"We're here. Umm. Aeris? Earth to Aeris?" "Hmm?" she asked, a little too deep in her own contentment to speak. "We're here." He said, walking in and gesturing for her. "Hi, Madam Pince." He said, not missing a beat as he read the card on her desk. "I like your hair. I don't think we've ever met, but I must say, you are very pretty. Can we browse? We're both new, and we both love to read. My favorite muggle author was William Shakespeare, the playwright." He said this all at a slow and steady tempo, with varying peaks and troughs, so that it sounded sort of low, and poetic. "Of course, son. My what a fine, pleasant young gentleman you are. I loved Shakespeare, he was so romantic!" Madam Pince was glowing, almost drunk on praise. "Oh, I'm nothing so fine. You won't have to worry about my friend here, she is very well-behaved. Her uncle, Professor Snape, is rather strict with her, but rest assured, he is very kind. I think we will suit just fine here. Thank you, miss, you are too kind." "Yes, yes. Thank you, boy. What is your name?" "Jake Pierce, kind miss." "And the girl?" "Aeris James, ma'am." Aeris spoke, trying hard to be as perfect as Jake. "Your house heads?" "Professor Sprout." The pair said simultaneously. "Oh, of course, two fine, noble young sprouts, if you will excuse the pun. And your uncle, so suave. Have your look around all you will. I'll be sure to put in a good word or two about the pair of you." Madam Pince flustered, red-faced with praise as she bid them farewell. When she had left, Aeris turned to Jake, amazed. "How did you do that? I've heard she's very strict! And you sounded like some kind of noble king or some kind of gentleman!" Jake looked at her skeptically for a minute, then shrugged and smiled gently. "That information is beyond my knowledge, fair maiden. It is not worthy of my poor, mortal ears, goddess, for your doe's eyes strike me and refuse to free me from their captive. It is but a gift, but you are far greater a prize." With this he kissed her hand, and she pulled it away quickly, the fear in her eyes clear and evident to him. He let her, and she looked at him for a minute, knowing she had been inches away from being spell-bound. "Don't do that again. please. you scared me." "Sorry about that. I guess where it was a gift, it is now a curse. I've always been able to tell what people want to hear, and how they want to hear it. But what I said a minute ago." "What?" "I didn't even have to think about that. It just came out. sort of." "Umm. well then. thank you. I guess." "Your welcome." He said quietly, and turned to scan the books on the shelves. Aeris, still feeling a bit strange, pulled out a couple of books to read. She had six, extra thick ones, under these titles: Werewolf Tales- 17 horror stories, facts, and three true tales from actual werewolves; a revised but slightly torn copy of Magical Creatures and Where to Find Them; The Invisible Book Of Invisibility; 2,000 hexes for the Amateur Witch; and three other on the history of Magic and Wizards. "Done?" She asked Jake, and they looked at each others books. Jake had six, One on Transfiguration, and Animagi and they're Animus connections. The others were mostly of Arithmancy and Dragon related topics. Aeris rather liked Arithmancy, and after a long discussion on the books, they decided to trade each other the books when they were done. "Beware, I read fast." Aeris warned him, knowing it would probably take her only a week and a half to finish all of her own. "Beware, if you come into my dorm begging for books, I'll pull the fair maiden carp on you again. You know you can't resist it," He retorted, and though he was only joking, Aeris knew it was the truth, and that it was a flaw in her invulnerability. "If you do, I'll flay your hide with a broomstick." "You wouldn't dare." Jake replied, annoyed at her. "And you couldn't anyways. I was just joking." "I don't take jokes very lightly when they stab me in my Achilles heel." He glanced at her. "You mean it almost worked on you?" he asked, surprised. "I didn't mean for it to." "Yeah, well, it almost did. I was lucky I pulled my hand away." She snapped. Jake laughed. "Aw, look, she's so cute when she gets mad." "Am not!" Aeris pouted, lower lip slightly stuck out, and arms crossed over her chest. "I'm sure." Suddenly another girl appeared in the library, followed by a boy with red hair and a boy with black hair and green eyes. They spoke quietly to Madam Pince, and entered. The red-haired boy seemed to be carping the girl about a cat. "I wonder who those people are." Aeris whispered to Jake. "Oh, them? That'uns a Weasley. You can tell by the red hair and freckles. And that'uns most like Harry Potter. Supposedly, he's some great, famous wizard." "He looks like a poof." Aeris muttered, and Jake laughed. "I s'pose he is, most-like. But I'd cover, he's s'pose to be mighty powerful." "Mighty powerful." Aeris snorted. "Yeah right. Anyhow, the girl looks more powerful than him." Jake grinned, then his grin faded. "Hold a minute, by Merlin! That's Hermione Granger. Let's go." "What is it?" "She." Jake blushed. "She was me old girlfriend at me last school. I reckon I'd best not speak to her. I'm right scared of her." Aeris laughed. "Fine. But I reckon I'll have a few things to say about Mr. Potter if I ever meet him." They left discreetly, and when they reached the tower, they said good-bye and went off to bed. Aeris changed into her green silk sleep-robes and readied herself for bed. She slipped in and began to read her book on Werewolves when- Rap, rap, rap! Someone was knocking on the door. She opened it, confused, and saw Jake, who saw her and suddenly looked very sheepish as she was wearing her robes. She gave him a skeptical look. He was wearing black gym shorts and a dark green t-shirt that matched his eyes. "C'mon! Let's go." He called in a hoarse whisper, and she complied, tightening the tie on her robes. "Where?" she asked, annoyed. Why is that boy asking me to come with him. He knows it's about ten o'clock! "C'mon! I was. looking around- I found something." She followed obediently, complaining about getting caught and being up too late. They finally came upon a suit of armor next to the picture of a pig, which was strange. "Hogwash!" he whispered, and the walls switched places, moving them, so they were suddenly inside a little. cave. Aeris was tempted to explore further. "Don't! There's a massive tree- it'll attack you if you leave the cave. Dracosfierus." He whispered, pointing the tip of his wand to his mouth, and closing his mouth tightly. He pulled out one of the library books from behind his back. He blew lightly and suddenly the book burst into flame. He tapped his mouth again. "Umm. Jake. that's a library book." Jake glanced at her, grin wide. "Yeah. I know. But the books are spelled against fire, so it burns the air directly surrounding it. That's dragon's fire- it won't go out until. tomorrow sometime." She let out a laugh she'd been restraining and Jake looked at her funny. "I thought you liked fire." Aeris laughed. "I do like fire, silly. It's just. funny like. I mean, Jake, it's a library book!" This time he laughed too. "Aye. I see. Next time I'll chop down that murderous tree." "No, it's fine. and Jake?" "Yes?" he asked, puzzled. "Thank you."