Pearls Mean Tears

"Hello, beautiful."

"Abraxas, I look terrible."

"You look beautiful today."

"Oh, Abraxas, you devil! Don't make me laugh."

"But you do. Aphrodite couldn't hold a candle to you."

"You flatter me, Abraxas. But I know that Aphrodite could outshine me every day of the week."

"Oh? Have you met her?"

"Have you?"

"I don't need to. I know true beauty when I see it."

"Abraxas, stop. One would think one was just complimenting one to get something."

"I am shocked you would think that!"

"You're blushing, Abraxas. I love it when you blush."

"Now you're trying to gain something."

"Perhaps."

"It amazes me sometimes that you weren't in Slytherin. You would have been able to manipulate all those teenage boys."

"Now I'm blushing, Abraxas. You know that blushing isn't good for my complexion."

"I think it makes you look radiant."

"If I had a bag over my head, you would say the same."

"True..."

"Oh, wipe that wolfish smile off your face. One would start to think one was only after one's body."

"One would be stung that one would think so."

"You play along very nicely. I'll miss that."

"You'll miss--what?"

"Abraxas, I--I have something to tell you."

"You look so innocent when you hang your head like that."

"Abraxas, let's be serious. We need to talk."

"..."

"Abraxas, don't be like that. Please look at me."

"Okay. What do we need to talk about?"

"Well, I'll be leaving--"

"I knew it. You're moving. That won't matter. We can still owl each other, and we both know how to Apparate--"

"Not quite."

"What, then?"

"I--I am not sure how to say this. I should have said it last week, but you just make it so difficult to bring up, always flirting with me."

"Helene, what are you saying?"

"I--I met someone."

"Okay, that's nice... Did I mention that your eyes are brighter than the sun?"

"Oh, Abraxas, don't make this harder. I can already see it in your face. We've been having fun together, messing around, throwing compliments into the air. But, I--I think we'll be good friends."

"Friends? Friends? Helene, I--I love you."

"Oh, Abraxas. Don't say that. Please, please don't say that."

"But I do. I love you, Helene."

"Abraxas, I can't do this."

"I have something for you. I was going to wait until Tuesday, for your birthday, but I want you to have them now."

"Abraxas, please. I don't want anything."

"No, I insist. Come with me."

"I can't. Abraxas, I can't. I have to go meet Richard."

"Who's Richard?"

"The nice man I met."

"Okay. Okay, you can meet him after I give you my gift."

"Abraxas--"

"Helene, I insist."

"Okay. But then I--"

"Then--then you can go meet your friend."

"Abraxas--"

"Here."

"I can't take this."

"Go on, open it!"

"..."

"Aren't they beautiful?"

"Oh, Abraxas!"

"I made sure each one was cultured just right. Look how they shine. They'll look great around your neck."

"These pearls are beautiful."

"What's the matter? Why are you crying?"

"I--I didn't know it would be this difficult!"

"What? Do you not like them? Are they the wrong color? I can take them back--"

“No, Abraxas. They’re fine.�

“Why are you so upset?�

"I can't accept these."

"Helene--"

"Abraxas, Richard is my fiancé."

"Wh-what?"

"Richard and I are going to be married. He proposed, and I said yes."

"What? Who's Richard? He proposed? But--I--"

"Abraxas..."

"Helene! I thought--"

"I can't take these pearls."

"Let me get this straight. You and I have been courting for a few months, and then you get engaged to another man?"

"Abraxas, we were never that serious!"

"Helene, I love you! I take you out to dinner, and I buy you flowers and jewelry and--"

"Flowers and jewelry and dinner does not equate to serious love, Abraxas."

"I see. How loaded is this Richard?"

"Abraxas! I can't believe you just asked that!"

"What?"

"I do not love because of money."

"What kind of wizard is he?"

"He's a Muggle."

"He's a what? Helene, a Muggle? Are you serious? A Muggle? But--but--"

"But nothing. I love Richard very much, and it doesn't matter to me that he is not of magical status or of money status."

"You have got to be insane."

"Oh? Wouldn't your family think the same of our little relationship, with me being Muggle-born and all?"

"No."

"You don't sound so sure of yourself."

"Yes, well, you aren't a Muggle."

"I see. But your family would think of me just the same as."

"That doesn't mean you have to marry one!"

"Oh? Abraxas, you wouldn't even dare tell your family about me. And that friend of yours? You won't tell him, either. I haven't met anyone in your social circle because of my parentage."

"The time just hasn't been right! But--I mean--a Muggle--Helene--"

“It shouldn’t matter. None of it should matter. He’s accepted my heritage, and I have accepted his.�

“Accepted? Helene, I’ve accepted you! I’ve been dating you!�

“You’ve been hiding me. How can you say you accepted me? Are you going to tell your family about me?�

“…�

“How about your friends? Are they ever going to know about me?�

“…�

“Then you haven’t accepted me.�

“Helene, how can you say that? At least I will understand what it is like to have magic. He’ll never even know!�

“Yes, but you will never know what it was like to grow up in a Muggle world, Abraxas. And you will never know what it is like to accept everyone for what they are, who they are, if you keep holding to the idea of blood purity.�

“Oh, his blood is pure. Pure Muggle.�

"You know, you are acting rather childish about this. I--I need to leave. Now."

"Helene! Why? Why?"

"Abraxas--"

"Don't go, Helene! Don't marry him! Marry me!"

"..."

"Helene, why are you crying?"

"Here's the pearls. I can't have them."

"Helene--"

"I have to go. Good bye."

"No, wait! Helene, take the pearls! Stay with me, Helene!"

"..."

"Helene! Helene, come back, you ungrateful wench!"

"..."

"HELENE!"

“…�