New Perspective (Josh)

There were a few moments in Joe's life thus far that took his anxiety to a whole new level. Returning to Defense Against the Dark Arts had been one of them, but his relative success and praise, even, made it worth it. Writing a note asking Josh Murray to meet him at the End of Year Ball seemed to be the worst one yet, and as he paced back and forth in the gardens, he felt the dread radiating off himself.

Joe owed the Slytherin his life. That much, he knew. He hated the idea of that; the years of mental torture, emotional confusion and living in fear of even seeing the blonde's face had driven him within an inch of insanity, but Josh had actually saved him. Josh had, whatever his reasons may have been, stopped him from dying, and now for once in his life Joe was actually happy and it was all because he was still around to be so.

He stopped pacing, running both hands through his hair as he looked up at the sky that faded from blue to purple before his eyes. The boy would be here soon, if he were to show up at all. No matter what had happened in the past, thanking Josh was a must, whether his instincts were telling him to or not.

"Get this over with, Astrid."

Same old, same old he thought to himself, taking in the Slytherin boy and his appearance. Perhaps it was the distain that Joe used to hold so dearly to his heart for Murray that had blinded him to the way that he had grown out since they had last actually had a proper conversation. A conversation filled with threats and a jealousy that Joe still had barely managed to realise yet, but one nonetheless.

"I just-," he started, calming himself down before he finished what he had to say. "I don't know why, and I don't need to know why. But I just wanted to say... to say thank you." His words wavered occasionally, voice threatening to break at any moment. He could have just not shown up, then he wouldn't actually have to be civil towards the blonde and he could have just stayed with Brooke the whole evening. That would have been really nice. But it was only fair.

"You saved me, and even if it was just to make yourself seem like an angel in the eyes of the school, you did. And I just... I had to let you know that I am actually grateful for that." Not so much for showing the school that video, but nonetheless Joe continued in his head, feeling sarcastic comments wouldn't be the best way around this.

Joe didn't think he ever would come to understand Josh Murray. It didn't really matter anymore; after one more year, his chances of ever seeing the Slytherin were, put bluntly, almost zero, and to be honest, it didn't seem like the other boy was looking to persue a friendship. Still, his constant hostility, his ever-present emotionless expression always had the Hufflepuff wondering what went on in Josh's mind.

"Do we have an understanding?"

Honestly, the Hufflepuff hadn't been expecting anything more nor less than the tones he was always met with. He nodded once, showing the other boy had his complete understanding as he looked down at the outstretched hand, eyes blinking for a few seconds. Initially, Joe thoght that there was no way in hell that they would see things the same way, have any kind of agreement ever, but then he thought that maybe, just maybe, they had grown out of the childish hatred they held for each other.

Of course, there was always a chance that they definitely hadn't, and Joe was fully expecting to be met with some kind of curse the moment he reached out and shook Joshua's hand. Nonetheless, he did, and in an attempt not to seem so pathetic he tried to give a decent grip too. "Completely understood."