"It's been going pretty well even though I've been so busy I haven't been able to find the time to just hang out. However I finally found some time and I decided I would just go for a walk and see where it takes me, apparently to you which is cool with me.".

OOC: I'll be off till about 2

Kevin smiled and said "Yeah that sounds pretty good and well i am glad that you have found some time to hang about"

"So would you like to go outside somewhere around Hogwarts, or visit Hogsmeade, I'm up for anything?", Herminny said grinning.

Kevin smiled and said "I am up for going to Hogsmeade"

"Cool, one of my favorite places there is Honeydukes but you can choose."

Ahh, finally! Rachel walked down the relatively empty corridor and sat down on its left side, sliding down onto the cool floor gratefully. She had been round the whole castle about five times before finding a quiet spot to sit. It was too warm outside and she REALLY didn't feel like being cooped up in the common room yet again... It was close to the end of term, she needed to get out more and see her graduating boyfriend.

She was admittedly scared to even try and find Reid. He had NEWTs now, and the last thing she wanted was to disturb his studying and have him fail in the most important exams of his life. No, it was better to keep quiet and not see him until they were finished... Sure, it gave them about a day and a half to say goodbye, but she was NOT allowed to think about that. It just depressed her.

Sighing, she fumbled in her pockets for a minute before producing the two letters she had received and hadn't yet read - one from this Whitehall person, and another from Lucy. Trying to get more comfortable on the hard floor, Rachel squirmed around for a bit before settling down to read Briony Whitehall's letter first - she knew Lucy well enough to predict that her letter would contain things that are along the lines of 'be nice' or something like that.

Softly muttering spells under his breath Reid walked around the fourth floor. He wasn't really here for any reason except that studying had him stir crazy, yet he knew he needed to do it. Truthfully though he didn't even really care about his NEWT's. Sure they were important if he wanted a job here but at the same time he already had a career. So what was the point? Unfortunately he also had a burning desire to impress Rachel and make her proud of him. He figured if he did well in his NEWT's she'd be proud of him and it may take both their minds off the fact that they wouldn't see each other next term.

Sighing forlornly Reid began another circuit of the fourth floor, this time going over what he'd learnt in Muggle Studies. He figured this would be one of the easier NEWT's but it would still be good to prepare. Turning his body to walk down a corridor he was slightly shocked to see Rachel sitting down and reading a letter. Not wanting to disturb her he sat down silently next to her, content to just watch her until she noticed him or was finished reading the letter. Whichever came first.

Pfffft.
Yeah, right, and her name was Gwenog Jones.

Oh. Oops.

Rachel giggled. Her letter to Whitehall had been very pleasant yet EXTREMELY sarcastic to the point of it being slightly rude. She hadn't regretted it of course - that woman had made Jake's head spin a mile a minute and not in the good way like Lucy had. She had almost sent a howler, but figured that it would be slightly over the-

"Reid?" she looked up just as he slid down next to her, and her whole expression changed to one of happiness. "Reid!" she repeated, this time with a HUGE smile plastered onto her face stupidly and threw her arms around him and hugged him close.

She would, of course, scold him on not studying... But not now. He was HERE, with HER, and there was nothing she wanted more. Except maybe a time turner...

And it seemed she noticed him before she finished reading her letters. She obviously was finely attuned to his presence.

Bringing Rachel close he tucked her head underneath his own while bringing his arms gently around her. It was good to know she was so happy to see him, although he knew that she felt slightly sad knowing that he wouldn't be around soon.

"Hey," he muttered back to her in greeting not wanting to say or do anything stupid when they had so little time left. He knew he should talk to her about things but at the same time he wanted to just enjoy the quiet time with her. Talking about leaving permanently was something he could put off for just a few more minutes. Surely no-one would begrudge him that. Besides... Sighing softly he stroked Rachel's hair gently, looking intently at the strands as they slipped through his fingers. She was beautiful, far too beautiful for someone like him and yet for some crazy reason they were almost perfect for each other.

'Should I tell her how I feel?'

That one thought had been confusing him ever since the Quidditch Accidents. He knew how he felt but at the same time he was only eighteen, nearly nineteen but still. He was still immature, still growing as a person, and Rachel was younger than he was. She still had a year left before she finished school and she didn't need to be tied down to him. Sure they'd still be dating next year, he wasn't going to let the distance keep them apart but... What if she didn't feel the same way? What if he said it and didn't get the reaction he was hoping for? Still there was only one way to know and it was mainly the what if's that were killing him.

"I love you Rach," Reid whispered close to her ear, feeling some of his apprehension drain away now that he'd actually said the words. There was still the lingering fear though that she wouldn't feel the same way.

Before meeting Reid, all those stories and all those books she had read had always seemed so... unbelievable when they began describing relationships. Hearts breaking? Gazing into people's souls? Melting into hugs? Those things had sounded completely ridiculous until she had actually experienced them all.

And the correct description for this moment was 'melting into his arms'. Kitschy and weird, yes, but that's how she felt. She smiled slightly as she buried her face in the hollow space between his neck and chest and was content to stay there in total silence. He seemed to be thinking about something, and being a sixth year with no important exams, she figured she should just let him be.

Yay! He's talki-

. . .
WHAT?

His whisper sent shivers down her back but his words made her push herself away so fast she hit her head on the hard, cold stone wall. But the pain didn't even phase her - not for one second. Her eyes grew into large round orbs as she stared at him, completely and utterly speechless.

Did he really just say that?!

"Um," she said finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silence as she finally processed his words. "Are you wearing your locket?" she asked suddenly, and without waiting for an answer, pulled him to her again and felt around through his shirt for it. Ahh - there.

Taking out her wand, Rachel muttered a spell and - with downcast eyes - watched as her Christmas present to Reid flew away from his neck and towards her hand. Dropping her wand carelessly by her side now that she didn't need it, the sixth year gently turned the locket around so that the black side was showing.

With baited breath, Rachel bit her lip and waited. Waited for the true nature of the locket to appear - his words should have triggered it. She couldn't bear to look up at Reid until the image showed...

Gulp.

There it was. "Look," she whispered and handed it to him, the no longer black part showing.

And he so shouldn't have voiced that thought. Definitely shouldn't have said anything. Keeping his mouth zipped like he had been convincing himself to do earlier would have been the wiser choice. Were the general thoughts running through Reid's mind as Rachel pushed herself, almost violently away from him. It hurt, a lot. He just knew that this would be where she told him she didn't feel the same. Then again she had accepted the promise ring so that had to mean something right?

Wincing slightly as Rachel's head hit the wall he was just about to ask if she was ok when he really looked at her. Contrary to his previous thoughts she didn't look to be rejecting him. Rather she just looked to be surprised. Whether she was surprised in a good way or not was another story.

"My locket?" Reid asked confused. "What does the locket have to do with anything?" he really didn't get how his Christmas present could be so important after the statement he just made, although apparently to Rachel it was of the utmost importance. If the way she hadn't even waited for him to answer before feeling for it was anything to go by.

Sighing as she took the locket away Reid determined that he would wait and see just what she was so intent on. Especially since Rachel didn't look like she would pay him and his confession any heed until the locket revealed whatever secret was locked within it.

Look? Look at what? Reid wondered while taking the locket off her. It was just a plain black side to the locket. What could he possibly need to look at it for. Deciding to humour Rachel though Reid looked down at the black side... Only it wasn't black anymore. It was a picture of Rachel with words...

Reading them over he smiled softly. Trust Rachel to put something sentimental on there that would help get him through the day whenever he couldn't be near her.

Gently drawing her back into his arms he gently kissed her before looking at the locket once more. "You charmed the locket then? I've never seen this before so I'm guessing that you anticipated that I would tell you that I love you at some point." he stated, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.

Rachel wouldn't - COULDN'T - look up at him until he remarked on the locket. She could sense his confusion, his disappointment; he was hurting, and it was all her fault. Those stupid three words - her mouth obviously could not pronounce them... Maybe she should go get it checked out? Just to see-

HE WAS MAKING A SOUND.

Rachel tore her gaze from her own fingers up to his face the moment she realised he wasn't shouting at her, or being disgusted by her or anything like that (she had more, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to start THAT list right now). Before she knew it, she was back in his arms and sighed in relief. He wasn't mad - that was good. That was excellent.

"Yeah, I did," she mumbled into his shirt, not really having neither the desire nor the strength to pull away again. Technically, it had been her mother's idea but that small piece of information was not necessary at the moment. "I... hoped you would, at some point," she added, smiling as she felt his fingertips on her cheek.

How she wished this moment could last forever - Reid was not dumb, he'd notice she wasn't really responding to his words and then he'll get mad and she'll cry and they'll fight and he'll graduate and it'll just be AWFUL. She bit back a small sob, but felt it go through her so he would have most probably felt it too.

Her and her stupid inabilities... It was going to ruin everything - and being emotionally vulnerable right now probably wouldn't help.

"Hey, shhh. It's alright Rach." Reid said quietly, wiping away her tears and rocking her slightly. Almost as if he was comforting a small child or an emotionally fragile girl. Which he supposed Rachel was. The locket had told him everything he needed to know and she didn't need to cry.

"It's ok. Everything is going to be ok. For now lets just say I love you enough and know you well enough to be certain of the fact that you love me too. Not saying the words doesn't mean that the feelings aren't there. It just means that you can't voice them yet. But with every gesture that you make and the way you look at me, and the whole sentimental thing with this locket means something. Besides you wouldn't have taken me back if you didn't love me somewhat." Reid pronounced with absolute certainty, never stopping with his slight rocking movements. Everything would be ok, really.

He was so good to her... She didn't deserve him, seriously. Wrapping her arms around his torso, Rachel sighed and nodded. She felt bad - like, REALLY bad - but at least he understood her. And for now, that was all she wanted. Hopefully in the future, she'd get better at saying the things she felt.

Of course, she did know ONE of the reasons she couldn't say it - and it was stupid. She was... scared. Scared of saying it to him; scared of opening up like that. What if things won't work out and he'll run off with some gorgeous actress and never speak to her again? She would NEVER recover from that and her future would go down the drain because she'd fail her NEWTs for sure.

Stupid? Yes. A little legitimate? She thought so.

"True," Rachel replied, blinking out of her musings and back to their conversation. "Reid, I really really really really really really really really really really really really really like you," she listed, the childish act breaking the sour mood that had settled over them.

Giggling, she gently pulled away and kissed him softly on the lips as a way for her to convey her gratitude, she leaned back against the wall and then turned back to him. "So, care to tell me why you are here and not studying for the most important exams of your life? And don't give me the "I'm on a break" excuse - you're up on the fourth floor. No one takes a break just so they can randomly wander the halls of Hogwarts," she said, remembering HER minute breaks.

She had been SO stressed with the OWLs that the only ones she had taken had consisted of walking up and down the common room and telling ff the people who had been too loud.

OOC: shhh. I read sob and that translated to tears. Besides I replied in a hurry. As it was I almost missed my bus, not that I couldn't have gotten the next one but yea...


"Umm..." Reid replied, his intelligence glowing through in that short answer. Or lack thereof. "What is this? The Spanish Inquisition and technically these aren't the most important exams of my life. I can get through life without taking them at all. Except that it's compulsory if you want to graduate." he said shrugging in slight nonchalance. It was true though. He had his career already so these exams weren't all that important to him. Especially since he worked in the muggle world.

"Seriously though I just couldn't stand to be cooped up in the Common Room anymore so I decided to walk around the castle and try to recite spells without having a book to consult about everything." he expounded, figuring his answer of the exams not being all that important wouldn't go down well with his Prefect and Ravenclaw girlfriend. "And it looks like I picked a good time because knowing you if I wasn't wandering the hallways I wouldn't have seen you until after the NEWTs were over and since I'm going to Australia for the Summer I don't think I'd like that very much." Reid gave a tiny bitter smile. Knowing that he wouldn't see Rachel over the Summer after the disaster of the last time she went anywhere with him, and knowing that he also wouldn't see her at school. It was just a tiny bit depressing.

Rachel couldn't help it - she laughed. "Hey! I'm not THAT scary... Or am I?" she replied, raising her eyebrows suggestively. Forcing back another set of giggles, she settled for leaning against the wall and listening to his excuses *cough* reasons *cough*.

Yeah.

Crap - he was WAY too good at making himself look good. FOCUS Rachel.

"Hmmm," she began, pretending to evaluate his explanations, her eyes rolled upwards in concentration and her hands scratched her chin thoughtfully. "Ok, so I can accept SOME of that - but let me make something clear," the sixth year finally replied, and changed her tone to a slightly more serious one. "I think that it's important in life to have options since you NEVER know what might happen. Now, I'm not saying that your acting career will end - I actually think you'll be like, 200 years old before you step off-screen - but you might want to take a break and study something or just try something new for a while," she said, smiling as she pictured Reid working as a Ministry official.

It would be SO like him and yet so UNlike him too. "What I AM saying is that good grades in your NEWTs will give you an option to do ANYTHING you want. Doesn't that appeal to you?" It certainly did to her - why did people think she worked so hard?

Lightening the mood, Rachel let out a small giggle. "Now - on a scale from 1 to 10 - just how much did that little speech make me sound and look like a teacher? Be honest."

Australia? Pfffft - they were NOT going down that road today. Or ever.

"Twenty-five," Reid said, interrupting her speech. "I'll be twenty-five when I quit acting if all goes well." If it didn't then it would take longer of course but truthfully although he loved acting he wanted another challenge. Something new to do away from being on screen. Of course he wouldn't mind trying out Broadway but ideally Reid would be doing something else at twenty-five.

"You sounded more like my mother and father than my teachers," Reid replied with a small tinge of bitterness lacing his tone. It was hard to think of them well when they still refused to budge on the Sienna issue and were inviting the girl to HIS graduation/birthday party in the Summer, that was lasting nearly the whole of the break. Which was partly why he didn't want to invite Rachel. That and his parents refused to pay and while he would pay for Rachel himself he also knew with complete certainty that she wouldn't want to go there.

"Having the options does appeal to me which is why I plan on doing my best on the exams. But at the same time we're different people Rach. To me exams aren't extremely important. They don't effectively gauge a persons reliability or intelligence. Anyone can memorize information for a test but not everyone will be right for a certain job just because they technically got enough NEWTs to do that job." he said, explaining just a little of his thinking to Rachel. He respected her opinion on the matter and knew she was just looking out for him, and it made him appreciate her all the more. If she was doing the exams Reid would probably be saying nearly the exact same thing but he knew that these exams wouldn't be the thing to either make or break him.

...

Come again?

"Wait, what? I thought you wanted to be an actor for the rest of your life!" Rachel exclaimed, VERY surprised by this piece of news. Reid LOVED acting - he wouldn't go to this much trouble for it if he didn't - so why did he all of a sudden want to STOP acting in less than ten years? It was crazy.

He was lucky, really. She had absolutely NO idea what she wanted to do, nor what she liked doing. It was impossible to decide if she preferred Charms over Transfiguration, or Arithmancy over DADA or Astronomy over Potions or Care of Magical Creatures over Potions and ACK! Even combinations sometimes didn't suit her... The only subjects she DIDN'T like, she wasn't taking. It had seemed smart at the time but now it would have been nice to be able to eliminate SOMETHING.

But, then again, she was being pulled towards one area of interest as of late. . . But she didn't want to think about it too much in case it turned out she hated it or something.

Pulling herself out of her musings, she focused just in time hear Reid reply that she reminded him of his parents.

Rachel winced.

"Sorry - I didn't mean to," she apologised, not really willing to linger on THAT subject for too long. She knew perfectly well that Mr. and Mrs. Hemingway didn't like her and preferred the most horrid girl in the whole wide UNIVERSE Sienna for Reid. Luckily, he had chosen to ignore their preference... For now.

See? NOT LINGERING - MOVING ON. Yes.

"I still think they're super important but fine - if that will get you to do your best and study. . ." she ended the sentence, her meaning absolutely clear. Smiling again as they had gone back to exams - yes, as strange as it was, that was her comfort zone - Rachel snuggled up closer to her boyfriend. He was hers, and he was here and she was NOT going to waste another second of their time together.

"I do love it. It's been my escape and my safe zone for a long time now. But it's no longer a challenge. Ideally I want to go to college and study law. I've always been interested in Politics and International Laws both in this world and the Muggle one. Everyone just assumes that all I want to do is act and model, being the pretty boy that is content to sit and help by simply donating money. I want to be involved in the world I guess and the decisions being made. I want to make more of an impact then just being a face on a screen." he shrugged his voice full of feeling, none of which was bitter. "That being said acting will always be my passion. I loved it more than anything else for a long time and its had a massive impact on who I am today. So if I am still acting until I die I think I'll be content with it." Reid ran a hand through his hair, messing it up slightly while thinking of what he was next going to say.

"Acting isn't stable either. I want to be able to provide stability and eventually I want a family you know? I want to be a parent at some point in the future and when that happens, if it happens I want to be able to tell those children that they are safe with absolute certainty that I have a steady income and that they can have all the attention I can possibly give them. I don't mean to spoil them but just for them to know that they have a daddy who loves them no matter who they are and what their dreams may be." his voice was somewhat wistful, showing that he was talking of something he had dreamed of for awhile, but his eyes showed that while he wanted those things they were a far way off.

"I know. It isn't your fault. My mother would probably like you really. She never was too fond of Sienna. She wont go against my father though. As long as he refuses to accept that he can't control my emotions and that I absolutely adore you she wont either. But it doesn't really matter right now. All that matters to me is that you're safe, comfortable and that you know that no matter what they do they can't change my feelings for you." he spoke softly, hoping to convey the gentleness and the strength of his feelings to her. He really would miss Rachel.

"Yes dear," Reid replied in false falsetto, gathering her closer, just enjoying the feel of her in his arms. It was this that he would miss the most. The feel of her when they were talking about things that seemed so important but in the scheme of things probably weren't all that important at all.

Rachel smiled. He was so adorable when he talked like that - it shouldn't really be allowed. "Reid, law is the closest job you can get to acting without it actually being anything to do with entertainment. Politicians, lawyers, judges - they all act. It's a crucial part of their job," she said, trying to picture Reid in that funny white wig that judges wear - do they actually still wear those?

Note to self: research judges' appearances.

"Well, whatever it is you'll want to do - I have a feeling you'll be great at it," she concluded, pecking him lightly on the lips. And she wasn't just saying that because she was his girlfriend just a teeeeeeeny bit, perhaps; Reid did have something about him that enabled his excellence in so many topics. He was a perfectionist - and you can't get any better than that.

Kids. HOW did they get to this subject? "I know what you mean..." she mumbled, finding the first big whole in what she had thought she MIGHT want to do. Great. . . Well, later - think about that later.

Rachel giggled at Reid's explanation. "I don't know if I should be encouraged or disheartened by that, Reid," she looked down at her shirt and began fiddling with her tie as she contemplated what he had just revealed. "Your father will come around one day - look at how my parents treated me on Christmas. They weren't like before, but it certainly didn't feel like the whole of Antarctica separated us," she said, remembering how Christmas had gone.

She couldn't WAIT to see Rel again - he must have forgotten all about her by now, though. Shoving that thought to the back of her mind, Rachel giggled at Reid's comment and leaned her head back so that it was resting on his shoulder.

Man, she was more tired than what she thought.

Tilting his head to the side in a completely adorable manner he scrunched up his nose as he thought about what she said about law and acting. "I guess it is. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to it. I can still do what I love while pursuing a new passion of mine." Not that it really mattered since he wasn't even sure he'd be able to get into law.

"Thanks," he said smiling softly as he ran his fingers through her hair. It was nice that they were comfortable together once more. Things were way awkward at first and he was glad things were mostly back to normal, at least where just the two of them were concerned.

"What do you want to do?" Reid questioned, noticing but deciding not to comment on the look on her face when the word children was mentioned. Seriously he didn't expect her to have children or if she did to stay home all the time and look after them. Plus it was waaaaayyyyyyyyy too early to get into that discussion. They were both still teenagers and he only mentioned it because it formed a part of his reason for wanting a more stable job then acting. Normally he'd ask about children and stuff, well he thought that he'd normally ask about them, before he proposed, which again wouldn't happen too soon. Probably not for a few years.

"I'd go with encouraged and I wouldn't stake that on my father. He's pretty elitist actually. Thinks blood is the absolute most important thing. Half-blood is acceptable but still distasteful. Muggle-born is completely unacceptable to him. Even if he got to know you and thought you had a great personality he would still refuse on the grounds that you aren't... Well yea, my mum doesn't hold to those beliefs. She's more romantic and believes in the whole love conquers all idea." Reid shrugged in a resigned manner. He knew that his mum would eventually meet Rachel but he wasn't holding his breath that his father would be the same. If he was that would be excellent but if he didn't then that would be expected.

"I know." noticing that Rachel seemed to be tired he readjusted himself slightly, making his position more comfortable for a sustained period of time. Hopefully not making her uncomfortable in the process. "If you want to sleep for awhile I'm happy to be your pillow." he offered nonchalantly. If she slept it wouldn't matter really since he could still be spending time near her and just enjoying being in her presence.

Giggling at his expression, Rachel nodded as he took in what she had said before. They were related - and she was liking the idea of him being an oh-so-important-law/politics-person more and more.

... And there it was. The million dollar question - what DID she want to do. "Well... As of about a month ago, my reply to that question would have been completely silent. And it still sort of is - I don't know what I want to do. I- I guess there is this one thing that I'd like but it's REALLY far fetched and even though I know I COULD do it, I have trouble believing that I'll actually have the courage to go for it - I'm no Gryffindor," she replied, making another hole in the previously hole-less idea. She wasn't brave enough.

"I think I'd like your mum..." she commented softly, her eyes fluttering shut as she was speaking. She was TIRED - plus the heat was making her sleepy too... It took a few seconds, but Rachel was definitely asleep - her head and palms resting lightly on Reid's upper chest.

Sighing contentedly Reid moved Rachel so she was situated in his lap more than on the floor. He moved carefully so as not to disturb her from her rest. It would be a shame for her to awaken before she was ready to. Especially since she just went to sleep.

He started to pet her hair contentedly, thinking about what she had said before. She had a job in mind but didn't think she could do it. It seemed to Reid as if she was shooting herself down. Reid knew that if she put her mind to it she could probably do the job she wanted to do. All Reid had to do now was convince her of it over the next year.

Kat skipped through the fourth floor. She was bored out of her mind. Not being able to cause trouble was harder than she thought it would be. "These streets will make you feel brand new big lights will inspire you" She sang as she skipped through the corridor looking for something to do or someone to talk to.