The Good Left Undone(August)

[Woodrow Winchester R4]

Woodrow trudged through the castle, bored out of his mind. He wanted to be outside, flying, running, or even running carefree through a daisy filled meadow, yet the chill outside would take some fun out those three events,well two of them anyways. Flying was always fun, except during lightning storms. Shaking his head at these thoughts, he thought, ' I could at least go outside and do something, maybe use some of the fireworks in my pocket.' With that idea in mind, he quickened his pace, and not being far from the exit to the courtyard, was outside within five minutes.

As soon as he stepped outside, the chill hit him like a slap to the face. Glad for once that he was all bundled up, he walked around the courtyard, and found a bench that was somewhat sheltered from the wind, having a tree right next to it. Pulling out his wand with his left hand, he pointed it at a good sized rock, maybe about two inches big, and began to have a little game with it. He made it rise about ten feet off the ground, and then let the enchantment go, only to use it once more, making it begin to rise again. It was a reflex workout he had begun to use so that he woud get his timing on spellwork more efficient. Each time he would change the heighth at which he would disenchant it, to give himself a different variety of timed responses.

[August Reid R7]

August lie on his bed thinking. He couldn't get Dylan out of his mind. The Slytherin hadn't even acknowledged August's presence during the match. Could Dylan really be angry at him? Or could he be avoiding August because of what August had told him on the Express? No, that couldn't be it. Could it? If anything it would stroke Dylan's ego not scare him away. Although, August still was not very close to Dylan. He had to talk to someone. Someone who would know about these things. Theo. Theo would know what to do. August sat up and gathered his things. He put on a heavy cloak for although he wasn't planning on going outside, the drafty castle was almost like being outside. August came into the common room looking for the prefect but couldn't find him at all. He would just have to look for him.

Walking through the corridors August passed many Ravenclaws but unfortunately, none of them were Theo. Maybe he would find Lori and she could tell him where Theo was. In one particular corridor, August passed the entrance to the courtyard. Memories of Dylan came rushing back to him and he felt compelled to visit. He stepped outside and soon remembered that whilst wearing a warm cloak it was still winter outside. One quick loop around the courtyard was all that he needed. He found the courtyard to be deserted save one bench where Woodrow Winchester was sitting. Woodrow had recently joined the Ravenclaw team and thus August knew him more as a teammate than a friend. Woodrow was pointing his wand at a rock and making it fly up in the air again and again before it would touch the ground.

"Oi mate," August called to Woodrow as he neared the younger boy. "Tis a bit chilly. What brings you out here and what do you have against that poor rock?" August asked with a smile.

[Woodrow Winchester R4]

Woodrow let the rock drop just as he heard a familiar voice. He looked up, letting the rock land on the ground with a dull thump. It was his fellow Ravenclaw and teammate, August Reid. Woodrow was the newest additition to the team, and thus only really knew the fifth year as a chaser with superb skills. He didn't think that anyone other than himself would even dare to venture outdoors when it was this cool, yet maybe the two had something in common. He stowed his wand back into his left pocket, and smiled at his teammate. He said to August, " Hello there mate. I know it's cool, but I absolutely crave the outdoors, and as for the rock, it was in the wrong place at the right time."

A closer look at his teammates face told the all to familiar tale of a deep concern. He wouldn't pry into that, as he and August had only met a number of days ago. However, he wondered maybe whether he could help his teammate by perhaps offering an enticing conversation of quidditch, or maybe he could ask August for advice on certain aspects of life. Being older, though only by, perhaps two years, August would know a bit more than he about the ways of the world. As a cool breeze flowed through the court yard, Woodrow, in his most curteous manner, said, " What brings you out here August? I thought for sure I would be the only one out here today."

[August Reid R7]

His question caught August off guard. It was a simple and honest question. It was cold out here, why would anyone volunteer to come out on a day like this? It was a question August had been expecting yet he still didn't have an answer for it. What was he doing out here? Did he hope to find Dylan out here waiting for him or something like that? Or did he hope to reclaim something? Whatever the reason was, here he was and the longer he made the silence last, the dumber he felt. August quickly searched his mind for an answer. He had recently met Woodrow due to the team. Was he really ready to spill his guts to this almost stranger? Then again, what would be the harm in that? Belle was younger than he was and she seemed to have wisdom beyond her years. Maybe Woodrow would be the same.

"I'm... well... I... don't really know to tell you the truth." August's blue eyes searched Woodrow's for some sort of understanding. But how could he understand when August had told him nothing? August decided to tell the truth but not the whole truth. "I was hoping to run into someone. I mean, someone else. I mean, that's not what I meant." August stammered feeling flustered. "Please don't take that the wrong way." August's hand found its way to the back of his neck. A place he began to rub as he often did when he was uncomfortable. "Here I thought I could be all suave and cool and I'm making a complete Neville out of myself." Taking a deep breath August looked away from Woodrow for a moment before returning his gaze to the younger Ravenclaw. "I needed a moment to clear my head so I came out here." He smile awkwardly.

[Woodrow Winchester R4]

Woodrow noticed August's reaction to his question. Oh it was nothing that was perceptible to the untrained mind, yet he caught something in the older boys eyes that led him to believe he was trying to figure out an answer to his question. Perhaps August had not expected to find someone out here? His pondering was confirmed when the older boy began to talk in an almost nervous way. He saw the searching look in his eyes, and wondered what it was that he hoped to find in Woodrow's. August continued on inthe same tone as before, and Woodrow nodded. He had thought to find someone else....that would explain it. He smiled in response to August's plea that he not take that the wrong way, saying, " Don't worry, I understand entirely."

He laughed audibly when August made a joke about the way he was acting. It wasn't an laugh at him, just his joke. A momentary pause, and August was looking away. Not for long though, as he turned back to Woodrow and said something that would sum up his being outside. He smiled back at August, and said, " I know what you mean, the cool air can really help oneself clear their mind. The cold is really underrated you know?" He was hoping to see if he could help August in any way, and if he didn't want to talk to Woodrow about what was troubling him, then he would do his best to try and get his teammate's mind off of troubling matters.

[August Reid R7]

With a gesture of his hand, August indicated the bench where Woodrow was sitting. "Do you mind if I join you?" August sat down next to the third year Ravenclaw and sighed. His warm breath came out as a big cloud of steam. Winter was one of his favourite times of year. But then again, he really enjoyed the warmth of summer, the refreshing of spring, and the beauty of fall. So then again, maybe winter was not his favourite but he really enjoyed it nonetheless. Everything was still and quiet. It was a good time to just reflect on life. That is all August seemed to be doing lately. He couldn't help but to think of Dylan but he didn't want to. Not in that way. August didn't want to be gay. But he knew he was. There was no denying it anymore. He had never felt so excited as when he saw Dylan for the first time. No girl had ever been able to get that rise out of him. And yet, August kept screwing it up.

"Woodrow," August finally broke the silence. "I'm glad you are on the team. There was a time last year when I was the only boy on the team and that was just awkward. I think you'll be a great asset." He stopped suddenly. Theo had probably said all this to Woodrow already. He didn't need to hear it again. "Now that we're teammates we should get to know each other better right?" There was a question August was dying to ask him but he thought this was a better ice breaker. He really needed to talk to someone and Belle had been extremely busy and hadn't had a chance to talk with him. "I have two brothers. Bronsen who is a second year Ravenclaw and Jack who is a sixth year Slytherin. Sometimes I wonder how Bronsen and I landed in Ravenclaw while Jack went into Slytherin but he always did things his own way. What about your family? Do you have any siblings?"