Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Oh, yeah. That's my Cari. Kazimeriz chuckled to himself. He couldn't help it... she was so sharp-tongued. It took him back to the days of yore.



"If it makes you feel better, Cari, I shall continue to play along."
Kazimeriz read over the parchment and chuckled again. "Tarty intern..." he muttered, snickering a little. That must be driving her mad.

Then he read on. Her name, mingled with that of Lawson... even the student's tongues were apparently wagging. It was absolutely deplorable.

"Overlooking- for the moment- the veracity of these parchments... Just where did you get this, Mr. Tipps?" Kazimeriz raised an eyebrow. "For I am certain Car- Miss Avalon disapproves of having her personal business aired out like dirty laundry for the entertainment of the students, so the source needs to be found and dealt with harshly."

"Though of course, if you weren't consorting with a man like Lawson to begin with, none of this would be an issue." he added reproachfully to Cari.



Kazimeriz noticed the wand-painter, the simple Newtington boy ogling them. "Do you need something, Newtington?" he snarled.

That. Is. IT.

"I AM NOT CONSORTING WITH MARCUS LAWSON!" Caroline yelled, clenching her fists and bringing her arms down straight at her sides, "Am not. Never Was. Never Will. Not for all the gold in Gringotts! He's Liar, an Idiot, and several things not fit to repeat in front of children! The allegations made by these ridiculous parchements are COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS!!!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leeness

Now that the awkward, weird, gross, old people moment was over-with, Professor Kazimeriz was overlooking the Aparecium parchment. He hoped that he wasn't going to get into trouble by simply possessing one. "I.. just found it, sir. There was a couple in the Herbology class and I suppose they have been floating about everywhere. They're supposed to update automatically when new gossip is reported. Unfortunately, Nurse Avalon appears to have found her way in there... a few times."

"So it would seem," she said from between her teeth. "I'm apparently a source of interest. Because the children aren't set enough work to keep their minds occupied, I imagine. Perhaps when it comes time for your first class, Professor, you might wish to keep that in mind."

"Newtington!" Kazimeriz barked. "You force my hand, child. Ten. Report to detention immediately. Do not speak again until you arrive at the detention check in. Now for the love of Merlin on a sesame seed cracker, GO." He didn't want to give the boy detention, not really. But consistency was the cornerstone to discipline.

"Cari Mia!" Kazimeriz said, beaming as he used his old nickname for her-- even 70 year old habits die hard, so it would seem. He felt a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders... His apology had worked. She was denouncing Lawson's character and would no longer be the unwitting accomplice in the Lawson-Truebridge conspiracy, and drawn into whatever dangers those evil men might bring upon her. Thank Merlin. "I knew that a lady of your intellect would not be drawn into their plot for long. "

"I shall indeed. I shall work them intensely, out of respect to your honour and good name." He half-bowed to her, quite overjoyed at winning her over once more. "In the meantime, perhaps we could simply summon all the remaining parchments filled with lies and vitriol, that we might destroy them... though I would prefer to find the source, and eradicate it." Indeed, eradicate it -- from the entire school, if he had his way.

Theo's mouth dropped open. He had got a detention. AND he wasn't allowed to speak. The tear rolled down his cheek. Followed by another. Soon he was in tears. He ran off towards the owlery, tears pouring down his cheeks. At least he wasn't talking.

Varius allowed for Professor Kazimeriz and Nurse Avalon to continue their little conversation. Sheesh, old people drama was soooooo complex. However, Varius didn't like the sound of the Professor summoning all the parchments and destroying them, "How would that work? Accio Aparecium, would be like summoning a spell... Accio Parchment... well, I suppose you can see the problems with that... Accio Aparecium parchment, would that even work? But if it did, you would be likely to summon any parchment with the word 'aparecium' on it...including books i'm sure. I think your best bet would be the source, but how'd ya do that?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"Newtington!" Kazimeriz barked. "You force my hand, child. Ten. Report to detention immediately. Do not speak again until you arrive at the detention check in. Now for the love of Merlin on a sesame seed cracker, GO." He didn't want to give the boy detention, not really. But consistency was the cornerstone to discipline.



"Cari Mia!" Kazimeriz said, beaming as he used his old nickname for her-- even 70 year old habits die hard, so it would seem. He felt a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders... His apology had worked. She was denouncing Lawson's character and would no longer be the unwitting accomplice in the Lawson-Truebridge conspiracy, and drawn into whatever dangers those evil men might bring upon her. Thank Merlin. "I knew that a lady of your intellect would not be drawn into their plot for long. "



"I shall indeed. I shall work them intensely, out of respect to your honour and good name." He half-bowed to her, quite overjoyed at winning her over once more. "In the meantime, perhaps we could simply summon all the remaining parchments filled with lies and vitriol, that we might destroy them... though I would prefer to find the source, and eradicate it." Indeed, eradicate it -- from the entire school, if he had his way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leeness

Varius allowed for Professor Kazimeriz and Nurse Avalon to continue their little conversation. Sheesh, old people drama was soooooo complex. However, Varius didn't like the sound of the Professor summoning all the parchments and destroying them, "How would that work? Accio Aparecium, would be like summoning a spell... Accio Parchment... well, I suppose you can see the problems with that... Accio Aparecium parchment, would that even work? But if it did, you would be likely to summon any parchment with the word 'aparecium' on it...including books i'm sure. I think your best bet would be the source, but how'd ya do that?"

If I'm so smart how did I get myself into this mess?

And cue trembling lower lip.

No. No. NO! No Crying! There is no crying in... well in this.

Caroline quickly bit down on her lip. That however would make talking difficult. Deep breath then.

Inhale, exhale.

"Mr Tipps has a point about the er, possible widespread effect of summoning, Professor. And if we destroy the parchments they can always make more. If I had to guess it seems to be a variation on a Protean Charm. It's not the easiest Charm to perform, but anyone with skill at charms could just pick up where they left off," Caroline dismissed. "Better to find the source."

Kazimeriz cast a wide and worried eye toward Caroline. Oh, no... not tears. Please not tears from Cari. He scowled, trying to focus on the topic and not on her expression. "I definitely would presume a Protean Charm, yes-- excellent deduction, Miss Avalon. You obviously put that P in charms to good use." He knew darn well it wasn't a P. But better to get her mad again. Yes, a mad angry Cari he could handle. A tearful one? Nuh uh, no way. "I think there could be a way that we could put a trace charm onto this; we should consult with Professor Ashby and of course, the Headmaster. Shall we go seek them out?" He offered Cari his arm... the one not holding the cane, of course.

"I don't suppose you two lovebirds need me in this quest of yours? I suppose i'll go to the Great Hall or something - see how all the Huffies are doing. They ARE getting flooded after all," Varius smiled up at the two staff members. "I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it! And... don't do anything I wouldn't do," he winked before setting off to check on his housemates.

Kazimeriz looked to Cari with alarm. "Flooded? The floodwaters are rising again? Come, come, Cari-- we must go assist at once." He wondered where Reynard was.

Jule wandered the hallways again. The school was becoming more flooded and she felt kinda lonely. But she had a nice conversation with Vicky which made her feel alot better. She looked around for something interesting to do.

ugh! yet again she had opened her big trap and said the one thing that would surely get him to hate her. ugh why did Lilly always have to do that. she had ran after telling Kevin that she liked him. now she was standing at Lachlan the Lanky. she was worn from running so she sat next to the wall on the floor and put her head in her hands. then she thought, and thought...and thought some more. what was she going to do?!?!!?!

Nonononononono...
This couldn't be happening. This seriously couldn't be happening right now. It was her birthday after all. And birthdays were supposed to be cheerful, happy, perfect. Duh. But this one was not. So not. Although, it had started out just fine. Perfectly actually. What had happened that right now she was standing right there in front of this statue, all on her own, feeling completely miserable?

...

Oh, right. She had kissed her best friend! Could this day become any more horrible? Nancy heaved a sigh as she slowly slid down the wall next to Lachlan the Lanky until she was seated on the cold floor. Leaning her head back against the wall Nancy closed her eyes as she tried to figure out how to proceed. What was she supposed to doooooo??

He didn't know where to start. She could be in the girls dorms, she could be in any of the towers, the corridors, the courtyard or anywhere on the grounds. There were a million and one different places that Nancy could be using to hide from him. As such, it was with a defeated groan that he continued his search. He couldn't be the sole perpetrator of a ruined fifteen birthday. Especially not when said birthday girl was his best friend.

So, he continued to walk fast through all of the corridor's and literally couldn't believe his luck when after only just an hour, he found her. He didn't think that she had meant to be found... But she wasn't exactly hiding either. Siting in the corridor (and not in the eave) couldn't be considered hiding.

Slowly, Steven slid down the wall and ended up sitting next to his girl. "Nancy?" He asked her. "Will you talk to me now?" He asked her, as he slipped his arm around her shoulders in a small attempt to make sure that she didn't ignore him and move away.

Again.

Nancy felt the urge to hit her head on the wall behind her, to drown out all the confusion which was keeping her brain from thinking about anything else but the little incident in the Pathway. Maybe if she hit hard enough it would work. Although, she didn't want to wake up in the Hospital Wing either. So no to that idea...

Maybe if she just shut her eyes reeeallly tightly until she could see those small silver-ish stars. Maybe then she could forget about everything and think straight again. Just for now. Just for this one- What was that?! Nancy stirred slightly as she felt - and heard - another student approaching the place where she was seated on the floor. Couldn't they just all leave her be?!

A quick glance later and Nancy had taken in the same position she had been sitting in before the sound of footsteps had interrputed her thoughts again. It was him. It was Steven. Nancy did not open her eyes again, no she even shut them more tightly, as she felt her best friend slid down the wall until he was seated right next to her. She could feel his body heat making its way through her body, starting from the places their bodies were touching. No, but she was not going to open her eyes. No way. Maybe she could make him disappear if she just did not open her eyes.

Nancy cringed barely noticable when Steven did something she had not expected at the Pathway-incident. He put his arm around her shoulders. The 15 year old did not move away from him, she did not show any positive reaction to it either, though. She simply remained sitting there on the floor with her head leaned back against the cold wall.

Then after hours it seemed Nancy finally opened her mouth, her eyes still tightly closed, and muttered rather tonelessly, "Yes. Talk, Steven. Because I don't know what to say. I seriously don't." Which was only the truth. She seriously was at a loss of words concerning their relationship. Maybe he knew what to say or do now. She didn't.

It was with a small cringe and a barely audible wince that Steven saw his best friend close her eyes even tighter than they had been before. He didn't want their relationship to be based on the questions 'how can I escape?' or 'oh no, where can I run too?' That wasn't the way that best friends acted, and as far as Steven was concerned he needed to find some way to sort this. Nancy seemed to be too busy regretting the kiss to do anything in the way of sorting it...

So it was up to him. Yup, Yes, it was. Oh dear.

How exactly did one take down a wall that wasn't actually there?

Hmm. There certainly seemed to be a wall between them, even though their bodies were touching and he could feel his heat seeping into the cold body that was his Nacy. His present still over her arms, but not around her shoulders. He wondered why she hadn't just put it on, if for nothing else but to keep her warm. He winced, loud enough for Nancy to hear, as she talked to him. She seemed cold, and well... Not Nancy.

“Well, neither do I... But I don't regret it.” He said, nibbling on his lip. “It is in the past, so there is no point in us wishing it didn't happen.” He added, trying to reason with Nancy. “Nanc... Look at me.” He pleaded with her. After a pause, where it seemed like she was going to deny him, she slowly turned her head to face him and flickered her eyes open. She looked torn, dejected, sad and it killed him inside to think that he was the person that hurt her. “We're better than this. If anything this should make our friendship better, stronger... Nothing can come between us! We're Nancy and Steven!”

With her head still resting on the cold wall behind her, and her eyes still tightly shut, Nancy gently stroked the piece of clothing which was still partly in her hands, partly lying on her lap. Sucking at her lower lip slightly Nancy still did not respond to any of Steven's actions or his bodyheat that was still washing through her body from where there bodies touched. Yes, it really was true what she had said because she was absolutely at a lack of explaining what had happened or how they should go on with their lives now. No, she really did not know.

...which felt absolutely horrible. Some part of her hoped that Steven would now open his mouth to tell her exactly how they should proceed from now. Tell her that this was all just perfectly normal and nothing to be afraid of. Tell her that even if it should happen again it was nothing to run away from or something that would make things awkward between them. The other, rather tiny part of her wished that he would just let her be. That he would just leave right now. And that from now on they would just pretend like nothing had happened even though they both knew that it had.

Right at that moment Steven finally spoke up. A small sigh escaped her lips as she heard him admitting that he was just as clueless as she was. And then he added something, something which almost made her let her eyes snap open to stare at him. Almost. Regret it?! "I don't either, Steven. I seriously don't. It's just...it's just not right." I think... It was obvious what Nancy was talking about, namely the part of her not regretting the kiss either. Or the kisses actually. Whatever...

Her eyelids almost gave in as she heard him pleading her to look at him. But then she simply shook her head for some time. And then she waited. Waited for him to say anything else. But he didn't. There was just silence. Silence, slightly interrupted by their breathing. Should she? What would happen if she would?

Very slowly Nancy opened her eyes before even more slowly turning her head to face Steven sitting next to her. Her blue eyes displayed all of the confusion currently inside her brain, all the emotions that were currently rushing through her. "What?" But he had already answered before she got to finish that question. If anything this should make our friendship better, stronger. "You really think so?" Maybe it would be even stronger if it happened again. No! It was wrong to think that.

Or, was it?

Steven sighed a little, he didn't really know what he would have to say to make everything okay. He just knew that if he didn't do something he was seriously going to loose his best friend... and honestly he didn't know if he could cope with that. Seriously. “Well, at least we both know that we don't regret them...” He said... then cut off as he gulped.

Maybe that was the way to make her see that he really didn't mind the fact that she had kissed him outside. Maybe that was the way to make her see that he really didn't mind the fact that he had kissed her back. Maybe that was the way to make her see that he didn't want to loose her.

Hmm.

As he watched her turn to look at him, only through the silence on his part he was almost sure of it, he gave her a small smile. “I truly do believe that.” He answered, his right hand crossing over his body, to cup the left side of her face (the closest to his hand), and let his thumb caress her soft cheek as he gave her another small smile.

“I truly believe that we are better than anything thrown at us. We are Nancy and Steven. We are Slytherin's.” He said, as his thumb continued to move over her cheek, although he didn't know it was still moving. He looked at her, staring into her gorgeous eyes and leant in a little closer. When she didn't move away, he leant in a little more and tilted his head a little. He gave her plenty of time to move away, and when she didn't he closed the gap and pressed his lips gently to hers for their third kiss today.

With her eyes still closed Nancy unintentionally stiffened slightly as he heard Steven gulp. It was a sound that caused a shiver to run down her spine. Not only was this reaction caused by the way the sound broke the silence surrounding them, but also was it due to the fact that this gulp probably meant something. There was a reason why Steven had just swallowed like that. What was going on inside his head? Had he just realized something? That their kisses had destroyed their friendship? Was he going to leave now?

Right at that moment Nancy almost opened her eyes to at least try to figure out what thoughts were currently racing through Steven's head. Only almost, though. She somehow managed to resist the urge, though, and kept her eyes shut tightly. She was going to find out what was going on inside his head soon enough...

But then the almost depressing silence between them shattered her plan of keeping her eyes shut. It was just unbearable to not look at her best friend. Simply unbearable. So, in the end, she did open her eyes to look at Steven and what she saw made her wish that she hadn't given in. He smiled. He smiled at her. He smiled at her and confirmed once again that their friendship would be better, stronger now after their kisses. This was so confusing. And so wrong. Especially the fact that her heart literally skipped a beat as her blue eyes followed his hand as Steven extended it to softly cup her the left side of her face. This was all wrong, so wrong. The way her cheek started to tingle at her best friend's touch was not how it was supposed to be. All this was not how it was supposed to be.

Especially the next part was certainly not how it was supposed to be. Although, right then Nancy was in no state to realize this anymore. No, all she could do was stare - in a rather dumbfounded way - at Steven's face which was approaching hers. All she could do was gaze back as his eyes locked with hers. All she could do was just sit there like somebody had stunned her and watch how her life resumed without her personal input. No, right now Steven was in control. And there was nothing she could do about it. Or was there nothing she wanted to do about it?

The moment his lips touched hers - for the third time today - Nancy had to concentrate hard to refrain from gasping at this touch. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is- Shut up! It can't be wrong when it feels so right, now, can it? This is still wrong. This is still wron- The debate currently going on inside Nancy's head made her want to cry. Seriously. Not that she did but still the urge was there. This was so confusing. This was so...she was at a loss of words right now.

After a few moments of not moving at all Nancy finally showed some reaction to Steven's kiss. She leaned in slightly. Her brain once again a complete mess, not able to form a coherent thought. Then, all of a sudden it did manage to. Nancy's eyes flew open, but instead of crawling away from Steven in shock, she simply very slowly moved her head back a bit until their lips parted again and only there noses touched slightly. A small smile tugging at the corner of her lips the 15 year old gently stroked Steven's cheek with the back of her right hand before fully leaning back against the wall again.

After a few moments of silence Nancy turned her head back to Steven again, and looking him straight in the eye said, "Steven...that's not-not right. I mean, we can't just go around kissing when we feel like it. It's-that's not how it's supposed to be. We're best friends." Then a thought struck her and this time she did gasp. What if? What if they weren't? What if they were-what if they were more than that? Glancing down at her hands Nancy added quietly, with a slight hint of agitation in her voice, "Or are we?"

It felt like an eternity before Nancy moved either to pull away or to move closer. He had to admit, kissing someone who wasn't moving or reacting to his kissing wasn't something he liked. He smiled gently as she pressed closer for a few minutes and then she pulled away gently. He tried to not be hurt, but she kept their faces touching so he wasn't upset. Too much. He groaned a little as she caressed his cheek, and he moved into the soft motion a little. He hadn't felt something so soft against his skin... well ever.

Steven bit his lip again, as she tried to shy away from him again. He had never felt the feeling that was inside him now. He knew that he shouldn't like his best friend, not in the way that meant he wanted to kiss her again and every second that he was with her he felt like something had been awoken inside of himself. Ohhhhhh. What the heck am I doing? I can't just go around kissing my best friend. She's right about that. He thought, as she trailed off and then gasped. Uh oh. What had she just thought of? Did she want him to move away? To take his hand away from her face and leave her alone now? Silently, he winced at that thought.

“You will always be my best friend.” Steven told her once more, as his thumb moved over her cheek again. “Whether we like each other or don't.” He said, silently wincing at the thought of not having her in his life. He didn't know if he could cope with that. Over the last year, Nancy had fully become his best friend, and the person he looked for to talk about everything. He looked up at her, and tilted his head to the side as she asked that final, fatal question.

“We are... but we could possibly be more.” He said, as he looked at her again. He knew that his parents had been friends before they had gone out. What better way to pick your life partner, than by picking your friend? Even better-- you're best friend. “Want to go to Hogsmede with me.” He asked softly, almost whispering the question as he looked straight into her eyes. He'd never been so nervous, not even when he had asked Paris out.

With her head still resting against the wall behind her Nancy tried to clear her head, to be able to think clearly again, to be able to comprehend what exactly it was that was currently going on, going on between her and Steven. Not that it was particularly working. The clear-her-head-thing. But it somehow calmed her down. The way the cold wall behind her was pressing against her skull made her breath come at a normal pace again. The chaos inside her head was still present, though. This was not right...

Absentmindedly twirling a strand of dark-blonde hair around her finger Nancy moved her gaze away from one of the tiles on the floor and back at Steven.
You will always be my best friend. That sentence made her lips curl up to form a small smile which even reached her blue eyes, causing them to twinkle slightly. Her unintentional reaction to Steven's touch on her cheek was to reach up with her own hand, but instead of softly taking it to move it away Nancy simply placed it above Steven's and left it there. Just to let him know that she did not mind it. Not at all actually.

We are... but we could possibly be more. Nancy blinked a few times upon hearing Steven's reply to her question, confirming her prior assumption. So, they could be more? Seriously? Did she want that to happen, though? Nancy automatically grabbed his hand, the one on her cheek, this time only to slowly pull it off her face. She didn't let go of it, though, but even cupped their interlaced hands with her other hand before looking back up at Steven, contemplating his question. Hogsmeade?! Nancy cocked her head slightly to the side as she absentmindedly resumed to play with Steven's hand in her hands. "Well, you really think so? But what if...well, never mind." No need to think about that now. "Well, I guess I..." Then giving Steven a grin she finally ended up saying, "Yes, I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you." Why not after all.

Steven let a smile light up his face, as Nancy reacted to the words that he spoke. Seeing that his confirmation of eternal friendship made her smile, made him smile. He couldn't help it. The smile that curled over her cheek bones and lit up her eyes made his heart skip a beat. That wasn't new, it just had a new meaning all together. And that was the part that scared him the most... That was the part that made Steven have butterflies... That was the part that made Steven wonder whether or not it was a good idea for him to ask Nancy to Hogsmede...

He looked at her, head leaning slightly to the side as she clasped his hand from her cheek and then caressed it gently. His heart stopped in his throat and he gulped as she pulled it away from her face. However, she didn't drop it, she simply held it between two of her own and caressed the skin there while she thought about how it would be best to answer his request. Slowly, as the seconds ticked by; seeming more like minutes if not hours to the nervous fifteen year old. However, she kept such a firm hold on his hand and such a gentle tease and play with his fingers that he forgot to count the seconds.

He looked up at her and yet again confirmed the statements that he had been constantly repeating. “I do believe this. I do, I wouldn't keep repeating it if I didn't.” He said, with a playful smile on his face. He opened his mouth to ask what she was going to say, but before he could she was already talking again. Although she seemed hesitant there was a large enough grin on her face to scare Peeve's into submission (for once) and as she gave him her answer, he couldn't stop a mirroring grin to appear on his own face. “So you will come with me to Hogsmede this Saturday?” He asked her, making sure one final time that she was prepared to go on a date with him.

Walking down the corridor slowly, George looked at his feet and sighed. Alice had a boyfriend. Fyo. He was a nice guy and all, but Alice was the one person George was protective over. He sighed again and then looked up at the sound of S's voice "S?!" George gasped as he heard S asking that girl from the corridor - Nancy - On a date.

Still looking down at their intertwined hands in her lap Nancy's fingers resumed to gently stroke Steven's. The smile on her best friend's face made her smile broaden even more. Somehow everything felt so awesome, so easy at the moment. Right now, she felt rather lightheaded to be honest. In a good way, though. In a totally good way. It simply felt like the moment couldn't get any better. Right now all she wanted to do was lean forward once again until their lips would touch for the forth time today. But there was this little part in her brain, the one which still managed to think clearly and reasonably, which told her to refrain from giving in to that almost unbearable urge. This was not right. Not now. Not like this.

A small almost defeated-sort of sigh escaped her lips, though, as she finally decided to not kiss Steven again. Like she'd just said, they couldn't just go around kissing whenever they felt like it. No, they were supposed to be just friends. Just best friends. So, duh. Nancy bit her lower lip slightly before it curled up once again to form a smirk this time. "Yeah...true." She replied with a small teasing roll of her eyes at her own "stupidity". But it felt so good to hear it again. And again. And again. And again.

So you will come with me to Hogsmeade this Saturday? Well, hadn't she just answered that question. And, wasn't it just plain obvious what her answer would be anyway? Or maybe this was also something that Steven liked to hear over and over again. "Yeah, I am. And now I'm the one repeating my statements." Nancy grinned at Steven, her fingers still caressing her friend's hand in her lap. Then a thought struck her. Leaning forward slightly she grabbed Steven's hand a little more tightly and slowly, very slowly, brought it up to her chest...and placed it right over her heart. "Can you feel my heartbeat?" Well, it was probably very hard to miss actually because right at that moment it felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest, it was beating that fast.

Right at that moment, when she waited for Steven to react somehow and at the same time wondered if it had been a stupid idea to let him feel her immensely increased heartbeat in the first place, she heard a boy's voice. What the-? Nancy immediately let go of Steven's hand, letting it drop back to his side, as she whirled her head around and simply stared incredulously at the little boy who had just apparently addressed Steven. And then she realized who the little boy was. It was George. Steven's brother. Oh noes...

Steven smiled at their hands and silently wondered what it would be like to intertwine his hands with Nancy's when they were both over a hundred years old. Silently the thought that was one of the best things he had ever considered in his short fifteen years of life, but knew that without Nancy in his life, it would be like there was no sun. He knew that whether this worked or not, Nancy would be in his life. How could she not be? He'd be a shell without her. That look, the one where she rolled her eyes as her lips cracked a small smirk-- yeah that one. He gulped, and his heart fluttered.

Steven followed her routine, and smirked and rolled her eyes at the same time. Afterwards all he did was grin and laugh a little with a nod. “Good.” He said as he watched her fingers as they moved gently over the skin that clung to his hands. He grinned a little at the fact this was so easy. Sure, he had been nervous actually asking her on the date, but now that she had said yes there was no tension in the air and he simply enjoyed her company. Awesome. Amazing. Astonishing.

Then, she was lifting his hand out of her lap and he was confused. Where was she putting it? Back on her cheek? Around her shoulders? Nope, his thoughts were well wrong as she placed his hand over her heart and suddenly he felt the faint pitter-patter of her heart and instantly decided that there was nothing more musical and magical than the sound and feel of her heart pressing against her skin and his skin in time. He grinned at her and was just away to answer her when he heard a startled sound behind him. He knew that voice... Even when it was a pitch higher out of shock.

“George!” Steven said looking up at his brother with a large grin. “Come over here.” He said with a grin, he wanted his brother to properly meet Nancy... Well, they were dating now, so best friend didn't entirely cover it, but it was definitely a good starting point. Many didn't ever know each other that well when they started dating.... Right? He had an advantage over everyone else wanting to date Nancy. He knew her, inside and out... Possibly even better than she knew herself... He grinned at the thought as he waited patiently for George to decide that it was safe to come over and join them.

As he stared at them both, shock on his face, George blinked and backed away a little. Is this get a partner week!? He leant against the wall as he watched S's hand over Nancy's heart. Ugh. This was sickening, was he the only person in Hogwarts who didn't have a girlfriend?! He heard S tell him to go over to him. He eyed Nancy and then took a small step forward. Assessing the situation, he had to fight back the urge to run. He couldn't deal with this, first Sarah, then Alice and now S! Was Bee going to get someone too!? He took another step and then made a small uncertain face.

Seeing S grin, George walked over to his side and looked up at him "S?! Is this what I think?! Sarah got a boyfriend, then it was Alice with Fyo - who is really nice and helped Alice to find me in the bamboo forest, also slipping when he tried to talk to me - and now you?!" George almost whined. This. Was. Wrong! School was for working, girlfriends and boyfriends were for when you were older, like when you left school or somthing. But obviously S and the rest of his family didn't agree. He looked at Nancy and then smiled "Hey" he wasn't so nervous around her anymore, especially since she'd seen him cry before.

Right at the moment when Nancy glanced back up from their interlaced hands she gasped in a rather fake way, her eyes twinkling in amusement. Had he just mimicked her actions?! Had he just smirked and rolled his eyes the same way she had just had? He had. He so had. "I saw that!" Nancy stated while playfully poking his nose softly after freeing one hand of the mess of hands in her lap. Slightly at a loss of where to put it now after her little nudge she first ran it through her hair before placing it back on Steven's hand. Was it really that easy? Would it really be that easy?

Somehow everything was just so normal at the moment. The situation was even soothing, calming her down...which just did not make any sense at all. Especially the rate her heart was beating at the moment, sometimes even skipping a beat, should not have exactly helped her to think that clearly. But somehow it did. Or at least it did not have a negative effect anymore. Weird, very weird. But as long as it was a good feeling she would not do anything to change it. And it was, it was more than good actually. It was amazing. No, not even amazing described it. It was just...there were no words to describe the way she was feeling right now.

Nancy exhaled a breath she had not been aware of having held upon seeing the grin on Steven's face. So it had not been a wrong move to let him feel her heartbeat. Phew... What it meant that her heart was behaving that way in the first place was still an unsolved mystery. Well, not a mystery actually but Nancy liked to think of it like a mystery. A good mystery, though. She grinned back softly at Steven while still waiting for him to say something, his hand still pressed against her chest. And then when he finally started opening his mouth...

...that George person seriously couldn't have chosen a worse moment to appear at the statue. The part of her skin where Steven's hand had just been a second ago felt cold now as they both turned to look at Steven's little brother. As if to get back the heat Nancy absentmindedly started rubbing her chest with her left hand as she forced a cheerful smile onto her face for George. It wasn't his fault after all. And he seemed to be sorry to have interrupted something. Or, well, more shocked actually but that was almost the same, right? Cough...

"Hi George..." Nancy genuinely smiled at him this time which even broadened slightly as she heard him asked Steven and now you?!. It was the first time somebody actually stated something like that. What were they now anyway? Oh, well, Steven's answer to that should be interesting...