“Dare I say it, I believe I might be too vain to fake my own death,” Thorfinn mused with an amused laughter. His ego could give a girl with the surname ‘Vanity’ a run for her money. It had begun when he was younger, being adored by most of the pureblood women who would tell him how gorgeous his hair and big brown eyes were. It entirely intensified when he had turned eighteen, then the women had begun flirting with him. His whole life was a beauty pageant and thus had left the only Rowle entirely self-absorbed. In fact, his drop in self-worth was one of the very few beneficial things that came out of Azkaban, at least for the people around Thor. His brief imprisonment had grounded the young man when he felt like he was completely untouchable. At least now he had a sense of reality. “Well you know, being a keeper I do get headgear but I suppose I wouldn’t mind something to shield my face. Especially when I’m playing against you, your aim is lethal,” there it was, presumably the first genuine compliment towards Emma that had ever come from his lips, it wasn’t even meant to antagonize her and in the moment Thor had barely noticed he’d stated it. “You make a valid point. I believe you agree, with your father being your coach, you can never run away from their criticism. Mine would hate me doing that, what makes it harder is he used to the Keeper for the Kenmare Kestrals. The number of rants I get per quidditch season about my performance, you wouldn’t believe it. I’m surprised my ears haven’t fallen off yet.” Thor took another sip of his drink, watching Emma observantly as she spoke. The corner of his mouth rolled into a subtle smile at her words, eyes lighting up with complete recognition, “you won’t like me saying this, but you and I are in extremely similar circumstances. I’d sell my whole fortune and name off in a heartbeat if I could just be referred to as a successful Keeper for once rather than a bloody heir.”
Thor’s brow raised in the astonishment of her words, he was certainly making direct progress in his mind. After all, this time last week Emma would have never of referred to Thorfinn as being ‘decent company’, but then again if she had then he would have undoubtedly taunted her about it. It was a learning curve for him, he’d essentially bullied Emma from childhood and now he was here trying to lure her into liking him. “Maybe I’m bored of pompous pureblood women,” he mused with a big grin, making sure to keep eye contact with Emma as he did so. Of course, that wasn’t true. Thorfinn couldn’t afford to be exhausted of such a stereotype, to do so would mean he may as well leave the comfort and protection of his society, not even he could afford that with all that was going on. “No, I’m not stupid, I know you’re not Rosier. You and Evan couldn’t be anywhere further apart from each other. I can’t even picture Evan flying on a broom and playing a match, she’d probably break a nail and sue me for it, something like that,” he chuckled. As the conversation developed to his mother’s wishes of a marriage, Thor couldn’t fight the appearance of total disgust that washed over his face. “I will miss it, yes. But thankfully no families of the sacred twenty-eight are interested in wedding their daughters to an ex-convict, guilty or not. My mother’s expectations for my future bride are still sky high, it should buy me some time before she has to start looking at international heiresses. Meanwhile, my stepfather wants me to marry for love,” he shuddered, “If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll avoid it entirely. I can’t say I’ve ever been lured in by the concept of a union.” He tilted his head curiously, the Magpie’s captain had still been unsure when to restart their practice, “consider yourself lucky, I’m going out of my mind with boredom. Maybe you could be so kind to practice with me sometime? With Quaffles though, not bludgers. You don’t score goals with bats.”
“Quite the contrary. I believe you need a great deal of arrogance to actually do that. People are actually way more adored when they die than when they’re alive. You’d be pretty much a rockstar.” There was no denying Thorfinn had a bunch of people who admired him, and followed him everywhere he went. That was the life of a pureblood heir, she supposed. It was the life her parents had wished for her as a little child, showering her with both compliments and money, giving her every single thing she wanted. It was what she had wanted too, as she walked down Hogwarts’ hallways with Narcissa and Evan, believing she was the queen of the school when she was merely another subject. She had realised that eventually, perhaps a little too late. She tilted her head, with an amused smile. “Is it, really? Wow- you’re complimenting now? Are you feeling all right?” Emma chuckled. “Thanks. I try. I promise I’ve got nothing personal against your face. It’s just the easiest way to distract you; but it’s actually quite decent.” There, a compliment of her own, it was only fair after all. She nodded. “That must be hell. All the expectations. My dad is my manager, but he doesn’t understand a thing about the game so he can’t really criticize me. He’s constantly telling me I should improve my public image, though, you know, being savage on the pitch and a true lady out of it. I guess I can still work on that.” And probably flipping the bird at the referee every time they made an unfair decision wasn’t the right step towards that particular change. What he said next had her smiling fondly. She wasn’t sure whether to actually believe that or not. He seemed way too comfortable with his lifestyle. However, he did look sincere. “I don’t believe that. You like being popular way too much.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “That I don’t believe either. Evan is much more your style anyway. You both like to play games with people. I’m not like that. I don’t think I have the mental capacity to be like that.” Sometimes she wished she did, though. Maybe she could be more like her friends. She laughed as their conversation shifted to marriage. It was a topic no pureblood or society member seemed to like to discuss, with good reason obviously. “At least you have one parent that wants you to marry someone you choose. Mine are growing desperate. I thought they were going to stop after what happened but they have made it their mission to find me a husband sooner rather than later.” She shrugged. “I already know I have no choice in the matter, so I have accepted it. As long as I can keep playing, I’m fine with a loveless marriage.” It was a bitter thing to say for someone her age, she understood, but that was how life worked among their circle. She laughed at his next words. “Yes, yes, I’ll practice with you if you so desperately need it, but be warned, I’ll bring my bat just in case.”
