Back to the Start (Xander and Tess)

by **Tess McCartney** Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:58 pm

Tess smiled shyly as she looked at the Room of Requirement. It had actually repeated what room that had been created a year before. She touched her necklace lightly and smiled feeling the metal fox necklace against her skin.

She'd never thought that at her age she'd already find herself enjoying the company of the opposite sex, but then again at the age of eleven (when she had these ideas) it seemed really foreign. Now, now she was happy and it was nice to have someone that made her feel special.

She simply sat down on the fake grass and waited for him to arrive hoping he'd arrive on time.

by **Xander Clarke** Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:30 pm

Xander walked calmly past the now familiar doors. He loved that Tess liked these little outings. It seemed less pressuring than the traditional date.

He laughed when he saw the room. Finding Tess sitting on the grass, he plopped down next to her. He sprawled out with his hands resting behind his head, giving her a smirk. He couldn't be happier right now.

"So how was the rest of your summer? Anything exciting?" His heart leaped into his throat at the sight of her wearing the necklace he had given her. I guess she really does like it.

by **Tess McCartney** Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:53 pm

Tess grinned as he sat next to her, well more like plopped. She leaned down and aimed to kiss his cheek lightly, her cheeks flushing with a coy grin.

"Hey there" she murmured and laid beside him.

As she relaxed beside him, she decided to turn her body and lean her head on her arm smiling at him.

"Not much, Victoria spent the summer with me" she said casually. "And we trained for the tournament"

She tilted her head and poked his chest softly.

"What about you?"

by **Xander Clarke** Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:31 pm

Xander was happy that Tess could just relax with him now. He always felt energized around her, but it was a comfortable energy.

"That sounds like fun. I saw that your on the replacement list. Are you excited?" Xander wanted to be excited for her. But he'd heard about Tournaments from his parents. They weren't all fun and games. And if the Germans were involved, they might even be deadly. He shuddered at the thought of Tess in danger.

Thinking on his summer, he tried to push away his fears. "Not much really. Luke practically lives with us now. I actually have taken up guitar." He blushed at the admission. Every boy their age thought he could play guitar, but he really loved it.

"I don't know if I ever told you, but my mom has a fascination with muggle classical music. She's been pushing me to learn cello, but agreed to let me do the guitar."

by **Tess McCartney** Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:26 pm

Tess sighed and looked up at the roof of the room.

"Hm? Honestly, I regret even thinking of joining" she admitted sighing. "But I doubt anyone will need a replacement, but in the meantime I'm helping Victoria train for her fight"

At the mention of music, she smirked as she saw him blush and she leaned closer eyes bright. He loved music, well didn't that make her heart pitter-patter.

"What kind of music?" she asked softly. "And will you ever play a song for me? I love musicians" she teased.

by **Xander Clarke** Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:02 pm

Xander smiled brightly and propped himself up on his elbows to give Tess a soft kiss. "I know you would do great with whatever they could throw at you, but I'm happy you probably won't have to go it. I'd probably kill someone if they hurt you."

He wasn't the protective type, but Xander hadn't gotten much sleep since hearing she was listed as a replacement.

At her reaction to his confession he knew it was the right thing to tell her. He'd felt like such a prat, being so predictable. But he'd really been drawn to it.

"You're going to laugh. But my mom loves traditional classical music. Or just orchestral of any sort. So I've been trying to orchestrate some popular orchestral stuff for classical guitar." It had been hard, but it helped with the new MP3 player he'd insisted his parents buy for him and Luke. After learning about them in Muggle Studies he'd been so fascinated he'd gotten one as soon as the summer had started.

At a request to play for her, he hesitated. Playing for his mom was one thing. It was one of the few things that she really didn't judge him on. But he really wanted to impress Tess. "Sure...I guess. I don't know if you'll like it though."

by **Tess McCartney** Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:45 pm

Tess' eyes fluttered close as he kissed her and she happily kissed back before they pulled away. She blushed prettily at his protective comment and pecked him once more at his cuteness.

"I bet you could" she said eyes glittering with mirth. "But no worries, I give you permission to maul whoever hurts me okay?"

Hearing his explanation of music, she smiled softly and found it endearing. His love of music would be interesting to hear him play his pieces of music.

"I love that you love music" she said smiling. "But no worries, I won't pressure you to play for me."

She felt so comfortable around him, and she really loved that. That word was easier to think about and she blushed at the thought.

by **Xander Clarke** Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:53 pm

Xander knew when he was being teased. But he really didn't care since it was Tess. He often forgot that she was older than him. Only by a year, but that year mattered. It meant they didn't get to see each other as often as he would like, since they didn't have more than one class together.

He really liked when she blushed. It was a nice shade against her usually pale complexion. He touched her cheek where the color was most evident.

"I have a great idea. How about the next time we come here, I'll play for you and you can dance for me."

by **Tess McCartney** Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:28 pm

Her eyes fluttered closed as he touched her cheek and she formed a small smile at his comment. She turned to kiss his wrist and pulled back softly.

"I don't dance alone, sorry" she said and leaned against him and laid beside him smiling. "If you join me well...that'd be a different story"

She felt his heart beat against her hand and she sighed with a smile. She wished she could spend more time with him, but it was hard. Yet this was nice and she appreciated more.

by **Xander Clarke** Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:42 pm

Xander bulked physically at her comment. Sure, he'd danced before. But those were common dances that he'd been taught as a child. Ones expected of any young man from a wealthy wizarding family.

"I...I could try. But I only know some basic things. Enough to get by." He put his arm around her shoulder and reveled in her warmth.

Looking up at the swirling ceiling, he had an idea for a game. "Why don't we play twenty questions? I don't think we ever actually have." He grinned at the idea. They'd known each other for three years now and it felt like there were still things he didn't know about her. And he wanted to know everything!

by **Tess McCartney** Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:53 am

Tess allowed herself this intimate moment. Their personal space was limited and while she knew that she'd usually be itching to get out of situations that involved contact, but this was nice for her. She places her head on his shoulder and smiled at not only his admittance of his dancing skills, but the game he suggested they played. It seemed trivial, but she wa curious as to what he would ask.

"I'd like that" she replied smiling. "Do you want to start?"

by **Xander Clarke** Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:36 pm

Xander smiled at Tess's willingness to indulge him. Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift for a minute, trying to decide what to ask.

"How about we do two at a time? Unless you want to miss curfew." He smirked at her. As much as he knew she was brave and quite the individual, he knew she wouldn't want to get into trouble unnecessarily.

"Ok...what is your earliest memory? And...who's your favorite relative and why? That only counts as one." He hoped her openness would continue. He really liked feeling close to someone.

by **Tess McCartney** Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:27 pm

Tess bit her bottom lip and nodded as he mentioned curfew, that was never fun. She wasn't that sure that her mother would appreciate her using her Time Turner for this.

"Cheating eh? Typical Slytherin" she said biting back a giggle. "My earliest memory..."

She closed her eyes trying to think about it. Flashes of memories flashed in her head and she smiled softly.

"Well my first memory is singing with my mom. She's the closest person to me. She showed me unconditional love and she taught me its okay to be unique" she whispered softly with a shy grin.

Looking at him she tilted her head as she thought of a question.

"Okay my turn...what is your most embarrassing moment, and what's your favorite thing about being a wizard?"

by **Xander Clarke** Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:18 pm

At the Slytherin comment, Xander poked Tess in the side playfully. "It's not cheating if you agree."

He smiled, listening to her talk about her mom. Her face seemed to relax when she thought about her. "She sounds wonderful. I know that's one of the things I love about you, that you're unique."

When it was her turn, he smirked.

"I'd say my reaction that day when you made me drop my book in the lake was pretty embarrassing." He'd been almost in tears, because of a book. "And...I really like the transportation. Floo or flying. Can't beat it."

Trying to think, he hummed. "What would be your dream vacation, and...are you a cat or dog person?"

by **Tess McCartney** Mon Jun 18, 2012 5:22 pm

Tess squeaked and swatted his hand lightly. Teased or not, she was too ticklish to care for it now and smiled. Her eyes widened at I know that's one of the things I love about you, that you're unique. She flushed lightly and ignored the pitter patter in her stomach.

Her cheeks flushed more at the mortifying memory of her crashing into him and throwing his book into the lake. She covered her face and groaned softly remembering how awkward it was back then, and how, how hot-tempered she was.

"I'm still sorry about that" she murmured and kissed his cheek as a form of apology.

She wasn't the most graceful person, she learned when she got distracted. Multitasking in the air is not the best thing to happen. But at his question, she bit her bottom lip thinking.

"Hm...first of all I'm a dog person" she said smiling. "And while I adore Coeur, my cat, I always prefer dogs. Don't tell her but...but I'd prefer a dog to be my familiar" she said laughing softly.

The vacation spot was harder. She closed her eyes and hummed as she thought of the spot.

"The beach. I love the warm kind of weather you know? Perhaps swimming, or-...oh what do Muggles call it? Scuba diving? I'd love to swim with dolphins"

She adored the sea, it was her most peaceful place she figured.

"Actually...anywhere near the sea. Now it's your turn again" she chimed. "What is your biggest fear? Oh! And um..what's your favorite food?"

It was funny how they knew so much, yet so little about one another.