Reading Between the Lines [Ili]

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate stood across from his cousin at the base of the moving stairwell, her back to the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Why are you even still writing that trash?" he scoffed at her, talking about her gossip pamphlet.

She put her hand on her chest in mock offense, "Trash? Nathaniel, have you never heard the saying you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?" She scoffed at him.

"You shouldn't want to keep spreading lies."

"Who said they were lies?"

"It's gossip. Hearsay, if you want to get into terms we're more familiar with."

Sophie scoffed again, "You're such a killjoy," she waved her hand at him, "Why are you saying something now?"

"Because we're about to graduate, we're in the last half of the year, and you need to start taking things more seriously."

"Start? As it would have it, I'm already being offered scoops on places in Diagon Alley," she tossed her hair over her shoulder, "I'm practically a professional."

"What do you mean? What are you getting tangled in?" Nate's brows drew down, somehow more serious than before.

"You're going to get wrinkles frowning like that."

"Sophie!"

He'd started this conversation by demanding she leave him out of her gossip because she'd written about seeing him and Iliana around the campus together again. It wasn't like he was trying to hide anything; he was trying to be more open about it, but he did not want Sophie's grubby gossip talk all over it. Especially since she had made some unnecessary comments about how maybe Iliana would dislodge the stick from his ass.

Sophie put her fingers to her lips, "As I said. Professional. And pros don't give away their sources," she was clearly enjoying aggravating him.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana hadn’t meant to overhear.

Really, she hadn’t but Nate’s voice carried just enough edge to it that it caught her attention before she even rounded the corner. And Sophie’s… well, Sophie never exactly lowered her voice. Ili slowed just slightly as she approached, catching enough to piece things together—the gossip column, Nate pushing back, the unmistakable thread of him trying to draw a line.

Not hide her.

Protect them.

That realization settled warm in her chest. By the time she stepped fully into view, she didn’t hesitate. Iliana moved right up beside him, slipping her arm through his without a second thought, her touch easy and familiar as she gently tugged his attention away from his cousin. “I thought you were going to wait for me?” she said lightly, tilting her head up toward him with a soft smile that didn’t quite hide the knowing look in her eyes. Only then did she glance over at Sophie, her expression polite but not oblivious. “Hi, Sophie.”

There was no awkwardness in her posture, no attempt to step away or create distance. If anything, she leaned a little more into Nate’s side, comfortable, claiming the space beside him without making a spectacle of it. “I couldn’t help overhearing a bit,” she added, her tone still calm, though there was a quiet firmness beneath it. “And for what it’s worth… I don’t think he’s being a killjoy.”

Her fingers curled slightly against Nate’s arm, a subtle grounding gesture as much for him as for herself. “There’s a difference between sharing stories and… deciding what parts of people’s lives get turned into entertainment.” A small pause, then a softer breath. “But,” she added, glancing back up at Nate briefly before returning her gaze to Sophie, “I also don’t think this is something worth fighting over in a stairwell.”

Her thumb brushed lightly against Nate’s sleeve, a silent I’ve got you. “And,” she finished with the faintest hint of teasing slipping in, “for the record, I don’t think a little less ‘stick’ would kill him.” Her lips curved just slightly, clearly aware of the comment and not entirely disagreeing; but there was warmth in it now, not criticism. Then, gentler, quieter, meant more for Nate than anyone else: “You don’t have to argue this alone.”

[Nathaniel Wright]

As soon as Iliana's hand found his arm, something in Nate's posture shifted. His shoulders dropped a fraction from the rigid line he'd been holding, and he looked down at her, the hard set of his jaw easing just slightly. "She made it clear she wasn't going to linger," he muttered, by way of explanation, though it came out less like an excuse and more like an admission that he'd needed the out.

Sophie's smirk widened, sharp and satisfied at the visible shift in him. "Well, hi, Iliana," she said, fingers waggling in a little wave, not a trace of shame anywhere on her face.

Nate adjusted his hold, pulling Iliana properly against his side with an arm around her. It was a quieter thing than it might have looked, less staking a claim and more just steadying himself. Having her close settled something in him that had been wound too tight.

"I wasn't going to have this conversation at all," Sophie said airily, gesturing at Nate as though presenting evidence. "But someone wouldn't leave it alone. And if either of you thinks you're going to tell me what to write," her eyes flicked between them with a clear warning, "what's in that column now is considerably tamer than what it could be."


Nate narrowed his eyes at her, and then Iliana's voice shifted, the warmth threading underneath the teasing comment about the stick, and he flushed. A quick involuntary thing, the tips of his ears going red first. He didn't say anything to that, just glanced down at her with a brief, unguarded look that said you're not wrong before he pulled it back. Her last words landed differently, and he was quiet for a beat. "I know," he said, lower. Then, because Sophie was still watching them both with that insufferable gleam: "She just has an extraordinary talent for making me want to pull my hair out." Sophie stuck her tongue out at him, and he pointed back at her. "And you're not getting away from the other part of this. You said you have sources in Diagon Alley. Actual sources." The lightness left his voice entirely. "That's not a gossip column thing, Sophie. That's not school anymore."

"Is it not?" She tilted her head, performing innocence. "I'm sure I don't know what you're referring to."

"You're going to get yourself involved in something that isn't going to care how clever you are when it goes sideways," he said, and there was something under the words that had nothing to do with thinking he was wiser, just that he knew things about the people who operated in those circles that she didn't, and that knowledge sat uncomfortably in his chest every time she opened her mouth about it. He didn't get a chance to say anything further because Sophie opened her mouth and he moved faster, reaching past her to pluck the small notepad from where it floated behind her shoulder, the enchanted pen stuttering mid-sentence.

"Hey —You can't actually do anything with that, you know," Sophie said, crossing her arms. "Ask Iliana, she'll tell you. It's not against the rules."

He let her finish, unmoved. "As your cousin, I have more reason to keep this. Because I know you'll come for it, and we can have this discussion somewhere other than the stairwell." He glanced down at the notepad, then back up at her. "I'll give it back once we've talked properly about whatever you're getting involved in."

"You're such a prick," Sophie said, her foot hitting the floor. He tucked the notepad under his arm, entirely unmoved. Or at least appearing to be.

Nate turned to Iliana, "Sorry about this. I only intended it to be about the column, but I'm sure you understand why this getting out to other people is a bad idea," he said it through his teeth with a sidelong glare at his cousin as she grabbed her things and stomped off, threatening him a few different ways as she did. It was their fathers he was concerned about. His father would blame him for not being responsible enough to stop her if he knew it was happening, and he didn't even know what his uncle would do to Sophie. He'd certainly been kinder to her than his father had been to him and his siblings, but that was because she never truly got in trouble. Just stirred the pot enough for others to get into trouble instead. "And for all her cleverness, she's never bothered to figure out the art of discretion."

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana felt it immediately; the way Nate shifted, the way his arm came around her and pulled her in closer without hesitation. It caught her off guard for half a second, not because she minded, but because it was… different. More open. More certain. More public than he had ever been before. Her fingers curled lightly against his arm as she settled into his side, not pulling away, not questioning it; just accepting it for what it was. For what he was trying to show.

Her gaze flicked briefly to him, softening. He means it.

She stayed quiet through most of the exchange, letting the cousins go back and forth, but it didn’t take long for her to piece it together. This wasn’t really about the column anymore. Not fully. The shift in Nate’s tone, the way his focus sharpened; it wasn’t irritation. It was concern. Protection. And when he took the notebook, Iliana’s brows lifted slightly, but she didn’t protest. She couldn’t, not really. She understood exactly why he was doing it, even if Sophie clearly didn’t appreciate it.

As Sophie stormed off, Iliana winced just slightly, lifting her free hand in a small, apologetic gesture. “Sorry, Sophie,” she called after her gently, even if she knew it probably wouldn’t land right now. Once they were alone, her attention shifted fully back to Nate. The tension still lingering in him didn’t go unnoticed. She didn’t say anything at first.

Instead, she leaned in just slightly and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, close enough that it brushed near the corner of his lips before she pulled back. Subtle. Quick. But deliberate. “I get it,” she said quietly, her voice gentler now. “You’re not wrong.” Her hand slid down his arm, fingers brushing lightly against his wrist before she let it rest there. “She doesn’t realize what she’s stepping into. Not really.” A small pause. “But you do.”

Iliana tilted her head slightly, thoughtful. “Taking it like that probably won’t stop her,” she added, not critical, just honest. “But… it will make her talk to you.” Her expression softened again, something understanding and steady in her gaze. “If we can figure out when she has a free period, we could catch her somewhere quieter. Talk it through without an audience.” A faint hint of a smile touched her lips. “Might go a little smoother than stairwell negotiations.”

Her thumb brushed lightly over his wrist again, grounding. “You’re just trying to keep her safe,” she murmured. “I see that.”

[Nathaniel Wright]

The kiss was enough to snap him out of the haze, like a jolt to a system to reset it. He rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand, "Oh no, I know her well enough to know she'll go until she either realizes the gamble isn't worth the rush or until it blows up in her face," he muttered, sounding almost tired now, like the release of the tension also cut the strings keeping him standing. He tucked the notebook into his pocket.

"It'll probably be easier to catch her after classes, less likely her gaggle of friends will be nearby," he murmured before looking to her, "Sorry. I just meant to ask her to stop writing about us because I don't want us tied to that gossip rag, but she started saying she had connections. I know she's not entirely reckless, but she lets the excitement of things dictate her choices sometimes." He shook his head before gently shifting his hand to hold the one that she had at his rest, taking a deep breath.

"We should probably get to class. Professor Scrivener will not have mercy on us for being late because I'm dealing with family drama," he sighed, giving her hand a squeeze before starting to walk in that direction. He'd thought he'd be more awkward about the whole PDA thing at first, but he found this year, especially, having her close was like a balm to the worries that would not stop plaguing him. Between trying to keep his grades at their best, keeping up with his siblings, and now his cousin, the fact that his father was becoming less predictable as opposed to more...

"Maybe one of these days the worst things I'll have to worry about is whether my grammar is correct on an essay."

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana let him talk, hearing the fatigue under his words as clearly as the concern. It softened something in her all over again, because for all Nate tried to carry everything himself, moments like this made it obvious just how much weight he kept braced on those shoulders. When he took her hand, her fingers slipped naturally through his, like they had remembered before she had. “I think after classes makes sense,” she agreed, walking with him when he started toward the corridor. “And for what it’s worth, I’m not upset you confronted her.” Her mouth curved faintly. “I may have opinions about her column, but I’m rather touched you were trying to defend our privacy and her safety.”

She tipped him a sidelong look. “Very noble of you, honestly.” The teasing softened as she watched him, heard the deeper worry beneath all the cousin frustration. “And I know why you reacted the way you did. It wasn’t about controlling her. It was about protecting her.” A beat.“That’s very you.” His comment about Professor Scrivener drew a quiet laugh from her. “Merlin help us if we show up late to Scrivener and unprepared. I’d rather duel a Hungarian Horntail.”

But his remark about grammar and essays made her slow half a step, just enough to turn and catch his eye. “One day,” she said, giving his hand a small squeeze back, “the biggest thing on your mind will be an essay.” There was no teasing in that. Just conviction. “And until then,” she added, gentler now, “you don’t have to carry every catastrophe by yourself.” Her thumb brushed over his knuckles as they walked.

“And for the record…” Her smile returned, mischievous now.“I rather like this new habit you have of holding my hand in hallways.” A pointed glance at their joined hands. “Should I assume the notorious Nathaniel Wright is becoming reckless in his old age?” She leaned in just enough as they walked to brush her shoulder against his. “Careful. At this rate Sophie’s gossip column might actually have something accurate to print.”

Then, quieter so only he would hear:

“And if the worst thing we have to argue over someday is your grammar on an essay…” she smiled up at him, warm and certain, “I think we’ll be doing very well indeed.”

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate seemed to ease again as she held onto his hand, like she was an anchor, a buoy in a storm, letting him feel like he could breathe for a minute. He took a deep breath at to defend privacy and safety, like a part of him hadn't even registered that that was what had been pushing him forward. It was such a natural thing to do to get ahead of what he perceived as danger. He snorted lightly at her tease, shaking his head, then chuckled at the comment about the Horntail, "It would be less frightening. At least the punishment would be quick."

He seemed to absorb that comment about carrying catastrophes, then gave a dramatized eye roll at her teasing about holding her hand in the hall, "Ha, ha," he smirked as he looked at her, "I would rather beat her to the punch and let us be the ones to show everyone we're together than let her twist it. Also, you're a balm to the... anxiety, I suppose is the best word for it... that normally buzzes in my mind all the time. Too much to do, to plan, to practice, so on and on..." he murmured, "Sorry, that's a bit much for a conversation going into class," he said as they neared the classroom, "Just a lot on my mind, per the norm," he smirked a little, "Maybe I want to show off a little, too. I'm clearly the lucky one."

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana felt the words settle somewhere deep, quieter than the teasing that usually passed between them. The honesty in it, the way he admitted what she did for him; made her chest tighten just a little. And then he had to go and say that. She blinked at him, caught off guard, and sure enough, a faint blush crept into her cheeks despite herself. “Careful,” she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips as she ducked her head slightly. “You keep talking like that and people really will think you’ve lost your mind.”

But there was no bite to it. Just warmth.

As they reached the classroom door, she slowed just enough, turning her head to press a quick, soft kiss to his cheek; light, but deliberate. “For the record,” she added under her breath, “I think it goes both ways.” Then, before she could linger too long or let the moment stretch into something that would definitely earn them a look from Professor Scrivener, Iliana slipped her hand from his and stepped into the classroom.

Just like that, she shifted.

Back straight, expression composed, attention forward. She made her way to her assigned seat, setting her things down and settling in as though nothing had changed at all. And for the duration of the class, she was exactly as she always was—focused, attentive, not once letting her gaze drift too long in Nate’s direction even when she was aware of him in the room. But the softness lingered, tucked neatly beneath the surface.

When class finally ended, Iliana gathered her things at an unhurried pace, sliding her books into her bag, adjusting the strap over her shoulder. She didn’t rush out, but she didn’t wait either; just moved with the natural flow of students into the hallway. And once there, she lingered just slightly off to the side, giving herself a moment, knowing without needing to look that he’d catch up to her soon enough.

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate chuckled lightly at her "careful", an actual smile coming to his face, softening the edges of his usually hardened expression. When she kissed his cheek, he felt his own cheeks burn as his heart did a little flip. He smirked at her quiet statement before straightening himself out. He watched her for a moment, seeming to absorb... something, before his stern expression returned before he walked to his usual seat.

He focused on his notes, taking his studying almost more seriously than before because in his mind, more rode on his success. Not that he had to do it by himself, but his doing the best he could would help more than if he slacked off. He did glance at her from time to time, but kept himself in the right headspace.

Once class finished, he did end up coming out after her, reaching out to touch the center of her back to let her know he was coming up behind her, "Onto the next?" he looked at her. He would walk alongside her, holding her hand if she wanted to do that again, not wanting to force it on her in case he was being... clingy. But a streak of yellow from his periphery as they approached the Transfiguration classroom had him slowing down just before Nova skittered to a stop in front of them, almost always in a rush coming up to this class.

"If you'd stop talking so much, you wouldn't have to run to class," Nate pointed out to her a bit flatly.

"You've said that for years, and my answer has always been the same," Nova poked him on the nose, producing a blank, unamused expression from him, "No," she then smiled a Iliana, "Good morning~"

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana felt him before she saw him, the touch at the center of her back enough to draw a small smile to her lips as she glanced over her shoulder at him. “Mm. Onto the next,” she agreed softly. And when he left the choice open subtle as always she answered it without hesitation. Her fingers slid easily into his hand as they walked, her grip warm and certain. No second guessing. No looking around to see who noticed. If anything, there was something quietly pleased in the way she held onto him now, like she was done pretending this wasn’t exactly what she wanted.

“The only redeeming quality of Transfiguration,” she sighed dramatically, “is that I get to suffer through it with Nova.” Much as she might have wished otherwise she and Nate had never been allowed to work together in their later school years. Thus how she ended up with Nova as quite honestly her favorite person to be paired with so far as class assignments went.

As if summoned by name alone, the blur of yellow came barreling toward them. Iliana laughed immediately as Nate deadpanned at her, the sound lighter than it had been in days. “Honestly, Nate, I think at this point silence from Nova would be more concerning than the running.” Nova’s greeting earned an affectionate smile from Ili as she gave her friend a small wave with her free hand. “Morning,” she returned warmly before glancing back toward Nate with obvious amusement still lingering in her expression.

“If she ever actually stopped talking, I’d assume someone cursed her and start looking for a healer.” She squeezed Nate’s hand lightly as the three of them reached the classroom door, entirely at ease despite the bustle around them. There was something oddly nice about this: normal conversation, teasing in the hallway, the easy warmth of companionship after everything else had felt so heavy lately. And maybe that was why the small smile on her face refused to disappear.

[Nathaniel Wright]

Nate held onto her hand when she took it, smiling softly at her as she did. He chuckled lightly at her dramatics before Nova had come up. He huffed at Iliana's comment about Nova never being silent, shaking his head.

Nova laughed a little, "Look! I just don't see why I shouldn't say hi! Especially when they're like a younger year looking a bit overwhelmed," she said, putting her hands on her hips, "What kind of prefect would I be if I didn't model good behavior?"

"Fine, fine," Nate waved his free hand, submitting.

"One of these days, you'll hate me less," she patted his shoulder before walking into the classroom.

Nate sighed, as if that conversation with her had exhausted him. She was a bit too extroverted for him. He lifted her hand, kissing the back of it, "Have fun," he smirked. He'd wait for her to go in first before following her in as well.

Nova had already popped out her sketch book and when Iliana joined her, she leaned over, "Hey! Can I make you like a nice dress to wear for dates?" she asked, "Or a couple, like one formal and one a little more relaxed?" she said, spinning her sketching pencil in her fingers, "Free o' charge just to get to use you as a model for some practice," she smirked then stopped spinning the pencil, making a face, "I didn't mean for that to sound so weird."

There was a low muttering from Nate in the back, putting his hand to his face.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana couldn’t help the quiet laugh that escaped her as she listened to Nova and Nate go back and forth. There was something endlessly entertaining about the way Nova steamrolled straight through Nate’s stoicism without a shred of fear. “You say that like greeting overwhelmed first years isn’t exactly why you became a prefect,” Ili teased lightly toward Nova before she stepped into the classroom.

When Nate lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, the warmth rushed right back into her cheeks despite herself. Her eyes flicked toward him, soft and amused all at once. “I always do,” she murmured back, knowing perfectly well he didn’t mean the class. Then, with visible effort, she schooled her expression back toward something more composed before heading into the room.

By the time she settled into her seat beside Nova, she looked much more like the attentive student most people expected; though the lingering warmth in her eyes hadn’t fully disappeared. Nova’s immediate question drew a blink from her before a smile spread across her face again, softer this time. “Nova,” she laughed quietly, “it is absolutely fascinating how your mind works, where did that come from?”

The clarification only made Ili more amused, especially paired with the muffled sound of Nate dying somewhere in the background. She glanced briefly over her shoulder toward him, clearly entertained, before returning her attention to Nova. “I don’t mind,” she said honestly. “You can, if you want to.” Her head tilted slightly as she considered it. “And for the record, I don’t think it sounded weird. Slightly aggressive in enthusiasm, maybe, but not weird.”

She nudged Nova lightly with her elbow. “Besides, you making clothes people actually want to wear feels inevitable at this point.” A small smile lingered as she added, “And I definitely won’t complain about free dresses.” Then, lowering her voice just slightly with playful suspicion: “Though I suspect this has less to do with ‘practice’ and more to do with you wanting an excuse to design date outfits.”

[Nathaniel Wright]

"I mean, I've been doing it since the beginning, might as well make it an official job," Nova snorted in response to Ili's comment as she passed.

He watched as she pulled it together again, smirking a little as she walked away before he'd followed.

"I don't know if I know how to do normal enthusiasm," Nova hummed, then shrugged, "I keep trying to make things for people but everyone seems to think I'm offering without meaning it, but after I made stuff for the dance, I think people finally believe me when I say let me make you something," she laughed, shaking her head, though ducked her head a bit as the professor finally came in, "And it's always practice, the practice just usually produces results," she whispered, "But also yes, I want to make cute clothes for dates."

Sure enough, throughout class, whenever she wasn't having to take notes or do an assignment, Nova was already sketching ideas and would hold her sketching pencil in her teeth whenever she had to stop to be a good student. She didn't give a start of remembering something as class was starting to come to an end, "Ohmahgah, did you do the potions homework? I-I did it, but I'm so not sure about my answers, and I wanted to run it by you earlier, but I forgot," she made a face. Then a different question seemed to pop up as she looked over at Nate, then to her, "Does he walk with you all the way potions when he goes to Alchemy next? Not judging, kind of impressed really."

"I can hear you," Nate muttered, not that far away from them. It wasn't annoyance, not really. It was hard to be annoyed at Nova, mostly cause she just didn't register anything hateful or angry directed her way. It just seemed to bounce off her. It had become a little endearing if not exhausting.

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana smiled faintly as Nova explained herself, glancing sideways at the increasingly detailed sketches appearing across the page. “I think people just aren’t used to someone offering nice things without expecting something back,” she whispered back honestly. “Which is sad, now that I say it out loud.” Her eyes flicked to the designs again, amusement returning easily. “But for the record, I fully support your mission to create aggressively adorable date outfits.”

Throughout class, she stayed mostly focused, taking notes neatly while occasionally peeking at whatever Nova was sketching next. Every time Nova had to stop and stick the pencil between her teeth to pay attention, Ili had to fight back another smile. By the end of class, though, Nova’s abrupt panic about Potions drew a soft laugh out of her. “Yes, I did the homework,” she reassured immediately, already reaching for her bag. “And I’ll look over your answers before class if you want. You’re probably overthinking at least half of them.”

At the next question, though, Ili blinked and looked toward Nate almost instinctively before laughing under her breath. “I think ‘walks me all the way’ makes it sound much more dramatic than it is,” she teased lightly, though the warmth in her expression betrayed that she very much liked the arrangement. “Alchemy is only a corridor over from Potions.” Then, with just enough mischief to be noticeable, she added toward Nova, “Though I suspect he’d probably escort me to the ends of the earth right now if I asked.”

“I can hear you.”

That only made her laugh again, softer this time as she glanced back toward him over her shoulder. “I know,” she replied easily. There was no embarrassment in it. No awkwardness. If anything, Iliana looked quietly content with the fact that everyone around them was beginning to notice what had already become obvious.

As students began packing up around them, she gathered her own things before nudging Nova lightly. “Bring your Potions work with you after this and we’ll look at it before class,” she promised. “And maybe you can show me more of the dress sketches too.” Then her eyes slid briefly back to Nate again, warmth lingering there before she added teasingly, “Assuming my overly attentive escort doesn’t steal me away first.”

[Nathaniel Wright]

"Good," Nova whispered, "Because you'll probably get the lion's share."

Nova gave a dramatic sigh of relief, hearing Ili say she had the homework and would look at her answers, "Thank you. I usually am overthinking it, it always just sounds wrong to me," She shook her head. She snorted, though, at Ili saying he'd escort her to the ends of the earth. "He didn't deny it~," she said in sing-song after Ili's "I know."

Nate just gave a roll of his eyes, but the smirk on his face said he didn't mind it much.

Nova dug around in her backpack. "Right, right," she said, pulling out her homework while putting away their transfiguration work. "I don't have much for the dresses yet, but I'll show you what I've got started."

"Only if you want me to," Was Nate's response to the tease as he also started to gather up his things, "Though Nova may pout if I do."

"I do not pout," She said while, in fact, pouting.[/color]

Nate shook his head before walking towards the door, where he'd wait for Iliana to join him. He knew he didn't have to walk with her everywhere, but he wanted to. He didn't want to deny how he felt about her and was actually finding he enjoyed stealing every moment he could with her.

"You're so lucky. You're so cute together," Nova gave a little squeal, "Though it's about time, honestly."

[Iliana Tsankova]

Iliana laughed quietly at Nova’s dramatic relief, shaking her head as she slung her bag over her shoulder. “You say that now, but if half your answers are right already, I reserve the right to complain while helping you.” Nova’s sing-song teasing earned an immediate warmth in her cheeks again, and she shot Nate a look that was equal parts amused and accusing before catching the little smirk he failed to hide.

Traitor.

Still, the expression softened almost immediately. “You absolutely pout,” Ili informed Nova very seriously while the girl was, in fact, pouting. “It’s practically an art form.” She gathered the last of her things while Nova dug through her bag, then nodded toward the door. “Come walk with us,” she encouraged easily. “You can show me your sketches on the way.”

But the second she stepped out into the corridor and caught sight of Nate waiting there, something in her expression softened instinctively. She crossed the small distance without hesitation, slipping her hand neatly into his like it belonged there; which, increasingly, it did. Her thumb brushed lightly across his knuckles before she flashed him a small smile, warm and private despite being in the middle of a busy hallway.

Then, as naturally as breathing, she resumed talking with Nova. “I still want to see the formal dress idea,” she said, glancing toward the sketchbook. “Though now I’m curious what you think qualifies as ‘cute date clothes.’” Nova’s squeal made Ili laugh again, quieter this time as she leaned just slightly closer to Nate while they walked.

“Merlin, don’t encourage her,” she murmured affectionately, though there was no real complaint behind it. At the about time comment, however, Iliana’s brows lifted and she looked toward Nova with sudden suspicion. “Wait,” she said slowly, “how long have you been waiting for this exactly?”

Given the grin already threatening at Nova’s face, Ili was fairly certain she already knew the answer and somehow that only made her more amused as she walked alongside Nate, fingers still comfortably threaded with his.

[Nathaniel Wright]

"That's fine, and I'll even get you an extra butterbeer to repay you for the absolute travesty of wasting your time," Nova said, still being utterly dramatic. If there had been a theater class at Hogwarts, she'd be unstoppable.

She did look horribly offended when Ili corroborated that she was a pouter, but she followed after her, "So mean!" she huffed.

Nate smiled at her the second she came out of the room, holding his hand out to her, again, practically sighing the second she took it. The small moment between them was like water when walking through a desert. He couldn't really explain just how she made him feel.

Nova came up beside them, her homework under her arm as she flipped in the sketchbook showing her a sketched out silhouette of a ribbon-wrap bodice with some loose lines indicating a flowing skirt and a few arrows pointing at places where she was still debating ideas, "I was thinking navy blue? With maybe some rhinestones in the bodice to make it sparkle," she grinned. Then gasped in horror, "Oh I should have saved it and let you surprise him, darn it."

Nate let out a huff of a laugh, "I think I'll still be plenty blown away," he assured her.

Nova made one of those grimace smiles when Iliana asked how long she'd been waiting, "Oooooh I dunno... since before you guys started dating the first time in year 3?" she admitted sheepishly.

"Why not worry about finding your own boyfriend? Or girlfriend if that's your thing."

"Oh, pshaw," Nova waved her hand at him, "Half of everyone around here thinks I'm a nutter," she tossed her blazing red hair over her shoulder, "I'd probably also leave them behind by accident, do you know anyone who can keep up with me, really?" she smirked.

He just shrugged in defeat before looking to Iliana.