Iliana smiled to herself at his exasperation, a soft, content sound escaping her as she settled even more comfortably against him. If she leaned any closer, she’d practically melt into him; and honestly, she didn’t see a problem with that. His steady warmth, the slow rhythm of his breathing, the way...

Iliana hummed softly at the feel of his hand moving in slow, steady circles across her back, her body relaxing even more against his. She tucked her face briefly into the crook of his neck, breathing him in like the moment might slip away if she didn’t anchor herself to it. “I don’t think I’ll be ge...

Iliana let out a soft, almost surprised laugh into the kiss, the sound caught somewhere between relief and joy. When he pulled her toward him and shifted them under the blanket, she didn’t resist in the slightest; if anything, she melted into it, settling sideways across his lap like it was exactly ...

Iliana didn’t miss it. Not the way his gaze dipped to her mouth, not the way his breath changed just a fraction, not the quiet tension humming between them like a held note. Nate might have thought he was being subtle, but he was far too close for that now. Her smile softened instead of fading, eyes...

Iliana felt it immediately; the shift of his leg, the weight of his hand settling on her thigh like it had always belonged there. Her breath caught, just barely, but she didn’t pull away. If anything, she leaned into it, turning her cheek more fully into his palm when he lifted his hand, eyes soften...

Iliana watched him fidget beneath the blanket, the way he kept giving her space even while inching closer, and it tugged at something painfully familiar in her chest. He talked around it; around them, but she could hear it anyway. In the pauses. In the way he wouldn’t quite look at her when he said ...

Iliana didn’t look at him at first. Not when he moved closer and sat down, not even when he spoke again. Her gaze stayed fixed on the edge of her mug like she was afraid to meet his eyes and see something she couldn’t handle. But his words quiet, steady, heartfelt settled around her like the blanket...

Iliana was quiet as he spoke, her eyes fixed on the edge of her mug like it might hold the answers she hadn’t been able to find for years. She listened, and though there were no sharp edges to his words, they still hit deep in ways she didn’t expect. Taking another slow sip, more for something to do...

Refilling the mug she sat the bottle down on the side table and sat back down in her chair with a soft huff of noise. "Of course," came when he spoke explaining why his father had bothered to tell him the story. Though his comment about refusing to tell anyone on pain of torture because th...

Ili stood there just sort of staring at him as he stumbled over himself to answer her question about how he'd found her place and shook her head some, "Nate it's fine… I was just curious. You're welcome here." Making her way back into the room her steps slowed when he mentioned why he'd co...

Ili shook her head instantly, "It's not too much. I don't want to see you destroy yourself or give up on your dreams just because well, you know…" She didn't want to say it outloud, Hogwarts walls had many ears and the less said outwardly the better honestly. She nodded absently, "If ...

Ili had left school grounds as quickly as she could once Winter break had come, heading straight for her apartment with Astra and Pika in tow. Aunt Marya would be furious if she left either at the school over the break. She'd settled in and aside from a few shopping trips along Diagon Alley, Ili had...

Iliana watched him closely as he spoke, her expression unreadable at first but not because she didn’t care. Quite the opposite. As anyone who knew her would see she was trying to think, to solve, in that fiercely quiet way of hers that came out when someone she cared about was hurting. “I hate that ...

Iliana’s smile softened at his words, a quiet understanding in her gaze. "Parents do have a way of making sure we never escape those conversations, don’t they?" she mused, amusement laced with something more knowing. "No matter how much we accomplish, there’s always another expectatio...

Iliana’s expression softened as she listened, her heart twisting at the weight in Nathaniel’s voice. She shifted slightly on the bench, her fingers curling together in her lap as she considered her words. “Nate…” she started, her voice quieter now, thoughtful. “You shouldn’t have had to carry that a...

It was nice to see she wasn't the only one feeling a bit nervous when he offered his arm she carefully took hold of it giving him a little smile in return. "I would love too, thank you." Ili let him lead them, glancing around as they walked through the space. It looked beautiful, more than...

Originally Iliana hadn't planned on attending the dance, she just felt too stress to have a party even knowing Winter break followed and she'd have plenty of time to study then. But Aunt Marya had owled her and Ili could have swore she felt her excitement for dress shopping through the parchment. An...

She mentally sighed when he said it wasn't what she thought and mentioned the test actually being the culprit of his worried pacing. It took everything she had not to smile when he settled down on the bench next to her, not wanting to look too pleased that her presence seemed to settle him down some...

Iliana smiled at her response and nodded, "Why not smart? He's an interesting figure, infamous still today so obviously he did something impressive." She never really considered something not being bright, especially if it meant learning. It was all in how you used what you learned as far ...

Regardless of how long she'd lived there already, Ili still hadn't adjusted to Autumn and Winter weather. It was ironic all things considered where she came from but in fairness; British Isles Autumn and Winter was she felt all together wetter than the ones she was familiar with in Russia. She could...

Ili only just felt slightly better when he explained the star map and how he’d come to have it. She’d never considered just studying the stars themselves and then creating a map on her own, she did always learn better in the harder subjects if she did things the hard way. Nodding absently she was ok...

Listening as she explained Ili felt her comment was even more spot on, resisting was pointless and the longer she fought it the more unhappy she would be. When she trailed off her sentence she couldn’t help responding, “... go home? Given what you just said I don’t see that happening anytime soon un...

She giggled at his reaction and just raised a brow at him when he redirected the question back to her more or less. “Just free time is all but you aren’t getting out of answering me that easily…” Leaning back against the bench she folded her arms over her chest and watched him. He wouldn’t have been...

Iliana gave a little head tilt at her comment, she wasn’t wrong there and she chuckled. “*C'est vrai, mais je préférerais être attrapé par un professeur plutôt que par certaines créatures là-dedans.” Shrugging she was just being honest, she knew some of the creatures that dwelled in the Forbidden Fo...

She’d finished up her work and didn’t have any students to tutor so for once Ili had free time. Rather than rush off to her place and unwind she didn’t see the point so she made her way to the courtyard to just sort of let her mind clear from the day. As soon as she got near the space though she imm...