An Empty Classroom

Airy felt tears fill her eyes as she looked at Ducky and she shook her head. "It's really hard..." She whispered, her anger ebbing away with the confession. She had been ready to storm out of there and go sit on the ground in some long forgotten area and just let it go with a scream, or cry, or something. Ducky was nice, and he was cupping her face, and she couldn't help it. She fell forward and buried her face in his shoulder.

No one had ever been this kind to her, and no one had even given her a chance once she had gotten angry at them, she either ran off, or they did. There was no conversation between her and other people, let alone someone willingly wanting to hang out with her. She felt like such an idiot though, tears streaming down her face as she buried her face in Ducky's shoulder and cried.

She didn't remember the last time she had cried this hard, in fact she didn't think she ever had. She normally cried a little bit before bed, and it helped her sleep, but in the company of someone like Ducky... after getting high, and then angry, and now she was just a mess, her makeup running down her cheeks with each wave of tears.

"S-S-Sorry..." She whispered, wiping her face with one hand as she sniffled and tried to take a deep breath. "I.. I don't normally..." She sniffled again and fell into a fresh wave of tears, her breathing growing ragged with each intake, as she quickly built herself into a frenzy of crying again before breaking and pushing away from him.

She couldn't let him see her face like this, she couldn't just cry into his shoulder. She flung herself across the room and into her pillow fort, flinging hr makeshift blanket door shut and falling across the cushions with a sob. Once inside the darkness of the blanket fort, she let herself sob silently into a pillow, hoping Ducky left her alone.

This was not what Ducky had wanted.

The very last plan in his simple, little mind had been to bring Aurora Daniels to tears. He had not sought out the girl with the fewest allies to assure her that she truly had none. His hope had been to change her mind, give her some much needed hope, prove to her that there was the possibility of turning her luck. He knew what his approval could mean for someone like Aurora, someone with the approval and acceptance of no one. He knew because it had been the very thing he had sought when he had been in her position. One ally could mean survival.

But evidently, his help had not seemed like help. It had come off as more criticism, something the girl surely received a daily dose of, whether she asked for it or not. He should have known better. He had seen the mean girls in action, poking fun by offering ‘helpful advice’ that only served to humiliate and belittle their victim. His help must have sounded a lot like that, not the informed sympathy he had hope to share with her.

Emotion made its turbulent trek across her features, pulling them this way and then that, before she was so overcome that she had little choice but to crumble. She chose, at least, to crumble into him, giving him the assurance that she did not think him wholly untrustworthy, completely horrible, like so many of their peers. At least he was enough of an exception to be allowed to comfort her in her emotional state, if he so chose.

And of course he did. As soon as the strange turn of circumstance registered, he made to tighten his arms around her, leaning his cheek against her multicolored hair. The decision had come late, though, for she pulled away just moments later, running for the pillow fort and throwing herself inside. He turned and stared. If it were not for the muffled sobs, he could forget she had ever even been there. But he could hear her. And he could not abandon her so soon.

Besides, he knew what it felt like. The fear that maybe you were just the sort of person that no one could ever look at fondly.

He made his way over to her safe haven carefully, quietly. He pulled the flap of the fort open to see her buried in blankets and sorrow. He crawled inside and let the flap fall where it had before. He paused, watching her breathe for a moment. Breathe in reality, exhale hope. He picked his way across the blankets, slipping under one so that his head was parallel to hers. He did not want to talk. That had not worked for him. Instead he just reached out, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her into him.

Airy didn't know how to react. He was here, he had moved into her tent, he had made her cry, and suddenly his arms were around her. She felt her forehead touch his chest, and she could feel his heartbeat, and she was calmed. She hadn't done this her entire life, and the experience itself was worthy to make her stop and listen. His heartbeat was so even, he wasn't talking, he wasn't doing anything at all. He was holding her in a way no one had ever done. He was touching her at all, and she had to admit, that was something she wasn't used to either.

His touch was soft, gentle, he wasn't pushing her, he wasn't hitting at her, he wasn't throwing spells, he wanted to help. She knew this now, he hadn't meant to anger her, he hadn't meant to pick at her faults... he was trying to help, and at this realization, Airy burst into tears again.

She lifted her hands up and clutched at his chest, her chest heaving and her body shaking in sobs she hadn't let out in years. A lifetime of built up sorrow poured out and she curled closer, his heat like a light in the darkness and she couldn't get enough of it. He was a savoir, she could feel him in the darkness of her own mind, and after some time, her sobs finally quieted.

She had no idea how long they had been laying there, but she didn't feel as high anymore. She opened her eyes and realized it was darker then before, and his heat was still there, his arms wrapped around her as though she were fragile, and she slowly wiped her face, her hands shaking her and breathing rapid. She was obviously dehydrated and would need something to drink soon, but she was too comfortable to move.

Finally she lifted her head slightly and looked at Ducky. "Why did you do that?" She asked, her eyes burning from how much she had cried, and she had to repeatedly blink just so she could see past the film that had developed over them during her sobbing. Her makeup was smeared, and her hair was a mess, she looked nothing like she had when she had first entered the room, but she didn't quite mind. She just wanted to know why he was being kind to her.

He held her for as long as she needed to be held. She trembled, and shook, and clutched him, and whimpered, and sobbed, and let tears flow. And Ducky Baker let her. He had tried giving advice, he had tried reassuring her, and he had tried giving a reality check. It had been foolish of him. He was Ducky Baker, after all, Prince of Mistakes, Duke of Failures, the F*ck Up King. What right did he have to coach anyone about anything? If everyone was honest with themselves, no one had the right to look into someone’s life and tell them how it might be improved.

No, judgment would never help. He had not realized he had been passing judgment, but he had. He recognized his error, and he would not commit it against the Slytherin girl again. He had always believed that what people need was love, encouragement, and acceptance. And he intended to be the first to offer that to Aurora, even if he was the only one to even try. He would not be worthy of the friendly reputation if he could not be kind now.

She began to steady herself, and he could feel it in her breaths and the sound of her tremors. He kept his hold on her as he turned and glanced outward, noticing the change in the room around them brough on by time. He shifted ever so slightly, for an almost humid warmth had gathered within the blanket fort. He gave them a small amount of space so that they could breathe a little better and so they could look at each other.

Her words brought out the smallest of smiles on the young Baker’s face. He tilted his head, looking at Aurora as though he was shocked that she could still ask such a question, after all the time and energy he had put into her. She still doubted him. He shook his head and pulled her close again, resting his chin on her head. Suddenly, a happiness burst within him like music at the idea of sharing his secrets of joy with one of the people who probably needed the secrets most.

He breathed in, his chest expanding wide, before releasing it in a sigh. “Aurora… Do you realize we are all connected in some way or another? Either you believe we’re all brothers and sisters of Adam and Eve, or we’re all twins because we came from the same matter that used to be nothing.” He grinned – so much for Hogwarts idiot. “So, like it or not… you might not have friends, but everyone is your family. And even in the most dysfunctional of families… there’s always at least one ally.” He grinned and stroked her shoulder. “I did that, Aurora, because you’re worthy of an ally.”

Aurora wasn't quite sure she played into the whole "We're all connected" bullsh*t people came up with, or whatever he spewed out of his mouth about some man and woman she'd never heard of. But something he did say struck her as something she could get behind. See, Aurora didn't have friends... she didn't have any. And who would believe that Ducky Baker and Aurora Daniels could be friends? 

No one would believe that.. however, they could believe that Ducky Baker and Aurora Daniels were allies. Allies was a less conversational word, and it completely described their relationship. The situation was, he was popular, she was not, he had friends, she did not. But his friendliness and her overall unfriendliness made them ideal allies. He could keep her safe, and she didn't have to repay the kindness unless there was a very large issue.

She slowly nodded and wiped at her eyes, they were stinging like mad and she could only guess at how bad her makeup was. She still couldn't get over his ability to just... reach out and touch her though. People only did that in a harmful way, they only forced themselves to push her, or brush against her and laugh. She hated it when people touched her. However when he did it wasn't too bad, it was comforting, and kind. She knew he really did only mean the best. How anyone could exist, she had no idea.

"Thank you... Allies sounds like a good thing." She said with a small smile, wiping her eyes again and struggling to pull back on her Aurora face, one that didn't sob into a boy's chest. She could feel the gnawing fear that she'd be hearing about this tomorrow, that he'd be across the Great Hall, pointing and laughing as he pretended to sob, before going back to talking about her in harsh ways. She knew he wouldn't, but it was a fear all the same. 

"I think maybe I should go back to my common room though, and you should see your friends... more important then me anyway." She said with a shaky laugh, still attempting to rub the burn out of her eyes.

Something had gotten through to her, at least, and she nodded, beginning to compose herself. Ducky was exhausted from the effort but a comfortable smile remained fixed on his face because... that was what Ducky Baker did. He was the patron of all students, the saint of sinners. He smiled, he laughed, he accepted everyone as they were, even though he had to become a carefully constructed being to ensure that he was accepted in return. If that image were to be revealed for what he truly was - an uncertain bastard with nothing going for him but what he could produce, devoid of talents to ensure success - he would be doomed. Social suicide in the most spectaculr fashion.

Despite his own hidden darkness, he truly was happy to be able to help Aurora. She was obviously in need of it. She had a lot to figure out about herself and the world she was forced to live in; it was unfortunate that she had to do all her learning on the job. If he could be there for her every once in awhile just so she could properly grieve her doubts and failures, he was certain she would grow more and more confident that she could one day succeed.

When she agreed to the term of allies, he gave her a final hug. "Good," he whispered. His back was beginning to hurt so he stretched out, reveling in the pops and cracks that his joints made as they woke up from their brief hiatus. He began to crawl out of the fort, throwing the flap open for Aurora to follow, when she spoke up. He knew a dismissal when he heard one - despite the addon at the end, he knew she truly did need time to herself.

Ducky grinned at her. "My friends are all in class still. They're not cool like us." He blinked. "Besides, allies are top of my priority list." He grinned that lopsided grin, before stretching once again. "However, I should use this time to my advantage and further my education by flirting with the librarian." He held out a hand to help her out. "I'll see you later?"