September 2006
Hogwarts Express
Year 1

Ayla could feel the knot of excitement tighten in her stomach as the train slowed. She leaned toward the window with her cabin mates, watching the majestic castle come into view off the horizon. The gaggle of youngins had spent most of the train ride exchanging rumors of what they had heard about the wizarding school. Ayla was happy to discover that she wasn't the only one that didn't know anyone or anything about the school they'd be spending the next seven years in. One girl, to whom Ayla was nearly instantly attached, was a muggleborn and just as clueless as she was.

Ayla has treated her new friends to sweets from the trolley as the discussed which house they preferred to be in. Some of the girls were convinced they'd be Gryffindors, while others Ravenclaws. Even one said she'd be a Slytherin because all her family had been in the house. Ayla quickly noticed that none were offering to be in Hufflepuff and decided she'd likely fit in, in the house that was no one's first choice.

A voice seemingly from nowhere instructed them that they were to collect their belongings and leave the train. The girls shuffled out of the cabin. Ayla grabbed the bottle of pumpkin juice she had yet finished and exited the cabin a little while later. As she shouted for her friends to wait up she was bumped into from behind, spilling the juice all down her front. A pair of older girls had pushed past her, sisters if Ayla didn't know any better. The one in green and silver house colours looked back, "Watch where you're joining, you bloody firstie"

Ayla stared after her mortified. How was she supposed to go to the sorting ceremony looking like a sopping pumpkin?!

"'ere, lemme 'elp ye wit tha."

She spun towards the unfamiliar voice. A handsome looking older teen was standing next to her with his wand out. He was wearing the same green and silver the rude girl had been wearing and looked to be about thirteen, maybe fourteen. He gave her a brilliant rougish smile and waved his wand, saying something she didn't understand. A weird warm feeling spread over her chest and when she looked down, her blouse was completely clean.

"Oh wow I've gotta learn that one."

The older boy chuckled, "An' they say my accen' is weird."

Ayla blushed deeply. She had only been in the UK for a few months but her natural Canadian accent was always the first thing people noticed about her. She didn't know what kind of accent the boy had but it definitely wasn't the same as her neigbours in London. Before she could say anything about it though the boy spoke again.

"Name's Xav'er, see ye at thee sortin' kiddo." He gave her a wink before heading off the train. Her friends seemed to have realized she hadn't come off the train with them and returned.

"Who was that?"

"He's cute!"

"So super gorgey!"

"I think he was a Slytherin, I want to be a Slytherin too!"

Ayla smiled at her friends and looked after the older boy. She supposed he was cute, well certainly good looking in that I'm nothing but trouble kind of way, but she was only Ten, she had plenty of time to think about boys like Xavier when she was older, "C'mon, we don't want to be late to get sorted."

February 2008
Hogwarts Library
Year 2

Ayla sat in the library with her friends. They were supposed to writing a two foot essay for History of Magic but that was boring. Since the next day was Valentine's Day they had decided to forgo their homework in lieu of making Valentine's cards. Ayla was currently working on one for her friend Blake. He was a Ravenclaw and a total cutie. It was all meant to be good fun anyway. All the girls were making ones for their crushes as well as some for their friends. Ayla was planning on making one for everyone in their year.

She leaned over her best friend Brittany to see how her card was coming along. It was a giant red heart covered in sparkles with a poem in colour changing ink. She was paying particular detail to making the name extra loopy and pretty. Ayla giggled, "Don't tell me that's for Xavier."

Brittany blushed and covered the Valentine, "Umm maybe."

Ayla shook her head and looked up in time to see a certain Slytherin enter the Library, "Well here's your chance to give it to him." Brittany blushed even harder as she watched the fourth year Slytherin move from table to table in the library. He was carrying a basket of roses and was handing them out to all the girls. Ayla rolled her eyes as Brittany began to squee.

Xavier approached their table, "Af'ernoon ladies, 'appy Valentine's" He gave a rose to each of the girls gathered around. Brittany spluttered as she accepted her rose, clutching the Valentine's she had made him.

Ayla sighed and took the heart shaped card from her friend, "What she meant was, this is for you." Ayla grabbed the card and handed it over. Xavier gave Brittany a wink as she melted into her chair.

"Well this one's fef ye, kiddo." He took a rose out of the basket but before handing it to her, he tapped it with his wand. The previously red rose turned yellow with a black trim.

Ayla accepted the Hufflepuff rose with a sweet smile and waved him off. The rest of the girls swooned around her.

"He's so gorgeous!"

"He's totally into you."

Ayla shook her head and went back to her Valentine for Blake, "He's just being sweet. Besides Brittany's the one totally in love with him, not me."

May 2009
Hospital Hut
Year 3

Ayla lay uncomfortably in a bed in one of the Hospital Hut rooms. It had taken a couple of spells for Madam Nagde to put her shoulder blade back together after a bludger had shattered it and she was supposed to be resting. Despite being assured that she was fine and everything had been healed up right she still didn't feel well. She was afraid to move her arm around and her entire back felt sore.

She looked out the window at the setting sun. Dinner had been brought to her and she was wishing she was in her common room with her team cursing the Slytherins for catching the snitch. It had been a bloody game, so many injuries. Obviously not a record but definitely more than Ayla was used to and certainly the first time she had been injured herself. It wasn't something she'd be looking forward to doing again.

There was a soft knock on the door and an older student entered. Ayla groaned and rolled over pretending to be asleep.

"Ah know ah'm probly thee person ye wanna be seein' righ' now."

She heard him cross the room and there was a warm pressure by her side indicating that he had sat down next to her, "Ah jus wan'd ta make sure ye were okay."

Ayla rolled back over and scowled at him. At least now she had an answer as to which Beater had sent the bludger after her. She set her jaw determined to stay mad at him, "What do you care anyway?" He certainly hadn't shown much concern over the last few months as his girlfriend (were they still dating?) tormented her and his best friend constantly teased her. It was enough to make her hate all Slytherins and that included him.

He gave her a steely glare, the same look she had been getting from him ever since their break up, "Ah nearly broke yer back fer Merlin's sake, at least let me say ah'm sorry."

"Fine you're sorry. You can leave now." She rolled over again, turning her back to him.

She heard him let out of soft growl before leaving. She waited for the door to close before sitting back up. She let out of long sigh. A part of her felt bad for being so mean to him. After all he had come just to make sure she was okay, which was actually kind of sweet. No, she wasn't going to let herself be fooled by him again. That's when she noticed the small box on the table beside her hospital bed. She picked it up. It was a tiny present. Confused Ayla opened the small box. There was a ring inside, a small sculpted quidditch player was wrapped around the side with a large ruby in the middle of a golden hoop to look like a chaser scoring a goal. Ayla shook her head, "You bloody bastard." She slipped the ring on her middle finger, it was a perfect fit. Despite herself she smiled widely and shook her head. She had no idea what she was going to do about him.

~*~ Indepth Version of this Scene ~*~

June 2010
The Turmalina
Year 4

Ayla strolled along the top deck of the ship looking at the stars. The air was warm and humid but she didn't mind. It was comfortable and the night's sky was a view she didn't want to pass up. After all, when was the next time she was going to be in Thailand? They were already a week into the trip and things had been going swell. She was enjoying everything from the sights and sounds to the food and even the company. Most of the older students who were on the ship were ones she got along with and those she didn't, well there was enough for her to do to avoid them.

As she came near the bow of the ship she could see a figure sprawled on the deck leaning against the guardrail. A swell of panic built up in her chest and she was about to send a call out to their chaperones when she got a better view of the figure. There was a stupid sort of grin on his face as he lifted a flask to his mouth.

"'ello gorgeous! Fancy a swig?"

Ayla rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips, "How drunk are you?"

Xavier shrugged, tipped his flask over and shook it. Not a single drop came out, "Pret'y fekkin' pish'd, luv."

Ayla looked around, hoping to see someone else, anyone else that could take him on instead of her. Unfortunately from the looks of it, they were the only ones out. Despite how much she wanted to just leave him there she couldn't in good conscience walk away. Even if he didn't manage to fall overboard, if Donovan found him in his condition he'd likely be sent home, or thrown in the brig (did they have a brig?)

"Alright you bloody idiot let's get you back to your room." She leaned down and wrapped his limp arm around her shoulder before heaving him up onto his feet. Which really was no easy task given the extra foot and probably hundred pounds he had on her. With some difficulty she managed to get him moving back towards the cabins.

"You know if you're going to be stupid enough to get drunk on this trip, you should at least be doing it with other people." She was sure there were plenty in his year alone that would have happily shared that flask with him.

"Ye shulda bin drinkin' wit me darlin'"

"Gee, getting drunk with the guy who broke up with me on my birthday . . . yeah that doesn't sound like a recipe for disaster." She stopped outside his cabin door. Thankfully he hadn't strayed too far when he snuck out. She took his arm off from around her shoulder and he grabbed her hips to steady himself.

"Hmm, dum'est thin' ah eva did."

Ayla pushed back the blush that had formed as he held her. She did not need to be feeling like this, not now and especially not about him. The guy who broke her heart and was currently hammered. She told herself it was just the booze talking.

"Go to bed Xavier, you're going to need the sleep."

He gave her another one of those rougish smiles and cupped her cheek with his hand, "Ah'd ask ye ta join me but ah din' thin' Eli'd approve." This time she couldn't stop the blush, "Nigh' kiddo." Before she could say goodnight, he gave her a kiss. One, she'd hate to admit lasted a few moments and was fully reciprocated.

She stared after him for a long while before making her way back to her cabin. As she walked she couldn't help wonder how much of that kiss was the whiskey and how much was actually Xavier.

December 2010
Hogsmeade Winter Festival
Year 5

Ayla smiled at the crowd as they milled about the festival. She sat behind her large sparkling sign and table plastered with sugared treats. It had quickly become tradition for her to set up shop during the festival to sell a large array of treats. All of her own invention. Having already done it for two years she was starting to get 'regular' customers. If this kept up, by the time she graduated she'd definitely have the reputation she needed to open her shop. Even if it was just a simple kiosk or trolley in Diagon to start. She had saved ever sickle and knut she had made in order to afford her dream. Sure she could always ask he parents for help, it wasn't like they were hurting for cash but this was something she wanted to do on her own.

"Cupid's Charmed Confectioneries. Now tha's quite thee moufful."

Ayla looked up from her hot chocolate at the familiar voice and gave him a smile. He had certainly grown into one handsome man. Nearly eighteen and on his way out of Hogwarts. She wasn't about to admit that she was going to miss him but the last few months had certainly been pleasant. They weren't about to go studying in the library or walking arm and arm through Higsmeade but they'd smile at each when they crossed paths in the hallways. None of the Slytherins in his years teased her anymore and there were even some she called her friends. She was finally feeling like herself again and it looked like he was too. There was more color in his cheeks, more muscle pretty much all over and he no longer looked like he had given up sleeping (almost made her wish she knew what had happened to him before his sixth year)

"Happy Holidays Xavier."

"An' ta ye luv." He looked over the trays of cookies, plates of cakes and bowls of gummies, "Wha' ye suggess?"

She chewed her bottom lip and was aware of the way his ice blue eyes followed the gesture. She picked up a small red cupcake with white icing and a sugared mistletoe on top, "This one's perfect for that extra bit of Holiday cheer."

With a smile he took the proffered treat and handed her a few coins. He turned to leave but seemed to have thought better of it, "Lis'en Ay, ah've only goh' a few monhs 'fore ah'm done 'ogwarts fer good an' ah wann'd ta say. " He paused for a moment as if making sure none of the passerbys were listening, "Ah'm really sorry fer bein' a complere twat. Yer a grea' gal an' ye deserv'd so much betta than an idiot like me. I hope ye fin' 'em one day." He paused again before giving her a large smirk, "An' if ye don' come fin' me when ye turn seventeen yeah?"

She watched him walk off, her mouth bobbing like a fish. She never truly expected Xavier to ever apologise to her. They spent much more time fighting and glaring at each other than they ever did dating. A part of her was impressed while another part was certain that once they went back to school in January he'd act like the whole thing had never happened. Maybe it was a good thing he was graduating. She was almost looking forward to never having to try and understand him again.