She awoke at eight in the morning, Dudley still asleep. His arm was sprawled across her, but not tightly. His breath hit her shoulder every time he exhaled and she wondered if she should wake him, or wait until he woke on his own. She, however, needed to get ready. She slid from the bed carefully, moving towards her closet in order to begin packing her clothes. She supposed in hindsight she should have packed the night before.

But she was quiet, and when she finished, she was sure he wasn't awake and she sat back on her side of the bed, inhaling a scent she could smell. It was... well, intoxicating. It was him. She always had sensitive smell - her Veela side ensured that - but this was something she wasn't used to. People usually smelled all the same to her.

But she thought nothing of it, as his lips began to move.

"You're staring."

She giggled quietly, falling back on the bed and letting his arm once more lay atop her and pull her closer to him. "Sorry."

"What happens if you don't go back?"

"It brings more attention to myself than I want," she muttered, closing her eyes once more. "I'll be back before you know it. Christmas is only, what? Less than three months away?"

"And you're visiting?"

"Of course." He sighed quietly and she pretended not to notice. She wanted to fall back asleep again, but she couldn't. She had places to be. "Do you go anywhere for the holidays?"

"No, we tend to stay here and we barely communicate with our relatives."

"I wish I had it that easy," Aquila groaned. "Every year it's shake all your relatives hand day, and meet old people that haven't seen daylight all year, and be nice to them because they might leave you their inheritance, and balls, and galas, and disgustingly obnoxious girls that insist that a single man blinking at them means marriage." She glanced at Dudley, opening her eyes. "Hopefully I can talk my mother out of it this year. Things are changing, and not always for the best."

"Why balls and galas?"

"Rich, stuck-up Purebloods tend to do that so that they can flaunt their wealth."

He hummed, still keeping his head buried in the pillows. "Well, I think it sounds stupid."

"I'm glad someone agrees."

"If we were to be still together by then... I wouldn't have to go, right?"

"Oh, no, you couldn't," Aquila said immediately. "The people that throw these balls and stuff... they're Pureblood supremists... you couldn't go, even if you wanted to. They'd kidnap you... maybe even torture you a little, before you would be delivered to the Dark Lord - who would no doubt kill you as unmercilessly as possible... you won't be going to them, I promise."

"Oh... Why would they do that?"

"They don't like... non-magic folk. Muggles, Muggleborns, even Half-bloods. They believe in only Purebloods weilding magic, and extremely loyal Half-bloods." She swallowed. "They don't like people that are otherwise... There's honestly no difference except for lineage. Think of it as a feudal system. Purebloods own a majority of businesses and such in the Wizarding World... Muggleborns have a hard time getting into my world, unless they have astounding credentials, because of the prejudice. It's not a nice world... and that's coming from someone considered privilidged... it's a twisted world that doesn't care about anyone other than the elites. And only the elites can name other elites."

"But aren't there more people that think like you?" Dudley questioned. "Purebloods?"

"Sure, the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, the Potters, before Harry was born, were very influential. But even fifteen years later, nothing's changed. It could very well never change."

"That's messed up."

"It is," she agreed quietly. But there was nothing she could do. She didn't have that power. She was one girl, barely of age, from a dark family that had no social credibilty other than her name.

At ten, they finally got up and got ready for the day. Aquila apparated him to his front door promptly at 10:30, and was greeted brightly by Petunia.

"I was afraid you wouldn't stop by," Petunia admitted, pulling her in and offering her a cup of tea. "I was wondering... how is Hogwarts... is it.. is it safe?"

Aquila bit her lip, wondering where this was going. By the uncomfortable look on Petunia's face and the... ah. "He's safe. Hogwarts is the safest place out there. He's probably safer than he is here."

Petunia nodded and Dudley still seemed confused. "You mentioned he gets in trouble a lot."

Aquila grinned. "Danger finds him, Petunia. He's a magnet. It's really something he needs to work on." Aquila sipped from the tea cup. "But he survives by some miracle, so... can I really fault his method?"

"His method is...?"

"He just sort of leaps head first," Aquila informed Dudley, who had asked. She glanced once more at Petunia, to find the woman more relaxed than when the conversation had started. "I have a question for you. Do you like roses or violets?"

"Violets," Petunia said promptly. "Rose reminds me of my grandmother... She wasn't a particularly nice woman."

"I prefer sunflowers," Aquila admitted. "Roses are much too proper, and violets... they aren't bad. My mother grows them in the garden, and when they bloom, I take a few for my room."

"Why do you ask?"

Aquila smiled. "I've been told a lot about the Victorian flower language. Violets symbolize modesty, virtue, affection, faithfulness and love." Aquila glanced at the clock, finding she had to leave in twenty five minutes. It wasn't long. "Petunia, I have a favor to ask of you... My mother-"

"Oh, I'll visit-"

"No," Aquila interrupted firmly, making the woman jump. "No," she ammended, quieter. "Please, don't... she's not always right in the head... and she's not always hanging around the right people. Don't go to my house while I'm not there... Only let her come to you."

"Can I... Can I ask why?"

"I don't want you to get hurt," Aquila said simply. "Nor get near anyone from the wrong crowd."

The rest of tea was tense, not the way Aquila wished to leave. Her eyes glanced towards the clock ticking on the far wall and she saw she'd have to apparate back to get her trunk in a few minutes. Barely any time at all.

"You need to leave, don't you?" Petunia guessed.

"Sort of," Aquila admitted. "I have a few minutes... I'll see you this winter," Aquila promised, her voice suddenly quiet, as though she was deep in thought. But really, Aquila could hardly think. She was just willing her emotions to not get the better of her.

Dudley glanced up from his tea, opening his mouth to say something but stopped. Aquila continued. "Break starts December tenth. I'm out from then until ... well, the first."

"A nice long break," Petunia smiled brightly. "You'll be here, right? I know Harry stays at the school for break-"

"Oh, yes, I'll be coming home," Aquila promised. "I have too much to do over break to stay at Hogwarts." She finished off her tea and stood, moving to put it in the sink. Petunia took it from the girl, before giving her a firm hug.

"Be safe," Petunia made her promise. "I've grown very fond of you, dear. And quite frankly, I don't want to have to worry, so you better be safe."

"I promise, Petunia," Aquila said lightly, stepping back and straightening her clothing. "And you keep safe, as well. Your family... It's been such an unexpected surprise, getting to know you."

"Oh, dear!" Petunia gushed, tears coming to her eyes. "Excuse me..." she excused herself from the room, and as soon as the hall door shut, Aquila heard her heels going up the stairs towards the bathroom.

Dudley rose awkwardly from the table, ambling over to her. "So... you're leaving, huh?"

Aquila grinned, hugging him tightly as soon as he was close enough. "Take care of yourself, too. No beating up police officer's sons, or hitting on their daughters-"

"Why would I hit on anyone? I've got you." She smiled, pressing her face into his chest to keep him from seeing her glowing face. "I'm going to miss you. Haven't know you for long, but I'll miss you."

"You can write me," she said quietly. "I'll owl you an address, or we can correspond by owl if you'd like..." She shrugged. "I have no preference." But her throat burned with her need to cry, and she couldn't. She couldn't cry, because she didn't want the last time he'd see her for months being her red and blotchy face. "But, I will miss you greatly..."

"Will we still... be a thing?"

"I'd very much like to," Aquila admitted, her lip falling between her teeth as she pulled back slightly, but his arms stayed around her. "What do you say?"

"I'd love it," he answered, and his voice was so honest that her eyes felt moist. Moister than normal, anyway. She leaned up, kissing him as she gripped each side of his face, as though holding her in her grasp, never to let him go. His scent... Merlin.

"Besides you, I'll miss your scent the most," Aquila admitted, once she needed air. Her arms went around his neck, pulling him to her, trying to make them one so that she wouldn't let him go. She didn't feel so strongly for someone so quickly, for a man so strongly that she wanted to say the words. But she wasn't certain she could. The words were powerful, and these words... they were relationship changing.

And she wasn't ready for that.

"It's calming," she said instead. She breathed deeply, her head resting just under his chin as he tightened his arms around her. "Being around you is like a relaxation technique... it's so... calming. I wish there was another word I could think of... but I really don't know if my brain is turned on right now."

"You're rambling," he said quietly.

"I know," she murmured. They stood there in silence for a few minutes, and then finally, Aquila had to leave. She pulled away, brushing a tear or two from the edge of her eyes, and put on a small smile. "I'll see you in a few months, Dudley."

He nodded, his lips twitching with a smile and a grimace. It was a strange mixture. One that didn't belong on his face. "Time will fly, I'm hoping for."

Aquila nodded, knowing that would precisely not be the case. This year was going to be long. She had a gut feeling.