sugar fix

As Brynn observed the girl's tumble into the mud, a subtle disappointment lingered within her. The act no longer carried the twisted delight she had once derived from witnessing others suffer, particularly those she considered beneath her. Instead, it felt empty, lacking the satisfaction she had anticipated. A subtle pout formed on her lips, expressing her dissatisfaction with the outcome. Perhaps it was the weight of their recent conversation that cast a shadow over the mischievous act.

"The play on words was more amusing than the actual result," she mused quietly, her voice tinged with a hint of regret. The words held a tinge of self-awareness, acknowledging the underwhelming nature of the prank. It was a testament to the evolving complexities of Brynn's perspective, where the simple act of causing mischief no longer carried the same allure it once did.

Cosmo was no defender of muggleborns, but he had little interest in any one individual. His ideas and plans always occurred on a larger, more systemic scale. But as a Slytherin lumped in with a very particular crowd, he was not unfamiliar with the hazing of those his peers looked down upon. He rarely initiated (he’d tried as a first year and found he didn’t have a taste nor a talent for it) and was a rather passive participant.

His interest was more in the aggressor and their motivations. There was of course a clear indication of some shared value, some belief that the mingling of wixen people and those who only happened into magical lines had become complicated. The act of hazing was an outlet for frustration, one he’d always found fruitless and dissatisfying.

And if the look on Brynn’s face told him anything, she was feeling much the same way.

“Hazards of growing up, I think,” Cosmo said with a knowing grin. “Less fun to go after the unsuspecting. Doesn’t really feel like anything is accomplished, does it?”

The weight of responsibility and the realization that growing up meant leaving behind the joys of mischief and carefree abandon weighed heavily on Brynn's shoulders. The prospect of facing the world with a sense of duty and always doing the right thing left her feeling unprepared and hesitant.

"Did you have any alternative suggestions?" she inquired, a hint of longing in her voice. Her question carried a subtle plea for a different path, a way to cling to the whimsical nature of their youth. "Because, truthfully, I don't think I'm ready to embrace adulthood either." Her words conveyed a shared sentiment, a yearning to hold on to the freedom and lightheartedness that defined their current existence. In that moment, Brynn expressed a reluctance to let go of the innocence and spontaneity that had colored their lives, hoping that Cosmo might offer an alternative perspective or a glimmer of reassurance.

Cosmo reached back into the bag of sweets, opening a bag of Phoenix Feathers, multi-colored sugar spun delicately into the shape of a feather. The candy immediately began to dissolve as it touched his tongue, and a feeling of lightness spread from the point of contact.

He lolled his head towards Brynn, his relaxed acceptance was in direct contrast to her very clear sense of restlessness. That was what he saw more than anything else with his peers, a sense that there was something bigger without the knowledge of how to reach it. Cosmo had his ideas, but he couldn’t get there alone.

“The way I see it,” he said, sucking down the last bite of the feather, “it’s not about fighting it. There are things you lose, but there are things you gain. Rather than worry about what I can’t do as an adult, I’m trying to prepare now to make sure all the things I want to do after school happen on my timeline, not life’s.”

Brynn let out a sigh, her expression mirroring a mix of exasperation and bemusement as she shook her head at Cosmo. His philosophical musings always seemed to elude her grasp. "And how are you managing with that?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of curiosity. How could one ensure the fulfillment of their desires when the uncontrollable aspects of life held such power?

Meanwhile, the carefree laughter of passing students floated up from below, their mirthful echoes a stark contrast to the weighty responsibilities that awaited them all. In a short span of time, they would each be burdened with different forms of obligation, each demanding their attention and dedication. The obliviousness of those below to the impending weight of responsibility only amplified Brynn's contemplation of life's intricate balance between control and uncertainty.

It was fitting, the two of them sitting so far above their peers. A perfect demonstration of their reality. Below, the students with smaller aspirations and less opportunity laughed and enjoyed their day, fully mired to the present and all of the distracting whims and fleeting excitements that seemed to have such a strong hold on adolescent minds.

“Swimmingly,” he said, his voice confident and almost mockingly cheerful. “It’s easy, really. Everyone has limitations. When you consider our upbringing, our limitations are those of luxury and privilege. Would you rather the limitation of an advantageous marriage, or that of poverty, or anonymity, or parents without the means to propel you towards greatness?”

Brynn's gaze shifted towards Cosmo, her head nestled on her knees as she drew them close to her chest. A solitary strand of her flowing hair cascaded over her shoulder, adding a touch of disheveled charm to her appearance. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disconnect, comprehending only a fraction of Cosmo's words. The privilege that came with being born into affluent pureblood families often led to a life of opulence, but what perplexed Brynn was why they allowed that privilege to dictate the path to their desired greatness.

Her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and frustration, Brynn voiced her thoughts, seeking clarity. "Why can't we pursue both?" she questioned, her words brimming with determination. "Why can't we have the advantages of an advantageous relationships while retaining the freedom to choose when and if we're ready to settle down? If settling down is even what we want." In her quest for understanding, Brynn yearned to break free from the confines of predetermined expectations, forging a path that honored both her desires and her heritage.

Hogsmeade was not the kind of place he would usually willingly spend his time. It was slow and meandering, its offerings were just petty distractions. But he did concede it was a good place to observe his peers, who felt free from the confines of the castle. It was incredible what a change of environment could do to a person.

Even now, he could see Molly Weasley and Margo Richards, slinking off likely the home of one of their townie friends; and there Page Bassett, waiting nervously outside Madame Puddifoot’s, clearing worried she was about to be stood up; and was that Professor Lupin, meeting up with Victoire Weasley?

And they’d never know he knew.

“I think,” he said slowly, returning his attention to Brynn’s concerns, his eyes scanning the street with a laziness that did not betray how shrewd his attention was. “That there are rules bigger than the ones we set for ourselves. Rules about how people function, about how we respond to each other. Families like ours figured them out first, and we’ve used them to get ahead. To break free now would mean to rewrite them, and to risk losing it all. Overall I’d rather have power later and lose a little freedom now.”

Contemplating the delicate balance between personal freedom and the allure of power, she couldn't help but question if there were alternative paths to a fulfilling life. Nevertheless, she reluctantly acknowledged the longstanding tradition of arranged marriages, which had undeniably propelled numerous wealthy pureblood families to positions of esteem and dignity throughout generations. "I suppose you make a valid point," she begrudgingly conceded, her dissatisfaction still apparent. "However, I might not vehemently oppose it if only it weren't happening so abruptly, or if I had even the slightest influence in the decision. What if they were to select someone like Greengrass?" The castle buzzed with rumors about the troubled young boy, notorious for his explosive temper and perpetual knack for causing trouble, thereby tarnishing the reputation of their fellow Pureblood peers. The mere thought of such a choice sent shivers down her spine, fueling her discontent even further.

“The timeline isn’t ideal,” he conceded. Despite his breezy talks about accepting responsibility, he would certainly be less casual about the whole ordeal if he was facing marriage within the next year.

He laughed at the mention of Greengrass. “That would be devastating,” he said, giving her a smirk and bumping her shoulder. “It won’t happen. His parents have checked out, and your parents wouldn’t waste you on someone who almost got expelled. They’re smarter than that.”

He paused. “Have you thought about manipulating the gears a bit? Get ahead of it, find someone you like and try to get the parents to agree?”