let's be m o r e than {THIS} [part one]

[Lou McGooken]

Over her many years of life, Lou McGooken had grown to love nature. She adored anything of the sort and was rather peaceful, something that connected her to the Earth in a way that nothing much else could. The Hufflepuff girl enjoyed spending much time outside, mostly during the twilight hours, when the sun was just setting and night was just around the corner.

Such was what she was doing that evening. The sun was setting in the west, exploding murals of scarlets, mauves, and tangerines in its wake. She'd been wandering around the Hogwarts Grounds for nigh on an hour now, and she hardly got bored of it. She'd watched the sun set fifteen short minutes ago, and the dusky smell in the air was just signaling that she should probably be heading inside soon. After all, it was getting to be rather chilly out, now that the sun had fallen beneath the horizon.

She began to turn towards the stone building to her left, the Black Lake in the corner of her eye sending shivers down her spine. Jesus, she was frightened of it. Even just the thought of it made her want to run, hide, and never come out. Good Lord, she was such a coward. The girl made a mental note to not ever thing of the Black Lake. Even the mere thought could drive her insane.

Outfit

[Corliss Malfoy]

Oh how news does fly through big schools. The news of the kiss between a certain Huffler and Tucker had, of course, spread like wildfire. When it reached the ears of Miss Malfoy, it wasn't a pretty sight. Not only did she hate the Hufflepuff girl in question, but Tucker was like her brother. She was a bit protective of him, as she was with all her friends. Her angry glare stopped all atempts of conversation as she stormed through the halls and out onto the grounds. Her fierce eyes darted around in search of Lou. She had been tols the the girl was wandering the grounds. The promise she had made so long ago was finally ready to become true.
After a while of looking, Corliss spotted the freckle faced girl. She smirked coldy as she made her way across the distance. Her wand was already drawn when she was within talking distance. "Hello, McGooken." she spat, her voice harder than steel and colder than ice. She glared at the girl, unsure of what to do. Not only had the girl kissed Tucker, she had rejected him quickly after the kiss had taken place. That was the worse part. Corliss couldn't stand to see her 'brother' hurting. "Out for a walk? All alone? Sad. I guess I will only get to do this once." she said, her voice thibk with mock sadness.
Quickly, she thought the simple curse to levitate that stupid girl into the dreaded Black Lake, knowing full well she couldn't swim. She watched as she thrashed around in the watter, a smile growing on her lips. She pushed her hair from her face, resting a hand on her tummy as she laughed. "Good luck getting out of that! Mind if I stay to watch the show?" she teased the girl.

[Lou McGooken]

The cold voice of Corliss Malfoy sent shivers down her spine and the moment she heard those words of greeting, Lou knew she was in trouble. After all, there was no time that a Malfoy would talk to her unless they were planning on doing something wretched to her. Or they were insulting her to her face. Two things she'd grown to rather dislike over the years. She could tolerate them, sure, but they hurt the Huffle.

She felt the ground drop out beneath her as the Slytherin girl Levitated her in the air, and her stomach dropped out as well. Terror showed in her eyes. Drowning was perhaps her worst fear. Water was, after all, her Dementor. She could hardly think straight and as she became closer and closer to the dark waters of the Black Lake, fear pervaded every inch of her mind. She cried out to the Malfoy girl, praying she'd have some pity and put the Hufflepuff down. There was, after all, no one to hear her scream if she was to be thrown in the lake.

"Please!" she begged, her eyes pleading, but the next moment, she felt weightless and a second after that, Lou was plunging into the deep water of the Black Lake.

The moment beforehand, she'd been so terrified, she'd forgotten to suck in a breath. She thrashed around violently in the water, trying to keep her head above the surface. Her flats kicked off in the water, and her toes began to freeze in the icy water. As she tried harder and harder to keep her head above, she only slipped under more, coughing and spluttering for the Slytherin girl to help her. Didn't Corliss Malfoy have a heart?

Outfit

[Tucker Pierce]

Finally, finding a sitter for Claire, Tucker began to walk out of the castle onto the grounds, searching for one person. Lou. The kiss that they had shared meant everything to him, and he was ready to win her heart. He walked steadily, his dark eyes scanning the ground for the familiar face of Lou. Sighing, he found no trace of her, except for the loud scream the echoed around him. He wasn't actually sure it was Lou's deathly scream, but he knew he had to follow his gut, and his gut told him to go to the Black Lake. He sprinted, head down, moving through the thin air as quick as possible.

Tucker arrived at the Black Lake in a few short seconds, panting, but his eyes still swerved around looking for Lou. First, he saw a girl thrashing in the water, apparently drowning, and then Corliss. His best friend whom was much sister like to him. He ran over to her, his eyes begging for an explanation. who was the girl thrashing in the water, but then he saw it. The hint of red hair. It was Lou, and there was only one reasonable answer at how she got there. Corliss. His jaw tightened, and his eyesstabbed ferociously into Corliss' familiar blue-green ones.

"What.The.Hell.Did.You.Do?" Each word was broken up in the sentence, his voice rough, hard, and strict. He was utterly pissed now as he watched the sight of pleasure flash through her eyes. He shook his head roughly, pulling his shirt over his head as quickly as possible. "You know, I'm not a big fan of murder Cor." He snapped, running head on into the depth of the Black Lake.

The icy cold water crashed all around him, as he dove straight down into the dark water. His hand immediately found Lou's waist, grabbing her protectively. He opened his eyes under the water, not surprised that he couldn't see a thing. He gasped for air, kicking his feet hard to reach the top of the surface once more. He pulled Lou along with him, afraid that she was unconscious. He grunted, trudging her out of the murky water. He laid her carefully on the ground, leaning over her water dripping from his biceps, and abs. He quickly did mouth to mouth precipitation, his breathing hard but controlled.

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[Lou McGooken]

She went unconscious shortly after Corliss flung her into the lake. The girl wasn't praticed at rigorous physical activity, especially such an intense one as thrashing around desperately in water for what felt like forever. In truth, it had hardly been three minutes before she simply couldn't take it any more and she stopped trying.

Lou didn't hear the angry cry of her friend shouting at the top of his lungs at the girl that had flung her into the lake. She didn't see him pull off his shirt and dive into the dark, churning water. She couldn't feel the strong arm wrapping itself around her waist or the zing of the cold air on her face when her wet head broke the surface of the water.

The first thing she heard or felt was Tucker's mouth on her own, and she briefly remembered the sunny day by the Whomping Willow, before she was jerked back to reality by the feeling of lake water in her chest. She turned to the side, convulsing rather vividly before coughing up what seemed like at least a bucket of water. Shivers ran through her body and goosebumps riddled her arms. The night air was cooling rapidly, and she was doing all she could to keep her teeth from chattering.

In that moment, her creamy, light brown eyes found her savior and she flashed him as big a smile as she was able as her teeth began chattering violently. "Th-th-thanks T-t-t-tuck."

Outfit

[Corliss Malfoy]

Corliss heard the girl's small please for mercy. It only made things so much more fun. She watched, her face growing softer, the smile slowly fading. Her eyes were cold, looking the same as they had when she was forced ro murder Avery. Some people still wouldn't let her live it down, even though they knew why she had to do it. She sighed, her wand still clutched in her hand when she heard a familiar huffing of her 'brother'.
She turned sharply, knowing that he was going to be angry. Of course he would be! She was trying to kill his 'girlfriend'. Corliss scowled when he asked her what she was doing. "I bloody well trying to maintain the status you've reached! Kissing a HULLFEFUFF! WHAT WERE YOU THINGKING!" she yelled at him. She listened, her mouth dropping softly. "You know good and well that I was about to save her. Just trying to rough her up a bit. Don't speack to me like that, Tucker." she said, her voice low and deadly. She watched him plunge into the water, bringing the girl back to saftey.

[Tucker Pierce]

Tucker's heart pumped hard, as he watched Lou stutter to life. he heard her say thanks, and responded quickly, "No problem, love" Tearing his eyes away from the now breathing Lou, Tucker eyes caught on Corliss. He cocked his head to the side, confused by what she had said. Wasn't she now dating Noah Dale? Also a Hufflepuff, AND the guy whom Tucker hated. She simply had no right to talk about him kissing a Huffler. She was doing the exact same thing as he was. Messing around with that... Dale. Ugh, how Tuck despised him.

He pulled Lou up in his arms, knowing that she probably wouldn't be able to walk quite yet. He strode over to Corliss quickly, his gaze never leaving her. "What the hell Corliss? Do you realize what you are saying? Me kissing a Huffler, and one that you hate? Well, guess what you are doing the exact same thing. Dating, and snogging that... that... Noah Dale. There's one difference between the way we both reacted though. You tried to murder Lou, while I did nothing of the sort to Dale." He hissed back at her, aware of his temperamental tone.

His jaw clenched tighter, and he could basically hear the sound of his teeth rubbing against each other. Yes, as you would assume, he was pissed. "If I can't talk to you in that tone, then the same goes for you." He snapped back but continued quickly, "You know good and well you were going to let her drown. How dare you lie directly to my face. Now I suggest that all of us kiss and make up." Finally, his voice got softer, but his eyes still drilled into Corliss' light blue-green eyes.

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[Corliss Malfoy]

Corliss smirked. "There is a big difference, Tucker. Noah, belss his soul, is a good boy, and by good I mean evil. WHile your little girlfriend there is nothing but a stupid air head who will make you fall through the ranks in Slytherin. You know how you worked so hard at being mean? Well its all over now. You should have heard the things they were saying....." she said, her voice hard and cold. She stared at her friend who was slowly pissing her off mor and more.
"I tried to kill her? Really do you know whats going on in my mind? I think not. So you can shut you mouth before you say anymore shit that isn't true at all. Yes, Tucker, I just told you to shut your mouth. Get over yourself." she spat, not taking her eyes away from his. She knew that he would as her to forgive him to say she was sorry, and wasn't surprised when he did say it. "Are you freaking kidding me? After all that you are really asking me to do that? Do you even know me?" she said, her eyes burning.

[Tucker Pierce]

Tucker's eyes flickered inside his head, making them roll. His eyes looked different now, like he was foreign now. His jaw still clenched, he responded to Corliss in a harsh tone, "I don't give a shit what they say about me Corliss. There's another difference between us. I don't listen to what people say." He paused, but quickly hurried on, "Do you know what they are saying about you? Huh? Exactly. I've been sticking up for you this entire time, but look at you. You're doing the exact opposite."

His face grew solemn, sad that Corliss had changed so drastically. He tore his eyes away from her, looking down at the ground now. "Get over myself? I'm going after love, and it seems to me that you can't get over it. So you should be doing what you're voicing to me. Get it. Got it. Good." His voice was fierce, and his eyes glowed as he looked back at Corliss. "I use to know you... but now... now you've changed. And, yes I'm asking you to do that for me. I hate fighting with you. It's just wrong." His voice was sad now, and he felt part of his heart tear in two.

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[Corliss Malfoy]

Corliss watched the boy with fierce eyes. She wasn't giving up soon. Yes, Tucker, we are very different people. I know good and well what they are saying about me. I tried to tell them that you'd never kiss a Hufflepuff girl. It was a lie, all a lie. I don't see how you could do that...." she said, her voice soft but cold. She loved the boy very much, but he was losing it. "That just it, I'm already over it, Tucker. I know what you mean now. So, I'll be seeing you later. Have fun with your girlfriend" she said, turning on her heel as he finished his sentence. "I thought I knew you too, Tuk. I guess I don't. I haven't change, I've grown." she hissed, not looking back so he wouldn't see the tears streaming down her face.

[Lou McGooken]

There was one thing about Lou, and that was the fact that she couldn't stand fighting, hatred, or sadness. She'd trained herself to revel in things like peace, love, and happiness. So the fight that was occurring between Tucker and Corliss in that moment really put her off and made her uncomfortable. Perhaps the worst part was when Corliss called her a stupid airhead. Which Lou fully recognized herself, but it still hurt to be called such a thing.

Once Corliss stalked off, Lou glanced at Tuck, giving him a reassuring look before stumbling to her feet and hurrying after Corliss. Upon reaching the back of the retreating Slytherin, Lou gently turned her around so that the Hufflepuff could speak to Corliss. She dearly wanted to console the girl, who looked as though she was on the verge of tears. For, the thing about Lou was that she never rememberd the bad things people had done to her. All she wanted to do was comfort people and get them smiling again. It was something about her peaceful nature.

Lou looked up at Corliss' stunningly gorgeous face. Although the Slytherin was short, Lou was, if anything, even shorter. "Corliss, I'm sorry," she started, her eyes pleading for the girl to understand that she was truly apologizing. That light, kind voice of hers was speaking in a rather soft tone. "I'm sorry for everything. Really. I don't want you and Tuck to grow apart. Honestly, you were one of the only things he spoke of when we...met. He respects you and I wish you could see that."

Outfit

[Tucker Pierce]

Feeling like punching a wall, Tucker clenched his jaw to keep his anger inside of him. He dropped Lou carefully to the ground, trying to refrain himself from kissing her again like he had at the Whomping Willow. He watched her walk away from him, running after Corliss quickly, whom he was very pissed off at. He turned his back on the two, grabbing his shirt off of the sandy ground. He pulled it over his head easily, brushing his hands through his hair fiercely. Water splattered off of it, making wet spot on his shirt. He sighed, looking down at his 'basketball' shorts. They were soaked all over, giving him an uncomfortable feeling in places he liked to be comfortable in.

Finally, Tucker shook his head, turning back to strut over to the two girls. One trying to make peace, and the other... well not necessarily in a very happy mood to make peace. To say the least. Tucker rolled his eyes, standing kind of in the middle of the two girls whom meant everything to him. He cocked his head to the side, trying to get involved in the drastic conversation.

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[Corliss Malfoy]

Corliss let the tears spill over her eyes, letting them stream down her cheeks. She wasn't planning on going in soon, so she could cry. She made no noise, not wanting to show Lou her weakness for her friend. She heard the soft footsteps approaching her and than the small hands turning her around. She didn't look into the eyes of the girl, fearing what she might say. Before she could help herself, her arms were wound around Lou, her head buried in her wet shoulder. "I'm sorry." she whispered. She had no idea that Tucker was walking up, little did she care.

[Lou McGooken]

There was one thing that Lou wasn't expecting from Corliss. She thought perhaps the Slytherin would yell at her. But, more likely, that Malfoy would jinx her or spit in her face. However, something entirely different from either of those two things happened, and it startled the Hufflepuff girl.

Having to comfort a person that was taller than you definitely wasn't free of awkwardness when it came to them crying on your shoulder. But, over the years, Lou had had quite a few people to comfort, most of them taller than her, as she was pretty easy to tower over. So hugging Corliss and muttering comforting things to her was pretty easy. Other than the fact that Lou was terrified of the girl.

When Tuck came over and stood next to her, Lou gave him a questioning look, wondering what on Earth Corliss was doing. Perhaps the Slytherin girl was just trying to trick her into putting her guard down. And then she was going to really get her. But Lou didn't think of that. It wasn't a habit of hers.

Outfit

[Tucker Pierce]

Eyes wide, and mouth dropped open, Tucker watched with surprise as Corliss said, 'I'm Sorry', and then hugged Lou. He looked at Lou, who apparently was just as surprised as he was. Dang... drastic change of heart there, Cor.' He thought to himself, with humor. He rolled his eyes slightly, but had to fight back his laugh that was bubbling up in his throat. He shrugged at Lou, his eyes smiling at her. He watched her with solemn eyes, wondering how on earth he could get her. Get her to go out with him. Just to let him try to impress her, although he hoped that he already had. Another grunt escaped his lips as he popped his neck quickly. He smiled at the two girls, half halfheartedly happy that it seemed they were getting along. Well, at least Corliss wasn't trying to kill Lou. Or anything of the insane sort.

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