Life Goes On ((Brantley))

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine yawned tiredly as she opened up her shoulder bag. Classes had been out for at least an hour, but Jasmine didn’t have any homework to work on. This week had been quite easy, well because most of her essays were given a week in advance. Taking the horse magazine with a white envelope attached to it, she set it inside of the bag. Her aunt always sent Jasmine a horse magazine every month attached with a letter about what was going on at home. Last month she had read that Jasper, her horse, has been acting weird and that Erin had put him on stall rest. Jasper was only twenty six, but quite old for a horse. He was her mothers before she died, and Jasmine learned how to ride on him. A dreadful thought flashed through her mind? What if he was getting to the point where he could die? Jasmine didn’t know what she would do if that ever happened. It was bound too, but she just wasn’t ready to accept that. Losing a animal that you’ve grown up with and then they just disappear one day was like losing a part of your heart. Shaking her head at the thought, Jasmine pulled on a fleecy black sweatshirt. It was still cold outside that someone could catch a cold if you weren’t properly dressed. Zipping the bag back up, she swung the strap over her shoulder and left the common room to the courtyard.

Before long, Jasmine was sitting down on a bench with a magazine out and opened on her lap. She was reading an article on how old horses could help beginner’s more than younger horses. It was true. There were a couple girls in her barn that bought eight year old horses and didn’t have the greatest experience on top of their backs. Looking up from the magazine, she noticed a group of Slytherin boys about her age with a little first year. She watched for a few moments until finally the youngest student had his books dropped out of his hands. Setting the magazine down, she made her way toward the group. Jasmine was prefect, and it was her duty to make sure everyone was behaving. Once she reached them, Jasmine bent down and picked up the books for the boy. Smiling at him while handing it to him, she turned him around, watching as he left. Once he was in safe distance she turned back toward the boys. “Wow. You know that’s really low that you have to pick on someone who’s at least four years younger then you. Does it make you feel better to know to make someone younger then you scared?” she said with a glare turning back around toward the bench ignoring their rude comment.

Sitting back down, she picked the magazine up and opening it to where she had left off. Crossing her legs, Jasmine’s foot tapped in the air completely unaware that the group of boys was right in front of her. She ignored everything they were saying. It wasn’t that she couldn’t stand up for her self, Jasmine just believed in ignoring people like that and they would eventually go away. Jasmine had learned that with her cousin’s friend, and she didn’t feel like getting in argument. Turning the page of the magazine it was soon torn out of her grasps. Glaring up at him she stood up trying to take it back. “That’s really mature of you. If you think you’re going to get a rise out of me its wrong,” she said trying to get the magazine back but she couldn’t reach it. “Can’t reach it Little Ms. Goody-two-shoes prefect?” Jasmine glared at him and was about to say something when she saw someone else come up toward them.

[Brantley Chapman R7]

Brantley crossed his t’s and dotted his i’s before blowing the ink gently on the parchment. Once the ink was substantially dry, Brantley rolled it and wrapped a ribbon around it. Slipping it onto the holder on Leonardo’s foot, Brantley pressed his thumb on the owl’s head and whispered, “Hurry home and Godspeed.” The owl hooted and flew off. The holder in which Brantley had placed the parchment was his own design and product. Too many letters had been lost by just tying them to Leonardo’s foot. So, while suffering a night of insomnia, Brantley came up with the idea of a very light, very protective, carrying case. He had one for Leonardo, as his mother had one for Monet. As Brantley watched the retreating figure of Leonardo, he closed his eyes and sent another silent prayer to God. Please, let my mother live. He opened his eyes and turned from the window, not really certain if his letter would even get to his mother in time. He would know if it didn’t reach her, though, and he would be greatly disappointed. “Do not fail me, Leonardo.” Brantley muttered under his breath as he made his way down the owlery stairs and to the entrance level.

As he walked through the corridors, Brantley kept his mind focused on the pressing subject at hand. People moved out of his way as he continued to walk in one direction. They knew better than to slam into Brantley. He wouldn’t do anything and that would be the only reason to slam into him, to get his attention. The letter he had just sent his mother was one of great importance, one that she needed to read. A letter that had important information about his father’s death. The death they thought was an accident, appeared to be anything but. Brantley sighed as he turned right and made his way toward the Ravenclaw common room. He was about to make his way up the staircase when something crossed his line of vision. Brantley paused in his steps and turned to watch the scene unfolding before him in the Courtyard. Jasmine Anderson, the girl Ravenclaw prefect for his year, was helping a younger student and then returned to the bench. Only to then be the target of their ridicule. Brantley sighed and his gaze shifted to the staircase to his right. He couldn’t just walk away. It had always been a weakness of his, he had always helped someone when they needed it.

Brantley stepped out into the sunshine and made his way over to the bench where they were. Without a word, he plucked the magazine from the boy’s hand easily. “Now, now boys,” Brantley stated with a smirk on his face as he handed the magazine to Jasmine, “perhaps you should work on your charming techniques. Girls don’t usually go for the being bullied pick up technique.” Brantley crossed his arms then and raised an eyebrow. They stared at him a moment and then turned before running off. He didn’t say anything until they were out of sight, and then with a shake of his head he muttered something under his breath. They were sad excuses for guys, and Brantley knew it. Hopefully, Jasmine wasn’t like most other girls and thought all guys that way. Brantley turned to look at Jasmine and sent her a smile. Jasmine was a pretty girl, although on the introverted side. Then again, Brantley was like that too. Not many people knew much about Jasmine, at least, not from what Brantley picked up in the halls. Apparently, Jasmine had found a way to stay out of the gossip that circled the halls, and Brantley admired her for that.

“Sorry for stepping in like that, but I hate guys who do that. They are the scars on the face of what real gentlemen are.” Brantley motioned to the empty spot beside Jasmine, “May I?” He asked politely, perhaps Jasmine would distract his mind from all the cynical thoughts rushing through.

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine bit the bottom of her lip watching as Brantley came up to them. He took the magazine right out of the guy’s hand telling them they had to work on their charming technique. Reframing herself from laughing, she watched the group of boys run away. Was there honestly really a book for boys that explained how to charm different girls with different personalities? If there was, then there just had to be one for girls. Wait, there might be. The girls guide to flirting. Jasmine never really cared to flirt. She just talked to guys, but that could the reason why guys thought of her more as a friend than something more. Looking back at Brantley she smiled at him as he handed her the magazine back. “Thank you,” Jasmine said, rolling the magazine up slightly. “Some guys are such jerks,” she began taking a seat back down on the bench. When Brantley asked to sit down, she nodded her head. “Go ahead. It’s the least I can do after you sent those guys running.” Smiling as Jasmine crossed her legs, she looked in the boy’s direction. “What exactly makes a guy a gentleman?” she asked tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Jasmine knew some traits that made a guy really gentlemen-like. Though, there were only just a few out there who fit that description. Brantley was only one of the few.

Rolling the magazine back up Jasmine waited for an answer. She really didn’t know him all too well. The only thing she knew was that he was a sixth year and was quite intelligent. If she remembered correctly, a lot of the girls liked him and Jasmine could see why. He had the whole dark, good looks thing down with charm. Girls went crazy for that type. Though, Jasmine wasn’t the kind who got sucked into guy’s charm. Maybe she was immune to it. Shrugging at her thoughts, she opened the magazine back up to the table of contents. There was another article about how to keep warm for both the rider and horse in the winter. It was horrible feeling to go riding and your toes felt like they were going to fall of. Thank goodness for toe warmers. “Am I all that much of a goody two shoes?” she asked remembering that one of the Slytherin guys called her that. She did admit that, but it was who she was. “It’s not like I’m any teachers pet or anything….I don’t know.” Jasmine sighed offering Brantley a small smile.

“Oh, sorry, I’m Jasmine, though most people called me Jazz,” she said knowing he probably already knew her. “You’re Brantley right? There was a paint horse at my barn with that name. Moved away when its owner got a better job offering teaching in another stables,” she said laughing slightly at her reference to horses. “But your not a horse, just someone with a horse I know name.”

[Brantley Chapman R7]

“Not all guys are jerks, though. Some of them are real gentlemen who want nothing more but for the woman he loves to be happy.” Brantley replied with a smile. He shrugged as if to say that it wasn’t something that was found rarely. Perhaps not in his world, but Brantley was raised to be a perfect gentleman. Brantley took the seat beside Jasmine and sighed a small and contented sigh, his blue eyes scanning the courtyard. His gaze returned to Jasmine as she asked him what exactly made a guy a gentleman. It was a good question and one that could be answered in many ways, but the only thing he knew that mattered was the one thing he was going to tell her. “Honesty, is the simplest form of being a true gentleman. Girls like honesty, they like being told the truth to… not lied to. If a guy knows how to be honest, a guy can get a lot of girls to respect him and possibly one to even love him.” It was the purest form of gentlemanship and it was the purest form of any strong foundation for a relationship. You didn’t need to be a master at riddles to understand that bit of logic. Brantley gave Jasmine a look as if to say that was the key to everything, which he believed it was, and then looked down at the magazine in her hands.

He recognized the magazine well, having his own collection of copies at the house in Cambridge. Brantley smiled in secrecy and leaned back a bit on the bench, his hands interlocked and behind his neck. There was a slight silence and Brantley took this time to think about what he knew about Jasmine Anderson. She was in his house and year, so they were in the same classes for six years. She was a horse lover, much like himself, but was probably much more experienced with them than he was. Brantley also recalled that she could sing and play the piano, and that her best friend was Vanessa Bauer; a girl Brantley had met before while she was practicing some of her own songs. There wasn’t much else Brantley could remember, so he knew he would have to get to know her. He brought himself back to the moment just in time to catch Jasmine asking him if she were really a goody two shoes. Brantley raised an eyebrow and then tilted his head in thought, “Well, I don’t know. That phrase has always bothered me. ‘Goody two shoes.’ Isn’t having two shoes something good? And if it’s good then why would it be bad? I don’t think you are, but I don’t think you’re a rebel either. If you are a goody two shoes, though, perhaps it isn’t a bad thing, but a good thing rather and that is something you should remember; not what those sad excuses for the male sex think.” Brantley figured it was a safe answer; always go with a safe answer. Do not express complete opposition and do not express complete agreement.

Jasmine then introduced herself, while telling him that her friends called her Jazz. Brantley offered a small smile at that, he wouldn’t call her anything but Jasmine he was sure. He nodded his head when she asked if he was Brantley. Many people knew him, even those who didn’t like him. Jasmine was talking about a horse now, and Brantley laughed as she said he wasn’t a horse but a human with a horse’s name. He nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, “I might as well have been named after a horse. Horses are my mother’s passion. She used to own twelve horses, but things got hectic and she couldn’t take care of them any longer. She sold every single one but two. Newton and Galileo are mine and my sister’s horses, she couldn’t bare to sell those.” Brantley smiled softly, knowing that he just got into a conversation that Jasmine could speak forever about.

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine stared at Brantley as he spoke abut not all guys were jerks. He was right, but even the most gentlemen like man had his jerk moments. Things were always different in relationship. That was why couples always looked so happy, because they were with someone who could brighten their day. “Does that also mean your trying to find someone to love as well?” she replied to his deep comment. Biting her lip as the question might seem a little to bold, she laughed to cover it up. “Sorry. It’s just….you don’t hear that often.” Running her hands through her dark hair, Jasmine turned her gaze to look around the courtyard. There were only a few students out, talking in large groups or just enjoying the cold, yet sun filled day. She listened to Brantley’s answer on what he thought was gentlemen like. Honesty. It was required even in a friendship and relationship and she could see how that made a guy a gentleman. Though, being honest wasn’t always the best thing. “Honesty isn’t always a good thing. If a girl asks you if they looked fat in a pair of jeans, would you say yes and make her feel horrible?” Jasmine turned her gaze back on him seeing that look that he really meant what he said. Returning the smile she spoke, “Opening a door for a girl and letting her in before you is one thing and also pulling out a chair for her. It's just the little things that will make a girl happy. Even if the guy doesn't think it matters." That was a no brainier to know. Girl's just simply loved romance.

Noticing that Brantley had been looking at her magazine, she saw a secret smile on his face. Her eyebrow rose slightly at him. What did he have to hide? Shrugging, Jasmine looked back down at the magazine in her lap. There was silence between them as her hazel eyes scanned over the cartoon drawings of horses. The magazine always had cute little cartoon horses in it, and even four squares of funny comics. Out of the six pictures, Jasmine liked the one of a girl on top of a horse with her hands and feet glowing with warmth. The pair was outside in the snow. Luckily, her barn had an indoor arena where she could ride. Riding in the snow wasn’t the best idea. A horse could slip and fall on an icy patch, which can be fatal to both the rider and horse. Jasmine’s mind was always thinking about horses. Why was she so obsessed? Hearing Brantley talk about being a goody two shoes, she laughed. “Your right yet again, wouldn’t want to go anywhere without two shoes on,” she began looking in his direction, her hazel eyes full of interest. “Who comes up with names like that anyway?”

Grinning when Brantley laughed at her comment she listened as he talked about horses. No way. There were at least two guys at Hogwarts who liked horses, and Brantley seemed to know that she could talk about them forever. “There are one three guys that I know who like horses. One is Will, the second is my riding instructor David, and you,” she said, her grin never fading. “I guess you can say horses are my life. There probably one of the only things I know that fill me up with such great happiness and love….” She rambled on stopping herself. “No you’re going to have to make me ask you all certain different horse questions.” There was a twinkle of interest in her eyes as she uncrossed her legs. “Tell me about these horses and yourself.”

[Brantley Chapman R7]

Brantley couldn’t help but grin at Jasmine’s question and then her apology. He waved it off; after all he might have asked the same type of question if he had been her. “Aren’t we all looking for love? It’s probably the one thing everyone has in common. Well, perhaps not Buddhist monks. But most of the usual people want to find someone to love and someone to love them.” Brantley smiled lopsidedly at Jasmine with a small shrug. It was something that Brantley was raised on. He knew that the greatest thing in the world was to love and be loved in return and he was fortunate enough to believe it. He watched Jasmine a moment and then sighed before shaking his head, “And it wasn’t a problem for you to ask me. I have been asked far worse questions and yours was at the bottom of the pile.” People tended to ask personal questions, thinking it was alright. Of course, Brantley never pushed them away and told them to go away. He answered their questions and gave them a polite reminder that questions such as those shouldn’t be asked unless you were very familiar with the person being asked. People would humor him and then laugh at him when his back was turned, but Brantley would roll it off his shoulders. It was the price to pay to be a good guy at Hogwarts. Especially with all that was going on.

“Oh, come now, Jasmine. Honesty is always the best bet. It’s how you put the answer to that question that can be tricky. For instance, I would say the truthful answer of, ‘You look stunning in whatever you wear, regardless if you wear anything. All you should care about is how your smile looks because that is the best part of any ensemble you wear.’” Brantley let that sink in a moment and then nodded. He would most definitely say that, and unlike most guys, he would mean it, too. That was one thing that was different between Brantley and most of the guys at Hogwarts. He was sincere with his compliments and answers. Brantley didn’t know why it was so hard for guys to be honest to the girls, or to at least give them a sincere compliment. It was as if that was harder than passing your apparating test. Perhaps, to some it was, but that shouldn’t mean that they can’t try. Brantley was often appalled at how the girls were treated at Hogwarts, and maybe that was why he positioned himself in the slot of protector. Although he knew that some girls didn’t like that, Brantley couldn’t help it. If a girl didn’t like how he helped her to her feet or saved her from Slytherins, she could tell him and Brantley would make his apology. No harm, no foul. “Au contraire, mademoiselle.” Brantley spoke with an impeccable French accent, “The guy should always know what makes the love of his life, or even his date for the night, happy. Even the little things.” It was simple logic, logic that even the dimmest of guys should know.

Brantley simply shrugged when Jasmine asked who came up with the names like ‘goody two shoes.’ “Perhaps someone very clever or someone who knew that things would be construed in different ways, but that someone with intelligence would figure their true meaning.” He gave her another charming smile and then turned his attention to the courtyard once more. He closed his blue eyes to the sunlight and let the warmth tingle his skin. When Jasmine started to speak about horses a silent smile crossed Brantley’s face and he opened his right eye in order to look at her. “I think I can live with that,” he said when she told him she had to ask all kinds of questions now. She then told him to tell her about the horses and himself. “Well, Newton is my horse. He’s a beautiful white Andalusian and is 17. I’ve had him since I was old enough to ride. My sister, Ellie, has a Hanoverian and Galileo is 10. Ellie was able to pick out her horse when she began to ride, and with the help of Mother, she made a good choice. Especially since she does equestrian competitions. I don’t know much about that, I’m not the expert. Newton is more of my companion than he is my show horse. Don’t get me wrong, Galileo and Ellie are inseparable, but for some reason I doubt Newton would like me pushing him as much as Ellie pushes Galileo. Galileo tends to understand Ellie does it for the good in both of them.” Brantley stopped talking about them before he actually went on a tangent as he was known to often do. Ellie was a good rider, and he knew that even if he didn’t compete.

“As for me, now that’s a more difficult question.” He smiled softly and opened both of his eyes so he could look at her fully. “As you could probably already tell, I have a younger sister, Ellie. She’s 14, but she doesn’t go to Hogwarts. We pay extra for her to attend Beauxbatons, I’m not sure why though. My father died when I was 13 and so it’s been just us and Mother for four years now.” Brantley knew his eyes told Jasmine there was much more to his story, but he wasn’t going to tell her just yet. He smiled again, his eyes locking on hers, “Now, tell me about you and your horses.”

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine gazed at Brantley as he spoke about everyone wanting to find love. So he was trying to find someone, but how come he didn’t have a girlfriend at the current moment? Any girl could honestly go head over hells for him, that didn’t mean Jasmine was going to. It was just weird how she didn’t have many crushes. She thought of some guys as attractive, but nothing more, and she was certain she liked guys. Jasmine sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair again. “What if someone isn’t looking for love?” she asked, her eyes never leaving his face. “Maybe their just so wrapped up in their lives and everyone around them, that they don’t know what they want? What kind of advice would you offer them?” Biting her bottom lip, she looked away from him, her gazing watching a group of girl’s talking. Who honestly wasn’t looking for love? She didn’t know anyone who would reject waning to be loved by someone who they loved. It was logical that someone would want that, unless they had commitment issues. “So, do you believe in love at first sight? Soul mates? Fate? Stuff like that.” Turning her head back at Brantley, a gentle smile crossed her lips. Jasmine legs crossed again in a different style as she wondered what kind of other questions Brantley got asked. With raised eyebrows, Jasmine began to roll up the magazine again. It made silent crumbling noises with each twist. “What kind of personal questions would people ask you?” Jasmine questioned, quite interested. “Nothing like with how many girlfriends you’ve had. Or, even the color of your underwear?”

Stopping the constant twisting motion of her magazine, Jasmine smiled brightly at his answer. He truly was one of a kind, though if the guy was smart enough, he would say no. “That’s a perfect answer,” she began, her grin never leaving her lips. “You seem to be the type of guy who plays the knight in shinning armor.” The title seemed to fit him perfectly. Brantley did come to her ‘rescue’ when the Slytherin boys were bothering her. Though, Jasmine thought she was handling the situation quite well. Well, her magazine would have been taken, or worse thrown on the ground. “Girl’s love a guy whose plays the role of the knight in shinning armor, though playing the damsel in distress is quite….distressing,” she spoke, laughing. It was like one of those old black and white movies where the girl was tied down on train tracks from the villain. The train would be speeding toward her accompanied by fast music and the girl whose mouth is open but there were no screams. The in the nick of time, a guy would comes to her rescue. “Would you go as far as saving a girl who is tied up on a train track, with a training speeding more than 100 miles per hour heading toward her?” Laughing as she heard Brantley talk in a rich French accent. “Une autre réponse parfaite. (Another perfect answer)” she spoke wondering if that would catch him off guard. Jasmine knew only a little French, because she always wanted to visit France.

“Yeah, it’s like coming up with your own word and then it just spreads out,” she said with a nod of her head. Her hazel eyes filled once again with interest as she listened to Brantley explain about his horses. They sounded amazing really, especially the white Andalusian Newton. His sister also seemed to have quite a lot in common with Jasmine. Leaning back into the bench, Jasmine didn’t take her eyes off of Brantley as he talked on about his life. She frowned hearing about his dad. It was just another thing they shared in common. Once he was finished she grinned taking a deep breath. “Well, I own two as well, and then ride other horses in the stables that my instructor asks me too. My first horse was Jasper who stands 16 hands, chestnut, and Quarter horse bred. He’s the love of my life and was my moms. So really, he’s the only thing that I have close to her. Then there’s Wildfire, the other love of my love. He’s a huge horse, nearly 17 hands, Trakehner with huge shoulders, and my show horse. I’ve only jumped him about 3 feet, that’s only because he’s a chicken and won’t jump barely any jumps with flowers in it or certain colors.” Smiling at the goofiness of her horse, she turned her mind back to what Brantley said about his sister. “What kind of sport does Ellie do? You mainly trail ride right?” she asked completely engulfed in the conversation. “Andalusian’s are pretty, especially white ones. I could probably stare at one for hours and be entertained.”

Remembering that Brantley had also asked about her own life she sighed. “My mom and dad died when I was eight in a car crash, so I live with my aunt and cousin. That’s pretty much it.” Putting the magazine back in her shoulder bag, she made sure she had everything. Standing up from the bench, Jasmine sent Brantley a look that said follow and walked on. Once knowing he was beside her she smiled at him. “It’s too nice out to just sit around.” Digging her hands into her sweatshirt pocket she looked at the path ahead. “Is there anything else about you that I could know…since were going to be friends.....I hope.”

[Brantley Chapman R7]

Brantley gazed into Jasmine’s eyes as she questioned about love. He didn’t find himself flinching at all at the questions; they were perfectly natural questions and ones that shouldn’t be denied answers. “Well,” he began as his eyes softened into a crystal blue, “if someone isn’t looking for love, then they are missing out. If it’s like you said, though, if they are burying themselves in life and friends to know what they want, I believe it’s because they are afraid to know what they want. People do that often; they hide behind things because they don’t want to experience anything new that might change the way things had been flowing in their lives. It’s hard for them to grasp the idea that not all change is bad or Earth shattering.” Brantley scratched his head and looked at Jasmine with wondering eyes. Was she speaking from personal experience, or was she just wondering. “My advice to them would be to accept change, but to let it happen at the pace they want. Not everyone can handle such a thing as love as quickly as others can. I would help as much as they wanted me to and as much as I could.” He knew that was probably a generic answer, but it was an honest one. One that would work if it ever had to be asked. Her next question almost made Brantley laugh. “Jasmine, you’ve been sitting here and talking to me for the past ten minutes or so and you think it’s necessary to ask such a question?” His eyes twinkled to show her that he was joking, but only slightly. “Yes, I believe in all of that. Love at first sight is just your heart telling you that you have found the one, your soul mate, and they are your fate.” He laughed as she asked what personal questions people would ask him. “And I do believe you just asked the personal question that everybody else has asked me. Though, I have been asked what pattern my underwear was at the moment. I don’t suspect it counts, as it was part of truth or dare.”

His eyes fell to her hands as they twisted the magazine over and over again. Brantley had to fight the urge to take the magazine from her, just so it would save the poor thing. Or perhaps he would have used it as an excuse to touch her hand, whatever the reason, Brantley forced the emotion down and looked back up to her as she said his answer was perfect. He smiled brightly at her using the knight in shining armour analogy. “My armour isn't so shining any more, but I could be considered a knight, yes.” He found it amusing how all girls seemed to think of him as a knight. It was a common conception of him, something that girls had often called him. It fit, though. “Yep, and I'd save her quite easily.” Brantley pulled out his wand and twirled it between his fingers, his eyes rested on Jasmine and that smile on his lips, “10 inches of special saving gadgets.” Not to mention the other twenty or so I have up in my dorm. He didn’t mention that, though, not wanting to scare her. His eyebrows rose as Jasmine spoke in a pretty nice French accent. “Parlez-vous le français?”(Do you speak French?) Sometimes people spoke only a little, and Brantley was one of those people. He could converse lightly, but that was it. The second language he spoke next to English was Spanish, and he could speak that fluently.

Jasmine then began to speak about her horses, and Brantley found himself smiling even more. “Trakehners are gorgeous horses, you’re very lucky to have one. Newton is beautiful and I love him, especially when he’s well groomed which he always is, but Andalusians have nothing compared to Trakehners.” Brantley had always wanted a Trakehner breed, but when his mother had to sell her horses, the idea of getting a new one was probably in the back of her mind. Brantley didn’t press on the subject, and figured he could buy his own when he had the money for it. With a nod, Brantley replied; “Yes, I mainly trail ride. Ellie hunter jumps, and she’s pretty good at it, too. She takes it very seriously, possibly more serious than I take my school work.” Brantley rolled his eyes with a smile still on his lips, “Though, I suppose that isn’t too bad a thing. Ellie has committed herself to something she loves and I’m proud of her for that.” He locked his eyes with Jasmine again, “I take it you compete, too?” he asked with an interested gleam in his eyes. He only nodded in agreement when Jasmine told him that Andalusians were pretty, they were.

Before Brantley could say anything about her parents, he watched with confusion as Jasmine put the magazine in her bag and stood up from the bench. He was about to ask if he should leave, he didn’t want to intrude on alone time she had planned and it had just occurred to him that he might have done just that. Brantley caught the look she gave him, and tucked his wand into his robe pocket that was hidden inside of them while standing up and catching up with her. “I agree,” he replied when she said it was too nice to just sit around, “it’s a rarely gorgeous day.” She asked him if there was anything else she could know about it since they were becoming friends, or at least she hoped she would. Brantley laughed, “I hope so, too. You’ve proven to be an interesting woman, Jasmine, and I hope to get to know you better.” He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed before answering her question, though. “Well, I’m 17…” he trailed off and thought about what else he could tell her, “Oh! I know! I like puzzles, codes, and riddles. Anything that gets my mind working, I love. I build devices that were designed by Leonardo Da Vinci, who happens to be my idol.” Brantley cast a sideways glance at Jasmine, “Aside from the whole ‘is he gay or not?’ thing, that is. Da Vinci was an amazing man, and I model a lot of my thoughts and ideas after him.”

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine turned her full attention back on Brantley as he spoke. His blue eyes stared into hers as her as he spoke, the blueness seeming so calm. People would be annoyed with all the different kinds of questions Jasmine was asking, but Brantley wasn’t. He was answering all the questions wonderfully to be annoyed. Was Jasmine afraid of wanting to know what she wanted? Or, maybe her busy life didn’t have time for a guy in it. She did work at least three times a week at the Cubby, and you add school work on top of that. Yet, Jasmine had free time at that very moment, so maybe Brantley was right. Her life was running smoothly, and she was afraid to mess it up. Having a boyfriend wasn’t all that great. You got in fights most of the time, and what if you wanted some alone time? Maybe Jasmine was looking too much at the down side to love. When Brantley said he would help that person she wondered if he meant her. She was referring to herself about the whole love thing, but did he catch on to it? Staring back into his eyes she smiled. “How do you think you can help the person?” she asked her tone of voice calm, and quiet. Could Brantley honestly help her? Well, he could, only if he knew she was that person. Laughing as he laughed, she grinned when he spoke about believing in love at first site. Jasmine believed in it slightly. “Sorry, was only wondering. But, how could you look at someone one day, and know completely nothing about them, and boom you know they’re the one?” Many people did that everyday, but it seemed more likely that someone could fall more easily for another if they were friends. “Really, a truth or dare? Hopefully they didn’t ask you to personal show the pattern,” she said laughing at the thought.

When Brantley talked about his armor not being so shinning, she smiled at him. “Polish it?” she asked wondering exactly what he meant by that. “Wait, if that makes your the knight, then I’m the damsel in distress?” Jasmine stared at him, her eyes clearly showing that she was deep in thought. So she was a while ago. Watching as Brantley took out his wand, explaining that he would use it to save the girl, she laughed yet again. “Ok, but in this case, you don’t have a wand. Either get super powers, with flying ability and super strength, or just use your mind.” Jasmine wanted to take the wand out of his hands, to show him her point, but she didn’t. Running her fingers through her hair, she looked back out into the courtyard. It was really a nice day for winter, much better than snow blanketing everything. Hearing Brantley speak French, Jasmine looked back at him. “Oui, je parle le français. (Yes, I do speak French)” she said a grin on her face. “I don’t speak it fluently though, just only little phrases.” Jasmine uncrossed her legs, stretching them out in front of her. “I’ve always wanted to visit Paris. It’s such a pretty city with a lot of history. England is one as well, but it would be nice to go to someplace more foreign.” Sitting up straight, she didn’t take her eyes off of him. “I want to go see the Eiffel and art museums. There is even this little street where artist line up and paint pictures for people,” she her face turning a slightly grim expression. “Though, I won’t be able too. But, it’s a good dream to try to live one day.”

The topic soon turned back onto horses. She smiled as Brantley thought Trakehners were beautiful as well. “All breeds are different from one another. Trakehners aren’t as old as Andalusians. Newton comes from a background of war horses, Wildfire…I really don’t remember too much. Though, the breeds are quite alike too. Both have a long of bone and muscle mass,” she said a grin never leaving her lips. It was really amazing that he felt the same way she did. Now, there was another horse person she could talk to, with almost about everything. “Trail riding is fun though. Sometimes I would rather go out on the trails then be in a ring jumping over fences.” Nodding her head at the statement she smiled as she heard Brantley say he was proud of his sister. Her cousin was never proud of her, then again they were completely opposites. “Yes, I compete. My trainer has me go to different shows almost every week around the UK over the summer. Its never boring, just lonely a bit, but I drag Vanessa long with me a lot of the time.” Smiling at the thought of her friend she sighed. Vanessa hadn’t been around much lately, and Jasmine really wanted to hear about this new guy in her life. “I plan on owning a barn someday, owning probably twenty or so horses, all different breeds and colors. Though, I don’t think that will happen either, not if I want to continue my career in magic.” It had always been a dream of Jasmine’s eve since she was a little girl. Things changed though after she got her Hogwarts letter.

They had been walking only a little ways when Brantley told her she had proven to be good company. Smiling at the comment, Jasmine picked off a little fuzzy from her sweatshirt. “You’re also quite interesting as well Brant,” she said knowing that she really meant that, but she didn’t hope in the way of a crush thing. Shaking her head she listened as Brantley talked more about himself. He seemed to be a very mind challenging person, and he built things. Hearing the name Leonardo Da Vinci, Jasmine looked back at Brantley. He had to be the most brilliant artist in all time. “I’ve never heard of the theory about him being gay. A guy can be brilliant and yet romantic, you’re a primes example, and your not gay,” she said laughing. “What else do you exactly want to know about me?”

[Brantley Chapman R7]

Brantley had a feeling that the ‘person’ that Jasmine had speaking about was herself, and although she hadn’t come right out and said it, Brantley could tell she was struggling with her thoughts. He looked down at his hands, feeling slightly awkward. He had no place to give relationship advice, considering he had never been in one. He didn’t have to be in a relationship to know what a good thing to do was and a bad thing. Brantley just had common sense that way, something more guys didn’t have. “How would I help them?” Brantley questioned aloud. He pondered the question a moment, wondering exactly how he would come about that. “Well, I wouldn’t be a matchmaker, that’s for sure.” He sent Jasmine a bright grin and then shrugged, “I suppose I would just… show them the good things about love or about relationships. Not that I can do that very well, after all, I haven’t had a serious relationship… ever.” Brantley smiled again, and then looked away. That was one thing no one knew. Brantley always made himself out to be this expert on love, but he didn’t know why. He had never had a girlfriend and he had never told anyone he loved them. Somehow, Brantley just knew. He just... knew. People used to tell him that he didn’t know what he was talking about, but then again he never had troubles and problems like the other guys and he never had girls hate him like they did. Brantley took that as a good thing, and changed nothing about his personality. He merely smiled a laughing smile when Jasmine said hopefully he didn’t have to show them the pattern. He actually hadn’t, but he figured it would be amusing to see Jasmine’s reaction.

Laughter escaped his lips as Jasmine suggested he polish his armour. It was an interesting thought, how would he polish his symbolic armour? Before he could think of a clever response, Jasmine asked if she was the damsel in distress. “No, you were the damsel in distress, now you are just a damsel whose company I am enjoying immensely.” Brantley flashed another charming smile, his eyes locked intensely on hers. Her eyes portrayed that she was in deep thought, and Brantley wanted to give a penny for her thoughts, but he figured now wouldn’t be the time. He listened as Jasmine told him he had to do the saving without the wand. Brantley thought about it a moment and then smiled with a bright idea, “I would attempt to save her anyway, even if it means dying. If I die in the action of doing that at least then I died knowing that I had tried to save someone worthwhile and that she was safe.” Brantley watched her a moment, wondering what her response to that would be. He found that her responses seemed to matter to him than they usually did from anyone else. Jasmine spoke back in French and Brantley smiled again, “Je parle seulement à un petit, à l'espagnol est ma deuxième langue.” (I only speak a little, Spanish is my second language.) Brantley replied, it was a necessary phrase he had picked up; one that he knew he would use often if he ever traveled to France. “Why wouldn’t you be able to go to Paris? Surely it’s not as wild a dream as you make it out to be? I lived in Spain for years and I’ve traveled quite a bit. Perhaps I could set you up with a traveling tour and one stop might be Paris…” Brantley offered, though he wondered if it were too bold a suggestion.

Before he could even think of apologizing for making such a bold suggestion, Jasmine was talking about horses again. “You do know quite a bit about horses,” Brantley said with an amused glint in his eyes, she wasn’t joking when she said they were her love. He looked away from her for a moment, listening her talk about her life with horses. It made him miss Newton a lot, and Ellie even more, and his mother the most. He sighed a small sigh and turned back to Jasmine, letting another bright smile don his face. “You can do both, my mother did. She’s a pure blood and was raised magically and she created a life with a barn and owned nearly that many horses. Don’t give up on dreams so easily, Mademoiselle.” Brantley told her with a quiet look as they walked along the path from the bench they had been sitting on. There was a silence between them, and Brantley took the moment to think about things. Think about his mother and Ellie, and about Jasmine. He wondered if she really had problems with relationships and love, and if she did he felt a tinge sorry for her. No one should ever have those kinds of problems. Not even the worst person in the world.

Brantley smiled as Jasmine spoke again, this time about Da Vinci. “Yes, it’s quite a popular theory. Some people think that Joconde, the Mona Lisa, is a self portrait of himself in drag. Whereas I find it rather interesting, I prefer not to think about that. It’s not that I’m homophobic,” Brantley quickly assured her, “it’s just that I don’t know what people would think if they found I idolized a man who was considered homosexual.” He smiled, hoping she understood his meaning. She had asked what else he knew about her, and Brantley ran through the facts in his head. “Not much more, you play piano and sing, don’t you? And your best friend is Vanessa Bauer, as you previously had mentioned her. What else is there to know?” He cast her sideways look with an impish glint in his eyes, maybe she would tell him more and maybe they could get to know each other much better.