Applications {Cooper}

[Katherine Finnigan]

{Continued from Dance of a lifetime}

The corridors were pretty vacant save one or two snogging couples but none of them seemed disturbed at the sound of others walking by. After a quick trip up the levels of the castle, all the way to the Gryffindor common room, Katherine found herself in the silent library. Books floated through the air and placed themselves on their proper shelves while others migrated and mingled with others of the same subject. One thing that always seemed to amaze Kat was just how magical every single thing in the castle was. If she didn't know any better, she'd have thought the school had a mind of its own sometimes. Hogwarts never did cease to amaze and awe her...even after being a magical child with a magical family who had attended the magical school for over six years of her life.

Flicking her wand at a set of candles, at the centre of one of the many vacant tables, that had been extinguished much earlier, she lit a small flame so that there was plenty of light. Katherine had a job to do and now that it was her number one priority, she wasn't going to let it go...even if Cooper got cold feet about doing his application. Now that they were in the library, there was no backing out. That's how she felt about it anyway. Pulling out a chair, she sat down in it and glanced up toward him with an expectant look. "Well then? Have a seat and get comfy," she said with a half grin.

The dance and everything about it had gone forgotten at the moment. It was shocking sometimes just how focused Katherine could be but she figured that it was probably why she did so well with Quidditch. She focused and practically nothing would stop her once she knew what she was doing. It also helped with speeches and team pep talks. As long as she memorized a few points and she focused on those points, the talking part was easy. After a second or two, she gestured toward the free chair beside her but her chocolate brown eyes remained locked on Coop's face. Part of her expected him to make some witty remark and the other part was ready for him to make a break for the door.

[Cooper Weasley]

The entire trip, from the dance hall to his common room and to the library, Cooper whine and complained like a child, trying to come up with some excuse not to do this tonight. He did it more to annoy Katherine then anything. Coop knew that no matter what he did, she wouldn't change her mind anyway. He really had no choice in the matter now. Without her, Cooper would probably have waited until the last minute to finish the bloody thing.

Walking into the library to actually do some sort of work, was an odd feeling for Coop. He never did any of his school work here. In fact, most of the time he waited until the last minute to do his work - which wasn't always smart but, he always turned things in on time. He groaned as he walked into the empty library. He stared at Katherine blankly for a few moments, and then sat down. She apparently was extremely focused on his application now, he could tell by her face and eyes. "How is anyone comfortable here?" he whined as he sat opposite of Katherine. Cooper tossed his application on the table. It was kept neatly in a folder, one that he hadn't opened in a few weeks.

Cooper thought of making a run for it but, that would just make him look like an even bigger wimp. That was something he didn't want going around the halls tomorrow. So, with a heavy sigh, Cooper tried to relax a bit. He stood up, and flipped his chair around backward, and then sat down again. He rested his elbows on the chair back. Cooper's eyes drifted down to the folder in between them, he gave it a scowl. It was funny how a big, macho, guy was afraid of six sheets of paper in a black folder.

[/blockquote]

[Katherine Finnigan]

"It's quiet in here Weasley...and unusual, obnoxious people tend to keep away from the library. That's what makes some people comfortable and keeps it easier to do ones course work," answered Katherine thoughtfully. She wasn't the sort to keep herself all locked away in the library or her common room doing work but she had been known to stop by this very place every so often when she needed to focus on her studies. It was always easier to stay focused on some less than exciting subject if you were in a practically silent place with hardly any windows, none you could really look out anyway, and only one exit. Kat thought so at least but, then again, maybe it didn't work for just anyone.

After all his constant complaining and whining, the brunette Hufflepuff was hell bent on making sure he got the application done. There was no way in Merlin's name that she'd let him off tonight without it being entirely finished. As he tossed the neatly arranged, black folder onto the table, she glanced at it a moment as if expecting him to start off straight away...just to get things all done and over with. Instead, though, he got up and adjusted his chair, probably so that he was more comfortable before setting out to accomplish the task at hand.

Again, though, he didn't make a move toward the folder. The only expression she caught, even, was a scowl as his eyes lingered upon it. So, instead of waiting around all night for him to gather up the Gryffindor courage to open his folder, Katherine reached across the table and opened the black folder. Turning it so that she could get a good look at the papers within, she examined the various questions and things that needed filled in. "Alright then," she said in a soft yet serious tone, "The first page is simple enough. Name...date of birth...mostly just backgound information. I'm sure you know most of those things, yeh?" Tearing her eyes from the page, she looked over at him and grinned slightly. Turning it back around so that it was sitting upright for him, she pushed the application forward toward him.

[Cooper Weasley]

I'm unusual and obnoxious," Cooper pointed out with a smirk. "I hate quiet," he added in a low mumble. Most of the time, Cooper waited until the last minute to do any homework he had. He never went into the library to do any sort of school related work. A majority of the time he was only here, in search of Lizzie, or someone he knew would be here. The library made him nervous, that's why he hated quiet - it made him nervous.

The Ministry application also made him nervous. The quiet from the library added to the nervousness from filling out the application, well, it was just nerve-wracking. Cooper had never felt as nervous in all his life as he did in the moment. It was ridiculous in his mind, as he mentally tried to stir up some courage. He felt stupid and vulnerable at this moment in time. He hated it. All it was a few pieces of paper he wished he could set on fire. That really wouldn't help him get into the Ministry though.

"Hmmm, my name? What's my name again? And who are you?" Cooper said with a smirk, as he slid the papers toward him. With a grumble he filled in the lines, with a pen, which he withdrew from his pocket. It was a special pen, one that he bought solely for the purpose of filling out this application alone. He hadn't used it for anything else. In fact, he was planning on keeping it forever - in a little box.

[/blockquote]







ooc; sorry for delay I totally thought I posted but, I remember typing it but, apparently it wasn't ever posted.

[Katherine Finnigan]

"Oye!" she exclaimed in a whisper, "You're just too much sometimes Cooper Weasley. Unusual, yes. Obnoxious? I have yet to see an instance when you're entirely obnoxious." Katherine knew that Coop had his moments but she didn't think he was really obnoxious...or at least he hadn't been around her...that she could remember. Shaking her head a little, she tried not to roll her eyes at just how much he was trying to get out of doing his application. For a guy who seemed as though he could take on just about anything, he sort of seemed intimidated by a few pieces of paper.

Leaning back in her chair a bit, she watched him for a moment. Then the thought hit her. What if she got this nervous when it came time for her to actually try out for a team? What if she froze and couldn't do it? Again, she shook her head but this time it was more to shake off the thoughts. There was no way in Merlin's name that she would let herself get that nervous or uncomfortable. It was Quidditch. If there was anything at all in the whole world that she was good at, it was Quidditch.

Fortunately for her, Cooper spoke again and broke her from the rest of her thoughts. This library visit was all about helping Coop. "Really funny Weasley," she laughed softly, "Just think, though, if you really didn't know those things, I could tell you all sorts of things." Grinning a little, she leaned forward a little and watched him pull out a pen. She hadn't seen him use it before. Only after he'd actually filled in the first bits of his application, she finally complimented, "Very nice pen there Coop."

{ooc: No worries at all. }

[Cooper Weasley]

"OK, so I'm not obnoxious - around you," he said with a grin. Coop liked to reserve he obnoxiousness when he was at home. There he would just annoying his siblings. It was fun, and most of time it resulted in his own peace and quiet. It was funny how you can use something like obnoxiousness, to get your bit of piece and quiet. It worked most of the time.

Cooper chuckled out lout. He did really care how loud he was, it didn't look like there was anyone to disturb anyhow. "Hmm, yes. For instance, you could be telling me that you're my girlfriend and all other girls are completely jealous that you have all my attention," he joked with his smirk. He ventured to what her reaction might be to that. Coop didn't know if she would just blush, and brush it off or, smack him. "Thanks, I bought it just for filling this horrid thing out,"

[/blockquote]

[Katherine Finnigan]

Kat laughed very lightly when he noted that he wasn't obnoxious around her. Again, she knew he was probably very capable of being a right pain sometimes but, after dealing with him for as long as she'd done, Katherine also doubted whether he could be entirely annoying to the point where she'd intentionally avoid him or have to tell him off for it. But, then, on the other hand, she hadn't ever seen the obnoxious side of Cooper Weasley...that she could recall anyway.

Around the corner, the very agitated librarian made a sharp sound to hush them. Yes, it was true that they were probably talking and laughing a bit more than one should in the library but there was absolutely no one else around. It wasn't as though they were going to disturb the books from their slumber. Kat didn't think so anyway. Scrunching her nose, she rolled her eyes a little and had to fight back the light laugh at what Cooper said next. Once she was sure the librarian was off doing something else, rather than spying, she teasingly replied, "Oh yes Coop. You know I've just been dying to have you all to myself. What better way to do it than tricking you into thinking I was your girlfriend?" Shaking her head a little, she let out a very soft giggle and added, "I don't know who'd be getting the better deal out of that one...you or me."

Once more directing her attention to the pen, Katherine smiled. She thought, for a moment, about picking on him about having a brand new pen just for filling out his application but not having the nerve to use it...but she decided against it. They were, after all, here so that he could get it done. Besides that, she was supposed to be his moral support at present. Hence, Kat instead said, "Well then...let's give it some use, mate. Just about finished with that first page?"

[Cooper Weasley]

Cooper shook his head after the librarian left them. OK, so they had one person to disturb, her[.i] Unless the books were complaining, there really wasn't anyone else. Cooper grinned at her response. At least he wasn't getting hit, well, Katherine herself hadn't really ever had to give him a good smack, though there was a time, or two, that she did. "Well, you know," he said, pausing, "I wouldn't mind if you did." He had to smile at the fact that he had her giggling. At the same time, he also a bit saddened that she was giggling about the subject. "You would be getting the better deal, I think." This time he spoke in a more serious tone, to see what her reaction might be to that change.

"Yes, madam - I'm done," he said in a silly voice. Coop set down his pen and slid the papers toward her once more. He felt silly at the moment, for being one of the only souls in the library. However, when he looked the other soul that was with him - it wasn't so bad. The library didn't seem like such a bad place either. There seemed to be a few hidden nooks that could be useful to him the future.

[/blockquote]

[Katherine Finnigan]

Once more, Katherine seemed to find herself a little lost for words. Surely he was still playing along with the joke but that didn't mean there was a small part of her, a nagging little voice in the back of her mind, that hoped he wasn't. Not being as quick witted as usual, mostly due to her silly and childish little thoughts, Kat tried her best to shake off the notion and come up with some clever response to it all. Luckily, he added something else, though in a rather serious tone, that nearly made her burst out into laughter. "Oh? You think I'd be getting the better end of the bargain, eh?" she interrogated, eyeing him, "I think you might be a bit off there, mate."

Oh, yes, it was true that Cooper Weasley was the sort of guy that girls swooned and drooled over; the sort that could make groups of females giggle insanely and blush like mad just by looking at them. But Kat wasn't one of those girls. No. She saw beyond all of that silly stuff and far passed his flirtacious remarks. Katherine saw him when he was vulnerable and unsure. She knew that there was a softer side to him rather than an always firty Quidditch player with an ego. Still, though, she had to question whether she would still be getting the better deal if something were to happen between them.

Finally brushing the thoughts off, she laughed very, very lightly at is silly little tone. Checking over his answer, she made a scolding face and jokingly said, "You missed one." Unfortunately, she was unable to keep a straight face so she took to flipping his application to the next page. As she looked it over, she nodded slightly before pushing it back toward him and noting, "Alright then...next bit is experience and extra curricular information. S'pose you could just put in all the stuff you're involved in with the school and anything you do for the public when we're on holiday."

[Cooper Weasley]

Cooper smiled at the fact that Katherine had nothing to say - for only a second. Still, that meant that she was thinking on it, which meant he was getting somewhere with the idea. However, he checked himself, telling himself to wait until he talked to James. Cooper looked confused as to her response. "Off? No, you would be getting the better deal. You would have all my attention, affections, romantic dates, awesome snogging sessions.....but," Coop paused to take a dramatic sigh, "If you'd rather not, we both will just have to miss out I suppose."

Cooper may be the flirty guy but, when it came down to having an actually girlfriend, it all stopped. The girls didn't stop swooning over him but, he stopped flirting with them. It was like someone would flip a switch in him. Instead, the girlfriend would get a majority of his attention. He did designate a certain amount to quidditch and family, too. Cooper treats girls as gentleman ought to. He's the kind to open doors, pull out chairs, and those type of things. He did it often at school, well the door opening at least, the rest was saved for that one girl - if he ever found her.

Cooper shrugged his shoulders, "I can't help it, I have a very big distraction in front of me," He, of course, grinned after that, relaxing a bit more. Coop still didn't like the idea of actually being in the library. For some reason it just was an extremely uncomfortable place to be. This next bit would be hard. He couldn't think of anything he'd done for the public. What can a seventeen year old kid, still in school, do exactly? He sighed, this was getting a bit harder now. "I stay away from the public, that's what I do for them," he said. Coop couldn't think of what else to say to cover his sudden blankness of mind. He took the paper back, writing in his quidditch activites, and of course including that he was Captain. There his leadership skills, now for the rest he couldn't think of anything. He sat trying to think of something, anything that he had done that helped or did anything for the general public. His mind remained blank.

[Katherine Finnigan]

As much as Kat didn't want to admit it, she couldn't help thinking that maybe she would be getting the better end of the deal...not that it would ever happen though. They were friends and that was it, right? Still, Katherine found herself dwelling upon the idea. The things he'd mentioned, particularly the whole romantic part, were just how she'd always imagined things to be but it hadn't been until their dance that she thought of Cooper being that guy. Honestly, though, that was what she wanted from a relationship; someone who she could talk to and feel comfortable around no matter what...someone who wasn't going to be flirting with every bloody female that walked by while he was with her...someone who could be mature and handle doing all those chivalrous and romantic things guys were supposed to do.

Again, it seemed to take her longer to come up with any sort of response. This time, she was positive that he was merely playing around and teasing. At least she thought she was positive. After a moment or two, she eyed him suspiciously and interrogated, "Now is that a threat or an offer, Weasley?" Mentally, she had to remind herself that this was just his silly flirting and joking so that she didn't end up thinking as though it was more. That would only end up with her being crushed again and she wasn't about to let anything like that happen...even if it meant never being involved with a guy for the rest of her life.

His next comment made it more than obvious that this was the same Cooper Weasley that couldn't help being a terrible flirt all of the time. Shaking her head, she laughed lightly and crossed her arms. "You know, I came here for moral support...but if you'd rather I go, so you can focus..." Letting her words trail off, she scooted her chair back a little and made a move to get up. Her eyes darted toward the doorway but she honestly had no intention of going anywhere until after his entire application was finished. That didn't mean she couldn't joke right back. Kat glanced back toward Cooper as if giving him one last chance...but, ultimately, she merely pulled her chair back in and rested her arms on the table in front of her. "So you've never volunteered to babysit or help old ladies across the street when you're on holiday from school?" she questioned, trying to get him to remember something, anything, that he could put down, "How about helping out the younger lot by tutoring them? I know you have a billion younger cousins...and it would count as community service if you tutored the little buggers."

[Cooper Weasley]

"Threat? No, no, no. I don't threaten girls," he said with a smile. "If you ever want to pick it up - I'm just sayin' the offer is on the table." Cooper thought that Katherine had determined that he was joking. Maybe it was all just a silly little day dream in his head. One dream that was sort of ridiculous and might never come true. Oddly though, Cooper was fine with that. He'd rather keep a very solid friendship intact, instead of screwing that up by dating.

Part of Coop's mind drifted off to about twenty minutes ago, when they had been dancing. Katherine was all he could think about, for the most part. He wanted to ensure that she would have a nice time. From what he gathered, he did a pretty good job at it. It gave him a good warm feeling when he did things like that. Maybe that's why he wanted to be Minister one day.

Cooper started at Katherine for a second. For a split second he thought she might actually leave but, that was silly. He knew that she would stay, it was after her doing why they were sitting her in the first place. If she was going to leave - so was Coop. "No don't go, I like distractions very much. I'm never good at focusing on anything, really...." he said in a little boyish tone. Cooper tried to think of anything that was community service like. "Hm, well, I suppose babysitting could be added - although I didn't volunteer for it. And....I guess, I could include some sort of tutoring in there - if you include stuff that I will teach James..." Cooper realized he had accidental mentioned James. He wasn't planning on telling Kat that he was going to meet with his cousin. "And, and I've taught my little bro things...." he added to brush of the J-word.

[/blockquote]

[Katherine Finnigan]

Almost as if frozen and rendered entirely incapable of both thought and speech, Katherine sat there in complete and total silence. 'The offer is on the table.' That tiny phrase had seemed to hit her like a ton of bricks. Kat couldn't tell, anymore, whether he was being serious or whether he wasn't. There wasn't a joking sort of tone or any of his silly little flirty winks to accompany the phrase...not that she picked up on at least. Finally, after a moment or two, her mind began to work again. As if instinctively, her mouth opened but words didn't come out. Kat honestly didn't know what to say...if she was capable of saying anything at all. Realizing this, she closed her lips and tried to pretend she hadn't just looked so stupid.

Her mind was racing with anything and everything from the night that might have hinted at whether there was even the slightest bit of seriousness behind his words. A part of her wanted to find something, anything, that made it clear whether he was being sincere with the 'offer' but another bit didn't want her to get her hopes up. They were friends, practically best friend, and that was plenty...but she still couldn't help thinking about the 'what-ifs' now. What if he was being serious? What if they did take a chance on it? What if it didn't work out? What if it did?

Quite fortunately, his voice interrupted the billions of swirling thoughts and brought her back to some sort of reality. Katherine did her best to listen to everything he said without letting her mind wander off. She couldn't remember concentrating ever being this difficult unless she counted the couple of times when she was technically supposed to be doing coursework but couldn't keep herself from reading the new issue of Quidditch Weekly or working out a new maneuver in her playbook. Forcing a soft laugh and under her breath, she murmured, "I guess you're not the only one with focus problems tonight."

As he went on about the application, she forced herself to get back onto track. After thoroughly reminding herself that his important Ministry application needed to be finished, Katherine listened intently to his verbal thinking on what could count as his community service. Once or twice, she nodded and another time, she frowned but hoped that it had gone unnoticed...just like several other of her previous actions and murmured statements. "Well now...there you go. Teaching the ickle ones and babysitting work," she said, entirely writting off his mention of a certain Potter who she could have gone the entire night without having to think about. Giving another slight nod of approval, she watched him and waited for Cooper to write down those little things before she'd take his application again and look over the next section.

[Cooper Weasley]

When Katherine took so long to make any sort of response, Coop had to grin when she wasn't looking. That short but, what seemed to be a long pause, gave Cooper some hope. In that instant he thought that what he said had caused her to actually think on the idea. He kept his own composure though, not letting on if he was serious or not. He liked to be a little mysterious in that way with her.

'What was that, love?" he asked, as he heard Kat mumble something. It was safe to say it was probably nothing Cooper should hear but, he had to ask. He looked over the current section of his application, seeing if he could think of anything else. Cooper had been glad to see that the mention of his cousin hadn't upset things. In fact, Katherine acted like he hadn't even said anything about him. Well, that's good, he thought to himself. With a nod he wrote down the teaching and involuntary babysitting - well, he left out the involuntary part. Cooper set down his pen, glad to see he was making more progress now than he had alone, and pushed the application back to Katherine.

[/blockquote]

[Katherine Finnigan]

"Focus...commenting on focus," said Katherine honestly but still as vaguely as possible, "That's all really. Now then...back to this application of yours." As long as she could shift the attention back to his application, she could at least take her mind off of everything else that had found its way into her mind. It seemed like the longer this night had been drawn out, with them secluded in the silent library, the harder it was for her to concentrate on the task at hand. The newly established ideas that drifted through her mind weren't even slightly unwelcomed but they made it nearly impossible for her to focus.

Glancing over what he'd written on his application, Kat gave an approving nod before flipping it to the next page. As her brown eyes slid down the next section, she knew he would have no problem with it. "References...names, addresses and how long you've known them," the brunette Hufflepuff noted, looking up at him with a slight knowing smile. Kat was positive that there were a couple of professors that would be more than delighted to have Coop use them as his references and then she also knew he had a couple of aunts and uncles that could surely put in a good word for him. Thoughtfully, she slid the folder and it's contents back across the table while she silently pondered her own potential references.