Nov. 19: All The Strings Attached: Benji: Library

[Willa Robbins]

(the morning after night prowlers)

"Sorry this isn't too exciting of a Saturday," Willa said apologetically, smiling at the cute boy across the library table from her. "But maybe we can go explore later, before it gets dark? Would love to see more of Hogwarts' hidden-but-not-from-you places." Her light tease - the first of many, surely - would hopefully help keep things positive. While Willa would've loved to get up, meet Benji at breakfast, and go run outside from there - her looming Defense essay was something she truly wanted to finish soon, and well, so that it wasn't hanging over her for the whole of the weekend. So when she'd seen him in the Great Hall and suggested a library date? session, thankfully the Ravenclaw had been agreeable.

After last night, Willa just...wanted to spend more time with him. There was so much more to Benjamin Fenwick than met the eye, and she'd really started to see that yesterday, when he'd so endearingly over-prepared for their date, and led her through the Forest, and snogged her in a field of night-blooms, and brought her back to her common room like a proper gentleman...

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to invite him, if your head's just going to be filled of that snog!

The seventh year felt her face color and she looked down at her just-begun essay (which really was going to be interesting to research, they were to focus on comparing the dark forces used by Grindelwald to what was known about You-Know-Who's followers), tugging her sleeves more over her hands as she felt a slight chill. Probably should've dressed more for the weather, not to...look nice. Her urge to set him at ease, and help do the same for herself, pushed out her next words. "And thanks again for - for everything last night. Best night I've had in - in quite a while." She gave him a sheepish smile and opened up the first of, likely, many books she'd be using today, feeling as unfocused as she could be with the distraction of this boy in front of her. But to hell with distraction! It felt good to be liked, and to like him back! She'd had some unrequited crushes over the years (although did it count as unrequited if you hadn't acted on it? so you didn't really know?), and a boyfriend back in fourth year - why hadn't she opened herself up to feeling like this since then? And - well - Benji wasn't her boyfriend...but was that a not yet? She wasn't seeing anyone else, and didn't think that he was, so...can get clear on that today?

[Benji Fenwick]

Benji chuckled nervously at the beautiful girl across from him. “No need to ap-apologize, this is a perfect way to spend a Saturday.” And it was, to him at least. Any time with one Willa Robbins was bound to be grand time. So why was he so nervous? “Maybe we can visit all the places prefects get to go that we don’t.” he suggested, like the prefects bath. Benji almost died at his own thoughts. Oh my was he so nervous?

Last night they had been alone in the forest, they had been alone in the forest snogging. He, Benjamin Fenwick, had kissed a girl. The most amazing girl. Yet he still felt like at any moment he might vomit. He was so nervous he might muck things up, that she would decide maybe the kissing wasn’t so great after all, that he would do or not do something he was or wasn’t suppose to do. Initially he had thought the hardest part was over. They had gone on a date, they had enjoyed themselves, they had held hands and kissed. That was the hard part right? Wrong.

The hard part was sitting across the library table from her and wanting nothing more than for her to be all his, exclusively, but not having the courage to ask. Benji thought maybe that was a little too quick for that. It was only one date, well two if you counted the day in the greenhouses, which he didn’t; surely more time was required before it was acceptable to ask a girl to go steady. Even if he had wanted her to be his girlfriend from the moment they had spoken properly. He had written to his father last night and asked this very same thing –Am I moving too fast?- but his father had failed to reply in a timely manner. Benji had gone to bed very late after talks with Arnie and a hasty letter to his dad, and had woken up extra early in anticipation of another informative letter from his mentor. It never came. That alone had made him nervous. Maybe his dad had found something he had done wrong on his very first ever date, Merlin knew how Benji had shared every detailed with his sire.

And it was Saturday, no classes to distract him from all the thoughts racing through his mind, and all the more time to spend with Willa. It was all very conflicting, but one thing that was not conflicting was the amazing way Willa made him feel. Even now, with the fear of being ill of nerves, he still wanted to kiss her again. He remembered her softness so well, yet he felt as if eons had passed since he had held her last, and he had only ever held her once. 

Her voice drew his attention then and he looked up from his half-done homework with a blush and a smile. “It should be me thanking you.” Benji said earnestly. He glanced away, not wanting to frighten her off with the intensity in which he felt. Absently he flipped a page in the book he was referencing. “You –I mean it, last night- was the best night of my life.” He glanced up again, his face reddening even further, before looking back to his studies. It was quiet for a moment as they worked and Benji found himself easing a little. This was normal territory, even if his feeling s weren’t normal friendly feelings. Again he glanced up and this time he gave himself leave to feast his eyes on her. Before he could stop himself, words were slipping out. “You are so breathtaking and you smell very nice, almost sweet.”  Way to not scare her off Fenwick!

[Willa Robbins]

There was an incredibly adorable young man sitting across the table from her, and she was having difficulty keeping her eyes off of him. Do you have to? You snogged last night, nothing wrong with a little eye contact... She smiled at his words, glad that he wasn't upset that this was how their day was beginning. A "perfect day," you say? We can make some better ones than working in the library, I promise you that. Willa lit up even more as Benji spoke about the perks she had as a prefect - with her supervision it would be fine to take him anywhere, wouldn't it? No abuse of power? "I'd like that, we've got the lounge and bathroom...not as exciting as the wildflowers, but I'll show you."

They drifted into their work for a while, and Willa was glad that he wasn't put off or becoming more nervous by her compliment about the last night. The opposite actually - Benji was earnest in his response, even blushing! And then...the best night of your life? Oh my heart! That she had made his night the best night of his life? Unbelievable! What's your best night? Willa wasn't exactly sure, but last night had definitely made the list. She was smiling like a fool when he looked back up at her, absolutely unsure of what to say, but not in a bad way - she'd been caught off guard in the most wonderful way, and this is what she saw if she thought ahead for them. How could she ever get used to someone being so appreciative? Not to say that Hugo hadn't been, he'd been amazing in his way, but...he's staring. Her cheeks reddened to match his the more he said, and she was looking rather stunned at his next. She smiled, reaching across to lightly take his hand. "Thanks, Benji - you're too nice, really." It was just different to feel so noticed, and Willa didn't know how to handle it. "I'm glad last night was the best night of your life," she continued quietly, having gathered her scattered thoughts a bit. "Makes me happy to make you happy, it does."

[Benji Fenwick]

The boy practically beamed across at Willa. Lounge, bathroom, didn’t matter, as long as he got to spend the rest of the day with the amazing girl across from him. “I would like that.” He said with a nod. And he would, he would love every minute as long as it was with her. The younger Ravenclaw could hardly believe his luck. Never before had he had the courage to ‘go for it’ with a girl; it was divine intervention that the female to finally bring it out in him was Willa Robbins. But then it would stand to reason that no other girl had that power, only her.

~*~*~*~

He had made some progress on his essay when he caught himself stealing glances at her from beneath his lashes. Admiring the way the streaming light picked up honey tones in her hair. And then he was speaking, saying the creepiest things. Of course he meant every word, which made it seem even slimier. Here he was, practically panting over her, and she probably wasn’t even that interested. His cheeks flared up to match her own blush and he looked away again, embarrassed and feeling very much like he wanted to vomit. And wouldn’t that be attractive. Arnie would never shame himself in such a way; his best mate was so much more skilled in this area than he was. If Arnie were here he would tell him to man up. But Benji thought...he just couldn't. He was already making her feel weird, he just knew it.  

He was just thinking up a good excuse to leave before he ruined things further when a touch made him jump. It was so gentle, so soft; it was so Willa. He listened to her words over the rush of blood in his ears and found himself smiling along with her. “Seriously? It pleases you?” he asked immediately, unable to believe what his ears had just heard. “I mean, I –I …” Benji swallowed thickly, stilling his stuttering words. He closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath... Slowly he turned his hand over until Willa’s more delicate one was resting in his palm. The pads of his fingers grazed her wrist, his thumb tracing a slow circle on the back. It was such a small touch, but to Benji it felt extremely intimate. He opened his eyes then and stared across at her. 

“You make me happier than anyone else. I’m not being nice, I’m being honest.” He said finally. His voice, for once, clear and concise. He was still absolutely terrified of scaring her off, but he was also glad he had said it. He grinned shyly and pulled his chair until they were seated next to each other, his own work forgotten in lieu of Willa. Carefully he twined his fingers with hers. He inspected their linked hands for a moment before placing a chaste kiss on the back of hers and then releasing it. It felt like a physical loss but he ignored it; again, he didn’t want to scare her away. Benji highly doubted Willa would appreciate being pulled into his lap and snogged senseless in the library; it was best to just not tempt himself at all. “So, what are you working so diligently on over here?”

[Willa Robbins]

Since her touch nearly made him jump out of his seat but her words conjured a smile on his face, Willa figured she'd better take a step back on the whole physical front. Just because they'd had a snog last night that seemed to jolt him out of his shyness in that moment, that didn't mean that she could expect Benji to all of a sudden be comfortable with her, right? She was about to remove her hand when he began to speak, a smile of her own appearing as he attempted organizing his thoughts, seeming to be trying to gather something up from within. Too curious to find out what it was to disrupt him, she patiently left her hand on his and looked across at him, taking joy out of practically seeing his mind work...

In his own time, Benji moved their hands so they were palm-to-palm, fingers rough-from-the-garden (much like her own) tentatively exploring her hand, the delicate skin of her wrist. His movements were small, tender, but couldn't belie the intensity behind his eyes as he finally found hers, or the firmness of his words when he spoke his truth. He had a hidden strength to him, strength and passion, roiling just barley underneath the hesitance and stammering. That he could be so gentle with her while speaking like this...it was undeniably attractive, and Willa was lost for words. She already meant so much to his happiness - and she had no reason to doubt his sincerity - that a small nugget of worry at that responsibility cropped up in her gut. Because how could she, more than his friends, his family, make him so happy? What was it that she did to make him smile, to energize him, to keep his spirits up? She wanted to keep doing it, but had only just begun to know him...

You'll figure it out.

She met his eyes and nodded her belief in his words, proud of him for getting out the words he'd thought thorough so specifically. Her smile broadened as he started to grin, moving about the table until their chairs were touching. She held in a laugh, wondering if any of their fellow library-goers were noticing the important shifts happening at their little station, and then he was holding her hand so precisely - was there anything he did that wasn't thoroughly thought through? - and kissing the heel of her hand, stubble brushing against the soft skin...

And then it was gone.

She let her laugh out lightly then, not thinking that "diligent" could be used to describe her today, and briefly leaned her head onto his shoulder. He was showing her that he just needed some time to get used to more casual physical contact, right? Little by little they could grow, couldn't they? She was affectionate by nature, and didn't want to shy away from that with her new potential partner. Just...needed to ease him in.

"Well," she began, drawing her notes closer to them, "in Defense we're taking a look at how dark forces have historically been gathered, and comparing them to what's happening today. The essay's just a compare-and-contrast, really shouldn't be so taxing, but it's no walk-in-the-park to see things following the same pattern and imagining them getting so horrible again."

[Benji Fenwick]

Willa's eyes, her smile, he couldn't get enough of it. He couldn't get enough of her. Every look set him to nervous jitters, took his breath away. Every touch was like a kiss of flame to him. Maybe it wasn't as intense for her. But he could tell as their gazes met that she felt something. He was sure of it...almost. No, he was sure. Something was forming between them. Incredible but true. As the charged moment passed and he moved closer to her, Benji promised himself that he would work harder than he had ever worked before at anything: to make Willa happy.

She brought him such joy with the smallest bit of her attention. By just being there. In return, he would give her all of himself; in the hopes that maybe, maybe, she would want that. Maybe she would be happy, with him. It would be hard - fighting with himself, stuttering and stammering and anxiety sitting on his chest. Willa was worth it though. She was so worth it. If anyone was worth it, she was. He hadn't know her that long, but he knew, way down in his bones. She was worth it.

It was a physical pain to seize contact with her skin -for it was soft and warm where he touched the sensitive side of her wrist- but he did it. Hopefully, one day he wouldn't. One day, Merlin willing, they would be together. One day soon. “Woah!” Benji let out a low whistle. Willa had moved ever so closer to him, bringing her work with her. Her proximity made him fell warm-without thinking he stretched his arm out over the back of her chair- and her words drew sympathy and the exclamation from him. He  could tell her own words distressed her.

“That is really intense.” The sixth year assented, barely stopping himself from reaching out and caressing her shoulder. What was happening behind the walls of Hogwarts was so much more than intense. It was war. But that didn't need to be said. It would only make her more unhappy. With a glance at Willa he pulled her papers closer. “Let's see then. What example are you using?” he asked, his brow drawing together as his eyes darted along the pages. Then mostly to himself, as he conferred with her reference books. “Hitler and the Nazi's would be a very good to comparison. Both completely psycho.”

[Willa Robbins]

As she spoke of the essay, Willa almost regretted asking him to join her for this study session. Whatever "they" were, they were so new - they needn't be talking about things so serious just yet! And what was more serious or - understatement of the century - "intense" as the war outside the safety of their castle? It wasn't as if she hadn't had discussions involving this with those she was close to - Merlin's sake, Sirius worked with her on most Defense assignments as moral support and a brainstorming partner, and things could get pretty heated - but it was too soon for Benji and herself, surely...

Then again, there was that "almost."

As she scooted herself closer to him, the Ravenclaw brought his arm around the back of her chair, and that closeness coupled with his swift acknowledgement of the subject's heaviness brought her out of her darkened thoughts a bit. It was a comfort to not think this through alone. She wasn't surprised that he was relatively quick with suggestions, sharp bloke like him, and was soon nodding her agreement. Trying to block out the slight offness she felt about him looking through her notes, it was just the unfamiliarity of him right? It wasn't as if he was judging her penmanship or what she'd chosen to take note of.

"I was thinking of using a muggle example, and yeah, that's a good one," Willa agreed. "Magic or non-magic, it seems like there's always someone trying to prove some sort of 'innate' superiority, vying for power they shouldn't have." Ridiculous. "There's just different, not better or worse. Hopefully this time things will stop before - well, before what history tells us happens next." It wasn't as if things were good out in the world; muggles and muggle-born witches and wizards were disappearing, the Aurors and Hit Wizards were up to their necks in investigations, it was a political minefield. But, from what history said at least, this discrimination and these assaults, they were the preliminary phases of a bigger nefarious plot. If they could somehow get rid of You-Know-Who before escalations happened...maybe things wouldn't escalate at all.

"Sort of makes me want to stay here indefinitely, you know?" she said with a sad little laugh, hoping Benji didn't think her the ultimate coward for it. While at Hogwarts there were those who would try to intimidate or worse because of the notions You-Know-Who touted, fights never got far before prefects, Head Students, or professors stepped in. The world outside was a whole lot bigger, those who would step in much farther spread out. As selfish as it was - for the peaceful life she wanted for herself and others, Willa just wanted this done. "But - er - sorry," Willa went on with a small smile, looking up to meet his bright eyes, "what was it you were working on?" Downer, don't be such a downer!

[Benji Fenwick]

Sometimes it was difficult when their Professors based school work after currently real world issues. Benji usually approached it all with a purely academic mind. It seemed Willa approached all things, including school work, with her heart. It was incredibly endearing, and adorable, her kind disposition. It made him want to smile but he didn't. He didn't want her to think he thought what she was saying was funny, because it most defiantly was not.

He also thought that he would be just fine staying here at Hogwarts with Willa for however long it suited them. There was so much he wanted to learn about her, a few months hardly seemed sufficient. “Well, all we can do now is finish school. I just focus on that, for now.” He wanted to tell her how he wanted to stay here with her -that he would go wherever she went- but he refrained, it just felt a little too intimate. Too soon. Instead he smiled a friendly smile, looking over at her with affection.

His hand had found her shoulder somehow, and his fingers were stroking the soft material there. She was close enough that all he could smell and see was her.  And he was staring...at her mouth. Why was it moving? Oh! She had said something. Sluggishly his brain caught up and he smiled sheepishly, blushing a little. “Um,” What was he working on?Was he working on something at all? “Um, nothing really interesting. I've given it up for now anyway, I can't do anything when you are around.” Of course, he hadn't meant to say that last bit. Though, it was the honest truth and Benji liked telling the truth whenever possible. He liked being the honest guy. So, with only a little stuttering and fumbling, he plunged on. “When you're around all I want to do is listen to you talk, whatever you want to talk about, and I want to...kiss you. I can't think about anything else.”

[Willa Robbins]

You should've just asked him to lunch and worked on this on your own, no fun to make him listen to you go on about the war! If anything was a moodkiller, the situation of their world most assuredly was. Thankfully, nothing was getting Benji down, and his take on it was given with a reassuring smile, his eyes soft as they found hers. Soft as the fingers brushing against her shoulder, actually, making goosebumps rise under the thin shirt. She was surprised that she could get her words out clearly, with how distracting a touch like that was, but was smiling as he seemed to be struggling with the same thing.

At Benji's quiet honesty, coupled with having him close enough to follow-through on his ideas, along with knowing how good of a kiss he could give - it was all Willa could do to not burst out laughing. Not because what he had admitted was funny, but it was just so - it was so unexpected! It had been ages since a guy had been serious when he said those sorts of things to her, and she was giddy at hearing them. The girl was beaming, unable to meet his eye as she collected herself. This had snuck up on her, but it was something she wanted, wasn't it? She'd loved being with Hugo years ago, had loved being special to someone like that, and them being special to her in return. She'd missed him and having that kind of closeness, the closeness not just of sharing kisses but of sharing excitements and fears and everything in between without fear of judgement, of knowing that the someone you were thinking about was thinking about you...

Could she have something like that with the smitten boy beside her? Because he was smitten, she'd be a fool not to see it, and Willa could see herself falling for him as Benji had somehow already fallen for her. He was handsome, intelligent, genuine, kind, funny, and full of surprises...why does it feel that there's a 'but' coming on? Willa pushed the thought back and, with a little smirk and look about their section, turned to see him. Her hand snuck up to fiddle with the hair at the nape of his neck as she debated the wisdom of going through with her idea, but... No one around them was a gossip, or if they were and she didn't know, they likely had better things to gossip about than another couple pair of students sneaking a kiss in the library. "I think I'll finish the work later," she said under her breath, playfully nudging his nose with hers before finding his lips for a simple kiss, wondering if the fire she'd felt from him the night before would reignite...

[Benji Fenwick]

Willa's reception of his affections was still something he was getting used to. Honestly, he was still getting used to showing someone his affection, it was all something he was working to get accustomed to. Personally, he thought he sounded desperate and completely obsessed, telling her all he could focus on was her, confessing how he always wanted to kiss her. She seemed flustered by his words, but not put-off.

In fact -after avoiding his eye and looking about, making Benji fear that maybe he had weirded her out- Willa turned to him, her delicate fingers teasing the sensitive skin on his nap. His eyelids dropped at the contact, a shiver passing over him. She was closer now, so much closer, and she was touching him, and it was driving him mad. He was forgetting. Forgetting that he wanted to ask her to go steady before they got into more of this. Forgetting that he was a nervous wreck with these things. Forgetting that they were in the library.

But she was leaning forward, saying something. Benji focused intently but it was just about her work and he thought 'Yea, later sounds like a good time to finish that.' before his mind seized to form coherent thought. Everything. He forgot everything, when she kissed him. It was as if the levels of the library, of Hogwarts even, had fallen away. There was only Willa's hair, which was so soft, and her lips, so much softer. The kiss was sweet and easy and not enough...never enough of her.

Some part of him that he didn't understand completely, could sense the exchange coming to an end. That same part, that part that possessed the primal hunger of his being that he was terrified of, did not want it to come to an end. Benji knew if he leaned in a little more, angled his head just so, he could deepen the kiss. Could drag it out...and maybe he did make it go on just a smidgen longer than it was intended, but it was no where near the snog he wanted to give her. Not even close. So, maybe he chased her lips, just a little.

Benji sat back when Willa pulled away fully, breathing deeply through his nose. “Well.” he began, and his voice sounded odd even to his ears. He paused to clear his throat and moisten his lips, which were both strangely dry. He also subtlety shifted in his seat, reaching out to take her hand to mask the action. “Well,” be began again, an obvious tease invading his voice, his fingers tracing patterns into her palm absentmindedly. “I have to warn you, I'm going to start getting a little uppity, if you keep letting me kiss you whenever I want.”

[Willa Robbins]

She hadn't intended to start a snog in the library, and thought the way she was approaching this kiss communicated that - but, truly, Willa wouldn't complain at the way he was morphing this into something more as she began pulling away. Her grip to the back of his neck tightened as Benji's fingers wove into her hair, and the fire she wanted to feel from him...to prove last night wasn't a fluke...When she finally did break it off, the unevenness of her breath matching that of his, there was no question to her that this Ravenclaw made her feel something. She could hear each beat of her heart in her ears, and her eyes didn't stray from his as he collected himself. This could be the start of something good, if you let it, she told herself firmly; while she hadn't been looking to get into a relationship this year, wasn't it typical for this sort of thing to happen when you weren't looking? She and Benji had been sharing this school for years, but it was only recently that they had actually met and began enjoying each other's company - maybe they hadn't run into each other yet because the time hadn't been right, but now it was...

It did scare her, though, that even as she was sitting here with this wonderful boy that she couldn't wholly focus on him. Perhaps it was that she hadn't kissed anyone since Hugo, but there was an irritable voice inside rather chiding her for not having considered how her first boyfriend would react to finding out she was seeing someone else. But they were friends now, and it'd been years since they'd even seen each other - surely he would be dating again too, he could be happy for her that she was finding someone new to make her happy, and who she could make happy in return. A thought about how her friends at Hogwarts would react to this also came unbidden, and there was one friend in particular who, in her gut, she felt wouldn't take to this too keenly. But that was silly of her to think, wasn't it? Surely as time went on, and as she could talk this out with Hugo over letters as well as they could, her feeling odd about kissing someone else would settle. Because this dear boy was taking her hand, lightly tracing patterns on her palm, and he deserved her full attention. Willa did her best to push anything else from her mind, all smiles as he spoke.

"You're going to get uppity?" Willa laughed, hurriedly quieting herself at the shushes coming from a nearby table, although her slim shoulders shook from the effort. Honestly, she simply couldn't see the bloke getting that much of a swollen ego! Surely the sweet boy was only teasing! "Noted - and I'm willing to risk it," she whispered, leaning forward a smidgen to place a soft kiss on his stubbly cheek. This distraction from work truly was distracting, and she felt again that it had been a poor idea to invite him to do work with her. Because at this point, when he was around - she didn't want to think about the bad spot their world was in, she didn't want to have to shut him out in order to focus on her writing. She wanted to get to know him better, and that required giving him her attention, not trying to split her attention between him and her studies. "It's sort of, sort of close in here, don't you think?" Giving his hand a squeeze, Willa quietly continued, "I know we just got here, but would you be all right taking a walk instead? Feel like we could talk better like that, y'know?"

[Benji Fenwick]

Benji couldn’t help himself glaring as the people around them began making shushing noises at Willa. She wasn’t being very loud at all! She was only laughing a little, and it was a beautiful sound, the students around them should have been pleased to be able to hear it. Benji was sure pleased that he had brought it out of her.  Almost as pleased as being able to actually snog her; which didn’t seem like it would be getting old anytime soon. Kissing Willa was a singular experience. “I promise I’ll try my best not to let it get to my head.” He assured her, turning back to look into her eyes. “Though, you should know, it’s going to be hard.” Those words had a double meaning in his mind and Benji blushed furiously at his thoughts.


Oh, yea, it would be hard all right, but, he would manage. She didn’t make it any easier either, what with leaning in close and pecking him so affectionately on his cheek; more or less saying that she didn’t mind the making out. In fact, her words suggesting that she enjoyed it just as much as him. Benji wanted to turn his face and kiss her again, but he refrained. He felt he would be doing a lot of that in the future. He wanted Willa, sure, but he also felt like it was wrong, thinking about her in that way. She deserved for him to be interested in her, not what was under her skirt. And he was, he was so interested in her for who she was. Benji swore to himself that he would keep himself and his thoughts in a tight grip; Willa was worth that and so much more.


He smiled when she pulled away, returning the pressure of her hand and nodding along to her words. It was ‘close’ in the library, but not the kind of close he wanted and he was honestly glad when Willa suggested they relocate. “Yes, I agree, anywhere else will be better for talking. Especially since it's my plan to make you laugh as often as possible.” He said, dropping a kiss on her hand before disentangling himself from her –how had their legs gotten all mixed up?- and gathering their work materials. Benji closed up his work and shoved his things into his bag, then took up Willa’s books, tucking them up under his arm. He turned to her and offered his hand. “Where to m'lady?”

[Willa Robbins]

Every moment spent with Benji led to her getting a little more insight into who he was; as she laughed and and was shushed, the Ravenclaw was, on automatic it seemed, giving harsh looks to the shushers. Protective, she interpreted in watching the look come over him, sorry for upsetting the others but not for it granting her another peek into his heart and mind. Willa smiled at his admission, buoyed up yet at the idea that she had such an affect on him. What's this blush for? She was just Willa! "Well, all I can ask is that you try," Willa replied lightly, still not believing that the bloke could get a big head just from being with her.

I'm the one bound to get a big head if you keep doing things like this, she thought, grinning broadly as Benji said such sweet things and kissed her hand. Where have you been? Before she could do anything but roll up her parchment and put it in her bag, he'd swept away all of their materials, even taking up her books to carry. She met his eye with a smile, taking the offered hand quickly once shouldering her backpack.

"It's a big castle," she mused, no destination really in mind. "Sort of feel like just seeing where our feet take us, unless you're of a mind to go anywhere particular." Once free of the pressure of library quietude, the Hufflepuff gave an exaggerated sigh, shooting him a grin as their feet turned vaguely in the direction of the entrance to the enormous clock tower. "Tell me..." She searched her mind for a few moments, wanting to get him talking on a topic that would give her more insight but not make him uncomfortable. "Tell me more about your sister! Athene - no, Athena, right?"

[Benji Fenwick]

They met each others gaze, their hands intertwined, Willa smiled, and Benji knew he was hopeless. He was falling. He was hopelessly falling for Willa Robbins. There was nothing he could or wanted to do about it either. As they stole away from the library, a grin spread his face, feeling the freedom of being away from the towering rows of books. They had Hogwarts open at their feet and the Hufflepuff after his heart wanted to see where those feet lead them. Usually, Benji always had a plan, but he found it was incredibly easy letting that part go. As long as he was with her, he was happy, no matter where they went. "Alright." he agreed easily as they put more and more distance between themselves and the library, no destination in mind.

"Ah Athena." he said automatically at her question. His friends knew his sister, how she was, what she did, that he didn't talk about her much. There was nothing /wrong with his relationship with her, just that he rarely got to see her anymore. "Nina -I couldn't say Athena until I was maybe six, I call her that now mostly to annoy her- she's...great." Benji laughed at himself, knowing he sounded very unconvincing. He looked to Willa, a smile in his eyes. "Really, she is. She was the raddest girl in Gryffindor when she was here, her words not mine. Now she's traveling around the world to be a curse-breaker; she's really smart and brave like that. Mostly we bicker, but, it's because we love each other."

A blush crept into Benji's cheeks as his words trailed off and he looked away to keep her from seeing it; he hadn't intended to ramble on like he had! He was discovering though, that when with Willa, expect yourself to be a fool. "What about you?" he asked quickly, forcing himself to look away from the moving portraits along the wall and giving her his full attention. "What about your siblings?"

[Willa Robbins]

Heading away from the library was doing them both some good, if Benji’s bright smile was genuine. As if it could be anything but! Inquiring about his family was a natural enough step, Willa figured; not that she needed to know about who in his family had magical blood, like some of their peers insisted on knowing, but rather...who had raised him? What sorts of personalities had he grown up with? Who had helped to shape him into the young man she was getting to know today? And so she listened attentively as Benji spoke of his sister, chuckling along with him until he mentioned the older Fenwick’s current occupation. To which she beamed. She must know Danny! How small of a world was it that Benji’s sister and her brother had the same job?! Remarkable.

Hearing him speak of Nina was endearing, above all; a different sort of glow was lighting his eye, a different sort of tone influencing his inflection. There was definitely lots of love between the siblings, even if they couldn’t spend too much time together nowadays.

"Would you believe me if I told you my brother is a curse breaker too?" she asked, laughing and giving his hand a squeeze. And Athena knowing Danny was one thing - Danny knowing Benji was another entirely! But the young men had shared a House for many years…how’ve you not thought about this before? She’d have to write her brother about this! "That’s Danny and, actually - he was in Ravenclaw, graduated last spring. Danny - Daniel - Robbins. Do you know him? It’s strange being here without him, really, I enjoyed having him close by. We would sometimes steal away to the kitchens and cook, Mum’s recipes," Willa confided quietly. "And we have a little sister, Jo, and she’s at home in Bathampton, takes after Mum," she explained carefully. She didn’t think that the Ravenclaw would be judgemental of her sister not having magic, but one never knew! "But if she was here...I always thought she’d be in Gryffindor.”

An idea striking her, Willa gave her companion’s hand a little tug, veering them right around a bend. "Clear enough of a day to get a good view out of the clocktower, I’d think."