Woot! Longest chapter yet! And I think this one is the best so far.

Reluctantly, Greyback stepped into Perkin's Salon for Witches and Wizards, cringing at the sound of a bell. After his date with Aylin, he decided to make himself a little more presentable. He had taken up shaving, and now brushed his teeth on a regular basis. Today was Wednesday, the day Greyback figured the establishment would be emptiest. Luckily for him, his prediction was correct. The last thing he wanted was to be seen in a place he considered so namby-pamby. He didn't like the idea of putting the fate of his hair in someone else's hands, but he trusted himself even less when it came to that sort of thing.

He was greeted by blonde, smiling witch in a powder blue dress. Greyback doubted whether this trip was worth it, not for the first time.

"My name is Sally. How can I help you today?" She said overly cheerily.

"Uh." Greyback said ever-so-eloquently. "I need a haircut."

"Come on, sit down in this chair. What would you like?"

Greyback moved towards an uncomfortable-looking stool and sat down. "I dunno."

Sally summoned a small book. She stuck her wand behind her ear as she flipped through it, then found what she was looking for. She turned it towards Greyback, and asked, "How about this one?"

Greyback almost gagged. The picture was of a young, handsome man with a haircut that looked like something Greyback had once seen on a poodle.

"No."

"Well how about-"

"Let me see the book." Greyback interrupted. He skimmed through it briefly, then decided it was rubbish.

"Just make it look... better." He grunted.

"How?"

"I don't know! You're the hair person!"

"I can't just start cutting away!"

"Just even it out, then!"

"But that's so BORING!"

"Do you want my money or not?" Greyback decided he had never met a more annoying person in his life. Luckily, Sally did seem to want his money. She took her wand out and without another word to her customer, began her work. She muttered a spell, than began to draw a line where the hair would be cut. Once it was to her satisfaction, she muttered another spell, and the hair fell off. This unnerved Greyback. He preferred a good set of scissors and doing it by hand. But when Sally handed him a mirror, he had to admit it looked much better. He stood up, pulled a few Sickles out of his pocket, handed them (along with the mirror) to the girl, and practically ran out before she could do anything else. Except for calling out, "Would you like a coupon for your next visit?"

Phht, next visit. Greyback would rather visit Madam Puddifoot's. He Apparated back to his flat, a good deal grumpier than before. At least his hair looked adequate now. But if he ever ran into that insane hairdresser again, he might as well admit himself into the crazy house. If she ever said anything to him again, she could say goodbye to her bouncy blonde tresses. Greyback smiled at the thought. He could just imagine the look of complete horror when he cursed her hair off.

He looked at the clock. Ten-thirty in the morning. Where was his newspaper? Usually it came around eight. Maybe it was a new owl delivering it this morning. Or a decrepit one. Greyback went into his little kitchen and started to make lunch. Soup sounded good to him. Once he picked out a pot to cook it in, he heard a familiar tap at the window.

Surely enough, when he poked his head out of the kitchen to look, there was a feeble-looking owl at his window, Daily Prophet tied around its leg. He walked over and opened the window. The owl half hopped, half fluttered onto his table. Greyback didn't really mind the animal sitting where he ate. He always did have a soft spot for owls. Untying the paper, he said, "I'll be right back with your money." He walked back to the kitchen and grabbed a few knuts and a bit of meat. The owl hooted at him when he returned. "Here you go." He gave the owl the coins and the meat, then sat down in his old armchair and began to thumb through the Daily Prophet.

He was about halfway through when someone knocked at his door. Greyback grumbled, folding up his newspaper and putting it on the table next to the owl (it must have been rather tired, since it hadn't moved for about twenty minutes). Just what he needed – a visitor. Probably one of his irksome bosses. He crossed over to the door, and looked out the peephole.

Naturally, it was Aylin.

Greyback opened the door so fast he was surprised it didn't come off at the hinges. Aylin actually jumped back from him, but quickly regained her composure. Greyback smiled sheepishly, and said, "Eh.. sorry. Why're you here?" In the back of his head he was thinking Merlin, my flat is a mess. I can't let her see it.

"I just wanted to check up on you. You were acting a little strange on our date and I wanted to make sure you weren't sick or something."

"Sick? No, I'm not sick."

"Oh."

Several seconds passed in silence. The light above Aylin's head blinked a few times. Greyback shifted uncomfortably. He couldn't invite her in, of course. The grungy hallway had already embarrassed him enough. What he called home would probably mortify her. Aylin looked at him, but he couldn't quite comprehend her expression. Women were a complete mystery to him.

"I like your haircut." Aylin said.

Greyback was caught completely off guard by the question. Stunned, actually. She liked his haircut? She actually noticed? He stood there for a few more awkward moments, then Aylin spoke again.

"I guess I'll just go then." Aylin smiled at him, and started to turn towards the stairs.

"No!" Greyback said. Aylin turned to him, eyebrows raised. Greyback couldn't help but notice the way her hair fluttered when she moved. How could anyone be so perfect?

"I mean.. uh, want to go somewhere?" Greyback blurted out.

"All right. Do you have any place in mind?"

"I-" Greyback had no idea whatsoever. "I thought you might want to pick something out." He silently congratulated himself on coming up with something so fast.

Aylin frowned in thought and rested her finger on her chin. "I think I know where we can go."

"Where?"

"Oh, it's nowhere you know, I'm sure. You can Side-Along Apparate with me."

Greyback didn't know if he liked not knowing where he was going, but then Aylin grabbed his hand. Her hand was cool and smooth and he was suddenly willing to Apparate to the moon with her if she wanted to. He nodded, then not a moment later, felt the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a tube.

He looked around at his new surroundings. They were in the middle of the woods, encircled by huge spruce trees.

"Where are we?" Greyback asked.

"The Forbidden Forest." Aylin said softly. Greyback stiffened and backed away from her.

"The Forbidden Forest? But.. but.." Greyback was unsettled. But he didn't want to admit it to Aylin. "It isn't safe here."

Aylin looked at him sideways. "We're deeper in than most of the forest's residents. There really isn't much to worry about. Besides, all the monsters aren't as bad as others would have you believe."

Greyback wasn't sure he was entirely comforted by what she said, but he let himself relax a little.

"Besides, if we do run into anything, we both have our wands." Aylin continued. Greyback nodded, glad he had his wand on him at all times.

The pair stood there in silence for a minute or two. Scrutinizing the location a bit more and finding nothing frightening, Greyback's rigid posture became less tense. There was something peaceful about this part of the Forest. He had only been in the Forbidden Forest once before, and he couldn't have been more than one hundred feet in at the time. It was terrifying then. Now.. it was calm. In fact, Greyback couldn't help but think the utter tranquility was eerie.

"Shall we continue?" Aylin asked, shaking him from his reverie.

"Oh, right. Where are we going?" Greyback mentally slapped himself for thinking this was their destination. Of course they were going somewhere. He was sure that Aylin hadn't brought him here to look at the pretty trees.

"Just follow me. You'll see." Aylin gave a sort of half grin, then added with a more serious tone. "Keep close."

"But you said there weren't any monsters in this deep." Greyback said as they started towards their new target.

"I never said there weren't any- just that most don't travel this far in." Aylin said. "If something does happen, it's best to work together, right?"

Greyback nodded, even though he knew she couldn't see him.

The next few minutes were spent walking through the woods. Aylin definitely seemed to know where she was going. Maybe she came here often. Before long, the ground began to take on a downward slope and the trees became thicker. Through the trees, Greyback thought he could see where Aylin was leading him.

"We're here." Aylin said. Greyback's hunch was proved correct. They stepped out onto a small grassy area. In front of them, there was a large pond.

"Isn't it lovely?" Aylin asked, turning to him.

Greyback wanted nothing more right then to say, Yes, you are lovely. But he didn't, knowing he would sound like a complete idiot. Instead, he looked out over the pond and decided it was indeed beautiful. The surface was glassy, the water was clear, and there was a little island near the other shore. He couldn't tell how deep it was, but judging by how dark the water was in the center, it couldn't be too shallow.

"It is lovely." Greyback said, turning back to Aylin.

Aylin then sat down gracefully on the grass, staring out over the water. "I love coming here. It's just so soothing. It helps me forget about the rest of the world." She drew her legs up to her chest and crossed her arms, speaking with a strange detachedness. "The rest of the world is just too complicated. Nothing is as it seems. But here everything is so simple. It's just a pond, a beautiful little spot in the middle of the Forbidden Forest. No monsters lurking just underneath the surface, ready to pull us down into the water." She sighed. "I wish everything could be so pure, so simple."

Greyback was taken captive by her beautiful words. When they arrived at the pond, he had seen only a small body of clear water, and thought it was nice. But after Aylin put her thoughts into words, he could only think of how he couldn't have put it any better. He also understood how this spot was important to her. It was true, after all, how things were often not how they seemed. He saw it all the time at Borgin & Burkes.

As he looked at her, sitting there gazing at the smooth water, he could only marvel at how beautiful she was in comparison to the pond she so adored. They were similar, in a way. Both her and the water were so calm. He wondered how she had found this place. She hadn't gone to Hogwarts, so that ruled out a lot of possibilities. But he didn't want to ask. She looked so absorbed in her own thoughts and he didn't want to disturb her. Just as how throwing a stone into the pond would be the ultimate sin, he didn't want to upset Aylin. They spent a few long moments like this- her in her own world, him watching her wistfully.

"That's why I like you, Greyback." Aylin finally said, still looking at the water. "When you say something, you mean it. You don't have some ulterior motive behind everything you do."

Greyback stared at her in bewilderment. He was a Slytherin for Merlin sake! He wasn't very likable, and he knew this. Average looking, a rather bitter temperament, and his idea of a hobby was dusting off old artifacts before he sold it at a ridiculous price.

But then, as he thought about it, she was right. Generally, he did something because he wanted to, not to keep up some appearance. True, he did occasionally take advantage of some poor customer who didn't know what they were looking for or how much it should cost, but that didn't count. And if he wanted something, he usually asked for it outright. Except in Aylin's case. He didn't dare say anything about how he thought she was beauty personified. He sat down on the grass next to her.

"You.. you actually like me?" Greyback finally managed to ask. "As in friends?" He didn't dare hope for anything more.

She smiled again. "Of course I like you. Why else would I bring you here?"

Greyback looked away, embarrassed. He felt Aylin's take his hand in hers. Looking back at her solemn face, he said, "I just don't get it. I'm not the kind of bloke people like to be friends with."

Aylin shook her head. "That doesn't matter to me."

Greyback felt some emotion swell up inside him. It was something like annoyance, but not quite. Suddenly, he was spilling his guts out. "Well, it should matter! I'm so ordinary and I work at the dingiest little shop in Knockturn Alley and I live in the filthiest flat in the cheapest neighborhood in London. I look at you, and I wonder how someone as perfect as you could stand to talk to me. It's so hard to look at you and know that there is no way in the world you could love me the way I love you." Greyback suddenly fell silent as he realized what he said. There went any chance at all he had with her. He clenched his jaw and looked at the water, willing to look anywhere but Aylin's face.

"Greyback. Look at me, please."

So he did. He looked at her and her odd, almost sad, smile.

"Why did you think I brought you here? Why do you think I opened up my heart to you? I wouldn't tell just anyone what I told you just a moment ago. As soon as we met, I felt so.. I don't know how to say it. But now I understand love at first sight."

Greyback felt as if he was dreaming. He felt dizzy, hardly comprehending what Aylin said. Surely there was a catch. Maybe he had missed something she said. Yes, he probably heard wrong.

"Could you repeat that, please?"

There was no mistaking what happened then. Aylin gently touched his face, then kissed him lightly on the lips. Greyback sat there, stunned.

"I love you too, Greyback. No matter what, I love you."