An Empty Hourglass

[Aion Zephyr]

Aions stomach was in knots, his lunch left completely untouched beside him. Nothing he could tell himself would make the nerves disappear. He sighed, sat on the end of the table as other student were finally approaching for their food. He'd barely socialised at all since the beginning of his seventh year, and now he sat staring at the jumbling pages of his textbook, unable to comprehend what might happen if he were to fail these exams.

His girlfriend, not unlike his plate of turkey sandwiches, hadn't had much attention for a while. While Aion was remorseful whenever he thought of Maddie, he had to keep his focus on his work or risk losing everything he'd done for the last two years since transferring to the school. Once they'd graduated, things would be different, but now he was here for a reason and he wasn't going to blow it.

He'd timed himself for his latest ComC quiz, as as he glanced up he saw his hourglass ran empty. He still hadn't finished. Angrily he closed his book, pushing it to the side and reaching for a glass of pumpkin juice to help relieve the stress.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Despite feeling a little neglected by her boyfriend, Maddie had understood that he needed his space and he needed the time to revise for his really important exams. She knew how much doing well meant to Aion and she didn't want to jeopardise his performance in those exams so she took a back seat for a while to let him get on with it. However, at lunch that day she couldn't help but notice that Aion was sitting on his own on the Ravenclaw bench so she took the opportunity to surprise him. She smoothed her hair down and walked over to her boyfriend before she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek "miss me?" she asked the older Ravenclaw boy while beaming.

 

[Aion Zephyr]

Aion was lost in thought, trying to remember the difference between a Mandragora and a Moonwort when he felt the warm arms of someone around his neck. He smiled instantly recognising her, and turned to take her waist in his arms, gently pulling her down onto the bench beside him as he lay an identical kiss on her cheek. "I could never forget you" he smiled, pulling her closer as they sat together. While the pair may not have had the most time together, the time they did have was always treasured.

With one arm around her, his other found the textbook he'd so quickly dismissed just moments before. "Did you know that a Manticore is capable of human speech?" He asked, his eyes glazing over at the beautiful illustration of the half lion half beast. One day he'd seek out these creatures, and many more, knowing there were so many things to be learnt from another species.

He glanced from his book back to Maddie. "So what have you been up to recently?" He tried to give her the attention she deserved, but he almost felt like he didn't even know what she did during the days anymore.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie closed her eyes and placed her hand on her cheek where Aion had just placed his lips. She couldn't help but grin at her boyfriend, he was so perfect and she was so lucky. She loved the feel of his hands on her as he squeezed her closer towards him and she wrapped her arm around his waist in return. She rested her head on his shoulder as she listened to him talk about his work. One of the man things the two had in common was their love of magical creatures and their desire for adventure. "I did not know that" she replied "which is the one that talks in riddles?" she asked Aion, he would definitely know the answer.

"Nothing much" she sighed in reply to Aion's question "I thought classes would slow down a little after OWLS but they haven't at all! There's a lot to learn but i'm getting there. How's your classes going? It must be difficult now you're in NEWT year?" she asked her boyfriend, trying to be sympathetic to how he was feeling. She knew that his studies meant a lot to him which is why she tried not to feel hurt every time they couldn't spend time together.

 

[Aion Zephyr]

Aion looked down at his girlfriend as she asked him a question. "Oh, I think that's the Egyptian Sphinx. They talk in human speech too" He answered, always glad to both have a chance to test his memory, and a subject they could both be interested in. As Maddie continued to talk about her classes, another jolt of guilt hit him as he was reminded that even though he had his own lessons, he was never around to support her with her own. It had been paining him for months that they would only get opportunities like this every few weeks, and even during the holidays he'd find himself tucked away by himself, head in a book. He watched her face as she spoke, listening to her words but observing her features. She didn't deserve to be put through all this, and while he felt incredibly fortunate to have her, Aion couldn't help but wonder how much better off she'd be if she didn't have to worry about him. "You know, you can talk to me if you need any help?" He suggested, knowing full well that it was unlikely the pair would get a chance to study together, considering their schedules and revision. Nevertheless he wanted to be there for her if he could.

"NEWTs are more difficult. But I'm sure it will always be worth it, once I'm graduated.." He trailed off. It was another sore topic for the Ravenclaw that the couple hadn't yet really spoken about. What would happen when Aion left, and how would he be able to see Maddie then if he was working? If they thought their time was limited now, it would be even worse next year. In silence, he closed his eyes, pulling her close into his body and wrapping his second arm around her to embrace her completely. Perhaps it would be better, better for both of them, if they had a chance. "Maddie.." He started, "Do you ever think about our future? After Hogwarts I mean?" He said quietly, not really wanting this conversation, but knowing it would happen eventually and it would only cause more harm on the way, his heart beating so hard in his chest he was surprised if she didn't feel it.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie thought about Aion's answer "hmm... Yeah, I think we learnt about the Sphinx last year in Care of Magical Creatures...." she replied, her thoughts taking her back to her favourite subject "aren't they just amazing?" she sighed as she traced her finger over the Manticore in Aion's textbook. She smiled gratefully at her boyfriend's offer of help but she knew that he had his own work that he had to concentrate on. She shook her head and smiled at him "I know, but i'm okay, really" she replied as she squeezed him harder and placed a kiss on the end of his nose.

She nodded and smiled as Aion spoke about the importance of his exams and how it would impact on his future. It was true, of course, she knew they were the most important thing that they would do at Hogwarts and it filled her with dread every time she thought about them. Maddie let Aion pull her closer to him and she breathed in the scent of him and it was her most favourite thing. "Mmm?" she muttered when he spoke her name "our future?" she repeated after him lifting her head to better see her boyfriend "I...I don't know exactly" she replied frowning. "I just guessed we'd do our exams and decide after what to do?" Maddie didn't know why Aion was bringing this subject up now but she didn't have a good feeling about it.
In fact, the elation that she felt seconds ago was replaced by a sickening feeling right in the pit of her stomach.

 

[Aion Zephyr]

Aion noticed her hug him tighter, and while part of him was enjoying it, another part felt guilty. He couldn't do it, not if it was going to cause her pain. He looked down at her face, readjusting himself on the bench so that he had a leg either side, picking up both her hands in his as he looked into her eyes. They'd had dreams and aspirations, and even though they'd never really discussed it they had an idea of what lied ahead. "Maddie listen" he started, his thumbs stroking the backs of her hands. "You're so strong willed, you can achieve anything you want. You're independent, honest and you have a heart of fire to guide you. One day I hope we can see all the animals, all the places, that we've talked about, and I want to spend my future with you" He paused, not wanting to explain everything there and then for fear she'd hold onto an idea he might not be able to give her. He sighed before continuing, never releasing his grip on her. "You're worth more, and you deserve more than what I can give you right now." There, he had said it. "I know how you feel when we're apart because I feel it too," His voice was beginning to crack a little, but he held it together. He had to tell her how he truly felt. "It's not fair of me to put you through this. Not anymore. Not if I'm the reason for your pain" It was breaking his heart to have to say the words, but he couldn't let her stay with him if their relationship couldn't thrive in its environment. During the year, they would meet even more infrequently as the last, and he didn't want to think about how it would feel when he couldn't see her at all the year after that. Perhaps one day, when they were free of this place, the would be able to continue an adventure beyond the walls, but he wouldn't drag the one person he cared for most through years of neglect and lack of support. One of his hands left hers, and held her cheek and he continued to look her straight into her eyes. "I want you, more than you will ever know. But I need you to be happy" He refused to stand in her way of opportunities that would bring her more joy than he could.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie looked into Aion's eyes and knew that nothing good was going to come from this conversation. He looked pained and she was starting to feel sick. She tried to pull her hands back from a Aion and turned to look down at the table, she couldn't bear to look at her boyfriend because she knew what was coming. She almost didn't hear what the Ravenclaw boy was saying, his excuses for the break up was just making everything worse for her. "You obviously don't want to spend your future with me else you wouldn't be doing this to me Aion" she replied coldly "you wouldn't be saying these things! What's changed?" she asked him, finally gaining the courage to look at him. Every word was breaking her. He was trying to be nice, of course he was, this was Aion. He was kind and gentle and loving and this was torture. She was thankful, however, that he realised it was horrible for her when they barely saw each other. She hoped that perhaps this next year together would have been a positive turning point in their relationship where they both realised how much they missed and wanted each other and would make up for all their lost time but Aion seemed to have other ideas. She recoiled at Aion's touch and her eyes began to well up. She didn't want to hate him touching her but after everything that had happened in the past couple of minutes, everything he had said, it was too much for her. He couldn't be affectionate to her anymore, it wasn't fair and she pushed his hand away and stood up from the table. She shook her head "you can't want me, not after all this. You wouldn't want this if you did" she replied in a whisper as she tried her hardest to not cry.

 

[Aion Zephyr]

Aion had tried to do his best to explain to the Gryffindor why this was the best option for them, but clearly she didn't agree. His eyes were beginning to well up as she thought he was obviously lying, and in that moment he felt more lost than he ever had in his life. He wanted to be a better half to her, but he couldn't and she needed more than he could offer. His heart burned as Maddie pushed him away, reclining from their table. Her sudden hatred of him was almost more difficult to deal with that the idea of what was about to come next. He looked up to see Maddie's hurt face, wishing he could take it all away. He stood from the table in a bid to follow her, not willing to let her leave so easily. "This isn't what I want" He protested, "Maddie that's the point. Nothing has changed and it's because of this place. I wish things were different but they won't be until we leave Hogwarts." His eyes staring straight into hers as he edged forward slightly. He wasn't doing this by choice, "If what we have continues, I know I'll hurt you even more. I can't do that to you Maddie, I love you" His voice rang loudly through the Great Hall as the desperation in his tone had grown in strength, and he failed to keep his own tears from escaping. It was only now that he realised the extent of his volume, and became aware of the students around him. But right now they didn't matter. He cleared his cheeks and ran both hands through his hair in frustration and despair.

"Look," He said in almost a whisper, glancing to the ground in defeat as he had nothing left to do but offer a final chance. He reached inside a pocket of his jeans, closing the gap between them once more. He had something for her, something he'd been planning to give her at some point this year, but perhaps not as soon as now needed to. "If I didn't want to spend my life with you, if I didn't still believe we could, I wouldn't be giving you this" He took one of her hands in his, laying out the charm in her palm. Since the beginning of his seventh year he'd grown accustomed to wearing his necklace, and now she had this, he would have an even stronger connection to it. His eyes rested on the charm as he couldn't lift them to meet hers. Aion wasn't quite sure how much more of the self punishment he could take. "Once you're free of this place, if you still want to travel" He paused, trying to calm himself down. "If you ever need me outside of these walls then release the stopper and tip out the contents" He finished. It wouldn't work inside the castle walls, but it would certainly help her reach him in the future. Since knowing he'd be separated from Maddie at the end of the year, he knew he would have to come up with something that could reconnect them while he worked. Aion may not have been able to spend much time with Maddie during the holidays, but he had been working on this in his own time, perfecting it once he'd returned to the school grounds. He closed her hand around the charm before releasing his grip. He didn't want to inflict any further damage to her or their relationship, even if all he wanted to do was scoop her up. He understood, she didn't want or need him right now after what he had told her.

Taking a step back, it was clear that Maddie now held the key to a potential future. It was all up to her. He took another wipe at his eyes on the back of his sleeve as he tried to come to the conclusion that this was really happening. It felt like the world was crashing down around him, but he had to try if it made her happier. He would certainly never say goodbye to the Gryffindor, but for now he let her go.

 

[Madeline Walden]

Maddie watched as Aion made a move to follow her from the table but she put her hand out in front of her stop him and backed away even further. She didn't want him to follow her because he would continue to try and explain himself and every word that he uttered broke Maddie's heart even more. "Of course it's what you want!" she replied angrily, her voice was getting louder and she was beginning to attract looks from the other students around them. "How long has it taken you to do this? It seems like you've thought about it for a while" she frowned trying to think back when things had began to change between the two of them. Who became distant first? What could she have done to have prevented this? She shook her head at his answer. Of course something had changed; he was lying to himself and to her. She couldn't stop her tears this time and she let them fall and they fell even harder when Aion said those three words. But she couldn't believe him, she wouldn't believe him. It was impossible for him to feel that way and be able crush her at the same time. Her sobs were getting louder and all she wanted was to hug him and get him to take it all back and pretend it was a joke and they would go back to the way they were but it just wasn't going to happen.

Maddie lost all composure when Aion finally gave into his own feelings and began to raise his voice and shed his own tears. She wanted to wipe them away herself but she couldn't move; she was rooted to the spot. All she could do was look at him and make feeble movements with her fingers. However, she didn't have to try because Aion moved closer towards her and took one of her hands in his and dropped something into it. She looked down and realised that it was so similar to the necklace that he always wore and she looked back at him with her mouth slightly open in shock. Was this the reason why she hadn't seen him as much over the holidays? Because he was working on something to give her? Something so special and so magical... It almost made Maddie wanted to break down all over again but she tried to hold herself together as she listened to his explanation. It hurt her to hear him talk about a future where they weren't together and she didn't know if she would ever use what Aion had just given her after today. Everything had happened so fast and her head was spinning and she was so confused about how she felt.

She let Aion close his hand around hers and closed her eyes as she savoured what would probably be their last touch. She sniffed as he dropped her hand and backed away from her. Maddie's lower lip trembled as it really dawned on her that this was the end and there was no changing his mind. "i'm going to go" she mumbled as she took one last look at her ex boyfriend while squeezing the necklace in her hand before turning and speedily leaving the Great Hall.