He Is...He Isn't...He Is...He Isn't [Harriet]

[Danny Bailey]

Danny spread a blanket over the floor, ignoring the many hoots of the owls and the rather penetrating smell that filled the room. This wasn't a room that he usually would linger in, but he needed to talk to his best friend, and he needed to make sure that no one else would overhear them. And who, in their right mind, would want to hang out in the Owlery, where the smell was so thick you could bottle it?

He'd written a note to Harriet, asking her to please please meet him here as soon as possible, and was left twiddling his thumbs until the Gryffindor girl had time to read his note. The blonde hoped it would be soon, since he really needed to talk to her.

Harry,

love of my life, my darling, please please come and meet me in the Owlery as soon as fucking possible, please? *gives cute puppy face* I need you like, right now. Don't worry, I didn't fuck anything up, not that I know of anyway. I'm just. Well. Come?

Love,
Danny

He'd sent the owl off, picking a small and jittery animal that looked like she was eager to fly to America if he told her to, petting it and telling it to find the cute brunette as quickly as she could.

[Harriet London]

Harriet never made any plans for her evenings, for the simple reason that they had the tendency to change completely. It was much easier going with the flow than actually planning out what you were going to do and then have to change it completely. Tonight, she'd found some time for her homework, seeing as that was what everyone else seemed to be doing tonight, and had been sitting on her bed for a good hour or so (Looking pretty rough with her hair tied back and her typical layers of make up missing from her face), trying to tackle one particularly tricky essay. The letter that the owl dropped was seen by her as a well-appreciated distraction from all the hard work she was doing, and she silently thanked it's writer, whoever they were.

The Gryffindor read the letter in lightning speed, and sent the owl away without writing back to Danny. There was no point, she'd be there in no time anyway and she'd be able to tell him anything she could write. Practically falling out of her bed, she scrambled out of the dorms and the common room, not bothering to change out of her sweats and vest, or to do her hair or make up. After all, the blonde had seen it all before, he wouldn't judge her. She always swore that the Hufflepuff was the one person who she'd literally come running for, and she'd be damned if she didn't put that into practice when he needed it.

Roughly ten minutes later, Harriet came stumbling in to the Owlery and looked about the room frantically for her friend. When she saw him, she flopped down next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder and breathing heavily. ”What's up, gorgeous?” She panted once she'd got her breath back.

[Danny Bailey]

Danny had sat there watching the owls fly in and out for the better part of those ten minutes, wondering what his friends were doing, where Oliver was, whether he was feeling better yet, why he'd run out on him, everything that had been going through his brain ever since the brunette had dashed out of the dungeon, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. He'd since finished his detention, told the Professor that Oliver had been sick and that he'd sent him off, been praised for such behavior, and showered. Thrice. He still felt like he was smelling badly, but that could hardly be the reason the other had been so keen on getting away from him, since at the time Oliver had hardly smelled like roses and candy himself.

Wrapping his arms around her, he wormed his nose into her neck, breathing in a scent that always made him relax. There was something about Harriet that reminded him of his mother, of all the good things that he'd lost. Aside from that, she was the only person that knew everything about him, about his dad being an alcoholic and living in Hogsmeade, about the occasional slap that he got from him. She knew everything there was to know about him and he knew that he could always count on her.

"I met someone" He made a face, knowing full well how it sounded. Danny Bailey "met" people on a daily basis, and it was hardly a surprise if he'd been around kissing someone. In fact, it should shock her more that he hadn't made a move on Oliver yet. "And at first he was a jerk but now he's not and he hugged me and he's straight but he doesn't act it and I don't know what to think about him" He sighed deeply, giving her a sad little pout before clinging back to her girly frame.

[Harriet London]

Sighing deeply, Harriet kissed the blonde boy's cheek and wrapped his arms around her, pulling him in close to her. She'd never known Danny to react like this about any boy before, because he never took anything deeper than face value. To him (and the Gryffindor, come to think of it), boys were nothing more than a pretty face and a form of comfort. All this considered, Harriet concluded that this had to be pretty serious. "You see, THIS is why we don't do serious relationships." She told him softly whilst rocking him.

In her mind, the black-haired girl tried to figure out who this could possibly be, but drew mental blanks. She went through a list of everyone Danny had hooked up with (or at least, the ones she knew about), and ruled all of those out, seeing as the blonde hadn't been like this when he'd been with them, she doubted these feelings would suddenly arise. Then, she tried to think of other boys in the school that he might like, but still couldn't think of anyone. Eventually, she gave up. "So, who is it, why isn't he a jerk anymore and how do you know he's straight?"

[Danny Bailey]

"You see, THIS is why we don't do serious relationships."

Danny made a sound, running fingers through his hair and tugging on the strands. Love. It was ridiculous and quite unnecessary. He was content with living his life the way he had before, going through the boys and girls of the school at a steady pace, enjoying whoever he was with for that moment and never paying them a second thought afterwards. Of course, there were some he'd been with a few more times, like this one Slytherin boy named Ryan. He was a great kisser and whenever they needed comfort, it was an unspoken agreement to find each other. If someone else came along though, it was never a problem.

"He told me he was. Straight. Not a jerk. We met in class, and then in detention after I'd managed to fuck up our Potion. He was a right arse to me during class, mind you. Well, guess that was my own fault for asking him out." Danny cringed, knowing that she'd have a few choice words to say about that. He had never asked anyone out, not even Harriet when they'd slept together. Oliver didn't know it, but it had been a first for him, and he had no idea why he'd even done it in the first place.

Sighing deeply, he continued. "Then we were in detention and he was just...he apologised, and he was, well...staring at me the entire time. I have no idea what on earth is going on with him but he's...ugh, he's too fucking pretty for his own good, and I want him." He figured once he'd had him, that'd be it for his little infatuation.

[Harriet London]

Wow. Just...Wow, what? Shocked, Harriet blinked down at her best friend for a few minutes, not saying a word. He asked a guy out? This was major. Actually, seriously so huge that the Gryffindor could barely believe her ears. For a moment, she actually considered questioning Danny's sanity, or his sobreity at the very least. But the boy didn't look drunk or high. Just... quite down, in honesty. "Wow, babe." She said instead, rubbing his back to try and comfort him "That bad, huh?"

Something was strange about this, because it was just so different to the Danny she knew, and so different to how he spoke about other people. Harriet gave him a curious look, biting her lip as she did so. Something deep in her mind told her that this wasn't his normal kind of want, and also that whoever he was crushing on was going to need to take a good few punches from her at some point along the way. "Well... Why don't you just try and make a move?" She suggested, hugging him tighter for a second. "Straight boys don't stare at other boys, and if he is, the worst he could do is tell you to get lost, right? You still haven't told me who it is..."

[Danny Bailey]

It was bad. And different. And Danny honestly couldn't explain why. He'd seen him, talked to him, fell for him, and it scared the shit out of him. He didn't want to like Oliver. He could barely handle wanting him, and he had a suspicion that getting him wouldn't end his want. "Ugh. It's just stupid. You're supposed to be telling me that I need to get over this, now. That I shouldn't waste time on someone and that we're not going to end up falling in love with people that will only end up hurting us anyway" Danny complained, shooting her a helpless look. She really wasn't supposed to encourage him, he'd only end up hurting himself in the process.

And now she wanted to know who he was. Wonderful. Just thinking about him made something do a funny flip in his stomach, and he had to bite down onto his lip to keep himself from remembering the way he'd felt when Oliver had hugged him. "Oliver Pace. He barely eats. And he's straight. And he doesn't speak. And he's so not the kind of person that should even matter to me. I've got enough shit on my plate and here I go and fall for some emo kid who's got SAVE ME flashing above his head in neon lights."

[Harriet London]

With a soft laugh, Harriet buried her head in her friend's hair. He was right, she shouldn't be encouraging this in any way. In a way, if the boy did actually fall in love, and it worked out fine, it would be the best thing that had happened for him in a long time. But the chances of that were... almost non-existant, and she doubted that her little Hufflepuff could stand being hurt again. "You're right, I'm sorry. We're not falling in love with anyone, because love's silly, and you'll just get hurt. And you can't get hurt, because that means I'll have to kick some ass, and I don't feel like going to Azkaban just yet. And we're going to get over it, but I'm thinking if you want him this badly then we should get him for you first, or else you'll never get your mind off him, right?"

Harriet gave him a small smile, and ran her hands through his hair. Oliver Pace... Mouthing the name over to herself, she tried to put a face to the name. It took her a good few minutes. "You mean, the one who looks like he's practically dying?"She exclaimed, apparently having lost control of her volume. Bringing it back down to an acceptable level, she continued. "Shiiit, baby..." Thinking about this, her eyes narrowed. "...He's not straight. No way..."

[Danny Bailey]

He listened to her, feeling more and more miserable with the second. This wasn't really what he'd wanted to hear, after all. He'd wanted to hear that he could fall in love, that being with someone was acceptable, and that he wouldn't get hurt if they only tried. But Danny knew that she was right. It was stupid to fall for someone, especially someone that was at least as fucked up as he was. He should be glad she was saying these things, not sad.

The blonde couldn't help snorting when she suggested getting him for him, though that thought cheered him up immensely. Maybe she was right and all it took was a good snog or making out to get over him. It had always worked in the past, why shouldn't it this time? Ignoring the fact that he'd never felt this way before. "I don't know. Maybe he isn't. Maybe you can find out. You're one hot as hell mama, if he's really straight he wouldn't be able to resist you" For some reason, the thought of Harriet hitting on Oliver made him both want to giggle and scream.

[Harriet London]

Harriet hoped that she was really helping her baby blonde, because honestly, she didn't think she was. He hadn't cheered up at all, but she had no idea what she'd done wrong. The Gryffindor knew she could be insensitive sometimes, but she was trying, and she loved Danny. He was the only one whose problems really mattered to her, no matter how tiny they were. If he were her child, she'd be the type of mother that would take him to the hospital for sneezes, coughs and hiccups.

Though he seemed to cheer up at her suggestion. That was good - or at least, an improvement. It was her turn to laugh now. " 'Hot as hell mama'?" She asked, chuckling lightly and shaking her head. This was a ridiculous suggestion. "You overestimate me, honey. Besides, what if it turns out that uh, he's simply not attracted to me?" The way the blonde seemed to just assume that everyone would want her was absolutely adorable, but completely unrealistic. Despite this, part of Harriet wanted to try this plan out, just so Danny could get his guy. "I'd actually bet you all my money that he's gay. No BOY with hair that looks slightly like mine can possibly be straight."

[Danny Bailey]

He giggled at that, resting his blonde head on top of hers for a second. Harriet was the only person who knew everything about him. His name, his history, why he fucked around as much as he did [without the actual fucking, that was]. She knew about his dad, and she'd even offered to come to Hogsmeade with him a few times, though he'd always declined in fear of his father hurting her instead of him. It was only a matter of time before he figured out there were things he cared much more about than his own well being.

"Oh come on, Harry, no one can resist you. I couldn't!" The blonde had a feeling that if they'd both been different, both had believed in love, they could've made a great couple. As it were, they were best friends for life, and nothing could ever change that. "And good. I mean, I can use the money. He doesn't look straight, I'll give you that, but there's plenty of guys that do look straight and have come out of the closet." Bayne Williams, for one. He was cute, good looking, but definitely not the type that you'd imagine to be gay. Maybe Oliver was the opposite. Feminine but straight. A miserable thought, sure, but if Danny were honest with himself, the thought of the brunette being gay was also rather frightening.

[Harriet London]

Harriet sighed slightly, but couldn't stop herself from smiling at the blonde boy. Danny was quite possibly the sweetest boy she'd ever known, it was almost a shame that they were so close. If they weren't such good friends (and if Danny wasn't so obviously going to end up with a guy), she would have snapped him up in an instant. At the very least, so she could make sure that he got all the love he deserved. Deep down, the Gryffindor knew that he'd fall in love, and that he deserved to. She just really hoped whoever it was made him happy, and looked after him properly.

"The things I do for you." She giggled, faking a weary expression. Nothing was too much when it came to her best friend. "Alright, I'll give it a go, but if I'm wrong, don't blame me, okay?" She thought for a couple of moments, before adding. "If he's not gay, you can have all my money. If he IS, you can still have half. And you can come live with me. That's our deal, whether you like it or not!"

[Danny Bailey]

Danny looked at her for a moment, staying utterly silent, before he clung to her and pressed a kiss to her lips. It was something they'd said jokingly before, but she'd never sounded so much like she meant it as she did right now. It was rather awesome, and he told her that, told her that she was awesome, his blonde head hidden in her dark hair. Not only would he get half the money if Oliver were gay - and quite possibly a good snog if he managed to seduce him - he'd also get a place to stay. Suddenly he found himself rooting for the brunette to not be so straight after all.

"I love you" It was muffled by her hair but still obvious enough. It was the only person that Evan Daniel Bailey considered saying those words to, and still, between the two of them, it wasn't said all that often. They just weren't those kind of friends. They laughed, they joked, but mostly they danced around the serious subject of how they felt about each other. It had always been a deep friendship, and it was obvious that they cared for each other, but he never really went out and said it. But right now, he wanted nothing more than for Harriet to hear it.