December 2nd: 'Tis The Season - Lake (Open)

[Arnie Peasegood]

His fingers were suddenly feeling gigantic and were fumbling spectacularly as he tried to lace the skates up properly, and Arnie was getting a bit frustrated with himself. It wasn't as if he hadn't ever gone ice skating before, his family had all the time while he and his siblings were growing up! But maybe it was his gloves or something - in fact, he was about to take them off when Dora decided to put him out of his misery.

Well, this was...happening.

His girlfriend was kneeling between his legs, fixing up his skates, and Arnie didn't know what to do. If he looked at her and thought about where she was, that just made her proximity all the more - er - distracting. But if he didn't look at her, that was just as awkward, right? And rude on top of it? So he nodded along to her points, clearing his throat loudly before giving her a smile. "Er - thanks love, is there anything you can't do?" His geniality was a bit forced, admittedly - it was just undeniably uncomfortable to be in this sort of position in public, he'd be mad to not have his thoughts running wild, right? - but the sentiment was true. There hadn't yet been something they'd encountered that had her faltering - he knew she wasn't perfect, they had fought earlier in the fall, but she was just...amazing. From academics to healing to athletics to her humor and looks, his Dora was too good for him.

Just get your mind out of the gutter, Peasegood, she's nearly done!

His smile was back by the time Dora rose, gripping his thighs to help her stand - which was doing nothing to quiet his thoughts about activities they hadn't yet engaged in.

Her incredible kiss didn't help either.

Be mentally here, you baboon.

But really, he loved this girl - something he was becoming more familiar with thinking - and wanted to tell her. He needed to focus on that, to try and get up the nerve to tell her today. He didn't like the feeling of keeping this from her. Because he hadn't told her, he had to watch what he said, he didn't just want it slipping out! She deserved something special, something to remember, not a blurted "I love you" as they parted ways for class one day. This could be perfect - it was beautiful out, they were essentially on a date neither had even had to plan, and they had the night to do whatever they wanted.

She took his hands and although his first few moments on the ice were dreadfully unsteady - the mechanics of this just didn't jive for him, how could something so thin support his weight so well? - Arnie let muscle memory take over, gliding with her over the ice. He looked over to see his girlfriend beaming, her cheeks rosy, hair windswept, and he couldn't not smile at seeing her like this. Imagining going the whole of the winter holiday without spending time with her was something that didn't sit well in his gut, so after a little while he asked, "So, winter holiday coming up...any chance I'll get to see you?"

[Deleted]

Poor Penny had her own life to lead, and was now trapped in the banter of the Heads. Lily gave him a ‘cool it’ look and a sweet apologetic one to Penny. “Potter don’t pull her into this. All the girl wants is her skates.” Lily watched her run off to her friends, nostalgic for a bit of that innocent youth.

James’ new attention on her snapped Lily out of the look she was giving him. She replaced it with one meant to sternly require he not think too much into it.

The adorably pathetic scene of him clutching his drink helped her to swallow down the other bullet with a calculated gulp of her own cocoa. At the handing over of his gloves and insinuation that she had snuck up to his dorm on purpose, Lily raised her eyebrows. Line crossed. Shots fired. “Well…” she wouldn’t be Lily Evans if she didn’t battle back “There was a certain mag I’m pretty sure you didn’t want me to see… Remus said you’d bought it just for the Quidditch star on the cover but I’m not too sure…” She was cut off by the next customer, a Hufflepuff boy probably in their year, she blushed but gave a shrug as if to say ‘he started it’.

Lily cringed at her overcompensation and silence was kept until Doe and Arnie’s visit. The tension it had broken was recreated tenfold as their interactions continued. It wasn’t a bad tension, so to say, it just brought Lily back to remembering the change she could all too acutely settling in on her relationship with James Potter.

The difficulty of it was that this was proving that they were irrefutably turning into a something, if they weren’t already. James’ quiet appreciation of the moment was tangible to Lily even if he didn’t want it to be. She could read him like one of her books. Doe proved to be a bit of a curveball. “Potter’s chock full of ideas alright… That’s not speaking to the quality of them though.”

His faked offense was easily anticipated by the redhead, but she played her part and raised an eyebrow almost dramatically. “If only I had known sooner… the last six years would have gone so much more smoothly.” She threw up her hands in mock annoyance at both the skates and James’ antics.

The honest grin from Arnie was a pleasant distraction from her nerves. She returned it gladly and nodded as if to give a blessing to him and Doe for both herself and James, even knowing how he felt. “Thanks Arnie, enjoy it out there.” The whole thing had been extremely telling of the trajectory of Lily’s near future with her co-Head. It would be a lie to say that it wasn’t a fascinating concept.

Willa’s appearance was needed to break the tension of Doe’s assumptions, but Lily couldn’t help but even more put on the spot. It was like everyone who would ever be able to read into her suddenly changed attitude towards Potter was surreptitiously and suddenly bombarding her with their presence and literally drawing the two together.

Her small slip up in talking about the Head’s meeting the night before was going to cost her… not so dearly any time she could have a long chat with Willa she came out refreshed. The beginning of it always started out with a bit of teeth pulling though. Lily had put her foot in her mouth. Willa’s look of confusion transcended what Lily thought she knew to be true. But seriously… how was Willa, the one who could talk Lily through anything not seeing what she was? Maybe she was reading too much into the time that Willa and Sirius were putting into each other.

Truth be told Willa spend a lot of herself on her friends. Lily shook her head in a bit of embarrassment as Willa bounced off. “We…” she cleared her throat “I’ll be sure to.” No sense dropping her Potter-hating act just for her best friend or letting on that something had changed yesterday.
Even though he had taken a step back, James’ scrutiny was inescapable “I could be wrong…” she said seeing how this could truly go wrong, “In fact I probably am… Willa’s just friendly… Figured I’d give as good as I…” Lily gulped. Suddenly blazingly hot even in the blistering cold “got.” Now she was in for it. “No reason to…” words were difficult as she stared squarely at the sweater material around his shoulders, “meddle.” That was the last thing Lily needed. Her slip up to turn into an elaborate scheme to bring their two best pals together.

Lily knew it would be better, unbelievably, to bring the focus back to them. “Well I never…” she regained some ground “James potter referring to a job as fun… I wonder who could be responsible for this change in character.” She chuckled at the patting of her own back. At James’ question her heart-rate skyrocketed. It was one thing for Lily to know they’d be spending the day together… It was quite another to have it being put into motion.

She tried to act normal and rolled her shoulders to emphasize her need for movement. “I’ve been in the library with Remus for hours. Even the infallible Lily Evans needs to blow off some steam.” From the corner of her eye she saw Remus and Charlotte making their way through the line. She refocused quickly on James in an attempt to not bring overdue attention to their mutual friend’s date. She glanced back despite herself, enchanted in their awkward courtship, and found inspiration in it. “Tell you what Potter.” She said adopting a smirk that, by now, he must know well.

She took a step towards him, placing her hands on his shoulders, and turned him to look down the line. Despite herself she rested her chin on the crook of his shoulder “If you’re nothing less than a gentleman to Remus and Charlotte…” Remus would get a kick out of this later, especially after the talk the two bookworms had just had. “Then we will go skating” The step back that she took made her feel colder than she had been before. As if that moment hadn’t been super charged, she set to the task at hand: deciphering James’ system.

[Admin]

Dorcas playfully rolled her eyes at her boyfriend when he spoke, as there were plenty of things she couldn't do properly. "You have a front row seat to what I can't do every Thursday!" He had watched her create - and mess up - countless potions since they'd started getting to know one another, so it was just silly for him to act as though she didn't have any flaws. That being said, he was looking rather odd about it all, so maybe she had already done something tonight to make him feel uncomfortable and he was trying to return from that. Not willing to think anymore on that, however, Doe finished tying up his laces with practiced fingers.

The wind was blowing harder by the time the two of them stepped onto the ice, and she had conflicting feelings about it. It was lovely because she would be able to use this as an excuse to remain close to Arnie throughout the evening, but only being in tights and a light sweater? She would be tremendously lucky if she didn't end up sick tomorrow. Doe could just see James' face as she told him she would need to miss a practice, and it was terrifying. Maybe Dumbledore had created warm pockets somewhere nearby so that people wouldn't get chilly...

With that in mind, the Gryffindor let her eyes wander around the ice, trying to locate the best place to stay warm. The horse drawn carriages would be a good place for a warming charm...Later on she would have to suggest that she and Arnie go on one. 

Her boyfriend speaking pulled her out of her own thoughts and she smiled up at him, "Are you saying you're going to miss me, Peasegood?" She loved teasing him, seeing the way his eyes would light up when he realized she was playing with him, the grin on his face as he played right back. Doe squeezed his hand as they went around the bend of the lake. "James' mother - Dorea - is throwing a party that I could use a date for, if you wanted to come to that." She blushed and looked away, "But we could just grab lunch sometime instead if you don't want to come to an event..."

[Deleted]

Sirius had to chuckle at the look on her face - did she really think he cared if she skipped the line? If there was one thing he had consistently tried to do in his life, it was find shortcuts in the things that were usually tiring or draining activities. Waiting in line for the second time in one night was exactly one of those things. She would be helping herself as much as she would be helping him, honestly.

But you'd wait in line with her all over again, you know you would.

His eyebrows rose when she squeezed his hand, a feeling of pride surging through his body at the knowledge she would be breaking some rules. He didn't respond to her before she took off into the shack, mostly because he would most definitely be telling some people, and teasing her about it whenever he got the chance - what kind of a friend would he be if he didn't? 

Got a little more than friendship on your mind though, don't you?

If Sirius was being honest with himself, then yeah, he'd been thinking about Willa in a more than friendly way over the past couple of months, but none of that mattered. They had something good, and he wasn't going to ruin it by trying to make a move. It was almost a sense of deja vu he had - hadn't there been moments where he'd felt this same way around the time they'd met in fifth year?

James popped his head out of the shack and gave him a wave and he grinned at his best mate - hoping he would keep himself copped up in there all night just because that's what Evans wanted to do. He was in his seventh year! He needed to live a little! Shortly, Robbins was coming back to him with a smile on her face, and he couldn't help but return it - woman had a great smile, what else could he do?

He let out a loud bark of laughter when she told him about how tough getting prepared for skating was and when he quieted down he grinned and nodded. "Sleigh ride it is, Robbins - didn't know you were gonna try cozying up to me so early in the night. Was just a matter of time though, eh?" They made their way to the short line up for sleighs and Sirius helped her up into one when they got to the front. The chill from the cold night automatically went away when he stepped on and got comfy in the hay next to her, Probably a warming charm or something - good thinking James.

[Willa Robbins]

What did Lily mean, we might "prefer a more beguiling atmosphere"? Willa couldn't keep the thought away as she was hip-bumped out of the shack by the Head Girl, and soon under Sirius' arm on their way to a sleigh ride. There had so been a point - years, in fact - when something like this would've made her thoughts run wild, would've made her want to do something rash and jeopardize their friendship. But she and Sirius were just friends! And Lily knew it! So why would she suggest...? You'll sort things out with her, and soon. She liked Benji, they were practically official! And while Sirius' familiar smile and loud laugh made her warmer, made her return them, as they always did, it was...it was just different! There were teases between the two of them, always had been - nothing more. Once she'd realized that back in fifth, they'd truly been able to be friends! And that was something she wouldn't put in danger!

"Oh goodness - you've caught me there, love - so many ulterior motives here, just been biding my time," she returned easily, laughing as she leaned into him while they waited in the queue. Willa took Sirius' offered hand for a boost up into the sleigh once they got to the front - after she'd said hello to the horses, of course - and within moments he was beside her in the warm hay, and the horses were trotting off merrily. The jostling of the sleigh pulled a laugh out of her as it bumped her into him, and after some maneuvering she'd settled in under his arm again, head on his shoulder. The feel of his arm around her, the smell of his jacket - I've missed this. While things with Benji were good - why are you comparing this to that? - that didn't mean she didn't miss her friends. But she'd been trying to put time in with him, and there were only so many hours in a day...still, you need to make time for Sirius too. He was one of her dearest friends, and she had next to no clue what was going on with him! "I feel like I haven't seen you in an age," Willa began, turning away from the scenery ahead of them to give him her attention properly, patting his chest as she spoke. "Catch me up, would you? What's been going on in the delightfully exciting life of Sirius Black?"

[Arnie Peasegood]

Arnie had to laugh, grateful for the distraction from her positioning, as Dora put him in check. While it was true she wasn't an incredible potioneer, she was more than proficient - really, all he did was enjoy distracting her and assist her with the potion-making. "Harsh, Dora," he said, still chuckling, "you're not that bad, but don't tell my tutor-self I said that, he'd hate me if you stopped letting me help." The couple was shortly out on the ice, hand-in-hand, and Arnie gained some stability after a little while, grateful all of a sudden to the weekends spent out on the ice with his siblings growing up. Who knew that that latent muscle memory would come in handy now - as in, it would hopefully keep him from making an utter clown of himself in front of this girl yet again. Anything remotely athletic that they'd done so far - besides snog, of course - had left him looking a fool. The wind might make you a literal clown, though - can hardly feel your nose!

He beamed down at her as Dora teased him about missing her - of course he was going to miss her! They'd not gone a single day without speaking since they'd started becoming a something, and now that he knew he loved her? A few weeks away would be murder! "What? Not going to miss me? I am hurt." He had to tease back, it was their nature, but as Dora went on...

"You'd want me to come?" Words were just as fumbling as his feet as Arnie steadied himself on the ice, slowing their curving trajectory as he tightened his grip on her hand. Way to be cool and collected - big deal, she knows you're not that - "I don't mean I wouldn't want to go, I do want to go," Arnie amended quickly, shooting her a slightly nervous grin. "I just - don't know how psyched Pot- James would be about me coming to his over the holiday. But if you think it's fine, I trust you." Her being mates with an ex was something he really should be fine with - he and Hestia were still close, after all - and he really was trying to get past the awkwardness he still felt about her and James Potter. Being at the Potter house with Dora and all of the other Gryffindors - he assumed - would be an...adventure, to say the least. One that hopefully he wouldn't come out looking too horribly from. But the blokes she was friends with, Merlin, they still seemed to have it out for him!

[Charlotte Fudge]

This is going...fine, so far. Isn't it?

With that grin of his, Remus seemed pleased at her admission about being out in the cold because she heard he would be, and seeing as she - as she liked him, that was...good. If it turned out that Rufus was out here as well, or if someone cared enough to tell him that they'd seen the pair of them - then they would deal with it. She and Remus would.

Together.

She was certain of that much.

They'd have to tell him at some point, after all, if things between them progressed beyond spending time together in the library. They'd spent so many hours there in the company of the other and the company of their books, talking and studying and reading and...no, there hadn't been any sort of canoodling, even though she knew that many couples (not that the two of them were named that) went to the library for the sole purpose of finding a private place to snog. But even so, Charlotte felt that Remus liked her back. They felt like similar enough people in that respect for her to think it - only giving time, which was precious, to people they enjoyed giving time to. Which is only being exemplified now...

Remus fell into step with her, truly not seeming to mind having to go through the line again, and the blonde felt...happy. She still didn't know how she'd been able to not only catch but also to hold the attention of such a good bloke, but here they were. You could ask him, the girl reminded herself - but whatever courage that had landed her in Gryffindor wasn't nearly enough for that, evidently. She nodded a thanks to him, arms going around herself in a hug against the chill of the evening as they moved forward. "Really great of Lily and James to put this together, isn't it?" she offered as a bit of conversation, a twinge of annoyance at herself hitting her. In the library, conversation was easy - just because they were having a change of setting didn't mean they couldn't speak like usual, right? "What have you been up to today?" Thankfully, in the time it took for them to get to the front of the line, their conversation did seem to get easier, at least to Charlotte. Just something new to get used to, is all - it was difficult at first, even in the library, remember?

She offered a smile of hello to the Head Students, giving her skate size to Lily as she attempted to keep a blush back from her cheeks. Knowing her friend, she was going to get a few well-meaning pokes and prods about the night's events the next that they spent time together. While she waited for the skates, her eyes went curiously between Remus and James, the latter of whom seemed to be struggling with words - a first, in all her years of casual observation. "I hope you can get out to enjoy the evening soon," she told them with another smile as Lily returned with her skates, exchanging a look with the girl before heading off with Remus. Taking a look towards the lake, Char saw that it was getting busier by the moment, and steeled herself for the probability of this being their last moments-of-togetherness-without-Rufus-knowing.

As much to distract herself from that as to gain answers, Charlotte asked, "Is everything all right with James? I thought things were getting better between him and Lily..."

[James Potter]

His laughter slowly abating, James finished up with Penny, granting the girl her skates and giving his companion a mock bow. It's not like he could help it, and Lily knew that - bantering like this with her was one of the things he loved about her, and seeing as he couldn't very well act on how he felt without scaring her off completely, he wasn't going to give this part of their relationship up. The two took to their cocoa, the shaggy-haired boy a bit more cautiously than before, given the ginger feeling in his mouth since its scalding, but he could do nothing more than raise his brows right back at her at the challenge. "It's not my doing that the Harpies are an all-women team," James returned without embarrassment as their next customer came up. "My subscription to Quidditch Quarterly isn't on the basis of whether or not there's a beautiful girl on the cover - not sure I can say the same about what you're reading, Bertram, but there's nothing wrong with that," he assured, giving the now red-faced Hufflepuff a wink before the bloke high-tailed it away.

This time in the shack was going well with Lily, though. After yesterday's emotional whirlwind with the girl, James wasn't sure how she'd be with him today. He'd seen her so vulnerable - emotionally vulnerable, physically and magically aggressive to match it - and she'd let him. More than that, she'd accepted his help, and thus doing had granted him an invitation to the Evans house over the coming holiday. He'd figured that she may regret it already, even with their growing closeness, maybe come to him with an argument against it today, but...it seemed like she was doing all right. Even with the stress of yesterday. Perhaps it was a good thing that this event was today, gave her a big distraction from the predicament her family was in...

Don't you get sucked back there! Need to keep her upbeat, she can't see you getting worried now.

As such, James was game to hide his own stress about it in banter - whether with her, their current customer, a friend dropping by - he was going to keep her mind away from what was going on at home. They'd fix that as soon as they could, they would - but it wouldn't do the Evans family any good if Lily was upset today. And so he shot a pained look to Doe at Lily's insistence that his ideas were of varying quality, and laughed loudly at her insistence that if she'd known his "actual sore spot" sooner, the past years would have been better for her. "Really, Evans? You would've mocked me about skates at eleven? The horror, the utter, absolute, horror. Would've just made me find yours faster," he said in challenge, taking the moment to, with much playful satisfaction, drink his cooling cocoa. Willa was next, in-and-out in a flash, but not quickly enough for James to miss the oddness that passed between the two girls. He listened with growing curiosity as Lily stumbled over her words, and couldn't stop the slow smile that spread across his face before she'd finished. Not that she likely saw it, as she seemed fixated on his reindeer sweater (not that he could blame her, it was a grand sweater, and he filled it out well), but still.

"D'you think there's something to meddle in? You can tell me," he said as he neared her, voice dropping towards secrecy in his excitement. He couldn't say any more - would be breaking trust with Paddy to share his observations, after all - but was so tempted to. James wanted his best mate to be happy, and he always seemed happy around the badger. Maybe there was something more to them than he'd fully realized - and if Lily knew anything, it could lead to a very happy holiday...

The bloke was distracted from that train of thought, however, as another one crashed into it. He laughed with her, tossing up his hands in a for once I'm not even going to argue with you manner, but caught her eye as he asked about her plans for the rest of the evening. Gonna blow me off, or what? Think you can handle a whole night of this? he dared silently, hoping she wouldn't give him hell about asking her. While Lily wasn't acting particularly odd, James felt that her pause meant something...at least you've got her thinking, not a direct "no." Her next brought out a smirk he loved so dearly, and his heart began to pound as she turned him around, laying her chin on his shoulder once she'd moved him about. Her breath tickled his neck, her warmth emanating out of her and into him, and it was all James could do to stay still and keep his hands to himself until she took a step back.

"Perhaps you've been missing something," James countered with a clear of his throat, forcing out the words (they'd become rather lodged when he felt her against him, as there were many, many, things he wanted to do that didn't involve speaking), "because I am nothing but a gentleman. May I?" He turned around to face her, gesturing for her to turn her back to him. "Your shoulders are killing you, and I can help. Have gotten very good at massages after all these years of flying." In meeting her eyes, James knew he was overstepping - but for Merlin's sake, he couldn't hold everything back! And he - he was going to have to resist teasing Remus! Even though they had just gotten the bloke his skates! And now he was coming back with Charlotte Fudge basically on his arm! Totally, totally whipped! Oi, they'll say the same about you, once they know what you had to do to get her to spend more time with you.

They helped the next few students, and before he'd come up with a proper game plan, Remus and Charlotte were before them. Damn it all to hell. James had so much to say to his mate, so many well-meaning taunts to throw, so much courage-boosting to do - but he couldn't trust himself with his words now! Not when there was so much riding on the line! While Lily helped get Charlotte's skates, James was biting the inside of his cheek, fingers drumming on the wall, exchanging significant looks with Moony. It was only after Charlotte spoke and moved to leave that he let something out. "Thanks - we will!" he called after them. With that, James looked over at Lily triumphantly. "There. Happy? You get to hear all of what I held back now - owe me that much for making me do that, it was unnatural."

[Remus Lupin]

Daisy had kindly left them alone - although he was sure that she was going to be returning to the castle to take advantage of the empty dorm with Peter - but that was much better than having her along. He was starting to feel comfortable being alone with Charlotte, even if it was just in the library. This was his chance to see how it would feel in public, even if he would face the wrath of Rufus for it. But Charlotte's older brother wasn't exactly of a fan of hanging out with the Marauders, and since James was one of the people responsible for this day, there was a good chance that Rufus wouldn't be around. Right now, the only person he really had to face was James.

He gave a smile to Charlotte, nodding to her question. "It's wonderful, really. It's a well deserved break from the stresses that school can bring." Or perhaps this wasn't going to go as smoothly as he had planned. Normally they had a lot to talk about, but it wasn't exactly the time or place to discuss homework assignments or books they had been reading. He was supposed to show her a good time, to show her that he was capable of more than fumbling about in the library. That he could be a boyfriend. And if he didn't do something today to prove that he'd have to listen to James and Sirius give him an earful. It was already bad enough that Sirius had tried to coach him on how to give a proper first kiss. Not the time to think about that, she's talking to you.

"Oh, Lily and I were in the library before hand working on school work and talking," he said with a grin. While he was concerned for Lily, she'd admitted just enough for him to find amusement in. And seeing as she was now stuck in a small building with James...well he was going to have to give her a hard time later. That was for sure. "So nothing too exciting before this, really. How about you?"

Before too much time had passed, they were standing in front of James and Lily, with James just staring at him. He had been prepared to defend himself, to say literally anything to avoid a conversation in front of Charlotte that could be awkward. But James wasn't saying anything and Lily was busy helping Charlotte with the skates. "Nice sweater," Remus finally fumbled out, cracking a grin to James before heading out to the lake with Charlotte. He took a seat near the edge in the snow, taking a moment to adjust to the cold before he started to change into the skates.

"Oh, he's fine. Just a little...surprised. That's all. Thankfully those two are finally starting to get along," Remus answered, doing his best to gracefully stand to his feet on the ice. He waited for Charlotte to finish, before holding his hand out to help her up. "Would you want to go on the sleigh ride later?"

[Admin]

Dorcas smirked and nodded her assent. Their potion making together every week had been the most fun she'd had in a while, and she wasn't keen on being considered too good to be tutored anytime soon. She wasn't quite ready to put an end to all of the Arnie time she'd been getting recently. They helped each other onto the ice, and it was a while before Doe could bring the beaming smile off of her face. It was lovely to be happy so much, but her cheeks needed a break every once in a while! Arnie wasn't as bad at ice skating as he had led her to believe over the past couple weeks, until now she had thought she would be needing to help him out!

They came to a slow pace together, and she was glad for the smile on his face. She let her thoughts roam as they made their way closer to one of the horse-drawn carriages making it's way across the lake. Spending a couple of weeks away from Arnie would be extremely different, but they could always get together for a day here and there and she was sure the time would pass by quickly. She smirked and teased right back, "Of course I'll miss you Arnie. Can't get any good snogs when you're not around, can I?" She did enjoy her time with him for more than just snogging, in fact, there were moments when she was unbelievably pulled to him by feelings she couldn't explain....but he didn't need to know that, it would only confuse him. 

Arnie was clearly surprised by her offer, as he fumbled quite a bit before trying to keep his cool. She must have unconsciously given him a look that said she was sorry for even bringing it up because he was quick to make himself more clear. Dorcas didn't understand why he had such a big problem with her mates, especially when she didn't have any troubles with his. She gave him a short look of disbelief, "I get to bring someone every year Arnie, we don't need to think of it as a big deal..." Doe bit her lip and continued, "You're not going to meet my Mother if that's what you're really worried about." Usually, she was the one avoiding any furthering of a relationship, but apparently Arnie was on that same path. He didn't want to get serious with her from the way she saw it. She couldn't explain why the thought of this made her gut clench uncomfortably.

[Deleted]

He grinned when she returned his tease, as she generally did, and moved forward in the line. In a lot of ways he wished that she would be the one to make the move between them - it was pretty cowardly, he knew that, but then if something were to happen and not work out, he wouldn't be the one with the blame on his shoulders. He knew there was something between them - hell he wouldn't be having any sort of feelings for her if there wasn't - but the only way they would change from friends to more was if she stepped up. He was known as a womanizer - despite his only being with a few woman, Merlin only knew how gossip got around this school - and he didn't want her to think she was just another mark. If she was the one to make something happen and he went along with it, she would know he was taking it more seriously. Right? "Can't say I'm surprised, love."

His little bundle of energy had to say hello to the animals before they got settled, but once they had, the sleigh was off on it's trips around the lake. Willa kept him warm, all snuggled in beside him like she was, and he pulled her closer - being very careful about his hands staying in respectful spots on her body. It'd been a while since he had to think things out like this with a girl, and it was unnerving. They sat in silence for a while, watching skaters around the ice - had been hard to hold in his laugh when he saw Peaselbody nearly fall down with Doe - watching owls fly over the mountains in search for food. He felt peaceful and happy all alone in that rickety sleigh with Willa. 

Sirius looked down at her with a fond grin, "Well, eighteen now, and as you can imagine, it makes me even more fantastic than I was before." He didn't elaborate. He wished there had been more going on with him, but really he had just been trying harder in lessons. Turns out you have less amazing stories to tell when you're not chasing around the fit girls for dates, or when your best friends are all focusing on other things, like food or Head Boying or tea and are too busy to play pranks with you. "What's new with you, Robbins? Any troubles I can help you sort out? School, boys, or otherwise?" 

Well that was leading.

He wanted her to tell him that yes, there was a boy problem she'd been having and it could be solved by a lot of snogging right then and there. But he had no idea what he'd really just set himself up for.

[Willa Robbins]

It was wonderfully cozy here with Sirius, and people watching from their sleigh was a treat. So many of their friends were out and about enjoying each other and the fun evening, and it was just grand to see people having a good time in such a stressful part of the term. As they comfortably resumed their conversation, Willa shot him a grin, because oh yes, of course he was even more fantastic now than he had been a little while ago. "It's just a magic switch then, eh? Turn eighteen, become more fantastic? I can't wait for mine now." But when he returned the kindness and inquired about her, Willa found herself unusually fumbling for words.

I should've told you about Benji already. I really should've told you about Benji already.

    Maybe Doe's told him?

Willa was feeling a sudden guilt about not having been totally honest with her friend, and the reasons she'd told herself for it felt supremely weak. She hadn't wanted people to know since it was so new and he hadn't actually asked her to be his girlfriend yet, but Sirius wasn't "people." Honestly, she'd thought he wouldn't be for it. He wasn't a big fan of Arnie, so why would he be a fan of Arnie's friend? Not that he needed to approve any bloke she wanted to see, but it would be nice if he did...

Say something!

"Ah - not too many troubles, love. Would be amazing if we could practice for the Defense practical sometime though, have a feeling that one's going to give me a run for my money." Realizing she was fiddling with the zipper of his jacket, Willa chuckled and stopped. Stop distracting yourself, hands to yourself! "And I've...I've sort of been seeing someone, actually. Do you know Benji Fenwick? Arnie's friend?" she added helpfully, eyeing him to see his reaction. Why are you so nervous?

[Arnie Peasegood]

He had to laugh at Dora's tease, hoping she meant she couldn't get any snogs when he wasn't around. "Glad to hear I'm useful for something," he teased back. There was a lot for Arnie to be keeping track of right now, and he thought he was doing a bang up job, considering. He and Dora needed to match their pace since they were holding hands, he needed to stay upright, and he was trying to engage in conversation with her - but his feet and legs seemed to belong to someone else, so it was taking more focus than he'd admit to just keep from falling. That drain on his focus took a turn for the worse when Dora brought up the holiday party at the Potter house. He just did not think that James and the others would let them have a chill time at the party, and wouldn't it be weird if he was there when just a few Christmas' ago her date was James himself? But she said it wasn't a big deal...and then his worry fueled some of her own and he started truly feeling like shite. He was dating this beautiful, kindhearted, brilliant girl who could have her pick of blokes, and here he was disappointing her on what was supposed to be a fun night on the lake.

"No, love, I'm not worried about meeting your mum," he began, shooting her a little smile. "Usually good with parents, that day will go smoothly." Whenever it comes. "Forget I said anything, it'll be fine. I'll be there, just let me know the details. Will Guin come too?" He perked up at that, if it was true he'd have another ally on the inside. At Hogwarts there were enough places for them to be that he hadn't had to be with her friends much at all, but Arnie supposed he really had to start being okay with it if he and Dora were going to be together. She'd been accommodating with hanging out with Benji, so it was about time he stepped up and tried to get over the weirdness he still felt about it. Such a jealous idiot, you're blowing this.

[Deleted]

He glanced down at her with a smirk. Not everyone could pick up on his sarcasm and follow up with a just as witty response like Willa could. James would kill him for thinking it - and he was right up there with her - but it was true. ”You can take my word for it Robbins, makes you feel like a brand new person. In reality, it felt exactly the same as before - he hadn’t gained any new rights, it wasn’t like his seventeenth when he’d started being able to use magic outside of school. If Sirius really wanted to give it any thought, then he’d say he felt more like an adult. It was becoming more and more clear that - although he’d always sort of been on his own in life - he was responsible for himself in a way that he had never been before.

The carriage pulled them along, and he gave her time to thinking before going on with the conversation. Would make life a whole lot easier if she just came out and said she fancied him right then, instead of bottling it up. He’d kiss her and it would all be done - sorted completely. ”Always here to help out my favourite Hufflepuff.” His face lit up at the thought of helping her study for their end of term assignments - being able to get close to her, showing her how to move her wand correctly…

However, Sirius’ happy thoughts and his always-in-place grin slowly fell away as she started admitting to feelings for...someone else?

Benjy?

He had no idea who this person was, but if he was friends with someone like Peaselbody then he couldn’t be good news. Sirius swallowed and removed his arm from around her shoulders - didn’t seem right now that she was with someone else, ”How long’s it been going on?” He felt like a fool - why did he get himself into a state of thinking they would be a good match?

[Admin]

She was happy to hear his laugh. It always filled her with so much joy, to the point that she thought it odd that a sound someone made could change around the way an entire day was going. Her boyfriend was clearly having trouble ice skating, but seeing him this way, completely vulnerable to her when he was usually such a strong influence, was a nice change. She liked knowing that she was able to help him sometimes.

She squeezed his hand when he spoke again, withholding that he would probably never meet her Mum. That would mean this was, well, big. She fancied him to bits, but there was only so far so could take this relationship without hurting him irreparably. He needed someone else for the rest of his life, but for right now, they could work.

Doe nodded, ”She’s usually around - I think her and Sirius are back at it now so I can’t see why not.” She let go of his hand and did a fancy twirl, and then started skating backwards. ”Honestly, babe, it’s nothing more than the average party..just in dress robes and not muggle clothes.” She looked out to where the sleighs were being pulled by the largest horses she had ever seen. ”How are you feeling? Up for a sleigh ride shortly?”