Searching the common room, Gavin looked everywhere for Nicola. Usually they would say goodnight before they headed to their rooms to go to sleep. If Gavin was correct it was past curfew with no sign of Nicola. Where could she be? With his brain frantically going back and forth to different types of scenarios, he couldn't help but go back to one that was probably obvious. She must've gone out to meet someone privately and she didn't want anyone to find out. Would she be cheating on Gavin? He rolled his eyes at this thought. "That would suck..." he mumbled under his breath.

Maybe Nic wasn't the girl he thought she was. Of course he would get over her if she did but he would lose a very close relationship that was already forming so tightly together. It was stupid for him to get so close too fast and part of the reason was because he never done so before. He was new to the whole closeness not including family members. Other than that he didn't give a crap about anyone else besides a few friends.

Resting on the couch, Gavin was exhausted. He didn't get much sleep before since he was studying for the exams coming up. There was also the fact that the whole gang in the dormitory wouldn't shut up. The search for Nicola was unnecessary but it couldn't be helped. He already cared for her, a mistake on his part. Maybe he was a little dramatic but something didn't seem right. When she finally returned back to the common room what would he say? Should he yell at her? Maybe that wasn't the best idea. Gavin was not her father, and if he tried to be like Mr. Hames Gavin wouldn't even be a boyfriend to her let alone a friend. Hopefully she was okay…

"Mr. Gavin... sir." said a little first year that was across the room from him. Studying of course. "I saw Nicola go outside... I know you’re looking for her. I --"

Letting the boy breathe, Gavin raised his hand out to stop him. "Thank you Jacob for letting me know." It wasn't like Gavin to be nice to children let alone be nice to people interrupting his thoughts but the boy already looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack. With that said, all Gavin could do was wait by the fireplace until her return.

Nicola knew she should have told Gavin she was going out, but what was she supposed to say as to the reason why? She knew she couldn’t say she was going to meet Kyle, it was supposed to be a secret and Gavin would not be too pleased due to current events. On a regular day Gavin was not pleased Nicola spent time with Kyle but after what Kyle had put her though and the actions he may or may not have done left a bitter taste in her mouth and Gavin’s. Gavin would not be too pleased when he found out that she had seen him, and she would try to keep it her little secret if she could.

She felt guilty for not telling him where she was going, and she also felt like she had done something wrong when she knew she really had not. She had done nothing but go and see Kyle he had bee the one to kiss her cheek, she had not encouraged the action. Yes she hugged him but like a friend would hug a close friend or a sister hug a brother. She was worried about her friend’s well being, despite the fact she was struggling to believe his story but she really did want too.

Finally her feet her carried her to the common room, she was back inside the warmth of the school. It was even later after curfew and she wondered if Gavin had gone to bed. They did say good night every night but what if he had gone to bed? She supposed it would be easier than explaining her whereabouts. Nicola pushed her hood off her head as she got into the common room; she ruffled her hair but the melancholy expression hadn’t left her face yet.

She moved towards the stairs to the girls’ dorm when a figure on the couch caught her attention. She saw Gavin and looked at him flashing him a weak smile. “You’re still up!” She said, hoping there was some excitement in her voice as she really was glad to see him. Seeing Gavin was just what she needed to cheer her up right now.

Hearing movement outside of the common room could only mean one thing, someone was entering. Hopefully it would be Nicola and not someone else. He wasn't in the mood to be played with. He didn't want to wait all night for a girl who probably didn't even care that she was worrying him.

Finally when his eyes met her, he cringed. What was he going to say? How was he even going to go about this? If anything he was pissed off beyond reason but she never did anything bad to him before. It was overreaction... She would never betray him.

"You’re still up!"

Of course he was still up. It wasn't like he was searching for the girl everywhere and worrying himself half to death. Was she trying to play the stupid game? It was probably one of her traits she caught on from Gibson.

Gavin got up from the couch and made his way for Nicola. "Of course I am still up. I see you are too. Had fun?" He took her hand and walked back to the couch to sit. He really didn't want to start a fight so it was best to be calm. Sitting calmed Gavin for some reason.

"Now Nic, you know I've been worried about you so let’s not make up a story so you can spare my feelings. It's okay if you were seeing someone else..." Gavin said with a quick kiss on her cheek. Of course he was lying, he would never be this calm if it was the case and if she was seeing some guy he was going to punch his face in.

Now if it was a girl... it would still be a problem.

Of course he was up, how could she not expect him to be after the routine they had developed over the past few weeks? Nicola was comforted by the fact that he had stayed up because she wanted to see him before going off to bed herself. Gavin calmed her down and that was what she needed right now after that conversation with Kyle.

“No I didn’t have fun.” This was a true statement because she didn’t have fun seeing Kyle all battered and in the shape he was in. She would have much preferred him at school spending time with her and studying for NEWTs like things were supposed to happen.

Great, of course Gavin wanted to know the truth of the situation. She grumbled a bit as she settled into the seat but it was unfair to get that soothing kiss to the cheek. It was much better than the body freezing awkward kiss to the cheek she had received before finding herself back with Gavin. As much as she cared for Kyle as a friend things had more of a spark when she was with Gavin.

“I wasn’t with anyone else, like that.” Nicola said in a bit of annoyed though that he had thought she could do something like that. “I wasn’t with a guy cheating on you if that is what you think.” Nicola couldn’t ever do that to Gavin because she had already found herself quite attached to him and concerned about his well-being. She could never hurt him like that, and she didn’t want anyone else anyway.

Nicola figured it was much easier to just be straight with Gavin on the matter even if she knew he was not going to be pleased. “I went to see Kyle, he asked me to meet him in the forest as he wanted to explain. So I went to see him.” It was as simple as that, or she hoped it was that simple. Knowing Gavin it would not be just simple.

It was nice to know that Nicola wasn't the type of person who liked to make small talk. That was one of the reasons why Gavin appreciated her so much. He didn't like people who wasted so much time on talking about something to avoid the subject. As long as she didn't do anything too bad then Gavin would be okay with it. After all, Gavin and Nic haven't been dating for that long. Why would he be so concerned?

When Nic said she didn't have fun, he frowned. Hopefully she didn't get into a fight with someone or someone hurt her. He was going to interrupt but he wanted to be concerned rather than angry so he continued on listening to what she had to say. He shifted in his seat, not letting go of her hand. Just yet anyway.

"Well I am happy you didn't cheat on me. That would be rather depressing. I'm beginning to like you Nic." Gavin laughed squeezing her hand. The worst was over. It was a sad thing though, Gavin being jealous. Now who would ever guess that?

She went to see who? GIBSON. Impossible he could never get passed Hogwarts guard... Well Hogwarts wasn't the safest place anymore but a guy like Gibson could never get away with something. Especially since he was a wanted man now. But he replayed her words over and over again. He let her hand slip from his. He turned to get a better look at her, distancing himself in the process.

"You... went to see GIBSON. How stupid can you get Nicola? You are lucky you're not hurt. How could you do this to Hogwarts, to the people who died...? TO ME. I can't believe you." He turned his head the other direction. Very childish indeed but he could never lay a finger on her. He would never think about it but right now he didn't even want to look at her.

It was Gavin who stayed with her as she ruined his shirt with her tears that day she saw Gibson kill. How could she even do that? Didn't Gavin make her swear to never see that man again... or maybe that was in his dreams. The dream world was a much better place at the moment. His anger couldn't register at first. He didn't want to start yelling and cause a scene. All he wanted to do was get away from the girl. He felt disgusted just looking at her. 

The good words of beginning to like you and the comforting squeeze of her hand were soon gone as Gavin reacted to the news of what she had been doing. It was just a conversation; it wasn’t like she had been making out with Kyle in the forest. Kyle showed just how not dangerous he was, and she wanted to believe her friend when he said he didn’t do it. She wanted to believe that he was framed.

“I didn’t do anything to you. I did nothing! All I did was go and talk with him.” Nicola spat back in a temper that flared whenever it got the chance. “Don’t ever call me stupid Gavin because I am not. I am just a good friend trying to listen to his side of the story.” She was frustrated that Gavin was reacting this way. She knew she had expressed certain feelings when she cried in his arms at what she had seen Kyle do, or the fake Kyle. Nicola had no idea what to make of it she could barely wrap her head around it.

“Whether he did it or not, he is my friend. Kyle has been there for me through just about everything.” Nicola spat out in anger and annoyance. “He is just my friend what is the need to be jealous about Gavin?” She pulled her hand from his and moved away from him. “Don’t make me feel badly for being a good friend. Don’t make me feel like a traitor.” Nicola had an angry look upon her face as she grew tempted to just get up and walk away from Gavin. She didn’t want to ruin things with Gavin over Kyle.

The need to just leave was getting stronger by the minute but something was holding him back. Now Gavin didn’t mean to say Nic was stupid, he meant her actions were stupid but he was no whipped man. He wasn't going to let a girl make him feel bad. Even if she was the most important girl to him.

"Do you have any idea what kind of danger you put yourself in? You are not stupid, I said that wrong. Merely your actions were stupid and you have no idea what kind of pain I endured when I saw you cry your eyes out over some guy. Seeing you hurt made me hurt." Man he was really starting to act like a baby.

He got up from his seat, all happiness of seeing her faded. He stared into the fire for the longest time. "I'm not jealous Nicola Hames. I'm only concerned about your safety. You didn't even tell me where you were going off to. How can I even trust you anymore?" Gavin wasn't the type to go off and say things he didn't mean but he couldn't contain anything. Everything that was in his mind was just blurted out. He started to feel a big hole in his chest.

"A traitor Nicola... Don't me so dramatic!" His face all cold, he turned slowly. Meeting her eyes, he could see she didn't even want to be here. "I guess my opinion does not matter to you."

“I was in no danger Gavin…” why was that so hard to say? Nicola knew she wasn’t in danger from Kyle but there was a small portion of her that feared she might be in danger. Nicola knew subconsciously it was silly to fear Kyle because she knew he wouldn’t hurt her but after seeing what she saw at the ceremony it was making her feel differently.

“I am sorry if I made you feel any pain that day or worried you now. But you don’t have to worry about me. I am fine!” She resented the fact she had cried in his arms, especially if he was going to hold that over her. She was not going to stand for that if he intended to bring it up when he felt she did something wrong.

“How can you trust me?” She repeated in anger. “What does it matter? I knew if I told you wouldn’t let me go, which is why I didn’t tell you. What does that have to do with trust Kyle?” She wasn’t even sure what she was saying now she was just so angry. She didn’t even notice that she had said Kyle’s name and not Gavin’s. Usually she was arguing with Kyle and not Gavin. “I have not done anything to deserve you not trusting me. I didn’t lie to you I was very straight forward with you.” Nicola had always been straightforward with people and in turn she was refreshingly blunt.

Nicola looked at Gavin locking eyes with him before getting up to walk away. “Whether you like it or not Gavin, Kyle is my friend and will always be. I am upset about what he did and don’t want to believe it is him. That is why I gave him a chance to explain himself to me tonight. Do I not have a right to hear his side of the story?”

Stopping all thoughts... Gavin glared at her. "YOU DID NOT JUST CALL ME KYLE!" His anger was undeniable now. Probably half of Slytherin was listening to their conversation. But what did Gavin care, why should he even care? There was no point in caring for anyone. They were just going to disappear no matter what. And that was from experience.

"Ohh I see, you are fine but what if something happened? What if that wasn't Kyle and it was someone who lied to you so they could take you away and use you as bait for Kyle to come. You don't think do you?" His squeezed his temples to try and reduce the pressure. Why was he having a conversation like this with a girl who he thought was very smart.

"You let you personal emotions get the best of you and you don't even stop to realize what kind of mess you are putting yourself into. Let's all clap and dance around the campfire that you're safe." Sarcasm of course. Or maybe not. He could not deny the fact that he was happy Nic was alright. It was the only thing that worried him the most.

"Oh and let's not forget that the whole school knows you are the only friend Gibson has. If anyone saw you walking out of the school then they would've thought you were going to meet Gibson to give him some details, help him out... OR even follow him." The situation was only getting worse as time went on.

His side of the story... who would want to hear a killer's side of the story? 

Did she just call him Kyle? Nicola was floored by this and it was only at Gavin’s reaction she realized what she did. “I didn’t mean to call you Kyle! I never yell at you it is usually at Kyle about you.” Nicola said frustrated as she racked her fingers through her hair. She had a pained emotion upon her face as she turned her body to look at him but she wouldn’t let herself sit down again.

“If it had not been Kyle we wouldn’t be having this conversation and you would have been right that I am just some stupid girl letting my emotions get in the way of judgment.” Nicola glared at him as she dropped her fingers from in her hair.

“That statement couldn’t be more true. I am Kyle’s only friend and he needs his friends. He didn’t kill those people, he is not his brother. He is not that heartless. It was someone else. It was the someone else who forced a kiss on me, because that could never be Kyle. It was someone else made to look like him to frame him. I don’t care how unreasonable it sounds. I cannot believe Kyle did that, just as I wouldn’t be able to believe you could do something like that.” Nicola was angry and she couldn’t control the feelings that she said. She was not the type to talk about emotional feelings but sometimes in her anger it got the better of her and she just said anything. Nicola felt horrible that she was searching for ways to hurt Gavin the way he had just hurt her. Why couldn’t he accept this part of her?

Nicola bit her lower lip trying to keep back from saying things she knew she would regret. She was sure the entire house as in on their business and anyone who might have been asleep was no doubt awake due to their raised voices.

"Hold on... Kyle kissed you? Since when did this happen? You never told me this. Ugh."He put his face in his hands, was there anything else he didn't know already? This whole relationship thing was really making his life too complicated. It really wasn't worth the constant stress and the whole drama. If Gavin was in Nic's position he wouldn't know what he would do either but to go alone unprotected was very childish. It felt like her words were going out one ear and out the other.

Was she trying to feed lies to Gavin just like Kyle fed lies to her? Gavin of course did not believe Gibson was framed. Who would want to frame him? He wasn't important. "Yeah sure Nicola, only you would believe such lies." His cruel words weren't only hurting Nic but they were hurting him as well. Each sentence was like a slash to his heart.

The more he talked about it the less he wanted to do with Nic. Of course everything that he was thinking was turned upside down. All he really needed was a good night sleep to over think everything that was happening. If it was any other situation, he would've believed Nicola. But jealousy clouded his vision and nothing sounded right to him.

"This conversation is getting us no where Miss. Hames." If only he could see his own reflection to see how cruel he looked right now. He didn't want to admit it but he really just wanted to shake her and make her reason with him. Out of all the girls he could pick he had to pick someone as stubborn as his own sister. They probably would get along... not like it matted anymore. 

“At the ceremony before he went and did what he did.” Nicola said and looked at Gavin knowing full well she should have told him this before. “Just so you know I didn’t kiss him back, and I didn’t want it. It was like getting kissed by my brother, not a good thing.” She turned away from him afraid she might cry or something as bad. “Not like that matters anymore,” she grumbled under her breath but she was sure in her anger it was something that Gavin would be able to hear. She was sure this was the end of it that Gavin would not want anything to do with her after this. She didn’t care what Gavin said about her because nothing hurt more than her own thoughts thinking that it was over before it really had a chance to start. She was already so attached and she knew that was a bad thing but she couldn’t help it.

“I don’t know what I believe Gavin. But since he is a close friend I want to believe him but my own common sense is telling me otherwise. I admit I was an idiot to go down there alone but I am capable of looking after myself. I am quite fine with a wand and rather talented if you really didn’t know. I am not some weak girl that cannot stand up for herself or protect herself. I don’t need a boy to fight my battles for me.” Nicola was proud she had the self control to not say she didn’t need him to fight her battles for him, because when it came down to it she did need Gavin because she felt something for him and there was more pain coming from the thought of losing Gavin than of losing Kyle at this point. She felt horrible for feeling that way but she also felt like she had already lost Kyle to some extent because he would never be the same.

“No this conversation isn’t getting us anyway Mr. Snark.” She snapped back at him. “So I might as well sod off and leave you alone. Because you obviously don’t want something to do with a stupid girl.” Nicola was hurting herself with her own words because she really didn’t mean them, it was just her pessimistic side coming out.

Gavin didn't know what else to say. Every word that he had said was twisted and thrown back at his face. Of course he didn't want to mess this relationship up but wasn't she the one who messed it up? Thinking back Gavin was probably the best boyfriend ever. He may have had some emotional issues but he was always there for her and let her do just about anything she wanted. Where did they go wrong?

There was nothing else to say. He had no other words to lash out at her and he didn't want the whole house listening to what they had to say. "It does matter. When it comes to your safety it matters. But you seem to not understand what I am trying to get through your thick skull." So why should they continue this conversation.

"I did not mean you were a stupid girl Nic just that your actions were stupid. Why should I even say anything to you?" The whole Kyle and Nic having a relationship never really bothered him before. Gavin knew that Nicola had no feelings for Kyle and he was never going to get what he wanted. But it didn't bother Gavin since they were best friends before he was even close with Nicola. He couldn't help but thank their relationship since it was one of the reasons why Nicola and Gavin got so close.

But now everything was different. It was about Nic's safety right? No, it wasn't. It was about her going to see some guy who was a killer, that guy being Kyle. Jealousy was so irrational…

Her safety mattered? What about her friends? Nicola knew in her rational mind that Gavin was just concerned about her safety and that he cared about her which was why this conversation had gone the way it was. Of course Nicola was not rational when she was angry and that was why this entire situation was escalating beyond a point that Nicola could control.

Nicola didn’t want to fight anymore, she didn’t want to make things worse between her and Gavin right now. Despite what she would like to admit she needed Gavin and really had grown attached to him. Nicola doubted anyone could have been of more comfort on that dreaded day Kyle killed those people. Nicola just wanted to take it all back but she was far too stubborn to admit it.

“If I have such a thick skull perhaps we should end this conversation right now?” Nicola said this quickly walking backwards towards the stairs. “I know you are just trying to look out for me Gavin and I appreciate it but Kyle is my friend.” Nicola said trying to keep some of the anger from her voice but she couldn’t. “I’m going to bed, I will see you in the morning.”

Nicola didn’t want this to be over, she really didn’t and she felt it was best if she just walked away at this point. She didn’t want to say something she would regret. She knew that they just needed to calm down and then address this situation later. Nicola was moving towards the stairs before starting to walk up them just wanting the comfort of her bed right now. Nicola hoped Gavin knew that she didn’t want to break up with him, that things were not over at least they were not for her.

“I’m going to bed, I will see you in the morning.”

Both were saying things they did not mean and even though Gavin was dogmatic he still could be reasonable, but not tonight. Tonight was not the time to change his opinions on Kyle. Gavin was not one to be fooled but he never really understood the bond of true friendship. The only friends he had were Devlin, Alex, and Arielle -- well maybe not her. She rather not have Gavin in her life, even though that was never going to happen. But all three were family. The rest of the people he hung out with were just pawns. Nicola was an exception though, she was his queen.

As she walked closer to the stairs, Gavin nodded. It was for the best. "Okay." he said to her while sitting back on the couch. He didn't really want to leave the same time that she would. Was he losing his mind? The constant need to be alone was usually normal to him. Now that he had Nicola it was like his needs changed and he didn't like that. Even his friends noticed a difference in him and were a bit concerned for him. Were his feelings really that serious for her? Maybe it was time to let her go, it would be the best. She would be able to find someone else that could give her what she really needed instead of Gavin.

Additionally, Gavin's future career was not fit for two. He never thought he would find someone until he was able to settle down. And he defiantly was not going to settle down. The life he was going to pursue was not for a girl like her.

"Goodnight Nicola." he said to her. It was best to tell her everything tomorrow. He still was not even sure what he wanted at the moment.