life's cruelest irony

"But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve, For daws to peck at. I am not what I am." EDMUND GREENGRASS

[ofedmunds]

dromedaa:

Andromeda had spent the day by the lake, looking for an opportunity to observe the Giant Squid at length. She’d been fascinated by it lately, remembering the one or two times it had raised one of its great arms in her presence. She sat on a little blanket by the lake, slowly consuming the large caramel chocolate biscuit she’d found in a basket—how were those charmed, she wondered? Andromeda was watching the lake when a sprinkle flew over her head.

Looking back, she saw Edmund Greengrass. She patted the empty spot beside her on the blanket. “Are you squid-watching too? Come sit with me.”

Edmund gave her a chagrined smile, quite relieved that his aim had proved true, and that he’d not pelted her in the back of the head with the wayward sprinkle meant for the squid - though he wasn’t sure which would ring more pathetic when told back later. Looking down to the mostly untouched pastry with resignation, he obeyed her request, stepping forth to sink onto the blanket beside her. 

With one quirked brow, he held out the cupcake, “Care to share? I don’t think the squid is impressed with my measly offering.” He looked back out to the lake, leaning back on his free hand. “Enjoying the festivities?” he wondered, “Quite a to-do for such a controversial holiday.”

[ofedmunds]

portiadoll:

She felt slightly bad at snapping at Edmund but she just didn’t know who her friends were anymore and it was easier to be a bitch first then be bitched about. “We’re snakes, we don’t have to gear up to insult people it comes naturally…” she sneered, shaking her head to indeed see a petal fall from her lightly curled locks. She moodily flicked it away as if it offended her. “-why don’t you try most of our house and the castle? You seriously don’t know what my issue is with people right now, Edmund?” she asked, wearily.

With furrowed brow, he gave her question some thought; Edmund had never been one to indulge in gossip - he’d always lived with his head warily close to the clouds, for he oft thought himself above it all. With his nose in a book or his head in a cloud of smoke, he hardly had time to listen to rumors - and so he could honestly say that he hadn’t the foggiest idea why she seemed so cross. He shook his head, looking quite ashamed, “I’m afraid not. It can’t be so horrible if I’ve not heard a peep of it.”

[ofedmunds]

puresteffy:

all that uncomfortableness she had been feeling since she left sandor faded as she saw her twin, a feeling of peace completely falling over her. it was quite clear he was the only person to make her feel that way, to truly know every single detail about her life and not judge it, judge her. edmund was the one person she was never ashamed to be who she truly was. happily skipping over to him, she let a wide smile form on her lips, green eyes the colour of leafs as the sun shines on them. elizabeth couldn’t understand why he was alone, she knew that many people had to be attracted to him and she knew that he had bertha as his betrothed as well. as soon as she was close enough, the redhead witch jumped on her twin’s back, laughter leaving her lips as soon as she heard what he said. 

“squids aren’t supposed to have sprinkles or a cupcake before you even think about it.” effy teased, voice light and filled with her french accent since it was just him around.

he nearly dropped his cupcake - with wide eyes and hastily muttered curse, he crushed the poor pastry between hasty fingers, free hand wheeling about to grab hold of his twin’s leg to keep her steady upon his broad back. it was a familiar assault; edmund seemed to live his entire life prepared to be leaped upon - but for her, he would never complain. edmund bent his knees, recovering from a minor stumble, as he craned his neck to grin up at her with raised brow; her presence was innate relief that he was no longer alone - and that he looked significantly less pathetic. the giant squid would just have to wait. 

“well what if he likes it?” he quirked one brow, angling his torso so that she hung closer to the lake for just a moment - though there was never any chance of letting her slip, “i’d bet the poor thing’s never even had a valentine. a few purple cupid sprinkles won’t kill him. or her. don’t even know the poor thing’s gender - sad, really.”

[ofedmunds]

jorkiins:

     When she realized it had been Edmund who she had encountered, her smile grew impossibly bigger ( oh, how much fun they’d have! ) as she offered him a thankful look. “You don’t look half bad yourself,” she complimented him, letting out a short laugh and shaking her head shortly. “Not really, actually, I think it’s quite cheesy and over-the-top, but it’s the first year I have a–” she stopped herself and cleared her throat. “I mean, that I’m not–” she tried to fix it, with an awkward laugh. “You know what I mean.”

     He found himself impossibly giddy; Edmund was not a giddy person, by nature, and yet here he was, fidgeting with active fingers at his sides and nervous energy in his feet. When she stuttered, the energy only seemed to worsen; Edmund hovered between darting forward to give her a kiss - if only to spare her the recovery of what she seemed to think a misstep in speech - and staying put, for he was not meant to be the sort who felt this strangeness on Valentine’s Day. At her laugh, Edmund committed, quickly leaning forth, hand at the side of her face and lips placing a quick kiss upon her cheek. Before he could regret such a public display, he stepped back, straightening once more - though the tip of his nose had gone considerably pink. 

“I know what you mean,” he smiled, holding out his arm with crooked elbow and straight shoulder, “Shall we?”

[ofedmunds]

Not single, but not quite taken - Edmund found himself hovering uncomfortably between the two halves of the party, sticking close to the edge of the water as if the idea of being consumed by the Giant Squid was preferable to choosing a side. He held an untouched cupcake in one hand, unsure even of the sugary treat - should he be making an effort to give it to someone in a gesture of goodwill? Would it be pathetic for the suave Greengrass to stand alone and stuff himself? He sighed, looking down to the cupcake with distaste - and instead of a decision, opting instead to pluck a sprinkle from the very top and toss it into the water. 

“Have a sprinkle, you slimy bastard.” At least the squid would be well-fed.

[ofedmunds]

jorkiins:

     Finally stepping outside through the big doors, Bertha closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet smell of roses and happiness. She let out a contented sigh as she looked up to the cleared sky ( quite insane to look at in February ) before she spun on her heels to get a glimpse at the whole of the grounds. Everywhere she looked, people seemed happy and it filled her heart to know that was still possible, even with everything going on in the real world. She had traded her gray skirt and sweater for a long-sleeve dress and warm tights and was looking beaming as ever. “Nothing can go wrong today,” she declared happily, to the first person to cross her path.

     He’d told himself not to smoke today - the smell of cigarettes did not, it seemed, go well with that of overpowering roses; the more honest of his friend group had no qualms with reaffirming such ideas. And so he’d taken to smuggling chocolates in his pockets instead - one pocket held a smattering of colorful wrappers, and the other uneaten candy hearts; it was lucky that it was Bertha who stumbled upon him as he pocketed another wrapper - she’d surely prefer chocolate to cigarettes. Edmund was unable to contain the beaming smile that crossed his features at the sight of her: “You look lovely,” he grinned, “And you seem to be in the best mood of anyone I’ve come across - you’re a fan of Valentine’s Day, then?”

[ofedmunds]

portiadoll:

“If you’re here to laugh at me or insult me just hurry it up- get it out your system because it really couldn’t make this day suck even more than it does at the present.” she snarled, crushing yet another rose in her hands and throwing it into the lake.

“Do I look like I’m gearing up to insult you?” he raised one brow, hands held up in surrender, “I’d come to tell you that you have a rose petal in your hair, but I suppose I could just leave you be - has someone else tried to laugh at you? I don’t see why they’d have reason to.”

[ofedmunds]

skeeteresque:

She was unused to being watched; there was a blessed anonymity to being the source of news, so close to the flashing lights that you could barely be seen. Rita was ridiculously private about her own life; the less people who knew the sordid facts of her childhood, or her new efforts to make it in the wixen journalism, the better. As she looked up at Edmund, her glasses slipping slightly on her nose, she wondered what he was after. She tilted her head, openly observing him, noting the closed body language of his crossed arms. If he wasn’t about to spill secrets, then neither was she. 

“Who says I’m after cool, Greengrass?” she said, glad that he’d found it amusing. That would help distract from the seriousness of her actual research. “No one’s really awake at this time,” she said, before realizing what it revealed about her. “I was here yesterday following up on my little monkey project, so I thought the same truth would hold.” She grinned up at him, a wicked smile on her face as she thought of a way to divert the conversation onto him. “Are you sure you’re not here to meet a paramour? I know how you Greengrasses like to have your fun.”

Absently, he reached up to the bookshelf at his shoulder and slipped a random book from its place, turning over the worn spine and running a finger along the faded golden accents. The title was in something that appeared to be Greek - a language that Edmund had not yet mastered, though it was high on his list. He studied it for a moment, feeling Rita’s eyes upon him - surely she was skeptical as to why he was here; he hardly knew himself. The late hours made him aimless; there was far too much on his mind to simply sit still, however. And snooping over the shoulder of the one person who lived perched upon the shoulders of everyone in the castle, catching their secrets before they could fully form on their tongues, was as interesting a distraction as any. 

He raised one brow at her question, book flipped lazily open to a random page, then snapped shut once more. “Not this time,” he smirked, “Bit sore from the last one - you understand. Everyone needs a break now and then. Not all of us can keep ourselves preoccupied with flying monkeys and ways to cheat at Quidditch - some of us just wander.” The silence, no matter how false his earlier assertions, was an undeniable truth. Edmund gave the book one last look, and a quick dusting with his palm, before sliding it back onto the shelf. “At least we Greengrasses don’t have any strange desires to turn into primates - but, hey, no judgement.”

[ofedmunds]

mafxlda:

“Most people? You’ve asked around then, have you? You don’t have to, necessarily.”

“I don’t have to ask - and I haven’t had any complaints thus far. I assume this doesn’t count as a complaint; gonna just keep it off, then. It’s laundry day.”

[ofedmunds]

mafxlda:

“And who said I’d want to see you shirtless, Greengrass?”

“Most people do - but, hey, no foul. I guess I can cover myself for your delicate sensibilities.” 

[ofedmunds]

mafxlda:

“Shit! Sorry!”

“Bloody hell - if you wanted to see me shirtless, you could have just asked.”

[ofedmunds]

georgiemacmillan:

Edmund Greengrass was the absolute gentleman; Georgie wasn’t sure that anyone could dispute that. She had little doubt that he’d been prepared for these encounters, in the same way that her mother had instructed her to act like a lady. Sit properly, be modest, appear polished. The words in her head only reminded her about how much was riding on how their relationship progressed. This was less about them, and more about how well they lived up to the expectations of their families, how well they complied with a centuries-old tradition.

Yet, as she sat opposite him, she found it hard to deny that there was some immediate attraction. Georgie wasn’t a particularly shallow person, but there was some part of her that was incredibly grateful that he was good-looking. Smiling as he spoke, she let out a soft, somewhat reserved, laugh. “There’s a wall that they do that to? I feel like I’m missing something pretty spectacular there. But, I hope that your exams went well.” Georgie internally cursed herself for how awkward her rambling was. “The Ravenclaw tower? Oh, it’s been full of people studying through the night, and then partying just as hard.” She shrugged her shoulder as she reached over for the fruit on the table.

Being over-concerned with Desdemona’s betrothal, and the various ways in which he’d envisioned himself beating her betrothed into the dirt should he hurt her, had taken precedent over any thought toward his own life. Of course his sister didn’t see this - nor did Krum know that his head balanced on very thin ice; perhaps it was unfair to Georgie, who seemed so utterly polished and prepared, that he was hurtling into this somewhat unprepared (two mismatched socks, where today was concerned) relative to how he usually held himself. But this was tradition - they would have more than enough time to be both awkward and at ease around each other. 

He couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit invigorated at her laugh; if he could charm her in the slightest, get her to smile a bit over breakfast, it would be a successful venture indeed. “Well, you’ll just have to come down and see it sometime - I promise it’s not all dark and gloomy down there. Between the fireplace and the mermaids, it never gets dull,” he fidgeted with his drink, turning it round on the table without picking it up, “You Ravenclaws do know how to throw a party - I’ll give you that,” he rushed to slide the bowl of fruit closer, so that it was on her side of the table, “I heard that Belby threw firecrackers off the Astronomy Tower at the last one - a little madness offsets all that studying, I suppose.”

[ofedmunds]

skeeteresque:

Rita felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as soon as she heard another voice. She was generally a more careful person, and she cursed herself for her foolhardy decisions tonight. Closing the books, she quickly transfigured the covers to reflect the cover story she’d come up with as whoever it was rounded the corner. She squinted at him, his face shadowed in the dim light. Ah, it was Greengrass. How unexpected. They’d never interacted, but he didn’t seem the type to break curfew, especially not in the library. 

“I’m trying to figure out if I can fly without brooms,” she said smoothly, gesturing at the books she had stacked around her. “They’re not very comfortable, plus I think it would make a great extra credit project for Transfiguration.” She looked at him, her smile cool. “What about you? Why are you still here?” Rita raised an eyebrow with a smile.

It was a strange reversal of fortune, to be actively prying information from the one person who, on most occasions, gave it most willingly. He was undeniably curious about the secretive expression on her face; perhaps because he was so bored out of his own skull with revisions - and so curious as to why it was she of all people who’d been unlucky enough to interrupt him - he simply couldn’t resist. Edmund crossed his arms over his chest, remaining at a safe enough distance against the end of the row of shelves nearest her, and watched. They both seemed to have a proclivity for acting far too cool in situations that did not warrant it - and he could smell a secret as surely as she could. 

“Because zooming about the pitch like a flying monkey would be the epitome of cool,” he snorted, matching her raised brow, “I couldn’t help but hear you from the other side of this bookcase - your research isn’t exactly silent, is it? Likely far more interesting than the Runes, of course. Lost track of the time - didn’t realize how late it was. You been here all night, then?” He was half surprised she hadn’t told him off for eavesdropping yet - but the night was still young in some respects. 

[ofedmunds]

georgiemacmillan:

Betrothals were one of those inescapable Pureblood traditions, at least when it came to the Macmillan family. Georgie had watched cousins upon cousins, and even her own brother, get married to their betrothed. Yet, that didn’t make it any easier to meet the boy she was expected to spend her life with - especially considering he was a Slytherin. Edmund, however, had vastly exceeded her expectations. He was a gentleman and he seemed more than pleasant. Then again, she hardly knew him beyond a few closely monitored interactions. It was barely a way to get to know someone, not when every encounter was followed by an inquisition from her family.

The castle seemed almost a haven in contrast. There were no parents; no sets of eyes on them here. Georgie walked towards her betrothed with the hope that they could make the most of this opportunity. Yet she couldn’t help but cringe slightly as he stood up. He was a gentleman, yes - but she didn’t want him to feel out of place in her company. “Morning,” she smiled softly at him, sitting cautiously down at the table. “I did, thank you. Did you?” It was awkward, there was no denying that. She reached for the pumpkin juice in near silence, biting her lip ever so slightly. “Anything exciting to report from the Slytherin Dungeon?”

He had always been quite confident in his ability to be charming -- it had gotten him this far, into the hearts of many a Pureblood girl, and into the beds of many more. His charm was both weapon and shield; and yet he found it falling flat beneath the pressure of the betrothal that sat between them like unnaturally thick air. Edmund was lucky, surely, to have been put together with someone who seemed so level-headed, but to look at her and imagine the rest of his life was quite the daunting task. But, ever the gentlemen, he remained standing; he could just hear his mother now, telling him to stand taller. 

She was pretty -- he’d thought this before, but out from under the penetrating gaze of their watchers it was much easier to tell. Edmund sat as she did, not put at ease in the slightest as he settled back into his seat at a disgruntled Rabastan’s side. “Yes,” he answered, tone polite, though he willed himself to conjure the personality that had gotten him so far (and her smile was nice -- he took note), “I did. A bit hard to, though -- you know, with exams and all. And end of the year Quidditch festivities and all; makes it all a bit more exciting.” He looked down into his juice; he was talking too fast. At her question, he looked up again, straightening his spine and nodding genially. “Aside from the fact that the mer in the lake have taken to attaching seaweed to the glass wall in obscene patterns?” he laughed, wondering if she’d ever seen the wall that bordered the lake, “Er -- more of the same, really. And Ravenclaw tower?”

[ofedmunds]

ofmetagoldstein:

Once Aurora had got started on something she loved, it was pretty impossible to get her to stop without physically gagging her. The girl snorted at his objection, holding up her hands in surrender but otherwise ignoring it. “Oh my fuckin’ god, mate, you are so missin’ out. Aliens are like, they’re from other planets, other galaxies. I personally think they’re real but my older brother says its a load of shite. Some people reckon they’ve actually been abducted by ‘em before, like taken to their spaceships and everythin’, but that the government keeps it all hidden. Ones in Star Wars can be pretty decent but usually they’re evil, ya know. Listen, if ya read War of the World’s you’ll get it. It’s a sick book, one of my favourites. There’s a film too but the book is better on this rarest occasion. Shit you’re missin’ out I can’t believe it!” She laughed in disbelief, resting her chin on the back of her chair after shaking her head. “Glad I’ve swayed ya. Ya know, I got a poster in my trunk of him in my room. I’ll have to show ya if I ever remember, you really look like his nerdy younger brother I’m tellin’ ya.” She grinned playfully.

He couldn’t help but feel as if he’s been out of the proverbial loop his entire life -- the way she spoke of Star Wars made him wonder what else he was missing out on, and what in bloody hell space had to do with anything. Edmund had been determined to be peeved by Rory Goldstein’s loud presence, but suddenly he found himself relying on it, for she was a bastion of information without which he suddenly could not live. Who was Harrison Ford? Why were the aliens fighting? How in Merlin’s name did a spaceship stay afloat. “Muggles are bloody brilliant,” he snorted, speaking without realizing the obvious contradiction in precedent and current thought, “I mean -- coming up with that sort of thing? How many people did it take, I wonder? And how can I meet this Harrison Ford bloke? I need to make the comparison for myself; reckon I wear a suit better, yeah? That’s gotta count for something. But we’ll see that poster -- got to know what I’m up against.” He laughed, shaking his head -- a playful Edmund was a rare sight. “You’re gonna make me fail my exams, Goldstein -- got to sit down and read that book now, before anythin’ else.”

[ofedmunds]

charlie-flint:

Charlie couldn’t help but agree with him. “I suppose you’re right. I’ve already figured out McGonagall’s ways but at the moment I’m working on Ancient Runes.”

“Ah -- if you master McGonagall’s tactics, it’s all downhill from there. The rest are rather predictable; but I do understand the stress -- no one understands Runes. Trust me.”

[70sgifs]

[ofedmunds]

@ofpuregreengrass