Better than Ezra (cont.)

"What's... trans...big-a-Sean?" Fox asked. That was a hard word to say, and he knew he couldn't spell it, but he'd done the best he could. Maybe the adult classes taught them long words. Maybe transbigasean was a kind of math. Or maybe it was learning how to draw on yourself. Sean said art was awesome.

Sean was confused again, but decided it was simply easier to go along with things. At least it wasn't really a long walk up to the castle and to the hospital wing. "Transfiguration is where you make one thing into something else, or look like something else," he said. He couldn't quite believe he was casually walking down the street holding the hand of someone who currently thought he was five.

Fox had to think very hard about that, and when he finally understood, fear sparked into his eyes again. His hand tensed in Sean's, and he curled his fingers further around it even as he stepped slightly closer, using Sean as a security blanket. "I think my accidents are transbigasean," he whispered loudly. "I'm not a'sposed to do that!"

Transbigasean. It sent a chill down Sean's spine, though he didn't bother trying to correct Fox the second time around, either. "There isn't anything wrong with it, that's what the whole school's about. I mean, it is a magic school. People are born with magic, it's just as normal as hair color."

His mouth gaped open at that, and a moment where he forgot to walk turned into a hop-step as he made up the short distance. "Youuuu said the emmmmwooooord," he whispered, shocked. He wasn't even supposed to know the m-word, but he'd heard it before when his dad drank too many bottles and it was a bad word.

"What? Magic? What about it? Some people are born with it, it isn't a big deal," Sean said, though it was obvious from his companion's reaction that it actually was. "I could also say wizard and wand and they're not bad things at all." In fact, he'd used magic and his wand in the hotel room to fix things.

Fox was completely shocked, and he stared at Sean, only continuing to walk because their hands were linked together. "Those are bad bad bad words," he hissed, and said no more. Instead, he looked at anyone they passed, any sign of movement, as though a bogey-man would pop out and eat him for even being exposed to the words.

"Why are they bad words?" Sean asked. Maybe the guy was muggleborn. He supposed this was near the worst case scenario of what might happen when sleeping with a guy he'd barely talked to. It would probably be a good idea to learn at least something about future partners. "My parents never said they were bad words."

"They're bad 'a'cause people that do it are bad," Fox said nervously. "They're cheater punkin eaters an' liars pants on fires an' they're bad an' treat others bad. So if I do it I have to be in trouble so I'm not bad too." It was a bad idea to talk about this, it was, but Sean hadn't tried to trick him before, and hadn't hit him.

"Oh, well, I'm not a cheater or liar, and I don't treat others bad," Sean said. Weren't you only supposed to get in trouble after being bad? His eyebrows creased and he was suddenly much more focused on getting to the hospital wing. "I don't think you're bad, even if you talk about that stuff."

"You don't think I'm bad?" Fox asked, smooth brow wrinkling ever so slightly. "You're nice an' I hope I could be your friend when I grow up." He gave Sean's hand a little squeeze as they went along.

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