TONIGHT I'LL THROW A PARTY OF MY OWN
THIS PARTY THAT IM THROWING WILL BE QUIET WILL BE SMALL
BUT HE'LL BE THE BIGGEST BE THE LOUDEST OF THEM ALL
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The small red ball ran along his knuckles, getting stuck in between his thumb and forefinger. Another pass along his knuckles, smooth and quick then back again to stick between his fingers. His steps on the cobblestone floors marked a confident stride. It was late, and the school was all but empty. The professors still lurked in various corridors, ready to catch New Years Eve wrongdoers. Out for pranks or other various antics on this late December night. People like Frances. Less than suspect at the moment however due to his status as a prefect. Deliciously rebellious Frances may have been but this was of course the first and only time an abuse of his powers had ever been allowed by his own standards. New Years Eve was an exception, and entertaining a pretty girl just made the rule breaking that much easier. Frances was always out to impress first and responsibility, as immature as it was, came in second. He made his way down another flight of stairs, moving quickly so he could get to the next landing before the staircase made a move. The trip all the way back up to the astronomy tower would most certainly be an inconvenience, but the firework show from Hogsmead would be easily visible and the effect amplified.

The effect Emma had on him over these past few weeks had become more and more apparent. It had been easy to recognize for what it could be even after their first meeting, when the easy comfort between them had been almost instantaneous. Not a common thing even for someone as outspoken as Frances. Naturally he felt a draw to Emma and a need to keep a relationship between them. Anyone who could make him that happy in so short a time, or make him that interested rather, was worth having around for a while. Or at least worth getting to know even better. Another pass of the ball over his knuckles, a twitch of nervous anticipation as he recognized the Hufflepuff corridor. He wasn’t sure what he would say, or even if she would be awake, but somehow right now that didn’t seem to matter. He was more than convinced she would enjoy what he had planned if she trusted him long enough to follow him to the tower.

He wasn’t sure what he was expecting out of this meeting and really he wasn’t expecting anything. Of course part of that would be a lie. Perhaps he wanted recognition, or maybe reassurance that she saw him as something more than a friend, or at the very least a lasting friend. The Christmas present had been a definite clue to her that she had been on his mind more often than not lately. Really he just wanted to be around her again. To feel that easy familiarity with this girl who had started out as a friend from the time they had been strangers. If they had ever really been strangers. Their actions that first day hadn’t shown it. Emma had spoken so easily about her family and the comfort she felt at home. He wanted to give her company and that easy smile he loved to see on her face. He wanted to surprise her and help her to enjoy her night. Not only that but he was convinced that the only way he would enjoy his New Years Eve was with her.
As he approached the door he sent a quick Mtech and leaned against the wall in front of the entrance. He was prepared to wait, the time allowed for about an hour until the actual fireworks started, signaling the new year. He smiled to himself and rolled the ball along his knuckles.

TONIGHT I'LL THROW A PARTY OF MY OWN
THIS PARTY THAT IM THROWING WILL BE QUIET WILL BE SMALL
BUT HE'LL BE THE BIGGEST BE THE LOUDEST OF THEM ALL
___________________________________________________________

Emma’s look of longing for home had not been missed by him in their previous conversations. Of the many things he was Frances wasn’t clueless. He really did feel an obligation to make sure she had a good time this holiday evening. Not only because they were growing closer, but because he knew what it felt like to miss home. He missed home in a way very few people recognized. The rebellious teenager couldn’t possibly allude to having time for home life and little sisters. For screaming parents and exhausted accusations. He missed the little town and the people there. He missed feeling the way it had felt to describe the little place. And perhaps that was another reason he had gone to Emma. Of course the general part of his mind was telling him he was bored and wanted a good time, wanted company with a good friend. To break a little bit of the rules along the way was an added bonus. But really, it was surprising and extremely gratifying to explain the little town and have a stranger be entranced with the image he painted. The place made him feel like that every day, like living in a fairytale. He missed home, but he hated being there, and as strange as it seemed, Emma seemed to be someone who could understand that complex description of Frances’ life. Even better, she seemed like someone who would want to understand.

Frances couldn’t help the grin that slid easily along his face as she stepped out. She smiled just as fiercely for a moment before she seemed to catch herself. The grin was gone, instead replaced with an easy indifferent search with her eyes as she turned to look up and down the corridor. He wanted to laugh at the obvious façade of indifference. His heart gave a leap as he realized that she was just as excited to see him as he was to see her. He felt extremely silly for admitting it even to himself, but he had been thinking abut her lately. For a long time he had debated getting her something for Christmas. He had only met her once, after all, and he didn’t want to seem too forward or at the most creepy. But after seeing the sweets in a holiday catalog it had been impossible to ignore how much she would like them. She was a girl after his own heart as far as sweets were concerned and they had made his mouth water, he was sure she would like them and he had to send them to her no matter what kind of a weird impression it left. He laughed out loud at her remark. Her questioning look would have been convincing had he not seen her put it on. "I'm not sure I deserved that. I might just decide not to take you at all." He smiled and shrugged, throwing the red ball up and catching it and then stuffing it into his pocket, looking back up at her, taking in her appearance now that he wasn't distracted by the expressions.

She was quite pretty, even with her braid slightly frazzled and her bangs disrupted on her forehead. She looked wide awake and he was glad that he hadn't waken her up, it would have been a blow to his charming plan if he'd disturbed her. He wanted things to go smoothly. Her wide eyes looked in his direction and it was then that he realized he had that ridiculous smile on his face again. A small upward crease decorating his face and making him feel like an idiot. He was about as good at hiding his feelings as she was. Of course he would pretend he didn't care, he was usually so much more carefree and aloof than this, and she was going to turn him into a nervous idiot if he wasn't careful. She really had the potential to do that to him and for some reason that only made him even more attracted to her. "If you're ready to be nice to me I have a real surprise for you. If you're up for a little rule breaking that is. We're going to have to be a little sneaky." She didn't look like she was dressed very warmly and he was glad he had prepared for that little detail this time around. Her near hypothermia temperature the last time had definitely stuck out in his mind.

His previous excitement only increased now that he was here talking to her and they were about to go to the scene he had been preparing for the past hour. He knew for a fact (because of his status of course) that the teachers wouldn't check the Astronomy tower after 11:00. They would rely on the fact that any student would be caught on the upper levels long before they could get that high. Not to mention that all of the teachers not too elderly to climb the stairs without some difficulty had gone home for the holidays and so if they could get past the ghosts, they should be home free. His luck was just too good tonight, but he took that as a sign. A good sign.