"Oh, hey! Olivia!" a voice shouted down the corridor. Olivia Morely turned, her robes getting tangled in her legs. She spotted Declan Westbrook, a Slytherin in her year, running towards her. His brown hair bounced with each step he took and she noted that it seemed he had put less hair gel in today than usual. Not that she cared.

"Hey." He said, again, as he finally caught up to her.

"Hi, Declan." Olivia replied. Declan Westbrook was known to be the stereotypical Slytherin. His family was a common household name in the Auror world, his father being the current Head Auror at the Ministry of Magic. Naturally, Declan was expected to follow in his father's footsteps. Declan Westbrook also had a reputation of being rude to those he deemed unworthy of his presence, so it didn't surprise Olivia when Declan looked her over from head to toe with a smirk on his face. His bright blue eyes were the only indicator that there was more to him. Olivia, unfortunately had the pleasure of looking into those bright, sky blue eyes.

"So, how are you today? Doing well?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I do have a class soon, so…" Olivia proclaimed, hoping to deter Declan from talking to her. It wasn't that Olivia didn't like Declan-he had always been generally neutral to her-but it was the fact that he had ditched her best friend, Maggie Juniper, when he had asked her on a date. It had crushed Maggie's heart, so Olivia had sworn to secretly despise Declan behind his back. Maggie had laughed at that because Olivia, a Hufflepuff, didn't have a mean bone in her body. But Olivia was determined.

"Oh, let me walk you. I have something I need to ask you anyway." Declan smiled at her. For a moment, Olivia was surprised. She hadn't expected his smile to be so charming. But then again, she should have expected that coming from a Westbrook.

"Oh, okay. I have Divination next." Olivia started walking down the corridor.

They were silent for a few minutes as they walked together. Many of their classmates noticed them together and began whispering to themselves. Normally, this wouldn't have bothered Olivia, but because it was him, she was internally checking herself.

"So," Declan began, "I have a favor to ask you." He brought his hands from behind his back and began wringing them. Was he nervous?

"Livvy!" Maggie Juniper said, running from behind them. She paused when she saw Declan, but continued looping her arm through Olivia's. She brushed back her long, curly red hair over her shoulder. "I thought we were walking to Divination together?" Her eyes bore into Olivia's with an intensity that said, and why are you with Declan Westbrook?

Olivia shot her a look. I'll explain everything later.

Declan cleared his throat. "I guess I'll talk to you after Divination. Would you meet me in the Owlery? It is urgent." His eyes bore into Olivia's. She hesitated. What could Declan possibly want from her?

"Sure, I'll meet you there." Declan's eyes lit up and he gave her a small smile. He turned and walked down the opposite hall.

As soon as he turned the corner, Maggie hit Olivia's shoulder. "What the heck was that about?"

"He caught me after Muggle Studies and wanted to ask me something. Whatever it is, it must be serious." Olivia scrunched her eyebrows in concern and Maggie laughed.

"What?" Olivia asked, shooting her friend a glance.

"You are the most Hufflepuff Hufflepuff I know. He probably wants to lure you to the Owlery to ask you to kiss him so he can say to all of his friends that he got the most innocent girl in the entire school to let loose. Just watch, it's probably going to be some sort of bet between him and the rest of his snobby friends. If I were you, I just wouldn't go." Maggie began to look at her nails as they climbed up the tower to Divination.

"Well, I doubt it. Why would they target me anyway? It's not like I'm completely innocent. I totally kissed Christopher Harmon in 5th year."

Maggie stopped Olivia and looked at her incredulously.

"Okay, my cousin and spin the bottle doesn't count. Besides, you know I don't trust him after what he did. I thought you were on my side with this anyway." They continued up the tower until they got to the door of the Divination classroom. Professor Trelawny was setting up tea cups along the tables. Olivia turned to face Maggie, who looked at her with exasperation.

"Look, I don't trust him. I know about his reputation and such, but I want to at least give him a chance. It's not always about what's on the outside, Mags." Maggie gave her a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Fine. I trust you," Maggie said, sighing. "But, so help me, if he tries anything on you-"

"Mags," Olivia said, putting a hand on her arm, "he won't even get that far."

Maggie just laughed and walked into the classroom.

Declan knew what he was doing by running up to Olivia Morely like that. He just didn't care. Declan peeked out around the corner to catch Olivia and Maggie walking up the tower. Olivia Morely was a Hufflepuff in his same year. She was known as the school's most friendly, yet unattainable student, and he wanted to know why. He hadn't necessarily noticed her before this year-she had been an average student, blending into the rest of the school. She had Potions and Herbology with him this year, and he couldn't stop thinking about her. Sure, he found her attractive, with her short, dark chocolate hair and matching brown eyes, but she was still a mystery to him.

She continued up the tower, adamantly talking to her friend, Maggie. Maggie Juniper. Judging by the blue and bronze robes she was wearing, she had to have been in Ravenclaw. Why did that name sound so familiar to him? He must have had a class with her or something. The way that she had looked at him had him wondering if he had done something particularly nasty to her, which probably was the case.

"Hello? Earth to Declan? Any lights on up there?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. He tore his eyes away from the spot that had previously held Olivia and Maggie, and into matching bright blue eyes, staring at him lazily.

Judson Graham, a fellow 6th year Slytherin and best friend of Declan, stared back at him. Judson was the definition of the Slytherin attributes. Top of his class, rich and prominent family in the Wizarding World, and current team captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. His one redeeming feature was his Gryffindor girlfriend, Rebecca Kingsley. How he ended up with a girl like that still confused Declan. Rebecca was the one of the coolest people in the planet, the complete and total opposite of Judson.

"Hey. Dude. We're gonna be late for Ancient Runes and you know I can't get another detention or else Professor Slughorn won't let me play against Gryffindor." Judson pulled on Declan's arm. Declan reluctantly walked with him.

"Also," Judson continued. "I heard a rumor that you were walking with Olivia Morely to her class. What was that about? Wouldn't your parents be upset if they knew you were dating a Halfblood?"

Declan rolled his eyes. "I don't really care what my parents think of my dating choices. Besides, I just walked with her. I'm not dating her."

It was now Judson's turn to roll his eyes. "But you want to. I can see it in your eyes. You are a terrible liar, just so you know."

"I am an awesome liar, Jud. You just know me too well."

"If you say so, brother." A sarcastic smile was cast towards Declan.

Declan shoved Judson away from him and he nearly crashed into a group of 2nd years running down the hall. Declan laughed.

"I'm just asking her for help in one of my classes. And no," Declan said to Judson, who started to open his mouth, "I'm not asking you cause your tutoring skills suck. The last time you tried, you convinced me that I was going to die on my 14th birthday because of the way my tea dregs lined up."

Judson's eyes lit up at the memory. "You had a will and everything. I don't regret that day for one second." He looked at Declan and smiled. "But Olivia Morely? You know that sends a message, right?"

Declan sighed and looked at his friend. He grinned.

"Exactly."

After Divination, all Olivia wanted to do was to go back to her room and cuddle up in her blankets and sleep. For whatever reason, divination always drained her energy. Maybe it was because she couldn't understand it as well as other classes, but she continued to take it despite it being her worst grades. She was determined for it to click in her head as the others did. She wasn't necessarily at the top of her class, but she definitely wasn't at the bottom. She hovered just above average, where she preferred. There was less drama when she was average.

She had said her goodbyes to Maggie, who had wished her luck and given her a lengthy pep talk about what to do if a boy advances on her. She had just laughed and listened halfheartedly. Olivia knew that Declan wasn't going to pull anything on her. She should be expecting that he would, but there was something about him that had her feeling safe.

She came upon the Owlery and began walking up the steps. The cool October air had began to fall upon the castle. The leaves had changed color in the Forbidden Forest, which was one of her favorite scenes at Hogwarts. She stopped to admire the scene before her, the castle glowing in the late afternoon sun. A small smile formed on her lips.

"Beautiful, isn't it."

Olivia jumped at the voice, and turned to see who it belonged to.

Declan stared back at her, a surprised smile on his face, his eyes bright with laughter.

"I'm sorry to have scared you." His face was red from the cold, as if he had been here for a while.

"No, it's okay! Don't worry about it. Have you been here long?" Olivia asked, flustered and embarrassed.

"No, not too long. But I did think that you had bailed on me, and was just about to leave."

"Oh, I'm sorry for making you wait! I just got stuck up with Maggie, and I-" Olivia's face grew redder and redder. Oh, you are making such a fool out of yourself.

He laughed, a clear and hearty sound. It made her want to hear more. Wait, what?

"As long as you are here now, it's okay." Olivia smiled at that, her anxiety calming.

"So, what was it that you were wanting from me?" she asked.

Declan looked at her, as if lost in his thoughts. "What?"

"Uh," Olivia said, confusion on her face. "Earlier, you said that you had a favor to ask me?" She had begun to bite her lip, and her palms inside of her gloves were getting sweaty. What if he had asked her here just to embarrass her and his friends were just waiting to jump out and-

"Oh, right." Declan said, clearing her thoughts away. "I was wondering if you would tutor me in Muggle Studies. I'm sort of failing right now, and if I don't pass, then I'll get kicked off of the Quidditch team." He looked at her with worry in his eyes.

Tutor him? He brought her out here and made her worry all because he wanted her to tutor him? Well, this is not at all what she was expecting.

"Why didn't you ask Judson? Isn't he at the top of the class?" Olivia blurted. The worry on Declan's face only worsened and she knew she shouldn't have asked that.

"Well, yes, but I don't want him to find out that it's Muggle Studies that I'm struggling with. And I'd rather not ask him to tutor me again because the last time, well, wasn't good. I know that you are a halfblood, so I just assumed-"

"Oh, yeah, right. You assumed that I'd help you because I'm a halfblood and a Hufflepuff so we are bound to help others." She didn't mean for it to come out as sharp as it did, and she instantly regretted it. Declan's face physically cringed, but he quickly recovered with one of his charming smiles.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that, but if you can't I understand."

"No, I'll help! I'd love to."

He looked at her warily, but still said, "Okay. How about tomorrow?"

Olivia mentally went through her schedule. She was supposed to help Maggie prepare for her first date with a 7th year Ravenclaw that she had been eyeing all year, but Olivia was sure she'd be fine with it. As long as she didn't say who she was tutoring.

"Sure. Tomorrow, in the library."

Declan smiled at her and took his hand out of his pocket. "Tomorrow."

She took his hand and shook it. He was still smiling at her as he asked, "Do you want me to walk you back to the school?"

Olivia shook her head. "I'm actually heading up to the Owlery anyway."

Declan looked down at their still joined hands. "Okay." he said, finally letting go.

He turned and walked down the steps. Suddenly, he turned back around and asked, "Are you going with anyone on the next trip to Hogsmeade?"

"Uh, just Maggie. Why?" Olivia asked warily.

"Oh, no reason. See you later, Olivia." Declan smiled to himself as he turned back.

Olivia watched him until he disappeared back into school. Why would he ask her about who she was going to Hogsmeade with? He should have guessed she'd be going with Maggie. Shaking off the thought of Declan from her mind, she continued up the steps until she got into the Owlery, where Calypso, her large tawny owl, flapped her wings in delight. Calypso loved to be out in the open skies, but mostly loved sending messages between Olivia and her parents. Calypso also liked seeing the surprised faces of Muggles when they saw an owl sitting on her parents' roof.

OIivia gave Calypso her letter, and petted her down her back. The owl nuzzled against Olivia's hand and then set off.

Olivia walked out of the Owlery and headed back to the school, wondering what Maggie was going to think about her encounter with Declan and what exactly she was going to have for supper.