Making Things Right (Mimosa & Jacques)

After letting Elenore go, Jacques had leaned back in to the Headmistress' desk with a sigh. How had things gotten like this? How were they ever going to fix these things? What was going on with Elenore that made her actions seem to be okay in her mind? There were so many questions going around, and around, and around in Jacques head that a headache was starting to form

The letter he'd sent to his Maman yesterday had -- in the aftermath of the conversation -- not been a good idea in the slightest. She was going to be worrying now, Jacques just knew, but he... he had needed to insist, so that he couldn't shy away from all of it when Christmas came to the Palace of Versailles.

After rubbing his temples slightly, Jacques picked up his wand and tucked it back in to his belt. Mimosa had been excused from lessons for the day, which meant Jacques would have some free time to spend with the younger witch. She did not need to know he was stressed about Elenore's words, nor did she need to know he knew. All Mimosa needed to do was let him know what she wanted to talk about, and that would be where they would go.

Leaving the Headmistress' office, Jacques moved down the halls in to the dungeons with ease. Nothing had changed in the last year and a half, and it was refreshing to say the least. As he reached the common room, Jacques gave the password Mrs Goshawk had given him earlier that morning, and found himself in the vastly familiar common room that had not changed at all. Checking his watch, it was five to eleven, just short of the time Jacques had put on the note that would read itself to Mimosa with her presents.

Now, all he had to do was wait for the young witch to emerge from her room, or wherever she was, to greet him.

Then... Merlin only knew where this was going to end up.

Mimosa hadn't returned to the Slytherin common room on the night of the twenty eighth. She just couldn't. After talking to Mr. Hughes at the Library, she had rushed off to find Mercy and, failing that, had rushed off again to find Gaspard. While the Ravenclaw hadn't been able to tell her anything new in the newspaper, his presence was nonetheless a comfort she did not wish to go without that night. So the young model had ended up sleeping in his bed, the curtains around the four poster hiding her from the other boys as they'd trudged in while Gaspard himself had been relegated to a sleeping bag on the floor. In the end, Mimosa hadn't gotten much sleep but hearing her friend's peaceful snores was the next best thing.

Early that morning, Gaspard had managed to sneak her out of the common room to Seema's obviously disapproving glares and the young brunette had found herself making her way towards the kitchens. Or at least she though it was the kitchens until she realized what she really wanted was Elenore. But Elenore was asleep, Mercy was at the Hospital Wing and Jacques was too far away.

Suddenly, Mimosa realized how alone she really was.

Turning away from the kitchen, she started to walk towards the landing leading down to the dungeons when she heard the portrait of fruit behind her whoosh open. Shocked, she turned back to see Squid Boy emerging with a victorious smile on his face, a smile that froze half way when he saw her.

"What are you doing here?" they both asked simultaneously before replying in perfect time too.

"Nothing."

After a moment of awkward silence, Mimosa stepped away. "I was just going back to our dorms." She began walking, not in the mood to talk to anyone right now, least of all Squid Boy. After a moment, the older Slytherin shrugged and followed suit with a mumbled "me too."

No more hindrances met the pair as they entered their common room without incident, Mimosa running up to her room and hiding in her bed for hours afterwords. She may have fallen asleep at one point but the child could't be sure.

The noise began as a din somewhere far away, a din of girls rushing in and out of their rooms, yelling for their best dresses, earrings, where the hair dryers were and hair dryers don't work here stupid! At first, the noise was far enough away to be negligible, but as it increased, Mimosa covered her ears with a pillow. She didn't care what was causing the distraction downstairs, all she wanted was to sleep and never wake up.

But she had to wake up when Tess entered her room, gently pulling the curtain aside and telling her someone was in the common room to see her. It was a mark of how much Mimosa liked the prefect that she didn't ignore the older Slytherin but instead got out of bed. Not bothering to check how she looked in the vanity mirror, the little girl simply grabbed a beautifully embroidered shawl grandmere had made her last year and wrapped it around herself over her pajamas, making her way slowly down the stairs.

Until she realized who it was.. Because there he stood, against all odds, her Jacques was here! He had somehow knows she needed him, of course he did. He always knew everything!

Picking up the pace, Mimosa nearly flew down the thick, carpeted steps, her shawl flying behind her as she cut a straight path to the one person who could definitely make things all better. The little witch met her Jacques in her usual style, running up to him at full speed only for him to lift her off her feet mid sprint and swing her around perfectly before bringing her down to hug her so she wouldn't hurt herself.

For the first time since yesterday, it felt like the world would be okay.

It took a short while, in truth, for the appearance of Mimosa to happen, but Jacques had entertained himself with looking around the common room before he came to a stop before the fireplace. On top of the fireplace hung a number of pictures of notable alumni. There upon the fireplace was a portrait of himself, smiling back and, in Jacques opinion, looking very good for himself.

Smiling slightly to himself, a small commotion caught the Frenchman's attention and he turned in time to see Mimosa -- looking slightly worse for wear -- running at him full pelt without consideration for her own health. Thankfully, in the age old tradition that they'd become accustomed to, it took very little effort from Jacques to catch the girl mid run, and spin her around. It took all of the momentum from her movements, and caused neither one of them harm as Jacques eventually rested her back on the ground.

The young man crouched slightly as he held the child to him, giving her a warm hug. He'd missed her, since September their letters had done very little to alleviate his worry, and after finding out all that had happened, Jacques was glad to see her.

"Hello!" Jacques managed as he drew away a little, holding Mimosa at arm's length and appraising her in her pyjamas and a shawl Jacques recognised to be his Maman's work. "Were we sleeping?" Jacques asked with an amused smile. Upbeat, Jacques told himself in that moment, keep things up beat.

"I was hoping you'd have some time to spend with me? We can do whatever you want." Jacques supplied for the young witch. "I've got your broom. The Palace have sent you a tonne of French foods, there's some new clothes. Sweets." Jacques listed, making it known to the young witch they could get away and do anything she pleased.

And, they would talk properly when they were away from the multitude of young Slytherins trying to listen in to the conversation they were having.

It seemed the whole common room had eyes only for the two Clements as they hugged before Jacques set her down gently, asking her if she had been sleeping. The child shook her head vigorously just as a small yawn blossomed on her lips. As her head stopped its movements, her shining brown hair landing back on her shoulder, she attempted once again. "Non," this time, she sounded more convincing without a yawn undermining her word.

When Jacques said they could do whatever they wanted, Mimosa's first thought was to take him out into the grounds. But just as she was about to suggest that, a seventh yea girl stepped forwards, putting a hand on Mimosa's shoulder. She smiled kindly at the girl before turning to Jacques and Mimosa noticed she had braided her vivid red hair in a weird way.

"Mimosa darling, won't you please introduce us," she absolutely purred, her blue eyes narrowed hungrily on the Clement heir. Catching Mimosa by surprise, the first year humidly nodded. "Umm, Jacques, this is Ophelia, she's in seventh year. Ophelia, this is my Jacques, though you should know him from the picture."

"Oops,"Ophelia expelled a wholly unbelievable giggle,." Silly me, lovely to meet you Jacques. Here, let me introduce my friends." And suddenly half a dozen older girls were clamoring for space in front of Mimosa, some even squeezing past her to sit with her Jacques. That wasn't a problem though, Mimosa already had her seat.

When the girls were done, the little witch softly landed on Jacques' lap like she always did back home, his arm perfectly sculpted again her tiny body, holding her aloft and away from the others. And even as they sat and were questioned on a multitude of things, never really having a minute to themselves, it was still good. Mimosa simply listened for the most part as girls and then boys began to crowd around Jacques, asking him things she understood, things she kind of understood and things that really, really went over her head.

Around lunch time, house elves were instructed to bring food in as no one felt like leaving the visitor and going to the Great Hall and overall, the chatter and good spurts of the common room lulled Mimosa into a light sleep, still held in the prince's arms as she dozed off.