9:38 a.m.




Like almost every day she’d been here, the library was a solemn, almost oppressive hush on the ears, checkered by bustle of activity.

As soon as she’d reached the library, Gracie had shrugged off her things and dove into the stacks. A scant minute later, she’d emerged from the back room, carrying no less than three in her arms and the self-steering cart demurely trailing behind her. She was not, it should be noted, a person typically inclined towards menial tasks, nor was she one for oppressive hush typically found in a library—but it was easy to disregard both when one had an intriguing text in hand, and there was something almost childishly satisfying about putting them all away.

After startling one couple (and getting a satisfyingly angry scowl for it), Gracie sauntered away, practically humming with satisfaction as she put the books back—and took her time about it, too. Even now, though they were hardly more than ten minutes in, the hour seemed to be shaping up into a slow one; people were still coming in, but it seemed more for the purpose of studying or doing homework, rather than research. That lessened her workload considerably, for which she was thankful for.

And, unsurprisingly, free to let her mind wander. No one had come up to her within the last five minutes, nor did anyone seem inclined to within the next five. She could take a break in a little bit, she was sure.

Which made it all the more easier to spot him—Lyov.

Despite herself, the Slytherin felt her lips twitch into a smile. One that could maybe, possibly, be construed as fond. After that Sunday (way, waaaay back in April), the two had been seeing each other around… for a given value of ‘seeing’, that is.

“Done with these?” she drawled, nonchalant, as she passed by his chair—in favor of one of the several books scattered across his table, farthest away from him. Lightly resting a hand atop of it, Gracie looked down at him, a small, innocent smirk curving her lips.

Lyov made a noise as if he was getting ready to hawk something out, scaring off a couple of disgusted Beauxbatons girls. He smirked before using the cup on the table for it, spitting it out along with the tobacco he’d had stuffed in his cheek. Now that their seats were empty... His feet propped up in them, across the table, as Lyov turned the page on the book he had been perusing. It was very delicate information, after all, and he needed all his attention on it.

No need to have some snooty French girls clouding his area with perfume and annoying French talk. If he had responded to what little he knew with rude Russian sayings, that had only added to their hurry to leave his area.

Eyes glanced over the words, taking the information in slowly. It was important he understood as many three to five x category beasts and creatures as possible. That wasn’t his area of expertise, after all, so studying it was important. He’d just gotten over Trolls when a familiar voice drew his attention up.

His tongue ran over his lips before he smirked, dropping the book open onto the table. “Those? Are not mine. But you should show me where they go anyway, so I can be helpful.” Eyebrows jumped in innocence before he let his feet drop out of the chair, pushing his own out. Lyov leaned over, eyes one her the entire time as he picked up a book. “Why don’t you show me where this goes.”

If his eyes were less innocent than his words, if they took her in with a hunger that wasn’t appropriate for libraries, then she could do with that as she wanted. He really hoped she knew a good place to put the book. Lyov stood up slowly. Finally he glanced down at what he was holding, a genuinely surprised laugh escaping him. “My unicorn fantasies are bigger than I realized.” He flashed the cover at her before tucking it under his arm.


Silly Beauxbatons girls. Romance novels in the Hogwarts library... what a classy place. “Do you find a lot of interesting reading around the tables?” He stepped closer and looked down at her tie., briefly, before finding his way back up to her face.

Even now, weeks after the first parry of taunts – daring looks – smirks so sharp you could have cut with them – the dark little lick of heat that pooled in her gut, whenever she saw him—it still had yet to burn out. By the time he stood, book tucked beneath an arm and moving towards her, the smirk on her lips had tugged into something wider. Welcoming.

He might have advanced in a manner that was more predatory than it wasn’t, but Gracie met his stare boldly, chin lifted in challenge even as her lips parted slightly in amusement. Short of capturing one and forcing it into proximity, this was probably the closest he’d ever get to a unicorn—and it was a bet she was more than confident to stand by. “Like you wouldn’t believe,” she grinned, plucking the book from his hands. “This?” She held it up to him, waving it slightly. “Is sometimes the best of the lot.”

She paused and lowered the book, flipping it over for perusal. Summer of the Unicorn, it read. Complete with swooning witch, a shirtless wizard, and the inexplicable presence of equine paragons of virtue. “This is pretty bad, though.”

Not that she was dwelling on it too much. Trash novels were, well, trash—and with Lyov so close, with a look in his eyes in a place that strongly discouraged this kind of thing, Gracie was inclined to let them drop into disregard. Risk value? What risk value? They were only talking, after all.

Taking a step closer that put them even more into each other’s space, the Slytherin hooked a finger through a belt hoop and reeled him in. “Help me put them away?” she murmured. Green eyes flicked down to Lyov’s mouth, before meeting his eyes again. “I need to put them in a place where no one will find them for a good, long while…”

It wasn’t often that Lyov could find women who matched him tit for tat. It was a rare commodity that he had to enjoy when he could. Which meant, obviously, that he might hurt others in the process. He didn’t often think about that end of the deal. He lived in the moment way too often, regardless of talks of his future and plans to take over the world.

She was younger than he, but that only added to the mystique. It wasn’t as if she was some second year or something. No, this was much more appropriate, like a younger woman to take under his wing than... whatever... no. She was a sixth year. Nearly ready to start her last year. Almost preparing for her NEWTs. And a very accommodating host.

When she took the book from him, he looked at her, amused. “I’m sure it is.” As she took interest in it, he rolled his eyes and let out a breath, crossing his arms over in front of his chest. “I shouldn’t use it as a guide book to Unicorns, then? Pity...” There went that research topic.

The closeness was inviting; his lips parted just slightly as his normal smirk fell away. He looked from her eyes to her uniform and back. Lyov was not one to offer help with chores and jobs, not without a price. Judging her words and looks and the way she was grabbing, though, he knew there would be payment in some way. “Lead the way.” He uncrossed his arms and rested his hand on her waist, turning with her as he let her take them off down a few twists and turns.

Once they were out of the easiest ear shot of actual studious students, Lyov guided his hand further, spinning her slowly to face the bookcase. He pressed up against her back, leaning his upper body away from her as he stretched. “How is the most interesting Hogwarts student doing?” His English was clipped as he examined her neck, pushing himself forward slightly.