Food for starving people (Parker and Haley)

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley walked into the kitchen, having said to Parker that she would meet him there after giving instructions about how one had to tickle the pear. She looked around and realized she was the first to come. She saw the house-elves all running up to her, wanting to know if she wanted something to eat.

"I have an odd feeling that I want some salad with chicken, if you don't mind," Haley said thoughtfully and the elves fuzzed about, finding the right ingredients.

Normally, the thought would vanish from her head. Salad? Seriously? Haley wasn't the healthiest person in the world to say it like that. But she wanted something fresh. At the same time, after having gotten a bit cooled down in the owlery, she also wanted something warm.

"Oh, and could I have some hot chocolate please?" she asked them sweetly, with a big smile.

She had an elf in her own home as well, but he was growing very old, and Haley was taking more care of him than he was of her, something he was very ashamed of, but Haley insisted on it. She loved house-elves, but she also knew that if one were too kind, and saying that they didn't want to be a bother, they became a bother for the elves. They loved doing things for humans.

Haley looked up when the door opened and Parker stepped into the room.

[Parker Emery]

After writing the short letter to his Gran, Parker slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way back down from the owlery. He wandered around a bit outside the kitchens trying to remember what Haley told him about getting in. Something...about a pear. Right, that's right.

He walked around and finally found where the entrance was and stood there. Wait what was he supposed to do...tickle it? How did one even tickle a pear of all things? He reached his hand out as he felt his stomach grumble out of hunger. He supposed he must have tickled the pear because the entrance opened to the Kitchens.

He stepped in though the door, looking around. He saw a bunch of weird little creatures walking around that look sort of like the elf he'd seen of Pxyis'. The ones that weren't preparing what Haley asked for swarmed around Parker and started asking if he needed anything. He looked down and around at them all, freezing in his spot, not knowing how to deal with them.

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley frowned as Parker didn't move. She then noticed how he was staring at the house-elves. She smiled slightly.

"Darling house-elves, I don't think Parker's met an elf before, so maybe tone down on the occupation of his personal bubble?" Haley suggested with a grin at the elves.

They immediately backed down, all of them muttering "Sorry sir"'s and "Apologies, miss"'s.

Haley grinned at them and waved it away. "No worries," she said calmly.

Then she rose and walked over to Parker, taking his hand and steering him over to the couch where Haley had been sitting.

"They're very polite and goodwilled, house-elves. And they will make you whatever you like," Haley said.

She looked up at the elves. "Blunca," she said softly, and the house-elf in question walked over with a big smile.

Haley turned to Parker. "Pretend she's a waiter, and ask for something to eat," she said, "They're really quite charming."

[Parker Emery]

He looked up as he heard Haley's voice, and smiled in relieve as she sent the elves off. They were a bit weird and he wasn't sure he liked them all too much.

When Haley took his hand and led him away to the couch, he looked around at all of them working around the kitchen. "Wow...I saw Pxyis' one time for about a second...I didn't think there were so many here." he sighed, looking amazed.

"They do seem nice..." He sat down with her. He looked at the elf appreach as she was called. "Oh- uhm...they-they're okay with this? Don't they have work to do?" he looked at her, a little worried.

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley smiled. "They are a lot more. They take breaks and shifts and all. They have to be many too. After all, they are the cooks of Hogwarts," Haley said with a proud tone. She loved house-elves.

"But then you've seen one before, at least," Haley said, giving him 'the eye' and then smiled.

Haley gave a wry smile to Parker and then turned to Blunca, who was still beaming.

"Oh, yes, sir, we have much time on our hands," Blunca said, "We are so many, and it is two hours until dinner."

Haley grinned and turned to Parker again. "House-elves love working. It beats me, though, I hate it myself, but they seem to really enjoy it," she said softly.

A plate with salad and chicken bits was served to Haley then, along with the hot chocolate. She beamed at the house-elves.

"Thanks a bunch," she said happily, and they bowed and beamed even wider than before.

[Parker Emery]

When she mentioned they were the ones that cooked, another thing in his head clicked too. "Wait, do they also tidy up the dorm rooms?? Because I could swear that sometimes it's a bit cleaner than I left it half the time." He usually didn't like people going through or moving around his stuff, but as Haley had said a bit earlier, they did seem charming and it seemed he didn't mind all that much.

He looked at the elf, a bit surprised. For some strange reason, he didn't thing they could speak, or at least so human-like. He then looked at Haley, "They do? That seems a bit...strange, doesn't it?" They brought her the food and when she thanked them they smiled. He couldn't help but smile a bit himself.

"I don't really know what I want actually." He looked at Blunca, "What-what do you think would be good?"

[Haley Vilde Smith]

"To me? Absolutely. For them? Nope," Haley said with a grin.

She could understand that the house-elves were confusing. Even she who had grown up with one found it curious that they would enjoy work. That was as alien as it got to Haley really. She then thought about what food was good.

"Well, the sandwiches are awesomely good, especially those with chicken and bacon, and the hot chocolate is heaven," Haley said, pointing to her own drink.

"But if you're dinner hungry, I suggest the entrecote," she said with a grin.

[Parker Emery]

"Huh, why do they like it so much? Certainly curious....creatures. Is it even right to call them that? Wait, is it rude to talk about her like she's not here?" he nervously looked at the elf still waiting. "Sorry..."

He looked at Haley. "Well, seeing that dinner's pretty soon anyways, I'll go with the sandwiches and...the hot chocolate too," he added, smiling. He then shrugged. "And I don't know what entrecote is anyways, so I'd not be missing out."

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley grinned at Parker's politeness. "House-elves are creatures, and I doubt she'll be offended, but talking to the elves are better than talking through me to them," she said softly.

The elf simply shook her head when Parker apologized and in a squeaky voice she said: "No need for apologises, sir, none at all, sir," she said.

Haley grinned. "And they have a thing for saying 'sir'," she added joyously.

Then Blunca beamed and turned to go make the food Parker had requested.

Haley smiled to Parker. "The chocolate is delicious," she said with an approving nod.

She took a sip from her own.

"Did you get to send your letter?" she asked him curiously.

[Parker Emery]

He nodded at what Haley told him, smiling a little as the elf shook her head, grinned, and went off to make his food.

"Not too big a fan of Chocolate, but I'll take you're word" he grinned, nodding to her.

When she asked if he'd sent his letter, he nodded again. "Yeah. I decided to write to me parents after all. I said they didn't have to reply, so I don't expect anything back. I just wanted to be able to tell them what I've learned. Even if they don't care. Cause I didn't get a chance to tell them over the summer" He said with a slightly more serious expression. His summer had seemed all work for his parents and he hardly got to see them, and when he did, other chaos was happening.

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley raised an eyebrow. "Not a big fan of chocolate?" she asked outragously.

Then she grinned. "Nah, seems more and more people don't like chocolate. Well, more for me then," she said with a happy snap of her fingers.

Haley nodded as he told her he had written to his parents. She didn't know what it would feel like to be ignored by ones parents, but she knew that it couldn't be a good feeling. She sighed soundlessly and looked at Parker.

"I'm glad you did, even if they won't care. But, Parker, do they not care because it's magic or -" Haley stopped, not wishing to sound insensitive, but she felt like she had to know so she could be there for him if he needed her. "- or because it's ... you?"

The words rang around in the room, and Haley wished she hadn't said them. "Ah, sorry, that came out wrong," she said, feeling a blush creep into her face at her stupid question, and she never blushed, but she had never felt more ashamed of herself in her life than at that precise moment.

[Parker Emery]

Parker laughed a little when she called out. "Well some kinds are fine, too much though and I start feeling sick. I've not had hot chocolate in what's felt like ages. A shame, huh?" He smiled, resting his arms on the table, feeling like resting his head down on them, but he didn't.

A serious expression came over his face as she asked her question. It wasn't that she had asked the question, but he'd honestly never thought about it too seriously. He didn't move a moment then saw her blush as she apologized. "No, no Haley it's fine. It's just I never wanted to think about it too seriously before. It's okay..."

He looked down as his his hands, thinking. "I...well, it's mostly the magic. Me dad's even said how he still thinks It never occurred to him that it could have been just him. His parents hadn't ever taken out frustrations on him, other then they're complete disinterest, in school or because they were more worried about work. He always just thought it was their problem.

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley shook her head exasperatedly. "Oh well, be happy it's Hogwarts hot chocolate you'll be tasting now. It's wonderous," she said with a grin.

Haley saw the change in his face, and really wished she hadn't asked, but at the same time, she wanted to know. She needed to know. Parker meant too much to her to just be someone she talked to on occasion. He really was a good friend of hers.

But when Parker said that he never really thought about the question because he was avoiding it, she realized that he didn't have the answer to that question. She clenched her teeth and thought that what if Parker's parents were turning away from him now, because he was a wizard? Haley deeply wished that that wasn't the case. Parker deserved parents that loved him. Everyone did that. Even freaking Voldemort, because then he wouldn't have gone all rampage on the world.

But that was a bad comparision. Parker was kind even without the strong support of his parents. Haley just wanted him to know that she was there for him, that she was his friend. So she took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze and gave him a small smile.

"If you want to talk about it, then I'm all ears," she said solemnly, "But if you don't want to talk about it, I'm all voice," she said, her smile widening a bit at her own silly joke.

"But it doesn't sound so pleasant. Did you see much of them this summer?" she asked him, having a strong feeling that the answer to that question would be 'no'.

[Parker Emery]

Parker thought as there was silence between them. It hadn't been as if they had just suddenly started being too busy, or ignoring him. It had sort of always felt that way. It felt like whatever had been going on was more about something going on between them rather than with him.

Though with them actually voicing about their disinterest or dislike in the magic he did feel especially more cut off.

When Haley took his hand, squeezing it, he looked down at them for a moment, then squeezed back lightly looking at her. It was weird. The only other person he'd really talked about his parents to was Pxyis. And even then he didn't recall that much being said. They seemed so separate from him, he almost didn't want to call it a whole family. He felt more like he was just saying in someone's house rather then it being a home.

He smiled a little bit. "I...I really don't know what I'd talk about. I don't think there's all that much to really talk about with them." he looked down though at her question, speaking quietly. "Not at all...hardly a week a saw them I think if I added up all the days over the whole summer break.."

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley felt a horrible feeling knot itself in her stomach. She really didn't like the look on Parker's face. It was always bad when a person didn't want to talk about his home, but when that person gave in, it was always even worse than one had expected. Haley didn't want Parker to have a family that didn't show enough affection towards him. He deserved better. Especially considering how very kind he could be to other people. According to what he was saying, then it did not come from his parents.

She smiled slightly when he squeezed her hand back, before she lost the smile and sighed. She didn't know that it was that bad at his home. It was almost like his parents were indifferent towards their son. And that ... Haley didn't even want to imagine how hard that had been for him. She hated that she hadn't asked him sooner. Then she would've invited him over during the summer, and she'd make sure he was having a good time.

Haley clenched her teeth when he told her he'd only seen them for a week put together for the entire summer. She felt like throwing a fit, but felt it wouldn't really help Parker.

"I'm so sorry I haven't been there for you Parker. I swear, from now on, I'll be a much better friend!" she said, giving him a big smile.

She had completely forgotten about the food and started massaging his hand. She remembered doing that to her old friends when they were upset about something. She didn't know who it had calmed the most, though, her friends, or herself. She prayed it was her friends.

[Parker Emery]

Parker hadn't ever thought his family life was all that terrible. While his parents fought very often, he was never abused exactly. While they did ignore him at times, he didn't think he was neglected as there was as much food as they could afford and his neighbor would always watch him. And it wasn't like he was always locked in, even though they never gave him permission to go anywhere, as he would walk where ever he pleased (minus where the bullies where), until nightfall when his parents often came home.

Though he did know it wasn't ideal. The arguing , especially when the topic was him, he knew wasn't normal. Hugs or 'I love you's, or even words of encouragement from his father were things he knew others had more of. He was hardly introduced to his parents friends, and the last summer, even when they came over to the house, he hadn't been introduced at all. A thought then creeped into his head...were they embarrassed and ashamed of him? For being how he is, and a wizard?

Parker gave her a slightly confused smile when she said that was sorry and she was going to be a better friend. "Haley, there's nothing to be sorry for. You have been here for me. It's not your fault for my parents. I'm sure...they just don't realize they're doing it." He then frowned a little bit, looking down at their hands. "I don't know why you'd think you've not been a good friend, because you have, really."

When she started rubbing his hand he smiled and laughed a little bit. "That sort of tickles, you know." Then the houseelf came back with Parker's food and hot chocolate.

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley gave a weak smile when Parker said that she had been a good friend, but she didn't really feel like it. She actually felt as if she had completely neglected her friendship to Parker the first few months of the year, not having had the chance to talk to him before he just happened to walk into the owlery that very same day. It was stupid how little Haley had actually tried to talk to him. But then again, it wasn't just her friendship to Parker that had been slipping away. Haley didn't know the last time she had talked to Leisha, only that it was a while ago.

However, she felt that she had begun to become better friends with Zara, Keiba, Charlotte and Alcyone laterly, especially the latter one, and she really didn't mind that. She had always found them to be very kind people. The only person now that she really wanted to get to know better would really be Pyxis. Then she mentally facepalmed herself. No, she also wanted to become friends with Airen, Tess and Victoria, but it hadn't been easy to try to get to know them.

"Thanks Parker, but I really need to improve my friendship skills, I think," she said with a soft grin, "But I appreciate it a bunch."

A giggle escaped Haley's mouth when he said it tickled. "In a bad way or a good way?" she asked, feeling a bit cheerier.

Then Parker's food arrived, and Haley clapped her hands together, remembering that she also had something to eat. "Aiaiai! I completely forgot about my food!" she said with big eyes, taking a munch from the salad.

Then she turned serious again. "Parker, if I'm too unserious now, and you want to tell me more about your parents and your life home, then don't hesitate. I just have some serious mood-swings sometimes, going from ecstatically happy to horribly serious. I think it's something I do to make sure I don't get too depressed or too happy when conversations go serious. So do you want to tell me more? I mean, you can tell me anything you want to, Parker, honestly, I can keep secrets," she said solemnly.

[Parker Emery]

Parker gave a weak smiled back, "Well, trust me, you seem to be doing a fine job. There...well, there's only so much a person can take on at a time." He internally sighed, knowing how true that was, though it seemed nearly everyone had way too much going on for them to be properly functioning. Parker sure felt himself on the verge of that threshold.

He pulled his hand away slightly, laughing a little. "Well, I don't know- I didn't exactly fancy myself ticklish." he looked at his plate and he laughed a little at her enthusiasm. He took his sandwhich and took a bite, then set it back down to take a sip of his hot chocolate. He took a few more bites and turned to Haley as she went serious again.

He shook his head. "Oh, no, Haley, it's perfectly fine. I'm used to it. I understand." He thought it was just Pyxis sort of thing, but it seemed most girls were like that, especially his own mother, so it never really bothered him. It was just some sort of protective mechanism of some sort, which Haley confirmed.

"I really don't know what I'd talk about. I don't really have secrets..." he shrugged a little. "If you want to...ask questions though, I could answer them? If that's fine?"

[Haley Vilde Smith]

"Okay, then I'll take your word for it," Haley said with a soft grin.

She then sniggered. "I'll keep that in mind, no massages for Parks," she said jokingly.

Haley smiled to Parker when he said it was fine. Maybe he knew some others. He had told her about Pyxis' mood swings, and it was prefectly normal for girls to have mood-swings, though she herself rarely got angry or annoyed, only serious and joyful.

"Good, then I won't scare the crap out of you," she said with a wide grin.

Once again her grin turned to a serious frown. "I see," she said, "Well, I just want to know one thing: Are you happy, Parker? I mean, truly happy and content with being who you are? And don't just say you are, because I know what it's like to say you're happy when you're not," she said seriously.

Her eyes were pleading him to tell her the truth, because she honestly just wanted her friends to be all right. She needed them to be all right. She couldn't give a damn about herself anymore, because she didn't have anything to fight for but the happiness of those around her. Her happiness was forfeit the moment her parents died, but the ones around her... They still mattered. They were all that was left of who Haley once had been. She needed them to be all right, and if they weren't, she'd fight to the ends of the earth to make sure they became happy.

[Parker Emery]

He continued to eat his food, quickly finishing half of the sandwich. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was. He licked the tip of one of his fingers, then stopped at the realization of how terrible his table manners really were. Maybe that's why he got an occasional look from others at the Slytherin table. Them being all...high class and proper and all that.

He swallowed the food in his mouth and cracked a small smile. "Of course you won't. You're really not all that scary, trust me."

He smile turned a little and he looked back at the other half of the sandwich. He was silent a moment, taking the time to sip his hot chocolate before shrugging, trying to be lighthearted. "I suppose I am. I mean...for some of the things at home I've had to deal with and some of the struggles coming into here, I think I'm doing really well." He nodded slightly, his eyes still on his plate.

He sighed and sat upright again, looking at her an giving another small smile. "I know things could be a little better though. I don't know how. But...they could be. There just seems to be so many stressful things going on with people, and I imagine it must be so hard for them...and that includes you, you know. Everyone seems to be able to take everything in stride and deal with things so well. ...There are a lot of people I wish I could be more like in that sense."

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley grinned. "I know," she said jokingly.

The truth was that Haley did know she wasn't scary. Her parents constantly told her that her demeanour was welcome and happy to every new person she met. If that person's name wasn't Sally Swandeth. But though Swandeth was the most horrible person Haley knew, the most cruel and scary, Haley also knew that when she was around that woman, her own demeanour changed into something Haley didn't know, but it sure as hell wasn't a happy one.

Haley then shook her head. Parker shouldn't be anyone but himself. As for taking everything in her stride, Haley certainly wasn't good at that. What she had done, was to leave the fact that her parents were dead behind. She knew that she would break down and probably suffer even more than if she started coping with it now. But the anger she felt for Swandeth was too suffocating, and it was pretty much all Haley thought of when she was alone, and that helped the wound in her heart to go away for some time.

"No, Parker. You shouldn't be anyone but yourself. Truly. You're perfect. If your personality was like other people... Well, I would still like you and all, but I don't think we'd be sitting here, me being nosey about your childhood. Honestly. You're a wonderful person, Parker, don't let anyone say otherwise, including yourself," Haley said solemnly.

"As for how things could be better, we'll figure that out somehow. Whether is be on your own or together with someone. Honestly, I've got all the time in the world, Parker, so anything you wanna try out and I'm in," she said with a soft smile.

[Parker Emery]

Parker couldn't help but shake his head. No he was no where near perfect and he knew that. While it wasn't like he disliked himself, there were traits of others he found admirable that he wished he could develop or have. Sometimes he did feel like he could be a better person and maybe he would be happier if he could...change himself a bit. It was silly though to think like that so often, and Haley was right. He couldn't be envious of others. There were those that did like him for who he was and he'd not have them if he were different.

He smiled a little bit at her before looking back down to his plate. "Thanks Haley. Really." he sighed as he picked up the half of his sandwich. I just sometimes get these weird ideas in my head about how I could be better and they get stuck, even though I know it's stupid to think that way."

Parker took a bit and shrugged as he chewed and swallowed. "I don't know...I sort of think things will just work themselves out. I have a feeling next year is going to be a good year with me having something else to focus on." he took another sip of his hot chocolate. At least he really hoped things get better...

[Haley Vilde Smith]

Haley nodded. "It is stupid to think that way, Parker, but everyone does it. I don't think I'm perfect the way I am. I'm not satisfied being who I am, but I know I'd be far worse off if I tried to be someone I wasn't," she said softly.

She meant it though, she thought Parker was just as he ought to be. She smiled. He would make a future girl very lucky one day. And if that girl just happened to complain, she would personally hunt them down and kick their ass. No joke.

Haley then grinned. "I'm glad you're looking brightly at things, Parks! But what will keep you bu- Oh right! The healing apprentienceship! Oh, I bet you're looking forward to that!" she said happily.

Her eyes then drifted across her clock and she blinked. It was six already? Meaning it was dinner now? She sighed. She wasn't really hungry, but she felt like she ought to be there during dinner. She didn't know why though.

"Parks, the clock is six. Should we get back up to dinner, even though we've eaten?" she asked softly.

She was really having a good time hanging out with Parker, and she didn't really want it to end, but she still had days to talk to him before school ended.

"Oh, and Parker. If it's not too much to ask, do you think you'd have time to visit me during the summer? Or I visit you? It'll be a very boring summer for me, I think, and I really wouldn't mind some company," she said softly, hoping he'd be all right with it.

[Parker Emery]

Knowing he wasn't the only one who ever felt that way made him feel much better. He smiled a little and nodded. It was stupid. And it was nice to hear someone just say it so plainly. It was one of the reasons he liked to hand around with Pxyis so much. She often would just yell out the first thing on her mind, with no filter, just plain honesty.

He couldn't help but let his smile get bigger when she remembered that he'd be helping Professor Henley. Yeah, I really am. I know it'll only be dealing with papers and stuff, but I really hope to learn and watch a lot.

He finished up his sandwich and looked at Haley surprised when she said the time. "Blimey, really?" He took one last gulp of his drink and set the glass down as he pushed the plate away slightly. Nearly immediately a house elf took the stuff away.

He shrugged at her question. "I don't see a reason for really going if we've eaten already. I was planning to just go back to my dorm." he was having a good time and wished they could spend more time together, but he felt exhausted for some reason, and knew he could find her easily if he needed to talk again.

When she started with "If it's not to much to ask..." He looked at her, but his eyes drew back down at her question. "I don't think that would be possible." his looked at her quickly, his eyebrows raised. "I mean, I'd like to and all, but- my parents- we....we could write letters? I'd love if we could write." He had added quickly, fumbling with his words. He didn't care if his parents hated the owls that came by last summer. It wasn't like they were home enough anyway. "Though, I don't have an owl, so you'd need to write me first, I hope that's alright."

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