Problem with Bullies...
Hearing the oven bleep I put aside my parchment and quill and head to take the brownies out. Chocolate fudge brownies, nothing better when hot and gooey still from the oven. I hear the flat door open and call out, "You're home early..."
Heading out to the hallway though I see that it isn't Oliver. It's his sister Skye. My heart skips seeing her, seeing the tearstains on her cheeks, a bruise forming by one eye. She sniffs and I realise her nose is bleeding too. I quickly grab the box of tissues off the coffee table and hand her a couple, putting my arm around her shoulders and steering her to the sofa.
I make sure I'm facing her when I speak, signing as I do, "Skye, what happened?"
She fingerspells so she can keep the tissue to her nose. Bullies.
I clentch my jaw, resisting the urge to march down to her school and scream bloody murder, knowing it would do no good given now everyone will have gone home. I sigh and take out my wand, aiming it at her nose and the bruise around her eye and healing them both. "Because you're deaf?" I ask, signing to her again.
She nods, wiping at her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hand. I sigh and hug her tightly, summoning the tray of brownies out of the kitchen, cooling them just enough to eat without burning our mouths. "You know...I use to get bullied too..."
I got picked on by Slytherin's because I was Muggleborn and I was better than them at Quidditch...not quite the same thing but it still makes the point. "At Hogwarts, there was this really big boy...taller than me, and a few years older too. He used to try and knock me off my broom when we were flying...thinking back, I think I know why..."
Why? she asks, taking a brownie.
"He knew I was better than him. Trying to hurt me was the only way he could win, it made him feel big because I couldn't stay on my broom and keep hold of the Quaffle. He couldn't win by normal tackling, he had to cheat...it works off the pitch as well. Some people don't like thinking that others are better than them...so they try to make those people feel bad. I bet your bullies are the same...what are they like?"
They make fun of me when I talk. I know I don't sound like them. And then they make fun of me when I sign. And sometimes they trip me and... she trails off and starts to eat her brownie.
"There you are, you see?" I ask, giving her a one armed hug as I start my own brownie, "You're an amazingly talented person Skye. Do you realise how difficult it is for people to learn a second language? You can talk with your hands in a way they can never understand...they're just not smart enough..."
I wish I could hear she signs.
"I know, sweetie...but don't ever be ashamed of who you are, there are a lot of deaf people, just like you, who have gone on to do amazing things with their lives. Actors, teachers, even in the FBI."
Does not make it easier.
"I know it doesn't. You know you have to tell a teacher about this? If you tell your Mum, I'm sure she'll come with you..." I say gently.
She shakes her head again. Then it is worse.
I sigh, not sure what else I can suggest. What I really want to do is go down to her school tomorrow and hex some manners into those brats. "What about telling Oliver?"
He knows about some of the times.
"Not really a lot anyone can do, eh? Teachers don't do anything, and if we let Ollie at them he'd probably get himself arrested," I say, teasing gently, trying to make her smile again. "Y'know what worked for me in the end? Promise you won't tell Oliver?"
What?
"After Flint, that was his name, nearly knocked me off my broom, I waited until I saw him in the corridor. I moved to overtake him and as I passed I rammed my elbow into his ribs and kicked him in the back of the knee. He fell and I stamped on his hand. It was busy, he knew it was me but there was no way he could prove it in that crowd, and no way he could prove it was deliberate either...he was still rough, but he eased off a bit after that. Of course Oliver knew and threatened to ground me..."
So I should push them back?
I wince at this thought...I probably shouldn't be teaching her to brawl like a houligan. "Well...pushing them, they'll probably just push you harder. You need something that will end a fight before it's started. Do you go to a magic school Skye?"
She shakes her head. When I go to Hogwarts.
Shame...I was going to teach her a very basic, wandless rune ward. "Ok, here's what you have to do. Next time they start picking on you, find the one that looks like they're in charge...and I want you to hit them as hard as you can, but only do it once. Then you go straight to the teacher and you tell her what you did. You explain to her that they kept bullying you and despite reporting it several times, nothing was done about it so you got tired of it. You might get into trouble, but if you're honest about it, you won't get into as much trouble as if you wait for them to run and tell tales...and once the bullies see that you're not scared of them, they'll leave you alone."
Really? she looks hopeful.
"It might take a couple of hits, but they'll get the message. Just remember you have to tell the teacher. You might still get into trouble, but they will understand if you're just sticking up for yourself."
She nods. Oliver always told me to ignore them and they would go away. But they don't.
"Bullies are cowards, thick cowards. They scare off a lot easier than they get bored...eventually perhaps they'd leave you alone, but it will take a lot longer. Just don't tell Oliver I told you this. He'd probably be angry with me."
She shakes her head. He wouldn't stay mad at you for long.
"Let's hope not, eh? We've already had quite enough fights...I don't want anymore so soon," I sigh, thinking of Oliver and smiling.
Why did you fight?
"Before I knew about you, he would come home late...hours late, without any explanation, he just 'lost track of time', I was afraid he might be seeing someone else..."
Sorry. I was scared.
"I understand," I assure her. "At the time I didn't. I've had a few guys hurt me in the past, I was scared Oliver was going to turn out just like them...except he meant so much more to me because of how long we've known each other..." I stop hearing the door open and turn to see Oliver arriving home. I can't help but grin when I see him.
"Well, it's my two girls," Oliver smiles when she sees us.
I grin and stand up, moving to greet him, feeling his arms around me, his lips on mine and ignoring the disgusted sound Skye makes.
Oliver kisses me back, chuckling when he hears Skye. I grin and nestle in his arms, "We were just talking about you. Brownie? Just one though, or you'll spoil your dinner."
"Should I worry about being talked about?" he asks.
I glance at Skye as Oliver takes a brownie. She grins at me and puts her finger to her lips making me laugh. "No...not at all..." I tell Oliver with an expression of mock-innocence.
"Alright, well one of you has to tell me," he says, signing it at the same time.
"No we don't," I smirk, nuzzling his neck and biting playfully.
He tilts his head and whispers, very quiet and turned so Skye can't read his lips. "Then I might just have to punish you tonight."
I feel myself blush deeply at this and have a strong urge to drag him into the bedroom right now. Only the fact Skye's still here keeps me from doing so...but I can't stop myself from kissing him, hard and passionate, hungry for more.
He kisses me back and Skye makes another sound of disgust. "I think I should go home," she speaks up, saying her words carefully.
I blush even deeper, finally remembering myself, "You okay now? You know if you need someone to chat to you can always come to me. I know big brothers can be such a drag to talk to..."
"I'm not that bad," Oliver protests, signing it as well.
Skye giggles at this and hugs him tightly. You'll pass with a push, she signs back smirking.
He smiles and hugs her back, holding her for a moment before letting her go and signing, I love you.
Love you too she signs back before grabbing her school bag and heading out again. I can't help feeling worried about her though. I shouldn't really encourage her to fight, but bullies only understand one language and they won't leave her alone until someone makes them damn scared of the consequences.
"I'm surprised she stopped by. Is everything alright?" he asks me.
"Everything's fine...just...had a few problems at school and needed someone to talk to about it..." I say, using my wand to dispose of the bloody tissues before Oliver sees them and freaks out.
"Problems? Like what?" he asks.
I sigh, "You know she's being bullied..."
He frowns. "I thought it was getting better."
Heading out to the hallway though I see that it isn't Oliver. It's his sister Skye. My heart skips seeing her, seeing the tearstains on her cheeks, a bruise forming by one eye. She sniffs and I realise her nose is bleeding too. I quickly grab the box of tissues off the coffee table and hand her a couple, putting my arm around her shoulders and steering her to the sofa.
I make sure I'm facing her when I speak, signing as I do, "Skye, what happened?"
She fingerspells so she can keep the tissue to her nose. Bullies.
I clentch my jaw, resisting the urge to march down to her school and scream bloody murder, knowing it would do no good given now everyone will have gone home. I sigh and take out my wand, aiming it at her nose and the bruise around her eye and healing them both. "Because you're deaf?" I ask, signing to her again.
She nods, wiping at her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hand. I sigh and hug her tightly, summoning the tray of brownies out of the kitchen, cooling them just enough to eat without burning our mouths. "You know...I use to get bullied too..."
I got picked on by Slytherin's because I was Muggleborn and I was better than them at Quidditch...not quite the same thing but it still makes the point. "At Hogwarts, there was this really big boy...taller than me, and a few years older too. He used to try and knock me off my broom when we were flying...thinking back, I think I know why..."
Why? she asks, taking a brownie.
"He knew I was better than him. Trying to hurt me was the only way he could win, it made him feel big because I couldn't stay on my broom and keep hold of the Quaffle. He couldn't win by normal tackling, he had to cheat...it works off the pitch as well. Some people don't like thinking that others are better than them...so they try to make those people feel bad. I bet your bullies are the same...what are they like?"
They make fun of me when I talk. I know I don't sound like them. And then they make fun of me when I sign. And sometimes they trip me and... she trails off and starts to eat her brownie.
"There you are, you see?" I ask, giving her a one armed hug as I start my own brownie, "You're an amazingly talented person Skye. Do you realise how difficult it is for people to learn a second language? You can talk with your hands in a way they can never understand...they're just not smart enough..."
I wish I could hear she signs.
"I know, sweetie...but don't ever be ashamed of who you are, there are a lot of deaf people, just like you, who have gone on to do amazing things with their lives. Actors, teachers, even in the FBI."
Does not make it easier.
"I know it doesn't. You know you have to tell a teacher about this? If you tell your Mum, I'm sure she'll come with you..." I say gently.
She shakes her head again. Then it is worse.
I sigh, not sure what else I can suggest. What I really want to do is go down to her school tomorrow and hex some manners into those brats. "What about telling Oliver?"
He knows about some of the times.
"Not really a lot anyone can do, eh? Teachers don't do anything, and if we let Ollie at them he'd probably get himself arrested," I say, teasing gently, trying to make her smile again. "Y'know what worked for me in the end? Promise you won't tell Oliver?"
What?
"After Flint, that was his name, nearly knocked me off my broom, I waited until I saw him in the corridor. I moved to overtake him and as I passed I rammed my elbow into his ribs and kicked him in the back of the knee. He fell and I stamped on his hand. It was busy, he knew it was me but there was no way he could prove it in that crowd, and no way he could prove it was deliberate either...he was still rough, but he eased off a bit after that. Of course Oliver knew and threatened to ground me..."
So I should push them back?
I wince at this thought...I probably shouldn't be teaching her to brawl like a houligan. "Well...pushing them, they'll probably just push you harder. You need something that will end a fight before it's started. Do you go to a magic school Skye?"
She shakes her head. When I go to Hogwarts.
Shame...I was going to teach her a very basic, wandless rune ward. "Ok, here's what you have to do. Next time they start picking on you, find the one that looks like they're in charge...and I want you to hit them as hard as you can, but only do it once. Then you go straight to the teacher and you tell her what you did. You explain to her that they kept bullying you and despite reporting it several times, nothing was done about it so you got tired of it. You might get into trouble, but if you're honest about it, you won't get into as much trouble as if you wait for them to run and tell tales...and once the bullies see that you're not scared of them, they'll leave you alone."
Really? she looks hopeful.
"It might take a couple of hits, but they'll get the message. Just remember you have to tell the teacher. You might still get into trouble, but they will understand if you're just sticking up for yourself."
She nods. Oliver always told me to ignore them and they would go away. But they don't.
"Bullies are cowards, thick cowards. They scare off a lot easier than they get bored...eventually perhaps they'd leave you alone, but it will take a lot longer. Just don't tell Oliver I told you this. He'd probably be angry with me."
She shakes her head. He wouldn't stay mad at you for long.
"Let's hope not, eh? We've already had quite enough fights...I don't want anymore so soon," I sigh, thinking of Oliver and smiling.
Why did you fight?
"Before I knew about you, he would come home late...hours late, without any explanation, he just 'lost track of time', I was afraid he might be seeing someone else..."
Sorry. I was scared.
"I understand," I assure her. "At the time I didn't. I've had a few guys hurt me in the past, I was scared Oliver was going to turn out just like them...except he meant so much more to me because of how long we've known each other..." I stop hearing the door open and turn to see Oliver arriving home. I can't help but grin when I see him.
"Well, it's my two girls," Oliver smiles when she sees us.
I grin and stand up, moving to greet him, feeling his arms around me, his lips on mine and ignoring the disgusted sound Skye makes.
Oliver kisses me back, chuckling when he hears Skye. I grin and nestle in his arms, "We were just talking about you. Brownie? Just one though, or you'll spoil your dinner."
"Should I worry about being talked about?" he asks.
I glance at Skye as Oliver takes a brownie. She grins at me and puts her finger to her lips making me laugh. "No...not at all..." I tell Oliver with an expression of mock-innocence.
"Alright, well one of you has to tell me," he says, signing it at the same time.
"No we don't," I smirk, nuzzling his neck and biting playfully.
He tilts his head and whispers, very quiet and turned so Skye can't read his lips. "Then I might just have to punish you tonight."
I feel myself blush deeply at this and have a strong urge to drag him into the bedroom right now. Only the fact Skye's still here keeps me from doing so...but I can't stop myself from kissing him, hard and passionate, hungry for more.
He kisses me back and Skye makes another sound of disgust. "I think I should go home," she speaks up, saying her words carefully.
I blush even deeper, finally remembering myself, "You okay now? You know if you need someone to chat to you can always come to me. I know big brothers can be such a drag to talk to..."
"I'm not that bad," Oliver protests, signing it as well.
Skye giggles at this and hugs him tightly. You'll pass with a push, she signs back smirking.
He smiles and hugs her back, holding her for a moment before letting her go and signing, I love you.
Love you too she signs back before grabbing her school bag and heading out again. I can't help feeling worried about her though. I shouldn't really encourage her to fight, but bullies only understand one language and they won't leave her alone until someone makes them damn scared of the consequences.
"I'm surprised she stopped by. Is everything alright?" he asks me.
"Everything's fine...just...had a few problems at school and needed someone to talk to about it..." I say, using my wand to dispose of the bloody tissues before Oliver sees them and freaks out.
"Problems? Like what?" he asks.
I sigh, "You know she's being bullied..."
He frowns. "I thought it was getting better."