Frowning lightly at this, Fynn pointed out, "I'm a prefect - and not one to have favourites, even if it's the girl I love. Seriously Lee, don't do something like that."

Leane's smile quickly turned into a frown, "I'm a prefect too! You can't tell me thoughts such as these have never crossed your mind."

Sighing, she took her hand away from her wand and entwined her fingers with his, "Oh very well then, I won't do it. But I swear on my wand, if they do it again I won't hesitate. Those girls have been on my list since first year, it's about time they had what's coming to them."

Kissing his lips gently, she brushed her nose against his, "Come on, let's forget them for now and have some breakfast. I'm absolutely starving!" she added with a laugh.

Letting it drop for now, he returned her gentle kiss, before taking her hand in his and calmly following the stream of pupils heading to the Great Hall. "I could hear your stomach even from when you were coming up the stairs," Fynn teased, squeezing her hand gently in the process.

Bumping her hip gently against his, she smiled up at him as she teased back, "I didn't exactly eat anything last night now did I."

As they walked into the Great Hall, Leane couldn't help but laugh softly as she saw Kalli's expression, which happened to match quite a few people's expressions around the Great Hall.

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

Kalli's jaw nearly hit the floor as she turned Josh's face towards the doorway, "Is that what the secret was?!"

Josh laughed, "Of course!"

"When on earth did they finally make up?!"

"Sometime yesterday."

Kalli laughed, "Does this mean we have to be nice to him now?"

"I suppose so, it'll sure in hell be a change from the past few years, won't it?" said Drew.

"You knew too?"

"Yeah, saw them together. Plus I knew how Leane's been feeling. I think it'll be good for them , they deserve to be happy."

"I just hope people don't start interfering with them," added Josh.

Spotting the group of friends, Fynn started fidgetted lightly, squeezing Leane's hand as he asked, "I face them right away?" His face was confidently smiling for whoever was looking at them, but the insecurity definetly came through in his voice.

---

Up in the Gryffindor tower, only one bed remained occupied - and Anna lazily stretched out underneath her blanket, hugging her pillow in the process. It was impossible for her not to smile, and the thought of seeing Liam in less then a minute prompted her to jump out from underneath the blanket, before racing to the girls' bathrooms.

Leane squeezed his hand as she hugged his arm before rising onto her toes to place a kiss on his cheek before whispering softly in his ear, "You'll be fine, I have faith in you, as well as in them. I promise they won't bite. Even though Saiyuri isn't here to keep them in line, I know they'll behave themselves. But if you'd rather sit with your friends, I understand."

Smiling, she kissed his cheek once more before leaning back so her feet her flat on the ground once more and waited for his decision.

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

Liam, just having walked into the Great Hall, stared wide eyed at the couple a few feet in front of him. Motioning towards Leane and Fynn, he mouthed, 'What the 'ell is goin' on?!' to Drew before taking the long away around them, maneuvering through the crowd of people. Drew laughed as Liam sat down, "Haven't you heard?"

Kalli smirked, "It's the latest thing going through school - From Enemies to Lovers - that's what I've heard a bunch of jealous Ravies at the other end of the table refer to it as. I'm happy for them though! All this fighting has gone on long enough between them."

Josh laughed as he nudged Kalli in the side, "Yeah, but you know you loved every minute of it."

Kalli laughed, "True! Nothing is more fun than pissing Fynn off. But I must behave myself of Lee'll have my head!"

Drew laughed, "She'd even want it served to her on a silver platter!"

Liam laughed, "Nah, with Lee it'll 'ave t' be gold! Nothin' but the best fer Lee!"

They all laughed. Noticing that Fynn and Leane were still standing in the walkway, Drew eyed them curiously, "Hmm, I wonder what's going on over there.."

Kalli and Josh both turned and looked behind them at Leane and Fynn, "Maybe they're having second thoughts?"

Drew shook his head, "No, I don't think so.. Not about each other anyway. I think our bickering, and obvious enjoyment of tormenting the bloke, has him a bit worried about the circumstances in which he comes."

"Ye mean th' lad's scared we'll curse him 'n' such?"

"Possible."

Kalli laughed, "Don't be silly! We'd never do such a thing as long as he's the one Leane's in love with!" Smiling, she stood up and skipped over to Leane and Fynn. Taking Leane's hand, she smiled up at Fynn, "Well? Are you two love-birds going to join us? Or are you two too good for us now that you're Mr. and Mrs. Popu-love of Hogwarts?"

Leane laughed, "Popu-love?"

"Popular-love of course! It's all anyone's talking about anymore. Loads are jealous," she added with a wink, "So? You coming?"

"What friends are you talking about," he asked sarcastically, glancing over to a small group of Gryffindors at the end of the table, horsing around amongst themselves without noticing the absence of one of their party. "I think I'd rather face them from the beginning."

As Kalli called out to them, Fynn glanced down at Leane with a small smile on his face as he asked, "Be my safety net?" With a light teasing smile, humour in his voice, he called back to Kalli, "Lovebirs are entitled to their alone time, you should know", before taking decided steps in the general direction of the table.

"Very true," Kalli replied with a laugh as she let go of Leane's hand. Winking at Leane, she turned as skipped back to the table, taking her seat next to Josh.

Leane smiled up at him, "Always." As they neared the table, she eyed Josh, silently warning him to hold his tongue and be kind, before sitting down beside Drew, who sat opposite of Josh, Kalli, and Liam.

Drew smiled up at Fynn, "Glad you decided to join us!"

Liam laughed, "We thought we might've scared ye off 'n' made ye decide against it!"

Joining in the laughter, Josh smiled up at Fynn, trying his best to be pleasant, "Of course he wouldn't be scared off by us, we're not half as crafty with a wand as Lee and Sai! And since they're on his side, he's got nothing to worry about!"

Leane rolled her eyes and threw an apple at Josh, "Quit being such an ass!"

"What?" Josh asked as he tossed the apple back at her, "It was a compliment!"

Leane eyed him before throwing the apple back at him, "Liar."

Josh laughed, "Fine, don't believe me, your choice."

Kalli rolled her eyes, "Men, when their pride is hurt, they think of nothing but bickering!"

Leane laughed, "Well, it does make things interesting! 'Cause then you can always chuck things at them and they can't say a thing about it!"

Josh stuck his tongue out teasingly before taking a bite of the apple Leane had chucked at him. Mouth full of apple, Josh looked over at Fynn, "So where were you and Lee last night? Got in pretty late," he added, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

Kalli quickly elbowed him in the ribs, "That's none of your business Josh! They have a right to do whatever they want!"

As Kalli spoke, Leane glared at Josh, silently telling him that she was going to kill him the minute breakfast was over.

"Besides," Fynn said calmly, his hand reaching for Leane's underneath the table to give it a little squeeze, before continueing, "we could ask the same thing to you, Josh and Kalli." He glanced aside at Liam, and added, "And you, actually."

Leane gently squeezed Fynn's hand as she scooted closer to him, their hands resting on her thigh as she stole a piece of Josh's toast and took a bite.

Kalli winked at Fynn, "I think everyone in this group knows perfectly well where Josh and I were!"

Josh blushed as he took another bite of apple.

Liam simply laughed and nodded as he took a bite of his toast, "Aye, Anna 'n' me were out a bit yesterday weren't we. What we were doin' is a secret," he added with a wink to Drew.

Drew rolled his eyes as he replied sarcastically, "Coming back soaking wet, hmm, what could you have been doing?"

Leane's eyes quickly shifted to Liam, widening in surprise, "You didn't!"

Kalli smiled as she took a bite of her eggs, "He did! And nearly killed the poor girl from what I hear!"

Liam chucked an orange at Kalli as he replied, "Did not! She was perfectly fine! Ask 'er yerself if ye don' believe me!"

Leane laughed as Kalli began peeling the orange with a smirk, "I can't believe you swam in the lake!" Taking another bite of toast, she smiled, "It's about time you toughened up and went back out there; you should have told me though! It would have been nice to take a last swim before the weather gets too cold!"

Smiling, Liam nodded, "It was, but weren't ye a wee bit busy t' go swimmin' with us?"

Smirking, Leane winked at Liam as she spoke teasingly, "You're just jealous!"

Liam laughed, "Nah, I dealt with yer temper before! He can keep ye!"

Leane's mouth opened in a fake shocked look as she smiled and chucked the piece of toast she was holding at him, "Liam!"

Kalli laughed as she chucked a piece of her orange peel at him, "Really Liam! That was mean!"

"Aye, but it was true!"

"Oh shut it! Did you ever think that maybe I did it just to piss you off so you'd bicker with me instead of letting me get my way all the time?" Leane said teasingly as she rolled her eyes and picked up another piece of toast, taking a large bite. "Eat something," she said softly as she held out the toast for him to bite, "and don't mind those two, they're going to get their asses kicked the moment we set foot in the courtyard," she added as she eyed Liam and Josh with glares.

Liam and Josh both looked at each other and laughed, silently agreeing that picking on Leane was quite fun and they'd have to keep it up through out the day to see how pissed off they can get her.

Somewhat overwhelmed by the cheerful interaction of the group, Fynn just nodded at Leane, before taking a bite out of the toast she was holding out to her. It felt like all of his body was focused on his hand and the feel of Leane's tigh underneath it - too content to say much of anything.

It was the only way for him not to notice the onlookers. There were at least five people from every house glaring at their backs, and muttering amongst themselves. Leane had her own share of fans, especially among the Slytherins', but both Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws alike had, somewhat reluctantly, admitted to themselves that Leane was quite a fox.
The amount of dissapointed (and angry) females in Gryffindor house was considerable, too - and it did not help that love seemed to work so well for Fynns appearance.

Smiling in amusement, Anna remained standing in the open doors of the Great Hall, observing it all with lighthearted joy. Her smile faded for a moment as she thought of Saiyuri, though. Pulling lightly at her sleeve, she looked down at the creamy white inside of her wrist, at the small "To do list" she had written on her skin with red ink. It was all she had thought of doing to help out her friend, but she hoped it would be enough for now.

Drew smiled as he saw Anna and gave a slight wave. Liam, Josh, and Kalli all turned and looked at Anna, all waving, before turning back towards their table. Kalli sighed as she ate one of the orange pieces, "I miss Sai..."

Josh nodded in agreement as he stole a piece of her orange, "Think her jerk of a father'll let her come back before Yule?"

Drew shook his head, "Not a chance. He'll keep her as long as he can, if he doesn't kill her first," he added darkly, his brow creasing and a scowl forming on his lips. Leane rubbed Drew's shoulder as she spoke softly, "Don't worry so much, she'll be fine."

Drew nodded as he propped his head up with his hand, his elbow resting beside his plate. Ripping into a piece of bacon, he tried to control his temper, but wasn't very successful.

Leane sighed, "Drew..."

Kalli looked at Drew curiously, "What do you mean 'if he doesn't kill her first'?"

Drew shook his head, "Nothing, I just hate the man is all."

Josh laughed, "I don't blame you! The man's a creep, even for a Slythie!"

Liam rolled his eyes as he ate another piece of toast, "He's not all tha' bad if he likes ye. Besides Josh, he's never been hateful t' ye 'r Kal 'r Lee, what 'ave ye got against 'im?"

"How about the fact that he keeps Sai locked up in that mansion of theirs all summer and treats Drew worse than his house elves! It's no wonder Sai runs away to meet us down in the muggles' park with Lucia! I'd run away too if he were my father!"

Drew sighed, "Yeah, well, be thankful he's not. That man is the worst creature on this planet. If I could ring his neck, I would with my own two hands."

Kalli, just biting into a piece of orange, simply stared at Drew. Swallowing what was in her mouth, she cautiously asked, "Drew.. are you okay? You're a bit . . dark today, to say the least."

Leane elbowed him in the ribs, "He's fine, just a rough night and letting off some steam. Mr. Rumeti was a bit of a jerk to Drew when he took Sai yesterday. Apparently he saw them together as more than friends and his temper got the best of him. But Drew will be fine after he talks to Saiyuri, right?"

"Aye, 'n' she's supposed t' call t'morrow right Drew?"

Nodding, Drew replied glumly, "Yeah, during free period."

Kalli's face lit up as she looked at Drew, "She's going to call?! She's figured out how to use the cellphone?!" Her eyes brimming with happiness and pride, she sighed contently, "I'm so proud of her! How did you manage it?"

"I stored our numbers in her phone so all she has to do is find out name."

"That's convenient. Saves her from asking her father how to work the thing!"

Drew laughed, "Yeah, can you imagine if her father found out she was using muggle technology?"

Liam smirked, "Aye, he'd blow up th' thing faster than ye can protest! 'n' he'd prob'ly whip ye too fer given it to 'er."

"Most likely, even though it was Leane's idea," he added with a smile at Leane.

"Well, if it wasn't for my idea we wouldn't hear from her at all! You know very well her father keeps her poor owl caged up and lies to her about it," sighing she stole half of Kalli's orange and began picking at it, offering some to Fynn as she peeled the pieces apart with her free hand.

Smiling up at Fynn, she couldn't help but be happy and forget Josh and Liam's looks at one another. Brushing her thumb gently against the hand she was caressing on her thigh, she noticed the group of Huffies and Gryffies eying both her and Fynn. Curiously, she looked up at Fynn, "Why are they glaring at us so? Surely they've gotten over us being together by now! Why on earth would they be furious about us being together anyway?"

With a light shrug, he accepted an orange slice and popped it into Leane's mouth. "They only realized it just now, I'm guessing. They'll get a grip on themselves soon." Fynns smile was warm and content, and aimed solely at Leane, before he glanced back over the table towards Drew. "Sai has run out of luck with having such a father - and if we could only get him to back away from his daughter, she'd live a much more carefree life."

Sighing lightly, he looked to the other side of the room - his thumb gently caressing Leane's hand almost absentmindedly - and blinked a bit in surprise. "On another note - does anyone know why Anastasia is ignoring us?"

His choice of words might not have been all that accurate - but sure enough, after giving a light wave in answer to Kalli, Josh and Liams', she had remained standing, her eyes seemingly fixed on the dais where all the professors were enjoying their meal.

Leane smiled as she ate another piece of orange, resting her head gently on Fynn's shoulder, still quite tired and not fully woken up even though she had seemed it while bickering with Liam and Josh.

Drew scowled as he ate another piece of bacon, "He'd never back away, not with everything that's happened."

Every looked to where Fynn was looking, and looked at Anna curiously.

"Hmm.. I wonder why," Kalli said as she popped a piece of orange into her mouth and Josh stole another, "Liam, did you do anything?"

Liam shook his head, "Not tha' I know of. I'll be righ' back." Silently, he stood up and walked over to Anna while the rest of the table turned back to their meals. Slipping his hand into Anna's, he placed a kiss upon the top of her head, "Mornin' love. How come yer standin' o'er here? Did one o' us do somethin' t' make ye angry, love?"

Following her gaze, he inquired a different question, "Is th' professor table catchin' yer eye fer some reason?"

Her cheeks turning a lovely pink - not used to the public displays of affection just yet - Anna looked up at Liam with a somewhat confused look. "Angry? What?" In a single movement, she stood up on tip toe to kiss Liam gently on the lips in greeting, before taking a step down to head in the general direction of the table. "I've just got some questions to ask some of the professors, is all." With a light laugh, she glanced back at Liam over her shoulder, joking, "I must've fallen asleep where I was standing."

Liam looked at her curiously as he followed her back to their seat, noticing the red ink on her wrist, "Anna, love, could yer questions 'ave anythin' t' do with whatever's written on yer wrist?"

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

Leane yawned as she rubbed her eyes before popping another piece of Kalli's 2nd orange into her mouth, "What class do we have first?"

Drew and Josh laughed at her question, "Lee, don't tell me you're thinking of skipping already!"

Leane blushed, "I'm tired! Of course I have thoughts of skipping!"

Josh smirked as he teased, "Maybe you should come in at a proper time instead of coming in so early in the morning and maybe then you wouldn't be more tired than usual!"

Leane stuck her tongue out at him before popping another piece of orange into her mouth, snuggling closer to Fynn as she ate, "I'll come in whatever time I want to, Josh Phillips. Maybe next time I'll stay out all night and not speak to you the next day! How'd you like that?"

Josh rolled his eyes, "You know perfectly well what I'd do, I'd kill you and whoever you were with."

Leane rolled her eyes, "You're a real ass, you know that? Quit treating me like a child! I'm sixteen years old for God's sake!"

Josh threw down the piece of orange he was holding onto his plate and glared at Leane, "Then start acting like one and quit making me worry so damn much!"

"Then don't bloody worry about me Josh!" she hissed as she slammed her fist onto the table, her hair beginning to crackle, "Just because I'm in love with someone you don't approve of, doesn't mean you can start acting like this! If I were dating anyone but Fynn you wouldn't be this over-protective of me and you know it!"

"That's because none of the guys in this school have ever treated you as poorly as he has nor hurt you as much as he has!"

"That wasn't completely his fault and you know it! You know very well we all egged him on on account of my wanting to get back at him! I've gotten over it! Why don't you?!"

Kalli, biting her lower lip, rested her hand on Josh's leg and shook her head slightly, silently telling him that enough was enough. Josh groaned as he kept silent and ate whatever Kalli had given him.

Leane, completely pissed off by Josh, stood up and stormed out of the Great Hall. The Hogwarts students who saw Leane leave, all knew it must have been another fight with Josh. They were common throughout Hogwarts so no one paid much attention to their bickering nor wondered what it was about, for they could all figure it must have been over Fynn.

Sighing, Leane stormed through the hallways, not really sure where she was going, just knowing that she wanted to get away from Josh for the time being before she started casting spells at him and getting in more trouble than it was worth.

"Eh-?" Anna turned back curiously, looking down at her wrist, and hastily covering it up with the sleeve of her robe. "Oh - no, those are just some doodles I made while finishing up some of my homework - nothing-"

Her explanation was cut short as Leane came storming by. Surprised, Anna looked up at Liam, blinking lightly. "Something up?"

----

Though he was shaking with anger, Fynn managed to stay fairly poised as he stood up from the table, his hands clenched into fists as he rested them on the table. "Look here, you." There was no mistaking the threatening undertone in his voice, nor the glare he was giving Josh. "I know I've got a lot to make up for - but that goes for you too. This fighting hasn't been my own doing, and you know it!"

Fynns' voice had risen lightly as he'd been saying that, but it was the only thing that revealed something being off. What he said next came out more like an accusing whisper, and a pointed look at Josh, "And right now; I'm not the one hurting her." His expression was smug as he stepped away from the table, and without a greeting, he marched out the same way Leane had gone - determined to find her.

Liam sighed as he rubbed his forehead, "I'd say Josh pissed Lee off, in turn pissing Fynn off."

Sitting down next to Josh, Liam demanded, "What did you do."

Kalli sighed as she rubbed Josh's arm and explained what happened to Anna and Liam, "... so this blundering idiot pissed them both off, 'causing them to storm out. So who knows when we'll see them again!"

Josh, the scowl still on his face, propped his chin up with his hand as his elbow rested on the table, "He's right, I did hurt her. I didn't mean to hurt her.. I just.. he just.. he just makes me so..."

"I know, love, but you have to get past this for Leane's sake," Kalli said gently.

"You all didn't see her at her worst... he really hurt her.. they may have been just children, but Leane.. once she falls in love with someone she knows she wants to spend her life with, she falls hard and it takes a lot for her to get over that person.."

Liam sighed, "Ye know lad, there's nothin' ye can do t' erase the past. Ye just have t' move forward. Leane knows what happened, ye don't need t' remind her of it. She knows what she's doin'. All ye can do is support 'er 'n' be there fer 'er when she needs ye."

Josh sighed, "She hates me.. what am I supposed to do?"

"Give 'er time t' cool down, talk t' her. Even though she walks away, follow 'er 'n' tell 'er everythin' ye 'ave t' say. 'n' even if she seems like she's not listenin', she's listenin' t' every word yer sayin. Just give 'er time, she'll fergive ye."

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

Leane's hands clenched into fists as she stormed up the stairs. Not noticing the ribbon falling out of her hair and her hair falling over her shoulders, she continued to storm up the changing staircases until she reached the end of that staircase, which happened to lead to the 5th floor. Sighing, she headed to her right. After going a ways down a corridor to her left, she noticed that there were no doors, only paintings. Not knowing where she was, but pretty sure no one would come down this corridor, she leaned back against the left wall. As she slid down the wall so she was sitting on the floor, she took her wand out of her skirt and tossed it to her right. Tears ran down her cheeks as she pulled her knees close, crossing her arms and laying them on her knees as she rested her forehead on her arms, her hair falling and hiding the sides of her face. If someone just happened to glance down the hall, she wouldn't have been visible for the hall was poorly lit and she was in quite a bit of shade. The only sign of her presence was the wand that lay in a pool of light and the sounds of her sniffling as the tears continued to fall.

"Give her a moment to cool off," Anna added, leaning lightly against Liams back as she reached to the table for a piece of fruit. "I'm positive Leane couldn't hate you. But keep in mind - she wasn't the only one who was hurt." Taking a large bite out of her apple, she paused for a moment, chewing pensively while looking at Josh as she added, "You and Fynn are bound to clash a ton of times... but if you can somehow manage to not lash out at him, or Leane, I think a temporary peace can be accomplished. If only for the sake of Leane."

----

"Where could she be?!" Fynn groaned in annoyance, running through the hallways of the school in hopes of finding him. The darn place was such a mase that he could run around for hours without finding her - but Fynn was not one to give up so soon.

Josh groaned, "I can't stand the man! He's been nothing but trouble from the moment we've met. We've never liked each other, he's always had it out for me. So of course, I'd immediately taken a dislike for him as well! I don't know what she sees in him! Any other guy I could deal with, even if he were a Gryffie, but just not him!"

Kalli sighed, "Listen to Anna, do you really want Leane to start keeping things from you and hiding her every movement? That's what she's bound to do 'cause in her mind, keeping it from you is the best way not to hurt you."

Liam sighed held Anna's hand, pulling her closer as he spoke softly to Josh, "Do ye really want Lee t' start doin' everythin' she can t' avoid ye?"

Josh sighed, "Damnit.. I really screwed up didn't I.."

Drew nodded, "Just a bit. You've definitely gotta keep those brotherly instincts in check when around Fynn. She's right though, she's not a child anymore, you'll have to learn to accept that there are going to be men in her life who you won't approve of as well as things she does that you won't approve of. You'll just have to learn to look past it and get over them for Leane's sake. She loves you, you're the only family she can truly rely on. You don't want to lose that."

Kalli sighed as she looped her arms around Josh's and rested her cheek on his shoulder, "Listen to us, especially what Anna's saying. You need to hold your tongue around them and try to get along with him. It's harder for you than the rest of us, I know. We liked Fynn before he did what he did to Leane, but you two have never liked each other. I think now is the best time to try and work out a compromise. Just agree with each other to be civil around Leane before you both cause her more pain than you already have."

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

Leane sighed as she wiped the tears from her face, leaning her head back against the cold wall as she tucked her hair behind her ears. Her thoughts filled with Josh and Fynn, the tears continued to fall, not being able to hold them back no matter how hard she tried.

As her chest lightly bumped against Liams' back, a blush came on Anna's face, and she melted against him a little. "The least you can do is be polite," she agreed after clearing her throat, giving a light encouraging smile to Kalli, since she knew for a fact that only Kalli could get Josh to at least give it a try.

"I know this feels like we're pressuring you, but... You don't want to lose your sister."

---

It was her crying that finally told Fynn where she was hiding out, as he overheard two people in a painting talk to eachother about the young girl crying in one of the outer hallways.

While it still took him a while to find the hallway they had been talking about, he finally noticed her wand on the floor - causing him to immediatly come to a halt. "...Lee?" His voice was gentle, and Fynn kneeled down, searching her hand with his in the darkness.

Kalli smiled up at Anna, "She's right Josh."

Sighing, Josh nodded, "Yeah, I know.. I just.."

"She'll be fine, if you just talk to her tonight in the Common Room. I promise, she'll forgive you. It may not be now, it may not be tomorrow. But she will forgive you," Kalli encouraged softly as she smiled up at him.

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

Leane quickly turned away from him so that her back was to him. Pulling her knees closer, she tried to wipe the tears away before he could notice as she rested her head against the wall, the coolness of the stone cooling her heated cheeks, "I'm fine.. really.."

A nearby painting whispered, "The poor girl's been crying her eyes out for quite some time. I'd say she's anything but fine."

Leane punched the wall with her fist as she glared at the painting across the hall, "Shut the hell up. That's none of your concern!"

"She's got a temper too. I'd be careful she doesn't hit you with that fist, lad," the painting added before gliding through the paintings until he reached one at the other end of the hall and began discussing the girl with them.

Leane sighed as she let her fist fall and her eyes close, the tears slowly seeping from her eyes, "Go away.. you don't need to see me like this.. it's bad enough you think I cry more often than not, I don't need you thinking I'm a cry baby who cries over every little thing as well..."

"Exactly," Anna smiled a bit, then looked up at the professors table again. "Though I think it's about time for us to head to class."

----

He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he was going to say. It didn't take him long to make up his mind, though - and Fynn slipped next to her, quietly taking her into his arms. "Lee... when I say I love you, I mean all of you. It means I don't want anyone else in my arms ever again." He swallowed a bit, realizing the magnitude of what he was saying, as he pulled her tighter to his chest. "It means I like the part of you that blows up easily, and the part of you that cries easily, just the same. I don't like seeing you cry - but I'd rather you realize that you can just cry openly with me, then that you try to hide it."

His finger gently reached underneath her chin as he moved her face up, trying to see her eyes in the darkness. "Alright?"

Kalli sighed, "Unfortunately, I think she's right. We've got Transfiguration right?"

Drew nodded, "Yeah.. doubt we'll see Lee though.."

Josh sighed as he stood up and silently walked away from the table, heading towards the Transfiguration room. Kalli quickly waved and ran after him.

Liam sighed, "Watch out fer 'em, alrigh'? They're goin' t' need ye 'n' Kal t' talk some sense into 'em."

Drew nodded as he stood up, "Yeah, I just hope Lee'll think before she acts when she sees him."

Liam smiled as he stood up and turned around, pulling Anna in a close embrace as Drew headed out after Josh and Kalli, "So are ye goin' t' tell me what yer infatuation with the Professor's table is now tha' everyone's gone?"

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

Leane's sobs increased as she threw her arms around Fynn's waist and clutched his shirt, pulling herself closer to him so her face was buried in his chest, "It's all my fault.. I didn't mean to make you worry, I just.. I had to get away from Josh before I did something I'd regret. He just infuriates me so much! The way he treats you is unforgivable; and it's all my fault... I can't go back there and face him.. I know I'll end up saying something I'll surely regret.. and if I have access to my wand, I'll surely turn him into something and get into more trouble than necessary.. Ugh! Why do I have to have such a short temper?! And why the hell do I always cry when I'm angry?!"

Lowering her head so that the top of her head was resting against Fynn's chest and her face was pointed downwards, her eyes slowly opened and she looked down at his lap, "I hate this... I hate you having to see me like this all the time.. You must think so poorly of me now.."

Sweetly smiling up at him, she teased, "I'm afraid I'm only infatuated with you, at the moment." Pushing lightly against him, she added with a laugh, "Now let me go, you oaf - or are you planning on skipping class with me again?"

-----

Almost relieved at the fact that she'd seemed to skip over his near-proposal, Fynn just held her close, caressing her bad. "I don't think poorly of you - and you have every right to be upset. Josh was going out of line - he knows it, you know it, I know it." He sighed lightly, pulling her tighter to him. "Things are going to get worse before they get better; especially with me and Josh. He has every right to hate me."

"I know it's not in your nature, but you'd best ignore him as much as you can when it comes to me. Let him curse me, or hit me, or call me every name under the sun." With a light grin, he added, "It's one of those annoying guy things."