benscursedkid - Tumblr blog

benscursedkid · 1 year

Text

synopsis: Isabella and Talbott seem to be often subjected to everyone else’s holiday spirit. That’s when Talbott notices a recurring theme…

characters: talbott winger x isabella wallace (@arielemberbridge’s mc)

genre: fluff. just fluff

warnings: none

words: 1.868

aside: hello! I’m your secret santa this year! I really hope you like it. I went through so many different drafts and ideas in order to get your mc just right so I hope I succeeded. happy holidays to you and everyone reading! ❤️

*my submission for the @hphmsecretsanta event this year!!!

The first time it happened, Talbott had no idea that this would turn into a recurring theme between them.

They’d been assigned to work together in the green house while Professor Sprout stepped out. Having been the two students closest to her when she did, she asked them to harvest her plant for her while she briefly dismissed herself to have a word with Professor McGonagall. This wouldn’t be so bad really if they weren’t trying to do so in front of a live audience.

Thankfully, it seemed easier than they originally assumed and they began their task with relative ease. The students around them elected to chat amongst themselves, filling the greenhouse with idle chatter and distant voices. The afternoon sun spilled in through the window, casting a golden aura about the room.

Talbott almost began to appreciate the serenity of the moment when it was oh so rudely interrupted.

“Have you done this before?” His fellow fourth year asks, hugging her robe a bit closer to her on account of the winter chill in the air. Even with the warming charm it can still be felt in waves.

He nearly doesn’t deign to reply, but does so with an arched eyebrow. “I haven’t.”

This time the other student, Isabella Wallace, turn to look him in the eye, her own sparkling with amusement and mirth. “That so? You’re doing quite well though.”

“Perhaps because it’s in the current chapter of our textbook.” Talbott bites back, perhaps a bit more hostile than was necessary.

Isabella sends him an unimpressed look and he sighs in defeat. “It’s not difficult. You’re also not doing awful.”

A smirk paints her mouth, her brown eyes reflecting the sunshine and looking warm. “My, is that a compliment? From Talbott Winger? The guy with a notorious bad mood?”

Talbott groans and rolls his eyes. “I can always retract it, y’know.”

“Nope, too late,” Isabella shakes her head, her blonde ponytail swaying gently with the movement. “You’ve already given it. The compliment has been received. You can’t take it back.”

She smiles up at him and Talbott scowls and turns away as his chest blooms with warmth. Like a virus.

Isabella grins winningly at his acquiescence.

The animagus debates objecting further or letting the conversation meet its awkward but timely end there when he notices the lack of idle chit chat in the background. He turns his head to examine this change and meets the wide, intrigued glances of everyone else in the room. From his peripheral, he can see Isabella look to do the same.

“What?” She asks lamely, almost childlike.

A kid at the back, a blonde ravenclaw with a mischievous grin, merely points up towards the ceiling.

His eyes first study the space above the ravenclaw’s head, but when he finds nothing he frowns in confusion. That is, until he feels a tug at his robe and he looks over to find Isabella also pointing upwards.

His entire expression slips from his face when he recognizes what he sees.

Isabella blushes but makes an attempt to laugh off the awkwardness. The rest of the class, however, aren’t quite so ready to dismiss what could possibly be enough drama to last their year for the next month and a half. And just when he thought the attentive looks weren’t bad enough, they began to chant.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

Not entirely unexpected for a band of teenagers, though the whole thing still felt terribly juvenile to him. Talbott even began to blush from embarrassment.

Suddenly, Isabella turns to him and Talbott arches a brow at her. “Do you mind?”

He blinks. “Pardon?”

She goes to reply, but is cut off by the cheers growing even louder. With a shrug and a sigh, she steadies herself by grabbing his forearm and pushing up onto her toes to plant a kiss on Talbott’s cheek. Her lips are a bit chapped from the weather but still somehow softer than he expected them to be as they brush his skin.

Right as she pulls back, leaving Talbott stunned, wide-eyed, and dumbfounded, the door to the greenhouse opens.

“What in Merlin’s beard is going on here? I leave for two minutes and the next thing you know I hear—” Her eyes spot Isabella and Talbott at the front and Isabella hastily drops his arm. Her eyes automatically shoot up to the roof.

Understanding dawns on her.

“Well, I suppose that’s what I get for forgetting I let the students hang up mistletoe in here.”

Their professor shakes her head and shoos them both back to their seats. She resumes her place and carries on with the lecture but this time, Talbott can’t help but allow his eyes to drift up and over the table.

Across from him Isabella is already staring back. When he catches her eye, she doesn’t blush or look away. She merely offers him a warm smile.

It suddenly feels warmer in the greenhouse.

II.

The second time they were caught in such unfortunate circumstances, Talbott had the bright idea to follow her down into Knockturn Alley.

Suffice to say, it wasn’t exactly a fun excursion.

So far removed from the safe boundaries and protective wards of Hogwarts grounds, every step felt precious. The snow crunched beneath his boots but he felt more like he was walking on ice. Whenever he looked up, another dark witch or wizard had their eyes peeled to them. The entire alley felt foreboding and threatening.

Isabella casts him a look over her shoulder as she trudges forth. “I told you that you didn’t have come. I would’ve been fine by myself.”

“Maybe,” Talbott concedes, but his tone still holds a stubborn edge. “Maybe not. But you’re undefeated, Isabella, not immortal.”

She releases a long sigh and stays quiet for a moment. “I wish you would’ve stayed at the castle.”

“I’m aware.”

“You could get hurt here.”

“So could you.”

Isabella rubs nervously at her arms. A frown clear on her face to broadcast her blatant disagreement.

Now sixteen, Talbott had grievously grown to care for the wild Gryffindor. While certainly troublesome and stubborn—and at times immensely frustrating—she was, he had reluctantly admitted to himself years ago that her kindness and selflessness was endearing. Endearing enough, it seems, to warrant a tentative crush on the cursebreaker. Not that he’s yet said as much.

Finally, after what feels like much longer than it likely was, they reach the spot they’re supposed to be at when they meet up with Jae.

Isabella pulls Talbott into a small alcove, but hesitates on the shove.

He follows her eyes to a small gathering of witches and wizards, speaking in frantic, hushed tones. Her fist clenches as she stares at them and she makes to step away from their hiding spot but Talbott reaches out to grab her elbow, stopping her.

“Don’t. We aren’t here for them. They’ll get their karma in due time.”

The brunette looks back once before relenting and settles back against the cold stone wall.

Their little alcove is beyond cramped. Just enough room for them to both lean against the walls at their backs without touching, but certainly not enough for someone to shove down the path between them. He’s much taller now than he’d been before, and he can’t stop himself from looking down and admiring her.

Nose and cheeks dusted a bright red from the snowy weather, hands shoved into her overcoat where she hides her wand. Dark blonde hair falling haphazardly around her shoulder, collecting snowflakes. Her lips chapped and close to cracking.

“Staring is impolite.” Talbott reads from her lips as they curl into a playful, albeit tired, smirk. “It’ll give a girl ideas.”

Talbott starts and clears his throat, casting his eyes away. “Right. I guess I spaced out.”

She doesn’t seem satisfied with this response but lets it pass. She shuffles and it inadvertently brings them closer. He thinks the moment might slip away but then she chuckles, drawing his attention back.

“This must be some sort of joke.”

“Excuse me?”

This time, it’s more of a snicker as she removes a gloved hand to gestures up above them. Talbott doesn’t even need to look to know what it is.

“Mistletoe,” Isabella supplies. “Again.”

Talbott tsks, looking away. He’s momentarily extremely thankful the cold hides his blush. “How ridiculous.”

“I think they’re fun,” Isabella grins and Talbott’s gaze snaps back to her. “Don’t you?”

He freezes, feeling as though he’s melting into the wall behind him. “I, uh—”

Isabella takes a step closer, her gloved hands gently pulling his from his own pockets and holding them. “Indulge me?”

He can’t even say yes before they’re both leaning in.

“Guys!”

They both jump apart, knocking into the brick walls at their backs. Isabella runs at her head, having bumped it on the stone.

Jae gives them a toothy, devious grin, crossing his arms as she approaches them from the main alley.

“Am I interrupting something?”

Talbott grumbles and rolls his eyes before pushing past them both. “Let’s go. We don’t have all day.”

III.

“Talbott? Have you seen my boots?” Isabella calls from their bedroom, her voice barely rising over the intense whistling of the wind outside.

“You left them with the laundry, love.” He calls back patiently.

“The black ones with the—”

“With the laces, yes.” He assures her, followed by the pattering of her footsteps, softened by her fuzzy socks.

She returns a moment later with a triumphant smile as she walks easily, directly into his waiting embrace. He deposits a kiss to her temple.

“I knew I left them there.” She teases.

“I’m sure.” He allows. “You ready to go now, then?”

Isabella nods, but steals his hands away in hers when he reaches for their gift bag. He involuntarily shivers as she pulls him closer to the fireplace by the lapels of his coat, the warmth of it enveloping him with a sharp contrast from the snowy expanse outside.

Their little house in the woods might be modest now, but they do have their plans to expand. Someday. Should the right time and opportunity arrive.

Branches tap at their windows but they pay it no mind. “Before we leave, can I show you something?”

Talbott considers the request. “Will I regret it?”

Isabella, who’d usually balk at such teasing, merely hums and shakes her head with a coquettish grin. “I don’t think so.”

His thumb brushes over the ring on her finger and he knows he’s already given in. “Then I suppose we could spare the time, since you’re so sure.”

Isabella smiles, victorious, and pulls him down into a thoughtful kiss. The fire strokes the warmth in his chest and his hands find purchase at her waist. He kisses her back eagerly, her lips by now familiar.

“How was that?”

Talbott smirks at the huskiness of her voice. “Lovely, dear, though I fail to see what it is you wanted to show me.”

“Look up.”

The words alone pull a chuckle from his throat but he does anyway.

Mistletoe.

Of course.

“Third time’s the charm, right?”

Talbott nods and leans in again. “Right. And everyone knows the best things come in threes…”

26 notes · View notes