What It Takes ((Andrew))

[marcy]

I don't want to hurt you, Marcy, but I have to know; why did you desert us? Why did you leave us in the open? You knew what it was like here better than anyone, and you knew I needed you by my side in order to survive him. Now things haven't gotten worse, but they haven't gotten better either. He's been frozen in work, but it's only a matter of time. Why couldn't you have taken us with you, wherever you went? It's hard to live here day by day without you. Marcy shoved the letter away, she had to stop reading it. She just had to! Reading that over and over again to punish herself for going off to a better life, wasn't healthy. She knew it, and she knew Kara wouldn't want her to do it, but she couldn't help it. She did know what it was like there, and yet she left them. All of them, to survive on their own. She expected them to be able to carry on without her there to support them, they were stronger than that before she left. She figured they could continue to be strong after she had left. Marcy was angry at herself, and she was rarely ever angry at herself. She liked to live her life day by day, but contacting Kara probably hadn't been a good idea. In fact it was probably a very bad idea. But now that she had written back, Marcy had to reply.

It had already been two days since she had gotten the letter, and owls don't take as long as muggle mail does - so she could have had a letter back the night she received it. But the schools owl was probably overworked, and she had decided to give it a break while she figured out what to say to the letter that was full of accusations and betrayal. Maybe that's why she had gone to Hogsmeade, to sort all this out. To figure out what to say to Kara and Georgey-Porgey. She felt terrible about leaving them, and if she could bring them to Hogwarts - she would. But the truth was she couldn't. She had to keep them there, at least for now. Until she had enough money to support them all. Getting enough money to survive the summer was hard enough, and then she had to work the whole summer to keep up the rent at the Leaky Cauldron. She had been doing it for three years though, so she had a system. But adding two more into that wouldn't be easy. Plus explaining the whole witch thing would definitely not be worth it, not right now. Kara wouldn't understand, and Georgey-Porgey would probably think it was a big joke and ask her where she was really staying. Marcy sighed and folded up the letter, slipping it back into the envelope. It even smelled like the home. She placed it back into her bag and then looked up as Madame Rosmerta stopped at her table, her eyes glazed with energy and business; "Want a butterbeer, dear?" She asked. Marcy smiled and nodded and Madame Rosmerta ran off to get her butterbeer.

Marcy took out a notebook, a muggle one that she had brought with her from the home, and a pen. Her WWW was on the table, so she placed the headphones in her ears, before clicking on the music. SheDaisy played in her ears, and Marcy closed her eyes - hoping the music will help her. Never thought I'd be in this place. It's someone elses life im living. Wish I were living a lie. The hardest part is when the bough breaks. Falling down and then forgiving, I'm choking on the words i didn't get to say and pray I get the chance one day I still run, I still swing open the door. I still think you'll be there like before. Doesn't everybody out there know never to come around? Some things a heart won't listen to, I'm still holding out for you. Marcy rubbed her eyes and then placed the pen to the paper just as Madame Rosmerta set her butterbeer down. She glanced up, smiled a thank you, and then returned to her letter. Nothing came though, Marcy looked down at her lap. She was wearing jeans today, and an overlarge old grey sweatshirt. She had the sweatshirt since she had been brought to the home, her shoes were her pink chucks, and her hair was down but held back with a black headband. She looked rather...normal today, but that was because she didn't plan on meeting anyone - didn't plan on having to act crazy, she sure didn't feel crazy. Marcy breathed and returned to the letter, the first part was the easiest; "Dear Monsters,".

She started to write, not sure what she was saying. Not sure if it was making any sense. She just wrote. Her words coming alive on the paper, and dancing across her mind in an explanation for why she left without them. Her apologies spilled off her lips, into her hands and onto the paper where Kara's eyes could read, and her lips could form the words for Georgey-Porgey's ears. Marcy didn't realize she had tears in her eyes until one fell on the paper, quickly she wiped them away and glanced around. Rarely anyone saw her cry, she was strong but she wasn't too strong. That didn't mean she let her emotions out in front of everybody. Most people saw her as a happy and bubbly girl, and she was. She was happy. But there were moments where she missed everyone in the home, and she wondered what it would be like if she had stayed. She looked back at her letter, read it over and sighed with disgust before crumbling it up and throwing it over her shoulder. She picked up her notebook, pen, and WWW. Throwing them into her bag, and she left the Three Broomsticks. Her eyes were set coldly in front of her, but she didn't see. Maybe that was why she didn't realize she was about to run into someone, until she actually did. Marcy looked up and immediately started to apologize, when she realized who it was; "Oh, hey Drew, sorry."

((Bit long? Sorry.))

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew ran his hand hard through his hair as he tried to concentrate on the essay in front of him. He had decided to do a bit of studying before he ran off to Hogsmeade that day. He just needed to finish a few more paragraphs and then he would be done and free to go. He could even see if Zonko's had reopened yet. He was dying to check out some of the latest joke merchandise, even though he wasn't much of a prankster. He was just sarcastic with a bit of dry humor. He didn't go around playing practical jokes on others. He just waited for them to leave themselves open and then he would slam them with something using words. He was good at that, besides he didn't know much about practical jokes. He knew that if he were to actually try really hard he would probably mess it up and then who would be the idiot? Not the one he was trying to play a joke on, no it would be him and that just didn't seem like a great idea to him. He smiled at the thought before he realized he had started daydreaming again. He looked back down at his Defense Against the Dark Arts homework.

Please give me a full description of what your boggart turns into and list five different ways you can make it funny. Also, give me a full understanding as to why no one has seen a boggart and the only way you can get rid of one. Drew's fear had been a hard one to get through. Especially since he had to stand in front of the entire class and show everyone what he feared. It was interesting though. His fear was something of a mystery. It wasn't something that would commonly scare people and in general it didn't scare him. It was what it meant that truly scared him. His mind flashed back to that day in DADA when he had to face the boggart. Drew stood staring at the cupboard waiting nervously for the professor to let it out. The spell was cast and the door swung open to reveal a cage. Hardly frightening at all, but there it was. Drew knew what it meant though and he knew that to him it was the scariest thing in the world. He had pointed his wand at it quickly and said the spell. The cage fell apart like the cars would in cartoons. Folding itself outward to eventually just lay on the ground flat. Many people hadn't understood what it had meant that day. Drew understood though. He feared what Eowyn feared from Lord of the Rings. A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire. He pushed the parchment back away from him and put his head in his hands. He couldn't finish the essay, not right then at least. He would finish it after he hung out at Hogsmeade for a bit. That would give him something to take his mind off of what he feared.

At that thought Drew bounded up from his bed and hurried out of the door in his blue jeans and red Gryffindor shirt. His wand stuck hastily out of his pocket just waiting for the right motion to send it flying from the pocket, but Drew realized how close it was to falling out and quickly stuffed it back in as he ran down the steps, past the entrance hall and outside to the beautiful grounds. He smiled at the students that were too young to go to Hogsmeade and so spent their time hanging around outside. He remembered what it had been like to see all of the older students take off for an adventure into a purely wizard town. It had been exciting for him when he had finally gone. Now it was just normal. He shrugged to himself as the 'cage' flashed back in his mind. His run slowed to a walk and he pushed the thought from his mind. There were no cages to be found right now and he would not end up in one. He was going to make something of himself before he became useless.

Drew's mind continued to wander as his feet carried him down the familiar cobblestone. He stopped looking around him as he thought about the cage that seemed to be falling around him. He was beginning to feel trapped and he didn't know why. Maybe it was because he wasn't playing muggle sports as often? Or maybe it was because he hadn't finished that essay? Or maybe Hogwarts was just a trap to him? He shrugged off the last thought. He was meant to be at Hogwarts. He knew he was. There was just something that seemed to be closing in around him lately, but he knew that when summer hit he would be going off to New York City with his family and they would have a jolly good time. Crash! Drew stumbled back a bit before looking up startled. Marcy was apologizing profusely for running into him. "You really shouldn't be apologizing. I wasn't watching where I was going either. Hey are you okay?" Drew asked as he noticed that Marcy wasn't her normal crazy self. Of course, Drew wasn't really being himself either, but they all had their good days and their bad days. Today just happened to be the day that Drew had taken off to be reserved instead of stark raving adventurous, not that he didn't have plans for later, but right now he was taking a few minutes to recenter himself.

[marcy]

She smiled softly at him and crossed her arms before looking down. "Am I okay? Heh. What a good question. I suppose I am, I'm not like I usually am though. But that's just because of a few letters. I don't know, maybe I don't feel well. I think I just need to walk." Marcy grinned at him and uncrossed her arms, she didn't want to appear to be so defensive. "In fact you look like you could use a walk too, wanna walk with me? I don't bite I promise, and despite my looks, I am innocent." Marcy was a very outgoing girl, she didn't shy away from asking people to hang out with her. If they didn't want to, they didn't want to. She didn't consider it rejection she considered it another chance for another person. The fact of the matter was, though, at that moment she could use the company and Drew was exactly the company she was looking for. Even if he was calm himself, that didn't matter. Truth, she didn't know if she could handle someone who was hyper and joking all the time.

By this time she had lifted her head to look at Drew, her eyes glimmering with hope and they looked almost to be pleading. She blinked, though, and the pleading and hope disappeared from sight. Marcy didn't like to look like she was begging for anything, she was independent and she could do things on her own. Sometimes you need company, though, and that's what Marcy needed right that moment. In fact, even in the home she needed company and that's why Kara was an amazing best friend and right hand girl. She helped control the monsters and was there when Marcy needed to talk with someone, she was an awesome listener. Marcy had yet to find someone who was as good at listening as she was. She actually doubted she ever would. A big part of not finding anyone as good as Kara, is that Marcy wasn't willing to give out her secrets and her life story, and her deepest fears. She didn't know if she could trust anyone at Hogwarts, she didn't know what they were like.

"I understand if you don't want to, just a suggestion. I know that there are days when I don't want to talk anyone, but I figured you could use company just as much as I could." Marcy smiled widely at him, her fingers fiddling with her over large sweatshirt. She waited for his answer.

((Couldn't think of a way to end it...so it kind of sucks major.))

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew just nodded in response to Marcy's answer. He couldn't help, but feel a little tension. Neither seemed to be their usual upbeat and totally friendly self, but then again who had said that was their usual self. Maybe they were both just putting on acts for everyone to see. The thought crossed Drew's mind, but he ignored it. He was essentially who he always was. It was only when he was feeling down about something that he acted in unusual ways, like this. He just turned on a smile and looked at Marcy, thinking back to that day he had gave her a new nickname. "Yeah Marce, I'll walk with you. I could use the exercise, after all, I think all that food at Hogwarts is starting to go straight to my hips," Drew said as he placed his hands on his hips in a mock girl voice. He couldn't help, but make fun of those girls that were so afraid of gaining weight.

Drew turned and started the slow pace. He wasn't in the mood to take off on a fast walk, besides he wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather outside and just take the time to recenter his thoughts and take his mind off of what was bothering him. He turned to look at Marcy. "So a couple of bad letters, eh? That really sucks. It seems that life really can't take a break for a while. All I want to do is be a kid for a while, but things are beginning to get more and more complicated as I get older. What about you? Do you have that problem with life or are you so prepared for life to get going that you don't have a worry one?" Drew asked. He wondered if anyone could possibly be worry free. He came dangerously close himself, but still he had his worries and his fears. It was what made him human. He knew and so did his friends and family. To not worry about anything meant one of two things, either you were a heartless person or you were already dead. Drew wasn't heartless. In fact he was so compassionate about people that he let their problems bog him down before he realized they had nothing to do with him. It was who he was. A multidimensional human being with a huge heart and eyes full of understanding. He looked over at Marcy as he waited to see if she answered his many questions.

((sorry so short, couldn't really think of anything else myself))

[marcy]

He agreed to walk with her and then mocked some of the girls who thought anorexia was in, she put her finger into her mouth and stuck out her tongue as if she was going to gag herself and then grinned, pulling her finger away; "I can't stand girls like that. I'd rather eat loads of food and die from eating too much, than eating nothing at all. Actually, I think girls with big appetites are better than girls who eat cotton swabs. They're more active, more willing to do more. Food is our energy source after all." Marcy shuddered and crossed her arms, she didn't like the idea of not eating. Food was everything, especially the food at Hogwarts. Then again, maybe she would see it from a different point of view if she didn't have to worry about gaining weight. Thank God for metabolisms.

They started their walk and there were a couple moments of silence and then Drew turned to her, bringing up her letters. She started to talk but he hadn't been finished, so she closed her mouth and shifted her eyes to a bird flying near by. It flittered a bit, and then stopped on a tree - tittering with another bird. Marcy wondered if they were having conversations and if they were, what were they about? People conversed about the birds, so did the birds talk about the people they saw? Marcy turned her attention back to Drew and listened as he finished what he was saying with a question. She laughed lightly and uncrossed her arms, letting the sleeves of her sweatshirt fall over her hands.

"I'm Marcy, I have to have everything under control. I always have a plan and I always save the day." She closed her eyes a second, then remembered they were walking - causing her to quickly open her eyes again and turn to Drew, "No, I have that problem all the time. Like, where am I going? What am I going to do? Why can't I just be? Sometimes..." She trailed off, wondering whether or not to tell him what she was about to. Finally she took a deep breath and said, "Sometimes, I just, wish I could run off and be me. Just travel the world, but of course - I would have to start with travelling London, and then England, then possibly Europe - and then maybe the world. Small steps, Drew, small steps are key."

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew smiled and laughed at Marcy's comment. Nodding with enthusiasm. "Yes, I can't stand girls that don't eat. A hearty appetite that's what I like in a girl. They have to enjoy a good fillet once in a while and not just be all about the salad or water," Drew cracked as his eyes lit up to their old self for a few seconds, before fading back to the dull blue they had become the last couple hours. Drew didn't understand why girls were so afraid to eat. It was like gaining weight was a bad thing. He preferred girls that actually had curves and weren't completely stick like. It was unrealistic in this day and age. Besides he found that girls that ate had better personalities. They were more into adventure and were curious while the ones that didn't eat much were all about letting their lives pass them by. Which was definitely not Drew's style.

Drew watched Marcy intently as he waited for her reply. When it came he couldn't help but understand her completely. People expected the same things out of him. He was supposed to be in control of everything and know exactly what he wanted out of life. The problem was that he didn't. He had no idea what he was going to do with his life when he graduated. The band had possibilities, but some would graduate before he did and others would graduate after him. It just wasn't that stable of a career. He ran a hand through his hair ruffling it slightly before he forced himself to answer her.

"It's amazing what people see in you. They think you're always completely in control of every situation. They think you could run the world if given the opportunity. They forget sometimes that you're just a teenager going to school," Drew sighed. The words were flowing out of him. He usually didn't talk this serious about things. He was always covering up everything with a joke or a stupid stunt, but here and now only the truth mattered. "I understand that, Marce. I really do. But small steps aren't me. I'm one of those people that need to jump over the moon in the first try. I always have been that way. To be trapped here forever is not my style. I need a place where I can run free without being bogged down by work 24/7. I've seen what that does to a family when the parents work so much and the kids never see them. My mum always hoped I'd follow after my father and play pro basketball. It's not my thing though. I love the sport, but I can't play pro. I don't know. I guess I just feel so completely trapped sometimes that I can't find my way out of this maze." Drew shook his head in frustration. "I just don't know Marce. I just don't."

[marcy]

Marcy smiled softly at Drew, her thoughts not being shown on her face. Marcy always had the talent of not showing her true thoughts, it had been something she had picked up at the orphanage. She couldn't let everyone else know that all the pain they received, she received as well. They all looked up to her, as if she were some sort of hero. How would Marcy be able to show her true feelings about certain things? She couldn't. So she became very good at hiding them, especially from Georgey-Porgey. Marcy sighed and fiddled with the sleeve of her sweatshirt as she thought of a good reply, one that wouldn't seem too out of character for her to say, although, she was out of character today anway. "Well, sometimes little steps are necessary. Sometimes you have to walk before you run. Although, you might disagree - sometimes you have to take little steps befor eyou leap up the staircase." Marcy looked at Drew and smiled again, this time brightly and full of life.

"I normally don't take little steps either, Drew. I'm usually the 'ok go!' girl, but things, like, seeing the world can't start off like a race. Not if you want to enjoy it, otherwise it'll pass you by." Her gaze lingered on Drew a moment longer and then they faced front again, looking at the scenery. She loved to just watch things, to watch events happen. She hated taking part of them.

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew forced a smile at Marce's bright smile. He didn't know how girls could go from one mood to another so suddenly. He wondered if it was even real or if it was just another facade that Marce had thrown up so quickly. But it seemed so true. He shook his head and stared up at the sky. Clouds had begun to roll in quickly and Drew wondered if rain would ruin their walk. He just ran a hand through his hair as he thought of a way to reply. He normally never got flustered like this, but today had been so strange for him. He had gone through so many emotions and he wasn't happy, at least not like he usually was. "I just wish those little steps weren't necessary you know? Like those giant leaps would get me to where I needed to go when I wanted to get there. That's all I want. To be able to do what I want to do and go where I want to go. This whole wizardry thing is not who I wanted to be when I was a kid. I wanted to be a fireman or a real person with a real job. I mean I don't mean that this whole wizard thing is not real, it's just...I don't know I just feel like everything that involved my muggle life drifted away from me. My parents, my sister, and my brother. It's just not what I really wanted in life," Drew said.

Drew kicked the rock next to his foot and sent it flying down the cobblestone path. He was beginning to let things actually bother him and that's definitely not what he needed right then. He needed to go back to his normal self. The guy that didn't let anything bother him or let anyone see him upset. It was just who he was, but now he was letting this one bad day take its toll on him. "You know Marce. You don't have to put on the 'ok go!' thing for me. I get the small steps thing, I just don't like it. I just want to go now. Do things now. Waiting seems to take so much time and effort, especially when there is so little time in life to enjoy things."

[marcy]

Marcy tilted her head to the side and stopped walking, "Drew, you don't have to do something with wizarding after Hogwarts. I don't plan on it. Being a muggle has always had its appealing side, even if it meant sharing a room with eight other girls and protecting them from the horrors of the home." Marcy shuddered slightly with a teasing smile on her face, "You can do whatever you wish with your life, it doesn't have to revolve around magic." At the word magic, Marcy brought up her fingers and wiggled them as if she were casting a spell on Drew. Kind of like the stereotype the muggles had about witches on Halloween. She smiled again and dropped her hands, crossing her arms over her chest. "Besides, your family will always be there for you." Her smile wilted a bit, "You're very lucky in that aspect. Some people don't know how lucky they are when it comes to family." Marcy, having no family to call her own, knew that there were people who got overly upset about something that was silly in her eyes. If she was given a younger sister who followed her everywhere, Marcy would treasure her - not call her annoying and shove her out of the room. The closest she had to a family was Georgey-Porgey and Kara, and she hardly ever saw them if at all.

She watched as Drew kicked a rock and sent it down the cobblestone path. He was saying waiting took much time and effort and she didn't have to put on her 'ok go!' show for him. Marcy's eyes darkened a bit, "Don't I, though? Don't guys look for a girl who has everything under control? Because if they don't, I've been misled quite a bit." She sent him a sour smile and ran her fingers through her hair, "Besides - being 'ok go' works for me. It does its thing and I respond to it. If it doesn't work for you, though, don't do it. But don't let life pass you by, you'll regret it. Honestly, I would want to be able to see the colour of the flowers the way they are - not a dingy colour. And that's what you get if you speed by at 1500 miles per hour."

[Andrew Thornton G6]

Drew took a few more steps down the path before he realized Marcy had stopped. He turned back in surprise. Her words struck him in such a way he didn't know how to respond. He opened his mouth to reply, but quickly closed it when no sound came out. He had never given one ounce of thought to doing something muggle like when he got out of Hogwarts. He had been so drawn into the world he hadn't thought he could go back. Even if he could do some sort of muggle job outside of Hogwarts what would it be? He had become so used to magic that he wasn't even sure he could get a real job. Drew only shrugged as he stared back down at the cobblestone. He was slightly flustered by his lack of intelligence at the moment. After Marcy finished he finally got back his voice enough to respond. "I just always expected to do something in the wizarding world. I mean what happens when I graduate and go to university? What university is going to accept me knowing I just came from a wizarding school? There are just so many things to consider and I don't see how some things are possible. As for my family, it's hard to believe my family will always be there for me. These recent years they've drawn farther and farther away from me. I'm hardly ever home and when I am things are different than they were several years ago. I'm not sure how much longer they'll actually accept this whole wizard thing," Drew said as his eyes drifted to Marcy. He hadn't told that to anyone. He just made it sound like everything was fine, but things definitely weren't. He was beginning to become the outcast of his family and it truly worried him.

Drew's face fell at Marcy's words about guys. Sometimes it was just cruel the way guys made girls feel and he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty at her assumption. "Look Marce, not all guys go for the 'under control' girl. Some guys prefer girls that are out there and aren't under control," Drew sighed. He ran another hand through his hair as Marcy finished. Sometimes Marcy just left him speechless and that was rare for Drew. He usually always found himself with some sort of comment to respond with, but today was different and being around Marcy was different. She always had such intellectual viewpoints, which Drew could never really figure out a way to discuss. He wondered briefly if it was because he wasn't smart enough or if Marcy was just extremely smart. He smiled at the thought before he shrugged at Marcy. "I don't know."

[marcy]

Marcy cocked her head, "You haven't been keeping up on your muggle studies?" She pretended to look astonished for a moment and then grinned again, "Neither have I. But I'm pretty sure that I could find a way to graduate from a muggle school and continue onto University. Besides if it so happens that we can't go onto muggle Uni., we can just magically alter it so we have muggle diplomas or whatever." She was kidding a lot about that last bit, but she was rather confused now. How were they supposed to lead a regular muggle life if they wanted to? They couldn't, could they? Maybe that was the whole part of the 'accept' to go to Hogwarts thing. Marcy bit down on her bottom lip, chewing this over in her mind. She didn't want to do anything that had to do with wizarding, but she didn't want to do anything that had to do with being a muggle; or... really she couldn't do anything. Marcy shook her head, she was only 14. She had awhile to think about all that junk. She tuned back in just as he finished talking about his family. Another smile appeared on her face, "Chin up, Thornton. If you run out of family, you can be my family. Merlin knows I've been family-less my whole life..." Her smile fell a bit, "But I don't think it'll come to that."

After a moment, and after he replied to her thing about boys, Marcy took another step in the direction they had gone before. She grabbed his arm, near his elbow and pulled him to a nearby garden plot. There was a bench, but she didn't bother to sit in it. The moment she reached it - she let go of his arm and sat down on the sidewalk next to the garden. She reached her hand out and pulled up a yellow flower. She looked at it, and smiled. Marcy twirled the stem of the flower between her thumb and forefinger before turning to Drew with it held toward him, "See? The yellow is ten times brighter than it would be if you just walked past it. But since we've stopped, and since we're actually looking at it - we can see it. We know it. Am I being to weird for you, Thornton?" A teasing smile appeared on her face.