tea for two }{ molly

[demitrius daxton amherst]

Demitrius Daxton Amherst, or rather Dax, had never been known for being normal. Cocky, arrogant, obnoxious, intelligent, immature; those were the kinds of words people used to describe Dax Amherst. Normal was miles away from him and he never could quite realize this solid fact. That was how the vast majority of things were in Dax’s life. All the concrete facts would be right in front of Dax’s eyes and he would forever refuse to see them. His denial only made him happier though. He liked his life, even if he failed to sufficiently find a point at time. He had one solid, permanent fixation in life and that was a girl. This girl was named Molly Elaine Penderghast and Dax didn’t stand a chance. That could hardly stop him from loving her though. It was sad, but true. It was awkward, but real. It was the one thing in Dax’s life that he couldn’t just ignore, his feelings.

So, that rainy night in Hogwarts Castle, Dax had been chatting with his old friend and heart’s fixation. She’d mentioned feeling ill. Dax, naturally, had offered to bring her some tea. Dax would jump through almost any hoop for Molly, even if she’d never ask him to do so. The fact that he’d rushed into the kitchens in the school to fetch Miss Penderghast a thermos of tea wasn’t all that shocking. Plus, Dax had a strange love for the kitchens. He loved to be around the house elves for reasons that were rooted to his birth and raising. It was sort of like going home for him. The kitchens were a source of warmth and kindness.

He stumbled through the portrait into the kitchen to be instantly offered assistance by at least three eager elves. Dax grinned sheepishly and said he was fine, he’d get it himself. And, that was what he did. Despite being raised by a pureblooded, single mother, Dax didn’t want the help of a house elf for a task so small as making tea. He knew where to find the things he needed and he did just that. He made his way over toward one of the huge lengths of stove-top, much like a long counter of stoves really, and he tugged a kettle down from a hook. He started some hot water in a rush and only scolded his hand once. While he waited, he rummaged about in a cupboard of tea brands. He found some that he knew would make Molly feel better and clear her head. He set it on the counter and looked back to see a sea of eyes staring at him in confusion. The elves weren’t used to this, to people doing this. They knew Dax, but they were still incredibly uneasy at his desire to do things himself.

”So, what’s the word of the day down here? You lot enjoying your work?” Dax asked them all, conversationally. He leaned against the stove and gave a small yelp, realizing he’d burned his elbow. He secretly scolded himself for being an idiot and then turned his attention back to the mess of creatures around him.

”Mr. Amherst would like some help?” A shy little elf, most likely female by the look of her, asked with a shivery sort of quiver in her tone.

”Oh, no, not me. I’m fine, really.” Dax said with an awkward sort of eye-brow twinge. Just then, he heard what sounded distinctly like an elf plowing it’s way through the crowd.

”Demitrius Amherst came to visit again!!! Mr. Demitrius is Lottie’s favorite! Lottie missed him!” Lottie squeaked. Lottie had been an old friend of Dax’s house elf, Gwynnie. Dax had spent most of his time around the castle playing pranks with the help of Gwynnie. More than once, Lottie had gotten mixed up in the entire affair as well. Dax liked Lottie’s company and requested her to help clean in the Ravenclaw Common on late nights so he could talk to her while she cleaned and he did homework. He couldn’t help but grin at her wild personality.

”I missed you too Lottie. Where have you been stationed on night duties this term? Dumbledore have you somewhere boring like the hospital wing? You should definitely come up to the Ravenclaw Tower again this year. It’s so good to hear from you.” Dax rambled, making conversation with the wildly shaking Lottie. Lottie wandered toward a cabinet and pulled out a sturdy looking mug for Dax. It was as if she’d read his mind.

”Lottie has work in second floor bathrooms. Mistress Myrtle cries often and Lottie has to bring cotton for her ears to block the sound.” Lottie said with a mischievous grin. The elf knew she was speaking ill of a castle resident and that the mere concept was practically forbidden. Dax saw the fun in Lottie and loved it.

”Ask her if anyone’s thrown anything at her recently for me, won’t you?” Dax asked with a laughing smile.

”Oh, Lottie would love to! Why is Mr. Dax making tea?” Lottie ask with an eye-brow raised, as if daring to scold him.

”It’s for my friend, Molly. She feels ill. I wanted to make it myself. You lot have just finished cleaning up from dinner anyway.” Dax shrugged.

”If Mr. Dax needs any help, he must ask Lottie, straight away.” Lottie murmured. Just then, the tea kettle began whistling and Dax moved over to take it from the stove. He poured the water into a thermos and then grabbed a second mug. He took a few tea bag and waved the house elves away.

Before he could think too much on his little excursion to the kitchen, Dax found himself heading up endless flights of stairs. The Ravenclaw Common seemed ages from the ground floor of the castle. He made good time though, taking advantage of the many secret passages and empty corridors. He was answering a riddle and entering the common room in no time at all. Once inside he started to look around for Molly. She wasn’t anywhere in sight. Dax figured she’d either stepped out for the bathroom or run up to her dormitory to get something. He spotted two empty chairs near the fire and quickly claimed one, setting one of the mugs on the spot for Molly. He hoped she’d be there soon. He didn’t want the tea to grow cold.

[molly elaine penderghast]

Anyone could see that Molly Penderghast was a wreck. She knew it, everyone else could probably tell she was falling apart at the seams. Once she had been a strong, loving, carefree and generally friendly girl. But she had been broken inside, at age thirteen, discovering who she would be wed to the rest of her miserable life. There was really no way to win. It was marry him, or be beaten for disgracing the family and getting disowned. Her family was all she he had even known, despite them being somewhat horrid. The thought of that occurring...well, Molly didn't even want to fathom it. It was all just too painful for words.

Molly sighed. This whole situation was not going well for her at all. Perhaps maybe if the family had a male child to keep the family name, some of the pressure on her would be alleviated. But no. Everything had to go perfectly, go according to plan. Sure, it wouldn't carry on the Penderghast name, but at the very least they would be able to contribute to a pureblood line. In Molly's case, it was the Avery family name she would carry on. Holden Avery was vile, cruel, vain and viscious. It didn't really matter. She could tell someone and they'd likely believe her. But the fact of the matter is, it didn't really make a difference who she told. She had to marry him, and later she would have to deal with the consequence of her loose lips, and that was sure to be a great punishment. She didn't want to add more fire to her lifelong stay in hell, though she was going to be there for the rest of her life anyway. It made Molly feel trapped, isolated. There was no escape in this, none at all. She just wanted to curl up and die, this was the only way this could all be over with. If she showed any resistance, it would hurt her. Molly was completely terrified, scared of to be alone, scared to make him angry, and scared of being disowned. The common room was the only place where she could feel safe, to know Holden couldn't get to her there. But she felt uneasy, knowing that it was all so fragile, and he was just beyond the door. Thank Merlin he was a Slytherin. Otherwise, Molly would never be safe.

It was late and most of her housemates were sleeping or on holiday. She was wrapped in a light blue blanket and her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were red from her crying. She cried often, and she didn't need any more people making fun of her for it. She knew she had a fever, Molly had never had a strong immune system. If anything, she had bee a very sickly thing in her youth, and now was no different. She peered up, looking over the side and saw her best friend carrying a thermos full of something. "Dax?" she mumbled weakly. It was the first time she had tried to use her voice as of recently and she immediately wished she had tried to use it sooner, if anything to not sound so completely pathetic. "It's late, what are you doing?" she said in the same pathetic little voice. It was as if he had a sixth sense for this thing. He was always around when Molly needed him most. At least, the times when she would let him be. She didn't ever let him aorund the Holden stuff because ...it could end badly. It was better just to try and keep everyone at peace, in respects to the things that, no matter horrible they were, just weren't going to change.

[demitrius daxton amherst]

It wasn’t until Molly had spoken that Dax realized how ill she really was. Suddenly, his offering of tea seemed tremendously mediocre and ridiculous. Yet, he saw this look in Molly’s eyes and he knew that she needed help. Molly would rarely ever, if at all, ask for anyone’s help. Dax had always seen it as low self worth. He wanted to take Molly by the shoulders and stare into her brown eyes and tell her that she was worth anyone’s time and that he would always be there for her if she needed him. But, on normal days, Molly would most likely have smacked him in the face for saying something like that. That was just how she was. So, Dax had to play his cards right.

Until then. Right then, Molly sounded like death had come crawling into her body and was knocking on the doors, trying to beckon all those around forth to see what was going on. Dax had to help her. ”Molls. You sound… Molly, I’ve got to take you to the hospital wing. This isn’t good.” Dax murmured. He abandoned the tea and left it sitting on one of the tables. He knew Molly would object to him taking her anywhere, but he also knew she wasn’t doing well.

Dax froze for a moment, trying to think of what to do in a moment like that. He was waiting for her to say, ”No, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.” That was so Molly. His words were probably spot on to what was running through her head right then. So, before she could open her mouth to speak them, Dax leaned over and picked her up. Yeah, picked Molly Penderghast up. He held her in his arms like a child. He was going to bring her to the hospital wing where someone would tend to her. He started toward the exit of the common room, expecting Molly to hit him at any moment.

Sorry my post is hecka short and wimpy. I remember you saying you wanted him to take her to the hospital wing and I kind of just threw this post out there.

[molly elaine penderghast]

"I'm fine, Dax" she whimpered feebly, the fever making her pale cheeks tinged with red, and her dark curls fall, damp, sticking to her forehead. She knew as soon as she spoke it wouldn't do any good. Dax was stubborn, and hard headed, which really got on Molly's nerves sometimes. He'd pretty much had his mind set on what he was going to do, and there wasn't much she could do to stop him. He was a great friend, often obnoxious, but she knew he really cared about her. Dax was always so perfect to her, always helping her out , even though she herself had not asked him to. Molly seldom asked anything of anyone. She didn't want to be a burden. She never said it aloud, but it was clear Dax Amherst was the single most important person in the world to her. He was the only one who ever , made her happy, but due to other complications, she couldn't ever say it. But inside, Molly always hoped he knew...he must have known. She didn't completely understand why , but with Dax...the smiles were real. With him she felt safe, and nomal ; not the wreck that she was, always afraid and quiet.

She shook her head again, clinging to the throw pillow and burying herself in the couch cushions. "No..." she squeaked, probably only making her case worse by talking. "Stop worrying about me." Molly mumbled, turning away from him, her sickly face hidden in a sea of navy and bronze. "The hospital wing? she choked back on the words, though instantly she was terrified. If she went to the hospital wing, the would send word to her elder sister, Cassandra. If Cass found out, there was no doubt that Holden Avery would follow. even in her sickness, Molly knew they would come to torment her. It was like some twisted game the two of them played, because of the way things were, Molly was powerless to stop them.

She wasn't expecting him to do that, to pick her up and hold her in his arms that way. Her head instinctively fell to his chest, resting there. Molly really couldn't protest. She was so weak, and so very dizzy. She shut her eyes, desperately trying to stop the room from spinning. "Dax, no...Please don't take me there I'm sc.." she stopped herself immediately. Molly didn't want to keep Dax in the dark like this, as a matter of fact, she wanted to fall into his arms, sobbing. She wanted to tell him everything. But she couldn't. If he knew the extent of how excessively Holden terrifed her, if he knew the angry purple marks that hid beneath the sleeves of her shirts on her forearms...it wouldn't end well for anyone. No, she couldn't tell Dax any of it. She could just try to relish the moments they had left. The safe moments here, with no Holden. No Cassandra. Just Molly and Dax. "Please put me back, I'm dizzy." she tried desperately. She took a deep breath, looking at him once, before closing her eyes. She knew she needed the hospital wing, but it wasn't as if she didn't get sick all the time. Maybe she could avoid it...with rest.

[demitrius daxton amherst]

Dax could feel her fear. It was like looking at someone who was dying and feeling a slight ache. That was what he felt as he held Molly Penderghast in his arms. And, quite frankly, it horrified him. This was his best friend, the most important person in his life. And, he loved Molly. He loved her more than he had ever told her. And to hold someone who was practically drowning in their own fear and not know how to help that person… Dax had never felt as useless as he did right then. He needed to do whatever was best for Molly, but was it even his place to tell her what was best?

Obviously Molly was mortified by going to the Hospital Wing. Dax couldn’t figure out why, but she was. And she didn’t want to go there. And he wasn’t going to drag her there against her wishes. But he couldn’t just tell her she’d be okay either. She had a terrible fever and she was much too pale. So, still holding her in his arms at the ready, Dax made a decision. He looked down at her and saw the pain in her eyes and knew he had to listen to her. She had to be able to trust him still. And he’d give her every reason in the world to trust him. If there wasn’t any hospital wing in the picture, Dax Amherst was ready to improvise!

He took Molly and set her down gently on a couch, away from any other prying eyes. He poured her a cup of tea which he figured she might not drink, but he’d leave it anyway. ”Don’t move. I’m going to help you, okay?” Dax whispered to her. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, the heat was horrible and Dax knew he wasn’t suited for this, but he’d do it anyway. He dashed up the staircase to the boy’s dorm and flung open his trunk. He began rummaging around until he’d grabbed up several little medicinal herbs and things he’d collected and a book on healing. Dax was a reader. He read constantly. He read before bed and in between classes and at the breakfast table and during off time while on prefect duties. Dax loved to read and would read almost anything. The healing book was handy and now was its time to shine.

He came back down the stairs to find Molly where he’d left her. He propped open the book and sat on the floor on his knees. He took her cup of tea and mixed some different things in with it. Dax set the cup of tea down on a small end table and raised his wand. He was going to do something somewhat ridiculous, but that he was entirely accustomed to. Dax summoned Lottie, the house elf. And, sweet, mischievous, raggedy little Lottie popped up into the common in a blink. Her smile was huge and Dax wished he could smile back. Instead, he leaned over and whispered for Lottie to sneak in and steal a fever reduction potion from Madam Pomfrey. And he asked her to bring some extra blankets for Miss Penderghast. Dax sat beside Molly wordlessly, knowing he needed to help her.

”Why are you so scared?” He asked her quietly, gently. He wiped at her forehead and felt sweat swelling up there. He wished he had a towel or something, but he cared too much about her health to acknowledge his own hygiene. He wiped away the sweat on his pants and waited for her to answer. Maybe she wouldn’t, but he hoped she would.

[molly elaine penderghast]

Molly had always been a sickly girl. Most of her childhood had been spent in bed, slurping down the grotesque family remedies of her nanny, who had a very strong, almost untranslatable russian accent. Her name had been equally as russian, and Cassadra and Molly could never find themselves pronouncing it correctly. She was vile, and her cures were just as vile. Really, Molly could never see any point of these supposed "cures", other than making her feel all the more ill. They were in a word...completely disgusting. She'd rather eat mud. At least that way she'd know what consistency to expect.
-not done