When Hell Freezes Over [Ash]

[Seth Hevulen]

It got a bit lonely in the dorm. Especially when your roommates weren’t even attempting to talk to you. The occasional visit from Oz was nice though. Seeing him around school, a small smile on his face, soon made Seth feel a bit better. At least somebody was willing to talk to him. Then again, he was the only person to treat the Squib Caretaker with any respect, so it was no wonder he actually liked Seth.

Getting out of his bed, leaving his book on his pillow he decided today would be a nice day to head down to the Quidditch Pitch for a bit of a fly around. None of the teams would be practicing yet, and if he stood any chance of actually making the team this year, he would need all the practice he could get – he could hardly fly around his garden at home.

Making his way out to the Equipment cupboard to pick up his broom, he bypassed everybody in the common room to the best of his ability. He was getting quite good at merging into the background these days.

Walking briskly on his own, he got to the cupboard in record time, pulling open the door and starting on his first mission – finding his broom.

[ashley]

Ashley had made his way to the pitch a few minutes earlier, after taking his broom out of a box near his bed. It had never been used, since he'd gotten it as a present for his sixteenth birthday. Maybe one day he would be able to fly it, if he ever learned to walk again. Right now though, he doubted that he would. There was still no progress and he'd angrily wheeled himself out of the room the last time he had physical therapy.

It had been a week ago, and he hadn't returned since. If he wasn't going to walk, then those stupid exercises could go to hell! Ash wasn't in a good mood. Things with August were going great, but he missed Seth. He missed the way the other used to always be around him, the way he could smell him on his own clothing. He missed having his best friend. And he would apologize, would go to him and beg if he had just the faintest glimmer of hope.

[Seth Hevulen]

Once Seth had found his broom, he made his way out into the bitter sunlight. It was deceiving. It looked so nice outside, but was so harshly cold Seth nearly reconsidered the whole idea. But he needed the practise, the want to be on the team was so much inside o fhim, he just had to get out there.

He was however used to having Ash there, watching his every move, making random comments about how he would drop his foot and off balance himself at times, or when he did a spin in a feign to save a goal, how he would over do it just a bit to make it even more impressive But Seth was living life without the blonde now. And it was starting to suit him. He had lived in the school for five years without his friend, so it was just like going back to that.

When he reached the pitch, he sighed, it looked empty, and barren, and just how he liked it. He quickly mounted his broom, giving his hands one final rub in a vain attempt to use the friction to heat them up, he kicked off the ground and flew up towards the Goals.

[ashley]

Ashley thought back on the same thing, a soft but sad look in his eyes. He missed Seth, more than he wanted to admit to even himself. He saw him, sometimes, but his friend seemed to do well without him. This belief was only strengthened when he saw the Hufflepuff kick off into the air. Seth went flying without him now?

Looking up longingly from the pitch, he watched his friend fly towards the goal posts. Something tugged at his heart strings and he bit his lip hard, not wanting to call out to him and potentially get him hurt. Maybe watching him was the best he could hope for.

[Seth Hevulen]

Seth flew around on his old Firebolt - it had to be ancient, it didn't go as fast as the brooms were rumoured to have gone. He didn't care, he went fast enough to be able to guard each of the hoops sufficiently. He just needed somebody to lug Quaffles at him so he could catch them. Maybe he could ask Oz. If the guy could fly. Cold Squib's fly brooms? He'd never even thought about it before now.

He didn't notice Ash for a fair while, only when he turned back to finish did he see the boy. "Great," he mumbled sarcastically to himself, "Just, bloody... great..." he carried on as if he hadn't seen him. Just went to walk straight out of the Pitch again back towards the school. He knew Ash wouldn't let him get fair though.

[ashley]

Ashley watched him the entire time, holding his breath when he did something risky and then smiling, feeling his heart leap, when he managed. Seth was getting good. Maybe he'd make the Quidditch Team! He tried to forget that his friend wouldn't update him on practise, that he couldn't join the team as well and that it was unlikely the other boy would even want him at a match.

When he returned to the ground and walked away, Ash realized that things would never be the same again. He'd really broken them, hadn't he? Why did he have to say such mean things to a guy that had been his best friend for three years? "Seth!" His voice was soft, but strong enough to carry towards the other Hufflepuff. It was his choice to reply or walk away.

[Seth Hevulen]

Broom slung over his shoulder he kept walking when he heard Ash's movements, once he called out his name however he slowed, nearly stopping. Clenching his jaw and closing his eyes tightly, he finally came to a halt.

"Ash," he said as he turned around, no trace of a smile on his face. His tone was harsh or in any way mean, but he just spouted 'leave me alone'. He'd been having a good time, not generally thinking about his currently predicament, now he had been forced to think about it again. On his own a lot of the time, and when he wasn't he was in lessons or at meals. He avoided people best he could like he had spent the five previous years doing.

Seth didn't want reminding of what he had lost, and he certainly didn't want another argument, but with all the stuff going on with Ash and August, he couldn't trust himself not to be a little bit spiteful at the fact that Ash had so easily replaced him.

[ashley]

Ashley held his breath, positive that Seth would just keep walking. He was a lot faster than the boy in the wheelchair who had to deal with the uneven ground, and honestly, the Hufflepuff could hardly resent him for walking out. But he didn't. He turned around and stayed, and his heart leaped, hopeful.

"Seth, please don't walk out on me" again, his head wanted to add, but the heart made him stay silent. Yes, Seth had walked out on him that night and in such Ash was right to replace him. He needed help after all, he couldn't just do everything on his own. But that didn't mean he didn't miss him. "I miss you."

[Seth Hevulen]

"How can I walk out on you when I'm already outside?" his tone wasn't harsh, it wasn't mean, it was rather light considering what his brain was currently telling him to say. "You're doing a great job of showing it," he said, raising an eyebrow. Not a word to him in a while, not even an attempt to speak to him. He was in the next bed for god's sake and not even a good night? Seth had resided in the fact that Ash no longer cared and was happy to just live life like he had before Ash had come to Hogwarts. It suited him.

Seth didn't want to argue with the guy, but he felt like he had a right to still be annoyed with him. Yes, Seth had walked out on him, but had Ash had the capability to, he was certain he would have too.

This was all slightly stupid, but Seth just needed more time, more space than he had been allowed. He was still cooling off. And he just needed to be left to it.

[ashley]

"You're doing a great job of showing it"

Ashley looked at him, tears brimming in his eyes and God, he didn't want to guilttrip Seth into liking him again. He well deserved this behaviour for everything he'd said and done. "I didn't think you'd want me talking to you after what I said." There had been so many nights that he had been in bed, just wanting to say something to him, even if it was something as meaningless as good night.

"I just...I'm sorry, alright? You've always been my best mate and you didn't deserve what I said, but please Seth, I just...I care about you, yea?" All he wanted was for Seth to look at him again, smile in that way that made his blood rush through his veins. He wanted Seth to talk to him, to share those knowing glances with him wherever they went.