apotheosis | • a r i

"I only did it when it was only Dad at home," Ari reminisced, laughing. Alexander Laurier was always keen on his children making full use of their magical heritage, but Eliza was rooted in the Muggle way of doing things, and liked to remind her children not to be "lazy" about things when the majority of the billions of people on earth got by just fine doing it. Ari had enjoyed sneaking around as much as the next Wizarding child, though, except for the year her mum had gone on the run. The gravity of everything was too much that year to make such things as getting to Accio your water cup straight to your hand feel anything other than frivolous.

Ari's eyes bugged a little at the suggestion and an "Ewww..." escaped her mouth almost involuntary. "They probably have...diseases or something," she started laughing. "And oh Merlin, it happened last spring...he forgot the normal rotation schedule that stops people from getting walked in on, and I was taking a bath and he had gotten all sticky from jam or something and then slipped on the tiles and sort of skidded in." Ari would never forget the sight of curly red hair flying everywhere as the Gryffindor landed in the bath with a splash. "Freya! There were bubbles, of course, he didn't see anything below the shoulders," at least she didn't think so, "but you know. It was kind of mortifying at first but he was so relaxed and laughed it off--I'm sure you can imagine, it's Jeremy. And I was almost finished, so I just conjured a sheet between us and slipped into some clothes when we got out and we talked for a bit." She chuckled and poked her friend in the side. "Don't act so surprised. It was when you were, you know, very preoccupied, that's why I never got around to mentioning. I wonder who he's told?" Danny had probably heard all about it...the thought made her wince a little.

The Hufflepuff shrugged, tossing her head a little to shift her dark hair to the back. "Who knows? Someone who's got more going on in their life than me, probably. The metaphor sort of breaks down," she admitted. "It's just kind of a feeling. A state of mind, or being. And you know it's not futile while you and everyone you know is still alive." Ariana set her mouth stubbornly. Freya hadn't meant it that way, but they'd been through a lot for seventeen and it would crush them if they thought it didn't matter. "Wow, such a pointed question. Is it normal for us to divvy up boys this way? Do they get any say in it?" she asked teasingly. "If you insist, I think Danny asks me for help on schoolwork too much," she said jokingly.

 “Probably,” Freya agreed, wrinkling her nose. The smile didn’t disappear from her face. “Classic Jeremy,” she said with a nod, the image of a naked Jeremy popping into her head without her permission. The girl snorted at her own thoughts. “I’m surprised neither of them have told me. Jeremy and Danny, that is.” Freya paused for a moment, “…Especially Danny,” she added. She could just imagine Danny’s elaborated, embellished version of that story. “You’re right though,” she conceded, tugging at a loose blonde curl absentmindedly, “It was probably when I was spending more time in broom closets than with you.” It was a joke. Mostly.

Here they were, surrounded by all kinds of beautiful things, but all they could do was talk about boys. Freya wondered what had happened that had opened up this particular topic for the girls. They’d never been the kind of girls who talked like this – with all the giggling and blushing and innuendos. It had probably been time, Freya decided. Freya had had her first boyfriend; that was something to talk about.

“No, I know. I know what you mean. But I just don’t think it’s silly. How do you know the boy you date in your seventh year wont be the guy you spend forever with? Hal and Ruari were together in their sixth year, I think, and I found sketches of her wedding dress on her desk last time I saw her.” Freya smiled at the thought of her brother getting married. She’d have to be a bridesmaid, she thought. “But even if you aren’t together forever, why is it futile if it makes you happy?” Freya nodded decisively.

“They do it all the time with us,” Freya protested, crossing her arms in mock-huffiness. It was true, though. Freya had overheard Danny and Jeremy talking about various girls in more than once with a similar tone. “Maybe you should date Jeremy,” she offered after a pause, letting her hands fall to her sides again.

"Maybe Jeremy swore him to secrecy," Ari said, not capable of entertaining the thought that he might not have heard about it. "Although I can't imagine why, it was pretty hilarious in retrospect. And remind me to stop opening broom closet doors," she teased with an elbow. "Think of all the poor innocent first years like I used to be who have to learn someday what the real most-common use of those things are!" The Hufflepuff was only pretending to be horrified by the thought of it, really. She was old enough now to be curious, if still confused.

"Awwww, I forgot your brother was dating a Regan. I thought once about how impossibly big and unmanageable the event would be if you and Kerr, you know, but I guess it'll happen anyway." Forever. It left a funny taste in her mental mouth. "Would you wonder what you missed if it was like that for you?" Maybe there were more people out there to meet, even though the wizarding world felt so small.

"They do? How rude," she said in mock indignation on their behalf. "I...hmm." She thought about it. They would look ridiculous together. There would be lots of adventures. They'd probably drive each other crazy. "Maybe!" she said, then tossed her hands in he air. "Or maybe I'll be a hermit in the forest and dispense knowledge and banish hags for the rest of my days. We'll see what happens," she said, laughing.

They were almost at the entrance to the cathedral now, and Ari tugged on Freya's arm as they stepped inside, eager to show her friend around. The first sight was always impressive--something about the heaviness of the stone but the soaring pillars, and the warmness of the lighting and the length and directionality of the nave. "Watch for the statue of the Virgin and Child, in the middle, there's a funny S curve to her body. And--" she craned her neck to make sure they were far enough in to see it, "look up at the window." Her voice dropped to a whisper for effect.

Assuming her role of tour guide, she reverted somewhat back to her normal mannerisms and interests, boys off her mind again in favor of all the sights they would see. For now, they were two close friends excited to be hanging out together in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and she was very glad Freya was here.

Freya remembered being an innocent first year too. It was weird to think that teenagers had probably been stealing clandestine moments in all of the little nooks and crannies of the castle for hundreds of years. It had probably been stricter a couple of hundred years ago. She was happy to be alive in the most progressive years so far. That thought made her smile.

Ari wasn’t the only one who’d considered the numbers game in one of many potential futures for her and Kerr. A Trickett-Regan wedding would be absolutely bonkers, there was no other way to put it. Freya didn’t know what venue would be able to hold so many family members, let alone other guests. Glossing over this, however, Freya answered Ari’s next thoughts instead. “I can join you,” she agreed with a decisive nod. “We’ll grow out our leg hair and wear leaves as clothes and predict the future.” Not that Freya would actually let the tiny thing of not having a boyfriend impact her life too much.

Freya was looking forward to their last year at Hogwarts. There had been some pretty serious ups and downs over the past few years, but the blonde was optimistic that this year would be their best one yet. She wanted to really spend the year enjoying being with her friends. Old people always complained that young people didn’t appreciate their youth, so Freya wanted to prove them wrong by having an amazing and awesome year. If that ended up including boyfriends and sex ands stuff, then cool! If not… still cool. Freya was happy just to have shared experiences with people she cared about. She grinned at Ari as they moved forward.