Post by Cyrus Thorn on Jul 24, 2009 23:37:49 GMT
The kid was irritating. Cyrus had promised to look after him for the morning but now he was wishing he had kept his earlier plans of going to visit Pyro. Joshua was three. Christie, Joshua’s mother and Cy’s new step-mother, had admitted he rarely needed his nappy changed. Rarely. Cyrus hadn’t needed to look into the kid’s nappy status just yet, and he certainly wasn’t going to; at the first whiff of toddler accident he’d shrug Josh into the housekeeper’s arms. It was certainly unlike the ex-Slytherin to babysit a toddler and the easiest thing to do definitely would be to just push Josh into someone else’s care. Cyrus did have much better ways to spend his time… but his father had sent him such an expectant look when Christie had sighed so hopefully and asked him to babysit. He certainly did not do everything his father asked him too, or expected him too; usually Cyrus had a way of manipulating conversation to making things go his way even if Joseph thought he had the upper hand. But Joshua was in an unusual way rather intriguing to Cyrus, and he also had a decent amount of respect for Christie. She wasn’t just a brainless beauty- otherwise his father would not have proposed- she had sense, and could hold a conversation that almost even challenged Cyrus’ own manner of thinking. He liked that, and while didn’t create false pretence in the form of gallantry or politeness before Christie, he did attempt to at least keep his normal blunt attitude to a minimum.
“Stick.” The child’s soft voice was so quiet, so gentle, and yet whatever he said, Cyrus heard him perfectly. He had no trouble with English despite being a French boy, a skill that surprised Cy. Of course Cyrus didn’t know the capabilities of a three year old wizard, so perhaps it was normal. But to him the boy’s language seemed far progressed and it was even rather impressive.
“It’s not a stick, Joshua.” Cyrus’s tone was scolding and pressed on the mood his expression was currently projecting; irritated, and quite fed-up. “It’s a wand. And you cannot have it.” With a stern tone, Cyrus looked upon the situation from the outside; him scolding the toddler in a stern voice for wanting to use magic. He wondered with a small smile whether this scene had been played out just seventeen years before in this very orchard, with his father in his place and he in Joshua’s.
Eugh. He’s already turning you soft, Thorn. Cyrus scowled instantly and his eyes darkened again with force, but even he couldn’t deny those adorable eyes of what they wanted.
“Fine. Just one more, and then I’ll take you out.” With a sigh that hid his secret amusement Cyrus slipped his wand out from the pocket of his day coat and flicked it absently. “Incendio!” His lips barely moved but the word came out clearly for effect. “Which one is that?” He quizzed the boy expectantly.
“Fire!” Chuckled Joshua happily. Cyrus nodded, and pointed in the direction of a nearby tree. On top of it, just about to tumble down in a fiery blaze, rested what was a birds nest - at least it was such a thing a few moments ago. Now it was a nest of flames. Cyrus only had to wait for a moment before the creation tumbled from safety. As it toppled towards the ground he raised his wand again.
“Aguamenti.” The sharp jet of water slammed into the falling birds nest with a strong force that pushed it several feet further away. Cyrus tucked his wand back inside his pocket and snickered at Joshua; the lad was so easily amused. “Right. Off to Hogsmeade. Just because I have you, kid, doesn’t mean my entire itinerary halts.”
Before long they were sitting on a bench in the wizarding village of Hogsmeade. It was sunnier than Cyrus had expected, a heat that made Joshua think it acceptable to totter around uncertainly and poke at random passer-bys. This irritated Cyrus greatly, a feeling that was only enhanced when he had to chase after the kid for a few moments in order to catch him. They sat at the end of the high street in front of Dervish and Banges, a shop that Cyrus would soon enter to pick up a few valuable wizard items. It was most unusual for Cyrus to be seen with a young child – much more unusual for Cyrus to not be swatting the kid away and ignoring him completely. Luckily no-one close by knew the Slytherin graduate; or so he thought. He soon became aware that Joshua had stilled and was now staring at someone close by with an intent, focused gaze that did not waver. Curiously, Cyrus followed his gaze to see a slender figure that he had not expected to see that day; Ruby Lehane.
His brows raised as he wondered how long the girl had been standing there, wondering what she thought of Joshua. He was tempted to introduce the boy as his son just to see Ruby's reaction but resisted the urge, instead choosing to cover Josh's eyes with one hand. "Careful Joshy, she's a basilisk that one." A cocky half-smile was tossed Ruby's way before Cyrus removed his hand from Joshua's eyes, resulting in the kid going back to staring openly at the Lehane twin. Why his step-brother was so interested in Ruby Cyrus didn't know, but it amused him greatly to watch her reaction to the toddler.
“Stick.” The child’s soft voice was so quiet, so gentle, and yet whatever he said, Cyrus heard him perfectly. He had no trouble with English despite being a French boy, a skill that surprised Cy. Of course Cyrus didn’t know the capabilities of a three year old wizard, so perhaps it was normal. But to him the boy’s language seemed far progressed and it was even rather impressive.
“It’s not a stick, Joshua.” Cyrus’s tone was scolding and pressed on the mood his expression was currently projecting; irritated, and quite fed-up. “It’s a wand. And you cannot have it.” With a stern tone, Cyrus looked upon the situation from the outside; him scolding the toddler in a stern voice for wanting to use magic. He wondered with a small smile whether this scene had been played out just seventeen years before in this very orchard, with his father in his place and he in Joshua’s.
Eugh. He’s already turning you soft, Thorn. Cyrus scowled instantly and his eyes darkened again with force, but even he couldn’t deny those adorable eyes of what they wanted.
“Fine. Just one more, and then I’ll take you out.” With a sigh that hid his secret amusement Cyrus slipped his wand out from the pocket of his day coat and flicked it absently. “Incendio!” His lips barely moved but the word came out clearly for effect. “Which one is that?” He quizzed the boy expectantly.
“Fire!” Chuckled Joshua happily. Cyrus nodded, and pointed in the direction of a nearby tree. On top of it, just about to tumble down in a fiery blaze, rested what was a birds nest - at least it was such a thing a few moments ago. Now it was a nest of flames. Cyrus only had to wait for a moment before the creation tumbled from safety. As it toppled towards the ground he raised his wand again.
“Aguamenti.” The sharp jet of water slammed into the falling birds nest with a strong force that pushed it several feet further away. Cyrus tucked his wand back inside his pocket and snickered at Joshua; the lad was so easily amused. “Right. Off to Hogsmeade. Just because I have you, kid, doesn’t mean my entire itinerary halts.”
Before long they were sitting on a bench in the wizarding village of Hogsmeade. It was sunnier than Cyrus had expected, a heat that made Joshua think it acceptable to totter around uncertainly and poke at random passer-bys. This irritated Cyrus greatly, a feeling that was only enhanced when he had to chase after the kid for a few moments in order to catch him. They sat at the end of the high street in front of Dervish and Banges, a shop that Cyrus would soon enter to pick up a few valuable wizard items. It was most unusual for Cyrus to be seen with a young child – much more unusual for Cyrus to not be swatting the kid away and ignoring him completely. Luckily no-one close by knew the Slytherin graduate; or so he thought. He soon became aware that Joshua had stilled and was now staring at someone close by with an intent, focused gaze that did not waver. Curiously, Cyrus followed his gaze to see a slender figure that he had not expected to see that day; Ruby Lehane.
His brows raised as he wondered how long the girl had been standing there, wondering what she thought of Joshua. He was tempted to introduce the boy as his son just to see Ruby's reaction but resisted the urge, instead choosing to cover Josh's eyes with one hand. "Careful Joshy, she's a basilisk that one." A cocky half-smile was tossed Ruby's way before Cyrus removed his hand from Joshua's eyes, resulting in the kid going back to staring openly at the Lehane twin. Why his step-brother was so interested in Ruby Cyrus didn't know, but it amused him greatly to watch her reaction to the toddler.