Nick tried to tell himself to calm down. He wasn't sure that he trusted either Kamen or William about this, but he had to admit, Andromache Weasley was rather pleasing to look at. Maybe he would take a shot at this.
Nick slowly made his way across the common room to where Andromache was sitting by herself, working on homework as usual. He cleared his throat softly when he was next to her, causing her to look up.
"Did you want something Nick?" Andromache didn't bother keeping the hints of impatience out of her voice. She was trying to work ahead on some homework and really didn't feel like being interrupted.
Nick searched for an excuse for being there; he had to have a reason for being there. He thought frantically. "Ummm... I... I was wondering if you had finished the Transfiguration homework, I was having a bit of a problem with the theory behind complex animal transfiguring. Could you help me with it?" William hoped she wouldn't pick up on the lie, Transfiguration was actually the only class he was doing good in right now.
"I'm not going to let you copy my work," Andromache was scowling slightly.
"I don't want to copy it, could you explain it to me?"
Andromache sighed as she looked at the various books and papers spread out around her. She had been looking forward to getting ahead in her homework, but she couldn't leave a fellow house member in a lurch, "fine, but it can't take too long."
"I'm sure it won't, you're so smart Andromache, it shouldn't be a problem for you to explain it to me." Nick hoped that flattery would work on her.
"Don't try to flatter me, I'll help you if you really need it but don't expect to get anything else from me." Andromache held her head up and looked haughtily at Nick.
"I didn't want anything else, just some help on my homework."
"Fine. Take a seat," she gestured impatiently at the seat across the table from her. The sooner she helped him with his homework the sooner he would leave her alone.
Nick repressed a smile. He wasn't sure yet if he was really interested in Andromache, but William had been right, this would be a challenge. And Nick loved a challenge.
Serena gazed up at the moon, it was so bright tonight. She sighed at the beauty of it, at the beauty of the night sky. She closed her eyes as a cool breeze caught her hair and gently lifted it away from her neck. She smiled when she felt a warm hand move to the back of her neck, its touch gentle.
"Mark..."
"Hmmm..."
"We probably shouldn't stay up her much longer."
"I know, but it is a nice place for a date isn't it?"
Serena bit her lip as she smiled, "yes it is."
They were up in the astronomy tower, which was off limits to students outside of class. But it was one of the few places they could meet. And it was a rather romantic spot; they just had to be careful. They ran the risk of being caught not only the teachers or Filch, but also by other students. It was a favorite spot for young lovers to sneak off to. But on a weeknight like tonight they ran less chance of being discovered.
As they sat under the broad expanse of the night sky Serena leaned back against Mark. His arms slid around her, they gently cradled her against him, pulling her back.
"Mark, I'm not sure if we should do this."
"Do what?"
"I don't know..."
"Do you want to go?"
Serena sighed, "I don't want to leave you, but I just have a feeling we should leave soon, I don't want to get caught up here."
"I understand," Mark released his hold on Serena and stood up before offering his hand to help her up off the floor.
"I love you," Serena kept a hold on Mark's hand even after she was back on her feet.
Mark gently removed his hand from Serena's so that he could place his hands on either side of her face and kiss her. It was gentle at first but became much more passionate. When they separated for a moment Serena took a couple of involuntary steps backward, and found herself up against a wall.
Mark dipped his head and kissed her again. Serena sighed slightly as she brought up her arms and wrapped them around his neck, enjoying the way that Mark pulled her into him.
"We should go..." Serena managed to say between kisses.
"Just a little longer," Mark allowed his hands to roam. His fingers shook slightly as he undid the first several buttons on Serena's shirt.
Serena pushed away slightly, "no," her breathing was ragged. "I can't Mark, not yet. Give me a little time?"
Mark didn't let his disappointment show, "of course. I won't rush you Serena, we won't do this until you're ready."
"Try again," Kalliope's voice was firm yet gentle as she instructed her young ward.
Sophia bent over the large bronze water basin again and tried to will a vision to form. But the water remained blank. After several very long minutes she sighed in frustration. "I can't see anything!"
"Do not lose patience. You did well tonight; you can't expect to see something every time you try yet. You still have much to learn."
"I know, but I want to be able to call them now."
Kalliope smiled indulgently, she knew what it felt like to be a novice. There had been a time when she had been impatient to possess all of her powers. She repressed a shudder; she had been so young then, so naïve. "I think it is time that you got to bed. You won't see anymore tonight. But you will be able to control the visions eventually. Before long you will be able to call them at will and you will be initiated as a priestess."
"Sometimes it seems like it will never come."
"But it will. Now off with you, to bed!" Kalliope embraced the girl before sending her off towards the room that she shared with the other novices.
Kalliope moved to the large bronze basin and knelt in front of it, and released her hair from the clip that held it back. As her hair flowed down around her she ran her hand over the surface of the water and murmured a charm, then speaking louder, "show me Remus."
She watched as the image in the water swirled and showed her Remus Lupin. He was sitting at his desk, bent over some papers. She watched as the soft candle light played off of his features. "Oh Remus..."
She fought back a cry of despair as she watched him. So long ago she had had a chance with him. And she had thrown it away. She watched him for a long time as she relived moments from her past.
Finally Kalliope sighed and ran her hand across the surface of the water again, dispelling the image of Remus. She still had duties to attend to, "show me any threats that may press themselves on my people." She watched as the image swirled again. She was the guardian of her people, one of the greatest prophetesses they had ever seen. It was her duty to foresee any harm that may befall their temple and the inhabitants of the magic community in general. It was a duty she took very seriously.
Kalliope frowned at the images that came to her. They did not portend well. There were dark figures, both darkly clothed and dark in nature. She only half listened to their conversation, it probably wasn't of any importance to her.
She recognized the group; they were remnants of Voldemort's forces. That man had been a fool. But then again, most members of that arrogant sex generally were. She continued to watch, the vision had produced nothing important yet, but she knew that her goddess wouldn't lead her blindly.
She gasped when a figure she knew all too well entered the vision. Draco Malfoy. She barred her teeth at his image; her breathing was heavy as she sought to control her mounting anger.
He had been little more than a boy when she last saw him, but even then he had been capable of so much evil. He had hurt her worse than any man had a right to; he had stolen the most precious gift she had ever produced for her goddess. And she had marked him for it. She had called upon the earth, the mother of them all, to make him pay for harming one of the goddess's own.
And yet he was still here, still radiating evil. He would pay for his insolence one day. A priestess did not always act immediately. Years of service had taught Kalliope patience. She could wait for the moment. But the direction of her visions told her that she may not have too much longer to wait.
Remus sat at his desk, bent over a stack of papers that were waiting to be graded. He felt an odd sensation, like he was being watched. But he knew that there was no one else in the room.
He sighed as he leaned back in his chair and stretched, he'd probably just been working for too long and his mind was playing tricks on him. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind so that he could concentrate on finishing up the papers he was working on.
He reached for his quill again but noticed that he was out of ink. He opened the bottom drawer on his desk to get more, but he hesitated. He reached farther back in the drawer and withdrew a picture taken years ago.
He smiled at the picture, as Kalliope smiled back up at him from it. Her hair was caught in the sea breeze he remembered so well from the time he had spent in Greece. He ran a finger across the picture; the picture had captured a rare smile from her. He had spent most of his time in Greece comforting her after an untimely attack from remnants of Voldemort's forces.
She had been so young then, but she had seemed so old. He reflected that the women of her particular culture often grew up very fast due to the fact that they clung to the old ways. It produced an incredibly strong breed of women.
Remus carefully replaced the picture and closed the desk drawer. It was one distraction that he didn't need tonight if he was going to get anything else done. But, he smiled to himself; he very much admired a strong woman.
Serena made her way back to the Gryffindor tower carefully. It was well past curfew and she knew that she would be in a world of trouble if she got caught. She heard a noise further up the hallway and quickly darted into a side passage, pressing herself into the shadows.
Serena held her breath as the footsteps came closer; she closed her eyes, not daring to move. She only let out her breath when the footsteps moved past her. She chanced a glance out into the hallway and saw Professor Black moving in the opposite direction from Gryffindor tower.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she hurried to the portrait of the fat lady, "scarlet pimpernel," she quickly said the password, desperately wanting to get inside before anyone else came this way. The fat lady had been asleep and she murmured something about children being out at all hours of the night as she swung open.
Serena dashed through the portrait hole and rushed up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. She wasn't surprised to see that Dierna was still up; her twin was definitely a night owl.
"Have fun with Mark?" Dierna asked from where she sat cross-legged on her bed as she set her book down.
"Uh-huh," Serena quickly changed into her pajamas and the joined Dierna on her bed so that the two were sitting knee to knee.
"So what did you do?" Dierna drew the thick curtains close around the four poster bed as she whispered.
Serena blushed slightly, "well..."
Dierna grinned wickedly, "Did you...?"
"No! But it came close."
Dierna smiled at her sister, "You know most people think you're the good twin and that I've already done all that with Stefan, it would be pretty funny if you were to lose it before I did."
Serena's blush deepened, "I've thought about that..."
"So..."
"You know the reasons for not rushing into this as well as I do."
Dierna sighed, "Yeah I do. The chance of Dad finding out kinda ruins the mood." She frowned slightly. She would have slept with Stefan before now if it wasn't for the threat of what her father would do if he ever found out.
"Exactly..."
"You know," Dierna tipped her head to the side, "you might as well go for it, you'll already be in enough trouble as it is when Mum and Dad find out you've been seeing Mark behind their backs."
Serena rolled her eyes at her sister, "you are completely lacking in tact."
"Am not," Dierna playfully stuck her tongue out at her sister.
Serena laughed softly, "thank you for just proving my point."
Dierna grabbed her pillow from behind her and hit her twin in the head with it. Serena squealed as she launched herself at her sister. They struggled in a mock fight for a minute before they dissolved in a fit of giggles.
"Shhhhh..." Serena tried to hush her sister, "the other girls are trying to sleep."
"You started it."
"Did not," Serena replied indignantly, "you were the one who hit me with a pillow."
"Well you are the one with the illicit affair going on, which means that you had to sneak back here so late. So, technically, it's your fault." Dierna raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest giving a rather good imitation of their father's disapproving look.
Serena fought back another fit of giggles, "you do that far too well, but I don't think Dad would appreciate that imitation."
"Neither do I, but I think he'd like it a whole lot more than your little excursions."
Serena grimaced slightly, "you don't think Mum and Dad know, do you?"
"Of course not, you would have heard about it by now if they did."
"Dierna, can I ask you a personal question?"
"Of course," Dierna squeezed her sister's hand, "that's what twins are for."
"How far have you and Stefan gone?"
Dierna smiled, "well, as far as Mum and Dad know it hasn't gone beyond innocent kissing, but well... short of sleeping with him there isn't a whole lot we haven't tried."
Serena giggled, "Has he ever pressured you to..."
"No, he's too much of a gentleman." Dierna frowned, "Mark hasn't pressured you for anything has he? Because I'm not going to cover for him anymore if he has."
"He hasn't pressured me, but he has made it clear what he wants and that he's willing to wait till I'm ready."
"Good, 'cause I was going to have to kill him if he tried anything funny."
That statement sent both girls into another fit of giggles, which was interrupted when the curtains on Dierna's bed were thrown open.
"You know, it is after 2 in the morning and some of us are trying to sleep since we have classes in the morning."
"Sorry about that Kandi," Serena looked up sheepishly at their dorm mate.
"You know I don't normally mind, but we do have a test in Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow and I kinda want to get some sleep before then." Kandi smiled good naturedly, she and the twins were generally the only sixth year girls that joined the sixth and seventh year boys in the somewhat wild parties they threw on the weekends.
"We'll be quiet now, I guess it is kinda late," Dierna picked up her pillow from where it had fallen on the ground.
"Goodnight girls," Kandi said over her shoulder as she headed back to her bed.
"G'night" Dierna and Serena said together as Serena headed back to her bed. But, there was one more fit of giggles before they finally went to sleep.