Question time (Josh)

Since Christmas Louise had been thinking quite a bit, she was starting to get along with Lady Eleanor but that seemed to be annoying her fiancé. There were many things she had yet to understand, despite Miss Sheridan’s more than stellar teaching. She couldn't work out why Josh had just left through dinner, but then again she hadn't known the Murray’s for very long. She knew his parents were separated but the way he acted it was like his parents were annoying house guests in their own home. Perhaps t was best left alone but a nagging feeling had been following her in the weeks after the holidays and was getting harder and harder to ignore. So much so it forced her to break curfew and leave the dungeons, following the pull that she’d been getting used to over the years. She trusted the, was instinct the right word? Instinct then, and followed it to the floors above the dungeons, passing a clock showing the late hour, not so late that even the prefects had to be in bed yet.

When the pull suddenly dropped through her stomach she figured she was on the right floor and rounded the corner, smiling seeing Josh on his patrols. The smile slid into more neutral territory however as the nagging questions sprung up in her head. “Josh a word please?” She asked, but made no move to show she was going anywhere whatever he said. Miss Sheridan had drilled in the stance till Louise had got it right, never be afraid to ask, and don’t take no for an answer if it’s important. She tried not to smile while thinking of the lesson and hoping it’d pay off now.

"Funny, really but you know what I meant. Louise resisted sighing dramatically and gestured to an unlocked classroom across the hall. "We need to have a talk I think, and if you want me out of your hair just answer quickly and I'll be off with or without points taken off that's up to you." She entered the room but paused by the door to make sure he was following. She had a strange thought that this didn't feel like the other times she'd pestered him for seemingly silly things. 

That was weird but she stayed focused. "Would you mind explaining what had you so irritated during Christmas dinner? I know you're self reliant and all that but if this is going to work..." She gestured between them. "We need to work on your communication skills, you can't act like a kid and run off when things get under your skin that's not how it works. You don't have to tell me too much, just why you felt the need to leave. I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again." She was under the impression it had been her fault, she knew he'd said before his relationship with his mother and father was difficult at best but she still had that niggling thought in her mind that she wasn't good enough.

The young Slytherin listened, her expression softening a little bit when he outlined his usual Christmas day and sighed a bit when he'd finished. "I see. Perhaps given some time you'll feel a bit differently. I don't expect you to be happy about it right away, that's a fools hope." She stepped around the desk and sat on the edge a bit closer but leaving enough personal space, no sense in pushing too hard too quickly, that's why she left it so long before talking to him about it, she had half a hope he'd come to her to talk but that wasn't' going to happen anytime soon. 

"I'm very family oriented, I am sorry you haven't had that experience before. It's not so bad, and people can change. I wont ask you to try but maybe to just think about it  a little. I'm not expecting miracles here but I just wanted you to know you can talk to me. Even if I don't fully understand you sometimes." She offered a small smile. "That's what a good wife does isn't it?"

She could see him already dismissing the idea but let it slide, like she said she wasn't expecting miracles. Then came the medieval sexist nonsense she associated with pureblood values and the only reaction she gave was pressing her tongue to her cheek looking mildly annoyed. "About that, you're not going to change who I am just as I can't change who you are. It's not the dark ages anymore and really if you just want an heir you would have chosen someone else for the job. Instead you picked me, so you're stuck with me for now. I will try not to pry too much but when I ask questions like these it's because I actually care about you, what you're thinking or feeling." she thought about that for a moment then smiled at him. "Mothers do the same really. I know you've not had the best experience growing up with your own parents but I honestly think she's trying to make up for it." That may have touched a nerve so she got up and stepped back a bit. "I'll leave it there since I can see I'm getting on your nerves. I'd say come find me if you want to talk but that's not likely so I'll come find you." She grinned and made a formal curtsy before heading to the door. "Goodnight love"