, but still being too wide awake to do so. It typically took a lot of either humming to herself, or, more commonly, some er… rather personal time during which she usually ended up biting her knuckles or covering her face with her pillow to keep quiet, for her to finally be worn out enough to fall asleep. However, it was different tonight, lying here with Sophia. Her body felt… calm. Content with where she was at and needing nothing more than the simple closeness of the Hufflepuff next to her. For Ember to ever sit still at any time was remarkable in and of itself, for her to be able to do so at bedtime was nothing short of some kind of small miracle. 

Ember finally allowed her eyes to close, the weight of them winning the battle. However, she still shifted, hand sliding, off of Sophia’s face to her shoulder. The Gryffindor stroked the other girl’s arm gently, up and down, relishing the feel of her bare skin beneath her fingers before wrapping her arm round the girl’s middle once more. She pressed her hand, ever tender, into the small of Sophia’s back, shimmying her own body closer as she pulled Sophia to her even more, almost completely closing any space that remained between them. Ember didn’t even think about it, the cuddly part of her soul instinctively driving her to wrap as much of herself around the sweet smelling girl in her bed. All of her logical thought processors were shutting down, preparing her brain for the usually completely illogical dreams she had. Ones where her father was alive, her mother never yelled at her, Eveleen enjoyed heights, and Sophia… Sophia Black was curled up in her bed with her, typically in various states of undress, while Ember whispered sweet things in her ear…

“Alainn.” The Gryffindor breathed out, completely lost in the fantasy in her head that was currently combining with all of her touch and smell sensors. A small smile spread across her face, completely serene, nuzzling at her pillow and removing her arm from Sophia’s waist only to return it to the Hufflepuff’s cheek. She cupped it, caressing that soft skin with her slightly calloused thumb, finding Sophia’s eyes, nose… mouth… Oh that gorgeous pink mouth, so soft looking, even in Ember’s head. The Gryffindor’s thumb moved, running across the bottom half of Sophia’s lips until it reached the corner. She needed to taste them… it was okay, she was only dreaming after all. Ember had kissed Sophia so many times in her sleep already that, despite the fact that Sophia was actually present this time, the dim-headed lion was completely unaware of it. All she knew was that she was incredibly comfortable, and she was having an impossibly pleasant dream…

Ember’s head tilted, closing the few inches still between them, and she captured Sophia’s lips with her own, using her hand to help guide their faces together properly. She was tender though, pressing lightly but firm enough for it to be considered a real kiss instead of just a little light accidental brushing of faces in which mouth regions met. And then there was heaven, that absolute stomach flipping, head bursting, heart racing, unable to properly express the absolute sheer amount of exploding fireworks going off in one’s brain because love is one of those things that can never be fully understood unless it is first experienced in it’s truest of forms, such as the way Ember Stonefyre’s lips came in contact with Sophia Black’s after months of pining after the girl. A buzzing tingle rocketed through the entirety of Ember’s mouth, growing in power until it was an electrifying jolt, traveling straight up into her brain and down her throat where it zapped through her stomach, warming it, before striking hard into her heart. The single thought Ember had before the burst of adrenaline from finally actually kissing Sophia reached her brain and pressed her out of her dozing state… was that the Hufflepuff’s lips tasted just as sweet as the Gryffindor had always imagined they would and she could have sworn she’d felt them kiss her back. 

Realization hit Ember hard, as, after only a mere moment of contact, nothing more than a simple peck that held all of the feelings she had been harboring for Sophia, she pulled away. The world shattered around her, that glorious feeling of her lips upon the woman she loved’s, disappearing as fast as the glimmer of a Snitch in a rainstorm. Her breath flew out of her mouth, voice barely a whisper as her eyes opened and gazed worriedly at Sophia. “Foc.”

The Gryffindor sat up, moving away quickly, hands flying to cover her face as she disentangled herself from the Hufflepuff. The back of her head thudded against the wall as she bent up her knees and pressed herself into it, feeling like she might laugh or cry and not knowing which. She had screwed up… Seriously just ruined everything she had with Sophia. Their lovely friendship, while sometimes difficult to deal with because that’s all it was, would be broken now. Ember had no idea what Sophia would think of her… seemingly lulling the innocent girl into her bed and and… Oh Merlin. The Gryffindor could feel her face burning and was suddenly quite thankful the room was dim except for the little bit of moonlight shining down through her window. What was she supposed to do now?

Ember’s fingers spread, peeking through them at Sophia, her eyes starting to water as the turmoil inside of her began to overtake her. Her heart plummeted further into her stomach. There was no way Sophia could have wanted that kiss… sweet, innocent little mouse with the big hazel eyes and heart of gold. The Gryffindor’s head was still reeling from it, more so than from any other kiss she’d ever had. All of her experience wasn’t nearly as simple as that little peck had been, normally consisting of making out in a broom cupboard with whatever boy had temporarily caught her fancy. No, this one had been different… Full of so much more than anything Ember had ever felt in her entire life. It would probably be the single most wonderful kiss she would ever get, or rather, in this case, take, until the day she died. 

The Gryffindor closed her fingers, squeezing her eyes shut. It was too late to laugh it off, to make it seem some kind of mistake or joke, not after the way she’d reacted too quickly. So, after a couple of deep breaths, Ember opened her fingers again, barely able to meet Sophia’s eyes for more than a moment as the words choked out from her throat. “Tá…Tá brón orm, Sophia… I’m sorry.” She pressed on, closing her eyes, grabbing hold of her resolve to make things right again. To try and keep her friend even though she knew she had probably already lost her because what person wanted to be unexpectedly kissed by their best friend? Especially one they were supposed to trust, who had vowed to always protect them. “I swear, Mouse. I… I was just...You're so soft and nice and I...” And then Ember groaned, not sure what to say without digging herself a deeper hole to get out of, and grabbed hold of the key hanging from her neck, pressing her pinky roughly between the teeth, the scarred skin breaking and bleeding fairly quickly. “Cac! Sophia… Merlin, you probably hate me. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, tá brón orm, brón, brón, brón!”

((Translations: 
beag luch-Little mouse. 
Alainn-Beautiful. 
Foc-Fuck.
tá brón orm-I’m sorry.
Cac-Shit.
brón-Sorry.))

Ember visibly flinched away as Sophia sat up, her heart beating fast in her chest, eyes water though she closed them firmly, trying to keep the tears at bay, waiting for the blow up that was surely brewing in the thin-framed Hufflepuff's body. She squished herself closer against the wall, turning her face downwards, pressing her pinky harder against her key, sure there was some kind of explosion about to occur. She wouldn't have blamed Sophia if she'd slapped her, she would have deserved it fully, but there was nothing, at least, no yelling, no violence. Instead, the Gryffindors eyes peeked open slightly as Sophia's ever gentle hands clutched at her own, slowly peeling her fingers free from her key. Blood flowed downwards from the redhead's pinky, dripping down the side of her hand and her wrist, She felt her breath catch in her throat completely as Sophia lowered her mouth to her finger, kissing at it so tenderly, her hazel eyes peeking upwards to meet Ember's own blue ones. The Gryffindor had stopped trying to prevent the tears from flowing, instead, they filled the corners of her eyes and fell, streaking down her cheeks, a strange fear obvious on her face. Typically nothing scared Ember, at least, that she would ever admit to, but with Sophia… it was easier to display those emotions she typically kept hidden. She watched with surprise, as the Hufflepuff followed up, kissing her wrist, her palm, her other wrist… each press of those soft lips against her skin was ignited the fire already blazing in her head from having finally allowed herself to kiss the brunette.

However, it was Sophia's words that really hit her this time, asking her why it had taken her so long… So long to… Ember stared, unable to fully comprehend what it was the Hufflepuff was indicating for several moment before she burst out with a laugh, her hands reaching up, cupping those lovely cheeks and gazing into those gorgeous hazel eyes, so darkly colored at the moment. She got blood upon Sophia's face, but it didn't matter at the moment, nothing mattered except for… for…

”Beag luch...” Ember forced out, her voice a bit croaky from holding her breath for so very long, unable to help it. Sophia was okay with this… she… she wasn't angry, she wasn't yelling at her… she was wondering why it had taken so long. And that, after a little consideration, was indication enough to the Gryffindor that she had been wrong. Once again, Eveleen was right. She shouldn't have put Sophia into a box, assumed she was straight just because she never showed any indication of being otherwise that Ember had noticed. The redhead released Sophia's face, squishing past her and climbing onto her desk with a shout of ”Fucking Eveleen!” before she jumped out of the window. Her bare feet flew across the cool grass, eyes searching until they alighted upon the proper patch of flowers. She crouched, grabbing hold of stems and yanking. The flowers came free, dirt and roots included, and she dashed back to her window. With a running jump, the Gryffindor launched herself through with obvious familiarity, rolling across her desk, scattering books, and onto the floor. Her back hit hard against the wood, her legs and butt slamming into her dresser, causing several trophies to tumble to the floor, just barely missing her as she scrambled to her feet. She kicked at the trundle bed, getting it to roll partway underneath her own before falling back to her knees and thrusting her hand forward.

Violets. Purple with yellow cores and slightly rimmed with darker purple and blue in places, and white in others. Some drooped from having been so roughly handled, bit of soil falling slightly onto the rug, Ember's hands both smudged with dirt as she stared up at Sophia nervously, offering her the flowers, her heart beating so fast in her chest she thought she might faint. She reached up, rubbing at her scarlet face to clear what felt like sweat, making herself all the more dirty. She opened her mouth, but just as she was about to find the words, her bedroom door opened and the lights came on.

”I heard crashing, are you girls-” Meghan paused in the doorway, her brown eyes flickering between her daughter and Sophia and the flowers rapidly, reading everything all that once. Well versed in the language of flowers, Meghan saw immediately what was occurring. She knew her daughter well, and knew she was just as knowledgeable when it came to the subtle meanings behind certain flowers that a lot of people didn't tend to remember, especially now a days. And there was only one reason why her Emmi would be offering Sophia violets of all things. Meghan's face immediately turned sour and she marched forward, reaching out and grabbing hold of Ember's ear, jerking her upwards. ”Emily-Amber! What the absolute bloody hell has gotten into you? I swear! I didn't raise you in such a disgraceful manner! This is an abomination! How dare you!?” The former Ravenclaw knocked her daughter upside the hard rather harshly, her voice full of anger as she berated her. ”You know better than this! Honestly, what am I going to do with you, I swear…”

”Mam… I… I was just...” Ember cowered slightly, not entirely sure what to make of her mother's reaction, having not expected it. Meghan had always been so open, so accepting…

”You could have at least cut the stalks! But no, you pulled them right up by the roots, I've taught you better than that!” Meghan snatched the flowers from Ember, whacking her with them a couple of times before thrusting them back into her dirty hands. ”Disgraceful! Absolutely unacceptable! I'm so sorry, Sophia, she's such a dim thing sometimes. Emily, fix them. And at the very least, tie them with a ribbon. Honestly, how could you possibly present flowers to a girl without at least making them look proper and acceptable beforehand? I swear… if your father were here...”

”Yes, Mam.” Ember nodded and tugged open her desk drawer, pulling out a pair of gardening shears and gently trimming the violets to a proper length before rummaging deeper within until she found a fairly acceptable old hair ribbon from when she was younger and tied it around the flowers, making them into a neat bundle, even if some of them were a bit ragged now. She held them up to her mother for inspection and the older woman nodded with a sigh.

”Better. Carry on then.” Meghan shook her head, leaving the room and shutting the door gently behind her. Ember's face, if possible, was even redder than before as she offered the violets to Sophia, looking awkwardly down at her grass stained bare feet.

”So...Sophia. I'd… I'd really like it if we… if… we could...If maybe you'd um… want to er… maybe… I mean you can say no if you want to, no pressure… I just really… I really...” The Gryffindor gulped and then bent down, picking up one of her fallen books from where it sat on the floor. She flipped through it until she reached the violets, their history and meanings well described within, and sat down on the edge of her bed, offering both the page and the meek bouquet to Sophia, her cheeks so red she might as well have been one of the apples she so adored.