"Avis,"Winona spoke clearly. With a small move of her wand, three small yellow birds appeared. The look of satisfaction glinted in her eyes. A cocky smile passed over her lips. It was the evening... Everyone would be up at dinner or getting ready for the classes tomorrow... But not her. Hunger didn't really bother her at this time and all of her homework had been finished this morning. The 3rd floor abandoned corridor was perfect for practicing her own spells and teaching herself. Majority of the time, she would prefer to fly solo but she had asked Atticus to meet her up here.. She had takes off her navy blue sweater and stayed in her tie and white shirt, the sleeves rolled some. Her hair was dry after her afternoon shower, and half tied up, the rest down and wavy.

Winona remember bumping into him hard when she left the common room some day back in her 3rd year. He had been nice to her, despite the other kids in other houses who were annoyed with her competitive spirit in classes. Ever since then... they have been good friends. But, she had overheard at lunch today that Atticus had something on the side he never disclosed to her. It's not like she was angry or anything- What Winona wanted was a confirmation that it was true, that's all.

Her eyes concentrated on the birds, her wand leading them around. "Absolutely amazing.." The awe in her voice showed how much she truly enjoyed the art of charms and other spells. With a flick, the birds were gone. Now, there was one spell she had been dying to learn how to perfect. Winona was dying to know her Patronus animal...

Breathing in, she closed her eyes, thinking of a time when she was the happiest. Her birthdays? No. Too cliche. When she got accepted into Hogwarts? No... Not good enough. it was frustrating to think of a time when anything made her happy. She chose a simple happy time: the first time she did a spell all on her own."Expecto... Patronum!" A small, silvery blue light escaped the end of her wand... and then nothing."Damnit!" Her wand fell from her hands and she felt herself getting upset. Breathing in, she held in her breath before releasing it. She bent over to pick up her wand and she decided to come back to the Patronus later on in life."Avis.."Again, the birds appeared and Winona smiled widely, the prideful feeling returning to her chest. Now.. where was Atticus?

Atticus strolled down the third floor abandoned corridor as casually as one could do. He wore a long black trench coat, something he admitted was a little absurd to wear around the castle but he'd been an unconventional individual since birth and it went along with his smuggler lifestyle - there were so many pockets! It also conveniently blended in with the night very well and gave him a mildly menacing silhouette in the right light. Atticus pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his left breast pocket and wordlessly lit one with his wand. Atticus smiled as he inhaled, closing his eyes for a moment before turning to a nearby window and exhaling. The moon was bright that night, it's light reflecting off the lake in a remarkably beautiful fashion. He took the sight in for a minute as he continued to smoke before turning and continuing down the corridor. 

Business had been going as well as it had ever been, with this weeks' profits setting a new record. This was both a milestone and a warning in Atticus' eyes. Getting too big warrants suspicion from the powers that be - something he simply could not afford. A large portion of the student body was aware and even participated in his business in various forms whether as customers or associates, yet he managed to stay under the radar from a mixture of threats, bribes, and deals. Atticus chuckled as he acknowledged to himself the source of his problems was his own success. Such is life. More coin more problems.

Atticus' cigarette was nearing its end when he heard somebody else down the corridor. It sounded like they were casting a patronus spell, though the lack of a glowing blue animal dancing around told him they were unsuccessful. He quickly stamped his cigarette out as he recognized the voice to be his good friend Winny's, who he planned with earlier that day to meet in the abandoned corridor. He too had been practicing his patronus charm, finding moderate success. His experience on concentration whilst casting nonverbal spells lent well to learning to cast his patronus charm, but even then it was difficult magic which was typically only mastered by adults. Nonetheless, Atticus saw it as an opportunity for a fantastic introduction.

"Expecto PATRONUM!"

A small blue fox leaped out of the tip of Atticus' Hawthorne wand, dancing around for a moment before sprinting forward towards Winny, leaping into air the last moment and vanished as quickly as it came. Atticus chuckled as he appeared behind the vanishing patronus with a wide grin on his face.

"Ah, Winny dear. Still practicing that patronus I see?" He mused, winking at her and leaning in for a hug. She was always a beautiful girl - thank the Veela side of the family for that, but she was especially radiant today. Atticus considered it could be the birds that he was just noticing fluttering around the air but noted that he had always been a sucker for smart brunettes.

Winona's attention was on the birds she had pulled out of thin air. Magic was truly something wonderful in her eyes. It seemed like more and more Pureblood families were getting so used to having magic that they took it for granted. Well, Winona surely didn't. She sees it as a privilege, one she doesn't want stripped away from her. The spell had stolen her attention away from her own spell, the birds now flittering around on their own. Winny spun around the see a blue fox, one almost made of smoke run to her, encircling her and then disappearing.

Giggles of amusement and awe left her lips. Patronus spells were gorgeous and Winona desperately ached to know what hers took the form of. Her eyes looked up from the now gone fox to see Atticus in a black trench coat walking towards her. A smile crossed her lips and her white teeth took hold of her plump lower lip. His Patronus spell was nearly flawless compared to her sloppy attempts.

She walked closer to him, meeting him halfway and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "You know it. I still can't get the damn shape of it." Stepping back, she moved her hair over one shoulder and adjusted the ponytail with half her hair up. It wasn't quite the time to disclose that she couldn't really think of anything happy enough to give her Patronus a shape. The birds fluttered around them, twittering their songs of happiness.

"But! You can definitely tell I've gotten this charm down. One of my favvvooorittess," she mused, her blue eyes watching the birds. Winona wasn't quite ready to make them disappear yet, so she let them flutter around. Turning her attention back to Atticus, her hand gently gave him a playful shove. "You're late. And didn't I tell you that smoking those things are baaaaddddd for you? Hm?" A giggle escaped her throat and her hand ruffled his hair. With a wave of her wand, she gently made Atticus smell more decent instead of tobacco. "Much better. Now you don't smell like a factory," she pointed out, a clever smile passing over her lips.

Atticus grinned and gave Winona a gentle pat on the back. "We'll keep practicing, I'm still not very good myself." He assured her, stepping back and stretching whilst stifling a yawn. He hadn't slept for a day and a half due to his business needs, and it was starting to catch up with him. Upon keen obersvation anyone could see the bags forming under his eyes  though it was no surprise given that he oftentimes suffered from insomnia. However unrelated the recent sleepless night is to insomnia, it was a good cover excuse to his professors anyone else he had to answer to. "That being said, I'm sure it's a real challenge to keep up with my success." He added quickly, spinning his wand in his hand before he returned it to his sleeve.

Atticus glanced back at the birds after Winona pointed them out, and smiled. However complicated life can become, simple and elegant things can brighten ones day. It was a philosophy and worldview that Atticus would benefit from immensely and he knew it, but there were downsides to simplicity too. A dull mind is a wasted mind. He quickly brushed off his philosophical notions and snapped back into the conversation. Atticus had been getting back into that habit too often recently and was doing his best not to daydream. Some people found it disrespectful (not that he REALLY cared).

"Absolutely!" He exclaimed as he gave her a playful push, "An absolute expert."

Atticus' grin twisted into a momentary frown as Winona scolded him for being late. He considered for a moment quoting Tolkien on wizards and their timekeeping but decided it would be best if he didn't break out cheesy literary anecdotes. "Everyone needs their vices, eh?" He said sardonically, "and I'm sorry I'm late. You know me, I wander sometimes." Atticus added, matter of factly. In reality it was a poor excuse as his rigerous class, homework, and business schedule always kept him on his toes. He lingered today intentionally to give him a moment to think. Sometimes solitary contemplation is the best way to cleanse the mind. He laughed and stretched his arms as Winona cleansed his scent of smoke and tobacco, and leaned his head over to smell a pleasant combination of black walnut and cinnamon on his clothes.

"Mmm... oh my magic, I smell incredible!" Atticus said, looking up after a second of enjoying his smoke-less scent. He wasn't sure why in this particular case the spell made him smell so good, but he didn't care. He chalked it up as either random chaos, or that his trench coat was indeed magical. That, or Winona had some undiscovered talent and should consider a career in scents! Atticus then leaned in closer so that Winona could smell his neck. After a moment he pulled back and smiled. "Fantastic. Now onto more important things..." Atticus began as he turned and walked over to a window, hopped up on the sill and took a seat. "How has your day been? I never see you. Partially my fault, partially yours. There's a world outside of the library!" He added, turning his head to look back at Winona.

Leave it up to Atticus to brighten up such a dull, abandoned corridor. Winona admired him a lot. In the sense of admiration, he was a very knowledgable Ravenclaw and she found that very.. appealing. It was hard to say anyone was attractive to her because she didn't really know herself. Appealing was a much more suitable word and she'd stick with it. But, what she really loved about Atticus is that, not only does he know a lot of very intricate facts and subjects, he applies them to every day. If it wasn't for their friendship, Winny is sure her view of the world would be very different from what it is now.

"Wander? More like you take your own little detours that last quite awhile," she laughed some and leaned against a pillar. This corridor has been abandoned since whoever knows when, but it made for the perfect meeting spot. The breezes came in perfectly and it was nicely lit with the windows drawing in moon/sunlight. "But, I guess I could find it in my poor little Half Veela heart to forgive you." Winona's teases were always light hearted with good friends. She was loyal to the few friends she had and she wouldn't trade them for anything, especially Know It All Atticus.


She was happy the smell made him happy. Winona couldn't stand when he smoked those around her. It was her preference he smoked them before or after they have hung out. Her mother warned her very harshly about those sticks of death. They were filled with so much poison, it would kill all the evil in the world. Of course, she was a child when her mother told her that, and now she knew better. But, despite her knowledge of knowing better, she still didn't enjoy the smell of it. "I am very glad you enjoy that scent. Enjoy it while you can before you light another one after you leave me for the evening." Winona walked over to the pillar that was closer to Atticus' side of the corridor. Her hip rested against the pillar, and her arms crossed over her chest.

"My day has been alllll sorts of weird. Some guy in the library asked me to a date, but he really just wanted Herbology tutoring... She gave a simple shrug, her long fingers fumbling with the ends of her hair. "Or... at least that's what I assume anyways.. and he was more flustered than I was.. And you know how I was when we first met! I was a hot mess, ooh."

Winona did have a point. It took her awhile to get used to the presence of a male friend. Her mother had tried to teach her to use her Charm, and yet, Winona didn't have the heart to. Being a Veela just wasn't in the cards for her, especially at such a young age. "And to clarify to you, Oh Know It All: I spent most of my morning running. Duh. Then, it was the library, then here." Winona playfully stuck out her pink tongue. "How about you? Word in the Great Hall is that you have a very successful business... that you have failed to tell me about.. Oh Attic, I'm one of your best friends. How come I didn't know?" Winona pouted some, really hurt at the fact he didn't disclose this info to her.

Atticus leaned his head back against the stone and let out a stifled chuckle - a poor, perhaps faux attempt at being serious. "Fortunate me, spared by the little half-Veela. "He mused, turning his head back towards her. "I don't know what I'd do if you didn't tolerate all these bad little things about me..." He added half jokingly, half serious. Atticus was a practiced liar, a journey of deceit and a master of misdirection but he didn't like to use it or even associate it with the few close friends he held. She's a good soul. He thought to himself, thankful for his understanding friends.

Atticus winked and pat the pack of cigarettes in his pocket. "I'll cherish it for the time being. I know your feelings on smoking around you." He said seriously, a rare thing to come out of Atticus when amongst friends. He couldn't fault her for not liking the smell, not to mention the added health aspect. Though Atticus was convinced that should he get any sort of disease from his tobacco smoking, he'd be able to take care of it through some potion. It was definitely a gamble but Atticus was, at this point, quite comfortable with gambles.

He raised an eyebrow when Winona mentioned that somebody had asked her on a date. Not for any artificial reason, the girl was a beauty and had a great personality to match. It just seemed like a strange thing to happen at a libary, though Atticus stipulated that stranger things have happened. "Hot mess, eh?" He mused, arching his eyebrow again. "A bunch of flustered youngsters asking each other on dates - oh spring, oh love is in the air!" Atticus sang, laughing as he did. "Ah, the folly of youth." He added knowingly, more to himself than anyone else. After a few seconds of thought he looked back at Winona and once again arched his eyebrow. "So? What did you say?" He asked, playfully turning his head to the sky as he reached in one of his many pockets and pulled out a flask. Incidently, Atticus was not a drinker. It was on rare occasions did he take swigs from his flask but the times he did he enjoyed immensely. His private stock of twenty-five year scotch was holding up quite nicely. He took a quick swig and set it down at his feet. He tentatively decided not to offer a drink to Winona on the off chance she would get upset as she did with the tobacco. The option was still there, however, right at his feet. Comprimises.

Atticus began to recount his day before abruptly stopping at the mention of his business. He frowned. This was an eventuality, he knew, one that could have some tedious reprecussions with Winona. He didn' t want to strain his friendship with her which is why he had kept her in the dark over his business. "Well..." He started, pausing before taking another large swig of scotch. Liquid courage, without magic. Winona was an intelligent girl, Atticus told himself. She would see through any further attempt to cover up the truth and just investigate on her own should Atticus lie to her about it. So he decided to be as honest and upfront as possible.

"I own and operate a smuggling ring here at Hogwarts. I buy and transport various alcohol and tobacco products into the school, mark them up, and sell them to a huge chunk of the student body." He said plainly, gritting his teeth as he did. How would she react? Some girls liked it, thought it was cool - but those weren't typically the book-worm ravenclaws. Hufflepuffs. Hufflepuffs like to party.

"I'm sorry I lied. I didn't know how you would react." He said sincerely, looking into her eyes. "I've been at it for about two years now. I have some associates I work with to make it happen and spread out the work. We're legal age... Well most of us." He added, holding his gaze for a moment before looking down and closing his eyes.

"I don't know what I'd do if you didn't tolerate all these bad little things about me..."

The smile that was played out on her plump lips spread apart further and she laughed. Her hand covered her mouth as she laughed some, slowing it down into giggles. She knew exactly what he would do if she didn't tolerate any of small things that made Atticus who he was. Her shoulders gave a dainty shrug, and she took out her ponytail, the curls falling over one shoulder. Her long fingers began to mess with her hair ends, another habit she seemed to have, especially when talking to people. She always wondered if people noticed and if they were annoyed by it. She knew they were annoyed by other things...

The wink he had given her, started her stomach to churn on itself. The feelings of butterflies in her stomach was inevitable and she felt some heat rise to her cheeks. Of all her things, Winnie really just wanted to take things like that and not be bothered by it. Her mother had told her all about boys and all of the birds and bees stuff--- but that definitely wasn't her strength. Winona knew perfectly well that it was a friendly tease gesture... but something in her still drove her to blush as if she was a little girl again. "Thank you. I am sure you abide by my wishes as much as your other friends. Am I right?" She sure hoped so. It may have bothered other people and knowing Atticus, he probably respected their opinions..

A bunch of flustered youngsters asking each other on dates - oh spring, oh love is in the air!" His playful jeers made her cheeks get even hotter, the shade of red darkening. She rolled her blue eyes and she gently punched him in the shoulder. "You are unbelievable. I sooooo hope you know that. And, what does it matter what I said," she asked, giving a shrug. Her eyes looked at him. Walking closer, she jumped and sat on the window sill with him, leaning against her side of the sill.

"You know me well enough to know I thought he meant tutoring.. He said he meant tutoring but.. I'm not sure. And I don't want to turn down the opportunity to enlighten someone and share my knowledge," she said, a giggle in her throat.

Tucking some loose bangs behind her ear, her fingers combed through her thick, brunette waves and messed with the ends. Her eyes caught the glint of something in the moonlight. Blinking, she looked harder, seeing Atticus retrieve a flask from one of his many pockets. Her plump lips parted in awe, watching as he took it out. With a raise of her eyebrow, her eyes went from the shiny alcohol-holding flask, to Atticus' eyes. Winona wasn't going to say anything.. She never did. It was a habit of her to simply overlook bad things her friends did... Occasionally, she may indulge in the trouble, but she would never tell on them. As he set it at his feet, she picked it up and opened it, waving it under her nostrils. The smell was strong, about to make her eyes water. Holding it to her lips, she took the tiniest sip she could. Immediately, not even yet swallowing, she felt the burning sensation of alcohol. Swallowing it, she began to cough and she quickly shut it. Covering her mouth, she coughed some more and giggled. "Don't laugh at that," she warned, with a happy smile.


"I own and operate a smuggling ring here at Hogwarts. I buy and transport various alcohol and tobacco products into the school, mark them up, and sell them to a huge chunk of the student body."

Winona looked up, meeting his eyes. "W--what?" The surprise in her voice made it quiver some and she bit her lip, setting the flask down. "Well.. Attic, you should've told me... Trusted me not to react so badly, y'know? You know how I am..." Winona felt somewhat hurt that he wouldn't trust her in knowing.. but, she knew it wasn't a matter of trust.. It was a matter of her reacting. His apology wrapped itself around her heart and squeezed. She was a sucker for apologies.

She watched as he looked down. Her lips turned down some. She reached over and touched his cheek, turning his head toward her.


"Hey, don't sweat it. Just let me know these things.. I'm trustworthy, yea?"She smiled widely to reassure him and she dropped her hand. "I should say though.. you owe me some of your profits for lyyiiiinggggg," she teased gently.

Atticus smiled as Winona’s laugh transitioned to giggles. If he had any sort of weakness to women, it was their laughs. They got him every time. He ran his hand through his hair, doing his best to straighten it after it had been ruffled around. It was a habit, debatably a tell of Atticus' to run his hand through his hair when he got a little flustered. Much to his dismay, his hair became a more disorganized and he gave up. He knew that he would benefit from carrying a comb or brush around with him, but couldn't bear himself to do it lest he become a walking cliché (because a trench coat wasn't enough).

"Of course, m'dear." He stated reassuringly. "If not more so. I have too much respect for you not to." He added, listening as she told him that he was unbelievable, causing him to grin. "Just a natural curiosity you know? I'm surprised you're not taken already." He said, watching her jump up on the window sill with him. To Atticus' surprise, Winona reached for the flask and smelled it. He thought she was so elegant, again the Veela side came out. He always noticed the way she played with her hair when she spoke to someone and thought it was the cutest thing. Seeing the sweet aroma hit her nostrils made Atticus smile. He often found himself smelling the sweet nectar before partaking - it was intoxicating. He grinned wider as she took the tiniest sip, but did not laugh when she coughed. Reaching for the flask to take another swig, he smiled and said "Never m'dear. It's nice to see you loosen up every once and awhile. You're a diligent student but there's always a life balance to maintain."

His heart sank at Winona's disappointment. He should've thought more about telling her in the past, as this was a serious breach of trust. Atticus prided himself in his loyalty to his friends but this was a misstep. He saw that Winona looked a little hurt and frowned. "I really am sorry." He said, looking into her eyes. He smiled a little when she quickly brushed it off, appreciating both her understanding and her acceptance of his apology. He knew without friends like this he'd be in a very different place in life. He looked up as she pulled his head toward her and touched his cheek.

"Thank you." He said quietly with a smile, reaching his hand up and touching her cheek. "Your understanding is not taken for granted." He added, taking his hand away and reaching for the flask. "To friendship." He said, taking another swig before offering the flask to Winona. He laughed loudly for the first time since meeting up with her, the weight of his lies having been lifted after two years. "Why of course m'dear. I think we should start with a day on me in Hogsmeade." He suggested, arching his eyebrow. to see what she would say. He wasn't asking her on a date, per se, but the dynamic for the proposed afternoon was certainly different than the usual between Winona and Atticus. That and he'd been meaning to treat her for quite some time. Atticus enjoyed playing the role of chivalrous gentlemen from time to time, if the mood fit.

There still remained the issue of the business. She forgave him for lying to her but she never explicitly said it was okay that he did it. Atticus typically did whatever he wanted but he still valued his friends opinions and wanted them to respect him in the same way he respected them. Atticus believed people should be able to do whatever they want, at least on this level and in this context. He saw no moral quandary or ethical dilemma. All this clients and associates freely chose to purchase or help traffic illicit goods. Nobody had a wand pointed to their face. Atticus once again found himself daydreaming, his gaze having wandered to the moon which reflected brightly over the lake.

His emerald eyes shone bright in the dim moonlight. He chewed his lip for a moment before snapping out of it and looking back at Winona. "This night is peaceful. Quiet mellow sessions with you always help me decompress." He said, leaning his body closer to Winona's across him.

"If not more so. I have too much respect for you not to."

Something about that line made her smile widely, a blush spreading across her cheeks. The flapping of butterfly wings in her stomach made her stomach cringe in a good way. Atticus was one of her good friends, why would he flirt? Winona highly doubted that he was. Flirting, romance... none of that was her forte and unlike every other girl, she can't spot it even if it was on the tip of her nose. A soft giggle came from her as she looked at his messed up hair. "You were never good at that," she commented sweetly.

"Never m'dear. It's nice to see you loosen up every once and awhile. You're a diligent student but there's always a life balance to maintain."

She felt her plump lips go off in a smirk. The bright blues rolled at his sentence. But, he did have a good point. When Winnie wasn't with her nose in a book or trying to finish essays and homework, she did enjoy herself in little spurts. "You seem to like me better when I take leaps of faith like that," she said, reaching for the flask, taking another tiny, itsy sip. Setting it down, she listened to him apology again. Her heart did ache somewhat from the secret he had hidden from her. "Oh Attic, don't sweat," she whispered, her eyes on his. "And there is definitely no need to thank me. You know how I am. Turning a blind eye to all of your trouble making actions," she said, giggling.  That was more definitely true. Winona wasn't all a stick in the mud, but she wasn't a trouble maker (most of the time).

"To friendship!"

Winona giggled and took the offered flask. "To us," she said and took another sip. The burning was getting better and she was getting used to it. A soft dizzy feeling came over her, but she was still levelheaded. "Why of course m'dear. I think we should start with a day on me in Hogsmeade."  Winona rose an eyebrow. Was that a date he was suggesting? No-- of course not. They were good friends!  Still, the butterflies in her stomach flapped harder and harder and her cheeks grew red. "Oh? Hehe. Well, in that case- I'm not doing anything Sunday.. Saturday, I have that Herbology thing with that guy." Winona shrugged as if it were no big deal and she looked at him just as he laid against her.

"This night is peaceful. Quiet mellow sessions with you always help me decompress."

That brought a soft smile to her lips. Her tongue licked them, the taste of the alcohol on them. Her eyes looked at him and she ruffled his hair some. "And why is that?" She asked. Winona really did want to know. What was it about her that made him feel that way? "I'm just Winnie," she cooed, leaning her head against the marble arch of the window, eyes on him.

"And there is definitely no need to thank me. You know how I am. Turning a blind eye to all of your trouble making actions,"

Atticus laughed quietly. He felt as though Winona turned a blind eye more often than not, which was likely a good thing in the grand sense of their friendship but also a bad thing in terms of what it meant about his honesty with her. It was a situation Atticus desperately wanted to fix but that would require him telling her a lot more than she would ever want to hear. Atticus was not a bad person, or at least he didn't think he was - but there were occasionally extreme circumstances which required extreme measures. 'There is no difference between what is right and what is necessary' he thought to himself, considering for a moment that it could be a poor justification for unethical action before dismissing that notion. Everything is a means to an end. As a muggleborn in a still largely prejudiced wizarding society, he had to secure everything for himself on his own. There was a sense of pride Atticus has about his accomplishments, despite the step that had to be taken to get there.

 'Memories for another day' He added internally, before looking back up at Winona. Atticus smiled as he saw Winona take another sip of the whiskey. It was nice to share a drink with a friend as there were few Atticus would count close enough to want to. Although his business operated on the basis that people like to party, he didn't. Loud noises and rowdyness was not an appropriete environment to think or to discuss. Atticus saw Winona raise her eyebrow so he playfully matched with his, watching her think. He didn't typically throw new variables into the equation that is friendship but Atticus had been considering it for quite some time and wanted to see where it went. She agreed to go on a 'date' with some Gryffindor earlier today, so an invite from a friend would surely be welcomed. Ironically, Atticus still didn't want to label what he just invited Winny to. He prefered to be mildly ambigious and see where she wanted to take it. Part of him passively enjoyed being in control of a situation like that, the other part of him liking the chase. In terms of actual relationships, Atticus had very little experience. He had always been too consumed with books, business, or something else he filled his day with. As a result, he found that he was rather guarded towards others.

"Oh? Hehe. Well, in that case- I'm not doing anything Sunday.. Saturday, I have that Herbology thing with that guy."

"Sunday, the 25th it is! It's a date." Atticus mused, finding himself quite punny. It was also conviently worded enough to leave whether the occasion was actually a date quite ambiguous. Atticus loved wordplay as much as he loved games.

 "And why is that?" She asked.

Atticus reached for the flask and took another swig and licked the whiskey off his lips. "Mmm..." He mused, closing his eyes and thinking. "Well, you're one of if not the only person at this damned school I can relax around. Truly relax. Your presence is soothing." He said, eyes still closed. After a moment he opened them again, looking right at Winona. "And I don't think it's the Veela either. There's something about you. I can't put my finger on it, though." He added, smiling. He broke eye contact onto to look back at the moon, his emerald eyes wide open as he watched it sit in the night sky. "I like to tell myself I have a natural acuity for recognizing true beauty." He said softly, looking back at Winny.

"Sunday, the 25th it is! It's a date."

Her stomach felt like it was in her throat and she could feel her heart pounding. Deep down, she hoped he didn't hear it or feel in pounding in her chest. The way he mused his words reassured her it wasn't a date, but still-- boys got her flustered because she didn't know what certain cues were like. Her lips curved into a small smile as she shook her head. "You're impossible," she said softly. Her voice had gone down to just above a whisper. "I mean... You like me like a best friend, Attic.." She said, more for her reassurance than anything. "Right..? Of course," she mused.. "I'm just being silly." Winona giggled, a tad nervously at her self. "Sorry for being me.. I talk to myself, you know that."

"And I don't think it's the Veela either. There's something about you. I can't put my finger on it, though." The smile on his lips made her stomach rise higher and higher in her throat. Now that Winona really looked at him, he did have a certain attractive air about him and it was the first time she's noticed it... Oh no, she was staring.. Ripping her eyes away from looking at him, she looked out the window at the lake. "I like to tell myself I have a natural acuity for recognizing true beauty."

Winona took in a sharp breath... Did-- did he really just say that? Winona swallowed and looked at him, blue eyes wide and a wide smile on her lips. This is what girls talked about when they described that overwhelming feeling of having a gorgeous guy compliment you. Her teeth bit on her lower pink lip, smothering the giggles that were so desperate to come out. Her cheeks screamed the color of red and her smile only got bigger.

"Atticus...." She said softly. Then it struck her. She was half Veela-- This couldn't be how he really felt.  Her smile wilted some but not obviously. "It--- It's probably just the-- uh.. the Veela thing..."

"Right..? Of course," she mused.. "I'm just being silly." Winona giggled, a tad nervously at her self. "Sorry for being me.. I talk to myself, you know that."

Atticus put his finger to her lips and quietly said "Sshh... sshh.." with a smile. "Of course we're friends. Close as can be. What's that have to do with a day in Hogsmeade? Or do you have something else on your mind..." He added wryly, amused at her endearing reaction. "I talk to myself too. All the time. Usually internally, but I know what you mean." He said reassuringly, knowing it to be true. "So is that a yes? Or..." He said, pausing dramatically.

Atticus noticed Winona's stare and smiled. She was cute when she acted like this and he couldn't help but blush just a little bit. Atticus Roark wasn't a blusher, no sir, he was a serious man. However in the company of some he relaxed that persona Winona was seeing that right now. Atticus betrasyed himself and showed a little surprise when he heard Winona take in a sharp breath, his smile widening and eyes shining a little brighter. A smile spread across her lips and the scene of the two sitting in the windowsill was nearly picturesque. He chucked quietly as watched her bite her lip in a struggle not to giggle.

"It--- It's probably just the-- uh.. the Veela thing..."

Atticus scoffed playfully, then reached for the flask to take a swig. "Ha. No, no, no fortunately that isn't it. I've read up enough on Veelas since meeting you to know if I was experiencing that. At least to some extent. Not to mention, we've been friends for years, why would the Veela thing just now become a factor?" Atticus explained confidantly and matter-of-factly, running his knuckles across the stone on the window-sill. He paused a moment, put his flask away and stood up. He lowered his hand down to held Winona up, winked and whispered "I know beauty when I see it - and you are beautiful. If you know anything to be true, young Ravenclaw, it must be that."

Atticus wasn't sure what he was saying, remarking to himself that the whiskey might've had a part in his words. He always thought the muggles calling it truth serum had some validity to it. Atticus noted to himself that he must keep his focus on school and business, and not get too tangled in affairs with girls. He'd seen that complicate his associates lives in the past and present and did not want to create a weakness for himself. Though at this point the damage may have already been done. To proceed cautiously would be the safest route, but the cool-headed logician in Atticus was losing the battle.

Winona could remember the day her and Atticus had met. It was like a crystal clear flashback and she loved the memory. She was a tiny 3rd year Ravenclaw, who's arms were stacked higher then she was with books she had rented from the library. Every subject ranged from Charms to COMC and she was on her way out of the common room to return them. Her dainty, little foot had caught a crack in the old marble floor and was sent tumbling into another 3rd year, a boy...

Coming back to reality, she looked at him. My, how they have matured. "Yes, it's a yes! And no, there aren't any hidden intentions," she said, rolling her eyes. That would be a lie if Winona knew what such secret intentions would have in store. But, she doesn't. Oh well.

"Ha. No, no, no fortunately that isn't it. I've read up enough on Veelas since meeting you to know if I was experiencing that. At least to some extent. Not to mention, we've been friends for years, why would the Veela thing just now become a factor?"

He had a point there. Winona gave  a half defeated shrug, accompanied by a smile. "You got me there. But, then again. You always have me stumped. Maybe that's why we are such good friends."

I know beauty when I see it - and you are beautiful. If you know anything to be true, young Ravenclaw, it must be that."

Winona was taking his hand and stepping down, she looked up quickly at his whisper. "Atticus.." She said, barely audible. "I-- uh.. I, don't know," she swallowed. The alcohol rushed to her head once she stepped down and she leaned against him, regaining composure. She stood, stepping back some, brushing her hair back and stretching. "I don't know what to say," she whispered back, leaning her hip against the wall, looking at him.

"Yes, it's a yes! And no, there aren't any hidden intentions,"

"Most excellent. Let's meet in the center of Hogsmeade at noon, sharp." He said, smile spreading on his face as he did. He knew it was going to be an amazing day, one he'd have to plan for to make very exciting. A man with Atticus' connections (which were, in reality, marginable at best) in Hogsmeade and with some extra coin to spare could easily put together a fantastic day. He just needed to figure out how he wanted to approach his potential feelings for Winona, if he did at all. There would be time to contemplate on this matter later in the night, and in the next few days. Atticus wasn't the type to walk into a situation and wing it.

"You got me there. But, then again. You always have me stumped. Maybe that's why we are such good friends."

Atticus laughed, playfully pushing Winny's arm. "Well, I like to think out my arguments. I'm a scientist at heart." He chuckled, adjusting his non-existant spectacles.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered back, leaning her hip against the wall, looking at him.

Atticus smiled silently, looking into her eyes as she leaned against him, and then the wall. He adjusted his trench coat and touched her face. "Then say nothing." He whispered as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. He stepped back, gazing into her eyes for a few more seconds before putting his hands in his turning and walking back the direction he originally came. His stride was quick and business-like, as it always was. When he reached the end of the corridor he turned,  his silhouette barely visible behind the moonlight and lit a cigarette. He took a deep breath in, lighting the area he was in and exhaled after a few seconds. He took one glance back at Winona and winked, knowing she would unlikely be able to see it, then walked out of sight.