Aeris woke up the next morning tired, but content. She stepped under the shower and turned it cold, making her body wake up, and rousing her mind along with it soon after. After she was confident she was awake, she turned the water up high, to the hottest temperature, rubbing the soapy lather into her thick, fawn-brown hair. She inhaled it's aroma and grinned, rubbing it in more and then rinsing it out, then washing the rest of her body, finally changing the water ice cold once more. She dressed hurriedly and hopped into her shoes, hurrying down to the great hall followed by Eos and, seeing Cedric, the only other person she knew, took a seat beside him. "Good morning, Aeris. Here, have some sausages and grits?" She considered, but her stomach felt a little queasy from the shower. "No thank you, I think I'll be fine with some fruit and oats." She said, taking four large scoops with the serving spoon of oatmeal, drizzling it with honey and sprinkling it artistically with raspberries and blueberries. "I hate you." A boy across from her muttered. "Excuse me?" She asked, confused. "What did I do?" "You make me jealous of your breakfast." The boy growled, and mentally she laughed, while physically she smiled. "And how is that?" she asked, amused. "You dress it up too well." He muttered. "He means it looks good. and that he thinks you look good too." The girl next to him put in. "I'm Susan. I like your top." she said, winking. Aeris was wearing a pale gold tank under her robes, and black jeans. The boy blushed. "I do not. I mean, I do, but." he fumbled over his words. Aeris pitied him. "I know exactly what you mean. Thank you. Susan. And you are?" "Is there neither room nor food for me at this table?" Jake's voice sounded from behind her as a pair of strong hands came down over her shoulders. "Ooh! Fresh meat!" Susan said in a stage whisper. Everyone laughed. Then she saw his hands on Aeris's shoulder. "Oh, I see. Fresh meat is already hanging over someone else's fire. Damn. Good for you Aer." She said, catching onto her nickname. "He's cute. And so is junior there in your lap." She said, meaning Eos. Jake reached down a little to pick the cat up, making Aeris shiver. "We aren't. that way. We're just friend's is all. Susan snorted. "He practically had his hands in your lap. At the very least, he likes you." Jake glanced up, still cuddling the cat. "Why do you talk as if I'm not here? By the way, when do the ow-" At that moment, millions of owls came streaming through a ledge above in the ceiling on either side of the. One, an eagle owl, stopped to drop a package in Jake's lap. He took care not to open it at the table. He grinned. "I guess that answers my question." He said as Eos flitted about his shoulders, tail curling back and forth as she walked over his back, finally tringing herself out around her neck. "Oh, Sue? I second your idea, he is very possessive of her. said I was asking her out last night when I mentioned Hogsmeade." Aeris thought about it. "You do have a point." Jake scowled. "And what's the matter with a tom whose taken after another cat?" he asked, and grinned, fastening his arms around Aeris's waist, pulling her over onto his lap. Sue laughed. "See, I told you so." She said between a fit of giggles. "Let me go, you oaf!" Aeris exclaimed with surprise, thoroughly shocked. "You're such a flirt!" "Yes, I am. And I'm not letting go until I get what I want." He teased cruelly. "Jake! And what would that be?" "Breakfast." He replied, annoyed, and reached around her to take her bowl of oatmeal and spoon, as well as another, this one filled with cinnamon and chocolate chips. Susan, Cedric, and the other boy roared. He picked up the spoon and bowl with fruit and gave it to her. "Go on, eat." He said, whispering in her ear, and she shoved him. "I won't." "I'm heartbroken, does this mean no more late night burning library books? No more fighting with nasty oldsters who try to steal you." "Oh my gosh!" Susan exclaimed, more bubbles of laughter escaping her. "That was you last night, wasn't it?" Aeris did not find it funny. She glared at him. "Oh, come on, you know you have to eat." He coaxed quietly into her ear, and Eos came from his shoulders to hers and batted at it playfully. "Fine. But not for you." "Fair maiden, your words do spear my still sore heart. My very crux bleeds with sadness and despair that my lady love won't even break her fast with I? But I am but a lower knight, nowhere so fit for such a princess-" Aeris's heart fluttered madly and her head was starting to spin. "Alright, alright, I'll eat, now shut up!" She said, won over by the last bit. "Anyways, I don't want to be late for our first class, it's potions with uncle Snape." Jake watched her eat. "Blast, that looks good." She glared at him again. "Come on! Eat your breakfast." "Alright, alright." He said, annoyed. He ate his quickly and his whole bowl was done in five minutes flat. Aeris was nearing her finish as well. "That still looks good." He whispered. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest; she could feel his eyes on her though she refused to meet them. "Oh, come on. I'm still hungry." He whispered, turning her head with his left hand at her neck so that her eyes met his. "You aren't getting anything from my bowl." She whispered back, unable to make her voice any louder. She only stole a glance directly at his eyes once, but once was enough. "I never said anything about a bowl." He said softly, and she glanced, and her eyes were locked on his. His eyes were filled with humor, sarcasm, and intensity. She closed her eyes, telling herself she was doing it because she didn't want to look at him but knowing it wasn't true. There was a rush of blood across her face and then the strong, electric press against her lips, a light breath she didn't know as her own fluttered lightly over her tongue. She didn't know what came over her; that forced her to yield so easily. It was almost as if- "Aeris James." A low, cold, sinister voice she couldn't quite place rang clearly behind her, and she could feel the touch let go of her. She opened her eyes and turned around. "Oh, yes. Hello Sev- I mean, Professor Snape." Aeris said happily, but stammered over the Professor part. "Having fun?" he asked wickedly, grinning. Aeris nodded. "Loads. except that I'm not in your house of course." Snape's grin widened. He hardly looked like the Professor everyone at the Gryffindor tables knew. In fact, when he wasn't around Harry and the Gryffindors, he was never that mean, and only Aeris knew why. "Of course. But if Mr. Pierce hurts you once, he'll answer to me." "Would never dream of it, professor." Jake replied evenly, meeting Snape's eyes before the Professor left. "Well that went well." Aeris murmured, as she felt Jake's arm tighten around her waist. She seemed oblivious to everything else that happened at the table. "It did?" Jake asked huskily, making the scared, terrified self at the back of Aeris' mind stiffen as physically her body loosened and she leaned against him, suddenly all too warm and limp for her consciousness. "Yes of course." She whispered, as Jake kissed her neck slowly and deliberately, and she could feel him fighting the urge to kiss her for real again as he stood up. "I think we'd better get to class." She said, dropping back into reality.