He fixed me with a lingering look, even as he teased, "You're the dedicated type, huh?" My eyes, no longer focused on the Professor, shot to Potter, searching his gaze. Even as the heat flooded my ears, and I tried to second guess the hidden meaning - "Don't worry," he assured me, the corner of his mouth pulling up faintly, "so am I."

"Tall, dark and antagonising?" Pansy asked under her breath, shooting a pointed look in Blaise's direction. "No." I knew better than to look right at Pansy when I lied. Instead, I kept my eyes fixed on my parchment. "Just lamenting on the trainwreck that'll be my future."

"My name isn't sweetheart," I said pointedly. "No, but you look like a sweetheart." His smile widened when I struggled and failed at holding back a laugh. I leaned back from the window, considering him with assessing eyes. "And you look like trouble." "Oh, I promise I don't just look like trouble. But you can just call me Sirius."

"Do you understand - I need you to understand that you are not plain, or - or any of the mean things your brain tells you," he spoke haltingly. "Do you understand, slanchitse?" I searched his eyes. "What does that mean?" There was that little flicker at the corner of his mouth again before he persisted, "Do you understand?" "Yes, Viktor. "Good."

"That's a dangerous topic," he warned. "Somehow I doubt that." I nudged him with my elbow, prompting his eyes back to mine. I almost wished he hadn't; the look in his eyes alone had me shifting slightly in my seat. "James?" As if reading the silent dare in my eyes, James admitted, "Right now I'm just thinking about taking you home."

"If you knew me at all you'd know that I don't give a fuck about the traditions of my house," I shot back. Snatching the contract back from Warrington, I spoke firmly, needing him to hear my every word. "I am not small or delicate, or - or angelic and you had absolutely no right to decide my future for yourself."

As if he could read the thoughts that flitted through my mind - thoughts I resented myself for having - Theseus grasped me gently by the chin. He tilted my face up towards his and smiled softly. It was that very smile that had endeared me to him all those years ago. "I will come back to you," he swore to me.

In that moment, as I studied the man who no longer seemed like a stranger, I could almost picture it. I could see myself in his place, tending to the pot as I waited for him to come home from work. It was almost corporeal, almost whole and yet it was overshadowed by the guilt I felt towards the fiancee who never came for me.

She wasn't satisfied with my answer. Sighing, Jo nudged me with her shoulder, "Don't get me wrong, he's cute and all, but I'm telling you, he's part of the cult."

Eventually, he spoke softly, "That wasn't what I asked you Cali; how are you?" I missed him, that's how I was. I was missing him with every breath I took in and yet when I breathed out, he was all that remained in my empty lungs. That was the truth and it was the only answer to that question.

"From what I gather, you're not a woman of little intellect." He gave me a knowing look, "You know better than to play naive, I think we can be blunt here." "I don't know what you mean." "No? Would you prefer it if I said it outloud?"

"I had to save myself," I said simply. "No one would have been able to save me and that is what I did; I saved myself. All of a sudden I was overcome by this need to protect myself and the next thing I knew, he was crashing against the wall and bleeding out." He sounded every part the Auror who was rapidly making a name for himself, "I have to take your words as your confession."

"This entire debate is pointless," Draco said steadily, barrelling on when his father went to protest. "We were children when we forged the match and had no idea what we were doing. How could we possibly have consented to something that we didn't even understand? Am I wrong, Neal?"

"He told me, you know. That you knew that he stepped out on our marriage and that you thrashed him for it." With an exasperated sigh, Charlie asked, "Was he always so loose lipped?" "Bradley told me that it was why you both stopped being friends in the first place." "I should have told you." "You should've," I agreed. "But it's in the past now."

James rolled his jaw for a second, contemplatively before he sat up abruptly, "Okay, I'll bite. I'm not interested." "You're not interested?" I repeated, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean 'you're not interested?" "I'm not interested," he repeated again, just as firm and straightforward. To him, it made all the sense in the world. "If the person isn't you, I'm not i

Glancing away from him and pretending to study to plant in front of me as it continued to show off its aggression, I admitted, "I've got a black thumb." "A black thumb?" he repeated dubiously. "I do!" The force of my insistence had Longbottom stifling a smile, not that it worked too well. "I don't know how I do it, but I always end up killing every plant I touch."

"What do you think of my brother, Longbottom?" I studied him for a moment, trying not to narrow my eyes at him. James met and held my gaze, not looking away. Still, realising that I'd been silent for too long, and he was no doubt reading into my lack of answer, I asked, "Did your mum put you up to this?"

It was my turn to be insistent. "Listen to me Scamander, you are not strange." "I don't-" When he glanced up at me, I shook my head firmly, making him fall silent. I leaned across the table slightly, holding his eyes and speaking slowly so he understood each word, "You are not strange, you are kind and bright and wonderful, Scamander. Do not doubt that."

Shaking my head incredulously, I asked, "How do you always seem to get your way?" "Clearly it's my endless charm." He chuckled, leaning in slightly to nudge my shoulder with his, "Isn't that how I managed to get you to date me? I charmed you, Kim, and you know it."

"Well," Teddy said at last coming to my side. When he was close enough, his arms wrapped around me, hauling me unprotesting into his chest, "If I'm about to be relegated back to being the roommate, I'm going to have to bug you until it's time for us to leave for the burrow."

"Please don't," I blurted out before I could stop myself. Although I knew better, although I knew how selfish I was being, my mouth was moving before my brain could catch up. "Please don't go on this date."

Fred waited before he ducked his head a little to answer quietly by my ear, "I'm attracted to the fire hiding behind your innocent smile, Roosevelt."

My eyes fell onto the front page again - 2004. The paper was dated 19th May 2000 and fucking 4. My fingers clenched around the paper, squeezing it tight. My accident had been in 1999.

"Well, I mean, if I could find a man that can get me off the way you've said Wood's been able to get you off - I'd be eagerly waiting for his letter too," Mathis, the quietest of our roommates piped up so suddenly that it caught me by surprise. She returned to her breakfast as if she hadn't said anything. I just looked at her a moment longer; she hadn't been wrong.

"Besides," he continued steadily, his smile growing warmer - as if that was even possible - and wider until he looked so reminiscent of the kindhearted Gryffindor from my own time as a student not so many years ago. "Anything you need, I'll be there." "You'll regret offering that," I warned.

There, beside the dedication, was Newt's handwriting, fresh from mere minutes ago. Thank you for gifting me a new world of memories Newt

"A good muse inspires you to paint." He lowered the brush and sent me a charming smile, "And I really want to paint you, Zoller."

"I think you'd be good company, even if you're a Slytherin." His teasing words, paired with the one dimpled smile he was giving me, threw me for a moment. Despite looking like the usual Potter, he didn't look right … there was a vulnerability there, hidden behind his screen of arrogance.

"So, Professor Jones, you and Professor Potter..." "What about me and Professor Potter?"

"You're freaking out, aren't you Abbasi?" "I might be," I admitted reluctantly. "It makes sense," he assured me, sounding so reasonable that I almost questioned if he really was Zacharias. "You - the virgin have no experience with romance and so you have no idea how to write it."

"You need to calm down," he insisted, holding my eyes and speaking slowly like he was trying to make me see sense. Like I was the one acting irrationally. "You've eaten nothing for days and the potion was just enough to make sure you kept strength and-" "Don't pretend you care about me!"

"Please, please," my desperation had me actually whispering under my breath. Distantly my phone rang, letting me know that my time was up. Drawing in a deep breath, I held it even as my lungs burned. Slowly, at a snail's pace, I removed my thumb to get a good look at the result. Gasping, I sighed heavily and dropped my head once more. Positive.

"I think we could be friends, Miss Hitchens." Dubiously, I repeated, "Friends?" "I believe you and I are remarkably similar." "We are not."

I watched his face from close by, hoping to see James in his features, if only to give some sort of explanation to my crush on the younger Potter brother. But I didn't see it. All I could see was Albus. Albus who was cradling my hand like he was scared to hurt me as he murmured disinfectant spells and continued to recite spells until the cut was healed and wrapped in a plaster.

"Enough talk about Ron?" I repeated incredulously, having to remind him, "You came all the way here to discuss your brother." "And we did and you told me that it wasn't anything too bad, so I think we're done now. I'll tell him not to get caught next time." "Bill -" He spoke over my protests with a charming smile, "So, what've you been up to Griffith?"

"We dated for 5 years, and you ended it all with a letter. You let me come home from an Auror mission to a bloody letter." His words quickened, finally pouring out of him as he confessed what he felt. "You didn't have it in you to at least wait until I came home, to even tell me to my face that you were leaving me. Or even why you were leaving me."

"Vell, wot answer vold you give?" No answer was better than that question. When I didn't answer him right away, he lifted his head and regarded me closely, "If the reporters asked vot relationship we shared, vot answer vold you give?"

"So, did you make a move on Teddy last night?" "You keep your damned mouth shut. You're lucky I didn't hex you for bringing him over whilst I was dressed like that." "More like undressed," he snorted, cutting up his sausages. "Oh don't look at me like that Forester, I'm sure Teddy appreciated getting flashes of your thigh beneath your bathrobe."

In my head, I could hear the question even before he asked it. I had some inkling of what it was, what he wanted to ask and why he was preparing himself for getting an answer that he didn't want. Except, when he spoke next, it was a question that I certainly didn't expect. "Do you believe in soulmates?"

"It was working – It was working until only recently so why everything is falling apart now?" "Because we used to be a team," I said simply. "It would work because we were a team and we actively tried to make sure that work didn't interfere with our family but … that's not true anymore. Not for both of us."

"I know." Dennis started in his chair, shifting to sit up straight and looking like he wanted to say something. But, before he could, I said simply, "I knew you had a crush on me. You weren't exactly subtle about it, Creevey. You were certainly far less subtle than Colin was."

Continuing to eat my breakfast, I made it halfway through my first slice of toast when Kevin decided that because I'd been given a clean bill of health, he could annoy me like he'd planning on doing. I was reaching for my orange juice when finally spoke again, "So, rumour has it, a certain ex-boyfriend was hovering at your bedside."

"I don't wish to see you again, sir," I said shorty. "If I happen to see you once more around my Kneazle, or around the children, then I will call the Aurors without asking what business you have around here."

"What a strange boy." "But he was nice," Lucia insisted. "And handsome." "He was," I agreed in a heartbeat. "Just because he was handsome doesn't mean he wasn't strange."

"Sirius also mentioned something about little feet?" "He somehow got it into his head that when he got out of Azkaban he'd come back to nieces and nephews." "Well," he started slowly, not looking as shocked or even as repulsed as I'd initially thought he would. "Do you think he would have? Had nieces and nephews by now, if we hadn't split?"

"You're blunter than you used to be." I said slowly, marvelling at how much he'd changed in the five years since he'd left Hogwarts. "A lot more blunt." "Is that a bad thing?" "No," I said after another moment's thought.

"Of course," Riddle obliged, watching as the matron moved on to visit someone one. Once we were alone again, Riddle demanded, "How did you create a shield that keeps certain people out? Unless it's just me? You didn't use your wand or recite a spell of any sort." I held my tongue and Riddle sighed. "Despite how tight-lipped you are Miss Lovegood, you're a rather fascinating witch."

"What time did you get back to our dorm?" Lainey probed. Barely a whisper, I admitted, "This morning." I peeked up at my friends from under my lashes, watching the slow smirk that slid over Eien's face and to my horror, Lainey teasingly oohed and nudged my shoe with hers. "Don't," I hissed. "I can't remember what happened last night – at all."

"I had an interview," I confessed. "I met up with one of the wandmakers I want to train under and we were discussing abroad placements." For a moment, he walked funny as if he'd missed a step in surprise. I caught his eyes, raising an eyebrow as he continued to watch me in silence. Finally shaking his head, he said, "You're going to leave?"

"So, what will you do?" I asked aloud, the sound of my voice bringing him to a halt. "What will Theseus Scamander, war hero and pride of the Auror department do when the traitor he's been searching so hard for is his wife?"

"Just ask, Cormac." He held his silence for a moment longer before asking, "How?" "During the battle, I got hit by something one of the Death Eaters cast and it knocked me unconscious." Shrugging slowly, I tried to be as blasé as possible, "The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the Hospital Wing and I couldn't see anymore. That was it; I don't even know who did this to me."

"Come on," he cajoled, "you don't have any reason to be jealous, Graz." "Oh please," I grumbled, elbowing him so sharply that he withdrew his hand and rubbed at his side. "What makes you think that I'm jealous?"

"What?" I eventually asked with a sigh, knowing I hadn't gotten the answer wrong. "Lysander?" "Nothing," he assured me, grabbing the parchment of questions. He looked over it with vague disinterest, looking like he was going to ask me another question. But then, he set the parchment aside and sat up properly. Abruptly, he asked, "What do you think of my brother?"

"It's not as if we talked often – or at all – in Hogwarts," I murmured absentmindedly, counting how many baby dragons I could see. There was one missing? From behind me, Weasley spoke up, "Maybe we could remedy that." I turned curiously towards him, watching as hesitation flickered over his features, "It's good to see a familiar face."

"I'm a squib," I admitted, the words actually passing my lips for the first time. Despite how he tried to hide it, I caught it – the small aborted step he took backwards. It was enough.

When he caught my eyes, my mind instantly flickered back to something I'd dreamt. Something random and strange and … domestic. Slowly, I asked, "We've never met before have we? Like, before you first walked into the shop?" He continued to watch me. Only, this gaze deepened like the answer to my question was much more complicated than I'd thought. Just – it made no sense.

Did you learn sign language so you could talk to me? He made a motion as if slicing his right hand through his left – Of course He wanted me to ask why he'd put all the effort into learning an entire language for me. So, I asked – Why? He sighed slightly, speaking aloud yet quietly as he said, "I wanted to be your friend."

"Of course," Sanaa began, finally reaching the end of her essay if the triumphant way she rolled her shoulders was any indication, "there's a Montague out there as well." "Not that he's much of a Romeo," Rachael scoffed, thinking to the Slytherin Chaser. Knowing they would pick up on any sign of a reaction, I carefully steeled myself; by this point, I'd had enough practice.

Scoffing, I didn't comment on the way he reacted to hearing my disdain. "Please don't shield yourself behind your self-assigned label of hopeless romantic because you're not. All you are is a scapegoat for all your friends who can say that whatever backlash their breakup brings is because you told them how to do it. Merlin, you're cowards. The lot of you."

"A smile," I insisted softly. "Maybe it's brave to keep smiling when the world seems hell-bent on erasing that smile?" "Well," he started slowly, watching me with eyes that were so gentle I almost couldn't keep looking at him, "then you're the bravest person I know."

"If things were different, if I could become something other than a burden to you, then I would let myself love you. Like you should be loved." A Theseus au! version of my story When the Clock Strikes 12

"Why are you asking about the Quidditch match?" "No reason," he assured me with a laugh that only made it sound even more like a lie. Jordan was already backing away, calling out for me to, "Pay attention to the commentary."

The answering reassuring smile was false. It was too tight, too small and too … not Harry that I didn't buy it for a moment. Despite knowing that I would be able to see right through it, he continued to give me that imposter of a smile. "It's a long story." "I have enough time." "Another time," he gave me an empty promise.

"Honestly, you seem like you need a friend Draco. When I moved out to live on my own – the thing I needed the most in the world was a friend I could turn to for anything. If you'd allow it, I'd like to be that friend for you." "Why?" "Why not?"

"It's been a while," I started slowly, not really knowing what else to say. "Years," he corrected with a short smile.

"You know Healer Higgs?" she said, munching through her chocolate and searching for something. I handed her a water bottle before she could ask for something to drink and returned to parting her hair in two. "What about him?" "He's gotten himself into a coma," she announced not noticing the way my hands had stilled in her hair at the news.

"Why are you really here?" I asked eventually, still not looking towards him. "What do you want?" He was hesitant to admit, "I want one last favour." I looked to him then, mouth parted incredulously. Despite our drinks being brought out, I didn't pick mine up straight away. What right did he have to be asking me for one more favour? As if the last one hadn't been bad enough?

"You're not as good as an actor as you like to think you are." For the first time since he had begun to speak, he turned his head towards me and watched me solemnly, "I'm just the first person that bothered to look closely enough to notice, Eyre."

"Either one of us could have died during that war. If I didn't do it then, I never would have. I thought that one of us would have died, that's why I did it." "I did," he struggled for a moment. "I did think you died. You disappeared without a trace and no one knew where you were. I scoured each and every damned list of the dead to see if your name was on there."

"Isn't it horrible that Black's friendship with her ended the moment she decided she didn't want to date him? Like he was so willing to spend so much time with her, was able to linger around her so often until the moment she didn't want to date him. And then, in the blink of an eye, she wasn't worth his time? What sort of bullshit is that?"

"I dated your cousin," I reminded him yet again, with an exasperated sigh. "Not your friend but your cousin."

"I'm only 25; so why does it feel like I'm double that?" He shot me a contemplative glance and I couldn't answer him. I couldn't even tell him that sometimes I felt exactly the same. "I'm about to collapse under the stress of everything." "Percy," I said slowly in disbelief, never having heard him say something like that before. "I don't think we've had much time to be young anyway

He stilled as he neared the threshold, throwing me one final glance from over his shoulder. "I thought you would protect your family, that you would want it so desperately that it would be enough to make you set your Gryffindor pride aside. But perhaps I was wrong."

"I hope you're happy." "Happy?" "Happy that because of you my grades fell again." "They fell!" I exclaimed in disbelief, looking at him for a long moment. "How in Merlin's name did they fall? You were doing so well." "Don't blame it on me," he protested, crossing his arms defensively over his chest. "This is all because your replacement is an absolutely shit tutor."

Drawing me into his side, Zacharias spoke aloud, "Don't you just hate the sorts of people that give and give until there's nothing left for them to give? Or are the people that ask for things from those sorts of people worse? I can never decide."

"You're right," I agreed for a moment. "Words aren't the only way things can be communicated but Helga, using words certainly does prevent all sorts of misunderstandings." "And what sort of misunderstandings would those be?" he probed as if he didn't already know that answer. "What would I know?" I evaded with a shrug. "It's not like I'm your girlfriend."

"I felt so guilty about what happened yesterday," he started cautiously, his voice sounding so near that I almost thought that he had oriented his body towards my own. "It honestly kept me awake last night until I could figure out a way to make things right. Let me be your eyes until you regain your sight."

Even still, I clutched my hands together and smiled eagerly, "Isn't that the most romantic thing you've ever read?" "Its cringey," he said shortly, folding it up again and holding it out of the way when I reached for it. "Merlin, it sounds more than a little creepy as well - admiring someone from a far is a warning sigh. It's not yours anyway, Conrad."

"Do you – maybe want to catch up some time?" he asked and the uncertainty, something I hadn't heard in his voice since his seventh year, threw me a little. It was enough to remind me that he wasn't like any of Mother's husbands, he was just that boy that had got caught in my web and continued to orbit around me. Only he was a few years older now.

The silences between the pair of us lengthened until I chose to break it, casting a quick glance his way. "Is there any particular reason you snuck out of school? Something bothering you Potter?" "I just missed you," he confessed after a long moment with a shrug. As if that was a reasonable answer!

"He was the whining son?" I asked incredulously, pointing towards Weasley who flushed a surprising red at his mother's nod. Merlin, I couldn't have stopped myself from laughing if I tried. Not that I did. With an embarrassed frown, Weasley turned his gaze to his mother and whined, "Mum!"

"Earn me," I said before I could take it back. "If you want me the way that you're making it seem, then earn me, Black."

"We will find a solution," father assured Mr Malfoy. "I swear that this dishonour on your family name will be rectified." "How exactly do you plan on doing that?" Mr Malfoy raised an eyebrow and father fell silent again. He certainly didn't have a solution and Mr Malfoy knew that. It was then, that the second Malfoy male finally spoke up, "You have another daughter, Mr Black."

"Of course, I do," he insisted sincerely. His eyes were so earnest that I swallowed nervously. "Merlin, I've never been invisible to you; even when I was that spotty short, chubby kid in third year. I was never invisible to you so how could you think that you would ever be invisible to me?"

Everyone said that a good man was hard to find and that no matter how hard you wished for one, he might never appear. And yet, I had managed to stumble upon one without wanting to. (Theseus Scamander)

"I was glad," he began quietly, averting his eyes from my own and onto the blanket he was steadily picking at. "I was glad that the first face I woke up to was yours. Part of me was almost glad that I got so badly injured because how else would I have seen you again? Godric, I was almost thankful for it, isn't that insane?"

"Neville, I've dated half of your ex-dormmates."

Forcefully buttering my toast, I demanded, "Did you know that the magical world is an oppressive –" "Patriarchal system that needs to be dismantled," Addison completed for me as she poured some milk into her tea. "Yes, we know."

"Am I supposed to take that to mean that you're actually trying to make me find you loveable?" "And if I was?" he asked, voice nothing more than a whisper. I rolled my eyes, pushing a sharp elbow into his side. He crumbled with a hiss of pain but didn't move far. Eyeing him with irritation, I announced, "Then you're doing an absolutely horrendous job of it. It won't work anyway."

"To repay you of course." He looked at me from over his shoulder, watching as I lifted the watering can to water the plants closest to me, "I did say I would." "And I told you that you didn't need to," I reminded him. "If you paid any attention to me over the last 5 years then you'd realise that I don't tend to do what I'm told."

"And you decided to kidnap her instead! Once Weasley finds out about this, we'll have hell to pay."

Kol Mikaelson, the name was legendary. He was the original that was known for his aggression, for his anger. But what would it take for him to change, for him to live? A single girl that would soon become the only thing he ever wanted and needed; his redemption. "What are you doing here, Kol?" "I've told you before darling, I can't stay away from you and I don't intend to."

"I don't think we're a fit," he admitted, and I kept my agreement silence, simply nodding my head. "I'm out of your league."

"I'm fine," he assured me instantly like he had grown used to having to tell people that. But he really wasn't fine, I knew that. He'd never needed to tell me that.

"Just – what are you doing Wiley? What are we doing?" He tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, waiting for an answer that I really couldn't give him. Not because I didn't know the answer, but because I didn't want to say it. "Well?"

"I just remembered that I have some favours to call in."

"That girl – the one that made an entire fool of herself for you-you have to understand – that girl wasn't me."

"James – what are we doing here?" "Truthfully?" He sighed, meeting my eyes for a moment. "I have no idea. All I knew was that I couldn't let you go on this date. Not with someone else."

Elbowing him in the ribs, I frowned up at him when he refused to remove his arm. "Are you this touchy with all of your friends?" "Only you." He grinned down at me, wriggling his eyebrows. "It's because I like you the best."

"Well, I'm not the same person that I was two years ago." "I'm not so sure about that."

"You can trust him," I assured them again, forcefully making them release me and ushering them towards Adrian. "I'd trust him with my life." "But not your heart," he piped up quietly, the words meant for my ears only, but I didn't bother to answer him.

"You don't get to run in and slay the dragon, to fend off the ghosts haunting me, to be the shield that lets me hide behind him whilst taking all the blows. You don't get to do any of that for me, Frank." Swallowing thickly, I glanced away from him for a moment. "I won't let you. The only person capable of saving me is me, so don't try it."

"So can't you like me too?" And as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell, he tucked his hands into his trouser pockets before turning on his heels to walk away. I stared at his retreating back for a moment, trying to wrap my mind around everything.

"What would your mother say if she knew you were teasing me like this," I called out to him, following his pace and jogging a short distance after him. "She'd tell us to get married!"

Elbowing their brother in the ribs, they took the chance to run off down the carriage. Before Weasley could shoot off after his brothers like he so clearly wanted to, I called out to him. "Weasley – there's … there's no way they actually managed to cast a bonding jinx, is there?"

"My father thinks himself a king," I cut in suddenly, meeting his eyes head on when his own faltered to meet my stare. "Sitting on the throne he gave himself and playing a game of war with the knights he's assembled around him. But you all seem to have forgotten that he's no king and I'm no princess. So, don't call address me as one – not you too."

"Really, where has your courage gone?" I wondered as I watched him closely. "If you like someone then you should just tell them. Don't you think?"

"Good," he said promptly, gathering his things and turning as if to leave the shop. I watched him turn away, taking a few steps before I blurted out, "Want to see some magic?"

Lupin cleared his throat, making me look back to him. "Well, what's got you so worried?" I hesitated for a long moment, not knowing what to say. My first instinct was to declare in annoyance that he knew exactly what was bothering me. But I didn't say that. Instead, I lowered my eyes to my book and murmured, "There's just something that I can't get my head around."

"You bloody pervert!" I screamed at his back as he cast a glance over his shoulder at me. "I'm a teenage boy!" he called back in response as I sped up and drew closer to him. "What else did you expect!" "James Fleamont Potter –" "If it helps, they looked bloody fantastic!"

Before I could stop myself, I asked, "You think I'm pretty?" He must have picked up on some of the insecurity I tried so very hard to hide and raised his eyes to mine. Those beautiful grey eyes grew soft as he murmured, "Gorgeous."

I scoffed, holding my arms open in anticipation of the quaffle. "That's what he gets for playing around with someone's feelings. Bloody ogre." "That sounds like something you wanted to say to me," Flint called out from behind me and I winced, reluctant to face my captain. Me and my bloody mouth

But really, what was the big deal? We were only flirting; it was just a bit of fun. "Try it if you're brave enough," I goaded the waiting Gryffindor whose eyebrows rose in surprise at my words. "I've been meaning to see if your skills lived up to all that bragging you've been doing. I hope you're not setting me up for disappointment."

"Draco," I called out gently, taking his arm again and laying it across my thighs. Soaking some cotton wool in the Dittany, I gently patted it onto the burn. "We all have our scars you know. It's very rare to have gone through what we've been through without receiving any scars along the way."

Narrowing my eyes at him, I reached out to fist his shirt in my hands and yanked him the rest of the distance towards me. My action brought an abrupt silence to the circle and Oliver, now less than a few centimetres away from me, raised an eyebrow challengingly as if daring me to go through with it. I'd show him.

"Your answer?" he demanded and before I could ask him what he was nattering on about, he gestured to the parchment that lay forgotten on the table top. "Are you going to go with me or not?" "Isn't it obvious?" Rolling my eyes, I realised that he'd released my bag and promptly picked it up and slung it over my shoulder. "No."

"The chasm was already there," I informed him, drawing away from him. "The moment you set foot in this school and changed, that was the moment I lost you." And the moment you lost me.

"You know," I said quietly, making sure my brothers didn't hear me. "If Krum approached me; I'd leave you for him in a heartbeat."

"Why do you do it to yourself?" I asked, pouring a glass of orange juice which he stole for himself with a smile. "It's a Potter thing," he said eventually. "You wouldn't understand."

"You're doing a lot better than you think," I assured him quietly and when he rolled his eyes, I smiled gently. "I mean it Harry, you've come a long way. Helga, when I left Hogwarts you'd been a scrawny little fourth year – you've grown a lot since then."

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed and I'd grown up around a boy who liked to hide his true feeling behind a shield of mischief. It gave me the ability to look past an outer image and see what was really going on. I could see past James' shield of mischief, just as I could see past Black's façade of indifference. "He's staying at ours," I assured him, more gently this time.

"What the fuck!" Blackburn demanded, glaring at me. "I should be the one saying that!" I insisted. "Because of your idiotic dare, this fool's only gone and taken a love potion."

"Infatuation," he scoffed, shaking his head. "My type? Fine, my type is stubborn Gryffindors, two years older than me." "Be serious here Charlie –" "Oh, and I forgot," he added a little harshly, taking me by surprise. "She really really needs to be pining after my older brother. You know, just to add another level of unneeded tension."

So, it was one kiss. He wasn't the sort of person to break up with his girlfriend over one kiss, was he? I mean, the kiss wasn't even my fault! He'd been the one to initiate it.

"He kissed me," I confessed, watching as her eyebrows draw up in surprise. "He kissed me and I ran away from him."

"Draco's unwell," he said finally, steamrolling over my attempt to ask what was wrong with him. "He's been fitful since and asked for you. He said something about needing some peace and that you'd understand what that meant."

"I mean it," I insisted steadily, "I don't need saving Frank; ever since we were little you were always so adamant about saving me from anything that troubled me. But this time – this time I don't need saving."

"Black," I began, leaning my hip against the table as I assessed him closely. "Are you interested in more or something?" "Malfoy," he copied, "what if I am?"

"You have to believe me," I murmured quietly, unable to meet his eyes, "that was never my intention. I never wanted to hurt you." "Maybe it wasn't your intention," he accepted after a moment.

"This is a really bad time to begin crushing on someone," he admitted quietly, drawing away from me, "especially a muggle at that."

"Smart and handsome; you're the perfect package Lupin."

"You know," he remarked casually, reaching out for his glass, "normally a girl would appreciate such an offer, especially from her crush." Fuck.

"Tell me the truth," he said quietly, standing in front of me and carefully looping his scarf around my neck. He peered down at me, meeting my eyes head on and I swallowed nervously at the blatant fear in his eyes, "are you ill?" "No," I whispered truthfully.

"You should probably get going then," he said with a sigh, leaning back against the pillow. "Merlin knows you're the only thing keeping me insane in this hospital wing." There were identical shouts of protest from the other three Gryffindors in the hospital wing.

"Blaise?" Draco called out to the boy who walked into the common room. At the call of his name, Blaise made his way towards the sofas. "Why does Pucey want to hex you? What happened during your detention." "We got another one," he announced casually, tucking his hands into his pockets, "because Pucey couldn't keep her hands to herself."

"If only you weren't a Potter," he said part teasing, part serious as he pressed his forehead to mine, "we could have told everyone about this a long time ago."

"Don't worry Mrs Ward," James said from behind me, "I'll look after her." "Look after me, my foot," I muttered, brushing past him without a second glance. "Who's going to look after you?" "You are, Ward," he said with a grin, finding an empty carriage and entering it.

"Abraxas." The name was enough to send my stomach swooping. Surely, I wasn't – there was no way – "What year is it?" "1944," he answered after a short pause, bringing his wand back to his side and stepping away from me. His features evened out and I could breathe more evenly. "Put away your wand little Malfoy. I have no plans of harming Abraxas' granddaughter."

"Well maybe you need to get better taste in girls," I muttered. "I don't know about that." He reached out to tuck some of my hair behind my ear, fingers brushing against my cheek as he brought his hand back to his side. "I happen to think that I have pretty good taste." Colour rushed to my cheeks and I turned away from him to hide it as I murmured, "Well, you would."

He held out a folded piece of parchment out for me to take, "You dropped this." I took the parchment from him suspiciously. Clearing my throat, I turned to walk away from him. He called out after me, "You've been thrown away by your family too, huh?" I looked back to him, steps slowing as I spoke quietly, "You read it."

"I'm going to need you to be a bit more specific," he said slowly, sounding very confused. Narrowing my eyes at him, I asked slowly so he'd understand, "You rejected me, right? So why on earth are you chasing after me now?" Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Do you not want me to?"

When the hell did my feelings for Justin begin to wane and why had I not noticed it? The more important question was, when did those feelings grow for his bloody best friend?

"That," I muttered dryly, "was karma." "Karma?" she frowned, taking a hold of my arm when I turned my attention away from her, "Karma for what?" "I stood him up once," I said plainly, "and now having to deal with him and be so close to him is my bad luck. Hence, karma."

"It doesn't." he confirmed, "Especially when the proposal was brought forward because I asked my parents to arranged it." "Why?" I demanded, in shock as I stepped away from him. "Because I wanted you."

"Fine," he agreed before adding hastily, "The favours can't be anything outrageous – there's a line that they can't cross. And only five favours otherwise you'll be asking for a favour all the time." "You're saying that as if even you think that I'm going to win," I chimed in.

"Maybe I shouldn't have pretended not to remember," he said quietly. "But, really, I knew things would get this awkward if you found out and I don't see why it's such a big deal." "Well it's a big deal to me," I cut in, trying not to seem hurt that my feelings weren't a 'big deal' to him. "Look Harry, what's it going to take for you to forget what I'd said?"

"What do you want?" I demanded, stopping in my step to glare at the younger boy. The shorter boy looked up at me with a small smile; why was he always smiling? "Well?" "I wanted to talk to you about something," he explained. "Since when were we friends?"

"There's something important that I need to tell you." I trailed off slowly, biting my bottom lip. He nodded encouragingly and I decided that it was better to get this over with quickly. So, I took one last deep breath before admitting quietly, "I'm pregnant Fred. Two months along." There was complete and utter silence.

"Why the hell would you make something like that?" I demanded, pulling away from Fred's arms. Running a distressed hand through my hair I whined, "Do you even know what you've done? I'm going to have a 15-year-old chasing after me until this thing wears off."

"You seem to be mistaken," Zabini informed me, straightening up to his full height before he leaned in closer to me. Without realising it I took a step closer to Justin and Zabini's eyes narrowed at the action. Speaking quietly, he asked, "Why in Salazar's name would I bother caring about who you're friends with?"

Rolling my eyes, I muttered, "She thinks we're friends with benefits." "Being friends with benefits doesn't sound that bad," Bill teased, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. I glared up at him; he was not helping things. Evidently, we hadn't spoken quietly enough as Ron who was sitting on the other side of me, asked loudly, "What does friends with benefits mean?"

"So you don't want my help then?" He grinned, raising an eyebrow, "Are you sure, Smith? Because I can talk some sense into Harry if you want? Get him to ask you to the ball?" "Oh Godric," I groaned, "Don't you start. Everyone's been going on about him."

"I'll be surprised if I can think of a single one that isn't." Rolling my eyes, I pondered carefully, "Although, I think all boys are probably immature to some extent– regardless of how old they are." He was silent for a little while before saying slowly, "Not all."

He raised his eyes to mind suddenly and I flushed, realising that he'd asked me a question. Raising an eyebrow, he shook his head with a grin and showing off that hidden dimple. "I think I figured out what the problem is, Alder." For one sick second, I was mortified that he'd realised I was staring at him. "You're a daydreamer, aren't you?"

"Well what are you going to do now? Your mother's expecting you to bring your girlfriend to your next family meal?" "Godric knows," he sighed once the line of customers came to an end, "I've gotten myself into a right mess." "No way," I said instantly, recognising the look in his eyes. "Don't even think about it."

Seamus huffed, throwing me a hard look. "Don't get so close to boys." "I'm sorry – what?" "You heard me; don't get so close to boys – they're monsters." I chuckled incredulously, "If boys are monsters then what the hell are you?" He glanced at me for a moment before looking away without a word, "Is this your way of telling me that you don't count in that?"

"I need to say this." He let out a deep breath, still not raising his eyes from his plate of food, "It all made me realise that at any moment, anything could happen to us. We could be here one minute and gone the next and I realised that my biggest regret would be that I let you go that day without fighting for us." "Charlie, please –"

He was outright frowning now as he dropped back to where I was stood. "Haven't you heard that saying that boys pick on the girls they like?" "I have," I crossed my arms, levelling him a look. "And if you think for one second that I believe it has any validity then you're completely wrong."

"I don't know," I said suspiciously, picking up the vial and raising it to my eyes. "Come along Potter – you're not always going to be young. You need to settle down and make more bespectacled messy haired kids to wreak havoc in the wizarding world."

I raised my eyes to his, narrowing them when I saw the amusement dancing in his gaze. "I'm not going to be swayed by you." "Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow, his grin becoming more sly, "Prove it."

"It's been a while," I greeted coolly, picking up the menu so I wouldn't have to meet his eyes. "Too long," he agreed smiling a little when I glanced at him from over the top of the menu. "I was so convinced that you'd run away when you realised that your date for the evening was me." "So was I," I muttered.

"It was a pleasure to meet you," he said quietly, eyes flickering around the room so they didn't need to meet mine. "Thank you for keeping me company Miss –" "Lynn." I finished for him. "Miss Lynn." He inclined his head slightly before disappearing into the office.

Rising to my toes, I pressed a kiss to his cheeks before hurrying up the path and into my grandma's home. I glanced out of the window to see Neville tuck his hands into his pockets and head off with a grin. Neville Longbottom – who would've thought?

"Would you stop that," I hissed as Slughorn finished talking, "You're drawing so much attention to us." "I can't help it," she insisted, "You've only gone and got yourself a secret admirer, of all things. Who do you think it is?"

"You asked me at the beginning of year," I said with blatant confusion, "Why bring this up now? Has this really been on your mind for that long?" "I just wanted to know the reason," he explained defensively. "The reason? It's simply really." Hiking my school bag further up my shoulder, I levelled him a flat look, "I don't date quidditch players."

"Besides, you're like another sister to me." Sighing, I glanced away from him, not even able to become angry because of how oblivious he was. I had long since passed the point of anger. "Merlin, you're so incredibly clueless."

"I know you – I've heard everything, remember?" "No," he insisted meeting my eyes head on, "You know of me and you're so incredibly scared of actually getting to know me in case I'm nothing like you though. It terrifies you that you might be wrong about me, that you might actually fall for me if you gave yourself the chance. I didn't realise that you were so cowardly."

"Cho –" "Don't look so sorry – we went on a date, nothing else." She shrugged, "Besides, everyone knew I was the detour on his way to you." I scrunched my nose, grabbing the cushion from behind me to whack her with it. "You've just made me lose my appetite."

"What made you change your mind?" She arched an eyebrow, "All it takes is one Potter wearing green and silver for Slytherin house to not seem evil anymore?" "That's not what I meant," I tried to protest, but she was already bidding goodbye to Albus and walking away with Scorpius by her side.

"You saved my life," he said gently, "During the battle, you saved my life before I was crushed by the falling wall." "Oh." "Is that all you can say? Oh?" He straightened up, looking slightly disappointed. "Since the day of the battle, I've been searching for you and all you can say is 'oh?"

James lowered his eyes to the table, staring at his glass and I sighed; it seemed like he wasn't going to give me an answer again. Until – "Who told you to try and get over me?"

"It was ridiculous," I said immediately, "The book I read suggested, well it was rubbish really." "But what did it say?" he persisted, approaching me. I looked away from him. "It said that the veela appeal doesn't work on a veela's –" "On a veela's what?" he prompted, stopping less than a metre away from me when I stopped midway through my sentence.

"It's just a bit of harmless fun." "For you maybe." Merlin, I could hear the raised eyebrow in his voice. Rolling my eyes, I continued my progress down the stairs. "Turn your attention onto any of the other string of girls you've got lined up. I don't care how 'interesting' you find her. I don't want you hurting her."

"Clearly Albus isn't thinking straight." Lily shrugged her shoulders, "But you should have heard what Hugo told him to do – 'make her jealous' and that was it." "Merlin, he didn't," Lily moaned seeing the look we shared. "He tried to make me jealous during charms," I said dismissively, not wanting to get into it. "What do you mean tried?" Rosie nudged me, "It worked, didn't?"

"Nothing," Cedric insisted, his steps slowing but not coming to a halt. "I'm doing this from the good of my heart." "Ok, but why?" "Because I'm your fairy godmother," he threw over his shoulder with a wide smile. "Now hurry up and follow me. Whilst we're walking, you might as well practice what you're going to say to Hewitt because you'll only get one try at this Ernie."

"What is this?" he asked, staring at the piece of paper. "My phone number," I answered slowly, "Call me." "But I don't have a phone." A spin-off of sorts, to 'Chasing the Report'

"Maybe I should ask you the same question?" He raised an eyebrow. "I thought I was going to Hogsmeade with you but instead your friend appeared." "But I'd never said that I was talking about me," my voice trailed off, realisation dawning on me, "You wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me."

"And there isn't anything else you want to know?" he pressed. "The report will be boring otherwise." "Is there something else you'd like me to add in?" I was so confused – everyone had said to stay professional. But here he was, saying something else. "We can start with the fact that I'm single."

"They won't care Percy," I tried to convince him, "You saw the way your mother reacted and the others will take time to convince. Besides Percy, even if I try to act like I don't care about you anymore, you know that's a lie." "I can't," he repeated, heading to the door. He sounded so broken, so helpless – "Percy, please."

"Look Myers," he said with a sigh, "You are getting on that bloody broom even if I have to force you onto it." Our staring competition was interrupted at the sound of an amused chuckle. We turned to look at James. "What?" Potter said irritably. "Do you really want her to ride your broom that badly Al?"

"Did Professor Slughorn invite you to join the Slug Club?" Looking up from the textbook I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Hello to you too Riddle. And to answer your question he did." "Well you're going with me." "I wasn't planning on going," I admitted. "You don't have a choice." He rose from his seat and looked down at me. "It wasn't a question, it was a statement."

"He died doing something he loved," I murmured, choosing to break the silence between us. "Yeah? And what was that?" He asked angrily, his eyes hardening . "Fighting?" "Of course not." I looked down at my hands that I was clasping tightly in my lap; I hadn't had the chance to cry over Fred yet. "He died laughing Georgie."

"Careful Freddie," I warned, retreating slightly until Angie was standing in front of me, acting as a barrier between Fred and I. "We wouldn't want my brother to hear you threatening me, now would we? We both know what Oliver's like." He glared at me, silently promising retaliation. "This isn't over, Wood." "It never is, Weasley."

"Well I'm next door, just in case." He leaned against the door frame, watching me closely. "You know, Romanian winters are really cold. If you ever need to share body heat I'll be more than happy to help you out." "I'm sure you would be. But I think I'll just cast a warming charm instead." "Well the offer's always open, whenever you're ready to accept it."

"No you won't. You won't get any hairier than you are now," I paused eyeing his long hair. "Though I doubt that it's possible for you to get any hairier than you are now." I was rewarded with a small smile. "Now you need to rest for a while and don't even think about going into work tomorrow, alright?" He met my eyes. "Healer's orders?" "Healer's orders."

"Has anyone seen Trevor?" He asked without introducing himself. "Who's Trevor?" Hermione asked as she looked the boy over once. "My pet toad." "Right," she said slowly, "And you are?" "Neville, Neville Longbottom," he said quietly, his eyes flickering apprehensively around the carriage. He was clearly on edge about finding Trevor.

"You're so defensive," Seamus muttered before speaking aloud, "I just think that you should get used to your position as a quidditch girlfriend." "Quidditch girlfriend?" I repeated slowly, sure that I had misheard him. Seamus nodded. So I hadn't misheard him then. "Or you know, in your case, potential quidditch girlfriends."

"Seamus-" "You-Know-Who's dead and there's no need for Potter to resurrect him for the sake of getting attention." "That's enough Seamus!" I lowered my voice and tucked my arm through his.

"The characters are so cheesy." He muttered, setting his forehead on mine. "No. They're sweet." I argued quietly. He arched an eyebrow pulling me even closer towards him. "They're cliché." "They're really not-" A throat cleared and I flushed red, pulling away from James instantly.

"Evans." He smiled warmly, tucking his hands into his pockets. "How have you been – I didn't see you last year." "I couldn't come and pick Lily up – my matches kept getting scheduled on the day that we needed to pick her up." I tucked some of my hair behind my ear, "But I've been perfectly fine. What about you?" "I've been a bit lonely actually. Maybe you should keep me company?"

"You're my best friend! Of course I care if you get hurt." He ruffled his hair and I closed my eyes momentarily. "I need to know that you don't end up getting your heartbroken again. And I need to make sure that I don't end up being the one that breaks it."

"What's the matter Ced?" "What makes you think that there's something wrong?" He asked, looking down at the hand I was holding with a weak smile. "I know you well enough to know that something is wrong." "Alright." He let out a breath as he ran his free hand through his hair. "What happens if I can't walk again?"

Reasons That Harry James Potter Wants To DO a Certain Hufflepuff, AKA Miss Jones, AKA The Future Mrs Potter, AKA The Future Mother of His Children

"Come on lass," He said with an impatient sigh as I stopped dragging my feet. "Merlin if I had known that you were this slow then I'd have never asked you to be my girlfriend," "Oh please," I said, taking my hand out of his to look up at him properly. "If I had known that you were so impatient then I'd have let Roger be my boyfriend a long time ago."

"Drop the act!" He straightened up, stalking towards me and closing the distance between us. I took several steps back. "I want to marry you," he said bluntly. "But not this version of you. I want to marry the real you. The one that's still hidden under all of this pretence." "There is nothing hidden." "That's a lie."

He remained impassive, watching me calmly and I scoffed. "Unbelievable – if anyone else had sad that to you they would have had a one way ticket to the hospital wing or worse. Why not me?" "I care about you." "Don't say that," I snapped, gathering everything closer towards me. "Just tell me what I can do-" "Nothing. You can do nothing."

"Well you see," Lupin began slowly, considering his words as he spoke, "When James got hit by the bludger and fell, he developed a form of amnesia-" "He thinks that you're his girlfriend." Black cut in. My mouth dropped open in shock. "Excuse me?" "Be quiet," Black hissed, making me realise just how loudly I had been talking. "He might hear you." "I don't care if he hears me!

Groaning, I closed my eyes before opening them moments later. I looked at him pleadingly. "What are we supposed to do now Sirius?" He reached across the table to take one of my hands in his. "We have to play by their rules." "And that means getting married."

"Anyone could hurt me, Remus." I met his gaze with unwavering eyes. "You are not a monster. You're Remus Lupin and the fact that you're a werewolf does not change that at all." He tried to speak, his voice displaying the uncertainty he felt. "But I-" "But nothing. I knew you were a werewolf when I chose to become your friend. And I knew you were a werewolf when I fell for you."

"The love of your life has returned," he announced arrogantly as he entered the carriage. "Really? But Bradley Wood finished school last year." I muttered not looking up at him. "You are horrible." I heard the pout. "Well you look horrible." "No, I look handsome," he insisted. "No. Louis Weasley is handsome."

"Hey, guys." Lorcan pulled away from me at the sound of Albus' voice and turned to look at him and Mary as they stood behind the now unoccupied seats of Rosie and Lysander. Albus sat down and Mary looked at him for a moment before following his lead. "What are the two of you doing here?" "Probably the same thing as you Potter," Lorcan said, looping his arm around my shoulder.

"What's your favourite position?" I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out if that was a thinly veiled innuendo. "In quidditch," he added quickly. "Keeper." "Not a seeker?" he asked inching closer slowly. "Most seekers like to show off. Too ostentatious." "Alright. Beaters" "Too violent." "And chasers?" I caught it then, his tone suddenly becoming too interested in my answer.

"What the hell did you do?" "I have no idea what you mean bunny." I scoffed, "Oh please – innocence doesn't suit you Smith." "Oh you must be talking about your breakup," he said as though realisation had dawned on him, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Well isn't it amazing what the Weasley twins will do if you pay them enough?"

"Of course." He slid his arms around my waist and I reached up to loop my arms around his neck. "Did I tell you that you look beautiful?" "Only every time that you've approached me tonight." He grinned down at me and pulled me closer, "Which by the way has been a lot."

It seemed as if the same thing applied to the girl that he liked as well. I ignored the stab of jealousy I felt and looked down at the parchment properly. He had divided aspects of her into categories and marked her out of 10! "Merlin," I muttered under my breath, "That boy is something else."

"It's deeper," he muttered quietly, looking up at me from below his eyelashes. "She made you reopen a wound that was almost fully closed." I didn't answer him. What sort of answer was I supposed to give him? Instead, I let my eyes settle on the fingers that were drifting across my palm. Terry's fingertips traced the words with the lightest of touches.

Straightening up, I narrowed my eyes at him. "I know exactly what you're trying to do Wood. You think that because you made your accent thicker I'm going to melt like all of the other girls. Well that doesn't work on me." I jabbed a finger at his chest and pulled it back as if I had been scalded when I realised that he still wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Let's make a bet." As he straightened up at my words, I knew that he was interested. "If I can disprove this rubbish that only you and Cho believe in then you have to leave me alone. Completely. For the rest of the year." "And if I win." He began, leaning closer to me as his smirk grew. "You have to go to Hogsmeade with me."

"Excuse me?" Peter swallowed and repeated himself louder. "Will you go to Hogsmeade with me? A smile spread across my face as I watched the older boy. I started to reply to him but Fred beat me to it, shouting across the great hall from his place at the Gryffindor table. His voice ended all chatter in the great hall. "Oi, Macmillan. Why the hell are you asking out my girlfriend?"

"What's so funny about that?" Ginny demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. "Come on," Ron said glancing at Harry for support. Harry looked away from Ron, not willing to sacrifice himself alongside Ron. "Sorry, mate," Harry said apologetically, "You dug your own hole, you need to get yourself out of it."

"And what do you see?" For the first time since arriving in the room I contemplated actually looking into the mirror and not just at the frame holding the mirror. I had been so careful not to actually look at the mirror because I was so scared about what it would show me. I was too scared to find out what it was that my heart was craving.

I narrowed my eyes at him again. "So why did you do it?" I asked in confusion. There was no other emotion in my voice. More than anything else Blaise Zabini had the ability to confuse me. He always seemed to defy the expectations that I had come to associate with Slytherins.

"It's alright Draco," I said softly, pushing his hand away from my wrist. "I'll just make sure that you don't need to concern yourself with this mudblood anymore." I walked away from him, wanting more than anything for him to call out my name, to say something, anything. I wanted him to stop me. But he didn't. After all, he was a Malfoy.

"Isaac," I said softly, catching his attention as one of my hands moved up to frame his face.. "Look at me, focus solely on me and just ignore him. Pretend he's not here and just distract yourself." Burying his head into my neck, he let out a long hiss of breath before relaxing completely. "What are you doing?" "Distracting myself," he mumbled against my shoulder.