For one and not the other

[Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Some kids were creepy. Geo knew that. She also knew that the Westwick twins seem to win points for the levels of enthusiasm that they gave the subject, and while others may have searched for them in the Great Hall or up near the common room, the third year thought her best bet was likely to be in the Dungeons. She'd never spoken to either of them, but since their names had popped up on multiple occasions during Halloween she felt as though she'd know their faces when she saw them. Wandering through the darkness, a cold chill sweeping through her thin summer clothing, she peered into the distance at two figures, hoping her instincts had been right.
​

 

[Edmund Westwick]

After all the time they had spent wandering the dungeons, Edmund felt that he could map certain areas of them by heart. It was intriguing though, how the paths seemed to wind, and often felt like they were leading places that they never arrived. Edmund paused before a fork in the path, glancing at Theodore. "You see, I felt sure this path led only to the right the last time we visited. Am I misremembering, or is it shifting between our visits as the stairs do?"

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore frowned slightly at his brother's words and looked around carefully, considering. "I'm not sure." He said eventually. "I remember the path you mean, but I don't think it had a torch right at the end. Perhaps this is a different path?" He wasn't sure, and was quite convinced it would be near impossible to map it out. "Perhaps we should try going left, see where we end up?"

 

[Geovanna Adler-Cade]

The closer she got to the pair, the more she knew she was approaching the right set of twins. Just a few feet away from them she knew it would be tricky to tell them apart, and she considered how the other would feel if they saw their brother receiving a rose while they themselves did not. "Theodore?" She called out, hoping that one of the two boys would turn to look at her, and that she wouldn't be the victim of any twin pranks that afternoon.
​

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Edmund frowned, looking around again. "A torch can be moved." He pointed out to Theodore, though his brother did have a point. "But if the entire hallways have moved as I believe they have, the torch would clearly be a new addition." Pondering the hallways, Edmund's thoughts were interrupted by an intruder calling for... Theodore? Edmund turned to face the voice in sync with his brother, scowling at her in confusion. "What do you want?" He called out, eyeing the girl. She could hardly have anything interesting to say - but why would she be looking for Theodore?

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore had to admit Edmund was logical, but he still hoped they were just in another part of the castle than they thought they were. After all, it was more exciting to find new things. Though the idea of changing corridors was kind of thrilling too. He felt a small shock as he suddenly heard his own name, turning his head to see a girl he recognized vaguely approach them. He crossed his arms, frowning at her. "Go away." He said, not sure why she would be looking for just him. Whatever the reason was, he didn't think it could be anything good.

 

[Geovanna Adler-Cade]

The twins certainly didn't seem pleased to see her, and Geo crossed her arms over her chest as she looked down at them. "Really. You want me to just leave and take this rose with me then?" she asked, pulling out the flower from her basket and waving it around in front of her. Perhaps if they weren't so rude she would have just given it to whichever one was the intended recipient, but since they were being difficult and not even telling her what she needed to know, she was tempted to just leave them to it.
​

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Edmund knew that whatever this girl wanted with Theodore had to be silly, but of all the silly things it could have been, a rose delivery wouldn't have even entered his mind. Who on earth would send a rose to Theodore? Did he have a secret admirer? Edmund did a double take back at his brother, before quickly stepping forward. "I'm Theodore." He said quickly, holding his hand out to the girl. Whatever was in that note surely Theodore would have shown him anyway, and Edmund wanted to find out what it was.

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore's eyes widened slightly when the girl mentioned she had a rose for him, and he immediately looked at Edmund accusingly. He was the only person he could imagine would care enough to do something like that, but coming from his brother it was most certainly a joke. But the expression on Edmund's face was as puzzled as he felt, which made him doubt that theory. He wondered if there was another Theodore at the school, perhaps they had mixed him up with someone else? But before he could say anything, Edmund stepped in with their oldest trick. They had been using each other's names for fun for as long as he could remember, but this time it didn't feel as funny as usual. He wanted to see this rose, letting Edmund have it felt a little strange. But he trusted his brother, so he kept his mouth shut and watched the interaction.

 

[Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Geo sighed as the twins paused before finally one of the introduced themselves. "Greaaat." she said, drawing it out in sarcasm minus the tone. She handed over the rose and the note to the boy with his arm out, glad to have finally got through to them. Although she would always try her best to meet and get along with anyone she met, some people clearly didn't have the same idea. She was still trying to befriend Odette but whenever the blonde saw her coming she looked more than disinterested. "Perhaps this will be a little light to your life," she added with a smile, wondering if he was going to read it while she was still there.
​

Spoiler: Yellow Rose

Teddy!
Happy Valentines Day! You're just what the doctor ordered! (Get it like Doctor Frankenstein?)
Love, Zoe!

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Edmund couldn't care less for the rose itself, and he imagined Theodore felt the same, dropping it to the floor as soon as it was handed to him, his focus on the card. The idea of a person sending a rose to either twin was unthinkable, but Theodore in particular was hardly the friendly type. As Edmund read over the message, his emotions ricocheted from bewilderment to slight jealousy, to wild amusement. Teddy?! Who in their right mind would refer to Theodore as Teddy?! And how had Zoe gotten close enough to discover the twins love for Frankenstein? Love Zoe?! It was unthinkable, this entire message was unthinkable, and Edmund was far too distracted by its contents to really care that they were still being observed. Barking out a giggle, harsh and unsteady from lack of practice laughing, he turned to Theodore. "Who on earth calls you Teddy?!"

 

[Theodore Westwick]

Theodore couldn't just let Edmund read the card on his own, so he movedcloser to get a look at it as well. But Edmund still managed to finish reading it first and Theodore felt his face flush pink as the other boy started to laugh. "What? No one!" He said quickly, pulling the note from his brother's grasp. His blush only deepened as he finally properly read the message. Zoe, the annoying girl that he had met in the dungeons and that had then stolen his spider. What was she doing? Was she trying to humiliate him with this? Somehow he thought not, but he still felt extremely embarrassed that Edmund had seen this. It was the first time he wished he hadn't shared something with his brother. "Shut up, it's just some dumb girl." He muttered, stuffing the note into his pocket. "She's just..." but he didn't know how to finish that sentence. "It's nothing, let's go." He then hesitated, glancing at the yellow rose on the ground. After a moment, he picked it up before nudging Edmund hard. "Let's go." He was very aware of the Hufflepuff still there, which only made his humiliation worse.