"It will be strange, don't you think?" Arden said as they walked down the old, cold corridors of Hogwarts.

"What do you mean?" Savannah asked.

"He means that it will be strange to leave this place, right?" Arden nodded.

"After all we've spent most of our lives here." Payton added.

"Oh. Yes you're right. I hadn't thought about it."

They reached the front doors and walked towards the lake. Arden conjured a blanket and the three sat down. Savannah slipped her robes off. She rolled her sleeves up and closed her eyes.

"Isn't this nice? The weather is so good."

Arden watched her carefully. He'd found himself doing that a lot lately. Her eyes were closed but he didn't need a reminder of their beauty. Her eyes had a deep gray color with a small dark blue ring around the iris. Her dark red hair cascaded down her small frame to the middle of her back. Her skin had a creamy texture and he longed to reach out to caress it.

Arden closed his eyes, frustrated. She was like a sister to him. She always had been. They'd known each other since birth. Their parents had been friends and still were. He couldn't ignore his feelings.

He was interested in her. He cared for her. But more over he wanted to own her. To make her his.

Arden thought back and tried to remember when his feelings had changed from friendship to lust.

It had all started two months ago when she started dating that dunderhead Darius Kane. He was a Ravenclaw, also in his seventh year. Arden hated him. He couldn't understand what she saw in him. Darius was such an idiot. Well yes, he was a good quidditch player but Arden seriously doubted that this was the reason why Savannah was seeing him.

The moment Arden had witnessed them kissing in the hallways he was ready to wring Darius' neck.

He opened his eyes and his gaze automatically fell on her. She was now lying down and had her arms crossed under her head. Her regular breathing told him that she had fallen asleep. He continued watching her, completely ignoring his surroundings until Payton poked him in the side.

His dark brown eyes fell on her.

"What?" he snapped.

Payton smiled. "You know that you can just ask her, don't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about!"

Payton just rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, Arden. You are my brother. I know you by heart. You want her."

Arden looked at Payton with astonishment. "Such words from my innocent little sister." he said with a grin.

Payton just snorted. "Little sister? If I remember correctly - little brother- you are ten minutes younger than me. And I'm not innocent!" She stated before she smirked at him.

He reached out and laid his arm around her small shoulders to draw her nearer.

"Honestly, Arden. Just ask her before it is too late." Payton leaned her head against his shoulder and together they watched the sun go down.

"I'm not good for her."

"In what way? Have you looked in the mirror lately? Haven't you noticed that almost every girl is after you?"

Arden snorted. "They are just idiotic children. They find me tempting, that's all."

"That's all? Have of the other boys here would kill for this."

Arden didn't respond to her and she sat up and observed him closer.

"There is something else. What are you not telling me?"

Their gazes met and for once, Arden was the first one to look away.

He couldn't tell her what was up. He just couldn't. Not yet. Not now. He couldn't stand to put her in danger.

"Arden?"

He looked at her again and reached out to pull a black lock of hair out of her face. He tucked it behind her ear and smiled reassuringly.

"It's nothing, Payton. Just forget it."

She knew her brother better than to push the subject so she decided to let it rest. "Okay. But you are not off the hook, mister."

"Off the hook? Have you been watching muggle television again?"

"Well, yes. After all we are half-muggle."

"Don't let Father hear that."

Payton had to smile on the idea of her father watching the Simpsons or Futurama.

"I don't know why you like these muggle things so much anyway," Arden added before he stood up. He held his hand out for her and she took it.

After they replaced their robes Arden bent down next to the still sleeping Savannah. He reached out and touched her lightly on the shoulder.

"Savannah. Rise and shine sleeping beauty." he said mockingly.

She stirred and opened her wonderful gray eyes. The first thing she saw was Ardens' face. She didn't need to see it to be able to describe it. He had light brown skin and deep brown eyes. His unruly hair was black and curly. He wore it longer than was en vogue. But she liked the way it was touching the collar of his shirt. His lips seemed to be so soft.

"If I'm the sleeping beauty, you would be my prince in shining armor." She said, smiling at him sweetly. She took his outstretched hand and he pulled her up. For a second they stood so close together that their bodies were touching. They looked into each other's eyes. For a moment he lost himself in the depths of her eyes before he managed to pull himself together.

"I'm nobodys' prince, madam." He stated as he stepped back.

He could have sworn that she looked disappointed for a second.

She smirked at him. "Spoken like the true son of a potions master."

tbc