I drummed my fingers along the table, sighing as I checked my watch again. She's late!

Almost as if she had read my mind, Ary burst through the door. She threw herself into the seat in front of me. "Sorry, Lin. Mum's shop is busier than usual." She paused to look around as she took her coat off. "Why are we meeting in Madam Puddifoot's again?"

I blushed. "It's the only place I could think of where Potter wouldn't be."

Ary looked at me blankly, but soon enough the corners of her mouth twitched. "When have you ever been afraid of Potter?"

I winced. "I'm not afraid. It's just awkward."

"Because he's being nice?"

"It's just…" I trailed off as I picked at the hem of my sweater. After a few beats of silence I looked up. "I know he likes me but I don't know how I feel and it's just that –"

"Stop babbling." She cut me off. "Have you tried talking to Potter about this?"

I looked at her blankly. "No."

She slapped me upside the head. "You know, Lin, you might want to try thinking some time. I heard it's not that hard to do." I scowled at her. "Why don't you just have a heart to heart with Potter and tell him you can't return his feelings at this time?" She paused thoughtfully. "Though, I suppose you two would make a good couple."

I blushed furiously. "Ary!"

She waved her hands nonchalantly. "I mean in an aesthetical sense." She paused again. "Although, now that you mention it, you two are quite alike."

I banged my forehead on the table. "Arabella! Don't make me regret owling you!"

She grinned. "And who else would you have told? Georgie and Jane are busy with Louis and Marcus, and Carly refuses to talk about feelings… I'm your last resort, Benedetto."

I groaned. "Don't remind me."

She sighed and cupped her cheek in her hand as she leaned forward. "Lin, just give it a try. Try being his friend and seeing where that goes. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Death." I looked at her seriously.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to even ask about your thought process with that one." She looked at her watch, and then outside the window. "I should get going. I -" She stopped suddenly, and then broke into a grin. "OI! POTTER!"

I froze and felt the color drain from my face. I looked to the window, and, sure enough, there was James Potter. He looked confused, but entered the shop, probably because Ary was still shouting and waving her arms like a maniac. The couples making out at the other tables didn't seem to notice, thankfully.

I let my head drop to the table again. I heard Ary and James greet each other and exchange pleasantries. I was wishing for the earth to swallow me up.

"Hey, Potter, could you do me a favor?" I heard Ary say, abruptly changing the topic of her quidditch workouts.

"Sure," was his reply.

I had a feeling that I knew what she was going to ask. I started actively praying for unconsciousness at the very least.

"Benedetto here isn't feeling well, so she needs someone to escort her to the castle. I would do it, but Mum needs me at the shop. Would you be able to?"

My head shot up as my eyes widened in horror, but Ary was already shouting goodbyes as she thrust open the door and trudged out into the snow. My eyes darted to James, who was also looking at me. After a few moments of silence, I got up, paid for my untouched coffee, and bundled up.

I walked out into the street with James. It was still quiet. I thought I was going to explode.

I looked at him. "You can go wherever you want, you know. I'm feeling okay enough to make it to the castle on my own. Besides, Ary kind of put you on the spot."

He nodded. "But that's just how Ary is. And I don't mind. I wouldn't want you passing out in the cold. You already look pale enough."

I focused back on the ground, just in time to watch my foot sink into a big mound of snow. I crinkled my nose in distaste. Snow had fallen into my boot. "Ew."

"What?"

I sighed. "I hate snow."

"Why?" he demanded.

I looked up at him. He looked incredulous. "It's cold and wet!"

"But also pure and white and lovely!" he argued.

"It stops us from playing quidditch!"

"But lets us play with snowballs! Plus, don't you like to snowboard?"

I opened my mouth to shoot back a retort, but remembered Ary telling me to try getting along with him. I shrugged and looked back to the ground. "You have a valid point."

It took me a few feet to realize that he wasn't walking beside me anymore. I turned around and saw him looking at me in shock.

I grew impatient. "What?"

He broke out into a slow grin. "You admitted I'm right!"

I huffed. "As if! I said you had a point. There's a difference, Potter."

Still grinning, he caught up to me and we resumed walking. "How so?"

"Your having a point means your argument is compelling, not that the argument is over." I opened the school gate for him. "I'm still winning."

He scoffed. "You're a sore loser."

I glared at him. "Jerk," I muttered as I started walking at a faster pace. There was no way in Hell I'd ever consider being friends with him.

"Wait!" His long strides soon caught up to mine. "Lin, I'm sorry."

I froze and peeked at him from under my bangs. "What?"

He frowned. "I'm sorry. It's not important if you hate snow or not. I want to ask you something."

I could've sworn I stopped breathing. Oh God, oh God, he's going to ask me out. What the hell am I supposed to do?

Say yes!

WHAT? SAY NO!

Say yes!

Shut up, both of you! He's talking!

"My behavior must seem very erratic to you." He looked at me for conformation. I was still frozen. He sighed. "And I apologize for that, too. It's been unfair to you."

Who are you and what have you done to James Potter?

"Which brings me to my first question. You've been avoiding me, haven't you?"

It took me several moments to process this. He is not asking you out. Focus. I forced myself to start breathing again. "Um…"

"Right." He nodded briskly and gently pushed me towards the castle doors. The sun was quickly setting. "I really think it would be best if you didn't do that, seeing as it makes it harder on our friends. Which brings me to my second question –"

I forced my legs to keep moving.

"- Do you think we can start over?"

My hand paused on its way to the door to the castle. I looked up at him, startled. "What do you mean?" I croaked.

He seemed relieved that he had finally gotten a verbal response out of me. "I would really like for us to be friends, Lin. Please?"

I looked at him carefully. His eyes were earnest and humble. I stuck my hand out. "Sure. My name is Caroline Benedetto."

He grinned and shook my hand enthusiastically. "James Potter."