Closed Treehouse!

[Avaria Lockwood]

Ava was home alone again today. Papa was at work. It was about ten in the morning, and Ava was ready. She hummed happily as she went into the backyard and got everything put together. After lots of talking over the school year, she and Vader had finally come up with a plan for how they wanted the treehouse to look. She had moved the big corkboard in her room to hang on the side of the shed in the backyard. Now all their plans were pinned there where they could see. She had even talked her neighbor into letting her have the leftover lumber from where they'd built their gazebo.

She was just waiting for Vader now- he should be over any minute and they could get started. Ava pulled the ladder over to the tree. She also had her Papa's toolbag out and ready. It was too bad they couldn't use magic. That would make this whole project so much easier. She looked up the tall tree. How high up should they put it?

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader was impatient, but thankfully, at long last he found himself close to where Ava lived. His parents had been rather pleased when he had talked about this semester, they’d been rather pleased to even see him, since he hadn’t said he’d come back for this holiday in the beginning. But, Vader was only really back to see how his sisters were doing and to spend time with Ava. The boy spotted his best friend’s house and immediately broke into a run. He rung the door bell and stood excitedly at the door. He had his magical camera hung around his neck and a christmas present in his bag for his friend. He had pondered over what to get her for ages, even gone so far as to ask for his parents advice, but in the end he had settled for a colouring book. It was a more complex one, his parents had assured him, with paints rather than crayons or pencils but in his mind it was still just a colouring book, but if that was something she liked then he’d be happy with it. The boy was so impatient to just get started but he knew he had to just wait. He couldn’t knock more than once, that would be rude.​

 

[Avaria Lockwood]

Ava could hear the doorbell ring through the open sliding glass door. She set the ladder down and skipped through the house. She hummed happily as she reached the front door. "Timmy!" She chirped happily as she pulled the door open. She took his hand and tried pulling him into the house with her. "Come on, I think I have everything in the yard already. How are your sisters?" She chattered brightly. She had loads of ideas to share with him over then got to the backyard. She couldn't wait to create something awesome with Vader! He was quickly on his way to being her next favorite person. No one could beat her Papa, of course, but still.

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader smiled widely as the girl opened the door, he would've given her a hug in greeting but the boy found his hand taken and being dragged inside the house. He allowed this happen and was vaguely listening along as the girl spoke, "They're good, Padme wanted to come meet you, but I told her when she's at school next year she can," The boy loved his sister but he still wanted to keen his friend to himself for a little bit long. He knew that Helene was his best friend, or as close to it as it came, and his sister wanted to meet her because of that, but he didn't want it to be too soon. When they got to the backyard, Vader looked at all of the stuff they would be using. "Helene, wait," he said, Vader took his backpack off and from within pulled out her christmas present from him, "Here!" the boy said, holding it out to her, "Merry Christmas," he wanted to give this to her now, since he was sure that if he didn't, he would then forget entirely about it. He didn't want to, this was for her, and he knew she would like what he got her. ​

 

[Avaria Lockwood]

Ava giggled as Vader said his sister wanted to meet her. "You know me, the more the merrier." She smiled brightly. She opened her mouth to chatter some more but Vader stopped her. She turned to see him reaching into his bag. She scooted closer to see what he was grabbing. Her eyes went wide when she saw what he pulled out. "Oooh that's so cool! Thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck with a giggle, hugging him tightly. She jumped back, the gift and hand, and darted back inside and towards her room down the hall. "C'mon Timmy!" She called back to him as she skipped away. If she'd thought of it she'd have had his present outside already!

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader was very nervous about her reaction to his gift, she was always so kind and open to him, and he was always willing to try his best with her too, but he just thought she was better at it than he was him. Vader therefore wanted nothing more than to get it right with her, and she seemed definitely happy with it, if the hug that she gave him was anything to go by. He smiled happily at her and nodded, "Of course!" he replied to her thanks, since of course he was grateful that she appeared to visibly like it. He was a little confused as she led him back into her house, but he didn't mind, he just followed behind her, "Helene, I think we need to be outside to build a tree house?" he said to her as he followed her into the house and towards her room. Her room was very different from his, but it was still a nice sight, they were good enough friends, and he had two sisters that it wasn't something he didn't mind seeing, "Come on, it's nice out, we can't be wasting any time!" he pressed to her, maybe she had to get something for the treehouse from within the room, but they hadn't started building it yet, so there couldn't be anything to add in. ​

 

[Avaria Lockwood]

Ava giggled at Vader's confusion but ignored him, skipping along the hall. She hummed as she went into her room. She crawled under the bed, digging around for a bit before popping back out with a square present wrapped in sky blue paper. "Yep! But you can have this first!" She chirped, hopping back over and holding out the gift. In the box was a scrapbook. She'd planned on giving it to him later, but she figured now was better. It was still empty. She hoped he could fill it up with lots of his awesome pictures. She waited eagerly for him to open it. She held her hands behind her back, a wide smile on her face.

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader followed her and stood somewhat awkward at the threshold of her room and then eased up a little when he realised what she was doing was giving him a christmas gift. The boy took it and smiled, ”You didn’t have to Helene,” he said but boy was he glad she had. He opened the paper carefully and discarded it as he looked at what she’d given him. It was a scrapbook, empty but ready to be filled with pictures, ready to be filled to the brim of memories. It was a really thoughtful gift and he couldn’t help but think that the gift that he had gotten her would pale in comparison to this. This was so thoughtful and it was something he would use in school as well as at home. The gryffindor gave his best friend a quick hug of thanks and then just packed the gift away into his rucksack, which he then took the opportunity to deposit in the room. ”Let’s go make a tree house!” the boy said excitedly, he stood aside a little waiting for her to lead the way back outside, though he could probably find his way it was still wasn’t entirely clear in his head and it would be easier to just get Ava to lead the way. ​

 

[Avaria Lockwood]

Ava rolled her eyes when Vader told her she didn't have to get him a present. "And neither did you but we both did so shush! Just open it," She teased him with a smile. She giggled at the look on his face when he opened it, hugging him back before skipping out of the room. "Yep! It shouldn't take too long, right?" She planned on them being out there for a few hours and then she'd make lunch. Papa would be so surprised when he got home! She went back to the yard, putting her hands on her hips as she tried to decide what needed done first.

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader smiled as they were finally about to get started. The boy nodded along, "Where do we even start?" the boy asked, "it's not like we could use magic which would make this a whole lot easier," Vader had a number of occasions since first joining Hogwarts where he realised how much easier it would be for him to just be able to use even the little amount of magic he did know, but it had never been as apparent now. He didn't know the first thing about building a tree house and he wasn't sure she did either, maybe it would better to wait until there was an adult in the house who could do something, someone who would know a little bit more. He wasn't sure he agreed with Helene's statement that it wouldn't take too long. He didn't know remotely were to start, but at least he was mostly dressed for it. He was ready to do whatever was necessary for him, "I've never built a treehouse before," the boy said, "Are you sure you know what to do?" the boy was sure that she probably did, but he wanted to be certain. He wanted to be sure that they woudn't end up getting hurt or something.​

 

[Avaria Lockwood]

Ava considered Vaders words. "No, I'm not sure, but we'll figure it out. We probably need... A floor first, right?" She nodded at her words and went to pick up a big piece of lumber. "Set up the ladder then we'll screw this to the tree. Okay?" She started forward. She even made it about halfway to where she wanted to be. But Ava was small, and the wood was bigger. She tipped, falling forward. The wood flipped, hitting the ground harmlessly. She landed on her belly, arms protecting her face. After a moment of silence, she started to giggle. "Oops!"

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader watched Ava consider what he was saying, but she seemed quite determined to do it. Certainly braver than he was, he wouldn't have climbed up before knowing it was safe, oddly he wondered because of that why she wasn't in gryffindor like him, of course Vader believed his best friend smart enough for ravenclaw, but she was also clearly very brave. He watched her carefully, holding and setting up the ladder like he'd been told to do. He still didn't feel too confident about it, wanted to convince Ava to change her mind, certainly there was an easier place to start. Vader wanted to convince her to come back down and had been about to, when he watched with surprise as both the wood and she fell. "Helene!" he gasped in surprise, pulling the ladder away and rushing over to where she was laying on the ground. vader thought for a moment that she'd gone insane by her laughter, but it seemed like she was maybe okay, "Are you okay Helene?" Vader asked softly, in case laughter was her reaction to getting hurt, it wasn't his but he and Ava were different people after all. His entire expression showed concern for his friend, and shame at himself for not being more forceful in saying they should stick close to the ground. "Maybe we should start with the ladder up to the tree house?" he suggested, it was something the could do closer to the ground and way less dangerous, "That's something that will need done right?" he hoped she wouldn't believe him a coward for not wanting to risk getting up higher and doing the floor, but he didn't want her to get hurt and if she was determined to do the floor he knew that he would offer to climb up instead, insist upon it.​