Male Bonding Time ((Bryce))

[Luke Dallan H7]

((OOC- Sorry that the title is so stupid. It was all that I could think of at the moment.))

Luke shivered as a blast of cold wind blew across his face, making the ends of his hair stick up. His yellow beanie almost flew off into the wind, but he caught in time. Securing the ends tightly under his chin, he continued to make his way up the steps to the Owlery. It wasn’t until early that morning when Luke had received exciting news. His brother had secured a spot for Luke to try out for his Quidditch team. It was an advance to most of the other players, but it gave Luke and head start into his future. Ever since he was old enough to pick up a quaffle, his father insisted on Luke going professional. He had the talent, and his father pushed him, soon allowing his other son to do the same. Luke didn’t mind it so much. It was what he wanted to. Mainly because he wanted people to know his know and have dolls after him. Now that he is older, it wasn’t anything like that. Luke wasn’t doing this for the fame or for his father, but because it was what he wanted. Or at least he thought. Almost slipping at the top of the steps, Luke quickly grabbed onto the railing. Holding himself steady, he sighed trying to calm his racing heart. Quickly making it up the last couple of steps, he entered the owlery. The smell of droppings and dust filled his nose as he spotted a barn owl on the railing. Whistling lightly, it flew down onto his arm holding out its leg. Luke attached his letter before letter the owl go. It screeched loudly, biting his hand briefly before flying out the window.

Grabbing his finger, Luke cursed silently to himself. Another girl had entered the owlery, chatting loudly with her friend. Stepping out of their way, he made his way down the steps and inside. Rolling his finger up in his shirt sleeves, Luke finally made it to the Hufflepuff common room where he gave the password to the portrait. His whole body was still aching from the cold, even in the warmth of the fires. Running up the steps to the boy’s dormitory he waved at a few boys who greeted him before entering the seventh year dorms. Noticing Bryce working on a potions project on the floor, Luke eyed him cautiously. “Should I be afraid of what you are trying to brew for Snape?” he asked unrolling his finger from his bloody sleeve. Sighing, he wiggled his finger as he opened the dresser for a clean shirt. Unbuttoning the buttons, he pulled out a bright orange sweater from the hanger. Letting the shirt fall to the ground, Luke pulled the new one over his head. Ruffling his messy hair, Luke picked the shirt off from the ground. “Do you remember any cleaning spells to get this stain out?” he asked Bryce showing his friend the end of the sleeve.

Sighing, he threw the shirt on top of his trunk before taking a seat on the ground next to the other boy. “Don’t tell me you have to test that potion….I’m not even going to let you use me as a guinea pig.” Shaking his head quickly, Luke looked across the room at their two cats playing it a large ball of yarn. “So how has everything been lately?”

[Bryce Alexander]

"Stir until the potion turns a warm shade of purple," Bryce muttered under his breath as he read from the book he was holding in one hand while swirling his wand above the mini cauldron as its components were spiraling beneath. "Not much of a purple colour as much as it is a magenta," he assessed with a frown. Just then, Luke entered the room, heading straight for his closet. Bryce glanced up and gave him a curious look as he changed shirts. "What the heck did you do?" he asked when Luke held out the blood-stained shirt. "Here," he said, taking the shirt from Luke. "Scourgif Anima," he muttered, holding the tip of his wand to the stained fabric. Instantly, the blood dried and was gone from the sleeve. "Can you tell I've had my fair share of wounds to clean up after?" he asked with a grin.

"Oh drats! My potion," Bryce said, when Luke informed him that he wasn't going to test it for him. "Don't worry, it's a sleeping potion, and I already tested it on Salem." Bryce was joking of course, but he smiled nonetheless. As he glanced over at the hyper cats, he added, "Doesn't look like it worked though."

Figuring it was as purple as it was going to get, Bryce bottled what was there and then cleaned up his mess. "Been having trouble sleeping for some reason, so I hoped this might help. Of course, I really should test it..." he said, trailing off before shrugging and setting the vile of potion beside his bed.

"Well... everything's been fine for me, I guess," he answered with a shrug. "Did I tell you about Brianna? She's getting married and moving to London at the end of this school year. She told me I should bring someone, and I haven't been able to decide who. I'd take you, but I think she meant that I should bring a girl." Bryce laughed; Luke probably didn't like weddings any more than he did. However, it was his twin, and so Bryce had to go. Of course a trip to Paris was always an adventure. Maybe I can convince her to let me bring three guests instead of one. And then you could bring..." Bryce had to catch himself. He was so used to Luke and Caitlin being together that he hadn't got used to them being apart yet. "... you could bring a girl," he finished, biting his lip.

"How are things with you?" he then asked, figuring Luke had known that Bryce had almost slipped and mentioned Caitlin. Lucky though, Bryce knew Luke wasn't the type to dwell on things though. He was more of a shrug it off and move on type person. In fact, Bryce hadn't even heard the whole story of Luke and Caitlin's break up, simply because Luke wasn't one to go around just blabbing things like that.

[Luke Dallan H7]

Luke sighed as he handed Bryce the stained shirt. “Owls aren’t exactly my friends. Actually…I’m not an animal person at all. The only animal I get along with is Salem,” Luke informed running his hands through his hair. Care of Magical Creatures class was his worst during his third year. Watching Bryce as he cleaned the stain from the sleeve, Luke recited the charm in his head for future use. Taking the shirt back, Luke folded it nicely, tucking it safely away in his trunk. Bryce had hurried off to his potion before it began to bubble over. Grabbing a pillow off from the bed, Luke laid himself out across the floor, his head buried within the fabric. His face was still rosy red from the autumn wind. Luke closed his eyes for a second before jumping up as Bryce said he tested the potion on his cat. Glancing over at the black cat across the room, Luke examined the feline’s body. “You could have killed him or turned him into a mountain lion!” Looking over his shoulder at Bryce, Luke shook his head as he buried his back into the pillow. “Why are you using my cat for testing?” Luke mumbled turning his head to his cheek was resting on the cotton. “How about we test your potion on that weird fifth year who collects bugs? His name is Jamie right?” Grinning as another person came to mind, Luke lifted his head slightly above the pillow. “Or better yet, how about Chris?”

Snorting at the idea of Chris turning purple or just passing out in the corridor, Luke rested his head back onto the pillow. Bryce was brilliant at brewing potions and Luke was always telling him that he could consider opening a shop to sell various antidotes. “Well you’re off most of the night patrolling,” Luke added nodding his head. Every time Luke looked over at his friend four poster bed at night, it was empty. Well, ok, not every night, but almost four times a week. “You know what? I’ll personally push aside all my worries to test your sleeping potion tonight.” Grinning, Luke listened to Bryce as he continued to explain about Brianna’s wedding. Paris? Luke had never been to Paris. The only place he had ever visited was Germany when his mother was still alive. When Bryce almost brought up Caitlin, Luke’s face fell slightly. He missed hanging out with her, but she needed her space. Being a relationship wasn’t something she needed at the time. “Yeah…I’ll go up to some random girl in the hall and say, ‘Hey my best friend’s sister is having a weeding. Would you be my date?’” Laughing at the idea, Luke shook his head as he turned to look at his friend. “It’s really great though that she’s getting married. You can see her all the time now once she moves to London…unless you want to live in another part of England.”

There was a moment of silence in Luke’s mind as Bryce asked him how everything was. “Things could be better, but there all right,” he answered shortly, fluffing the pillow with his hands. “My dad wants me to work with The Appleby Arrows Quidditch during break, which means it will be consumed with Quidditch.” Sighing, Luke fiddled with the zipper of the case. Luke loved his father, but he hated how he pushed him so hard, and Ryder wasn’t any help. If professional Quidditch was a career that he wanted to pursue then there wouldn’t be any breaks. Anyway, it would be good. Quidditch was always relaxing, and would take his mind off of life. “So I’ve seen you around with Ashley Hill. Want to tell me the story behind that?”

[Bryce Alexander]

Bryce laughed out loud at Luke's suggestion to use the sleeping potion on Chris. He had never taken the time to really get to know Chris, but the mere fact that he seemed to be a punk interested in nothing more than himself made the idea quite appealing. Bryce wasn't one to cause trouble though, and as much as Chris Crawford seemed to get under his skin, the sleeping potion would likely have to go untested, meaning that Bryce would simply have to trust his own brewing skills.

"Well, if you want a good sleep, your free to give it a try." Bryce knew Luke was the type that would take him up on the offer. He was rather confident though that, even if the potion wasn't completely accurate, it wasn't enough to cause any harm. If anything, it might just make Luke sleep in through his morning classes, not like that wouldn't be the first time that had happened.

When Bryce had slipped with almost using Caitlin's name instinctively, Luke made light of the situation, giving a joke like normal. Bryce liked that aspect about him. People who were so uptight about everything tended to get on Bryce's nerves. "You could take Weetz," he said with a shrug, figuring that would solve his problem of having to chose between Weetz and Ash for someone to take. He nodded when Luke mentioned that it was good that Brianne would be moving closer to Bryce.

"Appleby Arrows?" Bryce questioned with a teasing tone of disappointment. "If you are going professional, you might as well try making it on a team that is decent. Falmouth is looking for someone to fill the Keeper position." He wasn't really sure what position was Luke's specialty, as Bryce had always admired his overall talent for Quidditch. It seemed he'd be good for any position, which was why Bryce had constantly given him a hard time for never going out for the house team. Luke had his reasons though, and Bryce respected them.

"Ashley?" Bryce questioned, a guilty grin spreading on his face. There was no use trying to side step the topic. Luke knew him too well, and it was probably best that Bryce talked about it with someone anyways. "Honestly... I don't really know," he said, walking over to his bed and jumping stomach-down onto it while facing Luke. "She's a great girl, but I know that she and Weetzie don't get along at all. It kind of sucks though, because I want to be able to be friends with both of them. Well, yeah, I mean, friends, or maybe something more than friends, but truth is I can't really figure out what I want from either of them." Bryce sighed before taking a pillow and resting it under his chest. "That sounds terrible... I know; like I am seeing what I can get out of their friendships. But you know what I mean? I can't figure out what I want between myself and either of them. And, I feel that if I have to choose, or if I make a wrong move, that I might ruin it with one of them. I don't want to do that either."

[Luke Dallan H7]

Luke turned his head to the side, his cheek resting against the pillow as his eyes watched Bryce. It would be rather interesting if they slipped the potion into Chris’s meal. “You know,” he began, a mischievous glint sparkling in his eyes as he turned on his side. “I could make this full out plan with steps, diagrams - everything!” Grinning at the thought, Luke waited for a moment before shaking his head. “Nah - never mind. That will take up too much time, and you know how lazy I can be.” Chuckling at his words, Luke rested his chin back down on the white cotton. Luke was a lazy, and he admitted it. Though, there were sometimes when he buckled down, and got things done, but that was only when he waited until the very last moment. Turning over on his head, Luke stared up at the ceiling, his mind racing with any homework assignments that were due anytime soon. All that he could recall were a couple in the next two days, but he probably wouldn’t get to them until tomorrow. Hearing Bryce accept his offer to try the potion, Luke tilted his head toward his friend. “Really?” he questioned, his eyes shifting upon the Potion book wondering if he should get up to read about it. “You know me. I will love any excuse to get out of morning classes. If I take it tonight then….I’ll miss History of Magic!” All of a sudden Luke’s eyes lit up with excitement. He hated that course, and didn’t understand what state of mind he was in when he continued with it. “Just remind me to take some tonight, alright?”

The subject soon changed to Quidditch, as Bryce questioned his inquiry to join the Appleby Arrows. Luke had heard of the rumor of the Falmouth Falcons seeking a player for the Keeper position. “I remember hearing about that. Didn’t their last keeper retire, or got hurt? You’re the Falcon’s number one fan.” Shaking his head, Luke grinned at the thought. He felt obligated to try out for the Appleby Arrows. After all, it was what his brother had been training him for since his fourth year. “I’ll stick with the Appleby Arrows. They could probably do better once I get on the team.” Luke advert his gaze to the floor wondering if his statement sounded a little too cocky. He knew he was good at the sport, but not to a point where he boosted about it. “Have you thought about trying out? I think you could make it, Bryce, Especially if it’s a beater position.” Nodding his head, Luke offered his friend an encouraging smile, wondering if Bryce would go for the idea. His friend did have talent, but maybe there was something else that he wanted to do with his life.

Luke’s eyebrow rose slightly at Bryce’s questioning tone once he asked about Ashley. There was a moment of silence as Luke repositioned himself on the floor. Leaning up against the side of the bed, he watched his friend, listening attentivtely. It sounded like Bryce was in a juncture point of his life. “It all sounds complicated, Bryce,” Luke began nodding his head as he grabbed the pillow, dragging it across the floor to his lap. “Girls are just confusing.” Picking a piece of blonde hair from the white cotton, Luke flicked it away. “Have you ever thought of Weetzie as more than a friend? Lets start there first.”

[Bryce Alexander]

Bryce rolled his eyes at Luke’s enthusiasm to take the sleeping potion. Only Luke would agree to it on such terms as being able to sleep through History of Magic. “Your not taking any tonight because there is no way that I will be able to stay away during History of Magic without you to keep me entertained. Didn’t I tell you about that one class that you skipped? I think I fell asleep like five times, and if it weren’t for the girl behind me laughing ever time my head bobbed forward as I fell asleep, I wouldn’t have woken up each time.” Bryce laughed though and wondered if Luke really would take the potion. It would have been nice to test it, but Bryce was not going to rely on his best friend to have to do that. If anything, Bryce would test it so that he could get out of History of Magic. He was a prefect though, which always made him feel guilty for doing such things. He was quite honoured to have been selected in his fifth year, but sometimes it felt like a curse. Sometimes Bryce felt as though he was obligated to achieving perfection, no matter how much he reminded himself that perfection could not be achieved in life.

“Not only am I their number one fan, I’m their number two, three, and four, fan as well,” Bryce replied with a smile. Luke explained that he would still try out for the Arrows, which was fine with Bryce. No matter what team Luke was on, Bryce knew he’d support him. “Don’t expect me to just up and abandon my numbers 1-4 best fan positions though,” Bryce added with a laugh. “The Arrows crowd are a bit loony if you ask me.” He figured Luke knew he was kidding. Although Bryce would remain true to the Falcons, he knew it wouldn’t hurt to pick up a second team. After all, it wasn’t like the Falcons were unbeatable. They had their bad streaks, and it was then in his frustration with them that Bryce would probably be happy to have a second team to be able to root for.

“Me tryout?” Bryce had thought about it before, and perhaps he was good enough, but he wasn’t sure if he was that good. He loved Quidditch too, but there was something about it that made him skeptical to pursue it as his job. Perhaps in a few years he might give it a go. He was still young, and even if starting out young was quite the benefit, Bryce wasn’t quite sure what he wanted in life. He was having enough trouble as it was just keeping his relationships in check. “I’ve considered. Perhaps I may someday, but I dunno.” He shrugged his shoulders, inwardly thankful that Luke thought he was good enough to tryout. Bryce loved Quidditch and played fairly well, but not many people ever commented that he was great or anything. Maybe Luke was just saying it as a friend, but it was nice of him nonetheless.

“Complicated is only the beginning," Bryce said with a huff. Before he realized it, Luke was delving into some more serious issues, and Bryce couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the thought that they were having a chat about relationships. Bryce and Luke didn't talk about their love lives that often, probably because Bryce had never been one to have any sort of serious relationship. He was always just innocently flirtatious at heart. He saw it more as being friendly, really. But Luke had asked him a serious question, one that was quite complicated in all truth. "Well, yeah. Kind of... I think." Bryce's answer probably left more questions than it helped. "I don't know... really. I mean, we are more than friends as in just friends. But I don't know where our relationship really goes beyond that. It's kind of... confusing. Especially now that Ashley is in the mix." Bryce let out a long sigh before rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling of his four-poster bed. "What should I do, Luke?"

[Luke Dallan H7]

Luke yawned loudly as he cracked his knuckles against the hard wood flooring. It wasn’t even close to dinner time, and Luke was exhausted. That’s what classes did to a teenage boy. Cocking his head to the side, Luke stared up at Bryce as his friend spoke. He wasn’t going to take that sleeping potion tonight? Darn it. Luke really wanted an excuse to get out of History of Magic. Laughing when Bryce explained about the last class Luke skipped, he grinned, letting the back of his head rest fully on the pillow. “What would you do without me, Bryce?” Luke questioned, a teasing grin flashing across his face. Well it was true. Without Luke in any of Bryce’s classes, his best friend would most likely fall asleep. It was the same with Luke, but he managed to not wake up. The only class that they didn’t have together was Potions. Bryce didn’t have to not worry about falling asleep in that class it was all hands on techniques, especially since the Professor Snape was quite scary. Yes; Luke Dallan was afraid of the head of Slytherin, but who wasn’t? “Alright, but you promise to let me take it tomorrow night? Since you have potions early on Thursdays?” Snickering Luke closed his eyes as he let his body relax on the floor. He loved sleeping on the floor, especially hard wood. “I will be a good best friend and attend this class just for you Bryce. Please remind me why we continued on with History of Magic? Professor Binns is beyond boring.” Nodding, Luke couldn’t help but want to throw imamates objects through the ghost. He was close to doing that during the class period, wondering if the Professor would notice, but Luke didn’t feel like going through another detention. His hands were still sore from polishing all the box cases in the library.

“I don’t think I know any other Falmouth Falcon fan than you, Bryce,” Luke spoke when Bryce said he wouldn’t abandon his one through fourth spot. “You can keep those slots. I’m still sticking with the Appleby Arrows.” Nodding Luke laughed hearing Bryce loony comment. “Well I heard the Falmouth crowds are just a bunch of prude people.” Squinting his face is thought, Luke laughed at his final product. What the heck was he trying to talk about? Oh well. Bryce probably knew what he meant, if not, then Luke was just flat out horrible at coming up with things on the spot. “I really do think you should try out for the Falcon’s, Bryce,” Luke finally inquired, hoping to turn the tables on his friend. “You have the talent that’s for sure.” Smiling, Luke looked over his shoulder at Bryce. Luke really wished he would take a risk and try out. Bryce was that kind of risk taker, but this was something that determined the rest of your future. “What else were you thinking of doing after Hogwarts, Bryce. It wouldn’t hurt to just audition. Anyway…don’t you want to be the next Quidditch icon?” Luke teased with a small smile. Fame didn’t matter to either of them, it was just the love the game, and if no one believed that, then they could think what they want. “Unless you thought of being a potion brewer or healer…but I wouldn’t want you to be fixing my broken bones.”

Laughing at his last comment, he stopped upon hearing Bryce’s confused words. His best friend really was in quite a rut. Listening intently, Luke nodded here and there, sighing as Bryce asked for his advice. “Want my opinion?” he asked sitting up from the ground, perched upon his elbows. “Girls are just too confusing and sometimes not even worth the chase.” Nodding, Luke sighed as he leaned up against the back of his bed, staring into Bryce’s bewildered face. “I think you should choose the girl that takes you to a completely another place when your with her; the girl who you can’t stop thinking about and when you see her your heart skips a beat. That’s the kind of girl to hold onto; that’s the kind of girl that you want to give all your love too.” Luke smiled slightly staring down at the ground. That sounded so trite. “Wow…god that sounded corny huh? But it’s true. Just listen to your heart. It will tell you what it wants.”

[Bryce Alexander]

"I might die without you," Bryce said sarcastically. Perhaps there was some truth in the statement. Luke kept Bryce sane, and Bryce pretty much did the same for Luke. Together, they were able to stay out of trouble and make life at Hogwarts interesting. Bryce still remembered when he met Luke during their first year. They had both changed so much since that time. They weren't the type of friends though that were constantly together. Luke was Bryce's best friend at Hogwarts, but they still lead their lives rather independently of one another. Bryce liked it that way though because it meant that they weren't always fighting like a lot of friends did after spending so much time together. Bryce and Luke were very similar in their personalities, which allowed them to get along quite well. When one was having a bad day, the other was there to cheer them up and vice versa. Mostly, their friendship consisted of joking and light-hearted talks. They usually didn't talk about deep subjects, but they were known to do so on occasion.

He gave Luke a joking grin as he finally agreed that he could take the potion. "You can have it tomorrow night, but if it kills you, don't come blaming me." Bryce laughed before listening to Luke continue on about Quidditch. "Yeah.... I dunno," he said, somewhat brushing off the topic. "A lot can happen by the end of the year." Bryce could have listed at least a dozen things that he wasn't sure of... Ashley and Weetzie being at the top of that list. "I might try out." Bryce knew he probably wouldn't, but there was a chance. "Plus, I'd rather be one of those prude fans than some Quidditch icon that all the little girls are constantly swooning over." Bryce did his best to imitate what a young girl might do when they saw a famous Quidditch player. "You really want to live with that the rest of your life?" Bryce was laughing pretty hard at his ridiculous impression.

"Love advice from Luke Dallan?" Bryce questioned with a teasing smile. Luke made very good points, but for Bryce, it wasn't that simple. He let out a sigh before packing up everything that he had out for making the potion. He was actually supposed to meet Ashley in a few minutes to work on some homework. Grabbing his books, he turned back to Luke and added before leaving to go meet Ashley, "And what if you're not sure if it's a place you're ready to go to?" he asked. Luke commented on how corny his advice had sounded, but Bryce simply shook his head. "No... it makes sense... but sometimes I just don't think that anything makes sense when given my situation. None of the rules really count, ya know?" There was no way Luke could know unless he was in Bryce's shoes and could feel the same confusion that Bryce felt. "Anyways, I'll catch you later, Luke. Don't even try to take that Potion!" With that, Bryce was out the door and on his way to meet Ashley.