New Years Angel ((Ryan))

[Ashley Hill]

"Oh no! Not again!" Ashley whined, as she noticed the fluffy white kitten was missing again from the basket that was placed in her bedroom. Tigger was laid out on the flower sheets sleeping. "You were supposed to watch her!" Ashley told the cat while knelling down her knees to look under her bed. There was no kitten in sight, the only thing under her bed were old socks. Standing up Ashley ran out of the bedroom in search of the mischief maker. This was the sixth time that the kitten had gotten out of Ashley’s bedroom. The first time the kitten had gotten out; she went into Elina’s room and shredded up the white bed sheets. Meredith Hill wasn’t very happy about this and demanded that that the animal should stay in her bedroom. But it seemed that each time Ashley turned her back, the kitten was gone. Ashley had gotten the kitten for Ryan as a late Christmas present. She remembered from the train ride that Ryan wanted a kitten. So, Ashley sent Ryan a letter by owl asking if he could come over on News Years for a day full of fun and to give him the kitten.

“I gotcha!” Ashley said in triumph, while making a nose drive at the kitten. But, the ball of fluff was too fast for her and took off in the other direction. Ashley narrowed her eyes seeing a tail disappear up the stairs. Picking herself off from the ground she took off running up the stairs as fast as she could. Just as Ashley was about to dive again at the kitten, a pair of hands picked it up. “Ashley how many times do I have to tell you? She is supposed to stay in your room!” Meredith said, while scratching the kitten behind the ear. Taking in deep breaths, Ashley waited until her breathing was back to normal before responding. “I know mom! But she always gets into trouble if I turn my back.” Taking the kitten from her mother’s arms, Ashley looked at it sternly; “Now, you listen to me. No matter how cute and adorable you are, you are still in trouble…” Ashley spoke but stopping as the kitten was giving her such a cute face. “Don’t fall for it Ash…oh who am I kidding?” she thought to herself bringing her nose towards the kittens and nuzzling it. “Ashley, I mean it…oh dear I left your father downstairs alone. He’s watching that fireplace like a hawk since lunch ended.” Meredith said shook her head while walking down the stairs. Ashley just grinned while walking the rest of the way back to her bedroom.

Setting the kitten back in its basket, Ashley shut the door to her room. “There, now you can’t get out!” she told the kitten while searching dresser for a pair of socks to wear. Taking out some colorful, toe socks, she sat down on her bed pulling them on her feet. Ashley was wearing a long, blue sleeved shirt, with a red Superman crest on the front, and a pair of old jeans. Once the socks were slipped on, Ashley wiggled her toes and giggling at the same time as kitten began to put on her cute act. Her blue eyes watched as the kitten began to climb all over Tigger. The older cat just raised his head, yawning while watching the kitten at play. Ashley wondered what Elina was going to react when she saw her bed stripped clean. Her older sister would probably scream and not talk to Ashley for a couple of days, just like the time Bandit chewed up her expensive pair of boots. Ashley just grinned, and ran her fingers through her blond hair. It was almost four and Ryan should be there any moment. Just as the thought ran through her head she heard the familiar sound of Bandit and Shelby barking lat somebody they didn’t know. Leaping from her bed, Ashley opened the door. But stopped to look back at Tigger. “Watch her!” Tigger blinked his eyes while setting a paw on the kitten’s tale, stopping it from leaving his sight. Giggling, Ashley closed the door and practically flew down the stairs.

Ashley ran into the living room, seeing Ryan by the fire place. “Ryan!” she squealed running up to him and pulling him into a hug. Standing up on the tops of her toes, Ashley just smiled, with her arms were still wrapped gently around his neck. Just as Ashley was about to say something else she heard her father clear his throat. Pulling away she blushed slightly before looking up at her father. “Daddy, this is Ryan Wilkinson, the boy I told you who took me to the Halloween Ball. Ryan this is my dad, Ben Hill.” Ashley said looking up to see that her mother had entered the room. “So you’re Ryan, all Ashley has been talking is when you would finally be here. I’m Meredith, Ashley’s mother…” Meredith said with a kind smile while walking over to her husband’s side; “Now honey, lets leave them be. We still have to get dinner ready for everybody and Elina’s sent a letter from Tuscany,” Ben just eyed Ryan for a moment before sighing in defect while following his wife into the kitchen. Ashley sighed with relief before turning back toward Ryan, “Sorry about that, my dad can be a bit over protective sometimes. It’s so good too see you!” Ashley said pulling Ryan into another hug.

[ryan]

Ryan stood patiently letting his mother make sure he looked alright while his father was snoring lightly in the living room and Marie – his sister – was openly laughing at Ryan. Not minding his sisters teasing about Ryan being wrapped around Ash’s little finger, Ryan just smiled at Marie. After all, there was no denying the truth. Ryan was wrapped around Ash’s little finger without any effort from the girl. “Mom! I’m fine! I’ll see you all later on,” Ryan said bowing slightly to kiss his mothers cheek before glancing in the mirror once again. He had tried to dress more or less as a muggle. And now he was very grateful to Marie’s boyfriend who was a muggle-born. If Daniel hadn’t helped, Ryan might have looked pretty awkward later on. Now he was merely dressed simply and comfortably. A pair of blue jeans and a semi-formal black shirt. Grabbing a jacket that would keep him warm and making sure his wand was safely tucked into his pocket – just in case – Ryan grinned and waved to everyone. “I will be back sometime. Miss me!” Ryan called over his shoudler before grabbing a jacket that would keep him warm if Ash wanted to go outside and a handful of floo powder and while stepping into the fireplace let it drop. “Hill residence!” Greenish flames jumped up, enveloping Ryan who whirled away only to step out a few moments later into a room he didn’t know.

Looking around the room Ryan offered a bit hesitant smile to the man standing near the fireplace and who was obviously Ash’s father. Before Ryan had had a chance to introduce himself however Ash had dashed into the room and given him a hug. “Ash!” Ryan shouted happily his face lit with a wide grin as he caught the girl with his left hand just a bit awkwardly as he returned his enthusiastic hug. Before Ash introduced him to her parents. “Good day, ma’am,” Ryan said politely stepping to Ashley’s mother and handing her the big basket of fruit he had brought along, “I would say Happy New Year, but it might be a bit early for that yet.” Ryan also shook Ash’s fathers hand while bowing his head with respect, “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
Ash’s parents left the room for a moment later and Ryan was glad to engulf Ashley in one more warm hug as he twirled her around for a moment in a half-dance move.
“I’m glad your father is protective. Maybe some chap would have conquered your heart a long time ago and I would never have had the chance to dance with you, if he wasn’t protective of his angel,” Ryan told Ash with a grin after finally releasing the girl from his arms.

“You know it’s amazing how much I missed you over the break,” Ryan told Ash before winking and bowing closer to her ear to whisper in it, “I love the socks.” Grinning Ryan held out a present for Ash, “I haven’t even gotten a chance to say Merry Christmas to you, so merry bleated Christmas.” Ryan smiled offering the small parcel to Ash, hoping the girl would love the filigree silver heart with the amethyst inside it, even though Ryan’s owl had delivered a broom-care kit and soft flying gloves to Ashley on the 24th December already. Ryan looked at Ash for one more moment not able to keep a smile of his face now that Ashley was in the room, before turning away slightly and bowing to let the two dogs smell him properly as Ryan tentatively reached out his hand to scratch one of the dogs behind it’s ear. “Your dogs? They look well, big. Care to introduce me?” Ryan asked glancing over his shoulder towards Ash.


((Just so you know what it looks like - here's the link to the pendant.))

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley couldn't help but grin as she looked down at her socks and wiggled her toes at Ryan's compliment. Looking up when she saw that Ryan had handed a parcel to her saying Happy Bleated Christmas. Grinning even more, Ashley took the package from his hands thinking that he was spoiling her. He had already given her a Broom Kit and Quidditch gloves, what more could there be? Still holding the wrapped parcel in her hands, Ashley watched as Ryan let the dogs sniff his hand. "There really not all that big, there are some dogs that are bigger in size than they are. But dogs can be the sweetest most loyal creatures in the world. Always wanting to be with you, and there by your side, and I would be honored to introduce you," Ashley said knelling down and letting her free arm wrap around the back of Bandit. "This fellow right here is Bandit. I found him on a football field when he was a puppy. He can push a football around with his nose!" she said, patting him on the back before letting her other arm with the parcel wrap around Shelby's back. "And this is Shelby. I'm really the closet to her because she saved my life as a little girl." Ashley standing up from her knees to look Ryan in the eyes before saying more, "I want another dog, but my mum says no. Already have four pets to look after. Some day, I would probably own five dogs, three cats, and maybe a bunny,"

Noticing that she hadn't opened the package in her hands, Ashley unfolded the covering. Her blue eyes lit up to see a beautiful necklace. Carefully taking it out of the parcel, Ashley grinned at Ryan. "Oh my gosh...It's so beautiful. You really didn't have to get it for me, honestly. I'm feeling like your spoiling me," Ashley said sticking her tongue out at him, trying to put the necklace on at the same time. "Could you help me put it on?" she asked turning around so her back was facing him and moving her blond hair aside. Once it was on, Ashley turned back around at Ryan grinning at him while tucking some of her blond hair behind her ear, "Now when a guy sees me, they know I'm already taken...thank you so much! I just love it,"

Hearing music come from the kitchen, Ashley smiled as she knew what the song was. Elina just adored Phantom of the Opera and always played that music. Taking Ryan's hand, Ashley walked backwards pulling Ryan along with her, singing along.

"I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses
Completely succumbed to me
Now you are here with me
No second thoughts
You've decided
Decided.

Past the point of no return
No backward glances
Our games of make-believe are at an end.

Past all thought of “if” or “when”
No use resisting
Abandon thought and let the dream descend" Ashley continued singing, while dancing around the living room with Ryan.

[ryan]

Ryan grinned and continued scratching Bandit’s head as Ash talked about the dog. “Play football? Talented fellow then,” Ryan commented with a grin before looking at the other dog Ash started to introduce to him. His eyebrows raising Ryan shifted himself and very seriously took Shelby’s paw and shook it for a moment before scratching Shelby behind her ears as well: “Pleased to meet you Shelby. You’ve been looking after my girl as I hear? You’re lucky to have her as a master you know,” Ryan told Shelby in a companionship like tone of voice as he continued petting both dogs before adressing Ash, " And animals are great. Any special dog breeds you'd want, even though I'm not really an expert about dogs. Don't really see much of them in the wizarding world. Maybe an owl or two would complete the list of animals." Ryan told Ashley easily, liking animals himself as well while he watched with a bit of nervousness how Ashley opened the present. A wide and warm grin spread over Ryan’s face as Ashley seemed to like the pendant and he stood to clasp the chain around Ashley’s neck.

Taking hold of the necklace Ryan peered at the clasp trying to figure out how it worked as Ashley moved her hair out of the way. “Angels deserve the very best, so it doesn’t count as spoiling. And if the pendant demonstrates, that you aren’t free anymore for other guys, then never take it off,” Ryan said with a wink as he reached over Ashley’s shoulder to give her a quick peck on her cheek after he had clasped the necklace together once again having to try it a couple of times before it closed firmly. Women’s jewelry and clasps in it were most certainly not one of Ryan’s fortes.
A few moments later Ash had twirled away again and Ryan find himself laughing as she grabbed his hand and pulled him to dance. Laughing as Ashley started to sing Ryan moved with her only narrowly avoiding stepping into a table once. He recognized the tune from Phantom of the Opera. He had seen it once with his family. Though Ryan hadn’t understood what about it made his mother and sister go teary-eyed, it had been a rather impressive show. And Ashley did have a magnificent voice. Twirling the girl to himself Ryan dipped her over his leg while grinning at Ash: “Succumbed to you? Why, is it really that obvious that you have me wrapped around your little finger?” Ryan offered Ash a mischievious wink before pulling her up again not minding admitting the truth at all.