Hesitantly, Anna said, "It's not so much that I have something on my mind... More that I just want to know you better, I guess." Her smile was crooked as she rest her elbows on the table, turning slightly to face him more properly, though she was actually more in the mood to cuddle his arm and nuzzle his shoulder.

"Saiyuri told me you used to date a muggle?"

----
While Fynn was snickering about Drew using the word "low-down", the small house elf was actively listening to what Drew was telling her. Eyes wide and ears twitching, Sally nodded lightly when he'd finished. "Y-yes sir." With a look at Fynn to see if it was alright, the black haired boy gave a kind smile - like the one he had given Anna on her first evening in the Gryffindor common room - saying, "Not to worry, Sally, I will tell mother not to call for you. Just makes sure you've remembered all he said. Do you remember?"

Eagerly, the little figure nodded - nodding so hard that she actually fell over, her pillow-case-clad figure bumping lightly into Fynns leg. "Oh yes sir, I remember - Sally surely remembers!" With another squeak and a loud bang, the creature vanished, off to do what she had been assigned to do.

Liam blushed, "Aye, that's true - for a few years actually . . . haven't thought 'bout her in months though. How'd ye get on the topic o' her? How much did Sai tell ye?"

-------------------

Drew chuckled, "Oh quit snickering. It's an American slang term, picked it up while visiting Amelia over the summer. Anyway, if you want to know the details of the circumstances, you must swear on your life you will never breathe a word of it to anyone, understood?"

She smiled lightly, her finger reaching out the gently caress his blushing cheek. "Next to nothing. It was more something that was mentioned as girl talk." Shyly, she admitted, "I have to admit that, in my eyes, it was something in your favour. Could you... would you... tell me about it?"

---

"You're not making this sound less appealing," Fynn grinned, but after a moment, quite seriously asked, "Does Leane know this?"

Liam sighed as he wrapped his hands around his hot chocolate, stairing into it's dark depths, "Hmm . . . what's there t' tell? I suppose I should pro'ly tell ye how I met 'er. Cindy Welsh was a girl at the highschool across town from where I live. We met at a social a few o' me muggle friends dragged me to. They figured I don' meet a lot o' girls in me private school that are worth braggin' 'bout 'cause I never talked about Hogwarts, which they knew as St. Paul's. Anyway, we all went to the dance 'n' she was there, quite pret'y in her soft blue dress that complimented her long, wavy blonde locks. When we were introduced, we took quite a liking t' each other. Over the followings months o' summer while I was home, we got t' know each other pret'y well 'n' soon took a notion to start datin'. Well, that lasted a couple o' years, we had many firsts together during our last year together. We never thought it would end . . . until the summer I didn't return home. By the following summer I had returned home, she had quit writin' t' me 'n' it was all but spoken that we were through. However, I tried to make it work all that summer, but it didn't do any good. We eventually parted as 'friends' 'n', as far as I know, she's datin' the guy who set us up."

-------------------

"No, the group suspects something is worse than what we let on because I've sworn to secrecy and Sai wants them to know nothing more than to tell me if her eyes turn the purple I've mentioned before. No one must know until there is no other choice. In order for you to help me, I need to trust you and I need you to keep your word of honor and not tell a soul about what I'm going to tell you."

Pulling her knee up until it reached her chin, she eyed him lightly, her voice soft as she spoke, "You speak so fondly of her... I'm sad it didn't work out for you." It was true, she thought. Though she was glad she could touch him, kiss him, like him - she knew it must have hurt and scarred him a great deal, and it was those scars she wished he could have avoided.

One sentence rang lightly in her ear, though; the one of the 'many first times that were shared', and Anna planned on asking him about them at a later date.

----

He waited for a while, then lightly put his hand on Drews shoulder, shaking his head. "As a friend, you know you can trust me, and I would like to be there for you in this, and share the secret, but..." Fynn felt himself turn a light pink at the back of his neck as he added, "I don't think it'd be fair to Leane. She's already feeling so excluded... I couldn't bear to add to that."

Liam smiled and caressed Anna's cheek, "Don' worry 'bout it, love. It was over a year ago, it's in the past. But yes, I was fond o' her at the time, but it was best in the end. If we were still together, I couldn't do this."

With a soft chuckled he lightly kissed Anna's cheeks, forehead, and the tip of her nose before tenderly kissing her on the lips.

--------------------

Drew smiled, "She will know in good time. But if you'd rather go on helping me in the dark, that's your choice. I figured it would be easier for you to understand if you knew the truth. But I completely understand you not wanting to hurt Leane. You two have enough bad history, though I'm sure if you didn't go telling everyone you knew Sai's secret, I doubt she'd ever find out until Saiyuri tells everyone."

By the time his lips finally touched hers, her face was aflame in a warm blush, and she tenderly kissed him back, her hands cupping his face tenderly. As she broke away for her, her lips remained lightly on his as she muttered, "I wasn't even thinking of such a thing... "

----

"But that's just it!" Fynn threw his hands up in exasperation, "I don't want to know if she doesn't know! What if we somehow do manage to settle all this rubbish between us, and she finds out - and never forgives me?" Annoyedly, he ran his hand through his hair, cursing as he confessed, "I'm a fool, but I don't want to risk anything."

Smiling, Liam spoke softly, his lips brushing hers as he spoke, "Aye, ye may not be thinkin' o' me all the time, but yer all I think about when we're apart, love, an' that ain't ever goin' t' change."

------------

Drew rested a hand on Fynn's shoulder for assurance, "I understand, mate. You love her, it's plain as day. I just wish she could see it, she'd be happier and wouldn't cry so much if she knew how you felt."

Leane scowled as she walked around the corner in front of Drew and Fynn. Giving once good shove to Drew, her hair began to crackle with fury, "How dare you tell him I was crying! You have NO RIGHT Drew Weston! So what if I was crying? It doesn't mean it was over this Gryffie next to you! And who ever said I could forgive this twerp for what happened?! And so what if I would?! Why does everyone have to speculate about how I feel and what I will and will not do?! WHY?!"

It overwhelmed her to think that he could feel so strongly about her so soon, and she answered carefully, "Don't say things you can't promise, Liam. No matter how wonderful it sounds - no one can promise to love forever. Certainly not after a day." With her fingers spread out on his cheeks, Anna softly held him as she brushed her lips against his lips, his cheeks, his eyelids, and then his lips again.

-------

Fynn had positively jumped as Leane had come hissing like an angry cat, but as she ranted, he waited paitently for her to fall silent. "Because you so stubbornly keep your mouth shut about it and don't give people a chance to redeem themselves."

His handsome face was calm as he looked at Leane, but the fury that was making her hair rise was reflected in his eyes. "I'm sure you were crying over Saiyuri leaving - I'm not cocky enough to believe otherwise. Don't take your emberrassement out on Drew."

"Aye, perhaps not love," Liam began as he kissed Anna's lips, "but I can promise affection for as long as I live."

---------------

Crossing her arms, Leane still scoweled for Drew began to laugh. Giving Fynn a pat on the back, Drew smiled at Leane, "Well, Fynn, you might want to star-."

Leane pulled out her wand and pointed it at Drew, "Fidelius."

Still blushing, her heart pounding in her throat, Anna's hands slid down into her lap, as she closed her eyes to lean into the kiss. To herself, she thought, 'This is all going so fast.... I can't believe someone... someone like -him- feels anything for me...'

---

Raising an eyebrow, Fynn watched with slight humour as nothing happened. "I do believe you're using the Fidelius charm a tad wrong, Leane. Reading too far in your book, as per usual?" He didn't mean to make it sound mocking, but it turned out that way anyway. Fynn couldn't help but find it amusing.

As Anna and Liam's lips touched once more, Professor McGonagal walked into the Great Hall to prepare for a study class that begain in fifteen minutes.

Noticing the couple on the bench, she folded her arms, "Eh-hem. Excuse me Mr. O'Reily, Ms. Van Orsenhoven. What are you two doing outside of class in such a manor?"

-----------------

"Damn Lontisa and her tutoring . . . I still can't perform charms properly . . ." Leane shoved the wand back into her skirt and scowled even deeper as she crossed her arms once more, speaking through gritted teeth, "Don't you dare mock me Fynn MacMillan! You have no right to! You're worse than I am, at least I can remember the bloody spells!"

Leaning back with a slight blush, Anna gave the stern professor a dazzling smile. "Why, we were practising CPR of course, professor!"

---

"True," Fynn readily agreed. While he was quite skillful in magic, it was just too hard for him to remember most of the spells, and he only ever used a handful. "But at least those I know, I can actually perform."

With a light glance at Drew, the blackhaired young man sighed, realizing what he was doing. "Damn it," he groaned, casting an apolegetic look at Leane, "It's just so easy to get back to bickering with you. I know that charms don't come easily to you. I'm sorry for teasing you with it."

With a smirk, "Well, I admit, I've never heard that excuse before. However, skipping class will not be tolerated. 10 points will be taken from each house. Do not let this happen again or you will have detention as well as points taken. Is this understood?"

Liam couldn't help but smile as he nodded, "Aye, Professor."

---------------------

Leane smirked, "Why is it, you always mock me, then apologize for it? And why is it, that it's so easy for you to fall back into bickering with me? Am I really that hard to get along with?"

Drew, refusing to get involved with this discussion, leaned against the nearby wall while the two bitterly spoke to each other.

Her bright smile dying down to a polite one, Anna nodded. "It won't happen again, professor." Still, the brunette couldn't help but cast a devious glance over at Liam, a sparkle in her eyes.

---

It was odd that Fynn actually thought about this for a moment. Staying quiet, it took about a while minute before he carefully lifted his shoulders in a clueless shrug. "I have no idea why we constantly fall back into that pattern - while I enjoy bickering with you, I don't mean for it to hurt you." Taking his hands out of his pockets, he crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the black-haired girl intently. "Which is why I apologize for it."

"Very well, now off with you both. And get to class this time!" Professor McGonagal exclaimed as she shooed them out of the Great Hall, shutting the doors behind them.

-------------------

Still smirking, Leane sighed, "Since when does Fynn MacMillan care whether or not he hurts me?"

Once outside of the Great Hall, Anna burst out in giggles, looking up at Liam with a dazzling smile. "I'm surprised it took us so long to get caught."

----

"I've always cared," Fynn shrugged, turning to the side lightly to avoid looking at her in the face, knowing Leane's trying to provoke him. "You just never bothered to notice."

Liam chuckled, "Aye, ye would 'ave thought our professors would 'ave missed us in class. Apparently they aren't keepin' very good tabs on us just yet."

--------------

"So you keep saying to the floor but never to my face. How can I believe you when everything you've done all these years points to the polar opposite? Prove that you care Fynn! Don't just tell the floor! The floor doesn't give a damn!"

Drew sighed, "Lee, why don't you give him a chance?"

"Stay out of this," she snapped as she flashed a fierce glare, causing Drew to cringe a little as well as silence him.

"Oh, of course not," Anna shrugged a bit, her hand automatically closing around Liams' as she started to walk, pulling him in whatever direction was easiest - not really caring what class she had next. "If this place is like any other high school, the beginning of the year is about as filled with chaos as the ending."

-----

He'd already turned to look at her as she had mentioned the floor, so it wasn't hard for Fynn to notice the fierceness in her posture. It was far too tempting not to - 'and honestly,' Fynn thought, 'she looks far too beautiful when she's angry like that' - so with a hard look in his eyes, he reached forward to her chin, and pressed his lips against hers in a hard but tender kiss.

Simply whispering, "Because I don't know how to show that I do care," the blackhaired youth took a step back after his impulsive action, and somehow managed to not bolt right away. Unconciously his hand reached to his pocket to grip his wand - just in case.

Liam laughed, "Aye, they'll 'ave everythin' under control by the end o' the week I'm sure. Until then, we'll just 'ave t' avoid 'em," he added with a wink.

-------------

Drew's eyes bulged as Fynn kissed Leane. Scooting a bit down the hall in case Leane did something drastic, he looked from Fynn to Leane, wondering what's going through her head right now.

Leane pressed her finger tips to her lips, still feeling the touch of his lips. A bit dumb founded, Leane simply stared at Fynn in bewilderment, her eyes filled with the yearn to feel the touch of his lips once more. 'Why did he kiss me? Does he truly give a damn about me like he claims? Could this . . . be real?'

"Wh-why . . . why did you kiss me?" Realizing she was giving away her feelings, Leane quickly reverted back to her original posture, arms folded with a scowling look, and added darkly, "Do it again and you'll regret it severely."

Grinning wickedly, Anna agreed, "Sounds like a good plan. Though I suggest we use our time wisely. I want to explore the castle more." Cutely, she tilted her head towards him, asking, "Be my guide?"

----

Giving a quick look at Drew - hoping the look conveyed a "please leave now!" - as his heart all but leapt into his throat, he dared to take a step closer to her again. A small grin played on his lips as he admitted gently, "I think it's worth going through some pain for."

Softly brushing his lips against hers again, his hands almost limply hanging by his side, not daring to touch her, Fynn finally whispers a reply to her question. "It's 'cause I like you, dummy."

Liam smiled and gently pressed his lips against Anna's, "O' course, love. Where should we begin? Second floor where hardly any teachers prowl?"

-----------

Drew smirked, "Well, I suppose I'd better be off." Softly chuckling at the pair as he turned down the nearby hall, he quickly headed off to his next class.

Leane blushed a deep crimson as she looked to the floor and stammered, "Y-you do? But how can you . . . you hardly even know me anymore."

Biting her lower lip gently, she quickly reverted back to her previous mood as she relized her guard was begining to fall, and fiercely warned through gritted teeth as she glared at Fynn, "What did I just tell you?! This is your last warning Fynn MacMillan! Kiss me again and you'll regret it!"

Her cheeks pink again because of the sudden kiss - 'Why am I blushing so much?! GAH! So unlike me!' - the brunette joked lightly, "Why, Mr. O'Reilly, are you trying to get me into some dark empty classroom?"

Idly, the thought passed her head, 'Which is where Josh and Kalli probably are...'
----

Though he didn't move away, the Gryffindor didn't move closer, either. Instead, he gave a small grunt in reply to Drews' parting, then thought over his words carefully before replying Leane.

"Well. You're right," he admitted, reluctant, "I hardly know you anymore, because of my own foolishness." With his head lightly falling to the side, Fynn locked his eyes on her face, hoping that at least she'd realize how sincere he was being, even if his words failed. "I know you have 3 types of smiles. The one you give to Sai, who knows you better than anyone. The warm one you send Josh, and, I imagine, your other family members. And then there's the sneering one you give me half the time."

His arm passed the space between them as he softly reached for Leane's hand, his thumb softly caressing the skin. "I know you're petrified of showing the real you because you're scared people won't like you - while that's completely impossible. I know you're one of the strongest witches in our year, but that Charms never seem to work properly for you." Not letting go of her hand, Fynn pulled her a bit closer, his eyes intently staring into Leane's, hoping he'd make at least a crack in her shield. "And I know that you have amazing quick wit, are utterly loyal to your friends, and that I love how fierce you look when you're annoyed."

With her only standing inches apart, he noticed how tense she was, and lifted his free hand to place it against her cheek. "But you're right. I don't know as much about you as I'd like."

Liam laughed as he teased, "Quite possible. 'owever, I figured ye'd wanna stay away from the professors as much as possible so ye don't get detention."

------------------

Leane blushed as she gently bit her lower lip. 'Why am I feeling like this? I loath the man standing front of me. Why do I feel so weak in the knees as his very touch . . . his very presence? Is it because I still . . . no, I couldn't . . . could I?'

"Well, I . . ." Leane began as she tried to keep her guard up. However, she failed miserably as she gave in and caressed his cheek with her spare hand. She then wrapped the hand that belonged to Fynn, that was holding her other hand, around her waist and placed her hand upon his arm gently, "You mean every word . . . don't you . . ."

Giggling, Anna shrugged, admitting, "Heck, I have detention for the rest of the week or so ANYWAY. I could take on some more." Still, it was fun to be teased that way, and to counter him, she added, "Also, maybe I want you to guide me to some wonderfully abandoned hallway~"

----

Her quite unexpected proximity caused him to blush, in turn, and the muscles in the arm around her to tighten. "Ah..." Suddenly he felt emberrassed, never having thought Leane to give him the light of day. "O-of course... I've always thought that way...." Fynns eyes looked pointedly anywhere else but her lips, and they ended up fixated on her nose - which gave him a sudden new appreciation for cute button noses like Leane's.