There was something satisfying about being the only one in the common room. With the fire roaring, the sun well hidden to the east, and coursework done, what else could Julian ask for? Maybe sleep... but it seemed his brain thought that was underrated. Thoughts were plaguing him that he thought he was done with.

Even if Neely had gone to the party with Bran, it had ignited memories and irritation in him that he hadn’t expected. Hadn’t he dated since? There was something undeniable, however, about that mousy blonde. Something that just... twisted his brain. She drove him insane, sometimes, and they bickered about silly, ridiculous things, but they also laughed a lot. Plus, she had amazing fashion sense. That was undeniable.

Julian had feigned exhaustion, making his way back to the quiet dungeon. Now he lounged out on the couch, his tie loosened and top buttons of his shirt undone. The bit of under the table drinking that Julian had partaken in had slowly increased as the day had gone on. Now he was feeling the buzz at its edge, threatening to spill over; luckily he had left all the alcohol behind.

Yawning into his hand, he let his head rest on the back of the couch. Julian thought about some of the girls in his year and his cheeks bunching up as he closed his eyes. Hands felt over his pockets, feeling his wand long enough to be happy it was where it should be. His fingers lightly entwined across his abdomen while he slumped into the cushions, making little noises as he dug his body in a little more.

He couldn’t imagine any other common room. To Julian, this was perfection; the colors, the walls, the furniture; it all complimented each other.

Neely’s soft hairstyle had stayed in place throughout the Hogsmeade party, thanks to Bran’s charms, but even the Woolfolk girl had given up on not getting her hair wet later that night. It had been more than worth it: an indoor pool full of splashing, thrashing, daring teenagers, showing off in their bathing suits, starting a war of bubbles, and vying for bragging rights to the best birthday gift. Naturally, Neely thought Gracie would be pleased with hers when she opened everything. It had been brilliant, the perfect way to celebrate a witch’s sweet seventeeth, and made all the better by Valentine’s sweets and other holiday traditions. (Neely, unlike some of her classmates, had been able to fool the staff member doing head counts and making sure that students weren’t returning from Hogsmeade completely smashed).

Exhausted in the best way, but decidedly also wide awake, Neely grabbed a stack of magazines and a box of truffles from her father, slipped her perfectly painted toes into warm, knitted boots made for such nights, and followed Cashmere out of the dormitory and down to the common room. She could sleep later, and sleep in. It was Sunday, and no one could accuse her of being dateless on Valentine’s day when beauty sleep was so important. If she happened to know that Julian St. James had been one of the few students still lingering there the last time she walked through, it wasn’t as if he could prove it.

She paused at the last step, noting that the very same tall and lanky housemate was now the sole occupant of the dark common room, braving the odd hours by the fire and looking annoyingly cute as he daydreamed. At three in the morning. Neely’s slightly surprised expression became an almost-smile, the kind the said I’m too good to smile at this, and then a more resolute one.

With a sway like one she’d seen her mum use a thousand and a half times, Neely made her way to the couch and made a scene of sinking down beside Julian (even if his eyes were closed). She dropped the magazines with a loud-ish thump and then the box of truffles on top of them. “Do you always smile in your sleep?”

Cashmere mewed from two feet away, darted forward on expensively-groomed paws, and lunged, using the coffee table as a stepping stone between himself and the sofa. On Neely’s free side, the cat took up his post, rubbing his prissy face against her arm and contending for the attention she was giving to Julian. Neely pet him softly, but her eyes stayed on the boy at her side. And then she thought better of it, and looked down at the magazines, thumbing the edges as if they were far more interesting.

They had danced at the Valentine’s party, but that’s what it was for. It had been a fast, trendy song, and Neely had danced with a few other boys, too. She thought she’d played it cool until Gracie’s party (at which point she doubled the cool). There, it had been a little more challenging not to be the first one to blink. But tension with boys in pools was normal, and Neely was pretty sure he had looked. Hard.

He heard the steps and felt movement next to him, but he was so close to nodding off that he didn’t want to open his eyes. It felt like so much work! The thumb startled him however slightly, and his head came up, eyes blinking open as they darted around, finally focusing on Neely’s face.

That was enough to force him to sit up straighter, scooting himself further back into the couch, a hand absentmindedly wiping at his face. Julian hoped to Merlin he hadn’t started drooling. “I don’t know, I’m... always sleeping when I sleep.” Was that a trick question? Had he had too many tastes of all the different liquors that people had stashed? His lips slid into a small smirk, eyebrows drawing together as he finally decided it didn’t matter.

His arm laid over the back of the couch and behind Neely, now, turning his body more in her direction. Eyes moved over her face, admiring her lips and nose and cheeks... They fluttered down to her outfit however briefly before he lifted his hand up, resting the side of his head against his palm. Julian glanced briefly at the cat before dismissing it from his mind, even if Neely gave the feline attention. Why was it that pussy cats wanted pet and rubbed at the worst times?

She still made him feel weak at the knees, even if she was infuriating at the best of times. Scratching the side of his head, he continued to stare, probably longer than was socially acceptable, because he was both tired and tipsy. His mind refused to let go of the image of Neely in a bikini, and he shifted a little to accommodate... her magazines. “What are you reading?” At three in the morning, honestly.

And then he grinned, leaning forward a little before poking her knee lightly. "Neeeeely... What's the matter? Why aren't you sleeping?" Eyebrows wiggled at her before he settled with one cocked.

Neely might have been pretending to look at the magazines— and it was very easy because, duh, March issues were second only to September issues— but her eyes danced up and back down, taking in Julian’s reaction as his eyes opened. The hint of a smirk on her lips became decidedly more gleeful as he wiped his face and sat up. She’d obviously caught him off guard. Ten billion points to Neelydor. Rowena Ravenclaw who?

After a moment, she caught his eye more properly, prodding Cashmere out of her lap and reaching daintily for a truffle. “Maybe you should ask someone to take photos of you while you’re sleeping.” Neely was sure she looked like an angel, but she wouldn’t be asking anyone to snap photos when she couldn’t control her posing. It was called beauty sleep for a reason, though. She grinned and started to raise the chocolate to her lips before pausing, making a decision, and extending her arm toward him several seconds after he had put his own around the back of the couch. She placed the chocolate in his palm. It was a good way to play casual while Julian stared at her. Cashmere mewed again, feeling very obviously left out. He was spoiled, but Neely knew better than to give him chocolate. He seemed to sense this and leaped down to their feet, weaving in and out of her legs— and Julian’s, which were much longer and thus more interesting to play with.

“Runwitch,” she answered, as if it were obvious. She lifted the glossy on top and gave it a little wave. “Why else would I be awake at this Godric-forsaken hour?” Spying on boys wasn’t the right answer. Not out loud. It sounded better in her head, or while conspiring with Jordyn and Bran. She shivered and pulled her knee closer at his poke, smiling brightly. “I can sleep any time I want,” she insisted, trying not to sound too pleased that she was doing anything but sleeping. Watching Julian’s eyebrows and the sweet dimples in his cheeks when he smiled made her heart jump a little. “What about you?" Her brows lifted, demanding. "Swimming obviously doesn’t make you tired.” She reached for another chocolate, leaning closer to him as she did, then pulled back lightly, raising it to her lips and grinning just before she popped it in her mouth. “Or it makes you too tired to go find a real bed,” she said at length, after gingerly chewing and swallowing the chocolate. She only sounded a little critical, tilted her chin a bit.

“Who should I ask? Bran?” Julian scoffed and rolled his eyes, smirking playfully as he leaned into the cushion. Who, in his dorm, could really be talked into that? Then again... Bran probably would, just perhaps for a price...

He did not need photos of him sleeping that bad. Besides, shouldn’t there be some mystery? “If you take some, I’ll take some.” Julian watched her with the truffle, eyes widening slightly as he rocked himself forwards and backwards for half a second. Then she was reaching forward, and he started to open his mouth, only to be handed the truffle. He laughed and accepted it. “Thanks...” It was a quiet pronouncement under his breath before he looked down at it, taking a bite and enjoying the delectable chocolate.

It almost melted in your mouth. His eyes darted to the cat, surprised at its dexterity. Then again, he had gotten in and out of some tight spots over the years. There was something to being tall and thin; nimble was not necessarily a bad thing.

A large shrug escaped him with a curious frown. Were there no other reasons why she would be up? Fingers scratched as his head as his face screwed up. “Maybe... I don’t know.” Another shrug escaped him before he grinned lazily, his head leaning against the palm of his hand once again. His eyes ran over the shape of her face, looking for a little too long at her pouty lips.

“What about you?”

Eyes darted back up to meet hers; an eyebrow rose as he considered he question. Another laugh escaped him, his own cheeks bunching up slightly. “Swimming-” And suddenly she was moving in closer, and he paused as he looked over her face again, leaning forward just a little, blinking as she instead ate her truffle. His head dropped before he popped the rest of his in his mouth, smirking around it as he chewed with his mouth closed.

“Can I share a secret?” Julian glanced around (as if anyone would be in the common room to eavesdrop, but you never knew how Bran got his information) before leaning forward, cheek brushing against hers. His breath let out softly near her ear. “I don’t know why I’m awake. I think I had a lot on my mind.” And with that, he pulled back, sinking into the cushions a moment as he eyed her. “Where did you get the chocolate?”

Fingers moved out, deftly picking up another random one from the box, popping into his mouth before she could stop him. Julian let his hand rest on the end of his knee, close to her but still far away.

“Why not?” Neely challenged. “I’m sure he would do it if you asked.” Bran was accommodating like that. Surely he could understand Neely’s curiosity. Then again, the girls had the advantage of being able to get up the boys’ staircase without much trouble. Neely could always do it herself, armed with her wand and a pink camera that produced near-instant magical photos. They just needed a little shake.

Neely’s lips parted, a sweet o, looking both surprised and amused, but her brows soon knitted together accusatorially. “Witches need beauty sleep. It’s a camera free zone.” Boys were different. Julian, for example, obviously didn’t mind who found him sleeping on the couch in the common room. (Albeit, quite well-dressed and smiling.)

Truffles were easy enough to share when Daddy sent so many owls. But not everyone was allowed to share Neely’s truffles. She pleased at his laugh, and if he had expected something else, she pretended not to notice. She was smooth like that. Inside, however, she was a bit giddy, and wondering why they had broken up ages ago. (She remembered, and blamed him, but it didn’t matter now.)

She could see that she had confused, but if Julian didn’t understand girl code, that was Neely’s fault. She wasn’t going to blab all of her secret motives. That was so Hufflepuff. And the way he was staring at her made her pleased she was playing coy. She stared back, enjoying the sleepy smile.

Words were cut off by chocolate, and Neely thought back to the pool a few hours ago. It was somehow easier to find excuses to brush an arm or grab a shoulder when you were wet and in a cute two-piece surrounded by tons of other half-naked people, protected conveniently by the water. She suppressed a (happy) shudder as he leaned closer— now dry and perfectly clothed— and whispered one of Neely’s favorite things: a secret. She bit her lip, smiling half-flirty, half conspiratorially, palm closing around the chocolate in her hand as Julian’s breath tickled her cheek and ear. When he pulled back, she stared almost languidly, eyelashes heavy with pleasant thoughts. Her bottom lip was freed of her teeth, reddened by the hold they’d had. She seemed on the verge of saying something and thought better, her open mouth reshaping into a smile. “There were a lot of pretty girls in little bathing suit,” she said, at last, sounding only a little jealous of the other ones. She was pretty sure he’d been thinking of her. But now she was testing him.

For a moment, she wished the chocolate had come from some admirer, someone she could dangle in front of him to drive him a bit mad. But then she thought they were having a very nice conversation, and if Julian knew the truth, he might be more inclined to keep smiling like that. It was all conjecture, but Neely thought he must have noticed how good she looked at both parties. Bran was an effing genius with hair charms. “My dad sent it to me. It’s from Rome.”

She shot him a look as he helped himself to more chocolate, but then lifted her head, looking holier-than-thou. Her knee shifted a bit closer to his. “I guess you can share—“ Or keeping sharing, since she’d already given him one. “Because it’s Valentine’s Day and I’m generous.” It was officially Valentine’s Day now.

It wasn’t that Julian worried Bran wouldn’t do it. It was that... he didn’t know what all would be part of the cost. Plus, he’d be asleep. Or that was what he should be, taking sleeping photos. “I don’t think you need much beauty sleep, Neely.” And that was thanks to both the late hour and the small amount of contraband alcohol in his system. He merely grinned, however, shrugging a little.

If she didn’t want to rise to the challenge, then he wasn’t going to keep pushing it. Girls were weird about the whole sleeping thing. Even if she looked ready for bed herself. It was easy to forget that girls did not go to bed and wake up looking perfect, either. Not that Julian could imagine Neely with her hair messed up or make-up not on perfectly.

And if he was perfectly honest... he loved when she bit her lower lip. He almost swooped in for a light kiss before reminding himself where they were, and that he was not in his bed imagining things. Eyes looked up from her lips to her eyes. Her statement screamed trap all over it, and Julian had enough common sense to notice it. “There were... but none looked as stunning in theirs as you did.”

Julian licked his lips briefly. Her dad... how wonderful.

She reminded him of the special day that it was. After swallowing the chocolate, he cocked an eyebrow. “That’s very kind of you.” His arm that hung over the back of the couch moved over, closer, gently nudging her shoulder. “Who is your Valentine this year?” Julian tried to think of a suitable answer if she had one already, someone who he could say was his.

Neely’s smile became large and glittery. She was more than thrilled to be paid such a compliment, and keeping up a cool facade was hard work. Hufflepuff should give her an award. Not only was she a queen of beauty sleep, but she could also out-work the badgers in every category. There were sacrifices that came with being so talented, but someone had to fill the role. “It’s still a camera free zone.” Where boys weren’t allowed by way of ancient magic. Girls, however, could get into the boys’ dorms very easily. Neely loved the double standard.

His smile was adorable, and exactly one of the things that had hooked her the first time. If there was a bit of tipsiness to it, it only made Julian more cute, certainly more appealing. Who didn’t love a rebel? (Even if a good chunk of the sixth years had gone to bed tipsy, and even Neely had had a few sips). “I guess I’ll just have to wait until you fall asleep again and find out.”

As they watched each other’s mouths and found reasons and ways to nudge closer, the magazines and even Cashmere became less important. Neely was still trying to calm the excited chill on her spine at Julian whisper, and to balance her jealousy with flirty nonchalance. The next compliment was somehow more intense. She’d known she’d looked good in her bathing suit, but hearing that she looked better than everyone else was icing on top of a very large cake. It was the best compliment a boy could pay her. Thrilled, and screaming on the inside like she might at a concert, she pressed a shoulder into the couch, her smile widening as she looked down and back up again. “I picked it at the last minute.” She’d been planning it for weeks.

Julian had looked good in his bathing suit, too, displaying a tall and trim figure that drove teenage girls like Neely crazy. Her eyes seemed to say so. Despite their cat and mouse game, and a couple of previous breakups under their belts, she couldn’t think of anyone she would rather share her Valentine's chocolate with. She had confessed as much to Bran and Jordyn. (And even if she hadn’t, they had to know.)

He nudged her shoulder, and she nudged his hand back, a little less gently, more cheekily, raising her brows in a kind of shrug of wouldn’t you like to know? And then, after a moment, she laughed a little and confessed. “Cashmere.” At his name, the cat himself mewed, weaving back toward his mistress with intent. Chocolates weren’t the only treats Neely usually had on hand, but now she had nothing for him. He sensed it quickly enough and mewed again in pathetic protest, trotting off toward the fireplace to bother a slumbering portrait. “Who’s yours?” She asked, sitting up a little, but leaning a bit closer in the process, and trying not to sound too curious (but she was). To mask any potential disappoint at the answer, she attempted to occupy her hand with another chocolate, fingers roaming blindly as she looked at Julian rather intently. But she was invested in hearing his answer by now (or had been wondering all night), and her hand roamed right past the box, accidentally brushing over his.

Julian couldn’t help but laugh at her insistence, regardless of her satisfied grin. Camera free zone or not, he was sure with enough galleons, one of the sixth year girls could be persuaded to snap a few photos. Not that he was going to start hitting them up, one by one, until he found someone.

“But I wouldn’t fall asleep with you here.” He grinned wider while looking over her face. Julian hoped he wouldn’t, anyway. She could be such a pain in the arse sometimes, but... at the same time, she was perfect and bubbly and a lot of fun. Maybe if he fell asleep in her lap... If his eyes happened to glance there, it was just because he was assessing the pillow features versus the couch cushion.

A light laugh escaped him; last minute picks for the girl who had everything just so. He would bite. “It was a perfect pick, then.” Which was true, whether she’d had it in her wardrobe for a while or had just decided on it that night. If one thing was apparent about Neely, it was that appearances and fashion were important. Magazine as case point number one for the evening. Or whatever number, since he supposed it was... late, even if it was early.

The way she flirted, it was hard to get a solid read on her. Julian felt his chest tighten at the nonverbal cues. So she had someone? Of course she had one. This was Neely, she could get a professor if she wanted.

“Cashmere.”

It took a brief moment for it to click, and suddenly his eyes widened and eyebrows shot up. “Oh! Oh? Lucky cat.” As if on cue, the feline came into their conversation, only to leave it quickly enough when nothing was offered it. Julian puffed his chest out a bit as he grinned, settling into the cushion a little easier. Eyes moved back to her face at her question, catching him off guard.

It shouldn’t have; it was obvious she would come back and ask him the same thing. Julian swallowed as he considered, unable to come up with a proper girl who... but why would he lie? Hadn’t he learned this lesson before? “Oh, I’m just-” And then her fingers touched his hand and it made him jump a little. Glancing down, he smiled and relaxed. “There was this one girl I was thinking of asking. Right now, though, I don’t have one.” Eyes looked up at her face as he leaned in a little more, just slightly, thumb lifting up and over her hand to hold it.

Tiredness was officially at the back of Neely’s mind now. She couldn’t remember being tired only handful of minutes ago. Julian was delivering on the charm as expertly as a fashion editor might layer pieces for the autumn. Between his face, their murky flirting, the chocolates— Neely knew they were an aphrodisiac, especially the expensive ones like these, thank you— she could not imagine herself going to bed anytime soon. Compliments were among the many things that registered as a witch’s best friend.

She was a thousand precent positive she had caught him guard with her answer, and was pleased with the results. She felt like she could write the guide to scoring a Valentine’s date even if she spent a ridiculous amount of time reading such guides in teen magazines.

Lucky cat was an understatement. Cashmere was spoiled, had an allowance that was probably higher than most of Neely’s schoolmates’. And while most cats had nine lives, the fuzzy, four-legged royal had at least thirteen, Neely thought. “Yeah, our plan is to sleep in and then spend all day doing nothing,” she said, luxuriously, but also as a clue that her calendar was a bit free. By choice, duh. Tea in bed with more heart-shaped boxes of chocolates from Daddy Woolfolk and sweet pink catip filled toys for her ‘date’ was hardly desperate. Admitting to doing nothing seemed safe now that Julian seemed sufficiently interested.

His answer was a look Woodcroft festival ride. Neely’s spirits were lifted by the first bit, assuming he was entirely single (and her gossip-prone ears might have assumed as much, already), then came swooping down at the mention of a girl, any girl, and soared up again at the confirmation that he hadn’t a date. If it had been obvious he was single— given that he hadn’t showed up with a date to any of the parties— hearing it from a primary source was heart-quickening in a good way. One needed confirmation for Valentine’s Day. Neely’s smile widened again, and she didn’t move her hand. Oops.

But she wasn’t sorry. Dainty fingers hooked into Julian’s, and Neely closed her mouth, smiling in a subtler way. Subtle for Neely Woolfolk, anyway. She had no trouble being sly, she was simply a dramatic person by nature. Which meant she wasn’t boring, unlike so many of the helpless creatures in Ravenclaw Tower. “You shouldn’t ask her,” Neely insisted. “Your plans might change. You might be busy.” It was said bossily enough, but in a humorous, suggestive way, followed by raised eyebrows that said Unless… Unless Neely was the girl. Her hand tightened a bit, further tangling with his. “You might end up at the teashop, leaving poor Cashmere dateless.” And a million other girls— and cats— jealous.

This game of ring-around-the-rosie was easy to play but tiring after a time. Especially at whatever time it was in the morning. The alcohol dulled any irritation that Julian might have started to feel; he was a happy-go-lucky bloke right then. An eyebrow rose at her ‘plans,’ smirking a little. “Cashmere isn’t even going to take you to Puddifoot’s? I think you deserve better, Neely.”

When her smile got bigger, he couldn’t help the way his heart thudded against his chest. He responded with an equally as friendly smile, spreading his fingers to accept hers, holding it lightly while eyes roamed over her face.

“You shouldn’t ask her-”

Shock slipped over his face easier than it would have had he been completely sober. Usually Julian tried to be very hard to read. His defenses were down, though, and he stumbled around in his head for the right words. Then his eyebrows settled and his curious and screwed up face fell into a small smirk. “Might be busy, hm...” His tongue ran over his lips before slipping back into his mouth, shifting his body; if he happened to get a little closer, then... that was kind of the intent.

His heart was threatening to beat right out of his chest and into the area between them. She had read too easily between his words. Julian ran his thumb lightly across the back of her hand, chuckling. He leaned his head in closer, his lips mere centimeters from hers. Eyes flickered from hers to her lips and back again.

Julian had planned to drag it out, dangle it in front of her in case she wasn’t interested. Then he could slink back to his corner of the couch and they could talk about something less interesting. Like school work or the latest gossip circulating around Hogwarts. It wouldn’t have been too hard to find something else to talk about, if she hadn’t seemed interested in taking whatever bait he would’ve come up with.

Alcohol, however, cut right to the chase. “Do you want-" No, that wasn't how he wanted to word it. "Will you be my valentine?”

 “Cashmere isn’t even going to take you to Puddifoot’s? I think you deserve better, Neely.”

Neely’s smile became scrunched with laughter. It wasn’t the most demure of smiles, but she couldn’t help it. She’d let her guard down a bit now, and she wasn’t particularly regretting it. “Like someone who can actually hold a conversation.” Cashmere, of course, was a great listener. But only for Neely. (She wouldn’t want it any other way!) Her face calmed, became a bit guileful. But underneath the covertness, the question was plain enough to see. Would Julian hold a good Valentine’s conversation? They had, after all, spent last Valentine’s together, and were much older now. That had been ages ago.

Neely enjoyed the feel of his fingers, the look on his face. She’d caught him by surprise, which was one of her favorite things to do. By now, she was pretty sure the girl he’d meant was her. Duh. She’d had to play coy before. Obviously she’d known all along…

“I guess it depends on her priorities.” Or who the girl was. But Neely was changing her course now, making assumptions that she approved of his would-be date and was not competing with her. “Maybe your plans go together like asymmetrical blazers and faux fur circle scarves.” Which would be perfect for Neely.

She watched his face, looking for clues and moments of cuteness she could solve or commit to memory— to be bragged about later, obviously. Their little game of dodging direct questions and answers came to its peak, and Julian became blunt. In a good way. If he stumbled a little, it was endearing, and he got there eventually. Which was more than Neely could say about 95% of the school.

She tugged him by his hand, pulling him closer still, biting her lip again, obvious jubilation in the smile that spread beneath her teeth. It was a yes before she actually said the word. But then: “I don’t know, are you going to get any beauty sleep at all?” Her eyebrows quirked up and she let go of his hand, slipping hers loosely onto his shoulder. Their faces were inches apart now, and the box of chocolates could have been a gross essay on flobberworms for all Neely cared. Her free hand, the one closer to the couch and the arm he’d laced over it, joined the other, elbow resting just off his shoulder, arms tangled in the loosest of knots. Hers eyes wandered down over her Valentine’s gift and back up. Neely was thrilled with her prize. She’d missed him, whatever their teenage arguments. “Yes,” she decided aloud, in a favorite conspiratorial whisper. She leaned as if she were going to really go for it, but at the last minute changed course and pecked his cheek, brief and sweet and teasing. A smile lingered against his skin.

“I would only date a girl-woman with the right priorities.” Or right in Julian’s eyes, which wasn’t always... right. His moral compass wasn’t completely off kilter, though, and for the most part he was harmless. Sarcastic and dry humored at times, but for friends, he was genuinely friendly and concerned. And for Neely... “It’s a good thing my plans aren’t set in stone.” He smirked at the idea of asymmetrical blazers. Fashion don’ts changed with the seasons; what was considered inappropriate or uncool one year was totally in the next.

Luckily, looking dapper seemed to be in style most of the time.

Julian had obviously grown up - matured - since last year. He didn’t have to write a note and pass it to her asking for her to be his valentine. It was so simple, letting it slip out, that once it was out, it was hard to believe he had ever been worried at all. Liquid courage could be the answer to any awkward situation... perhaps further studies were necessary.

She didn’t know? Julian swallowed and looked over her face, rolling his eyes at her question. As if he needed much beauty sleep. A bit of coffee in the morning would help him get right to whatever he decided to do. His newly freed hand moved to her knee, gently resting on her thigh above it. When her arms loosely wrapped around his shoulders, his chest tightened almost painfully. She made him feel weak at the knees, and he was still sitting!

“Yes”

The grin that spread across his lips was too hard to resist. When she leaned in, Julian might have started to pucker up, only to be disappointed with the tease of a peck. Chuckling, he kissed her cheek. His hand moved from her thigh to the side of her arm, moving up until he cupped the side of her head. His thumb gently caressed her cheek as he pulled back, looking over her face. Julian leaned in as if to kiss her lips. At the last moment, he leaned up and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Where are you going to take me?” Grinning, he moved his lips to her other cheek, gently kissing it before pulling back, hand moving back down to her thigh. His knee pumped hers, resting leg against leg as they teased and pushed one another.

If there was one thing Neely loved more than being showered with attention by adults who found her adorable and innocent, it was being treated like an adult. Her maturity had grown exponentially in the last school year (even if she had always been more mature than half the plebes in her classes), and the covetous word, woman, which Neely associated with freedom, apparating, and adult drinks, only made her smile bigger.

She thus forgave him his eye roll. It was actually kind of ridiculously attractive. The stakes of their game seemed to heighten every time they got back into each other’s clutches. If the breaking up and making up was overly dramatic for bystanders, it was certainly not boring.

She tilted her cheek into his palm, staring her best witchy come-hither stare. Teenage romance novels had nothing on Neely. She had been proud of the coy kiss. (If she couldn’t wait to tell her friends, she was nevertheless glad to be the only person in the room with Julian.) She was also glad she had picked her cutest pajamas, but none of her pajamas were uncute. She felt a shiver of triumph at his hands. Tomorrow (or later today), she would be on Julian’s arm in Hogsmeade; for now she was content to trap him in hers.

She was only half scandalized when he got her back on the nose. Her mouth opened, half-surprised, half-pouty. She wanted to frown, but  it was hard not to smile, too. His laugh was contagious in the annoying way that laughs were, and Neely found herself struggling to maintain grumpiness at his revenge. “We should window shop first, and then get tea at Puddifoot’s, and then go to Honeydukes. For dessert.” Or maybe Honeydukes first, so they could have sweets with their tea. She would ask Jordyn’s opinion at annoyingly early hour. She bumped her knee back against his, pulling him even closer, eyes intent on her date. Her date. “But you know, it’s your job to surprise me.” Neely bit her lip again, but let it go quickly, her smile transitioning into a different sort of pout as her flickered down to Julian’s mouth. Their faces were so close she could almost taste him, and she definitely wanted to. “All of the best Valentine’s come with surprises,” she hummed in the infinitesimal space between them, closing her eyes in the way that still let her peek, Then her mouth was on his, her subtly flavored lip balm and the lingering taste of chocolate making the kiss its own sort of dessert. Neely pressed in closer, pulling him down, one of her hands moving to the space between his jaw and ear. She curled her legs beneath her and sat up on her knees, giving herself a lofty advantage.

Julian had learned early on that Neely was fun to tease. Sometimes it was a way of revenge, most times it was playful. She had to be reminded that she was not the only person in a relationship who could surprise and play coy. And even if they were a breath away from each other, with her arms around his neck and his hand in her hair, Julian felt determined to make her come to him. After all the drama... she had to show what she wanted. Even if it was obvious.

The half smirk stayed on his lips; he couldn’t help it. The look on her face after he kissed her nose was exactly what he wanted to see. He half listened as she droned on about their plans. It was a few short hours away; even if neither felt they needed beauty rest, they would need sleep. Otherwise their reunion might be shorter lived than normal. Grumpiness and stubborn attitudes did not tend to blend well together.

Raising an eyebrow, he let out a soft hmm as he considered it. “Is that so? What chapter is that in in your dating handbook?” He grinned as he ran his tongue over his lips, wetting them lightly as his eyes glanced down to hers. “Like having-” He stopped talking when her lips met his, eyes closing as he let the sweet feel of a personal victory wash over him. Julian needed very little encouragement to move closer, hand moving to the back of her head as he steadied himself with his other hand on the back of the couch.

When positions changed, however slightly, and she was above him... he pulled back long enough to fix his own legs. Then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, kissing her chin (oops) and then making it to her lips with a laugh that cut out as he deepened it. His body shifted little bit by little bit until his back was to the couch, pulling Neely along as he did, moving away from her lips long enough to situate her for comfort; his lap was as nice a place as any, since she was using her knees for height.

Julian just grinned up at her as his head rested against the back of the couch. Everything he thought to say sounded stupid. His mouth opened, words paused at his lips, before he finally laughed and pulled her back down to him, pressing his lips to hers. There were upsides to still being a teenager, no matter how much they might want to grow up.