nearlychosen | 1st seed; [Action/Voice]

[Perhaps the journal picks up the sound of Neville's arrival as he is unceremoniously deposited on the icy southern lake sometime in the dead of night. If not that, then it might catch the dull groaning as he slowly wakes and struggles to pull himself upright. If not that, then certainly the furious squeak from sneakers lacking traction on slippery ice would catch the journal's attention, as would the dull thudding as Neville collides with some child's forgotten snowman on the westernmost bank. A sharp intake of breath, then] No wand. Bastards. [In fact, even though Neville hasn't yet noticed the presence of the book at all, he seems perfectly aware that someone is listening, even if it isn't quite who he expects.]

It's still not enough! [The words, though a bit rasped and wheezing, are spoken with the stubbornness of one who rather expected this displacement.] You think you can just Portkey me someplace and be done with it? You won't get me -- not any of us -- to back down that easily. I know you're here -- show yourselves, you bloody cowards!

[The dead silence is less than encouraging. It means that if he wasn't being watched, then he'd been sent far enough that he wouldn't need supervision. Accio wand. [The incantation is intoned softly through clenched teeth. It doesn't escape him how ironic it was that in his desperation to recover his stolen wand he's resorted to a summoning spell that usually required the use of his wand in the first place. The spell fails spectacularly, leaving Neville to suppose his captors laughed, wherever they happen to be.

Still, the place he'd been sent certainly merits some investigation. If he'd been sent here via portkey, then some other innocuous-looking thing might well be the ticket home. It might appear off for a young, underdressed, blackeyed, fairly beaten and emaciated man to be picking up small stones with a thoughtful expression, but finding an alternate portkey is simply the most plausible way back to the more important matters he'd left at home.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hisdarkmark

[Depending on how hard he hit his head. He's probably just dizzy.] I'm not upset, shut up.

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[It wouldn't have been too, too hard. At least, that's what Harry hopes.] You're acting all gloomy.

From:

hisdarkmark

[It probably wasn't, though he did hit it twice. He just shakes his head again.] Am not. My head just hurts, and you suck at interpreting people.

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[Harry snorts.] And I suppose you're being as charming and pleasant as ever. Did you invite Neville over for tea?

From:

hisdarkmark

...Harry just shut up, okay? [Finally getting to his feet and brushing himself off before slowly starting to walk off]

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[Whoa. Harry is surprised for a moment, but he's up quickly.] Look. You two are going to keep going around in circles as long are you're both here unless something changes. I want to help, but I need to know what's going wrong. This isn't just stupid schoolkid stuff anymore.

From:

hisdarkmark

[And suddenly in one fluid motion Draco's turning again and has his wand drawn, pointing it straight at Harry] Shut. Up. I don't need your help!

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[And Harry's just going to take care of that little wand problem.] Expelliarmus! [Now that he's won DH, he'll take that wand and get back to the point.] Don't be stupid! Do you want things to go back to the way they were?

Edited Date: 2010-02-15 07:28 am (UTC)

From:

hisdarkmark

Give me my wand! [Yes, he's ignoring the rest of that for now because, well, that's part of the problem.]

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

Not until you start acting your age! [This is a huge request, but Harry means well and he wants to get this sorted. Also, he's moving carefully out of the way.]

From:

hisdarkmark

I don't have time for this, give me my fucking wand now. [Draco may thank him later, but right now he's ready to blow and he's not in the mood to stand around and talk, at all.]

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

If you're going to keep being an arse about it, I'll just take it and go back to the house. Then you can walk all the way there to get it back and deal with anyone else in the house, including Neville and Sirius. [Harry is not in the mood to deal with rage!Draco. He wants sensibility gdit, and he's going to get it!] Or you can calm down and talk to me about this like a human being, and I'll give it back.

From:

hisdarkmark

I can still Apparate without my wand, idiot. [But he listens to the rest of that and even though he's shaking a little, his fists are balled at his sides instead of poised to punch Harry in the face.] I don't want to do this. Give me my wand so I can go home.

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

Really? And what happens if I hide it like I hid Tom Riddle's? Don't give me a reason to even think about that. [Harry is poised rather carefully, just in case Draco makes a lunge for him and he needs to dodge and escape quickly. At least the Dursleys were useful for something.] I know you don't, but the longer you put it off, the longer this gets drawn out. If you just go home, everything goes back to being like they used to be. You don't want that, Hermione doesn't want that, and neither do I, so stop being ridiculous.

From:

hisdarkmark

Don't even try it! [Draco's also ready for a physical attack, if needed] It's none of your business, so stop butting in, give me my wand, and leave me alone. Besides, you wouldn't understand.

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

I won't if you'd stop making a fuss about this! [Harry is watching for any sign that Draco might try a physical attack.] It is my business, because you're both my friends and if this keeps up like it has been, I'm going to get dragged into this eventually. Maybe I would understand if you told me what was going on!

From:

hisdarkmark

[He opens his mouth to yell again, but he changes his mind suddenly, shutting up and staring at the ice. The f-word threw him off-guard, really, though it shouldn't by now. That may have been the main reason Draco's anger suddenly fizzled out, replaced first by surprise and then back to neutrality.] ...look, it doesn't concern you. It just concerns me and things that are occurring at home, all right?

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[Harry blinks at the sudden dissipation of Draco's anger, but he's thankful for it. Did he say something weird? He's not entirely sure why Draco was surprised, but Harry's brain-to-mouth filter has always been broken.] So I should just expect you to get over it and be back to normal in no time, then?

From:

hisdarkmark

[He should have expected this really, considering how well Harry's brain-to-mouth has always worked. Currently though he's frustrated, tired, and slightly freaked out.] Yes, exactly. Now you're catching on.

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[Use your brain, Draco! Harry is only sort of using his. But he is used to bullshit and is determined to see this through.] Considering that you're still bitter about things that happened first year, I don't see how that's bloody likely.

From:

hisdarkmark

[Draco doesn't want to use his brain though!] ...give me my wand. I don't want to do this.

From:

cruxofapotter.livejournal.com

[Because that requires too much pain and effort. Oh Draco. Meanwhile, Harry's taking another step back.] If you don't, nothing's ever going to get done.