Confused and Alone, <tag:open>

[Maddie McIlroy]

Maddie wandered into the Gryffindor Common Room expecting to have to go straight to her dorm for some quiet time. However, the common room was unusually empty for this time of night so she decided instead to take a seat in her favourite chair by the fire.

Sitting there she began to reflect on everything that had happened that day, she felt so confused about the events which had taken place. Never before had she felt so alone, like her heart had been ripped out. She wanted to go home, she needed to see her mother, her little brother, people who she knew cared about her indefinately.

Even among the feelings of confusion and rejection she could not appease the feelings of bitterness and anger, no matter how many times she went through things in her head to try and decide once and for all where she had gone wrong.

As the feelings and thoughts whirled around inside her head, things became too much. Pulling her legs up onto the chair and resting her head on her knees, she began to sob quietly, listening all the time for the sound of the portrait hole opening so that she could quickly gather herself and act as if nothing was wrong...this was after all what she always did...

[Jude Windsor]

It was all such a mess, Jude thought as he walked along a corridor in the direction of the common room. The events of the previous evening had unearthed so much stuff that he could have never imagined was going on and he was still struggling to get his head around it all. Virgil would probably be alright - he was, after all, the one who messed things up and knowing the way he usually dealt with things, he would sort it out himself in his head. Terry could possibly need some support at some point but he was sensible and usually level-headed and would probably have calmed down in a couple of days. Maddie, on the other hand, was completely blameless in the situation and was more-than-likely distraught.

As he entered the common room, Jude could see Maddie curled up on a chair. He approached silently to see if she was ok but he could soon see she was crying. Sitting down on the arm of the chair, he wrapped his arm around the girl and snuggled against her. "Shh, baby..." he whispered, stroking her hair with his other hand.

[Maddie McIlroy]

Maddie didn't hear anyone enter the common room so she jumped slightly when Jude put his arm around her. Looking up at him for a second she said "It's ok i'm fine" pausing for a second she added:

"Ah who am i kidding i'm not fine, i'm a mess, i want to go home so badly Jude, i need to see my mum, she's the only one who i know truly cares about me. I honestly thought that Virgil cared and it was just a lie this whole time...the whole relationship, i can't believe he could do that to me, i care about him so much. he helped me to feel happy again for the first time since my friend died" she sobbed loudly into Jude's shoulder, hoping that he wouldn't mind her acting like an emotional wreck.

[Jude Windsor]

After listening to what Maddie had to say, Jude couldn't help feel sad. It was horrible seeing his friends so upset, particularly Maddie as she hadn't done anything wrong. Wanting to hold her closer, he slipped off the arm of the chair and jammed himself awkwardly into the gap between the girl and the armrest as he wrapped his arms around the girl. "He surprised us all, darling... I never knew he was anything like that, I always thought he was really nice. I think he was just confused though, and didn't know how to handle it. Hopefully things'll calm down in a few days, I hate for us all not to be talking."

Despite his best efforts to ignore it, Jude was now aware of how uncomfortable this position was - after all, he was attempting to wrap himself round someone much bigger than himself, and it was more than a little bit awkward. "Sorry!" he whispered as he repositioned himself so that he was now snuggled up in Maddie's arms. "Kind of the wrong way round..." He giggled, greatly amused at the situation for no real reason.

"I've got some great ideas to cheer you up. How's this for a plan? Freddie has some charmed Muggle stuff in an empty classroom. How about we go watch a movie, eat popcorn and chocolate, have good gossip... oh, and I can paint your nails! I'm really, really good at that!" he proposed, full of enthusiasm for his plan and hoping it would be well received.

[Maddie McIlroy]

"I know he was obviously confused and i will forgive him...eventually" Maddie muttered after Jude had finsihed speaking.

She couldn't help but laugh as Jude suggested his plans for cheering her up, he had obviously put a lot of thoguht into the matter and this in itself cheered Maddie up a great deal.

Smiling at Jude and wiping the remaining tears from her eyes and face she answered "That sounds great, i couldn't say no if i tried", she smiled at him before saying in almost a whisper "Thanks for your help, i don't know what i would do if you weren't here".

[Ron Weasley]

Ron had heard the whispers about what had happened with Maddie and Virgil, he wasn't quite sure what to think about it. Part of him was upset on their behalf, but another part couldn't help but feel, well, happy.

He hadn't realised until spending some time with her, how much he and Maddie had in common. Their sense of humor was similar, their hatred of Snape and essay writing. But he supposed there was more than that. He felt comfortable with her, perhaps even more so with Maddie than Hermione.

Hearing voices in the Common Room, he had ventured downstairs from his dorm, where he'd been attempting a Charms essay. Only to stop dead at the foot of the stairs when he'd seen Maddie and Jude curled up in the chair together.

He suddenly felt awkward. Caught between slipping away unnoticed or talking to Maddie in front of someone else.

Twisting the hem of a bulky hand-knitted sweater in his hands he stepped forwards.
'Maddie...? Are you, um, okay?'

[Maddie McIlroy]

Jumping slightly and looking up Maddie saw Ron standing nearby...she felt her heart leap slightly, maybe it was just a reassurance to see a friendly face.

Trying but failing to make it look like she hadn't been crying Maddie answered "I...erm...I'm ok" she said weakly. "You must have heard about what happened between me and Virgil?" she asked Ron "I'm just coming to terms with it that's all" she finished.

"Are you ok? You look a bit tense", Maddie added looking down at Ron twisting his sweater in his fingers, "There's not some essay i've completely forgtten about is there?" she asked, motioning for Ron to sit down and join her and Jude if he wanted to.

[Ron Weasley]

'Oh... no just a Charms one. I was doing, last minute as usual.' Ron forced his legs to co-operate and moved to perch on the edge of the sofa. He swallowed, feeling himself going red and wishing he wouldn't.

'I did hear about what happened. I um... If you need...' He trailed off, trying to form a coherent sentence was suddenly beyond him. He took a deep breath and looked Maddie right in the eyes.

'I know how much you wanted to go to the ball and if you still want to go I'd love it if you'd allow me to take you.'

The words rushed out of him all in one breath. He hardly thought about it before he'd said it.

'Sorry. Bad timing.' He leaped to his feet again. Gesturing to the Common Room door. 'I'll just leave you to it.'

[Maddie McIlroy]

"N-no wait", Maddie felt herself react as soon as Ron had stopped speaking. Before her brain had really had time to process what had been said she had reached out and grabbed Ron's arm to stop him from leaving.

Realising what she had done Maddie went bright red, "I-i mean you can leave if you want to...sorry"
Blushing furiously she decided that it was probably wise to just say what she had meant to say in the first place, even if it was the wrong thing to say now, after all she had already embarassed herself.

"W-what i meant to say is" she took a deep breath trying to force herself to look into Ron's eyes without going redder still, before quietly continuing "I-i'd love to go to the ball with you" she felt herself blush even more as she waited for Ron to say something.

[Ron Weasley]

'You would?' Ron's nervousness suddenly slipped away and he relaxed visibly. 'Brilliant. Thanks.' He laughed, taking Maddie's hand that held his arm and squeezing it gently. 'I promise we'll have a cool time and I'll be on my best behavior.'

He sat down in the chair closest to Maddie and Jude's, dragging it closer still so he would not have to let go of her hand. He couldn't keep the smile from his face, and although part of him still felt bad about Virgil and Maddie, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and a little overwhelmed that Maddie would want to go to the ball with him.

[Maddie McIlroy]

Maddie smiled as she saw Ron's worry subside, "I'm sure we'll have an awesome time" she replied, unable to keep the huge smile from her face.

"Thank you for asking me" she added looking at Ron and smiling again. As Ron moved his chair closer still holding her hand Maddie began to stroke his hand affectionatly with her thumb. Suddenly all the anger about what had happened with Virgil seemed to have dissolved.

"About that Charms essay, i've actually already finsihed it, which is a suprise in itself so you can borrow it if you'd like...not saying that you need help with yours or anything" Maddie felt herself blush again, but then laughed at how she seemed to be continuously embarassing herself in front of Ron.

[Ron Weasley]

'Oh that would be great. And I do need help on it, desperately. Charms is one of the ones I can't seem to get, no matter how hard I try. The only thing I remember is swish and flick for Wingardium Leviosa.'

'I'm sure your essay will be loads better than anything I would have come up with.' He smiled, the tips of his ears turning pink as Maddie's thumb continued to stroke his hand. he could barely think of anything else to say so he contented himself just to be there with her, for as long as she needed him for.

[Maddie McIlroy]

Maddie let go of Ron's hand and made her way towards the dormitories "I'll be right back...don't go anywhere" she added with a wink.

Reappearing after a few minutes with her essay in her hand, she passed it to Ron, "Here you go, hope it helps, Charms isn't exactly my strong point either, although at least it's better than Potions".

Sitting back down next to him, she took his hand again and leant her head against his shoulder, happy to be in his company.

[Ron Weasley]

Ron took the essay gratefully, reading it through and marveling at how someone's handwriting could be so neat. As Maddie leant against him, he shifted slightly so she would be more comfortable. Of course, for her to be entirely comfortable, he would have to put his arm round her. But he didn't want to be too hasty about anything.

Plus the hand holding was nice, especially when she did the thumb thing. Ron smiled, smothering a quiet laugh at his own thoughts.

'This is a really well written essay. Its definitely helped me get things a bit clearer in my head. Thanks!'

[Maddie McIlroy]

Maddie watched Ron as he read through the essay.
"It's really not that great...but i'm glad it's helped you" she said with a smile.

"Anytime you want any help...with anything just ask" she added with a wink. She already felt really comfortable around Ron and this made her relax completely. Jude had been right all along, and she felt so glad that she had let him speak to Ron for her.

"So have you thought any more about joining the Quidditch team?" she asked Ron. "I seriously think you should try out" she finished with a smile.