"Was Gork the leader of the west side or the east?" I questioned, flipping furiously through my notes.

"He was the leader of the north troops, James," Kaylie replied, writing furiously on a parchment that was already at least three feet long.

"Then who was the leader of the west and east troops?" I groaned, planting my face into the library table.

"Grungle and Grappook the Great, I believe?" Rory replied, patting my head absentmindedly.

"I hate O.W.L.S! I hate them with a passion! And why does every single goblin have to have a name starting with the letter 'G'? Is it a trend? Is it necessary?" I exclaimed as Madame Pince swooped down on our table like some great papery falcon.

"Loud voices are not tolerated in the library!" She hissed, one of the books that she was re-shelving was floating next to her ear and as soon as she reprimanded me it swung down and clocked me on the temple.

"Oy! What's with the bludger books?" I exclaimed.

"Out! Out!" Madame Pince exclaimed, the book hitting me again. I threw my arms over my head as it repeatedly bludgeoned me.

"Go! Loud students are not permitted in my sanctuary of learning!" she shouted after me as I got up and dashed for the doors.

"Madame Pince! You're just as loud as I am!" I exclaimed, as she slammed the library door in my face. I started to turn towards Gryffindor Tower when I realized I left all my books on the study table in my haste to escape brain damage from a dusty old tome.

"James?"

I turned around to Luke eyeing me questioningly.

"I got kicked out of the library," I replied. Kaylie may have taken him back, but I sure don't approve of it.

"No practice tonight?" Luke questioned. We've been having rigorous team practices this past week to prepare for the game against Hufflepuff next Saturday, but Ryan gave us this Monday off because teachers were threatening taking team members away if homework wasn't turned in soon.

"Day off for school work," I answered, when I couldn't give him an angry stare any longer without the situation becoming awkward.

"Got it. Well, we're both back in the running," he remarked. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Thanks to your brother, really."

"Stay away from Albus," I grumbled.

"James, I can't really stay away from your brother, he's on my team," Luke sighed. "I know you don't like me very much, but I'm not going to hurt her again. I've learned my lesson, yeah?"

I shrugged.

"Fine, but I'm sure it would mean a lot to her if you just accepted us," he sighed, pushing past me and into the library as Kaylie was coming out with my bag looped around her arm. She brightened when she noticed Luke was there and stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss.

"Here's your stuff James. I browsed the essay that you were working on, you've got a couple of dates mixed up and you need to watch your spelling," she explained, handing me the parchment separately.

"That was fast, checking it through," I smiled, taking my essay.

"It's not that long of an essay so far, James," Kaylie laughed.

"Are you done with your work, love? I wanted to know if you would like to go for a walk around the lake?" Luke questioned, handing me my bag and wrapping his arms around her waist. She giggled and pushed some of his hair out of his eyes before giving him a peck on the cheek.

"I'm sorry, I still have an essay to translate for Runes," Kaylie pouted. "And didn't you have that Charms essay to do?"

"I finished it during my free period, but that's okay. Promise me Saturday then?"

"Saturday sounds perfect," Kaylie beamed, giving him another kiss and turning towards the library door. I mimed gagging behind her back.

"I saw that James," she sighed.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Tell Ror I'll meet her back in the common room," I replied, hoisting my bag on my shoulder and starting towards the staircase.

"James! I would've joined you if you asked, silly," Rory exclaimed not two seconds later, jogging up behind me. I stopped and gave her a small grin.

"Sorry, Ror, I was a tad bit distracted," I replied, taking her hand and swinging it between us.

"About the books pummeling your head?" she scrunched her nose.

"Well, that was the start of it," I sighed.

"What was the end of it?" she giggled.

"Luke…" I answered darkly.

"What does Luke have to do with anything? I think they're sweet together," she questioned.

"I don't trust him, that's all."

"What's not to trust? He's quite perfect actually. Everyone's fancied him at one point or another," she laughed.

"He's far from perfect," I snorted.

"That's beside the point. It's not like you're dating him. Kaylie is," she replied, looking at me.

"But I have to protect Kaylie," I mumbled.

"Why, James? She's not your sister."

"She practically is," I fought, giving the Fat Lady the password and stepping through the portrait hole.

"I just don't get it…" Rory sighed, settling into a free arm chair.

"I don't suspect you would," I replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I stopped and looked at her wide-eyed. Well that came out wrong. Rory was eyeing me angrily. I sighed and lifted myself to my knees so I could give her a light peck on the lips.

"It doesn't mean anything. I just meant that my relationship with Kaylie and Kent is something that most people don't understand," I explained, cupping her chin in my hand. She smiled. Score, I'm saved. She leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss.

"I'm trying James. I just don't understand how you can't let her grow up. You have, that's alright. Kent has, that's perfect for him. But when it comes to Kaylie, you turn into a total dragon, Jamsey. Let her grow up, yeah?" Rory suggested, squishing herself against the arm of the chair and patting the free space next to her. I squished myself in and pulled her legs into my lap, lightly running my fingers up and down her bare calves.

"How are you not wearing tights Rory? It's freezing in the castle. You're going to get ill," I remarked, as goosebumps rose over her flesh.

"I hate them. They make my legs look fat."

I surveyed her. There wasn't an inch of fat on her, whatsoever.

"Rory, you're skin and bones. I doubt that anything could make you look fat."

"Well isn't that sweet of you to say," she sighed, leaning forward and giving me another kiss.

"I wasn't trying to be sweet. I was just telling the truth," I shrugged. She swatted my side and gave one of her girlish giggles.

"You flatter me," she exclaimed, resting her head against the back of the chair.

"Isn't that what boyfriends are supposed to do?" I questioned hesitantly. She nodded with a huge grin, like I was catching on to some huge plan. We sat there watching the fire die down and sharing a few snogs as the time twiddled down. It was nearly ten when the portrait hole swung open.

"Can't you just check the work for me Kaylie?" Kent was begging as he and Kay bustled into the room and directly to the fire.

"Your definition of 'check' is my definition of 'doing the work for you'," Kaylie replied with a slight laugh. "Did you finish your essay, James?" She questioned when she noticed me in the chair. She gave me one of her infamous looks and I ducked my head down a bit.

"Well it's mostly done," I laughed, burying my face into Rory's shoulder.

"You mean it's the same length as you left? You could've finished it by now and revised for Potions," Kaylie sighed, depositing her bag in the chair next to me and starting for the stairs to her dormitory.

"Kaylie! You can't go to bed yet. I'm desperate!" Kent shouted across the common room.

"Will you calm down Kent? I'm changing out of my uniform and I'll be right down," she sighed, gathering all her hair and pulling over her shoulder. She dashed up the stairs as Kent spread his work out. I let out a gusty sigh. I really have tons of homework to do. Rory was sitting contently, flipping through a back issue of Witch Weekly.

"I should get back to my coursework. Louis said that Vector was giving us a pop quiz on Shrinking Solutions tomorrow and I need to revise," I sighed, starting to lift Rory's legs off of me.

"But you're keeping me warm," she pouted, peeking over the top of her magazine. I blinked at her.

"I need to work. I could get you a blanket if you want…"

"Ooh! That'd be lovely," she exclaimed, brightening up. Kent glanced up at us and smirked. I pulled out my wand and refrained from shaking my head at her.

"Accio spare blanket," I all but muttered. A few seconds later a blanket came flying down the dormitory stairs, taking Fred out as it flew over him.

"Oy! Do you want to break my leg, James?" He exclaimed from the bottom of the stairs. I handed the blanket to Rory who blew a kiss at me and gave Fred a sheepish look.

"Sorry, maybe you should've ducked," I laughed. Fred said a few choice words at me before going over to Ryan. I emptied out my school bag and dug around in the pile I created just as Kaylie was coming down in her flannel pajama pants and an oversized jumper. Her hair was losing the sleekness of whatever potion she used on it and the ends were curling up in the set of double pigtails she tied it back in. She grabbed her bag and nestled down in between Kent and me.

"Right, give me the ingredients of a Shrinking Solution," she commanded, turning to me. I looked at her intently for a second. Her eyes were the same exact shocking blue as Kent's but they were different on her, all lined with thick dark lashes and her shining dark hair. I glanced up at Rory. She tried to immolate the type of curls Kay had naturally but they were losing their life, she had nice freckles and I really did like her but everything about her was almost...I don't know exactly, but I couldn't put my finger on it. She looked up at me looking at her and blew me a kiss again.

"James, do you want to day dream or just earn a T tomorrow?" Kaylie questioned impatiently.

"Sorry, right…" I replied with a small laugh. "Uhm, you need salamander spleen, daisy roots, lemon juice, something with a fig and a caterpillar?"

"James, leech juice not lemon, rat spleen not salamander and it's a shrivelfig," Kaylie sighed, pushing her potions book too me.

"Revise that, please, so you don't freak out tomorrow?" She questioned, grabbing my finished transfiguration essay and Kent's charms essay on how to produce a proper Color Changing Charm. She took her quill and a small pot of red ink and began re-reading our essays. Crossing out at random intervals and carefully writing above our printed words. I examined her. Some of her hair fell out of her pigtail and was sweeping across her eye. There was a piece of me that itched to sweep it away. I coughed and scooted back so I was leaning against the base of Rory's chair. Her free hand automatically fell down and began to sweep through my hair. I smiled and began to revise the process of the potion, carefully letting myself wander.

"Alright, your transfiguration essay isn't all that horrible James. I think you'll at least get an A on it, but I put some extra notes on the top that would be good to squeeze in so you can pull an E," Kaylie remarked finally. She handed me the essay. A quarter of it was marked in red ink.

"Thanks loads, Kay. You save my wizarding career," I sighed, handing back her potions book and taking out a fresh piece of parchment.

"Just write that out. I'm sure you can finish your History of Magic essay during free period tomorrow," Kaylie declared, already part way through Kent's essay.

"Can't I just look at yours?" I begged. "I only have like ten more inches to write."

"Just write that out, James," Kaylie replied giving me a small eye roll.

"I'm done with mine," Kent piped up, picking up his essay and handing it to me. Kaylie glared at him and attempted to snatch it from my hands. I held it over my head.

"James! How are you going to learn if you just copy Kent's?" she exclaimed.

"I will learn by copying! It's repetitious" I fought back, placing a hand on her head and keeping her at arm's length. Kaylie sighed and sat back again.

"You're impossible. Just go ahead and not learn for yourself," she huffed.

"We will," Kent and I replied simultaneously. Kaylie rolled her eyes again and finished up Kent's essay.

"There, I wrote a new conclusion for you. Your original one was really quite awful, you basically threw it away. Now I'm going to bed. I'll check the rest of your stuff tomorrow," she announced.

"You're the best sister ever!" Kent shouted after her.
"You're the best girl a guy could ask for!" I added.

Kaylie flipped us the bird but laughed anyways. Rory let out a small huff. I looked at her upside down.

"What's up, buttercup?"

"Nothing," she answered stiffly. Kent and I exchanged weary looks. I rolled over so I was facing her.

"What're you all huffy about now, Ror?" I sighed. She snapped her magazine shut and gave me a haughty look.

"Nothing James, I'm going to bed."

She stalked off without even giving me a good night kiss. I groaned and covered my face with my hands.

"Remind me why you took her back again?" Kent snorted. "Was it for her lovely personality?"

"Her personality is fine, usually. It's only sometimes she gets all high maintenance on me," I replied defensively.

"I never said high maintenance, you did. I just think she never gives you time to breathe, yeah?" Kent answered smoothly, carefully copying out his revised essay.

"I have time to breathe."

"Only when you're at Quidditch and even then she's in the stands."

"But it's not like we're in a corner snogging at all hours," I retorted.

"No, that you aren't. I just think it'd be better for you if you had time away from each other. Like tonight Becca studied with Sarah and I studied with you and Kaylie," Kent answered, vanishing a sentence he messed up on his essay.

"I guess…I don't know…I just don't want things to get all screwy again. She's already mad at me now. Do you know why?" I whispered.

"No clue, mate," Kent snorted.

"It's like…if she's not asking me for something, she's angry at me. I feel like I can't get it right," I sighed.

"Then why are you with her?"

"Because…she's cute and nice and compliments me?"

"What a connection you two have," Kent laughed. I threw a crumpled piece of parchment at him.

"We have a connection! Right?"

"That's not really something I can decide. Do whatever you want, mate. You're right, she is really cute. One of the best in our class. But is that all that's there?" Kent questioned, rolling up his essay and stuffing it in his bag. He stacked his books and twisted his back so it cracked.

"You coming up?" he asked, jerking a thumb to the stairs. I looked at all the books sprawled around me. I still had to finish my diagram for Herbology and finish revising for Potions.

"Nah, I still have work to do. Rory wanted to sit together when we got back to the common room and I'm behind," I sighed. Kent nodded and started towards the stairs. He stopped, grabbed a bottle from his bag and walked back.

"My last butterbeer that I nicked from the kitchens," he laughed. I took it and gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem. And don't over think the whole Rory thing. They always end up telling us why they're mad. Can't keep stuff in for long, can they?"

I mulled this over as I pulled my Herbology book in my lap. No, chicks can't keep stuff bottled up for long. At least, only few chicks can (like Kaylie). I just never knew that relationships were this much trouble. I'm beginning to notice a pattern since we've been back together. We're either in this gushy stage or she's angry at me. I wish I knew things would be this difficult before I dove head first into it. I almost miss just hanging out with only Kent and Kaylie. I haven't been able to do much of it since we've returned from Holiday because one of us always has one of our girlfriends or boyfriend around. Things were just getting so complicated.

ӿӿKaylieӿӿ

"Kaylie! Love! Wait up!"

I stopped and hoisted my bag higher on my shoulder. Luke was weaving through the halls in attempts to reach me. I itched to look at my watch. I was going to be late for Herbology, but I had to speak with Professor Marxx about my Ancient Runes essay to deduce why I got an E instead of an O grade and was late getting out of the classroom. Luke finally caught up and gave me a huge kiss.

"Hullo there, shall I walk you to class?" he questioned brightly.

"I'm going out to the greenhouses. Won't you be late for your own class?" I questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"It's just Flitwick. I'll risk it," he grinned, taking my hand.

"Oh! I've been meaning to tell you. I have to cancel Saturday! It's Quidditch, remember?" I exclaimed suddenly. Luke's face fell.

"Oh. Right. But Ravenclaw's not playing…"

"Luke, I am in Gryffindor, remember?" I giggled. "And the school's commentator."

"I know, but I was hoping you would skive off for a game," he sighed.

"I don't skive off anything."

"I know, that's one of the reasons I like you so much," he replied, giving me a kiss on the side of my head. I squirmed a bit but gave him a huge smile. I lifted the hand I was holding and pulled it over my shoulder, cuddling into him to keep the wind chill at a minimum.

"I wish it was holiday already and we were done with exams and could just walk around like this for hours," Luke stated. I nodded absentmindedly and viewed my class filing into the greenhouse ahead. I itched to stay and talk to Luke, because it was suddenly dawning on me that I didn't know anything about the boy whose kisses I shared.

"Luke, do you have any siblings? Cousins?" I asked suddenly. Luke stiffened.

"No, it's just me."

"What about your parents. What do they do?"

"Well, my Mum ran off with someone when I was just starting school and my Dad does things…research if you will," he answered.

"How often do you see your Mum?"

"What's with the interview Kaylie?"

I blanched a bit and looked up at his clouded face.

"Nothing, Luke, I just realized I don't know much about you…"

"Well I don't want to talk about it, alright?" He snapped, releasing my shoulders. I felt my face fall. Luke's face softened slightly. He cupped my chin and gave me a light kiss on the forehead.

"I'm sorry I snapped. Go on to class or we'll both be late," he remarked, nodding his head over to the greenhouses. I felt myself wilt slightly but gave him a slight nod and hoisted my heavy bag higher on my shoulder. I slipped into the greenhouse right after Professor Longbottom, who gave me a warning glance before settling his stuff on the dirty work table.

"Today we will be studying Fanged Geraniums and how to properly handle them. Please take out your dragon hide gloves," Professor announced brightly. I pulled my gloves on and sat puzzling over why Luke wouldn't share with me. I thought we got over this whole trust issue thing. Lizzie shot me a quizzical look and I shrugged at her. I couldn't think about this now, not while vicious plants were trying to bite my fingers off.

"I don't understand Kay, usually you're very careful when it comes to plants," Lizzie remarked as I tried to scrub the plant's goopy saliva out of my hair. Not only did it almost rip out a chunk of my ponytail but it attempted to take parts of my arm as well. As much as I tried to concentrate on Herbology, I just couldn't. Not with the Luke situation floating over my head like a great black raincloud.

"Here, just spray this and the sap should vanish," Professor laughed, handing the spray to his daughter. Liz generously sprayed my hair and handed the pump back.

"Thanks Dad," she remarked, giving him a kiss on the cheek and throwing her bag back over her shoulder. "You coming up for dinner?"

"No, I've got a meeting to take care of. But I'll see you tomorrow," he answered, giving her a loving stroke on her head. The two of us headed back up to the castle in almost silence, before Lizzie gave a pointed throat clear.

"Am I going to have to sneak veritaserum in your tea tonight to get you to talk to me?"

"No…no you won't need to do that. Luke was just acting queer today," I replied.

"Queer, how so?"

"I asked about his family and he completely shut down and brushed me off."

"Well maybe he's not an open book?"

"But he claims he trusts me. Plus, if he just said that he didn't want to talk about it then he could've just said that in a sane way. Rather than get stiff as a board and not even kiss me goodbye," I snorted.

"That's true," Lizzie sighed.

"Have you heard from Dylan recently?"

Lizzie brightened at this questioned and her cheeks turned slightly pink.

"He said he wanted to come watch the game on Saturday. He wants to sit with me. So sorry, I won't be able to join you in the booth with Dad this time."

"Oh. Well that's alright. I'm happy something's happening with that. Does your Dad know he's nineteen?"

"No, haven't mentioned that much yet," Lizzie replied, giggling nervously. I raised my eyebrows at her and followed the flow of students into the Great Hall. My eye zoned in on Kent and Becca sitting together and Rory and James sitting together. There wasn't much room for me. Looks like we're back at the 'our girlfriends are top priority' shtick. We've been growing apart again, just like we started to do at the end of first quarter. I missed talking to them, just the three of us. But whenever I try, someone else is always there. What we discovered at the end of holiday has completely gone back under the radar, like it didn't matter. I sighed and settled into the end of the table with Lizzie, Connor and Trevor. I propped my Herbology book on the milk jug and began to look for things I could put into the extra homework Professor Longbottom assigned me. I tried to concentrate on the words in front of me but my eyes kept flashing to James.

He looked uncomfortable, almost, with Rory hanging all over him. He had a smile, as always, but it wasn't the genuine 'James smile' that I was used to. The fake smile disappeared a few seconds later as he fed her a bit of dessert from his plate. I refrained from gagging. I was about to take a bite of my own food, when the fork was suddenly transfigured into a single rose. I gaped at it, until Luke came over and kissed the bare part of my skin between my neck and collar.

"For being such a standoffish jerk earlier," he explained.

"It's lovely, thank you. But how am I to eat without a fork?" I giggled. Luke stuck his tongue out at me, but transfigured the flower back into my cutlery.

"You ruin my romantic side," he declared.

"And you ruin my appetite! Everything tastes like my perfume!" I giggled, grimacing a bit. I put down my fork and relented to concentrating on my work.

"What are you studying?"

"Herbology. I got assigned extra work," I admitted.

"You assigned extra work?"

"Yes. I let a Fanged Geranium get the best of me."

"Oh, well I would work on that. It'll probably be on your O.W.L.S."

"I figured. With this work added to my usual coursework, I don't think I can study tonight. I think I'm going to go straight up to my dorm," I sighed. Luke let out a small groan.

"I get it. Fifth year is a difficult year," he remarked, stooping down to give me a lingering kiss. I held it for a few seconds longer than necessary until I heard the whole of the table giggling. I pulled away and gave him a shy smile. I quickly wrote out something on a piece of parchment and handed it to him, nosing myself into my book so I didn't have to see him read it. He stooped down a few seconds later and his lips brushed my ear.

"I'll be there," he whispered, giving me one more kiss on the temple and loping back to the Ravenclaw table with a triumphant look on his face. I felt myself blush, but got to work on my essay anyways, idly tracing the words that pressed themselves into the parchment underneath my original message.

Our library corner. Midnight.

"James!" I exclaimed as soon as he dragged himself through the portrait hole after what looked like a rather gruesome practice.

"Yeah? Who died? Did you have another one of those visions?" James exclaimed, whispering the last part to me.

"No, not at all," I laughed. "I haven't had one since…well since New Year's actually."

"Oh, well that's good. What do you need?" he questioned with a smile.

"I was wondering if I could borrow the cloak?" I questioned hesitantly.

"What do you need it for?"

"I just need it. Can I?

"Well I'm not going to get it confiscated for a bad reason. Just tell me why Kaylie," he sighed. I bit my lip and weighed my options. He hated Luke. If I told him I wanted it to sneak out and snog with Lucas, then I'll never get it.

"I wanted to do research in the restricted section about life and death," I declared before I could even stop myself. I felt my insides wither and die. James, Kent and I just don't lie to each other.

"Oh! Want me or Kent to go with you?" He questioned brightly.

"No…no that's fine. I get more work done when I'm alone."

"Okay, I'll bring it down when I grab my shower stuff," James smiled, heading to his dormitory stairs. I sat back down and tried to concentrate on my remaining homework. I didn't have much left, just a few loose ends to tie up, but I was really starting to feel the guilt bubble up inside of me. Why couldn't I just say I wanted to sneak out?

"Here you go!" He declared, blindsiding me and making me a jump a foot in the air. "Suddenly having second thoughts on breaking the rules on your own?" he teased.

"Yeah. I hope I don't get caught," I sighed, knowing I would be in far more trouble being caught out with a boy then just snooping around in the restricted section.

"You won't. We've done it, what? A million times through five years. Are you sure you don't want us to join you?"

"Yeah, I'm completely sure. Now go shower, you smell," I ordered, glancing at my nails.

"Yes m'am," James laughed, giving me a goofy salute and heading out the common room to the prefects bathroom, which he has been so accustomed to using. I threw down my quill and buried my face in my arms, trying to control my breathing. I was getting so worked up lying to James that I was going to force myself to have a panic attack. I just want to be held. James and Kent are so into their own relationships these past two weeks that everything we went through over the holiday was fading away fast. It was just too easy to get James to believe that I was going to do one thing when I was really doing another.

I sat in the common room, watching it empty and pretending to be hard at work studying. James and Kent gave me pointed looks as they climbed their own stairs, making the Invisibility Cloak I was sitting on feel like a ton of bricks. Slowly my watch hit ten till midnight and the common room was thankfully empty for once. I slowly tidied my books and work to my standards and slipped the bag over my shoulders before pulling the cloak over my head. I twitched the bottom to see if it covered my feet and started my way out of the common room and down to the library.

The hallway was pitch black, with the torches all put out, and I was attempting to follow the paved stones with the feeble light from my wand. Every footstep I took echoed in the empty halls and I could just feel the caretaker Mr. Baggley popping around every corner. I wish I would've asked for that map James found over the summer as well. Then I'd at least know what was coming. There was an echo in the hall and I froze. Peeves came zooming down the hall, chucking dragon dung fertilizer everywhere as he went. I dodged a rather mushy looking piece and finally got to the library doors. They were left cracked open a tad. I felt my heart start to pound. I've never been this alone with Luke. So alone that nobody would interrupt us in the middle of anything. Whatever anything ends up being.

I felt my breathing hitch slightly as I started to wind my way through the empty library tables. There was a glow up ahead. Luke had suspended candles over the table. Their soft glow was flickering across the books. The effect went past romantic and landed on creepy. He was sitting on top of the table in his pajamas. Why didn't I change out of my uniform?

I tucked myself behind a shelf and pulled the cloak off of my shoulders. I stuffed it into my backpack and took a deep breath. I cleared my throat so he would know where I was coming from and stepped out from behind the bookcase. Luke brightened when he saw me.

"Hey! There you are, I was beginning to worry," he remarked brightly.

"I had to wait until the common room cleared out," I sighed, awkwardly standing a distance from him.

"I was able to nick some stuff from the kitchens. Are you hungry?" He questioned, pulling out some baked goods from his bag. I shrugged.

"Will you come here?" he questioned after another beat of silence. I deposited my bag on the floor and walked forward. Luke allowed me to stand between his knees and rest a hand on my waist, using the other one to tuck a stray bit of hair behind me ear. Why didn't I prepare my looks better for this? I kept my pony tail, now completely curly again and I probably have ink on my nose as always. My tights were losing their elasticity and I felt them wrinkle against my knees.

"I was shocked when you passed me that note. It was very unlike you and completely sexy," he whispered, cupping my cheek with his hand.

"Not slaggy at all though…I mean how many stories do we hear about students getting it on in the library. I mean that's not what I meant about sending you that note…because frankly I don't think-"

"Kaylie! I know you didn't mean that! I figured it was just your way of getting us to spend time together," he laughed, kissing my forehead. "Don't worry love, I'm not going to take advantage of you."

I trembled a bit and Luke grinned, grabbing a blanket from behind him and wrapping it around my shoulders.

"I figured it'd be rather draughty in here without the lamps and the fires." He smiled, running his hands up and down my arms. He leaned in and gave me another kiss on the forehead.

"Calm down, hen, why are you all worked up?"

"Because I lied to James," I admitted in one breath. I let out a small squeak and covered my mouth with my hand.

"What'd you lie to James about?" he sighed.

"I told him I was coming down here for research," I admitted.

"I thought you said that the common room cleared out," Luke snapped.

"No, it did. It was earlier. I had to borrow something to get down here."

"What?"

I bit my lip. Nobody knew about the cloak. Nobody and I couldn't betray his trust anymore.

"I can't tell you…it's not my secret to tell, but I'm here now. Let's just concentrate on that," I replied finally. Luke looked irritated for a second before his features went blank.

"Luke, don't be angry please? Just kiss me?" I begged. Luke gave me a small smile. I leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. I felt his smile grow bigger as he pulled me closer from my lower back. I wound my arms around his neck and pressed my lips harder against his. He slid off the table and wound his hand through my hair at the back of my head, loosening my pony tail. We broke apart with a gasp before diving in again. Things grew more fervent. Luke wielded himself against me, pulling away from my lips and delving into my neck like a hungry vampire.

"Careful about that, you left a mark on New Years," I gasped, running my hands along his back. He chuckled as he grazed my ear and transferred his lips back to mine. Suddenly I wasn't thinking about what a horrible friend I was, but only this moment. This now. Where I was wanted, where I was held, where I wasn't left behind.

ӿӿJamesӿӿ

I lay in bed looking at the overhang of the curtains around my bed. I was restless, I couldn't sleep. I guess I was worried about Kaylie. We rarely ever venture out after hours by ourselves. I wanted to go down to the common room and wait for her. See what information she found out and whether she had any close calls. I turned to my side and gazed at the curtains that were Kent's bed. They were only partly closed and I could see his hair just peeking out from under the blankets. I took my wand from my bedside table and banished a spare toffee I had sitting around. It clunked him in the head and he groaned.

"Kent," I hissed, banishing another candy. He groaned again so I banished two more in quick sucession.

"Am I late for class?" Kent mumbled, lifting his head off his pillow. He blinked and squinted at his watch. "Merlin, James, it's one thirty in the morning."

"I don't think Kaylie's in yet," I hissed.

"She'll be fine. Just go to sleep." Kent groaned, pulling the covers over his head and turning away from me. I flopped back on my pillow and suppressed a groan. I guess I could go check on her. I threw back my covers and went to my open trunk to search for a pair of socks, when I noticed the worn piece of parchment nestled on top of my broomstick kit. I forgot about this! I grabbed it and settled against my trunk.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," I whispered. The map began to blossom out into thin lines. It took me a second to find the library and when I did I almost dropped the map. There was another person in there with her. I squinted my eyes and held the wand closer to the map to get more light. It was like my stomach fell to the lowest dungeon the castle had. Why was she in there with Luke? Did she end up asking him to help instead of us? Does Luke know everything that Kent and I do? I gathered myself up and walked down to the common room. The fire had completely gone out but the house elves had been there recently because it was completely empty of debris. I settled into an arm chair and shivered slightly.

"Incendio," I muttered, flicking my wand at the fireplace. It roared instantly, warming my face and toes. I made myself comfortable and examined the map. The two tiny ink figures were making their way out of the library, walking along the corridor to a certain point. Stopping. Then one went one way and the other the opposite. The figure was moving pretty fast, so I knew she was worried about being caught. I scanned the corridors around her and felt the need to sigh with relief when no other person was prowling the corridors. I watched as she traced her way back up to Gryffindor tower, stop at our entrance. The portrait hole swung open and Kaylie came stumbling in. I was about to ask her if she found anything and why she wanted to include Luke and not Kent or I, when I actually took in her appearance. She wasn't going down there to look stuff up at all. She noticed me and stopped.

"Oh! What are you doing down here?" She whispered, shaking out the Invisibility Cloak that was slung over her arm. She came around and perched herself on an ottoman that was facing me. I just stared at her, trying to work everything out in my brain.

"I wanted to make sure you got in alright, I guess," I stated finally. Her smile faltered and she immediately brought up a hand to fix her disheveled hair.

"Well I'm in!" she chirped.

"Did you find anything out?"

Her smile faltered again and she began to fiddle with her fingers.

"No, not really. We could peruse it later, I suppose," she answered finally.

"Kaylie! Why the bloody hell are you lying to me! I know who you were with!" I exploded, slamming the map down in her lap. She stared at it for a second before looking at me with wide eyes.

"James…"

"You could've just said you wanted to go meet him! You didn't have to make up some cock and bull story for me! Kaylie, when have I ever lied to you?" I was getting really angry now. I stood up and felt my fists clench to my sides.

"You wouldn't have lent it to me! Every word about him that comes out of your mouth has been, negative James. What'd you expect me to do?" she whispered, her voice hard.

"I don't know. But certainly not lie to me! You could've gone without the cloak!"

"Yeah right! With the amount of trouble we've been in, going without the cloak would've been too much of a risk," she spat.

"Then why risk it at all?"

"Because I don't get to be with him every second of every day like you and Kent do with Becca and Rory. He's in a completely different year, let alone house. He was getting upset with me, because we haven't been spending time together and I wasn't going to lose him like I'm losing you and Kent!" she shouted back.

"You haven't lost us!"

"James, if you're not asking me for help on your homework you're not talking to me! You four sit together in classes, eat together, spend time in the common room together. Where does that leave me? Huh? Where? ALONE JAMES! So send me to Azkaban for wanted to feel needed for reasons other than my brain!"

I blinked at her. Is she trying to turn this situation to be my fault?

"Have you gone barmy? Mad? There is no way you're going to come out of this situation winning Kaylie. The point is you looked me in the face and you lied to me. Worst thing is, you used me! How could you do such a thing? I'm supposed to be your best mate! All I ever do is worry about you and you just throw this in my face! How dare you try to make me feel bad?"

"I know I lied, James, but why I did it has some reason as well," she answered in a dangerously low voice.

"Whatever Kaylie. What you did tonight proved something…obviously you're choosing him over our friendship. If that's what you're going at, yeah you're right. You win! You happy, Kaylie? Friendship over! I hope he makes you very happy! If you were feeling left out, you could've said something instead of using me for my cloak. I don't know who you are lately." I replied, keeping my voice level and low. I snatched my cloak and my map and turned on my heel heading over to the dormitory stairs. A part of me was waiting for the curse to hit me in the back and another part was waiting for her to call my name. What I didn't expect was to hear her break down into sobs right before I closed the dormitory door.

A/A: Sorry if there's some mistakes at the end. I proof-read pretty much everything, but then The Voice came on and I got super duper distracted.