"Lafayette. Hey, Lafayette!"

Marianne made a groaning noise and shifted. "Five more minutes Dawn…" she grumbled, snuggling her face deeper into the crook of her arm.

The library was quiet. The only sound was the soft crackling of the waning flames in the fireplace. That and a painful, nagging voice. "Get up, you mangy git."

Marianne begrudgingly raised her head. She cracked her eyes open just enough to glower in the direction of her insulter. Through her narrowed eyes, the outline of a very disgruntled and somewhat pissed Fidius was assaulting her vision. His hands were on his hips and he was scowling. "Wha's your problem, mate?" she yawned, stiffness aching in her neck.

Bog shook his head. "Honestly." he sighed, reaching up to scratch his neck.

Since their first accidental meeting a week prior, Marianne and Fidius had found themselves together more often than they expected. They had discovered, aside from the teachers, a painfully gossipy Hufflepuff, and a very irritating Gryffindor boy with his Ravenclaw girlfriend, they were the only ones who'd remained for the holidays. Considering the others to be appalling company, Marianne had continued to try and seek solace in the library. Apparently, Bog was of a like mind in that respect. The two had settled into a routine of meeting there simply to sit and read. Every so often, one of them would make a comment about something. That the fire could use a few more logs, how good a nice pheasant stew sounded about now, that the snow seemed to be letting up. But they mostly just took turns sitting in the comfy chair and red their books in silence.

Last night, Bog had brought up the idea of trading, for some fresh reading. Marianne was a little apprehensive since it was her mother's, but Bog didn't seem to be the kind of person to mistreat a novel and she was curious about his. The two swapped and Bog had said he would start it the next day. Marianne stayed in the library after he had left and began immediately but she never got past the first page. She had spent an hour trying to understand the language the writer had tried to use and eventually she tired herself out. At least, she must have since she was being very rudely awoken by someone who couldn't have otherwise.

Marianne extended her arms, stretching her sore muscles. "That's the last time I sleep in the library." she groaned, feeling the small cracks as her bones moved for the first time in hours.

"You should have just gone back to your common room." Bog tossed casually.

Marianne stuck her tongue out playfully. "No way! And miss out on the absolutely wonderful awakening you just gave me? Fat chance!"

She watched those blue orbs roll, but the corners of his mouth twitched. "You're lucky I realized I left your book here." he commented, holding it up.

"Gee, my hero." she mocked, scruffing her hair and letting out another yawn.

Another sigh escaped the Slytherin youth. "Well, get up then. Breakfast is being served. Unless you'd rather miss it."

At the idea of a warm meal, Marianne perked up almost instantly. "Like I'd miss breakfast!" she said as she gathered up her things and began stuffing them into her bag hurriedly.

Bog waited as she finished and latched the strap. "Come on then." he pretended to whine, but he seemed happy for the company.

Once Marianne had slung her pack over her shoulder, the two began towards the great hall. The gryffindor realized she had never stood next to the boy before. He was a good head or so taller than she. She supposed he'd be even taller if he didn't seem to have a slight hunch. He was also very lanky. His shoulders were broad and his chest was prominent, but his arms and legs were very thin. He walked almost as if he should be carrying a staff or something, but his hands were instead thrust into his pockets. It gave him a bit of a menacing look.

She also hadn't seen him in daylight. Away from the harsh flickering flame lights, his skin seemed much healthier. The bumps and scars were much less noticeable. She found him to be just a tad less unattractive than she had originally thought. "Is there something on my face?"

Marianne hadn't realized she was staring. Shaking her head swiftly, she removed her gaze. "Just that large nose of yours is all."

To her surprise, Bog grinned. "Ah, back to the insults are we?" he chuckled.

Marianne shrugged. "You asked what was on your face, I answered honestly." she was fighting a playful smile, "and that's the biggest part on it."

Bog's smile didn't fade, but he changed subjects. "So, I take it you started reading the book?"

Marianne scowled playfully. "Don't change the subject! I wasn't finished talking about your nose! There's just so much to say...probably because there's so much there!"

"Watch it." He shot her a warning glance, his smile fading somewhat.

She knew better than to keep pushing it. Bog was her only ally against the noisy Hufflepuff and the nauseating love birds. If she lost his company, it was gonna be a long two weeks. "Well, I made a pretty valiant effort." she admitted, sounding pretty defeated "I don't know how you can get what's going on! The writing is so…"

"Intelligent?" Bog offered, a note of condescension revealing itself in his voice.

Marianne glowered at him. "I was going to say pompous. What the bloody hell is a nosegay?"

Bog couldn't hold back a bought of mirth. "You're serious?" he laughed, unaware that it was actually a common query.

The red started to raise in Marianne's cheeks. "Of course I'm serious!" she blurted in indignation "Most people don't walk around saying 'thou hast' and sounding like lunatics! It's a fair question!"

The laughter had stopped, but the gangly man was still smirking. "Though she be but little, she be fierce!" he remarked, quoting the very book she was complaining about.

Of course, she didn't know that. "Who are you calling little? You're taller than the bloody astronomy tower, of course I seem small!"

This made Bog laugh once again. He had to stop walking for a moment. He wasn't sure what made him find it so amusing. Maybe it was the way she got worked up. Her cheeks become a soft rose, her thin brows knitted together and her lush lips pursed. Maybe it was the way her golden eyes flashed with fire. His laughter slowed and he realized he had locked stares with her. He straightened slightly and cleared his throat. His next footsteps were much longer than the last and Marianne almost had to skip to catch up. "Well are you gonna answer my question?" she challenged, falling into step once more.

"What question?" Bog returned, still composing himself somewhat.

Marianne groaned. "Nosegays. What are they?"

Remembering, Fidius smiled slightly. "The word refers to a small bouquet of sweet smelling flowers." he replied, hands finding their way into his pockets once more.

The scowl had returned to Marianne's face. "Then why didn't he just say flowers? Did people honestly talk like this?"

"You know," Bog found himself offering before he realized what he was saying "I can always read it to you and translate it a bit. Or you can at least read it while I'm there so you can ask me what stuff means."

Marianne was a little stunned by the generous offer. She could see his eyes widen slightly after he suggested it. His hands seemed to tense up in his pockets. He really must not have been very good with people. "Hmm, that might not be too bad." she noted, "Alright, you can be my translator then!"

Thankfully for Fidius, they rounded a corner and she hadn't been looking to see his face turn a slight shade of pink. The double doors to the great hall were just ahead. But something near by caused both to slow their pace. "Merlin's beard." Bog groaned.

Just in front of the double doors, the annoying couple stood. They had decided it was the absolute best place to try and suck each others faces off. Marianne let out a very audible retching noise. The couple stopped trying to eat each other long enough to glare at them. This angered the hot headed gryffindor. "Oi! Whatcha glarin at us for?" she barked "You're the one's snoggin in public!"

The girl looked a bit ashamed, but the boy's stare seemed to get colder. "Don't listen to the mean girl, buttercup. She's just mad that her boyfriend is a gnarled old wanker."

Bog made a small 'tch.' "Better a gnarled old wanker then a cheeky little plonker, aye?" he shot back "Now take your trollop and bugger off, would you?"

The girl gasped at the insult. The boy pulled her into him, looking at the pair with contempt. "How dare you?" he hissed, his eyes narrowing in Fidius' direction "Isabella is not a trollop!"

A wand was drawn from the boys robe sleeve. Marianne immediately reached for hers but Bog had already stepped forward. "I wouldn't do that." He challenged, his wand already held high "Unless, that is, you wanna spend your christmas in the hospital wing."

The boy drew back slightly. Marianne was somewhat impressed. It was as if the wand's presence had changed the Slytherin man. He was suddenly standing a good half a head taller, his shoulders no longer hunched. He looked a much prouder and confident man then he had just moments ago. She couldn't stifle a small grin. "What on earth is going on here?!"

Four pairs of eyes shot to the double doors. There, shrouded in a periwinkle robe, stood Madam Arethusa. She was the healer Hogwarts had hired when the former, Madame Pomfrey, had decided to retire. A young twenty years of age, she was one of the most accomplished potion makers Hogwarts had produced in at least a decade. She stood only a bit taller than Marianne, but with a much more feminine grace as her hands fluttered to a rest on either side of the doorway and her hip cocked. Her long blonde tresses bounced lightly, spilling from beneath her tall, wide brim hat. It was slightly crooked and intricate, royal blue design snaked around it. She was looking between the students with pursed lips and a raised brow.

"Well?" she piped in a rather cheery voice for someone who was supposed to be upset "Anyone want to defend themselves or should I just fetch someone who can deduct points?"

The madam's eyes suddenly shot to Fidius. Her arms flew to her hips. "I should have known."

Marianne looked at Bog in time to see him grimace. The Madame let out a long sigh. "Drop your wands, all of you." she snapped sharply "You can impress your girlfriend's in some other way. I won't have any dueling!"

Bog glowered at her. "I'm not trying to impress anyone, Madame." he hissed, his arm not dropping "We asked them to cease their disgusting displays of public affection and he drew his wand. I was simply defending myself."

Madame Arethusa rolled her eyes. "Oh I'm so sure you're completely innocent, Fidius." sarcasm dripping from her lips "That's why you're nineteen and still in school right?"

Marianne watched his expression twist from minor frustration to outright rage. "Are you daft?" he seethed, finally letting his wand drop "You realize you can't talk to me like that anymore, not now that you're employed here."

"Tsk, Tsk, Bog." She mocked "You always did have quite the temper."

His face had turned red. Marianne couldn't tell if it was from rage or embarrassment. She felt a defensive urge raising in her. Before she knew it, she was speaking. "Look, we'll leave them alone as long as you tell them to knock of the face eating, alright?" she blurted.

Madame Arethusa studied Marianne for a moment. "Well, I don't see what they've done wrong. You could simply, ignore them. You remember what ignoring people is, don't you Bog?"

"Don't."

Bog had begun to tremble slightly. Marianne was a bit repulsed by the nurses behavior but she was more worried about the strange look that had found it's way to Fidius' face. It looked as if he might lunge on Arethusa, or possibly burst into tears. Instinctively, Marianne grabbed his arm. He seemed to freeze. "Come on, Bog." she muttered to him "Let's go for a walk and get away from these tossers. I think I lost my appetite anyway."

Reluctantly, the Slytherin boy nodded and allowed Marianne to pull him away.