The air was crisp with aged paper. Bindings were coming off of worn hard covered books. Age was doing these books in and yet, that is what made Winona fall in love with the library over and over again. Every time she stepped through the doorway into the library, a certain sense of adoration clutched at her heart. Her steel blue eyes would wander, looking through each of the sections. It was always a struggle to find out what section she wanted to indulge in. Students walked past her, books in the hands, quills behind their ears. Other students were sitting down at tables, quills working hard to get through the homework that was assigned during that week. Winona felt the relief of her homework already being done in advance. That simply left her more time to research and read. Her brown hair was wet, recently washed. The run earlier had her dripping in sweat and it made her uncomfortable. It was as if she could feel the micro germs roaming over her skin. The thought of it made her cringe slightly but she felt better. The wet curls were over her shoulders, her sweater getting damp with the moisture. After her shower, she had simply done a little bit of eyeliner. Winona was never into heavy makeup, nor did she need it. Perhaps it was the Veela in her. Her mother taught her how to do her makeup the proper way... If her mother were here now, she'd be a laughing stock.

Her hands pulled the hem of her navy blue sweater down some. Underneath there was the white shirt that was uniform and the glint of the navy blue and bronze tie, signifying the house of Ravenclaw with pride. Ravenclaw was her home for 6 years and there was nothing more than her loyalty to it. Well, maybe studying, and books. Her skirt was a dark navy blue, sheer golden stripes making it into a blue and golden plaid. Matching blue knee highs and black Mary Jane shoes adorned her legs and feet nicely.

She really wasn't a very tall girl, standing only petite at 5"2. Her plump lips were shiny with lipgloss, although her lip biting would certainly make it wear off quickly.

"Charms it is, today." Winona smirked at herself. It wasn't an odd thing for her to talk to herself, but other people thought it. She adjusted the tan knapsack over her shoulder and walked down the rows of bookshelves and found an edition of a Charms textbook she had been reading not too long ago. Dust had collected quickly on it and a frown crossed her lips. Reaching into her sack, she found some tissue and wiped off the dust. Her OCD kicked in and she spent nearly ten minutes using her tissue to clear the book of the dust mites. Her blue eyes concentrated, making sure that all of it was gone. There was no way she could even think of opening the book if it was guarded by germs...

The day had started off as usual for Elian, wake up before the sun, running, archery practice, breakfast, study, class, study…etc. It was time for a break he decided. He had been trying since his talk with the counselor he’d been trying to make time for him to relax and do things that he wanted to do, though most of that time was spent loitering, thieving, or playing practical jokes (like telling Zel he only hunted blonde kids). He was still trying to find something that struck his interest enough to be a hobby. He’d eventually find something to occupy his time and so here he was in the library trying to see if reading something here would pass this unused time.

Wandering through the shelves he ran his hand over the spines of the books as he read the titles. Coming around the next one he paused at the end. He was glad he had been wearing his dark gray pants, black shoes and his Gryffindor colors today as his normal archery attire would be a bit imposing. He saw a girl that he recognized from his own studying here. She was a definite germ hater. Seeing her dust off the book for a while and never noticing him he couldn’t help but smirk.

Moving quietly over to her so he was just a few feet away he leaned his hip against the lip of the shelf as he pulled down another book and opened it as if he had intended to all along. He made quick work of the smirk and glanced over at her.

“You know, some kid sneezed on that book earlier,” he said as he looked up to catch her reaction.

Winona couldn't remember when she first started feeling this way. There was no significant event in her childhood that made her realize how dirty everything is. Right now, in this very moment, the tissue she was using to dust the cover of the book was only the best she could do. The blue of her eyes held their concentrated look as she got off what seemed to be the last of any trace of dust. Just as she balled the dusty tissue in her hand, she heard footsteps. There was someone in the same bookshelf aisle as her. Perhaps they were only looking for a book. She tucked the tissue away in her pocket and was about to open the book when the person talked to her. Her eyes looked up, noticing it was a boy...  The bright red and golden colors obviously signaled he was a Gryffindor.

Now Winona didn't have anything against any other houses. She was quite the social one if the person would reciprocate the same acts of appropriate kindness. The way he was leaned against the shelf, the way he held the book, Winona took in all of these little details. It said a lot about a person. But, his comment is what made her plump lips part in a silent gasp. Her hands, as if one cue, dropped the book. "Wh-- What?" She asked incredulously. Her hands felt as if they have been dipped in a radioactive batch of harvesting germs, eating away at her skin out of spite. Winona blinked, her teeth catching at her pink lower lip.

"Are you serious?"

The fact she dropped the book on the ground didn't pertain to her right now. The small hands found their way into her knap sack, a small bottle of hand sanitizer handy. With a small squeeze in her hands, they rubbed together vigorously. It helped, the radioactive feeling gone. The book laid still on the ground but Winona gently kicked it away with her foot. Her attention returned to the boy in front of her and her arms crossed over her chest. There was no doubt she had seen him in here before, studying. Her eyes looked at the book he grabbed. It was just an assumption she had that he had grabbed a random book without even noticing.

"Do you even know what book that is? Because you really don't strike me as a herbology kind of guy," she said, a sweet smile crossing over her lips. Her eyes looked back down at the page, and then back up to him. "And you most certainly do not look like a swimmer, so I'm sure gillyweed is not your cup of tea either." It was always interesting to see not book savvy people come in the library, grabbing random books. "You look familiar," she spoke, sliding her sanitizer back into her knapsack.

Elian couldn’t help but laugh as she dropped the book like it was some kind of snake about to bite her or a poisonous plant she was going to die from. Her blue eyes widened at the idea and it made him smile all the more. His laugh wasn’t a condescending laugh so much as a delighted chuckle that his joke had worked so well. She even pulled out hand sanitizer and went to town scrubbing her hands probably taking off a thousand layers of skin with it. Just a harmless prank and it had worked fantastically.

When she mentioned the book he was looking at and the page he shook his head. He’d already learned the uses of gilliweed when he had to for his own classes in herbology. Judging by her comments she thought it was a random choice in books, though she’d be wrong. It was muscle memory. He’d gone to this book for years now, one had to know what would best help when a sibling fell into the lake, or what would cure a cold the fastest. Snapping the book closed with one hand he bent down and picked up her book.

“No I’m a runner, but one of my sisters is in herbology, I use this book when I have to refresh my memory so I can help her study. Not random so much as I’ve memorized where certain books are without looking. I’m in here all the time studying if that’s what you’re asking,” he replied as he reached behind him to grab another herbology book as if to prove his point.

He tucked those under his arm and held out the book she had dropped with a smile.

“It’s not contaminated I promise. No kid sneezed on it. I just couldn’t resist, you wiped it down for ten minutes, I’m sure it’s perfectly clean. Oh I’m Elian Harris, Anna Harris is my little sister.”

Winny could feel an easily humiliated blush heat her cheeks as he laughed at her. She was very well aware that she was got a bit weird when it got to germs and all of that sort of stuff. It wasn't like she wanted to be laughed at... It was very uncomfortable for her. Surely, people in her situation could testify. Her lips formed a somewhat not happy smirk, but her teeth still nibbled at the tender flesh on the inside of her mouth.

“No I’m a runner, but one of my sisters is in herbology, I use this book when I have to refresh my memory so I can help her study. Not random so much as I’ve memorized where certain books are without looking. I’m in here all the time studying if that’s what you’re asking."

Winona rose her eyebrow. So, it's true: he was in here all of the time studying. No wonder his face held such a familiar quality. It was good to see other students taking such a seriousness to their lessons and homework. Nothing really agitated her more than a student who couldn't bother to try on his work.

"That sounds very nice of you," Winona felt the smirk turn into a small smile. "I'm glad you help her with studies. Do you choose to continue with Herbology or no?" It was a simple question. Winona stuck with the gist of what she adored. Charms.. DADA.. Potions.. Her blue eyes watched, widening as he picked the book up. All she could see were the microorganisms crawling over his skin.

“It’s not contaminated I promise. No kid sneezed on it. I just couldn’t resist, you wiped it down for ten minutes, I’m sure it’s perfectly clean. Oh I’m Elian Harris, Anna Harris is my little sister.”

A breath of relief came from her. She hadn't meant to make it so profound, but it's just the way she was.  "You are impossible!" It wasn't an angry remark, but she wasn't happy. A giggle came from her, realizing how dumb she must've looked to another person. "Oh.. Oh jeez. You probably think I am such a weirdo! Ohhhh,"she giggled some, rolling her eyes and tucking a wet curl behind her small ears. "I'm Winona.. But, most of my friends call me Winny... Nice to meet you, Elian. And I believe I know her.. or know of her, I should say. Ravenclaw, am I right?"

Shifting his feet he moved off of the shelf though he kept his position relaxed being a little over a foot taller than her he knew the imposing figure he exuded without meaning to, the scars didn’t help either but she didn’t seem to notice them which was good for him. Setting the books down on the lip of the shelf he ran a hand through his hair. She wanted to know if he wanted to go on with Herbology. His bow hand fidgeted in nervousness. Not now…he was doing so well being able to talk to a girl that wasn’t already his friend. He couldn’t let his nerves get the best of him now.

“I do. It would be useful for the job I want when I get out of here,” he said with a small shrug.

His nervousness doubled as he looked down at his feet a moment before looking back up at her. Merlin’s beard she was giggling at his prank. She was tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. It was cute. Not nervous. Calm, she’s just another person, like he was told. Just another person. Releasing his tension he chuckled along with her.

“Yes she’s a Ravelclaw. Only one of us six kids to be. She’s a brilliant girl.”

Sticking his hands in his pockets he looked at her again with a smile. A small quirk of his lips as he kept repeating his mantra inside his head. Just another person. Studying…there that he could talk about. He could distract himself with talking about school.

“So, Winona, what are you looking for?” He asked as he peeked at the book he’d just handed back to her.

“I do. It would be useful for the job I want when I get out of here."

That peaked Winona's inquisitive nature. It really was more a flaw to her than anything because that curiosity lead her into trouble she could never talk her way out of. But, thinking about it: she never really tried to talk herself out of anything. The situations she had gotten herself into in the past were her own actions and she did take full responsibility of them. It was just how she was raised. But still, no one ever likes punishment. This curiosity here and now wouldn't be too bad.

"Oh?" She asked, her eyebrow raised somewhat. Her eyes took in the boy's appearance. In her eyes, he seemed somewhat athletic and something about him made her feel like he had really, really good precision. It was just a feeling though. "What line of work are you interested in? I, myself, would love to one day become an Auror. But, everyone has dreams." She shrugged some. Becoming an Auror meant extensive magical training... But, deep down, Winny knew she could prove herself. Dreams. That was as if she landed a movie role...

“Yes she’s a Ravelclaw. Only one of us six kids to be. She’s a brilliant girl.”

"Six? You've got that many brothers and sisters?" Winona's surprise questions suddenly triggered that she may have sounded rude to him. "I'm sorry.. That was.. oddly rude of me. But, six siblings? I'm the only child," she grumbled. Memories of wanting a sibling came to her memory, but she easily shoved those in the back of her mind. His smile was adorable, she noted. There was plenty of attractive guys here at Hogwarts, but for Winny... well, the dating market wasn't exactly her cup of tea. The smile he gave her immediately stirred something in her stomach and her cheeks grew bright red. Idiot. It was only a smile, and yet, here she was: as red as a tomato.

"Well-- Um.. I-- uh," she stammered some, tucking another lock of hair behind her other ear. The smile had taken her off topic of conversation. Damn..."Studying.. I practice Charms and Defense spells a lot. I guess you could say it's a bit of my fancy, yea?" That was the Birmingham in her, and she felt even more stupid. The temperature of her cheeks rose and they got redder. "Look, I really should go. I feel like such an idiot. I'm probably in your way and I probably sound insane to you. The girl who cleaned a textbook with a tissue for ten minutes."

She was ambitious, it wasn't a bad thing either, Elian decided. Plenty of wizards wanted to be Aurors. Some were cut out for it some weren't. He didn't know about her just yet but then again they'd only just met. Judging by the fact that he saw her in here a lot meant that she had potential. He shook his head a bit, he was doing it again. He had been training himself to read his targets in order to make himself a more desirable choice.

"I uh...I want to be a hit wizard. I know that sounds weird but I do. I guess it's the same as wanting to be an Auror," he said rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, there's the triplets and then the twins so that's six of us all together. They were a handful to raise."

He said with another smile. But he had to fidget again as she blushed. Something about it set off the stomach flips he wasn't sure about. She was cute, he couldn't deny that and the more she rambled the more it appealed to him for some reason. Maybe it was just nervousness, that's surely all it was. Then again he'd never dated anyone for very long. He didn't do well in relationships feeling so awkward.

"Oh you are insane," he said as he looked down at her. "But that's okay, because I'm insane too. Would you have dinner with me? On Saturday? In Hogsmeade?"

He stared at her a moment and blinked several times. Had he really just asked her out? He just asked a girl out? How in the world was he going to talk himself out of this one...?

"Yeah, there's the triplets and then the twins so that's six of us all together. They were a handful to raise."

Winona giggled some, her hands pulling down her sweater sleeves. It was just a nervous habit she had. Most girls she saw did it a lot and it sort of rubbed on her. Her hand went to her face, brushing some loose brunette strands out of the way of her lips. They were still curved in a smile. It wasn't everyday people talked to you and you learned more about them. This was like hitting the lottery for Winona and she loved when this happened.

"Oh, I am sure they're a handful. Babies are tough to raise and when they get old enough to talk back, that's when you're really tested.. You must be a great older brother," she said softly. The compliment was nice enough to warm anyone's heart and she knew it must be tough in a house with that many siblings. Her eyes noticed a slight fidget, but she thought nothing of it. Some people can't stand up for long and so they fidget. It was simply normal in her eyes.

"Oh you are insane.."

Winona looked up at him and suddenly realized the height difference. She felt imposed upon, but oddly- not in a bad way. Her eyes stayed looking up, hoping he'd say he was joking or something, her teeth beginning to bite at her lip. Her fist thoughtfully covered her mouth with the sweater sleeve over her hand. It was a slightly over large sweater, but Winny didn't mind. Now, it can in handy.

"But that's okay, because I'm insane too. Would you have dinner with me? On Saturday? In Hogsmeade?"

Oh thank God. Once Winny heard he thought it was okay, and he admitted he was insane too, her smile widened, lighting up her face. But, it sank in what he had asked and her blush returned. The smile stayed in place though, a genuine one. It has been awhile since a beau had tried to ask her out, but she had been so busy with O.W.L.'s. He possible couldn't be thinking about a date though.

"W-why?" The question wasn't rude... it was a true question. "If it's to do with Herbology, it's not one of my strong suits but we can work it out together. I wouldn't mind giving you some help in it..." Winona felt her stomach unclench and the butterflies dissipate. Surely, all he wanted was some tutoring..

Blinking several times to her answer Elian couldn't form words until she mentioned it being a tutoring night. How had they gone from date to tutoring so fast? Did he miss something? No he couldn't have, she had just misunderstood what he meant, or maybe was trying to avoid it. Either way the distraction from the thought of a date was a relief but not so much that the butterflies stopped dancing in his stomach.

He couldn't help but notice the way she bit her lip, the way she brushed her hair aside, all the little movement adding up making him even more nervous. Maybe making it a tutoring night wouldn't be so bad after all. They could talk and get to know each other, be friends. Yes. That was a good idea. No dating.

"Sure...talking about classes sounds great...so I'll meet you outside the gates at 6pm then?" He replied swallowing.

He silently hoped that the heat he felt rising up his neck and ears wasn't a visible blush. That would be mortifying. But Merlin's beard her smile was infectious. He couldn't help but smile right back at her. He had met girls he liked before and even had the same reaction a few times, though he had mostly run away by this point. He was forcing himself to stay and work past it all, but his green eyes were glittering as he couldn't bite back the turn of his lips.

There was silence between them after what Winona had said. Oh no.. Had-- had she said the wrong thing? Maybe he did mean a date and she completely took it out of context. Just as her brain was beginning to worry itself, he spoke.

"Sure...talking about classes sounds great...so I'll meet you outside the gates at 6pm then?"

Whew. Winona let her body relax. It was beginning to tense with the worry that maybe she had done something that she thought was right, but ended up being way off. But she wasn't, it was a tutoring session. The pauses sort of picked at her mind though. A date... He was a handsome boy. Winona had taken in his features over the duration of their conversation and she noticed how he looked. He was a tall boy, and something about that attribute in guys makes Winny all flustered. She didn't understand it, but then again, she didn't understand most things like that. He had really beautiful green eyes and his smile was making her smile even wider.

Her hand dropped from her mouth and she gently folded her arms under her chest and leaned against a bookshelf.

"That sounds great, actually. And since it'll be the weekend, I won't have to worry about this uniform." The uniform was nicely put together and it made Winona look great, but something about the starched iron straight white shirts made them very uncomfortable. Winona sensed something. Taking a deeper look at details, the fidgeting and the slightly red ears.. He was nervous. Seeing him nervous suddenly made her feel better. She wasn't the only nervous on in the conversation.

Her hand reached out and gently touched his cheek. It was warm against her skin, most likely from the reaction he was having. She hoped it was just a simple social complex and nothing she had done. "You don't have to be nervous, Elian... I was nervous, but seeing you nervous just told me that we aren't that different," she said softly before dropping her arm to her side. She smiled at him and gave him a wink.

She could see it. Merlin's Beard he was blushing like a child. He had seen she was nervous and then watching her observe him as he got more flustered and blushed made her relax. Was she making fun of him? No, she admitted she was nervous too. Well that was one thing. What were they talking about? Oh right date that wasn't a date that he kinda wanted to be a date but he knew wouldn't be a date, date. Licking his lips in his embarrassment he watched her carefully.

That's when it happened. He saw the hand move before he realized what was going on, she touched him. His heart skipped a few beats as his face turned a bright red. No girl had ever touched him the first time they met unless it was a hand shake. She touched him. She was touching his face. She was touching his scars and not saying a word. She was....

Her hand dropped almost as suddenly as she has put it there. He opened his mouth and closed it a few times trying to find the words to express but he couldn't. Instead he turned on his heel and walked quickly away as he tripped over himself and looked back at her even redder than before with a sheepish smile on his face.

"Sounds great. I'll see you then. I have to go now...." He said visibly flustered and embarrassed.

It wasn't that she had done anything wrong, just that she had done something no one else ever had. It startled him and he wasn't sure how he should react so he did what made him feel comfortable.

Red was taking over his skin more and more. Winona found it weird. There really wasn't many people she knew besides herself who blushed so easily. Her eyes watched as he licked his lips and her eyes took in more and more of his facial features. That's when she saw it though. She saw it as her hand came off of his face. Scars. Now, Winona has only seen a handful of actually healed scars in her lifetime due to the fact that her family was nearly perfect, she hated it. There they were: four scars that seemed to go from his chin up to his hairline.

She watched, a confused look coming over her face as she watched him search for the words to say. Winona didn't mean no harm by it... she wasn't even flirting. All she wanted to do was ease his mind and now he seemed scared... or even more flustered then before. Before she could utter a word, he turned on his heel, walking away. She stacked her books she needed, looking back and seeing him trip some. A small smile crossed her lips. Now, she wasn't that bad... Her small hand waggled her fingers as she waved bye to him. It was a shame he had to go so quickly.

"Hmm... Advanced Charms... hmm.. DADA Advanced... Herbology... Huh?" Winona rose an eyebrow. Herbology wasn't one of the books she had taken out. But.. Elian had. He had left in such a hurry he forgot it. Winona picked up the texts and began to walk after him. "Umm.. Elian! Elian! You.. You forgot the Herbology books you were using.. I thought I'd bring them back.." With a helpful smile, she held out the book. "You need it for Anna."

He was utterly humiliated. He knew that when he had tripped he'd gotten attention and that more eyes than Winona's were on him. The normally cool, collected archer of Hogwarts was fumbling around like an idiot and all because of a girl. What was wrong with him. Maybe it was a mental defect he was born with that made him like this. He tried to make his way quickly out of the library so he could slink into some dark corner and hide while he calmed down.

That however, wasn't going to be the case as he heard the footsteps behind him that were quickly trying to match his long  stride. She was following him. Why was she following him. When he heard her mention the books he forced himself to stop and turn around. He didn't really need the books but he couldn't refuse them now either. Calming himself best he could he turned around and saw her holding them out.

He took them from her and nodded a few times trying not to look at her. He wanted her to understand it wasn't her fault. It was just that she was a girl. Growing up with three sisters one would think he'd have no problems but that wasn't the case.

"Thanks. I'll see you later," he said as he turned back around and quickly strode out of the library.