Closed What Was Done

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory had more than once considered just writing a note to tell Cassius to not bother. He thought about just not turning up. he had thought about just turning up to tell him to go away. But the truth and crux of it was that he needed help. He needed to learn how to use sign language, he needed to start interacting with people. He didn't want hearing aids, thinking that they would look terrible with his glasses, so this was the only option. He had in the last weekend bought a note taking quill to help him in lessons, to help him understand what people were telling him. He didn't have a solution for the alarm and waking up but he knew that that would come with time. he couldn't be the only magical person without hearing. He arrived early for the session with Cassius, glad that the room was empty, his hands were shaking with nervousness, knowing this was going to go terribly. He hadn't seen him since it had happened. Not personally. He felt rage boiling quietly, his frustration over his lack of friends and everythhing that had happened because of him. At least now it wasn't like if they got into a fight he had much more he could lose.

 

[Cassius Styx]

Cassius Styx had one hell of a break, and then he was pulled aside by his grandfather to let him know what happened with Gregory Friend. Cass was just overflowing with guilt because looking back now, there was no reason for him to have acted that way, and even though he was going through one heavy breakup with someone that was not worth his time, now he caused Gregory all this pain and no doubt that his grades were slipping because of it. Cass might have been an a**hole, but he didn't want to be that bad. He had a book that he used a lot while he was a kid, and entered the Student Lounge at the right time. He could see just by looking that Gregory was filled with all sorts of emotions. Cass' expression was actually nowhere near the arrogance that he had before. It was apologetic. He approached Gregory, and handed out a handwritten letter, 'Look man, no amount of apologies will erase what I had done. I am sorry, and I'll do my best to help teach you sign language.' Cass had a friend way back when that needed it, so he was fluent. He smiled and motioned for Gregory to follow him to the couch, and placed the book on the cushion in the middle between them. "I don't know if you can read lips or not, but in time, you will be able to."​

 

[Gregory Friend]

The moment Gregory laid eyes on him, he felt frozen, any anger, any frustration was replaced by fear. Though Cassius didn't look the same as he had before. He didn't look as smug as he might've expected him to look. He looked down at the letter that was being handed to him and then back at Cassius. he didn't want to believe him. The anger came rushing back. He didn't think the boy was sorry, just sorry that he was being made to do this. Sorry that this was landing with him. He could see Cassius' mouth moving, but wasn't yet very good at it. he watch him smile, watched him walk over to a couch. Gregory looked back at the letter, his hands shook. "I f2cking hate you," he said, unaware of how bitter and angry his tone was, though he felt bitter and angry. "You did this to me, you've made my life hell for six years, and expect me to play nice. You're only here because your f2cking grandfather told you to be. And I don't even have other options. F2ck you man,"

 

[Cassius Styx]

Honestly, Cass expected this. Why would he expect Gregory to even be thankful that Cass would take time out of his day to help after what he had done? Cass let out a sigh and started to write down. His response. It would be easier this way. He could not argue against what Gregory said. Yes he was here because of his grandfather but he was not aware of the situation either. He has no idea he was capable of such damage. "Hate me all you want, but do it after I help you communicate. This is far more important. And I want to take responsibility. I regret what I did. I would use a time turner to take it back if I could. Believe it or not, that's your decision." Cass handed the paper over, and figured that the boy had a lot more to let out. Maybe after he screamed or whatever, it would clear his head so that they could get to work. ​

 

[Gregory Friend]

It was the fact in his anger, he had to wait for Cass to write the response before he could say anything else. It seethed in him, his hands shook, his eyes welled in frustration. He was so angry with him, so annoyed with everything that was his life. "You would take back everything you ever did to me? Everything you ever said?" he said, venom colouring his tone, though he didn't know it. How could he even take responsibility when Gregory still hadn't actually told anyone it had been him. He looked at him, letting his gaze linger on the other boy, memories flooding him from all their interactions together. "What responsibility can you even take, I never told anyone about it being you," he said bitterly. "I've been so terrified that you would take more from me if I told, I didn't even tell my parents," He knew the latter wasn't really on him, but still. "I'm worthless, no one could love me, I was a mistake, my parent should hand me back. I'm dirty blood," he repeated some of the words which Cassius had in some way said to him. "I'm always in the way, always a bother, always an idiot,"

 

[Cassius Styx]

Would Cassius Styx ever take back everything he said? He seemed a little uncomfortable with the question, but ultimately nodded. He had a change of heart ever since his brother was turned into a werewolf. It would make him a hypocrite if he were to look down on someone like Gregory for something he could not help, versus Dante who was now infected with lycanthropy, which he could not help either. His expression softened even more when Gregory told him words that Cass himself told him a while back. He shook his head and though he wanted to talk it out, he did not want it to go the wrong way. He just wrote out another response. "Yes, everything I ever said and did, I'd take it back. Someone I love and protect in my family is a werewolf. Witnessing that helped get my head out of my own a**. I cannot take anything away from you because I won't. I honestly appreciate the fact that you didn't say anything. And you aren't worthless, nor a bother, a mistake, or dirty blood. With the right help, I think you'd make for a talented wizard." Cass doubted that Gregory would be at his level, but he was arrogant anyway. That would likely never change.​

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory narrowed his eyes as he read the response that Cass gave to him, a werewolf in his family, that it had helped him see how he was being. He just shook his head lightly, the words he had written the opposite of the ones he had previously said, ones he had often thrown around. "You're f2cking delusional Cassius," he said, he crumpled the note. stepping a little away from him, and staring at the opposite wall. He knew the damage that the worlds, and the violence that Cassius had caused him. He wasn't good at magic, he wasn't good at anything. He had no talents, and certainly no magical talents. he let out a long sigh and turned around to face the boy again. "You ruined my life, you ruined learning magic for me, you ruined this place for me, I won't be able to think of Hogwarts without thinking of everything you did," he told him. "You're a bad guy Cassius, but the only option I've got,"

 

[Cassius Styx]

Cass could definitely take it, even as Gregory crumpled the note up. He even took a step back to put forth some distance between them. Maybe if he was a little younger, Cass would have swung and tried to knock him into next week, but now, he just stood there, not nearly as threatening as he looked before. He did not want to be too harsh with the lad. There was nothing that could be done about the past, but he just nodded along with what Gregory said. He knew what he did was wrong, but he was here for a reason. He reached out his hand as if to make a deal. "I'll teach you sign language, and help you with your classes. If I become a ****, you can tell the Headmaster that I caused this. Deal?"​

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory couldn't hear what Cassius said, he knew that his speaking would easily lead people to believe that he could actually hear things, when he really couldn't. He just looked down at the outstretched hand and back at him. He rolled his eyes, he wasn't...this wasn't happening. "Let's get started," he huffed out and moved to sit down, keeping a good distance from Cassius. "Let's start with, I hate you," he added, maybe not the best use of the time, but he might as well, be annoying about this.

 

[Cassius Styx]

Cass lowered his hand since this was pretty much not going to erase the last five years. No matter what he could do. But he wanted to help in some way. Plus, who else around here would know sign language other than him? He sat down in front of Gregory and laughed softly when he asked how to sign 'I hate you'. "Sure, I can teach you that one." Cass assumed that he would have do see this a lot when Gregory learned it, but at least he would be learning three words. He moved his hands slowly to sign what he wanted - the right phrase.​

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory looked as Cassius showed him how to sign I hate you. He watched it carefully and then signed it back. His hands were clumsy, struggling to find the right shape, but he got it. He did it a few times, over and over and then it started to become more naturally. "Teach me, I'm sorry," he asked. Since he knew he'd need this for Zerrin and Ezra.

 

[Cassius Styx]

This was going well, he thought. Cass wondered if he would need to show him how to sign the phrase 'I love you', but instead, he was told - ordered - to teach him how to sign 'I'm sorry'. Cass never had to sign it before, but at least he knew it by heart. "Sure thing. It is this." Cass slowly signed the phrase 'I'm sorry', which was not too difficult. Just a couple of movements. "If you are having issues with spells, I can help with that too. I can write down how to pronounce them, and teach you nonverbal as well."​

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory remained fairly skeptical about why Cassius was helping him, but he copied how to say I'm sorry, knowing of all the signs he'd need that one the most. He could see Cassius speaking again but rolled his eyes. "Cass, I can't hear you," he reminded him, "Write it down," he told him. He was fairly annoyed that he had to repeat this, and that Cassius had the luxury of just forgetting.

 

[Cassius Styx]

Cass was glad that Gregory seemed to be a fast learner, and then he was reminded that Gregory couldn't hear, so naturally, cannot read lips yet. He'd get there in time though. He signed that he was sorry, and started to write down what he had said before. "I can help you with spells on writing down how to pronounce them until you can do it nonverbally." Cass then added quickly. "I am used to my deaf friend being able to read lips. You'll get there too." Cass figured some encouragement might help, even if it was coming from the person responsible.​

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory looked at the note of what Cassius was saying, and he nodded. "Okay," he said. He hated, absolutely hated that this was how he was going to have to learn, that he had no other options for learning sign language or lip reading. This, Cassius was it. The guy who'd done it to him. He signed I hate you again, unable to vocalise much else. It was all he felt, hatred. "Come on, teach me more," he then added.

 

[Cassius Styx]

Cass knew that this was rather unfortunate, but wondered if there was a magical way to reverse the damage that he had done. It was something that he could look into. Cass just chuckled when Gregory signed that he hated him, so just to mess with him, he signed that he loved him. Even if he did not mean it. He knew that Gregory actually felt that for him. If only there was something more he could do that did not require breaking laws and stealing a time turner. He wrote down a few sentences that Gregory would need to get through the day and signed each of them, slowly. 'To really get the hang of this all, we will need to practice almost every day.' Cass wrote down just as a reminder.​

 

[Gregory Friend]

Gregory nodded, he knew he would have to do this often, knew he would have to do it everyday. He knew he needed Cass and anyone else who was willing to learn it with him. "Okay, so you're stuck with me," he told him firmly. He needed unfortunately the one guy who he hated. The one guy who had done this to him. "Promise me, you'll always help, whenever I need it, no matter the time of day," he then added. "Until we graduate,"