stepping out for a bit - OPEN

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By the time Nathan first got a breather from his day, it was nearly the end of lunchtime. He had more than eaten his fill in the Great Hall and he still had some time before he had to go to his next class. He decided to take this opportunity to slip out of the castle and have a smoke break, since he didn’t get that many throughout the day. since he wasn’t really supposed to be smoking on the grounds anyway, he had to be careful with it, and usually had to go outside and away from the castle so not to be caught.

Today, however, he didn’t feel like going down towards the Pitch or the Black Lake today. He had a single smoke in his bag, one that he kept in there just in case he did manage to get enough time to slip off during the day. the cardboard box the rest were kept in was still in his bedside table and would be staying there until later that day, when he would have more time to go outside. It was cold, to say the least, and Nathan had to cast a warming charm on himself so that he didn’t freeze. Amen for wands and the ability to do that.

He had crossed to the other side of the courtyards and leaned against the stone wall. He pulled the smoke from his bag and brought it to his lips, sticking it between them as he then reached into his bag for a light. He found a book of matches with only one match left so he brought it closer to his face. he folded it over the side of the book itself and struck it against the strip on the back, causing a flame as well as the scent of sulfur to reach his nose. He loved that smell, and Nathan inhaled once and quickly puffed it out before putting out the match.

He took out his wand and pointed it at the now empty book of matches he let fall to the ground and lit it on fire. Nathan stood there transfixed on the flames as he silently puffed on his smoke. He was so mesmerized by the flames as it consumed the small bit of cardboard, that he hadn’t heard someone coming towards him. not thinking about the smoke in his hands, he continued to watch the flames eat away at the cardboard. It was only when he heard his name that he jumped.

Nathan quickly dropped his smoke to the ground and stomped on it as quickly as he could so he wouldn’t’ get caught. “Blast,” he said as he realized that he burned himself as he let the cigarette go. he brought his finger up to his lips and put it in his mouth as the footsteps got even louder. He looked down once more to make sure the matchbook and the smoke were both out just as someone came upon him. “Oh, you scared me,” he said as his eyes fell upon his now present company.

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let me know if i need to edit anything

Molly Meadows had often found that tiny break between classes incredibly helpful, she’d always been quite forgetful and in that fifteen minute waiting period she found herself once again trailing up to the Gryffindor common room. This time it had been her potions book, and god help her if she ever turned up to a lesson without one of the set texts, she personally liked her evenings free and didn’t fancy spending them writing lines or polishing the trophies in the trophy room. Not that she really knew where the detentions were held, she was far too sensible to find herself in trouble. And that one time did not count, it hadn’t been her fault.

Rushing into her room she grabbed the amber coloured book off of her bedside desk and sped through the door, the common room was almost empty the usual noise dissipated to the tiniest murmurings of an almost conversation. Needless to say her lack of time didn’t stop the tiny Gryffindor from checking her appearance in the large mirror and it didn’t stop her from frowning and exhaling a sigh of acceptance.
The portrait door swung open and out she flew taking wide steps as she managed her way back to the depths of the school.

From the amount of seventh year students still cluttering the hallways and corridors Molly felt secure in the guess that class hadn’t started yet. But what to do for ten minutes, Emma and Chloe were probably... Somewhere, unattainable, and there was no way she had enough time to find them and get to potions punctually. She sighed; well she’d meet them later it didn’t matter, her eyes wandered to the sunlit sky that blasted the freezing air with its deceptive rays. It was still incredibly frosty outside so as she pulled her hands into her robes she took the first step into the cold.

The sharp bites of freezing air bit at her nose relentlessly, without any thought however she continued into a daydream led walk pacing the grounds in hopes of finding a somewhat familiar face. A puff of smoke caught her attention and as her chestnut eyes landed on the source she noticed the familiar face of one Nathan Harper.

“Nathan,” she called waving a hand in his direction, quizzically she watched him fumble over the cigarette and from what it looked like he burned himself in the process. She bit her lip, oh no, she hoped it wasn’t a bad burn, making her way over with a guilty expression she smiled softly towards him.
“Oh, Sorry,” she said blushing an embarrassed pink, “I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said guiltily.

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He could see the guilty look on her face and he suddenly felt bad about saying she had startled him. But she had, and he burnt his finger because of it. He knew it wasn’t her fault or anything, but that didn’t change the fact that she’d pretty much snuck up on him and caused him to get flustered and burn his finger. “It’s all right, Mols,” he said to her once he took his finger out of his mouth, “I know you didn’t mean it,” he said before sticking his finger back into his mouth once more. It seemed that the cold was causing it to hurt even worse, which only made him even more annoyed that he hadn’t had his gloves or even his jacket with him.

He then noted that she looked a bit chilly and he raised an eyebrow at her. “You look cold,” he said to her as he jammed his other hand into his pocket. “What happened to your jacket and scarf?” he asked her, knowing that she’d ask him the same thing in return. “Maybe I can help warm you up a bit,” he said with a wink of his eye. He was only half serious about that, though his comment could be taken in several ways. He wasn’t talking about them getting that close, but he could easily put his arm around her and ‘hug’ her to help her stay warm. “What are you doing out here anyway?” he asked her as he then looked down to see how badly he’d stepped on his smoke.

He couldn’t help but frown as he looked down at it and saw that it was broken about halfway down the smoke, though it was salvageable if he wanted to fix it. Before she could answer him, he bent down and picked it up, frowning even deeper at it before he took it in both hands and pulled it apart. He wasn’t going to smoke it in her face, since he was sure she didn’t like the smell of it, but he could at least fix it for when he did relight it. he noticed her book as he stood back up and he grinned at her. “Getting some last minute studying in then?” he asked her as he then put the smoke back together to where it would light again.

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so this was kinda crappy and i apologize. next will be better

The frosty air nipped the exposed skin of Molly’s hands, she truly was an idiot, how could she of forgotten gloves on a day like today, even her scarf was upstairs. No wander her parents owled her every week, ‘out of love’ her arse, it was obviously to make sure she hadn’t accidentally stunned herself or fallen from one of the higher towers yet. She simply loved how much faith they had in her as it truly was astounding.
Though she didn’t really mind, she’d be inside soon and she was sure the potions classroom wouldn’t too cold, not with all the tiny burners blaring at the same time. It would give her some warmth; though it didn’t really matter her body had a handy habit of adapting quite quickly.

She was glad that he wasn’t cross, her tendency to worry about how others perceived her really did mess a lot more with her esteem than it should of, though she still felt quite guilty, perhaps she was simply worrying too much.
“It’s a terrible habit anyway.” She teased lightly, at least she could joke with Nathan she knew many who were rather defensive of their own personal habits, and they really did worry Molly.
A sheepish look over came her features as her gaze lowered to her hands. “Is your hand okay though?” she asked her tone tinged with concerned.

“I managed to forgot them,” she said dejectedly, her cheeks returning to the embarrassed red, really her parents were right to keep tabs on her, “I didn’t really expect to come outside,” said Molly explaining herself hurriedly,“-but I, forgot my book and then Emma and Chloe completely disappeared, to who knows where and it looked so lovely out here.” She finished pursing her lips into an unsure smile. She turned her gaze to the book in her hands and blinked.
“Nah, I’ve got a class next, potions,” said Molly glumly, how she hated the subject.
“But what about you, what brings you outside today?”

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Nathan made a sour looking face at Molly when she told him that smoking was a terrible habit. He knew it was, and it is a habit that he’s been stuck on or the last few years. While he knew it was bad for his health, he couldn’t deny the feeling that each pull of a cigarette gave him. He knew it was probably more mental than anything else, but that didn’t make him want to smoke one less. He made sure to work out enough to where it didn’t really affect his breathing or his game when it game to Quidditch, not to mention that it was a natural hunger suppressant. He was a growing boy and needed to eat, but he was sure he didn’t need to eat half as much as he did. “It’s all right,” he said as he raised his hand up to show her.

There was a small red spot with a bit of black from the ash on his finger where he’d burnt himself. He was sure it would be fine, though there was always the possibility of it blistering. He’s burnt himself while smoking before. The worst was when the but got stuck on his lip as he pulled his hand away, which ended up burning his fingers on the lit end of the cigarette. “It isn’t the first time I’ve done it,’ he assured her, “though it doesn’t make it hurt any less,” he said with a slight smirk. She sounded concerned for him and he shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t let it worry you though. It’s nothing, really,” he told her as he then stuffed his hand into his pocket. It stung a little as he stuck his hand into his pocket, but he was sure that it would do just that for a while after now.

It was like any burn, and Nate wasn’t a stranger to such things to let it really worry him. He tried to change the subject and asked her where her warmer clothing was. He chuckled when she told him that she left them inside, but that she also hadn’t been expecting to come outside in the first place. “I know what you mean. I hadn’t expected to come out here now either, but used a warming charm on myself,” he told her with a proud grin. “you sure you don’t need me to help warm you up a little?” he asked her with a grin. He wasn’t trying to insinuate anything, except that he’d be able to help keep her warm while they were outside. he wasn’t trying to hit on her either, even though it wouldn’t be the first time he’s done that, but he was just trying to be nice to his friend.

She seemed to find the need to explain to him why she was outside, even though she didn’t need to. All he asked was if she was doing some studying before her next class, to which she answered, though also gave him a bit more information than she had to. “I’m sure you’ll find them soon enough,” he told her with a firm nod of his head. He nodded his head when she told him that she had Potions left. “aye, I do too,” he said with a short nod of his head. “I just snuck out for a quick smoke since I had a bit of time, since I don’t generally get much of an opportunity during the day to have one,” he told her, “but it seems that, as the fates would have it, now was not the right time to have one,” he said as he looked down at the one he discarded when she came upon him.

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