Ollivander had a deep belief that things ought to be a certain way. This came hand in hand with her stubbornness and refusal to let anyone to persuade her otherwise. Dima, however, seemed to slip right past that. She had no intention of joining the Dueling Club. Why on earth would she! Waving wands around like a bunch of absurd little children. Dima was persistent and charming (as always) and was able to sway her opinion long enough for her to feel too guilty to back out. She promised that she would try it once and that was it. What she didn't expect was to be, well, good at it. Her immense fear of hurting anyone gnawed at her heart so inevitably, it was in those pressing moments, with wand in hand, where everything seemed to slip away. It was the distraction she needed, one that her books were not able to provide. 

Her exams had begun. She had taken her Transfiguration exam which was seemingly easy (for her). It was the other exams she was worried about. This would be the first summer she would be able to practice magic and not be constricted by the Underage-Magic rule, still, a restlessness laid with her and she presumed thats why she found herself waiting for Dima. To finalize his offer.

@dima |  always an outfit

'bout damn time

Ollivander Galinski

In recent weeks he had been burying himself. Studying. Internship. Clubs. Whatever he could do to keep himself from thinking about the one person he was supposed to be pretending didn't exist anymore. It was a lost cause. He knew that. But it would never hurt him to be more involved. If there was ever a proper way to cope he figured this had to have been it. Dueling club had been taking priority for him lately. Mainly because it gave him an outlet. There was a lot of frustration in his life. In his mind. And if there was anything that ever needed his full focus it was dueling. The perfect combination to get him through this. Or so he hoped.

He had been working on getting a certain Gryffindor the join his club. It had started as playful banter but he had seen what she was capable of. In Charms class he had studied her a bit more than he probably would have had it been anyone else. But she was a skilled caster, something he could appreciate. And he was a persuasive person...when he wanted to be. "Galinski," he greeted upon seeing the familiar face. 

The sixth year student waited patiently outside of the Duelling Classroom in hopes that Dima would come sauntering past or whatever it is he did with his legs. She had assumed that he was up to his neck drowning in his studies, clubs and exams as was she so she knew running into him wasn't too promising but what else did she have to do? Study? It was true she should be studying. Though she flew through the Transfiguration Exam with flying colors and she expected to do the same on her Charms, DDA and COMC exams, the real struggle was her Potions class. A sigh pressed past her lips as she leaned against the wall, her eyes drawing up towards the ceiling. Where was he?

A nervousness entered Ollivander's lungs as time began to pass. Was this a mistake? Surely she shouldn't be wasting her precious time butting heads against fellow classmates in matches of who can flick who's wand away. No, it was absurd. She should be studying right now. Pushing off the wall she turned to leave but stopped as her name was called. Turning she was met with the icy gaze of Dima Remnikov.

"Remnikov" she greeted, offering a small smile before letting it fall. 
"You took your sweet time," she mused lightly. And here she was making... jokes? This boy truly brought out a side of her she did not share too often.

@dima

Ollivander Galinski

Growing up with older brothers made banter was prime form of communication in his home. He learned the art of sarcasm far before he learned to spell, and learned that playful teasing came more naturally than any potions class. When it came to Quidditch he was always first to compliment a good play, even if it was one that sent the opposition into their victory. He was also always first to remind them that they might not be so lucky next time. Especially if he could help it.

When it came to dueling club he had to find a balance. There wasn't teams, it was never an us versus them mentality. It was them versus the skill. While they may have practiced on one another, he had always seen his greatest push was not to be better than them but to better himself. He wanted everyone to feel the same. Like they had left dueling club feeling just a little bit better than they had been when they walked in. And, hey, if the only 'better' they felt was in a better mood then he would take that as well.

"Me? Always." It was almost as though he could hear his mind flipping through the pages of a planner. Was he late? Was he supposed to meet her? It all seemed to dawn on him at once just where she was even standing, his gaze shifting from her to the dueling classroom's door and back again. Their final for this class wasn't until tomorrow, and he thought that could only mean one thing. A smirk began to spread across the Ravenclaw's face.

"I could say the same for you. Please tell me you've finally come to your senses?" It came out playfully, though he meant it as well. He knew she had her qualms about joining. That didn't stop him from thinking she should. Ollie was a skilled dueler; he hoped she was finally seeing that dueling club could be a good outlet for that.


Words for War of Words: 335