Humpbacked Witch Statue
 

A secret corridor could be accessed behind the statue which led to Honeydukes in Hogsmeade but, it has long since been blocked off, to deny students the access they so greatly desired.

Jezabel walked up to the humpbacked witch statue, and tapped it with her wand. Nothing happened. She was just about to try again, when the statue spoke in a wizened croaky voice.
"Don't even try it. The passage's been blocked off for ages."
Jez felt heat rise to her cheeks. "But my brother said -"
"Frogswallop!" spat the statue. "Be off with you, before I call a prefect!"
Jez walked away, cursing the old crone under her breath. Keegan was so going to get it when she worked out how to get hold of a Howler ...

TRALALALALALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Galovanting. That's what Sammy was doing. GALOVANTING.

Well, she WAS until she came across the UGLIEST THING SHE HAD EVER SEEN IN HER LIFE :whaa:

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

SHe almost had a freaking heart attack. It basically came out and ATTACKED her. How awfully rude. So she had basically dropped her stuff and ran in the complete opposite direction. And with her awesome and MAJESTIC skills she managed to run straight into someone. Told ya she had skills.

Everett was wandering the castle, exploring it. Everything was pleasant and calm. And then a figure, screaming loudly, bumped into him, almost making him fall over. "What the-!" He said, disorientated from being hit. Looking at the figure, he noticed it was the girl he had met at the Carnival over the summer, who'd been scared to get lost in the Hogwarts Bouncy Castle, Sammy.

Interrogation time. He needed a reason as to why he had almost been pushed over, only just being able to hold his balance. "Why on Earth were you running?" Everett asked. Because really, unless there was a zombie chasing after her from the other direction, she wouldn't have a lot to be scared of.

WHAT. Sammy, who unlike whoever she had managed to run into, did not have a lot of balance which was the main reason why she couldn't wear heels no matter how many times Amy tried, but either way she fell over with a bit of an "oof"

But falling over was normal for her, what was not normal WAS THAT FREAKING THING THAT HAD JUMPED OUT AND ATTACKED HER. Oh what? Someone was talking to her? Oh it was Everett, she had run into Everett? Hmm. So she got up quickly and dusted herself off. "Freakin' ugly statue, man. Came out of nowhere. Attacked me. Sort of. Not Really." she tried to sum up, though it didn't really work. So she tried again. "Was galovan-I mean walking, turned a corner, saw ugly statue, scare-no, surprised me, ran for it" yeah, that didn't make much more sense, but she wasn't going to explain it again.

Everett raised an eyebrow. And he was meant to understand what she was saying? That ramble had confused him. Watching her stand up from where she fell, he tried to understand her ramble properly. "So an ugly statue, sort of, not really, attacked you when you were walking?" He questioned, thinking that's what she was on about. An ugly statue scared her? Even if it's ugly, how did it scare her.

He was starting to think Sammy was either overly dramatic and easily freaked out, or really stupid to be surprised by a statue. Maybe both. Everett might have to ask someone about it, see if she belonged in a mental home.

MAN THIS BOY WAS THICK. Maybe it was his hair that was keeping the information from getting through, he had that much of it. It could be a possibility. "Yes, sort of" she said, so much for not explaining it again because here we go "I was walking, I turned a corner, the statue was ugly and it surprised me. Also I watch doctor who so that probably doesn't help considering that the majority of the statues that turn up on that show kill you or send you back in time." it made perfect sense to her. But then again, eating pasta for every meal of the day made sense to her. And Inception.

But this damn boy still looked confused. Maybe if she showed him the statue he would believe that it was ugly. YEAH. And she needed to go back and grab her stuff anyway, so it was a plan. So, she grabbed his arm and dragged up the hall around the corner and in front of the statue before letting go. "Look at that thing and tell me it isn't ugly" she said putting her hands on her hips. The thing was ugly and there was nothing else to it. It's like when you play the scary maze game, the face wasn't that scary, just that it came out of nowhere. After a few moments she started gathering her stuff that had gone everywhere, because she's cool. And it had all her study notes that had taken her all night to prepare.

"Understood I suppose," Everett said, shrugging slightly. That didn't make a lot of sense to him, but he had never seen Doctor Who, and hadn't seen the staute yet. And then he was being dragged to see the ugly statue. First time he saw the statue, he rose an eyebrow. Dayyyummm. Ugliness, that statue had. Though he didn't have any urge to run away, however ugly it was.

"Well it is ugly, very ugly, but not enough to totally scare you," Everett decided, staring at the statue. He glanced away to notice she was picking up random stuff, probably her stuff. He could help her, but she did bump into him, so meh.

Yep, the hair was keeping the information from getting through. It was all the hair's fault, someone get Sammy some scissors. Time to chop that monstrosity off. "Well yeah, because you were expecting it. The initial shock of something makes it, like, ten times scarier" she said in an 'honestly boy it's so freaking obvious how could not know that. But it's kinda adorable that you didn't' tone. Maybe Sammy was just a wimp, but she wasn't going to admit that. Because she was awesome and that would lower her awesome points.

Wheeeeeze.

Destiny had done far too much walking, running, hiding, falling, dying and once again she found herself moving UP the steps. Really, how hard was it to go down!? Where were the down steps anyway? Sweet Merlin, seven years of being in Hogwarts, and she still managed to get lost.

Stopping at the very top, she held onto the wall as she tried to catch her breath.

Wheeeeeze.

She really needed to start running with Evelyn again. Or maybe give up the chocolate and potatoes. Nah, she'd start running. After she ate, of course. Catching her breath a little, Destiny glanced over her shoulder, and with no sign of Carter.. yet, because she was sure he hadn't given up, she began moving once more. At least this floor had quite a few hiding spots. The armor gallery, the trophy room.. that ugly statue! Why would Carter think to look there?

The statue was so ugly!

Quickening her pace, Destiny sat on the floor behind the statue, and pulling out a chocolate frog, she started to unwrap it. All the things she had done, she was hungry again.

Carter slowed as he passed the corridor that headed towards the trophy room. He'd been avoiding this floor. In fact, he ran down the steps anytime he had to even pass this floor. He sighed. Stupid trophy room. Who needed trophies anyway?

It seemed like his little stop caused him to lose Destiny. He walked in the direction where he last heard her loud footsteps and heavy breathing. Soon he arrived at the humpback statue.

She wouldn't be hiding here, would she? This was an actual hiding spot. She had to be somewhere else...

Like behind a tapestry with her feet completely visible at the bottom.

But then....

He smelled chocolate!

That had to be Destiny. Who else would have chocolate by a statue?

"I can smell you." he announced. Which, admittedly, was a bit creepy.

With the chocolate frog unwrapped, Destiny was just about to shove it into her mouth when she heard the voice of Carter. What the!? She thought it was a GREAT hiding spot, and she never thought he would find her. And so quickly! How in the name of Merlin did he smell her?

It was kind of creepy.

Shoving the frog into her mouth, and swallowing quickly, she pressed herself even closer to the statue. What was it a statue of anyway? She didn't know, but as long as the Gryffindor didn't move closer, she would stay hidden. And if he did move closer, she would just stick her foot out and trip him. That would give her time to run, most likely, up to the fourth floor.

Clearing her throat, she deepened her voice. "I'm a statue. I don't smell." Just like statues don't talk..

Everett rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say," He said, giving up. He doubted that the statue could scare someone that much. It may be ugly, but to be scared of it was pathetic. Sammy it seemed was a wuss. Everett had no other word for it. Wuss pretty much covered it.

Honestly, this boy was one of the most irritable people Sammy had ever met. And that was definitely saying something. Either that or her refused to believe that anything other than his own opinion was right. But Sammy still wasn't happy about it. Though that may be from the lack of food she had because of the closing of the kitchens.

HANG ON! Maybe this semi-annoying big haired boy knew something about the kitchens being closed. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about why the kitchens are closed, would you?" she asked, almost completely forgot about the whole ugly statue thing, she wanted to know why she couldn't have unlimited amounts of food. THAT IS SOMETHING SHE MUST FIND OUT.

The kitchens? You could just go there? Everett would have to investigate this. Though they were closed? That made his plan problematic. Oh well, they'd probably open soon, hopefully. Then he would be able to steal food whenever, never hungry.

"Yeah, they closed it so only I could go there. It's all for me," Everett said, trying to sound as serious as he could. He probably failed, but it didn't hurt trying to trick her.

WHAT.

THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. But then Sammy remembered the sign, it had said no sudentsies, Everett was a student.... Oh, right. He was joking. Sammy totally knew that. Maybe she could have some fun with this as well. Oh yes. She would have fun. "I think that's completely unreasonable and that you should share with me" she said, also trying to be serious, but then remember someone "And my friend Amy" Yeah, Amy would kill her if she was allowed in and Amy wasn't, then raise her from the dead to go steal her some food. Probably pizza.

Fee-fi-fo-fum,
I smell the chocolate of the she-snake one.

Carter was tempted to belt that out... but Destiny wouldn't get the reference.

Unless she watched muggle cartoon as well as muggle spy movies. Or unless she read a muggle book -- which Carter doubted. He'd never even see her read a magical book.

He stifled a chuckle when Destiny started talking. She didn't know the portraits moved and that statues don't talk! She was probably the worst at hide-and-seek when she was little.

Which... gave Carter an idea. He should suggest they play hide-and-seek for his badge. That would take much less time than following Destiny through the WHOLE castle.

He cautiously approached the statue. He didn't want another surprise from Destiny causing him to fall over.

He should really learn to carry those wool bombs around. How perfect would it be to throw one at her right now?

Destiny was MORE than certain that Carter would really think it was the statue talking and not her. She had disguised her voice well, after all. Or at least she thought.

Bringing her knees up to her chest, trying her best to conceal her feet from sticking out as best she could, she stuck her hand in her pocket once more and pulled out another chocolate frog. She hoped Carter would leave soon, she was running out of food and she was starting to starve. And it was all his fault, too! He had to ruin her lunch in the Great Hall, and then all the running HE was making her do. He owed her.

He should let her keep the badge for all the trouble.

Sighing dramatically to herself, she began to unwrap the chocolate frog.. but before she could shove it into her mouth, it used it's one good hop to hop right out of her hands and into the middle of the corridor.

And Destiny, being Destiny, moved out from her hiding spot and made a lunge for it, only to come face to shoe with Carter. Her hiding spot was ruined!.. "Did you hear that statue talk?" she asked him, sitting up and dusting the frog off.

Her chocolate frog was dirty!

Fails at having a good post... XD
 

Even though Carter knew that Destiny was hidden behind the statue... it still surprised him to see her jump out at the chocolate frog.

Did he hear the statue? Carter acted surprised. "I sure did." he said in a whisper.

"Good job disguising your voice by the way." he added casually. Was he hoping to trip her up. Oh yeah!

"You dropped your chocolate frog by the way." he commented. Anddddd she deserved that.

Carter received quite a few glares.

Honestly. Couldn't the boy just amuse her for once? No, he had to go and let her know he knew it was her pretending to be the statue. And she was having thoughts about actually giving him his badge back. Okay, no she wasn't, but that was beside the point. Carter was mean.

Hmph'ing a few times, Destiny continued to wipe the dust off the frog, while silently mocking what he was saying. Of course she knew she dropped her frog. Had he missed the whole lunging thing she did!?

She was going to go back to calling him Crater.

"Why thank you, for letting me know that." she said sarcastically, and standing from the floor, she shoved the now clean chocolate frog into her pocket. The same pocket that she kept his Captain's badge in. Did she do that on purpose? Maybe. Brushing herself off, she turned away from him and started walking back down the corridor.

"Don't you have somewhere you're supposed to be? Instead of following me around the whole castle?"

Andddd there were the glares! What? Did Slytherin girls practice their glares late at night? All of them glared.

ALL of them!

And all of them glared at him.

"Well, you never know..." when it comes to you, Destiny. "I heard that you licked one of those spoons at the welcome feast. I didn't... err... want you to get sick from eating a dirty chocolate frog."

Or, he just liked pointing out that she dropped a frog just to annoy her.

"Who me? Nope. I cleared the whole day just to hang out with my co-captain." he said sarcastically. Of course he had other places to be. Like... devouring some potatoes. That would be his ideal current location.

"Whaaaat? About you?"

Everett shrugged, a grin forming on his face. "I might be able to spare a few seats in there, and maybe some food," He said. Now he was sorta wanting to break into the kitchen and getto prove this case, because he could tell she was going along with it from the realisation that appeared on her face, and to prove her wrong would just be hilarious.

Although they were joking, Sammy couldn't help but have a smug grin on her face. She had succeeded in getting pretend food. How much better could you get? Real food? Yeah. Real food woulf be nice. ANYWAY. "I should expect so" she said, still with the smug smile on her face.

Hold on a second. "What are you doing here anyway? There's nothing on this level" she said, indicating the space around her. Then remembering something "'cept the ugly freaking statue" she added, giving it a bit of a side glare thing.

Destiny hoped her glares gave Carter nightmares. She liked to think they were rather scary.

Really!?

Just really!

How fast did news travel around the castle? More importantly, who in the name of Merlin was talking about her licking a spoon? She didn't think it was all that interesting, not to be going and telling Carter about it. "Well, that is different." Most definitely. "Unless you're going to give me a galleon to eat the dirty frog?" Because that was the ONLY reason why she licked the spoon. And she might have wanted to see what it tasted like. But she wouldn't say that.

Pausing at the end of the corridor, Destiny glanced around, trying to figure out which way she should go. Left or right. Right or left. Deciding on the left, she began walking once more, not bothering to see if the Gryffindor was still following. She could still hear him. "What if I decided to stay in the Common Room all day, huh? Your day would have been ruined if you couldn't find me." And now she was wishing she had stayed in the dungeons.

And she was also wishing she would have picked going right. More UP steps!

"Of course I have other things to do. But you won't leave me alone so I can go do them!" And with that, she took off running up the steps.

She was going to die. She knew it.

Carter blinked at the looks Destiny was giving him. They looked... contorted. How did she get her face to do that?

"Really? Is that all it took to get you to lick the spoon?" He thought Evelyn had been exaggerating. But... he didn't know. Mostly because Evelyn hadn't been talking to him. He'd just overheard the conversation.

And more importantly... "Would you really eat a dirty frog if I gave you a galleon?" And... what else would she do for a galleon?

"Are you telling me you'd ruin my day?" Because he didn't think that she had it in her. Plus, they were serving potatoes today, so there was no way the girl was missing out on that.

"Like what?" He was actually curious as to what exactly filled Destiny's days.

Isobel was walking along the halls of Hogwarts randomly. She was looking for someone to talk to, but she was also practicing Transfiguration spells. By that point she had pretty much memorized the incantations, but she was having a little trouble with the counter curse. Luckily, she had peeked in her notebook, so her hair was back to it's normal long length. She thought it would be cool if it was purple though. Isobel stopped walking and took out her wand. She closed her eyes, and imagined herself with purple hair. "Ristaris," she said clearly. She opened her eyes. She didn't feel any different, but then again it had just changed the color of her hair. Hopefully. Isobel took a strand in her fingers and held it up in front of her face. She grinned in delight when she saw that it was indeed purple. She skipped off merrily to find somewhere else to practice.

Selina walked along the third door corridor kicking her feet as she walked. She had just come back from Muggle Studies and was now wandering aimlessly around the school. Her next class was not for another two hours and Kurumi was in runes so she would have to wait to meet up with her until later. So she was left to kick away at the floor and wander. It was not like she minded, sometimes she enjoyed just walking around and observing things that she usually ignored. The school was so beautiful she wanted to see every piece of it before she graduated and even though she still had four years to do so it seemed like an impossible task.

Then her eye caught a statue and she took a few steps forward to analyze it. What in Merlin's name was this and why had she never seen it before?

Gideon had been walking up from wandering the grounds when he reached the moving staircases and wound up getting caught in them. "Ugg..." he said wondering where he was going to wind up. Stepping off at the floor he was delivered which was lower then he had been somehow, he wandered down the corridor to explore. Eventually finding both a familiar statue and a familiar personage looking at it and with a smirk slowly and quietly made his way closer.

"Looking for a new model for an art project..." he mused finally speaking and making his presense known as Selina walked up closer to the statue.

Selina perched her head to the side looking more deeply at the statue. It was sort of distorted and ugly in her opinion, yet in a very beautiful way. She loved the statue; she was just surprised that she had never seen it before. Then again this school was huge. There was no way that she was ever going to see all of it, though it was her goal before she graduated to see the entire thing. It was just massive and filled with numerous little treasures that were always there to surprise and excite her.

She took another step closer to get a better look at it when she heard a voice speak to her from behind. If it was possible she must have jumped straight out of her skin. She was terrified to her wits.

Her hand went over her heart when she turned around and saw Gideon Gert standing there speaking to her. She marched over to him and slapped him hard in the arm she didn't want to reach for his shoulder, "Merlin Gideon! Are you trying to give me a heart attack." Then she looked up a little and saw that her hair had fallen out a little from her headband. Then she pointed to her forehead and said, "See what you did? Are you happy?" Her hair was hard enough to tame without it being scared on end.

Gideon tried his best not to laugh aloud as he saw Selina jump and react to his speaking, proof that he had been better at sneaking up on her then he had originally thought. He had the decency to flinch and back off as she came towards him and hit him in the arm. "No...I was just trying to see if I could surprise ye. Sorry," he replied answering her half-appologetically. Only half seeing as it had been totally amusing to get her reaction after catching her off guard.

"No..." he started to say reaching up before he could think and fixing the hair and the headband back in place. It wasn't like was immune to troublesome hair himself just not on the female level though he did have a little sister. "Now I am...what about ye Skylar?" he added stepping back a little and trying not to appear sheepish at what he had just done.

Whatever possessed you, Gert....he berated himself waiting to see her reaction.

She gave him a half smirk when he apologized. He was only being half sincere. There was no doubt in her mind that he was trying to see if he could scare her or not. Mission accomplished. Her hand flew to her hip and she remarked knowingly, "Yeah well you did sneak up on me. And don't say your sorry... you enjoy watching me squirm." She said the last part with a slight laugh to her voice.

He started to say no when suddenly his hand outstretched to her face and brushed her hair out of her face and back into place. She was so shocked that her mouth dropped open a tad. Did that seriously just do that? No, he couldn't have... but he did. So she stood in her spot and listened to him say that he was now happy. What did that even mean? But she did not have time to mull over it long. Soon after he asked her if she was happy.

"Erm... well, ugh, that's a, um, tough, well- the problem is with that is..." Formulate words Selina! Formulate words! "Yeah, I guess I am."

Gideon watched to see what she truly felt on his actions, glad to see by her gentle smirk and hand on hip that there was no hard feelings over it. "Well maybe I did...a little," he answered honestly with a smile of his own.

The fourth year was still berating himself for his action since it had invaded Selina's personal space and been a bit more ackward then the kiss she had given him in the team locker room. He could easily see he had flumoxed her, the slightly gaping mouth and the stuttering speech that came from her lips and she tried to The boy biting the inside of his cheek to keep quiet. It was more of an effect then his original surprising of her which was interesting to say the least.

"Good to hear," he absently mused as he tried to think of how to bring the conversation back to a more suitable topic. "Ye never did answer my question..." Gideon stated reminded on what he had said to get her attention at first.

Selina rolled her eyes at his antics. She knew that he had enjoyed watching her squirm. Honestly, if the roles were reversed she would have liked to see the same thing. Nothing was better than catching people by surprise.

She tried to force herself to find a coherent pattern of speech when Gideon reminded her of the original question he had asked. Without hesitating she took the opportunity to turn back to the statue and look at it. Her hand tapped her chin as she started to review the statue in front of her. Was it inspiration? Maybe, maybe not. She was merely exploring to see if she could find inspiration. There was no definite answer to his question because she did not know herself yet, "I don't know. I mean, I guess I'm always on the look out for something artsy to do, you know? But that wasn't really looking at the statue for inspiration. I was just looking. I'm inquisitive to a fault."

Gideon watched as she looked at the statue in front of them once more as if searching for an answer to his question with the stone there. The fourth year simply nodding as she speaks finding honesty in her words for it was a good enough reason for the inspection. Not to mention any place in Hogwarts was bound to have mystery attached and the statue was no different "Aye...I think thats one of the lesser known Gryffindor traits...the curiousity I mean," he remarked quite guilty of it himself on several occasions.

"Me thinks there was a secret passage behind it," he mused thinking back to something that had been told to him at one point in time. "If I remember my mother's stories. But its been blocked since before her time here though not when her great aunt was a professor here."

Selina looked sideways at Gideon as her eyes continued to study the little nooks and crannies of the statue. It was really a remarkable piece of art. She was always inspired by the more abstract pieces of art in the castle. Things that were more, well, different always attracted Selina more than the run of the mill art work that was beautiful, but there was nothing more to its beauty than just that- beauty.

She regretted not bringing her sketch pad along with her. There were so many lines that her fingers longed sketch of the statue. She chewed on her bottom lip in concentration at the statue. She would have to remember to come back her later with her sketch pad.

Then she turned back to Gideon and tilted her head in curiosity, "Really? That's fascinating. And who in your family taught here?"

Gideon followed Selina's gaze to the statue, looking it over himself as he took a step closer, to try and find what fascination there was there. Perhaps it was her artist eye but to him it was just a statue of a humpbacked witch...not particularly an interesting one out of all the statues at Hogwarts at least to him. But to each his...or her own.

He leaned back as she turned around in response to his comment "Professor McGonagall..." he answered moving his gaze to meet hers, briefly wondering what kind of response he would get to that. Granted it wasn't Dumbledore or Potter but it was his family history.

Selina blinked twice when he said that Minerva McGonagall was his Great Aunt. You had to be half-blind and stupid to not know who Minerva McGonagall was in the Wizarding World. She was one of the most instrumental witches in the Great War and at the Battle of Hogwarts where Harry Potter had destroyed Lord Voldermort. She had only heard the story a million times when she was little. However, the fact that Gideon was related to her was amazing. Her mother would have a panic attack if she found out. Sophie Skylar wrote her disortation on the influential women of the Battle of Hogwarts.

But she did not want to make Gideon feel awkward about the whole Minerva McGonagall thing. Sure, Selina thought she was an amazing woman, but she would keep that to herself. No need to have a panic attack in front of Gideon. He already probably thought she was crazy, he did not want him to think any less of her than he most likely already did.

She nodded at his answer and turned back to the sculpture, "That's cool. She was a pretty awesome lady. 'Course I'm a fan of her Great nephew... don't tell him that though."

Gideon braced himself for an energetic response when he noticed the change in Selina's expression at the mention of the woman. He couldn't blame anyone for it though seeing as she was kinda well known especially in the context of Hogwarts. At it wasn't like he was ashamed of her...not in the least. However he was thankful that it was in the end somewhat downplayed. "Aye she was," he answered in agreement remembering the stories before catching what Selina said about him and lowering his gaze momentarily.

"I'll be sure to keep it to myself," he remarked looking back up at her with a small smile.

Selina looked over at Gideon who was smiling at her and shot him back a lopsided smile. She was glad that the two of them were friends. Well, that was sort of a gray area right now, but that was minute little details that were not being discussed for a reason. She knew why they weren't talking about it. They promised each other that they were friends after it had happened. Beyond that though? She didn't know. She assumed that he didn't know either.

"Good... I wouldn't want that to get out. You know, my ruin my reputation."

Gideon chuckled at the smile he was returned with, its playful nature proof that their relationship was intact at whatever level it was in at the moment. The brief thought reminding him of what they had yet to figure out but he pushed it back once more to avoid it getting conplicated. "Of course not, Skylar, we wouldn't want that," he mused continuing to play along allowing a brighter smile to grace his face before nudging her in the shoulder.

"I think yer reputation is safe."

Selina gave Gideon a fake, over-exaggerated sigh of relief, "Thank Merlin, I don't know what I'd do if that got out." Then she nudged him back in the shoulder.

After a few moments of standing there in silence Selina turned to Gideon and opened her mouth to say something, but then just shut it and turned back to the statue. What was she even supposed to say? She had no idea. It was all just kind of a grey area right now. Besides they were good friends... what was she supposed to do? Question that?

Gideon shook his head amused as Selina commented dramatically before nudging him back in response to his words. When she turned to him, he expected her to say something especially as she opened her mouth to do, but when she stayed quiet and turned away back towards the statue without another words, he couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Is this...is this how its gonna be between us now? Fine one moment and ackward the next?" They both were questions that had been avoided but obviously they couldn't be...not for long anyway.

Selina looked at Gideon a little shocked. He had actually brought it up, well, pseudo brought it up. Was this how it was going to be with them? Pretend everything was fine when they both knew that the other knew that they were thinking about it? She did not want things to be awkward between the two of them, but she was not sure that if they spoke about it things would be even MORE awkward.

So she sighed and rubbed her forehead, "I... I don't know Gideon. What do you want me to say? That I don't know how I feel about all of this? That I know that when I see you I smile, but I don't know why? That I might like you, but we are friends and that could mess things up? That I'm afraid to say anything because you might not be feeling the same things I am... whatever it is that I'm feeling. Is that what you want to hear?"

Gideon saw the shock on her face as she turned back towards him but he did his best not to back down. Cowering would only prolong things and be totally uncharacteristic of the house in which they both belonged. Though he did give some pause when she sighed and rubbed her forehead almost as if she was frutrated. "Maybe..." he started to say when she had finally quieted. "At least then I'd know I'm not the only one feeling that way."

There...he had said it...admitted that he had some feelings for her. And by a few words Gideon had answered her own question...well both of them including the one she had simply wondered. If he was feeling the same way himself. "So at least thats one thing we've figured out..." he mused stating he obvious and he looked down absently a his feet, his hands in his pockets.

Selina looked at Gideon and tried to figure out what to say next. He had said very little but at the same time said very much. What was she supposed to do? She wasn't sure, but if she didn't say anything soon the two of them would revert back into ignoring the situation which was driving her crazy. Of course, that option was safer than actually attempting to work out whatever was happening. Still she needed to make a choice soon. If she didn't she might lose the chance to talk about this for a while.

So she didn't say anything. She instead took a step to the side so their shoulders were almost touching and she grabbed his hand in hers. Her fingers laced around his and she held his hand awkwardly while keeping her gaze fixated on the statue. Then she spoke without looking at him, "You're right. We have that one thing figured out. But that's about it." She was going to throw up. This whole thing was so nerve wracking.

His eyes remained downward as the silence lingered, though he could feel the momeHe didn't look up however until he felt her hand take his into her own, the boy turning his head to watch as their fingers intertwined. Gideon swallowed as she spoke, looking up just in time as Selina herself looked away. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze with hers smiling softly down at her even though he knew she wouldn't be able to see him.

"Well thats one thing we dinna know before so I guess its a good step forward," he mused looking over and following her gaze to the statue. A few moments passed before he let out a breath that turned into a brief laugh cut off as hecvered his mouth with his free hand.

Selina felt his hand squeeze hers and she gave a small smile as she continued to look at the statue. Her heart rate accelerated a little at the feeling of his hand around hers, but she should have expected this, she had after all taken his hand in the first place.

When he spoke her chest rose and she nodded slowly still treading dangerous waters. "Uh huh," was all she could muster out of herself. So much for a fearless, courageous Gryffindor. But then he laughed. Her head snapped to look at him in surprise and she continued to hold his one hand while her other poked him in the side, "What are you laughing at Gertie?" Now it was her turn to let out a little giggle, "Triple G, Gideolina, Gertie Gert... oooh I like that one."

Gideon lowered his hand and tried to act innoscent as Selina turned towards him. "Nothing," he replied at first not registering her use of Gertie at the end of the question. He might have been a little distracted by her also poking him in the side with her free hand. But as she named other nicknames she apparently had come up from him, he couldn't help wincing in imaginary pain as each one got worse, trying to grab her poking finger to defend himself.

"I however do not....so we'll abstain from usin' it, understood?" he commented seriously, finally taking hold of the offending hand so he was now holding both and they were facing each other.

Selina laughed as he tried to grab her finger. Each time he reached for it she would skirt her finger away from him and continue to laugh. But when he grabbed her finger and forced her to stand opposite of him her laughter feel suddenly silent.

Selina gave him the most innocent smile she could conjure and said sweetly, "No I don't understand, Mr. Gertie Gert." Then she stood up on her toes and whispered in his face mockingly, "Why don't you like your nicknames Triple G... Gidelina... Gavie... Giddie Widdie?" She was poking the lion, that she knew. But he was making it far too easy.

Gideon raised an eyebrow as Selina responded trying to act so innoscently towards him before trying to mock him as she whispered in his face. "No...I do not," he replied facing her head on before using his right hand to turn her in a move that would have earned him brownie points in dance class. The action bringing his companion back to his front and her arms crossed behind her back.

"Now take them back and promise never to use them again," he said as he leaned in his his mouth near her ear.

Selina jerked her eyebrow up at him in amusement, "Are you sure about- wooh!" Before she could finish her statement he had pulled some super fast move on her. In one blink she was spun around so her back was facing his front and he was holding her wrists firmly. He was mad, she didn't think he really hated the nicknames that badly. Now that was an interesting piece of information that she was surely going to use against him whenever she could.

With her back to him she plastered back a smirk on her face, but when he whispered in her ear she felt a shiver go down her spin. She could feel the breath on her ear and for a moment she had no idea how to respond to him, "Uh..." She reasserted herself and replied with an unsure voice, "No... I don't think so... Gertie."

He couldn't help smirk as he so obviously took her by surprise by his moves, her words cutting off and changing to ones of exclaimation were proof of that even if he couldn't fully see her face in the angle they were both in at the moment. And the shiver made her arms move ever so slightly which he felt just as slightly from his hold on her wrists. Gideon almost thought he had Selina in the perfect place to have her back down at the nickname calling but it proved not to be the case.

The fourth year unconsciously hissed in her ear as she used Gertie once more. "You're asking for it Skylar..." he mused as he wrinkled his nose straightening up a bit. "Don't say I didn't give you the option to stop," he added as he let go of her wrists only to move her hands to her waist to start tickling her.

Selina was taken a back when Gideon hissed in her ear. What was going on with him? Not that she wasn't enjoying pushing his buttons, but he was pulling some moves that she didn't even know Gertie Gert was capable of pulling. When he said that she was asking for it she snarkly replied, "Really what am I asking for?"

But then he whispered one final thing in her ear before he took action. All of the sudden shakes erupted in her body. He was tickling her and she was spazzing like a three year old throwing a tantrum. Her body buckled over and she turned around to him to try to get him to stop. Through short breaths she said, "St-ah-op. Pl-eeease. I'm really tii-cklish! AHH seriously... it hurt to laugh-augh-augh..."

She had to regain the upper ground somehow. In a moment of pause in his tickling she turned around, leaned up on her toes and kissed him. Her hands flew to his face still trying to muffle her own laughter that was residual from his tickling of her.

Gideon laughed as she was caught off guard, squirming as he tickled her. Not so snarky now....he mused to himself as he smiled almost wickedly over the image created in front of him, the stubborn, tough and teasing red-head putty in his hands. He continued to tickle torture her as she tried to get him to stop, even turning around in his hold in her attempt to do so.

"Oh...I would have never guessed..." he teased his fingers slowing slightly as he spoke which unfortunately was a bad thing for him to do as it gave her a gateway to retaliate against him. "Promise to ne--" he started to say freezing and silencing as their lips met once more, his turn to be caught completely off guard by Selina's quick actions.

Selina wanted to throw her hands up in victory as she took Gideon off guard, but she was afraid if she let him go he might pull something else on her that would turn the tables back in his court. That and she didn't exactly mind their position at the moment. Her hand, that was previously resting on his face to keep him still, moved up to his hair for just a moment and she pulled on one of his curls. Then she broke away from their kiss and settled back into the ground with a blush on her face that was coupled with a triumphant smile.

She cleared her throat and said to him smugly, "I think I won that round, Gertie."

Gideon raised his arms to almost grab her wrists once more, instead droping his hands to his side as he stood staring at Selina. Her hands still holding onto each side of his face as the stood in silence once more, both their laughter and speaking having dwindled to a stop. "Ye--" he started to say only to quiet once more at the touch on his hair as she played with a curl, the fourth year feeling the tugging gesture more then seeing it until he could move his head once more as she let go.

"Only because ye cheated Skylar," he finally managed to say trying to ignore the name.

Selina smiled innocently at Gideon when he accused her of cheating. She looked up at him coyly and responded, "Who me? I don't cheat. I just play the game smart."

While looking up at him her eye caught sight of a stray strand of red hair. She brushed it out of her face with a huff. If her hair was going to get in her face every time she hung out with Gideon she was going to need to come up with another means of hair care when she was around him. Maybe a pony tail.

All of these thoughts raced around her head, but the one thought was screaming out above the rest was clear and short- she had kissed Gideon and he had in a way let her. What were they doing?

Gideon had to admit, Selina had a way of doing her best to look all innoscent and he doubted those who didn't know her might fall for it, but he wasn't one of them of course. "If you say so, Miss Lina" he returned with raised eyebrow, trying out a nickname of her own. In truth they had probably both cheated to try and get their way but her use of kissing had done its job in stopping him in his tracks.

Taking a deep breath, Gideon wandered a few steps absently as he tried to come to a conclusion to the meaning of their actions, finally turning around and leaning against the fall nearby. "Any clearer the second time around?" he mused wondering if the new kiss had answered any questions or just confused stuff more.

When he called her Miss Lina she chuckled a little at him and said, "It doesn't work for my name. Selina Arden Skylar only spawns really adorable and cute nicknames. Trust me, you cannot butcher my name Mr. Gert." She would like to see him try.

He took a deep breath and aimlessly walked away from her. His action made her chest tighten up a little bit. This could only mean one thing- they were back to talking about it. Selina knew, from what Kurumi had told her when Selina informed Kurumi about herself and Gideon, that she was being self destructive. The fact that she was trying every card in the books to avoid actually talking about their, she hesitated to say, relationship was a strong indicator that Selina was trying to cover her own belly. Hide away so she could avoid dealing with anything that could eventually hurt her. But when he leaned against the wall and asked her if round two had cleared anything up she could not answer him. She only chewed on her bottom lip and crossed her arms over her chest.

Had that made anything clearer? Yes, she knew now that she liked him in a way that could be more than friends. No, it made her confused as to when and why and how this happened. How they were going to move forward from here. She didn't know, "A little. Maybe... what about you?"

When she chuckled Gideon knew he had failed his attempt...she hadn't cringed. And even more so Selina pointed out right off that there were no ways to shorten her name into nicknames that would make it anything like Gertie and the other names that shall remain nameless. "Well I don't accept defeat so readily, Miss Skylar," he remarked accepting the challenge.

If she got to annoy him, he deserved the same chance. It was only fair...right?

"Same here..." he answered with a slight shake of his head as he mimiced her actions crossing his arms in front of himself. "Okay. So we like each other...as friends...and perhaps more. We've kissed...twice, and never pulled away...unlike with Elektra," he mused trying to list everything that they had admitted, not even fully registering his offhanded mention of the Slytherin girl.

Selina shot him a smirk and said confidently, "Well Mr. Gert, I will be waiting patiently for that day when you do. You cannot manipulate my name into something as genius as my previous award winning nicknames." Yes, they were award winning or at least they deserved to be.

When they settled back into the serious air Selina snaked her arms out of being crossed over her chest and hugged her body. It was a means of protecting herself. She knew that no physical motion could help protect her from any emotional pain, but it was making her feel better so she would continue to do it. Besides Gideon himself even had his arms crossed over his own chest now, so she needed to up the antie competition was not a healthy thing.

He started to rattle off what they knew and she nodded along with each of his statements, "Yeah we have kissed twice and there may be something there and honestly I think that I may really like-" She stopped mid sentence. What did he just say? He had kissed Elektra? As in Elektra-pick-up-and-leave-without-a-word-Draven? He was joking, he had to be joking...

But if he had kissed Elektra the two of them had not kissed until after she had left. That meant that the two of them had kissed before she left. Were they dating? Did he like the Slytherin girl who Selina counted as one of her best friends? What had she missed and why hadn't Elektra told her they kissed?

Her face started to pale and she opened her mouth to say something but then she closed it. She was second best in his eyes. He had kissed Elektra first and Selina was second best in his eyes. It wouldn't have been the first time this happened to Selina. She was always second best... the best friend... the quirky little redhead next to the hero of the story. She was second best in intellect to Kurumi, second best to Violet in beauty, second best to Elektra in attitude- she was just second best. And now she was second best to Gideon in what he wanted... she knew allowing herself to like him was only going to lead to heartache.

Her voice cracked a little when she repeated, "You and Elektra kissed? Oh. Um... okay. Do you like her or something?" No need to answer the question... she already knew the answer.

Gideon caught her change in expression and fully understood even before she spoke again that she accepted his challenge. "We shall see," he answered simply as Selina added to her taunt with a smirk at him, the action making him more willing to try and prove her wrong. Competative much? But that was just them, whether seriously or just fooling around about it and it worked for them.

At first Gideon didn't know why Selina had broken off what she had started to say, but when she paled and mentioned Elektra, he realized what he had actually mentioned and paled himself. He swallowed trying to think of what to say, his ears just barely hearing the rest of what she said as his words fought to form into sentences.

"Um...yes we kissed, or rather she kissed me. ButIpulledaway," he answered breaking her gaze and turning away with a sigh before shaking his head. "No...I dont. I barely KNOW her," the fourth year added running a hand through his curls.

Way to go Gert!! Way to make things more ackward between you two.

Selina kept her arms wrapped tightly around her middle. She should have seen this coming. There was something extremely platonic about their relationship in his eyes. It had to be that way because officially she had kissed him both times. How could she have been so stupid? He was being nice. That made her feel even worse because she wanted to be mad at him for kissing Elektra, but how could she be? He was so nice. Merlin what was wrong with her? She never should have kissed him. She got herself in this mess.

Taking a deep breath and preparing herself she walked over to him and smiled weakly at him. Inside she was pushing down all of her anger and dissapointment with him. What was she even thinking? Kurumi was wrong. Selina was wrong. They had misjudged how he felt.

Once she was in front of him she looked down at the floor and kept the forced smile in place, "You don't need to explain anything to me. I get it okay? No hard feelings. Although, um, next time you kiss someone's friend you should let them know before they kiss you. Because I am not going to lie it is not the, den, best feeling."

Gideon heard her walk past him and turn around to face him, his attention turning to her but she had already turned her own attention to the floor. As he listened to what Selina had to say to him, trying to make him feel better about, she only succeeded in making his sick to his stomach. He had hurt her...that much was clear and he hadn't said anything about Elektra in the first place because it had meant nothing and nothing needed to be said about it.

"Not that plan on having it happen again...but I'll make a note of that," he replied hesitantly to her suggestion. The Gryffindor watched as she continued not to meet his gaze and sighed. "Selina...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you in anyway," Gideon said appologetically, his hand slowly reaching for her chin and gently lifting it up so their eyes met once more, his touch remaining gingerly cupping her face.

He waited a few moments before leaning in and kissing her, taking the initative for the first time...and the most meaningful.

He would make a note of it. Not that he intended for it to happen again, but he would make a note of it. If she was not so mad at him for kissing Elektra she would have hit him right then and there. He would make a note of it... what kind of statement was that? The moment the two of them were on good terms again she was going to slap him so hard for that statement... he would make a note of it.

But then he said that he had not intended to hurt her. He had. She had no idea why he had, but he had. When had this happened? When did the moment pass, un-felt, ignored. Where was the blinding crash, the crashing chord? She was always told when she was younger that liking someone was as clear and easy as sunrise and sunset. This was nothing of the sort. It was painful and took a lot of extra energy to pretend that everything was alright with the world.

He tried to lift her chin up to look at him and she darted her eyes as to not look him directly in the eyes. She would not look him in the eyes. She was not going down this road again. Her walls were back up and she was pulling herself together so that when she saw Kurumi later she could pretend everything was okay.

When Simon had rejected it her it had not hurt this bad. Actually, it just stung a little. Then again she had never kissed him and he was a school girl crush, although she was sure that the sight of him would still bring a blush to her face. With Gideon there was something more. He was a challenge, a friend, someone she could talk to and joke with.

Her eyes stayed away from his until finally he lifted her chin up a tad bit more and she had to lean up on her toes, she was simply too short. She started to say, "Gideon, what are you, mphh-" she never finished that statement. He was kissing her and she was standing there like a daft dimbo. Finally, her mind caught up with what was occurring and she put her hands on either side of his middle.

Maybe she was wrong... it was bound to happen eventually.

Gideon fough the urge to chuckle as Selina questioned his intentions once she finally allowed him to lift her chin. But it would ruin the moment so he stayed quiet up until after the kiss, even as he felt her hands on his waist. That was certainly a new move. And he was rewarded by her being silenced quite like she herself had done to him before, taking her by surprise this time.

"I'm kissing you Selina...or is the boy not allowed to do that nowadays?" he mused with a small smirk as they pulled away, the boy letting go of her chin realizing she was on tip toes because of his action. No sense making her physically uncomfortable for no real reason other then he was taller then she was and would certainly have to learn to make it easier for the both of them in the future.

"And I think I'd prefer to consider that my first kiss," Gideon admitted, softening the smirk into a genuine smile.

When he pulled away Selina's eyes were still closed. It took her a second to re-establish where she was and what she was doing. Once she was fully aware of her surroundings she looked up at him and was suddenly met with a small smirk. Then he spoke and she knew why he was smirking. The little prat was answering her question that she had posed before he had kissed her. She rolled her eyes at him half jokingly and replied, "It's not that the boy isn't allowed to do that... it's that the boy hasn't done anything yet..."

Then he let her chin go and she settled back into the ground with both of her feet planted firmly in their place. She reacquainted herself with the ground and the earth before she could even begin to register what else was being said. However, she did catch him say that he liked to believe that moment was his first kiss. She blushed ever so slightly and replied with just a hint of sass, "That would be the one you count. The other times girls had to push you along and hold your hand through the process." Not that she minded at all though. In fact, she rather liked the fact that he had done something. It put all of the thoughts and doubts swirling around in her mind at bay a little.

Lost in her thoughts she realized that her hands were still on his waist from his earlier position of cupping her face. She moved her hands away and looked down at the floor. She had to regain some kind of common ground and strength. That boy could not turn her into puddy whenever he smiled at her, she was not going to be one of those girls.

So she did the only thing she could think of... she punched him... square in the shoulder, "You ever kiss another girl when we are... well whatever we are I swear to Merlin there is more of this," she gestured to her fist, "Waiting for you."

Gideon listened to Selina's words...all true of course, he hadn't made the first move, but it hadn't readily come to his mind to. And he hadn't hesitated...much this time around, just went for it because it was what came to mind as the right thing to do at the moment. He avoided the rolled eyes...taking it as hit for hit with his smirk that he had given her with his own remark. "Funny...I never said I needed that help," he said following her gaze to his waist where her hands were and raising and swallowed until she moved.

Looking back up to face her, he should have expected some sort of violence towards him. It went with the sass she was giving him and and the punch and threat was no different from anything else he had taken from his companion. And he didn't fight it one bit, just simply nodded to show his understanding before he finally spoke again.

"Duly noted," Gideon remarked hands raised in surrender. "Though Kacie might get upset if I dont should I be home at any time during that period."

"Funny... you sure seemed like you needed a bit of help," Selina chuckled. She was trying so hard to be calm throughout this entire situation. So much had just occurred within a five minute period that she was still a little thrown at all that was going on. The stress about Elektra was not something that she was going to talk about with Gideon. Now that she knew what was going on in his mind in regards to her she did not want to run the risk of ruining anything by bringing up Elektra. That whole kiss thing made her really uncomfortable, but she would discuss it with Violet. She had a feeling the blonde knew about that small detail...

But she was not going to think about that right now. She was going to focus on the green-eyed, curly haired boy in front of her at the moment.

Kacie? Was he serious? She rolled her eyes and hit and said, "Really you wanna go down that road with me, Gert? You knew what I meant."

Her feet tapped on the floor for a moment with anxious energy until she finally asked, "So... if you are my whatever-you-are, do you want to maybe spend next Hogesmeade together? Purely professional of course."

Had he really seemed that way?

Well yeah, maybe he had, after all he had been the one to be anti-social for the first three years at Hogwarts. so antisocial, he'd never really met any of his dorm mates in detail, a thought which reminded him, this new development would eventually get back to a certain yearmate-pseudo-brother of Selina's making himself wonder how it would be taken.

Gideon braced himself for the second impact, knowing he had pushed the button for that one. "No...I was just teasing Skylar," he commented sincerly. He didn't want things to be totally serious between them since that would ruin their dynamic. "But I promise...no kissing other girls," the fourth year added lowering one hand to his side so the other was up as he made his pledge.

"Boy-who-happens-to-be-a-friend works," he supplied with a shrug, never understanding the terms of boyfriend and girlfriend since it kinda made it seem like they couldn't be friends normally. "And aye...I would like that," Gideon answered with a smile.

Things were getting kind of serious in the air. She wanted to break up the tension somehow but she did not know where to begin. But once Gideon pledged to her like a soldier she couldn't help but crack a smile. Through her smile she stood little straighter and commented, "At ease Gert."

What was she saying? She had no idea. Words just kept leaving her mouth in a jumbled mess. Was she illiterate or something? Well Lafay would seem t think so, but Selina knew she wasn't. So why was she having such a hard time functioning right now. Good on his word, Gideon also fixed that issue when he clarified that they were friends. She was glad. She didn't want whatever-this-was to get in the way of their friendship. The things she liked best about Gideon came from their friendship.

"Boy-who-happens-to-be-friend," she affirmed, "I like the sound of that."

Gideon watched her smile at his behavior and lowered his other hand once he was done with an amused chuckle. At least his teasing hadn't earned him another joking punch in return from Selina. But you had to admit, her use vague use of girl did apply to his sister so the joke fit.

"Good, Girl-who-happens-to-be-a friend," he responded in kind with a smile, the stress of the whole scenario seeming to have changed quite a bit. It was then he realized they had been standing around in the third floor corridor for quite some time as they worked stuff out. "Perhaps we should go someplace else...before someoen suspects us of trouble."

Selina looked around the corridor when Gideon mentioned that they had been there for a long time. He was right. They had been there for quite sometime. If she was a Professor the sight of the two Gryffindors in the corridor would raise a flag. The last thing Selina wanted was to get in trouble and loose points. Kurumi would surely havr her head. There was bo question about that. So she nodded and said, "You're right we should probably get out of here. Never know where Lafay or anyone else might be lurking."

Kennedy had ran all the way here with Aurora in tow. He had found this place one time when he had gotten lost and now he thanked that day for that. Kennedy pulled Aurora along, behind the humpbacked witch statue and breathed in deeply to regain his breath. He wasn't used to running, but running seemed to do the trick right now. People hugging and interrupting them. Pfft.

Aurora followed Kennedy, giggling. Sure, running wasn't her favourite passtime... but if it worked then it really didn't matter. Oooh, the humpbacked witch... good idea. She let herself be dragged behind it and giggling all the more, trying to regain her breath. Finally they had some privacy!!

Kennedy laughed as Aurora's giggles filled the air. "I found this place when I got lost once," he said, smiling. He looked around and then looked down at her and blushed. Would they get detention if a professor found them? Maybe, but he couldn't quite find it in him to care.

"I hope no one finds us here," he said, pulling her into a hug. Really, if anyone else came up and hugged them, then it was the Slytherin common room next, where no one from any other house could hug them.

2,000th post!! ?;^) (<new fave emote)
 

"Then thank goodness for your sense of direction." Aurora said, her heart pounding against her chest. Was it from the running..? No... because her breathing was back to normal now.

Aurora smiled, "I hope so too." she let herself be hugged, listening to Kennedy breathing, and she could hear his heart racing too. Ah... so it wasn't just the running. And at least it wasn't just her. She raised her head so she could gaze at him some more, not letting go of his hug, and her grin turned into a smile of contentment - one that would surely last forever, right?

Wooooot!
 

Kennedy laughed. Getting lost wasn't so bad. Hmm, he would have to do that soon, again. He held her in his arms and could feel his heart thumping real loud. It was like if it was trying to beat itself out of Kennedy's chest. He looked down at Aurora. This time no mistletoe, it was all on his own. He wasn't nervous, having Aurora there made him feel confident. Kennedy's head lowered as his lips descended on hers. His lips gently brushed against hers, while his mind engraved this so that he'll never forget it.

ASDFGHJKL; He's so cute!
 

One minute they were both laughing, the next moment was a mixture of nerves, anticipation and a ridiculous amount of happiness. He was leaning in, she raised her head a little more, stood a tiny bit on her tiptoes, closed her eyes and... wow. Ooooh wow. This was so different... this time they both wanted this to happen, they both knew it was going to happen... Aurora never ever wanted this moment to end. Ever. She knew it had to... but she intended to stretch it out for as long as she could... She was finding it difficult to breathe, her heart beating faster than ever. Seriously... this had to be bad for your health right? Not that it mattered...

<3
 

Kennedy felt his whole face grow warm, but he didn't care. He didn't care that Aurora would see his red cheeks because after all, she's the one that caused it. As much as he didn't want to pull away, he was running out of air and passing out while kissing his girlfriend would be embarrassing. He gently pulled away and couldn't help, but smile WIDE.

"Wow," he whispered. This must have to be the best feeling ever. Feeling like he belonged for the first time.

Oh no... no...! She couldn't help but lean forward a bit as he pulled away. Only opening her eyes when she absolutely had to. Oh look at his red cheeks. She just wanted to... nevermind. She was going to. She reached up again and kissed either cheek.

"Mhmm, wow." she agreed, gazing at him. "You're so cute when you blush." she said softly, reaching up to push his glasses back up his nose from where they had slipped.

Kennedy chuckled when Aurora kissed his cheeks. He didn't mind that, not at all. He kissed her forehead and grinned when she pushed his glasses back up. He had almost forgotten he had those. "You know, that's only going to make my cheeks blush more," he said, smirking, but he had a feeling she knew that.

He allowed his green eyes to wander and then he laughed at what he was thinking. "Who would have known that helping a fainted girl at the Hogwarts Express was going to be the best thing I did." Really, it was also the best risk ever. Knowing him, he would have called someone else to come and help her then, but he didn't.

Aurora nodded - she totally wasn't trying to make him blush... She just thought he was the most adorable thing ever. Speaking of adorable things... Sebastian was not going to be happy with them for running off like they did. Oh well.

"I'm really glad it was you who stopped to save me." she said. Who knows - maybe if Mordred had been quick enough to follow her she'd never have met Kennedy... and that would not have been good. "I try not to make a habit of fainting, so you might not have got another chance." she added. Kennedy wasn't as much of a coward as he thought he was (thank goodness). She tightened her hold on him, moving closer and lying her head on his chest. Mmm she could get used to this - sharing his warmth and hearing his heart beating.

Then she realised that she had just got out of the shower when this all started... she wasn't even wearing make-up! Did she still smell of lavender or was she in need of deodorant? Had she even remembered to brush her hair? Did it matter? Kennedy didn't seem to care... she pushed the thoughts out of her mind.

Kennedy smiled. "Maybe not, I would have tried to talk to you anyway," he said, although he would have been awkward. Yes, Aurora was a pretty girl, but not only that, she was smart and had a fiery personality, something he liked.

He rested his cheek on her head. Kennedy knew he was forgetting something, but what. Then, he noticed how calm it was around them without a fluffy kitten trying to snuggle with them.

Oh crud, Sebastian!

"Um, Aurora, I think we forgot Sebastian at the pathways," he said. Poor little kitten, he was probably scared or lost or both.

Aurora blinked, she hadn't thought she was the sort of person to inspire interest in people she had never met... Though Kennedy would have interested her even if she hadn't met him on the train. "Me too." she said, her fingers tracing circles on his back.

She giggled, "He'll be back in the common room now." she murmured. He was so lovely - worrying about the little fluffy white kitten. "Don't worry about him - he's a clever cat. He hardly ever tried to eat plants anymore." she chuckled, referring to the time he had tried to eat the mistletoe...

Kennedy gave an involuntary shudder when Aurora began tracing circles on his back. It wasn't because he didn't like it, it was just unexpected and it felt nice. If he were to be a cat, he'd be purring by now.

"Ah, what a smart cat," said Kennedy. If it had been his Pygmy Puff then she'd probably be lost and squeaking like crazy. Kennedy laughed. "That means he won't be interrupting us anymore," he said, pecking her lips with his. Yeah, he liked doing that.

Aurora felt Kennedy shudder but ignored it and kept drawing shapes on his back. She didn't know why... it just felt right.

Nodding, Aurora smiled again. Sebastian was a smart cat - shame he was such a softie - he usually ignored his cleverness if there was any petting involved. "Mhmm." she mumbled, but then he kissed her again and she was pretty sure she'd melted. "Y-yeah, I much prefer it when we're not being interrupted." she breathed. She stopped drawing circles on his back long enough to reach up and push his curls back from his forehead... Oooh, lovely soft curly hair.

This was so weird... seriously. It was the first time she'd ever been in this situation and... well there wasn't much to say about it...

Oh... Kryspin would be furious... She was kind of pleased by that though... it would be so amusing!

"Best. Day. Ever." she said quietly.

Kennedy nodded his head in agreement. He wondered if students were still hugging people. He closed his eyes and sighed when Aurora brushed his hair with her hands. That was relaxing. "Mmm," he hummed. "That feels really nice," he said.

"It is!" he said, bear hugging her again. He's mind drifted back to Christmas and the mistletoe, then the image of Aurora's father and brother came to mind. Would they be mad at him? Would the hex him for kissing Aurora? Oh gosh.

Aurora smiled and kept playing with his hair, twiddling the curls between her fingers. "You're like a little kitty!' she said, standing on her tiptoes and kissing his nose as she played with his hair some more.

Yay more hugs! She held on to him, grinning like an idiot. She stood back and her hands found his. Chuckling, she said "Tiff is going to be so chuffed."

"So I've been told," he said, smirking. He brushed his cheek against her's, "Meow," he said, trying to mimic Sebastian's behavior when he felt like cuddling. Kennedy laughed at his childish behavior. He felt relaxed enough to be playful and even act as a cat. Hehehe.

"S-She will?" he said, his voice cracking a bit. Will she tell the whole family? Ugh, and...what about his mom. What would she have to say about this? It wasn't that his mom was mean or anything, it was just...her way of thinking was different.

Aurora chuckled as her boyfriend rubbed his cheek against hers and his hair tickled her face. "Good kitty!" She said scratching his head like she would a cat. She giggled, they were both being so ridiculous, and yet neither of them felt silly.

Aurora nodded, "Mhmm... She's been pestering me for ages..." Her heart pounded a little as she heard his voice crack. Were her family really that scary? "You don't have to worry about my family you know." She leant forwards and kissed him. "They're going to find out eventually, and they're not that bad!" She strolled his hair again- this time to try and comfort him a little - he didn't have to be worried, it wasn't like they'd eloped or anything. She was sure her family would love him - in fact, she knew they didn't have a problem with him from christmas... She kissed him once more, just for good measure.

Kennedy laughed as Aurora played along. This is the most fun he's had so far.

He felt calmer when Aurora kissed him. He had even forgotten for a second what they were talking about, but then he remembered. "I know," he said. Her family had been kind to accept him in their home over the holidays. "I-It's just...I guess nothing," he said. It all traced back to his father. Bianca had told him their pureblood side of the rules and he knew Aurora's family weren't as...strict as them. He kissed her back and grinned.

Aurora's brow furrowed slightly, "Are you sure..? I mean, I don't want you to worry about it. I wont tell them if you don't want me to." she said, biting her lip a little. Then an idea struck her and she blinked a couple of times before looking right into his eyes, "What about your mum? What would she think?" she asked, glancing at the floor and letting go of one of his hands to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wasn't his Mother like... anti-magic? What would she think about the fact that she was a pureblood..?

Kennedy shook his head. "You can tell them, really, it's fine..." he said, smiling at Aurora to reassure her that he was okay with that. He really was. It was just that he saw his father in all pureblood adults and he knew he shouldn't, but it was just embedded in him, mostly by his mom, but he couldn't judge her. She tried to do everything that was best for him while his father was who knows where.

Oh.

He grinned a crooked grin. "She'll probably say that I am too young to have a girlfriend," he said, trying not to laugh. It amused him to think of his mother's voice reprimanding him and treating him like a child. "But, I don't worry about it. When I was seven years old she thought riding a tricycle was dangerous." Yeah, she wouldn't even let him ride a bicycle because that was more dangerous than a tricycle. Seriously, moms.

Aurora nodded slowly, "Oh... okay." Wow... he had such a lovely smile. Ever since he had said the word 'girlfriend' it had been like discovering everything she liked about him all over again... and again. It truly amazed her that no-one else seemed to ever have seen it - not that this bothered her - it meant she could have him all to herself.

"Really?" Oh goodness... if she thought Kennedy was too young then what would she think of Aurora?! Having an August birthday Aurora was among the youngest in the year... and she was in the year below Kennedy. "Well... I never rode a tricycle. Though if they're anything like training brooms..." Aurora shuddered. "Yeah, brooms are dangerous. I prefer to have both feet firmly on the ground." she explained,smiling sheepishly.

Kennedy hoped Aurora didn't think he was referring to her family. They were the first group of people he's ever seen interact like a family. At home it was just him and his mom. He looked at her with an amused smirk. Was she staring at him?

"Yeah, but she's always worrying about things that makes no sense." Sometimes. Hmm, now come to think of it, he probably inherited her paranoia. "But," he said, smiling crookedly. "She did want me to make friends...and I made a great one," he said, raising his eyebrows significantly at Aurora. Yes, he meant her. "Hmm, I will have to sneak up a tricycle so I can show you what it is," he said, thinking of how he would fit one in his trunk.

What?

"Brooms aren't dangerous. That's what I thought at first, but once you're on the air...it's great," he said, with a dreamy expression on his face. At first he had thought that wizards were crazy in riding brooms, but it turned out to be one of the best things.

Aurora nodded, "Yeah, I think people gave up worrying in my family a long time ago..." Especially because she was the youngest - she had a lot of free reign over what she wanted to do. Aurora grinned cheekily. "Well... she said friend... just because she didn't say GIRLfriend doesn't mean that's not what she meant..." she said, her eyes twinkling. "You're mum sounds nice though - all mine is really bothered about is that I end up as successful as my sister I think." she said, shrugging. It didn't really bother her - she had her daddy to be nice! She wondered if Kennedy ever missed his... but she figured this would be the wrong time to ask. "I think I've seen a tricycle... is it like, a little thing that you sit on with pedals and three wheels?" One of the children who lived in a house near them in Cologne had had one.

"Brooms are horrible." Aurora frowned. "I fell off one when I was nine... My brother was practicing and let me try it and I flew into a tree and broke my arm... and my nose... and three fingers." And ever since then she had got nosebleeds so easily... it was stupid. Even though they'd fixed it all with magic and stuff... "I love watching Quidditch though. But... if you try out or anything just be careful." Because brooms were dangerous!

"It's better than worrying all the time. If it was up to my mom she would have me inside a bubble," he laughed. Kennedy smirked and nodded. "Exactly. Plus, she'd like you." Yeah, Aurora was nice person. She'll always be in his eyes. Kennedy pulled her to him and said, "Your mom just wants you to have a successful future, that's why." Maybe that was why she wanted Aurora to be like her sister.

"Yeah, that's it," he said. Kennedy wasn't sure if she'd seen one. "I once rode one down a hill...my mom chased me the whole way down screaming that I was going to break a leg," he said, laughing at the memory. Then he remembered that he needed to write to her and ask if her visa had been approved so she could live in London where his godfather was.

Kennedy cringed. "That sounds painful," he said, running his thumb over the back of her hand as if trying to comfort her although that happened years ago. "I won't be trying out any time soon," he said. He first wanted to get used to the wizarding world and save up for a broom of his own.

Aurora nodded, "I guess so. Especially since they've all got dangerous jobs." Not that she actually knew what her father did... or her brother - they worked together - but considering the injuries and illnesses they'd had... "I'm glad she didn't. It'd be pretty hard to be this close to you if you were in a bubble." she observed, grinning up at him. "Aw, really? Even with all the magic-ness?" Aurora's cheeky grin turned into a content happiness smile as she let him pull her close. "Yeah, I know." she said, sighing a little.

Aurora chuckled, "Well... I never did that." she said. "But I once made my dad really worried because I went out to swim with this wild pod of dolphins and he only saw the fins..." He'd though there was a shark... which was weird for her dad - he was usually really good at spotting animals. Maybe he had just been genuinely worried. After all, it was after Krys' accident...

"Yeah, it was. But it was a long time ago." Well... four years. But that was a long time, right? Oh, he was so caring and... oooh words couldn't describe it - it was so strange to have someone to care about her for a change and not her family or money or potions or whatever... She smiled even more and squeezed his hand. "Oh, well... that's a shame. But also good, I don't want you to get hurt." she said.