grace raleigh

♦ sixth year gryffindor prefect ♦

[lizziesource]

[aestheticgram]

[zoe-yamamoto-blog]

Zoe’s eyes widened and swore quietly as she followed Grace towards the bench a little helplessly. “Uh, a clearly untrue rumor, that I put no stock in whatsoever?” She offered meekly, sitting down on the other side of the bench, giving Grace plenty of room. “Seriously, I probably wouldn’t have put any stock in it, but then you said-!” Zoe threw up her hands helplessly. “I quit. I quit trying to talk to people.”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Grace sunk her head in her hands, but laughed a little at Zoe’s back-pedalling attempts. “Me too, actually. I think it’s for the best.” She shook her head, still disbelieving what a mess this had become. “Erichson and I are not even dating? We just let that fly so Forkissimer would dogging me to go out with him, it was all a misunderstanding. And now, apparently, I’m pregnant. Guess I can wave goodbye to Head Girl,” she muttered the last. She had never expressed out loud that she even wanted the title everyone seemed to think she’d get next year. But of course she wanted it. Sexual irresponsibility as a rumoured past-time though? Not exactly the stuff of leaders, at least not in Grace’s book. “There are more important things,” she said quietly, half to herself.

[looseleaflorcan]

Marco gritted his teeth and rubbed the hair on the back of his head. “I’m not gonna lie to you, I was just seeing if my charm worked. It did, by the way.” He laughed softly, letting it trail off slowly, his eyes now faced towards the carpet instead of at the girl.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Grace blinked at him, incredulous. And maybe a little intrigued. “And which charm would that have been, then? Was it one that specifically required you to go out on the roof, or was that merely poor judgement?” The words were harsh, but her tone was slightly wry. She wasn’t angry now that he was back inside, but she did probably need to do something to make sure his behaviour wasn’t repeated.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

the clash | grace & evie

[misspandoracharm]

Perhaps instead of becoming physically aggressive so fast, Evangeline, you could just use your words. Not mean words. Conversation words. Dear Merlin, Evie hated it when that bitch psychiatrist from primary school popped back into her head. With slightly gritted teeth, Evie exhaled deeply in order to hopefully tone down her frustration and defensive responsiveness. “I understand that that may be how you are, but I did not know that. And as you said, you did not know that I was muggleborn. We didn’t know anything about one another, and I felt patronized by what you said, never mind their actual intentions. I didn’t say anything about wandering at night, but I suppose I could have clarified. Nonetheless, just don’t mention it again, please. If you knew me at all, you’d know that I have enough mothering in my life. Don’t need any more of it.”

Why is physical defensiveness frowned upon in our society? Evie turned easily, still walking only backwards now so as to look Grace in the eye directly. “I’m not storming off. I’m doing rounds like us Prefects on duty are supposed to. And I am perfectly capable of being civil with someone I do not get along with. I’ve had a lot of practice. Again if you knew me at all, you’d be aware of this talent of mine.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Evie was beginning to sound more like she was listening, and thinking, and less like she was simply reacting. That was a good sign---Grace never liked having to be on the offensive, though she frequently found herself there. Now she could admit her own fault, without Evie thinking she’d done no wrong. “In matters where I don’t know enough, I tend to err on the cautious side, even if it makes me overbearing. I apologize.”

The second part of her comments made her actually almost smile, but she kept a tight lock on her amusement. It wouldn’t do for Evie to think she was laughing at her---the words just reminded her of the last time she’d fought with a patrol partner. If she could reconcile with Garcia, barely-reformed arsonist and rudimentary scoundrel, then headstrong Waite didn’t seem nearly as far out of reach. She gave a simple nod of her head. “Since we’re now a bit clearer on the priorities we have, I think we’ll ‘not get along’ with each other just fine.”

[vancepowers-deactivated20160810]

“Like the paper he’s made of, he just flies where the wind calls him.” Vance looked off serenely into the sky. “And I’m the wind, so I’ll call him now.” He grinned before summoning him. In a few seconds flat, Gizmo appeared from around the castle and flew overhead before fluttering a landing onto Vance’s forearm. “Guess who can Ra-leigh messages back! I present to you, the owl who is a letter!”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Grace shielded her eyes and followed Vance’s gaze, until she spotted the odd creation. It really did look like a white bird, from a distance. He landed on Vance’s arm, and she gave him an admiring once-over. “Oh, he looks splendid! I like what you did with the feathers,” she said, reaching out to touch the paper owl’s wing tentatively. “How’s his recording and playback charmwork coming along?”

[serenamantovani]

Serena waited in silence as Grace filtered through her thoughts, giving it an extra moment of quiet before responding. “I know many places. And people.” Her hand went up, “That’s not important. What is important is getting you to relax.” As they walked, she led towards the dungeons. “I have a specific hideaway that I use when needed.” A few corridors before the Slytherin Common Room, she paused midway through the hallway and glanced around them slightly before pushing against a stone just a few inches above her head. It gave way and a click was heard before a small passage opened up. A few steps led down into a round room. I had been empty when she found it, but Serena was resourceful in creating her own sanctuary. “Come.” As soon as Grace was though the passageway, she pressed on a carved stone and it closed up once more. 

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Serena’s quiet, reserved way of talking had never bothered Grace before, but she found herself quite irrationally anxious at her friend’s words. They were so vague it was almost menacing. Grace kept herself calm---Serena was a Muggleborn. Italian princess, virtually, yes, and she could be scary if you got on her bad side. But she wasn’t part of it, that wouldn’t make any sense. She was being completely paranoid.

Following Serena through the dungeon tunnels, though, she felt her own concern growing despite all her common sense. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. She was Rose’s friend, too, you saw her after---there’s no way. But when Serena opened a passage in the wall, Grace’s smile was shaky, and her shoulders felt like they were strung with bars of iron. She didn’t reach for her wand, or make any indication she would, but she readied her mind with everything she knew about wandless magic---and the Disarming Charm. Never having done it successfully before, she had no idea if it’d do any good---any good against what, Raleigh? Your friend? she screamed at herself. The passage closed behind her, and she held her breath, descending the stairs after Serena.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

fair fight | grace & august

[augusterichson-deactivated20160]

August’s shoulders lowered as he exhaled a breath of a laugh. “Your hair looks just as good down– And if you wanted to go bald, you’d be just as stunning.” He raised his hands, defensively. “Just covering all my bases. Anyways, field day’s probably over by now, but since you’re a Prefect, I’m sure you have to help clean or whatever. I’ll walk you back then leave you to it.”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

She was relieved when he kept talking after... that. That significantly better compliment. It was quite confusingly placed, in everything that had happened between them this whole afternoon. But rather than have to react to it, she opted to latch onto what he said next, merely nodded, and replied with limited coherence, “Yes, I do---or, I mean. Um. You don’t---” Dammit. She’d been about to say he didn’t have to do that. Which could start the whole fiasco over again. Grace swallowed, admittedly at a bit of a loss, possibly even flustered. She opened her mouth, but there was really nothing coming to mind that she could say, so she shut it again, slightly baffled by her own mind’s lack of co-operation. She decided it was probably best if she just started walking, and so she did so.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

shitshow study group || graquilia

[quinn-garcia-wwcblog]

He could recognise the same tone, even how desperate Lia might’ve sounded, because he was that too. Sometimes he thought about how he would press Helen for information again. It was in the common room again, fireplace burning to flush out the cold condensation on the glass. He was even, controlled, understanding—he’d be quiet, and then she’d tell him everything. Wishful thinking. And soon, quashed it.

It sounded so perfect when Grace said it, that he was a little taken by surprise. For someone who he hadn’t even wanted to be around, he was prepared to go up against them both and didn’t exactly knew why until now. Then Grace asked for assurance, and he was quickly brought back. Quinn squinted. “Yes.” He skipped over how offended he would’ve been at the question. Instead, he focused his attention back onto Lia. “You know she’s right.” He spoke firmer this time. “I already made that mistake. I’m not doing it again.”

From the way Grace clasped her hands closed, he could tell that she didn’t believe him. None of them needed to. He hadn’t proven anything yet, only that he would. “Yeah, he was at Helen’s trial.” Quinn looked to Lia, putting forward the little he knew to lead her off. “I think her family expected her to take the fall, and he cleared her name. He must’ve heard about it through his dad.” 

[liavillace-archives]

Maybe it made sense to them to not push for more, but Lia only felt limited by it. She sat back and bit her cheek, before remembering she had a cup of firewhiskey she was gripping tightly in her hand. She took a mouthful of it, silently resenting neither of them saw it her way. Perhaps there was a possibility she could change their minds. “What mistake did you make?” Lia inquired, not bothering to hide her curiosity. “I didn’t even know you two were friends– Why would she be telling you these things anyways?”

It wasn’t like she wanted to strangle Bennet for answers. She just thought maybe she’d open up with a little pressing– Lia would have backed off if she told her too. They didn’t even want to try.

Lia was about to answer Grace’s question about Cam, by saying he was Helen’s closest friend or whatever so he should have known something, but Quinn covered the base for her and so she continued to stew quietly. Until she thought about what Quinn had said. “That’s shitty– And she was going to go through with it?”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

“Lia, focus. Unless that’s somehow relevant,” and she had her doubts, “you can badger him another time.” She let her second question lie where it was though---possibly more information about the arrest, or whatever had happened, would have something. Anything, really. She felt like she was seated in the centre of a web, trying to find where each tiny vibration had started, and not quite able to see to the edges. It was that thought, that all the answers were out of reach---she raised her cup of wine, and downed nearly half of it.

The wine was pretty sour for her tastes, and she promptly took another cookie, trying unsuccessfully not to pull a face. She stopped her hand millimetres away from the automatic motion of dunking the cookie in the mug, as she would with coffee or milk, and sat back quickly hoping no one had noticed that. Continuing on...

...Elliot’s father, that’s right. “I wonder if maybe Elliot will be of some use eventually, for us to somehow contact someone outside the school if we find something? A reliable connection who’s over eighteen years old would be... reassuring.”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

fair fight | grace & august

[augusterichson-deactivated20160]

When she called him on his comment, August could see how it’d be misconstrued that way. Still, rather than apologize, August lifted his shoulders, feigning any wrongdoing on his part. “Really, Raleigh? You can’t even accept one compliment without making me the bad guy?”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

That was true, she supposed. It had been unintentional, but that’s how she’d phrased it. Was it just her default, to put make other people the villain? With a little effort, she summoned a smile. “It was a joke. Or, it was meant to be.” She bit her tongue and kept from adding, sort of like your ‘compliment,’ because it seemed teasing was off the table. “Sorry.”

[lgbtarizona-blog]

[grace-raleigh-archive]

fair fight | grace & august

[augusterichson-deactivated20160]

Lyrics, of course. That made sense. But when she went onto explaining their meaning, he wasn’t convinced about them– Not that she had to convince him and not that his opinion mattered at all, but despite her sentimental values about it, he only found ill logic with the original meaning of the lyrics. Still, it wasn’t his business and he’d intruded it far too much. 

August moved past her and held the portrait door open for her. He didn’t say anything for a moment before dipping his head slightly and commenting quietly, “You should wear your hair up more often.”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

He didn’t say anything at all about what she’d said. She supposed that was a good thing? Or he was just being polite. Either way, he moved from the doorway, and she got a chance to go through with it looking natural, and not like she was bolting for freedom. But his remark slowed her steps slightly, and she felt a confused blush rise in her cheeks. She was just being thankful she could sort of hide in her hair when she realized something that made her smile again. Giving it an exasperated tone, she turned back to him and said, “Really...? Really, Erichson? Right after I just let it down?”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

fair fight | grace & august

[augusterichson-deactivated20160]

It was stupid to open his mouth and say anything at all, but the words just fell out when he saw it. He knew if he he went back on what he said or changed the subject, she’d press for more, so August avoided that. He let out a low sigh and turned his head, scratching his nose. “I’m sorry– I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.” He glanced at her. “What do those words mean to you?” Because they had to mean more than what it said.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Oh. She probably shouldn’t have pounced defensively like she had. “Um, well it’s a lyric,” she said, feeling rather cliche as she said that. In an attempt to justify herself, she added, “The song’s from my childhood.” But he’d asked what it meant, not where it was from... 

She didn’t look directly at him, deciding to attempt at least a partial explanation---she’d never answered this question before, but she guessed it wouldn’t be the last time she was asked. “But also, it’s talking about... not being so afraid of the awful things, if you have, um, people who you truly love. It still takes time and it still feels terrible, but you can wait in the fire without it burning you down... sort of... if you remember that... ” It felt incredibly awkward to bring up something so serious, when they’d just managed to get a few steps back to normal. She did reach up and let her hair down, then, wondering if it’d be too rude if she made a break for the door.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

fair fight | grace & august

[augusterichson-deactivated20160]

“I’ll hold you to that.” August shrugged lightly.

When she made a conclusion about what they should do from here, August held no protest. He had no further interest in maintaining any sort of friendship with Raleigh past resolving whatever conflicts she had with his actions, and that was solved for now. “Sounds like a plan.” He said, before moving around her to get ready to leave. But that was when he noticed the writing behind her neck.

It wasn’t something he entirely expected of Raleigh, but it was fair to say he didn’t think that it didn’t line up with who he was discovering she was. But as his eyes skimmed over the words, he halted and immediately thought what fucking terrible advice those words were. “Interesting choice of tattoo, Raleigh.” He stated, coolly, as if they hadn’t been acting so familiar moments ago.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

She was about to make a light-hearted comment as they left to at least end on a not awful note, but stopped at his words and turned. August was looking at her oddly, his demeanour suddenly stiff and maybe even mildly unfriendly. ‘Interesting choice’? That was what she said to Flo when she didn’t want to tell her the outfit she’d chosen was some abysmal combination that no sane person would be caught dead in. 

Self-conscious, Grace wanted to pull the tie from her hair to cover the tattoo, but resisted. She should stand her ground---no one was going to make her regret her own choices about her appearance, certainly not Erichson. The tattoo was important to her, for a lot of reasons. She didn’t care what he thought, anyway. ‘Interesting’, though?

“What’s wrong with it?” she said, trying not to sound hurt or offended, though she was sort of feeling both.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

fair fight | grace & august

[augusterichson-deactivated20160]

August lifted his shoulders, unperturbed by the threat. “You’ve had plenty of chances to kill me if you so desired. It’d be a pretty inconvenient time to commit murder when I’m drying dishes. You’d end up making a bigger mess. Have more logical threats, Raleigh.” He stated before placing the last dry cookware away. 

When she apologized, August nodded his head and leaned his back towards the counter. “I’d love to pretend with you, except, that’s you know– A lie. I’m fine with everything that happened.” August stated cavalierly. “I prefer not to regret things. Besides, if people pretended things didn’t happen, then well, history would repeat itself. And frankly, I’d like to not go through that again, if you don’t mind.”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

She wrinkled her nose at his criticism. “This may surprise you to learn, but I don’t actually threaten that many people, on a regular basis.” Grace smirked a bit at that---her threats usually ended at detention and docked points. Except for some special cases. “But I’ll try and think it through more next time.”

His approach sounded way too reasonable and healthy. “I’m not fine with it,” she said, quietly. “I’d like to avoid that too, but I can’t really guarantee that it won’t happen again---though, we have no reason our paths should cross, really. I already got pancakes out it, which means I’m pretty much done with you now. So that should keep you safer.” She nodded resolutely to herself, and added, “But in all seriousness---I can stick to my routines, you yours, and soon enough the school will move on from that silly rumour, and that’ll be the last we’ll have to hear of each other.” Speaking of, she should probably get back outside---she’d promised to help with the clean up after the events were finished.

[helenbennet-archives]

black ink | helen and grace

[helenbennet-archives]

Helen laughed at Grace, while her eyes skimmed over Grace’s choice of tattoo. It was very fitting. “Well, I’d never thought about it like that. When you phrase it like that, it’s a bit weird. And I’m sure there are more girls around Hogwarts with tattoos or something– Who knows.” She lifted her shoulders and thanked Illiana and Odis once more before leading Grace out. “Guess we ought to catch a carriage back. I think the last ones leave soon.”

She shook her shoulders a bit, trying to move and stretch the skin of her tattoo around to let the new foreign part of her body get use to its home. “I’m really glad we did this, Grace. I really am.”

[grace-raleigh-archive]

She nodded---she remembered seeing a purple-haired Hufflepuff who had some, so they weren’t alone in it---and thanked the couple before following Helen out to the street. “That sounds like a good plan,” she said. The sun was dropping lower, and she still had some reading she wanted to finish up.

Helen was squirming a bit, which made Grace smile. She felt similarly unaccustomed to thinking about her skin. They hadn’t talked about the meanings behind the words they’d both gotten, but she found it strangely appropriate that one mentioned water and the other fire. Bennet might have been an odd person to become friends with, especially given the intensity of their first meeting, but now that she got to know her a little better, she felt an strange sort of kinship with her. “So am I,” she replied, and it was the honest truth.

[liavillace-archives]

grapevines | lia and grace

[liavillace-archives]

“I didn’t think the afternoon would lead to finding out Grace’s deepest darkest kept secret either– And you know, Flo and I had a bet going on. Flo thought you were actually a hundred and twelve year old witch who wanted to suck out all our youth. I thought you were a Ministry assassin with a tragic past.” She shrugged. “I suppose we were both half right.” Lia joked before giving a solid pat on Grace’s arm as she stood up.

“I reckon I can tell when I’m not wanted.” Lia waved as she head out the door. “See you at classes.” It was an easy way to let her know she wouldn’t be coming back their dorm later tonight.

[grace-raleigh-archive]

Biting her lip and not quite laughing, she shook her head at this reveal. It sounded about right, though she preferred the assassin one to the youth-sucking witch. Her eyes narrowed in consternation at the ‘both half right’ comment.

She watched Lia retreat from the room, kind of relieved that’s all it took. “See you,” she called after her, before the dorm fell back into silence. That wasn’t nearly as bad as she’d imagined it would be, telling someone about Simon. She supposed it made sense that she’d have more complicated feelings about it, and be nervous, but in the end she felt a little better. A little less like she was hiding, and sturdier somehow. 

She pulled out the photo again, just to see. And it did feel better, to look at it now. She guessed that’s what people meant when they said talking would help, something she hadn’t quite agreed with before.