Stary Night and Dirt {Open}

[stephen alexander cornfoot]

There was no hesitation. His hand rose into the air without him even thinking about it. His brown eyes stared at the professor through a strain of his long, dark hair. She smiled at him, and did not seem surprised to acknowledge him in the least. Of course if someone was going to volunteer to do an experiment in Herbology it was going to be Stephen Cornfoot. He was year seven's prized student when it came to the course. It seemed like every year had it's own student that loved the class as much as Sprout loved to teach it. Stephen enjoyed it so much that he often popped up when he was between classes to help her set up for the next course. His eyes would glitter when he saw soil, and knew work was to be done. This was no different.

Several years previous, Stephen had helped with the harvesting of mandrakes. No one really paid him much attention, and he did much more work than many of the other students knew. The mandrakes was just one of the small tasks. He was not informed of their use, and what the sudden need to get the work done. He only smiled, helped out, and did a fine job in keeping up with the demands placed on him. The Herbology teacher had awarded him with House Points, and a pat on the back. Stephen needed neither, he loved working in the Greenhouses. That was a reward in itself. She nodded in his direction, and Stephen returned the smile and laid his hand on his desk. When the class was finished he stayed behind to collect a parchment and a quick word from the small Herbology teacher. Stephen read it, and walked out into the narrow walkway with a smile.

---

The day had turned into evening, and dinner was finished early for him. He moved out of the Great Hall, produced his parchment to the groundskeeper when the old man tried to stop him from going out of bounds, and then walked out through the dusk. He had an appointment in the Greenhouses, and approval from his favorite teacher to do this small task at hand. There was not a lot to be done, but Stephen was always excited when he could feel like he was doing anything at all to advance him in the class. Not so much that he wanted credit for anything, but to learn more. He craved the expanded knowledge that he gained from these projects for Sprout. He started to hum lightly as his hand dropped down to his pocket. He pulled out his thin wand, and whispered. "Lumos." His eyes dropped down to the parchment he produced from his other pocket. He read the note for what seemed the millionth time.

He was going to meet someone else in the Greenhouse, and aide them in the clipping, sorting, and restocking of several bottles of various herbs for the potion's master. Stephen really did not know why students were being charged with such work, but he did not mind. It would not bother him at all. In fact, feeling dirt under his nails and plants on his hands would make him just as happy as anything he could dream of happening to him. His smile moved across his lips making his charming face shine with his good looks. He had no clue he was good looking, of course. His mind often did not even wander in that direction. He blew a piece of hair from his face and turned into Greenhouse Number Three. He saw that several lanterns were already lit and the place was bright. Several sheets of plants were placed on one of the long work benches. There were two cases of small bottles stacked to the side of the table on small stools to allow someone to reach in and grab a vial without bending over. Two quills, several rolls of parchment, and label stickers sat next to the plants. Stephen noticed all of this immediately upon entering the glasshouse.

However, his attention was quickly pulled away by a light in the sky above the glass roof. He quickly followed the light with his gaze as he watched the falling star. He closed his eyes, clutched his wand, and made a silent wish. It was a silly wish, one he would dare not mouth out loud. In fact, he would not even try to think of the wish in his own head because he was afraid it would sound stupid even to himself. He laughed under his breath, turned to look back at the workload he had for the night, and began to read over the list of herbs and plants that were to be sorted. He wondered, and not for the first time, who the other person was that had been assigned to this task. The Herbology Professor had not bothered to tell him, although she did have a massive smile on her face when she had wished him well earlier in the day. Stephen did not give it much thought at all. In fact, the fleeting thought faded from his mind just as quick as it had come. He started tearing off small pieces of paper, and setting them aside to attached to the bottles with the labels. He began to hum to himself, and smiled under his long hair.

[OLIVIA AUBREY]

The girl kept to herself these days, when all was cold in the air especially she would bundle up and just think. Maybe tonight was one of those days but as Olivia Aubrey finished dnner alone she could only think of how much homework she had left to do. Maybe she could go study later with some Ravenclaws. As long as Olivia kept quiet and listened to the discussion well it always helped her. She had done that before a test and gotten the best grade, an O. Her parents had been so proud of her, if only they would listen nowadays to her more than just worry about their own work. Of course, things might be different for them too. Everything was different now, Olivia needed to talk to someone and just spill all.

She had tried that once before in an owl but it hadn't worked. She'd received an owl actually earlier in the week, it had been something of a love note to her. The handwriting looked oddly familiar but she couldn't identify who it really was on the signature later then. Olivia hadn't shown anyone either, she hadn't wanted to accidentally hurt someone's feelings or possibly embarrass someone by showing them it. It had been gorgeous though, the poem inside the note. Then she'd lost it, it'd been stolen from her as it'd been forgotten on a table in the common room. Olivia had actually started crying, it had brought her happiness when she needed it.

Hopping up from her spot at the table the girl offered a kind smile to everyone who glanced at her, keeping a cheery reputation for herself. Not seeing anyone she knew to go and sit down with at a different part of the table, Olivia went over to the doors, pushing them open with her weak strength.

Outside the air was rather cold, pushing against her cheeks and filling her with it. As she walked across the grounds, her heart pounding inside all she could think about was the fact that she would be meeting a good friend tonight in the Greenhouse. Stephen Cornfoot would be the boy she was meeting tonight. He was her best friend and secret love, but he probably didn't love her back. Again the air nipped at her bare neck and blew her hair around

Reaching the courtyard with grace and poise the girl approached the doors, seeing a small light of another figure. Was it Corny? Or was it someone else. Probably someone else since Olivia was a little early but she might as well head in. Pulling open the doors and smiling as she did so, the girl couldn't help but blush as she saw the thin outline of Corny.

Running over to him happily, hugging her best friend around the waist and leaning onto his back slightly Olivia giggled. "You're early!" She said softly, still blushing while being in the embrace she had began. Just breathing the same air as him was enough to send her flying, up up and away.

[stephen alexander cornfoot]

His arms was full before he could recognize the familiar girl that ran to greet him. It was only for a blink of a moment, but his face brightened with a blush. He could smell her scent as she was so close, and his heart trembled madly inside his chest. He closed his eyes as he moved his arms around her to return the hug. If only she knew what that small gesture actually meant to him. He knew one day he had to tell her, he must blurt out that he was in love. For now, all he had was his letters and she had no clue they were from him.

Pulling himself out of those thoughts he smiled as she giggled. He was always early when it came to the Greenhouses, she should know that. It was almost as if his presence had distracted her. Perhaps she was just upset that there was a detention, and then the sudden relief that he was the one she would be spending it with? Well, he didn't think it was actually a detention as much as a favor. Why did his mind swirl so much when she was around? He was even confusing himself. He looked down to her, which actually wasn't far since they were almost the same height. With a shrug he looked her over as he normally did as if inspecting his friend to make sure she was all in one piece.

That was a small joke between the two. He would act like he was the protector when she was actually the more brave of the two. Not that he was a coward, but his disposition hardly ran to the confrontation side of possible encounters. No, Corny was much more peaceful; so, it was sort of their private joke that he would act as if he was inspecting her for chips, bumps, or bruises. Not to mention it gave him a chance to look at her closely. That sounded perverted in his mind, but that wasn't his intentions at all. He just cared for this one so much, he never wanted to see her hurt.

He realized his mind had been wandering away from him again, so he had to tug it into place and answer her. "I'm always early, when it comes to Herbology, silly. I didn't expect you tonight though. Did you volunteer or get detention?" He had never recalled her ever getting into trouble, but there could be a first for everything. After all, he was talking to a beautiful girl and was entirely comfortable in doing so. He found that he could talk to her, too. Normal conversations without using his normal soft voice. And sometimes she even had to tell him to shut-up because he would talk so much.

Tonight, he wasn't sure if they'd talk a lot or not. He had sent her a letter earlier that day, and she should have received it by now. Sometimes that distracted her, and she rarely brought it up to him. It was almost as if she didn't want him to know when a letter -originally from him, mind you- arrived because she was afraid it would hurt his feelings or something. Corny thought himself very clever in that aspect of life.

[OLIVIA AUBREY]

Olivia smiled slightly while going under his arms, ducking slightly so she could move to sit over on the table ledge. Not many kids would do this during class, usually the younger years and they'd get a slight amount of points deducted for doing so anyways. The teachers weren't too fond of things like that, it could ruin the Herbology experiments that were currently being place. No one was here now but Corny and Olivia, that sounded nice to Olivia. His real name was Stephen but everyone just called him Corny. It was easier Olivia guessed. Her name to everyone was Olivia, Liv, or Little Bee occasionally. She was small for her age, only coming up to Corny's shoulder and more than once being mistaken for a third year. It didn't bother Olivia since they were usually harmless exchanges but she always offered a tight lipped smile and a glance at the boy she loved and trusted most, he would glance back with a raised eyebrow then continue homework. Homework was boring to Olivia, easy too, so she usually finished it early or late.

How had their friendship come to be? It had been first year on the train and Olivia had been so worried. She was muggleborn and a lot at the time seemed odd, like things were going wrong. She'd already gotten a few glares from people on the train. Then she'd found Corny all alone by himself and jumped in to sit with him, a few minutes later a boy joined them too and introduced himself as Rhys Anders. On the way the three became rather good friends. Olivia and Corny were always careful with how they spoke around Rhys since he was deaf but could read lips well actually. She sort of pitied him even though he told them not too. Then, when Rhys was sorted into Slytherin they still tried to keep up with each other but it wasn't all that easy. He was muggleborn but hid it, so Olivia kept the secret too. She still wasn't even sure if Corny knew even, probably not since Rhys had always been closer to Olivia in the trio. She still sent him letters every now and then to talk to him, it was nice actually. Rhys picked on Conry and it sort of dissappointed Olivia how he would never fight back, he should but that just wasn't what Corny did. Olivia got picked on but never by Rhys, it was fine though, maybe someday they'd all understand. Or maybe they wouldn't, Olivia just didn't want anything too bad to happen but she couldn't predict the future now.

Tracing her hand along the inside of her robe Olivia stopped when she found the letters, smiling at Corny and pulling one out. "Look, I have an admirer! Isn't that exciting?" Olivia asked excitedly, literally jumping up and down from where she sat on the table. Olivia was always a little ball of energy but knowing someone could possibly love her made her even more happy. She pulled one out of the envelope, reading it again and blushing as she read it. The words made her heart swell and even just reading it made her love the writer. "I love him already," Olivia sighed and then giggled a bit while pulling Corny into a hug, she was just happy today like many many other days.

"Do you wanna read them Corny?" She asked excitedly, wondering if he'd be mad to read them or just surprised. Olivia had definiely been surprised when she'd received the first one. Her bubbly personality had over bubbled, making her run and go and tell anyone she could. Which meant one person because then she thought she should keep it a secret incase they were someone's she told and the person got embarrased. Although if it were Olivia who'd sent the letter to someone she'd tell them she loved them if they ever brought it up to her. Olivia had hoped one night that it was Corny who'd written her the letters, she loved him more than a friend but wasn't sure how he felt. Olivia just tried to accept that he'd probably have eyes for another girl but that didn't mean that Olivia would give up of course. She'd always love him and still did today, no matter how wierd things could get between them.

"Detention? No! I just wanted to come down here..." Olivia giggle again, prodding him with a letter and pulling her fingers through her hair while smiling brightly.

[stephen alexander cornfoot]

Corny watched her closely. Was she teasing him, did she know? His heart had all but stopped in his chest and he had to lean against a desk to keep himself from simply bowling over. She was smart, and he always wondered if she would catch on when it came to the fact that he was sending her these little letters. Had she finally come to the conclusion that he was her admirer? Was she playing with him to see what his response would be? Maybe this was a test to let her know if she could include him on her list of suspects. His reaction to her could be all the proof she needed to tell he was the one writing her all those sweet words. Corny reeled in his mind, and felt the blood dropping from his facial expression. He smiled to her, and shook his head. He didn't have a clue what she was up to, but all he could possibly do is keep up his act and see where the night took them.

"Well, I wish I could have a secret admirer! That sounds a bit exciting to me. Sure, I'll read them, if you really want me to. Wonder who it could be?" He laughed lightly as he began to gather small containers and sort through the herb packets in front of him. He had already sorted them twice before she arrived, and was now through the second time since she had shown up. His mind was firmly planted on the situation at hand, so he had no real clue he was resorting all the packets. She loved this admirer. She loved him, because of the two of them he knew for sure that it was his own hand that scribed the letters to Liv. Of course he knew, it had been him all along. But, did she know? That was what was playing over his mind again and again. Even after she had hugged him again. He couldn't get over the feeling that she was testing him, and his cheeks burned red as he wondered about her proclamation of love for whomever wrote the letters. Corny glanced away and grabbed at a small vial to stuff some greenish black herb into it. He capped the glass with a stopper and set it aside. He had no clue if he had put the right herb in the right vial, his mind was too busy sorting out what she might be up to; if anything.

Then she mentioned that she hadn't had a detention at all, that she just wanted to come down here. She knew he would be here, of course. Everyone who knew Cornfoot would know where to find him. He loved the Greenhouses, and always spent his free time within the dingy glass walls. So, she had planned to come down knowing he would be here, and with the latest letter he had sent her. That could mean one of two things. The first had already moved through his thoughts like a ghost, she knew he wrote the letters and wanted to see his reaction to her bringing them up. The second, she needed a friend to talk to about the letters and only assumed that Corny would know what to make of them, without having a clue that he had sent them to her in the first place. How had love letters became so complicated so quick? He had no clue, but he knew that he needed to think so something quick.

[OLIVIA AUBREY]

Olivia narrowed her eyes at every plant, she had contact lenses but they irritate her so the girl never even wore them. As Corny took the letters she hoped he would know who they were from. What if they were from someone she absolutely detested? No...probably not, since she didn't really dislike anyone if you thought about it. She just hoped the person who had written them had a kind heart, and a nice face. Olivia wasn't one to always judge people but she wanted to someday be with someone nice and handsome, like Corny was. Although she had the idea that he was keeping his eye on the girl who he had once dated. Olivia remembered that, how broken she had felt when he hadn't even told her at first. She'd found out from a friend and the relationship had only lasted a few weeks, maybe a month or so. She didn't know the girl and Olivia was weary if she even wanted to know who it was. Maybe the girl was jealous of Olivia now, thinking of that sort of eased her as it made her think that she'd be more powerful. Olivia had rarely ever been on the bad side of people, except when it came to qudditch. She was always rather aggressive then and was willing to do anything to win. Just like for the people she loved, she'd do anything.

"Corny, I need to tell you something I've had on my mind for a while," she whispered while staring at the boy who leaned against the desk. He had owned her heart and still did, in the back corner of her mind she had always hoped that he'd be the one to write the letters and the one for her. She'd always admired his kind words and actions towards her, no matter how annoying Olivia could be. He was everything and she really did enjoy it, having someone there for her to count on. It made Olivia feel somewhat special when he was there for her to cry on or to hug. She had always needed someone like that, it was good for Olivia. He, was good for Olivia. Not even waiting to see what his reply would be the girl began to think of what she would say next, the words always on the tip of her tongue.

"I hope it's you who wrote these letters. I really do like you Corny, I think...I think," Olivia told him and she cast her eyes on the ground and looked at her feet which swung back and forth in a synchronized motion. "it may be love," she added in a low voice while brushing her hair out of the way with her hand. Already the girl felt the blush rising to her cheeks as she looked at him through her hair that had swung back down lower towards her face. She didn't know what he would do next and didn't blame him if he wanted to just run away now, leave forever. It wasn't like it hadn't happened before with friends or other people she'd talked to. Olivia always seemed to say the wrong thing at the wrong time and people just ignored her for a long time then. Nothing really ever worked out for her and she needed someone like Corny to help her. Ever since the train on day one he'd been there for her, Rhys too but things were different now. People were older and less forgiving, childhood had ended a long time ago and the real world frightened many of them now. Olivia wasn't even sure what she would do if someone asked her now. She didn't want any of it but Corny right now, he was all that really mattered to her at the moment and she prayed he felt the same.

[stephen alexander cornfoot]

He gently took the letters and began to shuffle through them. He could remember his mood with each word he looked at. No, he didn't read them; he didn't have to. Corny had wrote them all. His eyes moved over line after line not really seeing anything else as he stole glances at her from over the top of the pages. His heart hadn't budged in his chest, and his hands trembled lightly. He couldn't help but catch a phrase he had wrote to her in one of the letters. When I spot you, if only a moment in passing, I always stop and stare. It is like the world pauses, and you are all that exists to me. Like a pause for a moment of total pleasure. Like love. You are much like love.

[/i] It was true. Always.

She shuffled pages until she spoke to him. Corny jumped when she spoke, her words bringing him out of his thoughts. He paused and smiled to let her know she should go on. What would she say next? What was she thinking? Would she say someone's name and think the letters are from the person? Would she ask him to find out for her? Corny waited, his heart not beating for a fraction of a second until she continued. The next words she said really made him cough, the papers slipped from his hands and covered the small packets of herbs that they were suppose to be working on. He inhaled and looked at her over the work bench. His cheeks were a furious rush of crimson as his blush had to practically set his whole face on fire. His eyes were slightly wide, but he had to regain control. If she thought for a second that he was making fun of her then Corny could lose the very moment he had longed for for such a long time. He had to collect his thoughts and be the person he always poured onto the letters. He had to become the loving poet, the man that desired her more than any other. He had to become himself.

"I-" He what? What could he possibly say? Should he simple tell her the things that his heart dared to think? Maybe read her a piece of one of the letters and then swoop her into his arms for the largest kiss in his life? He nearly fainted at the thought. How could he possibly do something like that? Not that he didn't want to, but his heart froze in fear thinking of making a move like that. It was probably the right move to make, and would show her that he had loved her for such a long time. But, at the same time, what if she was just testing him? No, he believed her. Liv would never lie to him, and he didn't think she would play when it came to emotions. She was always so matter-of-fact about the things she said. Corny's head spun, and his brain became dizzy. Time was running out and his shaking hands roamed through his long hair as he looked at her. He smiled, and nodded.

Nothing he could say would be wrong if he just let himself be who he always was; Stephen Cornfoot. The boy who loved Herbology. The boy who loved Hufflepuff. The boy who loved Olivia Aubrey. Corny moved around the table to stand in front of her. His shaking hands moved out to hold hers and turn her his way. He looked his gaze onto hers, and exhaled a steady breathe before he went on to say... "Yeah, yeah it was me. I figured you might notice by the hand writing by now, honestly. Every word is true. Every line speaks a thousand words from my heart to yours. Only, there would never be enough words to tell you exactly how I feel. How I have always felt, since day one. The moment your hand touched mine on the train, I had felt this. I just... He paused and closed his eyes aching for the right words to come forward. For the first time in his life, Corny said exactly what he wanted to say. "I never thought you would know that I fell in love with you as a child. I loved you as we grew close. I love you to this day. I will continue to love you tomorrow, and every day I have left. Always you, Liv. Only you." In the emotion of the moment, Corny leaned in and touched his lips to hers as soft as he could. They had never touched like this before, and he could only wait to see if she return the kiss.[/blockquote]

[OLIVIA AUBREY]

Olivia had never been the girl to go to for anything really. If people asked her for gossip sure she'd know some but she had never really been all that into it. She just wasn't really that type of person to go and gossip for ages, it wasn't her thing. She liked to talk about boys but they never really would listen to her opinions on boys, the girls she'd talk to. When Olivia did make a good friend they'd see things and understand like she did. Her good friend Anna understood but Olivia hadn't talked to Anna really in a long time. She had a few older friends and it saddened her to think that someday all of that would be let go. Corny was here to stay, he was in her heart forever and she just needed that to know that she would have someone to count on. He was always there for her and always knew what she needed or what she was thinking. He'd never once doubted her really and at every qudditch game she played she saw him cheering in the stands along with some other friends. It made a difference to see him always there for her, something that Olivia yearned for.

Glancing at him after she had confessed her love to him she looked around as he stuttered a bit and blushed. Olivia herself blushed as she looked away again, her eyes fluttering everywhere basically for the time being. Then he spoke and she just heard, not really processing. The whole time she was worried she'd made a mistake, that he didn't love her and he was still really in love with that Ravenclaw girl from last year. That all this time he had really just been wanting to ditch her. Olivia didn't know what to do, Corny was her best friend and all she wanted out of him was that and a love. A love that would never die, she just needed him. Then he confessed that it had been him who wrote the letters. A little hope inside of Olivia rose as she listened, looking over to him as he came closer. She'd been close to Corny but there was a certain mood that made this seem different than all the other times. He loved her? He did, he loved her. "Oh my god," Olivia whispered as she let herself smile a little. It felt great, the butterflies in her stomach nearly gone as she looked down and up again. He wasn't joking, the words had sounded sincere.

Then he kissed her. Olivia had never been kissed before and she wasn't sure what to do. Corny was a gentle person, a little fragile maybe too but he loved her. People in love do usually kiss. Olivia had seen movies where the couple would kiss and it'd get gross, but she just let herself give in to the kiss. Hopping down from her seat and kissing him back, standing on her tip toes so she could stay somewhat balanced. She didn't know what to do next. So, she put her hand in his hair, letting her fingers tangle and untangle it gently then she put one hand on his back so she could stable herself a bit more. What would Corny do next? Would he just walk away and laugh or would he let the moment last? Olivia didn't want the kiss to end, it felt like it belonged there. He loved her and she loved him, they were Corny and Olivia together. They were infinite. The kiss felt right and for once all felt right for Olivia, like everything was where it should be.

[stephen alexander cornfoot]

ooc: We should go ahead and let this thread fade out. We can concentrate our efforts on their first date in the ball thread. I hate to cut this one short, but there is not a lot more to do here. We can assume that they are not dating yet, but he did manage to ask her to the dance. There, in that thread, we will get to the dating part of our plot. Deal?

[OLIVIA AUBREY]

OOC: I was thinking the same thing. Deal!