She wasn't exactly sure what she was doing way up on the fourth floor when she lived way down at the dungeons...but hey, she was here now, might as well find something of interest.

Speaking of items of interest...

Cass stopped her trek down the silent corridor in front of a grand tapestry and eyed it curiously. It was pretty, no doubt about that...but it was also creepy. Really creepy.

...or maybe it was just really old?

Still, the blonde stayed rooted in place as she stared at the thing, trying to decide between reaching out to touch it, and just leaving the thing be. It was like choosing between the lesser of two evils or something of that sort.

Kicking the ball along infront of her, Thea watched her cat chase after it. Yes, she was on a walk. With her cat. Maleficent was good company, and agreed with everything she said.
As Maleficent sprinted after the ball, she spotted a familiar blondie. Cassie Cass Casssss.
Maleficent dove past the Slytherin as she skidded after the ball, that Thea had kicked harder than she had meant to.
'Hello..' Thea raised her eyes and smiled. 'What are you looking at?..' The Gryffindor stopped beside the older girl, and craned her neck to look. Oh. The creepy picture. They made the fourth year shudddddder.

At the sound of footsteps on the ground, Cass looked up at the person walking towards her and smiled when she realized that she knew her.

"Hey Thea." The Slytherin said with a smile and a wave before resuming her curious staring at the old tapestry. "The creepy tapestry." The girl answered with a shrug "I was just wondering how old it was." The girl explained with a smile "and what sort of stories it would probably be able to tell." She had always been a sucker for old stories - as long as she didn't have to memorize anything.

Why was he exactly up here?

Even he couldn't answer that question. It's as if his feet just dragged him over to this place without his mind and his other senses knowing. He did want a quiet place to go to because he needed to answer some of the current homework given by the professors. He at least need to finish one of them before going back to the common room. He thought of the library at first but meh, the library made him sleepy enough. Staying there would definitely make him sleep the whole day. Not good.

So maybe that's why Jonathan reached to this place. No one was here, pretty silent and he could really have the whole day to himself answering the homework. He sat near the wall as he gaze over the tapestry. How long has the thing been up there anyway? Jonathan unzipped his bag and took out his notebook and muggle pencil, he'll just rewrite it when he goes back to the dorm room.

And so, the answering begins.

Lewis was wandering the castle, looking for good places to hang their protest posters. While at the same time trying hard not to think about what else they'd planned too much. Why on Earth had he come up with that idea?! It was still a little weird how it basically had just been...well, there, in his head one morning. Along with the feeling that it was an AWESOME idea and that he should totally find a few people who would help him carry it out. Now with both Louisa and Vickers downright ecstatic about it, though, he was slowly regretting ever bringing it up.

What if they got in trouble?!

Not really paying too much attention to what was in front of him but rather looking at the walls, Lewis stopped upon hearing a noise somewhere further down the corridor he was in. He wasn't exactly keen on running into anybody - except for a couple of selected people maybe - so he briefly considered just turning back around and finding another corridor. He could come back to this one later. Or just assume there was no good place to put up a poster. He had enough places already as it was really.

Only WHO was it that was down that corridor anyway?

Once he had tilted his head slightly to the side and squinted a little to see, he gasped barely audibly and automatically took a small step back. Turning around and running away sounded like a really good option right now. Only...he had promised himself that he would talk to him eventually. And he couldn't wait too long since Jonathan was graduating this term. So, fate it seemed had decided that now was the time to have the two boys meet. Alone. In a deserted corridor.

Not exactly making this any easier on Lewis. The urge to run away was still VERY persistent but he forced himself to take a couple of steps forward instead of back. There. That was a good start. Chewing on his lower lip, the Prefect took another set of steps towards the Slytherin until he was definitely close enough for him to see him properly. To recognize him. He cleared his throat to get the other boy's attention, the lump which had formed in his throat making it impossible to say anything right now.

Jonathan was reading his book, there were further information that he needed to recap on the previous lesson to actually answer the question. Apart from that he was obviously needing some studying for his upcoming NEWTs. He did decide to study them once winter vacation is over because Jonathan just gets distracted too easily. And besides, he was still not in the mood for any upcoming studying.... maybe, that's why he plans these things.

Flipping through the pages of his books, Jonathan noticed how silent this part of the castle. If only he knew sooner then he should have been hanging out here since his day 1. Bummer. The silence was a bit deafening, he can actually hear things automatically. Jonathan scratched his head when he couldn't understand half what he was reading. Why can't every subject be as easy as Potions? He understood it so well, so why not the other subjects. Jonathan kept on underlining important terms and words. Maybe later, he could visit the library and check them out.

Sigh.

His senses snapped when he heard footsteps. It could be anybody that was going up and down the castle right? This is, after all, a corridor. Of course he definitely would hear random sounds and footsteps. What if it's a professor though? Naah, it's not like the tapestry is a restricted area. He wouldn't get trouble for studying here. No. So Jonathan didn't mind the footstep that he heard.

However, as he kept on further reading his book, the footsteps just got louder. He was hoping no one would join him today, so he could actually finish this homework. It'd be better if he wasn't disturbed. Jonathan still didn't mind it until it got nearer and stopped. He lowered down his book and raised his head.

Jonathan, obviously, recognizes this face. He'd recognize it anywhere, his face is planted on his mind like picture, and a not so good one as well. Jonathan's upper lip twitched as he cocked an eyebrow. What does he want now? Rolling his eyes, his head shifted back to his book and notebook "Great" he said in a sarcastic tone. "Am I in trouble... prefect?" Pfffft. Translation? GO AWAY.

He could still stop, turn around and hope to make it out of this part of the castle without Jonathan looking up and recognizing him. There was still some time. Why did he feel the urge to talk to the Slytherin anyway? It wasn't exactly very likely that he wanted to talk to him either. So why bother? With a small internal groan, Lewis had to realize that running away from this still wasn't an option. Well, it was an option but not a very appropriate one. No, he owed him. He owed him at least an apology.

Only how he was going to do that when he found himself completely unable to speak in the presence of the other boy, he did not know. Maybe he could write it on a piece of parchment. Yeah, no, that wouldn't work. And he had not been raised to solve problems like that in such a cowardly way. Not that anybody had ever prepared him for a situation like this one. Ever. Why would they anyway? Who would have thought Lewis Rasting would ever be caught up in something like this? His brothers, sure, they'd probably be thriving in a moment like this one. Not him, though. Which was why he had absolutely no idea what to do right now. Some part of him told him, that apologizing was the least he could do, though.

Still, what he should do and what he wanted to do were two completely different things right now.

Resisting the urge to hug himself when Jonathan finally lifted his gaze from his book, Lewis simply remained standing where he was, chewing on his lip nervously. Yes, he had definitely recognized him, no doubt about that. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again quite suddenly when the Slytherin spoke instead. In trouble? "N-no...? Why?" Oh there, at least he'd found his voice again. Go him! Even though it did sound a little husky. Clearing his throat, he took a deep breath, not looking at him but rather at the tapestry behind him. "T-that's not why I'm here." Yes, it was definitely easier to talk to the tapestry than to Jonathan.

And yet he woke up on the right side of the bed. HE just have to ruin his day with his footsteps and whatnot. Jonathan's mood just suddenly went 180 degrees cold. He's not even in the mood to talk to this tall guy.

Sitting still on his place as he went back to reading again, Jonathan thought that perhaps not speaking to him might make him leave. That's suppose to be understood even by a mere 9 year old right? He should too because Jonathan may not be a Seer but he can definitely see, if he doesn't walk away, this will turn out bad. So where was he again? Oh yes, the 2nd paragraph of his book. Jonathan's eyes ignored the lunatic in front of him and kept reading.

However, he can still see him standing. Seriously?

Well, technically that could work. He can stand there for as long as he likes, it is after all... a nice free country. And no, he is not going to offer him a seat. Why would he anyway? So go ahead tall boy, enjoy standing up. The thing is, he can feel the tension between the two of them. It was as if, Lewis came here for another reason, not that it matters to him or whatsoever. If he does have something to say, he should at least say it out now, right?

Then he spoke... stutter, for that fact. Jonathan snorted under his breath. It was a sarcastic question, he didn't need to answer it. Ugh. He rolled his eyes once more as he copied some of the notes onto his notebook. Just some couple of reminders, so he can't forget it.

T-that's not why I'm here...

Jonathan took a big deep breath after hearing him talk again. Oh, so that's how his voice sound like. Who knew? He looked up to him once more as his gaze was on the tapestry. What in Merlin's----???? Is he talking to that tapestry? Is that why he's here? Jonathan looked at him with a confused look on his face while raising his eyebrow at Lewis. Jonathan spoke to get his attention "Then why?" his tone was not getting any friendlier. Jonathan placed his book onto the side and he crossed his arms.

Giving him a minute to catch his voice because he seems to be running out of it. Speak...

The longer he waited, the more deafening the silence between them became. It was clear that Jonathan did not want to talk to him. Or even look at him. Because yes, he was watching the other boy out of the corner of his eyes. He had to make sure he wasn't about to attack him after all. Even though, there was a part of him that would have said that he deserved it in fact. It had been very wrong what he'd done to Jonathan. What had been done to Jonathan. By him. By Kurumi. By him and Kurumi. By both of them. Together. More than once.

Maybe he should just leave again. This conversation obviously wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't even a conversation since Jonathan was still staring down at his book. Yes, it had probably been a bad idea. But at least now Lewis could at least tell himself that he had tried. Tried and failed apparently. Though, he still hadn't actually said what he'd come over here to say. So maybe he should just say it and then turn around and leave. Jonathan could make of it whatever he wanted to.

Before he got the chance to follow through with that plan, however, Jonathan finally did say something and even looked up from his book. All of that made Lewis glance back at the other boy quite suddenly in surprise, forgetting all about keeping his gaze averted. "I-" Okay, now was his chance to say it. Deep breath. "I wanted...I wanted to tell you that I'm...I'm sorry." He glanced down at the book next to Jonathan at his last words, not really able to look the boy in the eye when he said it. Now, there it was. It was done.

All he could do now was wait for some kind of reaction.

Jonathan doesn't speak much and probably Lewis had notice this from him. His focus was on him right now as he waited for the Hufflepuff to speak. His eyes glared at him and was not moving to any other location. Rage is definitely increasing in him right now. He's so mad at this guy for so many reasons that he can't even explain himself. Just looking at him makes him dead sick. No matter what people say about him, being this awkward, nice and as for Louisa, cool guy... Jonathan cannot see it in him. No, to him, Lewis is just some jerk . That's all, and he's just happy he'll be graduating this term so he can never see his face EVER again.

Jonathan was about to get back to his book after he hasn't heard any answer from him. He's probably gone deaf and mute. But then before Jonathan could get his book, Lewis spoke once again and this time it made Jonathan twitched...

I'm sorry?

That was it? He looked at Lewis and starred at him in dismay. He's not even looking at him when he apologized. Some apology. Jonathan couldn't help it and stood up, his eyes never left his. "Come again?" of course, he has heard it. So aside from looking away from him while apologizing, he had to say it in a rather low tone as well? Pffffft. Coward. He can't even look him in the eye with his pathetic apology.

Jonathan crossed his arms once more as he leaned on the wall and stared at him, "Wow..." he spoke once more "You're apologizing..." he said in a sarcastic tone while shaking his head slowly. Jonathan doesn't know why but he found this apology of his, rather comical. "After what you and Kurumi had done to me... had done behind my back. I don't think apologizing is still an option." Does he really think apologizing would make him feel better? Or that it would also make HIM feel better? Was that how he wanted this thing to work out?

Well, Rasting... Apology not accepted.

It had probably been selfish and wrong not to look at him when he'd apologized. But it wasn't because he wasn't being sincere or anything like that, no, it was just...Lewis was afraid of what he would see on Jonathan's face. Not only in reaction to his apology but in general. That was the reason he was trying hard not to look at him. Just his face was causing a wave of guilt to wash over him. Drowning him. Making it hard to talk. To think. To do anything but feel absolutely awful about what had happened.

Problem was, he couldn't even say something like he wished that it hadn't happened. Because that would just be a big fat lie.

He wanted to take a hurried step back when Jonathan suddenly got up, but found that he was rooted to the spot. Which was probably for the best anyway. It was too late to back out now, and he wasn't going to. Which was why when the other boy asked him to repeat what he'd just said, Lewis took a deep breath, glanced at the ceiling for a brief second before resting his eyes on Jonathan's face. "...I'm sorry." This time he'd actually looked at him. And had raised his voice a little, too. Because frankly, this wasn't about him. It was about Jonathan. So he shouldn't be thinking about what he wanted to do.

Lewis frowned a little in confusion while stopping his chewing on his lip. Wow? Was he impressed? He didn't say anything when Jonathan stated that he was apologizing. The only answer that came to mind was 'yes' and something told him now was not the time to say this. And suddenly they were onto the topic of Kurumi. Obviously. It had only been a matter of time for her to come up. Actually, this whole thing had been about her anyway. It still made him blush slightly when he mentioned her by name.

Behind my back...

Back to biting on his lip, the Hufflepuff glanced back at the other boy with a guilty look plastered across his face. "It...it was wrong, I know. I know that...but...but you were just...gone." The moment the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back immediately. "I-I mean..." It wasn't Jonathan's fault that it had happened, even if Lewis was trying to tell himself that to make himself feel better. It wasn't. It still shouldn't have happened. They should have waited.

He said it again... Jonathan inhaled and exhaled deeply as those rotten words filled up the corridor. With what he did to him, he could never ever accept his apology. He'd rather be eaten by the baby dragon than forgive this lot. There are so many things running through Jonathan's mind. He didn't exactly pictured out his last year at Hogwarts to be this terrible. No. Before coming back, he thought everything would be back to normal, like it's as if he was gone for a week and that he missed a couple of homework. He was wrong. In fact, this has been the worst year of his Hogwarts experience, the ones that you would never tell your children someday, because you would be too afraid to go back in time and reminisce these awful memories.

He could no longer answer him. Not a nod and not even frown. He was tired of thinking things over and over again. He made himself so busy just to forget things and just when he was doing great, this just had to come... to torture him once more. He doesn't even want to look at him anymore, he just wanted to pack his things up and leave.

Lewis tried to explain his side... which doesn't even matter because Jonathan won't even be considering his side of the story anyway and the way he stuttered and struggled to talk to him, annoyed him the most. And there it goes... 'you were gone' Jonathan closed his eyes, pretending to not hear anything at all. Swallowing the lump on his throat, he interrupted him "Doesn't give you the right to do anything." he said with a straight face. He tutored her, he WAS a friend but that never meant to take his absence as an advantage to his feelings for Kurumi.

He meant what???

This is why he could never accept his apology. What he did caused so much pain to Jonathan that it'll never be something they could just laugh about 5 years from now.

It's been awhile since he last talked to her. He doesn't even know anything about her lately. How she was or how she was doing in general. Their breakup wasn't solemn and they he decided it was best if they both went on with their lives separately... as strangers, all thanks to this Hufflepuff standing in front of him.

This time Lewis did take a small step back. Not because he was afraid but because he had crossed a line and he was naively thinking that maybe he could 'uncross' it by giving Jonathan more room. More space. Only of course that didn't work. The words were there, figuratively hanging in the air between for a moment, making Lewis want to reach out and stuff them back into his mouth.

Only there was no way he could do that. He couldn't turn back time after all.

And then Jonathan reacted. Only verbally however, or at least Lewis couldn't see any other sort of reaction from him. His face was hard to read, and he couldn't get himself to look into his eyes long enough to try and find something in there. So all he had right now was what the other boy said out loud. Which was something that he should have expected. HAD expected really.

Because it was just true. This had been the reason he shouldn't have said anything in the first place. "N-no, it doesn't. I shouldn't have said that." It felt as if his heart had moved to his throat and was now beating their so violently that it was making it very hard for him to speak again. Only he had to. "You're right. And I'm sorry for how things went down." With that he bowed his head a little and took another small step backwards, not yet turning around but showing that he knew he should probably leave. Not that that meant he was going to.

This had NOT worked out as planned.

Jonathan have to admit that he is a little bit shaky. There was a part of him that would just beat the crap out of this Hufflepuff until the only thing he could do is breathe. There was just so many anger in Jonathan right now that not even his cold blank expression could handle. He was good in pulling off a poker face, one that he could pretend that there was nothing really wrong with him when in fact deep inside he was crushed like a glass. But then, other than anger, there was sadness. One that he feels most of the time when he's trying to recover of what was left in him. One that he barely shows to anyone.

He doesn't know anything about him other than the fact that he's Jonathan's enemy. Rival? That's a filthy understatement. Jonathan needed an explanation but he's not even getting one from this bloke. He wanted one from Kurumi but she just decided to cut things off. Maybe this whole situation happened because he was gone, right? Was that only it? Why she cheated? And he took advantage?

Fine!

His small steps never went unnoticed to Jonathan, as he further struggled with whatever it is he's trying to explain. Jonathan barely understands him right now. And then again, And I'm sorry for how things went down. Can he just stop saying that? Jonathan squinted his eyes at him "I don't want you to feel sorry for me." to feel any pity and to feel like Jonathan needed some kind of hug from him. NO. "You knew what would happen and yet you still did" how does that make him feel? How would this make Jonathan feel at all? He knew he was guilty or at least, he knew he would be.

As the boy took another step, Jonathan snorted. Backing out, so suddenly? If he was brave enough to snog someone who has a boyfriend, he would be at least brave enough to confront him. Jonathan took a few steps forward to him until they were both close enough, he grabbed the collars on his shirt and pulled him closer.

Oh, how he hated to be so near to him right now. He looked at him, scanned his face like a photocopy machine. He hated him. Hated every inch of him. He knew Kurumi was in a relationship. He knew she was vulnerable at the time. So if he knew all along he should have at least took time to think about what he did "You know what I hate the most? Other than cheating and lying" he gripped on his collar more tightly "It's stupidity" Yes, Lewis Rasting, he just called you stupid.

Lewis stopped moving once more to just stare at him for a moment, blinking once, twice and a third time before slowly shaking his head. "I'm not feeling sorry for you." Err...or well, he WAS but that was beside the point right now. That wasn't what this was about. "I'm just sorry." He bit his lip once again, trying to think of a way to say this that would actually make sense for Jonathan too. And would make the way he was looking at him right now stop. It was slowly causing all color to drain from his face.

His next words were like a slap in the face for him somehow, causing him to outright gape at the other boy, his eyes widening a little. "I-" Of course he couldn't exactly deny that he'd known that Kurumi had a boyfriend at the time and that it wasn't alright to just kiss her. But this, the way Jonathan had said it made it sound like he'd only been waiting for the right moment, not caring about any of that, to force himself onto Kurumi when she was the most vulnerable. And that...that just wasn't true, was it? "I didn't think...I...it just happened." Lewis averted his gaze to the tapestry behind Jonathan once more to take a deep breath before resting his eyes on the other boy again.

It was probably the lamest excuse ever. It wasn't even an excuse, it was an explanation rather. And not a very good one.

He really wasn't making this any better was he. But even if he'd prepared a little speech or something for Jonathan, he would have probably forgotten all about it the moment he'd set eyes on him a couple of minutes ago. So there was nothing he could have done differently. Not that that was any consolation right now. Lewis bit his lip to keep himself from gasping when all of a sudden Jonathan jumped into motion and grabbed him by the collars of his shirt. This was bad. This was so bad. He was going to die. Die at the hands of an enemy.

Struggling for just a second to get free of the other boy's grip, he gave up soon enough to just stare at him. What was he going to do now? He really could think of so many things he'd rather be doing that standing here, about to be hit - maybe - by the Slytherin. Only, there was a small part of him that said that he probably deserved it too. There was no good excuse - at least not one that Jonathan would understand - for what he'd done. "I'm not stupid..." Was all he could think of saying in reply. Stupid...why would he say that he was stupid? Did doing stupid things mean he was stupid?

Though, he would never refer to what him and Kurumi had done as stupid, anyway.

This conversation is definitely not going anywhere at all because for one, Jonathan doesn't even like listening to him explain on what he did. Was he actually convincing himself that he was right? That he had the right? Was he getting some kind of idea that Jonathan was probably dead other than Kurumi's mother that he just... well, decided to kiss her? No matter what he's going to say or how he is going to say, in Jonathan's point of view... it's just wrong. Jonathan wanted to curse out loud when Lewis said the same thing again. What? Did he have nothing else to say? Jonathan just glared at him, didn't want to say anything at all. He was beginning to feel tired. Tired of both their charades.

Jonathan took a long deep breath. His head felt spinning. It was lame reasons. All of it, none of them made sense. His head mimicked a chipmunk version of what Lewis had just said, I didn't think...I...it just happened. Come on. This is not child's play. Decide with your brain, it is up in your head for a reason. Jonathan seriously wants to slap the Merlin out of this bloke. And a slap that would make him come to his senses and go back to planet earth.

However, he didn't answer him back. Well Lewis has been avoiding looking at him for several times now. So this is how it feels like when you're just guilty and gutless at the time. He's sorry but you can't even look at someone in the eye. Jonathan rolled his eyes.

His grip in his collar has gotten even tighter when he said he wasn't stupid. Oh... wrong move Rasting, just wrong move. Jonathan smirked at him, disagreeing with him? Does he want to be proved how much he was wrong? Jonathan couldn't help but open his mouth to go against with what he just said in the latter.

Not stupid?

He snorted as he he looked at him "First of all, you kissed Kurumi when you clearly know she was dating me" that's stupid. "Next, you knew what all of it would cause and yet you still went on with it" still stupid. "and just now, you said it yourself... YOU didn't think, it just happened" SUPER stupid. "Put your brain to where it belongs." if he still convinces himself that what he did wasn't stupid then, Jonathan can add it to his list as well.

Need he site more examples for him?

The fact that Jonathan wasn't saying anything made this whole thing even worse. Made him feel even worse. Of course, Lewis hadn't expected the other boy to be all rainbows and unicorns when he apologized to him but he had hoped that he would at least say something. Or more really. Since what he'd said so far didn't really sound like he was forgiving him or trying to at least. No, he was just going to believe that he was right and Lewis was wrong.

Which was probably true.

Not entirely though. He had to see his side too. Only what was his side? There really was nothing he could say that made this any better. It HAD been wrong but he couldn't take it back now. He really didn't want to take it back. If it hadn't happened, who knew how this whole thing would have worked out. It would always be a mystery to them what would have happened if they had waited. They would never know. Lewis liked to think that they still would have found each other some way or another but he couldn't be sure. So, eventually, it really did come down to Jonathan being gone for half a term.

Not that he was going to say that out loud. It would sound as if he was blaming Jonathan after all.

When really he should probably be thanking him.

This time he couldn't quite contain a small gasp as he felt Jonathan's grip on his shirt tighten. This was it then...he even closed his eyes for a brief moment, only to have them flutter open again when instead of the expected slap/hit/punch the Slytherin said something. Something that made him frown and narrow his eyes a little at the other boy. "But..." Problem was, deep down inside he knew Jonathan was right, to some extent anyway. He had done all of that and he had known that Kurumi had been with Jonathan at the time. So did that make him stupid?

"She kissed me too." And with that he'd probably found the worst thing to say in reply to all of this.

Michelle came to the Tapestry, the place she had heard so much about in the last few days. Thanks to the History of Magic homework, she was getting to explore the castle like never before. And boy, it was GRAND. And so beautiful. And it would make a great meeting place.

Again, holding the poster abouve her head, she walked past the people who were already there, yelling "One world, one love, one heart!"

Well, if anything at all, this will surely grab people's attention. So what if most of the people think I'm a lunatic with nothing better to do? It's kind of the point, isn't it?

She kissed me too.

He knew that. In case he didn't know, THAT is one of the main reason why he is no longer talking to her. But they were dealing about him right now. So why all of a sudden pulling Kurumi into the situation, huh? What was up with this dude? Was he trying to blame everyone else for his actions? For what happened? Wow, VERY manly. First, he told Jonathan it was because he was gone, and now, this? She kissed me too? Well, that's big of him to say. Was he running out of pathetic excuses that he's now using someone else to be blamed for this? Ugh. Jonathan can't believe this. He was replaced by a princess.

Snort. Snort. SNORT.

Jonathan tried to loosen a bit of grip on his collar, he wanted to laugh at what he just said. It was by far, the most amusing thing Lewis had said to him. His lamest attempt for an excuse or an explanation. Oh, Lewis. Let's hope that Prefect badge is deserving enough for you.

He smirked because he was amused of what he said. Tsk. Tsk. Pity, isn't it? But before Jonathan could say more, he once again tighten the grip on his collar and his smirk is now turned into a blank, cold expression. Squinting his eyes at him, glaring at him "How I longed for this day to come, the day when I finally give you that punch you deserve from the very start of this term..." he said, then pausing for awhile. His right hand is now curling up into a ball. So this was it, isn't it. The day that he had waited, has finally came. Lewis is here and he was already gripping on his shirt. Within seconds, he could definitely just punch him as hard as he could, right?

...But

Will it really be worth it if he did punch Lewis? Will it mean that Kurumi will come back to him? Will it be something he would be proud of? Jonathan was never violent, he doesn't think it solves anything at all. He's just confused right now. Yes, he hated Lewis. He doesn't want to talk to Kurumi. There were so many things he is negative about...

...But no, he's better than that.

Lewis groaned inwardly as soon as the words had left his mouth. He really should start to think about how the things he was saying might be perceived. Yes, for him this WAS in fact a crucial argument for why he'd allowed all of that to happen but that didn't mean he should say it out loud. That didn't mean that Jonathan would understand what he was trying to say. Which wasn't that Kurumi was to blame for all of this. No, of course not but...it hadn't been entirely Lewis' fault either. There just had been a variety of contributing factors, so in his eyes it wasn't fair how Jonathan was directing all the blame at him, at just him.

The Slytherin himself was to blame as well. Probably not as much as Kurumi and Lewis but he wasn't entirely blameless either.

At least in Lewis' eyes.

Which was why he opened his mouth to say exactly that, slowly getting sick of Jonathan's attitude. But he never got to say anything. Not yet anyway. Because that was exactly the moment Jonathan chose to get right up in his face, making his whole body tense up in anticipation. In anticipation of the blow. What he was saying made him sound like a classical supervillain. And he was good. He was very convincing. He was making Lewis cringe internally while sort of freezing, holding completely still, just gazing at Jonathan. Yes, he'd been expecting something like this. Still, that didn't mean he was looking forward to it.

Only, the blow never came.

Jonathan didn't follow through with his threat. Which didn't really make Lewis relax since he was still extremely close to him, close enough to do some real damage if he did decide to punch him. The urge to struggle free of his grasp was getting more and more persistent but instead the Hufflepuff kept completely still. "She needed you." He was back to what he'd been thinking about before Jonathan had gone into supervillain-mode. "She needed you and you weren't around." He was trying very hard to keep his voice void of emotions but the tension around them was too much to succeed entirely. "I...I'm not trying to say I didn't do anything wrong...I'm just-" What was he just? Pointing it out?

Without breaking their gaze, Lewis paused for a moment, his heart beating out of control before leaning back a little. Let go of me!

There is tension and it is filling up the air.

Jonathan's just getting sick and tired of looking at Lewis as he tried to make things worse. He accepted the fact he was gone in the first place. However, he didn't know how 6 months can turn from lovely to dreadful. Did he expect himself to be gone? No, but he expected nothing like this would ever happen. Kurumi is a different story, Jonathan trusted her but she showed him otherwise. They were badly hurt enough the last time they talked. So that's why she doesn't want her included here. No amount of hatred can cause this when Lewis just kept his lips to himself, because when you look at all of this, the first fault was at the time when he kissed her. That's where he is to blame. That is where he needed to realize that it IS his fault in the first place.

So he can stop blaming anyone for his own mistake. He should start owning up to it. He was guilty, yes, Jonathan can see that. He's been stuttering the whole time. And yet at the same time, he's denying to see that he was at fault. If he thinks like that, well then, he doesn't deserve her.

Jonathan's fist fell on his side when Lewis spoke. She needed you. that repeated on his head a hundred times in a row. He knew that and Jonathan accepts that it was wrong of him not to write her any letter at all. This is why he also decided to accept her break-up. He also blames himself for not writing to her. Slowly his other hand, the one that was on his collar, loosened and hanged on his side as well. Jonathan didn't looked at Lewis, he faced the corridor, hearing those words broke him. His heart beat raised as he swallowed the big lump on his throat.

Blink. Blink.

Jonathan glanced over to Lewis as he continued talking. I'm just-??? You're just what? Lewis was just what? Was he always like this? Can't finish his own sentences? Then instead of punching him in the face, Jonathan just pushed him hard. He could feel the amount of energy he gave with that push. "You were just what?" He repeated his words "... Selfish?" Jonathan's voice raised this time. His right hand back into a fist again. "Do you know how much damage you have caused, not only to her...... but to me?" his voice raised even higher on that last part.

He gets it. He was gone for half the term and she needed her. A hug could have been okay but... but... His heart is hurting. He looked away from Lewis as he closed his eyes and bit his lower lip. Jonathan, once again, is broken.

Lewis held his breath without realizing it once he'd said those words. Still, none of that was justifying what he'd done really. None of it. The fact that Kurumi had needed a shoulder to cry on and Jonathan hadn't been around didn't make it okay for Lewis to kiss her. He knew that. Which was also why he'd finally found the courage to approach Jonathan to apologize. Because he felt bad. Because he knew it was wrong. Because the guilt was eating him from inside every time he spotted the Slytherin in class or around Hogwarts. Apologizing wouldn't make it okay again but it was at least something he could do.

The only thing he could do.

Releasing a sharp breath through his nose when Jonathan finally dropped his hand back to his side and loosened his grip on his shirt, Lewis continued to watch him, trying to read his expression. The fact that he was for once not looking at him but at the ground made him bite his lip and swallow hard. He hadn't said what he'd said to make him feel bad. Or had he? Right now Lewis didn't quite know anymore. His emotions were all over the place and he had long stopped trying to make sense of his thoughts when it concerned Jonathan. All he knew that he hated being the bad guy. Even though right now he just probably was.

Lewis hadn't moved even when Jonathan let go of him, still waiting for something to happen. And it did. Stumbling backwards at the sudden yet powerful shove, he was lucky to have been standing quite close to the wall already so at least he didn't fall to the ground. Instinctively he had somehow managed to catch himself with his hands against the wall, preventing his back from hitting the wall full-on. Not that it didn't hurt. It hurt alright. Coughing once to get some air back into his lungs, he just stared at the ground for a moment.

Selfish...

At that he looked back up, straightening up again but apart from that stayed right where he was. Was he selfish? Maybe in Jonathan's eyes he was. Maybe he ACTUALLY was. Right now he didn't care, though. "...we all made mistakes." Again, not that that was justifying his actions. And it wasn't meant to. He actually winced, bowing his head so the Slytherin wouldn't see that his next words had been like a slap in the face. Or the punch Jonathan had never thrown. No, this was worse really. The physical pain would go away but this...this was bad. He was right. He had hurt not only Jonathan but also Kurumi. Both of them. It HAD been his fault. And there was nothing he could do to change it.

With a sigh he pushed himself away from the wall, shaking his head a little, trying to come up with something to say. "I'm sorry. I...I know I said that already-" Like a couple of times. "- but I mean it." At this he looked back up and even took a small step into the other boy's direction, trying hard to keep his voice and breathing even. "It's all I can give you right now." Since he wasn't going to give up on Kurumi just to make Jonathan happy again. If that made him selfish then so be it. He met his gaze, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly but apart from that his face was more or less blank.

At this moment, Jonathan just felt sad but he didn't want Lewis to know that so pulling off another one of his blank expressions would do the trick. He starred at him, no longer knowing on what to do. It was the first time that he had felt so angry at someone and wanted to beat him so badly. Jonathan was impatient and very arrogant, but this one is different. He couldn't no longer even answer Lewis if he decided to ask him some more. All that Jonathan wants is to make it all go away... make the pain go away... make everything go away.

Although, right now, the chances of it going away would be harder than the first time when they broke up.

Jonathan coughed to make the hurting beating on his chest go away. He scratched the back of his neck as he looked the ground. What now? Lewis was stuck on the wall and trying to get back to his balance after Jonathan pushed him. Although, it would have been better to see him on the ground. But, that's not the point right now. Jonathan just needed that. He just needed to let something out because he could no longer take it all in... the pain, the madness, the soreness that he is feeling.

We all made mistakes.

Jonathan's eyes widened. He was referring to him, right? Mistake? They all made one. Him, for leaving. Him, for kissing her. And her, for cheating. Jonathan let out another deep breath and sighed. He wanted to agree but his pride wouldn't let him. He still doesn't like Lewis, so why would he let him see that he would agree to what he just said. So, NO. However, he didn't answer him nor gave him a reaction. He just stood there with his eyes still on the corridor.

I'm sorry. I mean it.

Jonathan's head shifted even more away from Lewis. He could never accept it. Never. For as long as Jonathan still remembers, he could never forgive him about it. It's all I can give you right now. Jonathan's head snapped back at his direction. One of his hand was on his waist and his breathing got heavier. "You can never give me anything..." he finally spoke, his voice is still strong enough "...not now, not ever" he continued. Jonathan wasn't expecting him to give him anything at all, not even his relationship back. It was already broken in the first place and could never be fixed by something so simple.

So that was it right?

Jonathan glanced over to where his things are at. His book was still opened and so was his notebook and bag. Then he saw it, something that he needed to give to Lewis. It will be................ for the best. So he glared at Lewis, don't leave just yet.

A sigh? That was the closest reaction he'd gotten so far to the one he'd been hoping to get. And yes, hoping was not the same as expecting. Since he'd sort of expected Jonathan to hit him or at least yell at him. Which he had. At the same time, however, he'd been hoping that he wouldn't, but instead would tell him that it was fine. That it hadn't been that bad. That he gave them his blessing. That he understood why they'd done what they'd done. That he understood that neither of them had meant to hurt him, that it had just happened.

All of that was a little naive and idealistic however. Even Lewis knew that.

It was no use really. He'd done what he'd come here to do. Even if it hadn't made things any better, there was nothing else Lewis could do right now. Even though he wanted to. He really did. He hated knowing how miserable Jonathan was, knowing that it was because of something he had done. Not that he could see what the other boy was feeling right now. The Slytherin was very good at keeping his face void of any emotions and even if there'd been any signs of sadness or frustration, Lewis probably wouldn't have been able to identify them as such. All he knew was what Kurumi had told him.

And that was all he needed to know really to make him feel guilty as hell about everything.

You can never give me anything. Lewis had by now taken a couple of steps to the side so his back was facing the corridor he'd come from again, making it easier for him to retreat. The way Jonathan was suddenly looking at him again made him freeze, blinking a couple of times at the other boy's words. "I...I just gave you an apology. All you can do is, well, not accept it." See, his words didn't make sense. He couldn't stop Lewis from giving him something. Even if he didn't want it. Still, this wasn't really the time to point out things like that, was it?

Chewing on his lip a little nervously, the Hufflepuff took a step back without averting his gaze from Jonathan. Who knew what the Slytherin was up to after all. "A-anyway...I should probably go." Far far away. And hope they'd never have another run-in like this one ever again. Or any sort of run-in really. Something made him hesitate however even though he didn't really intentify the glare Jonathan had just thrown him as one telling him to wait for a moment.