I don’t know what brought him to my door that day, or at least, I didn’t when I answered it. Perhaps if I had, I wouldn’t have answered at all. No, I still would have. It was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Not that I minded. I had nothing on that morning anyway, except a couple of cartoons on the telly. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, Selwyn’s like a sunbeam. Or maybe a moonbeam, what with that lovely complexion of his. My point is that he just lights everything up, even when he’s pissed off. So no, I didn’t mind at all.
Still, I wasn’t about to give in easily. Well, truthfully, I didn’t know why he was there at first. How did he know where I lived? Even Monroe didn’t know where I lived.
At this point, I suspect I ought to set the scene. When I say morning, it was past ten o’clock. I hadn’t been sleeping, though I’d not been doing much of anything else. I wasn’t dressed when the bell rang.
Oh? You think I got dressed to answer it? Threw on a t-shirt? You don’t know me at all. Nothing like a half-naked man at the door to dissuade sales people. Though I like to flatter myself that at least some of the sales people might appreciate the view.
So yeah, here I am at the door, clad only in boxers and who should it be but Mister Trouble Incarnate himself. How interesting.
“Thorfinn,” I acknowleged him.
Selwyn’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, not that I blame him.
You can’t really share close quarters, especially not in the Slytherin boys’ dormitories, without learning a bit about your mates even if you’re trying not to (yeah, just because I swing both ways doesn’t mean I want an eyeful of everyone. Trust me, I surprise myself). So last time he saw me, I was in a lot better shape. Do you even know how much strength it takes to not only lift a girl over your head, but make it look completely effortless? It’s harder than quidditch, believe me.
Since then I’d got quite ill, though. Lost a lot of weight. That’ll happen if you refuse to eat. And for the record, it had nothing to do with my dancing. Bloody stereotypes.
I slouched against the doorframe to give him a moment to get over it, then went on.
“So, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
To his credit, Selwyn cut to the heart of the matter in a way only he ever would.
“What the fuçk happened to you?” he blurted.
Classy, Thorfinn. Real classy.
No but seriously, this is what makes the guy endearing. To me, anyway. He’ll be all cool and collected one moment then utterly clueless the next.
“Eating disorder.”
I like to think I said it with enough disinterest that he realised I wouldn’t be discussing the issue further. In any case, he did drop it.
“Can I come in?”
I shrugged, nudged the door open with a foot. The flat was a mess, but he’d just have to deal.
My place is pretty open plan, there’s a small hall that feeds directly into the kitchen and lounge area, but it was all very dark that day because I simply cannot abide opening the blinds before midday. So Selwyn was stumbling up the hallway behind me, cursing as he came.
“This place is a pigsty,” he complained. “Do you ever actually wash your clothes?”
I turned as I reached the lounge room, looked at him in mock horror.
“I’m insulted. You clearly haven’t been paying attention to my fabulous dress sense if you think I can just go around washing my clothes. They’re dry clean only.”
I managed to scrouge my wand from the beneath the couch cushions and levitated some of the more offensive mess to the corner of the room where I’d sort through it later.
“Have you seen Mary Poppins?” I asked, but didn’t wait for the answer, secure in the knowledge that he probably had. “There needs to be a spell for cleaning up like in that film.”
“I’m pretty sure that was supposed to be some kind of moral,” Selwyn replied, sitting on the newly cleared sofa. “About how much you’re supposed to enjoy doing chores.”
“I wonder what house elves do,” he went on dreamily. “They’re always saying they like the work, but it comes out sounding like so much brainwashing.”
I was just staring at him. Pretty sure he didn’t come over to chide me about my standard of living and blather on about house elves.
“Selwyn,” I perched on the adjacent couch, hoping my use of his first name would get his attention. “Why are you here?”
“Not sure yet,” he replied far too easily, in that same tone as before. “Gotta ask a favour, but I’m not sure which.”
Now, Selwyn Thorfinn is not the most forthcoming person on the planet. It was never like he tried to hide anything, he simply didn’t bring certain subjects up if they were just as easily avoided. Under normal circumstances, there was no way he would have just up and told me even that much.
“Come ‘ere,” I insisted, acting on instinct to tug him from the couch and drag him across to the still shaded windows.
I pushed the curtains aside and took him by the jaw so I could maneuver his face into the light.
“Open your eyes,” I slapped his cheek softly as he squinted into the brightness.
“Bloody hell,” I whispered.
Those stormy grey eyes had gone a colour not seen in nature. Slightly lighter than my own but brighter and somehow it almost seemed like they were glowing. I’d have kissed him right then and there if he hadn’t been as high as a kite.
“What the fuçk did you take?”
Look, I’m aware of how ironic it is that I was so angry, considering some of my own habits. Selwyn and I weren’t even really friends, but I was attracted to him and the idea of something happening to him frightened me more than I’d have been happy to admit at the time.
“Nothing!” Selwyn giggled and shook his head violently. “Hardly anything at all.”
Then he leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“Promise.”
Lord have mercy. The veela was flirting with me. Oh, don’t give me that shite about him only being part veela. I of all people should know about genetics, and that’s what it comes down to in the end.
I knew from personal experience that it was not only possible but really probable he was doing it on purpose. Once the drugs got into your system, life suddenly seemed so much simpler and almost everything was a good idea.
Which is why I took him by the shoulders and guided him back to the couch. Sure, the flirting was intentional, but there was no knowing whether he was acting on actual desire or just some passing whim.
“At least tell me where you got it,” I cajoled him. “If you can tell me the dealer at least I’ll know it’s safe.”
Selwyn shook his head again and put a finger to his lips.
“Keith,” he said a moment later. “Got it years ago. Never had a reason to try before.”
“Oh? You got a reason now then?” I asked, curiosity overwhelming me.
“Mmm-hmm,” he hummed agreement, suddenly pulling me closer so we both toppled over with him ending up beneath me. “Don’t wanna think about it.”
I pushed him away and luckily Selwyn allowed it. If he’d clung on I doubt I’d have had the strength to force the issue. Now I had ammunition.
“Tell me, and I’ll let you kiss me,” I suggested.
He giggled again.
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” he replied coyly. “Might make Kaiden jealous.”
I have to confess, it only shocked me for a moment. It didn’t surprise me the Order would be shadowing someone with known Death Eater links. If anything, I ought to be surprised we hadn’t been outed yet.
“And how do you know about him?” I asked neverthless.
“Hayes watches after Addie and I love Addie, but she won’t let me court her ‘cause she’s married.”
Am I a total sap for thinking the way he sighed her name was sweet, even while he tried to seduce me? I am, aren’t I?
“You’re the one who put that idea about the annulment in her head,” I surmised. “Kaiden’s parents were really put out by that.”
“Good! So they should be!” he exclaimed.
“Don’t see why they can’t just let her go,” he added a moment later.
“You and I both,” I agreed with a nod. “Is that why you’re here, then? To commiserate over our mutual heartache?”
Selwyn’s face lit up with that sly grin I remembered. The one he used to get when he thought he’d come up with a particularly cunning plan.
“Commiserate? More like comfort,” he corrected me.
His words settled in my mind, sweetly tempting, and as I mused over them, it really didn’t seem like such a bad idea. After all, it was just the two of us here in my darkened flat. Nobody ever need know.
“Did you just zap me?” I asked sharply.
Well, I had just spent the last twenty minutes concientiously keeping my hands off the guy. Weird how all of a sudden I was overcome by the urge to jump him.
“Maaaybe,” Selwyn replied. “You’re clever. Most people wouldn’t have caught on.”
“Or you’re just so out of it, you’ve lost your edge,” I shot back. “Don’t do that again.”
“Oh, come on!” he pouted.
I mean, he literally pouted. Lower lip jutting out like a ski jump. You can see why I think he’s cute.
“I swear god is punishing me. If I don’t use it I’m never gonna get laid.”
“That’s what this is all about?” I was startled. “Selwyn, I would fuçk you in a minute if you just asked. But not while you’re off your head on Spice.”
by Shylock Ashcroft Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:57 pm
