He squinted across the water, half-heartedly trying to see the opposite shore through the fog. It was a perfect moment. Fog on the lake, dusky, still half-cloudy sky, illuminating the world in gray light. And here he was, sitting in a tree, admiring it all. Lightning was sure to disrupt the grayness within an hour. And rain, too. But for now, he was in a tree, taking in all the scenery that his final year could supply him with.

It was almost perfect. Except for the lingering memory of her harsh words, the pain of the knowledge that no matter how he changed, he would still be judged on the basis of his past. Except for his urgent desire to have her beside him, despite all she said, all she did. He wouldn't judge her based on her past, if she were to change. But she- no, she could offer him no such courtesy.

A quiet cough drew his attention to the roots beneath him, gray and slightly hazy like the rest of his world. Yet it wasn't gray beneath him. Disrupting the monotone world was a streak of light red, loosed even amidst the darkness.

He didn't say anything.

"I, um, I…" She didn't finish her thought, peering up at him with flushed cheeks and apologetic eyes. She felt badly for her harsh words, for her quick temper and intemperate responses. He didn't speak, but merely gazed at her, lost in wondering and imagining. "I found you," she finally managed, and he laughed aloud from the obviousness of her thought. She flushed deeper, but chuckled.

"True," he responded simply, tearing his gaze from her to take in the gray lake, which had become darker since he'd last seen it, a moment earlier. Dusk did strange things to the world. She did strange things to his world.

"What I meant to say… I'm sorry." His gaze traveled back to her. She was watching him with those eyes again, her neck craned up to see him, to meet his gaze with her own. He didn't respond, merely watched her intently, contently. "Sirius… um, Sirius mentioned you had made an effort…" She trailed off. He knew what kind of "mention" Sirius had made. Sirius had been as blunt as possible. Sirius liked her well enough- found her amusing, a good sport- but when it came to his best friend, Sirius wouldn't hold back.

"Yeah," he responded distantly, looking away again.

"I am sorry." He looked down, surprised by her pleading tone. "I… I didn't really think. It's second nature by now, you know." He smiled slightly, meeting her eyes.

"I know." She attempted a half smile, and his smile broadened at her effort. "Here," he offered, sliding off the limb he was seated upon and reaching a hand toward her. "You'll hurt your neck if you do that much longer," he explained as she looked at his hand with surprise. Her gaze met his again, and she smiled, slightly larger this time.

"I already have." He chuckled, and she smiled some more before grabbing his hand and allowing him to help her scramble to the lowest branch. He resettled himself on the branch again; she leaned against the tree on a branch slightly lower. He raised an eyebrow. "I… I don't think I deserve to sit beside you quite yet," she explained softly, looking away with flushed cheeks once more. He smiled thoughtfully and nodded.

"I know what you mean." They sat in contented silence as the lake fell into darkness. "I don't agree, though." She caught his gaze once more.

"Don't agree?" He smiled.

"I think you've always deserved to sit here; it's me who hasn't always been worthy of it," he responded, and she smiled in quiet understanding.

"Maybe," she agreed softly. He rose and climbed down gracefully to sit beside her.