Study Time

[LILY LUNA POTTER]

Lily had a theory. Long ago, before the first students walked through the doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the four founders realized that learning magic was too fun. What student didn't want to learn how to make objects levitate and brew potions that could make someone else fall in love, or knock out a man 'the size of a mountain' with a single sniff? Learning about magic and how to perform it was fun, and the general consensus around the world and teenagers everywhere was that school couldn't be fun. Muggles moaned about it all the time with their Maths and English lessons. School was supposed to be a chore, not a vacation and a fun escape with friends where anything was possible. So, Lily thought, the founding four discovered an issue with their plan for Hogwarts. It couldn't all be fun and games, because that ruined the point of a school. Their solution?

History of Magic.

It sounded kind of interesting, didn't it? Maybe not like a really thrilling class, but at least slightly interesting. From what the name suggested, you'd learn about wizard battles, great moments in magic's past, and things like that. It kind of sounded cool. But nowhere in the name of the class was there a mention of the endless projects and research papers that plagued the class, or of the droning, mindless voice of the professor, or of the fact that watching a fly buzz and die against the window sill was a more enjoyable time.

That was what she'd done all of the class today, well, kind of. While the professor stood at the front of the room, giving some lecture on giants, she'd watched a poor, pitiful fly buzz against the glass window in the stifling hot room, desperately trying to escape to fresh air and freedom. She wished that she'd been able to open the window and let it out, but if the professor had seen her moving she could have been targeted to answer a question, and she had no clue what he was talking about at all. Giants, maybe? Or was it something about mermaids? Eh, doesn't matter. She'd ask one of her classmates to fill her in on the day's lesson that evening, back in the common room.

"Miss Potter?"

"Mhmm?" Barely even registering who was speaking to her, Lily had forced her eyes away from the window and fly.

"Care to answer the question?" Oh great. It was the professor. Had she just jinxed herself? Yeah, she must have.

"Um... Karkus?" It was the one name from this class that she could remember off of the top of her head.

There was a chorus of giggles and chuckles throughout the classroom, but the professor was not amused. "Miss Potter, I fail to see what a giant Gurg has to do with your opinion on the treatment of centaurs."

Oooh... so that was what they were talking about today. "Sorry... I don't know what I was thinking."

"Neither do I. Perhaps you can enlighten me with a three page essay on the class topic to be handed in tomorrow."

Lily could have kicked herself. She just had to get distracted and get extra work piled on to her schedule, didn't she? She already had homework in potions class, and quidditch practice tonight! "Just freaking brilliant, Lily," she muttered under her breath.

"What was that, Miss Potter?"

"Nothing, sir."

So, as soon as all classes were complete for the day, Lily dragged herself to the library, feeling and looking like a woman on death row the entire way. It was beautiful outside! She should be hanging out with friends, laughing and catching up on the latest gossip and events. But nooo, she had to research an entire class' lesson and write out three pages of an essay on it in an hour and a half before quidditch practice. She plunked her books and bag down at one of the tables near the windows, thinking that torturing herself with a view of nature and freedom might inspire her to get her mindless task done sooner. She gathered a few books from the shelves that looked like they might have something to do with centaurs, dumped them on the table, and bent herself over her parchment.

"Oh, centaurs, you have no idea how much I hate you right now..."

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan was fed up with all of his assignments and wanted to head somewhere quiet where he could enjoy the peace and quiet while studying for his tests. Or just in case there was a pop quiz during his classes, but even during the other classes he still had to answer some strange questions. Having decided to head down from the Gryffindor tower, he had almost got caught going down the wrong passageway towards the library. Even as he navigated the stairs with ease, his tall, slim, muscular frame was outlined a little by his Gryffindor vest, and the dress pants that went with it. Sure he wasn't wearing the robes, but he didn't need to for just visiting the library. Even in his own mind he had to find a different book for his one class, what was it, Care of Magical Creatures?

It seemed odd that he had to go to the library in the first place as he usually wouldn't end up coming here at all, but he had to get to the library first to actually find the book he was looking for. It had something to do with mandrakes, but Ivan already knew everything he needed to know about the shrewd creatures. Sure they were annoying, but with ear muffs on that was the best way to actually mute them really. Unable to think properly he ended up running smack straight into a wall as his thoughts got the best of him, rubbing his face lightly as he recovered from that slight mishap. Blood was trickling out of his nose, but he merely wiped it away with a tissue he was carrying in his left pocket. After wiping it to the point where his nose felt like it had been rubbed raw, he soon finally shoved the napkin back into his pocket after using a quick spell to clean it.

Uttering the words calmly and smoothly it wasn't too hard to remember the incantation of certain spells...no matter how complicated they were. Ivan was a pretty average student, but he did excel at his grades at times when he actually took the time to study for them. It was sometimes hard to study when he was busy looking at girls along his way towards the library too, but when he had been caught usually got smacked for it. There was already a hand-print on his face from earlier when he had been in the Gryffindor common room and had been caught staring at a girl's butt when she went to pick up her books. It was accidental, and he just happened to be looking that way when someone called his name. Apparently the other Gryffindor hadn't accepted the excuse which ended up in him arguing over it until she finally smacked him in the end.

It was obviously he was in a sour mood, and another reason he was heading to the library besides to look for a book to read. Even as he finally jumped a stair case that decided to try to float away from him, and nimbly grazed the edge of the stair case. It was just a nick and soon he was walking down the corridor as soon as he finally found a foothold on one of the corridors that he was looking to go into. Finally reaching it he looked left and right as he entered the room. It seemed a little occupied for this time of day, however, he did recognize a fellow Gryffindor that was there. Maybe she was looking for a book as well, and he was already on his way towards the section of books near Lily.

Ivan had always secretly had a crush on Lily and thought she was beautiful in her own rights, just never really verbalized his opinions of her. Even with being her good friend, and flirting with her too, of course it was never serious flirting. Perhaps today he would up the dosage and eventually just ask her out...he wasn't sure what she would say if she found him here. Pulling a book off of the shelf, and instantly looking at it instantly withdrawing it. It was definitely about mandrakes and eventually took it out of the shelf. Soon he was sitting down at the same table Lily was at, "Hey there, Lily, may I take a seat here?" he asked calmly, no blush appearing on his face at all considering he thought she was indeed rather gorgeous usually.

[LILY LUNA POTTER]

She tapped the edge of her quill against the table edge. Bit her lip. Lifted her hand to almost touch the quill to the parchment, paused, pulled back, and tapped the quill against the table again. Repeat process. Again. And again. No matter how many times she did so, the results were always the same. Lily just couldn't focus with the tantalizing view of freedom only separated by a pane of glass. Maybe she could pull a late night tonight after quidditch practice and potions homework... it wouldn't be the first late night she'd had to pull because of class work. And it'f be worth it for the bit of relaxation she'd get right now when she would be doing something she enjoyed instead of homework.

Lily really didn't have any issue with centaurs themselves, though if anyone asked her at the moment she might swear her undying hatred of the creatures, but she definitely had an issue with the way her professor thought they were important enough to force her to do extra work on them- okay, that made her sound like a bit of a female dog, but any student could understand her frustration. Would clearly knowing her views on their past plights affect her in her future? Not unless she wanted to be some sort of ambassador between them and the wizarding world, which she didn't. Not unless she wanted to be groundskeeper, and needed to get along with those who lived in the Forbidden Forest, which she didn't. The topic held absolutely no interest to her whatsoever. That was kind of the point of her zoning out during class. What did her professor possibly think they were accomplishing by forcing her to do even more work on it when she didn't want to learn the topic anyway?

It wasn't like this was the first time she'd been assigned extra work by a teacher because she's been caught with her head in the clouds. Especially at the beginning of each year, before she got back into the regular school routine, her mind was a million miles away more often than it was in her body during class time. Some teachers had learned to accept that as one of her quirks through the years and go easy on her scatter-brainedness for the first few weeks of school, but others were relentless and seemed to think that punishment was a better way of pushing good work ethic into the girl.

Hearing a voice nearby, she looked up from her essay (still without a mark of ink on its pages), to smile at her fellow Gryffindor, slightly amused by how he sounded so stiff and formal. "No, Ivan," she informed him with a teasing smirk on her lips. "You're not allowed to be near me. You should leave and never come back." She was joking, of course. Ivan was in the same year as her brother, and a Gryffindor, too, so she'd been around him pretty much since he first year at Hogwarts, and through the years she'd come to see him as a friend. Of course she wouldn't mind any company to distract her from her homework right now, even less his company.

"So, what are you doing here? Did a teacher stick you were extra work, too?"

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan was soon sitting down at the table while she was already telling him that he couldn't, but he knew fully well what his rights were. Not that he didn't listen to her at first and gave her an incredulous look that was very familiar to her probably. The same look he gave her every time they were hanging out with each other, but he resisted making a sarcastic remark this time. Looking outside almost made him long to be out there as well, however, he had a book to find. Opening the book itself to the first page, he saw the familiar image of a Mandrake. Trying not to ignore Lily, since she was the first thing that occupied his mind at the moment, and he had tried not to since they had first met. Flirtation only went so far sometimes, but right now he was getting his head wrapped around his work.

It was nice to have some company that actually talked back instead of just waiting around in the Gryffindor tower to find someone interesting to talk to. "Oh me? No, I'm just trying to find the right book for how to take care of magical creatures, luckily this book was right around here," he pointed at the section she had just come from too. There was even a blurt about centaurs in it at some point, but he didn't recall having asked her what she was here for. Knowing Lily it was obviously for some sort of paper, but he didn't bother asking about that either. "So, which teacher did you end up getting homework from this time? I must add you look gorgeous as you always do" he said as his tone seemed more relaxed now and not as stiff...as he knew he could relax easily around her. Smiling in return as soon as that smile appeared on her lips.

Something about her always made him smile whenever he was down, or even when he was just needing someone to talk to. Then again, this year was the one he had actually started to take an interest in her first of all. Flipping the pages of the book he had in his hands towards the middle, he found a picture of the same Mandrake on the front. Giving out a silent, "A-ha" and continued reading to still make sure he had the right book. It was a pain to go through the library and not find the book you were wanting to look for. Ivan also hated asking for help sometimes, and then looked back up to Lily as he closed his book waiting for her answer. There was a distinct blush on his cheeks as that was the first time he probably had been seriously flirting with her. Rare as it may be, he knew it wouldn't go unnoticed.

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[LILY LUNA POTTER]

"Lucky," she muttered wistfully, staring at the paper. Would her professor buy the whole 'my dog ate it' excuse? Probably not, since she didn't have a dog... maybe the 'my owl ate it' excuse? Damn owls could get pretty bitey sometimes... yeah, that was the story! There she had been, slaving over a paper that would have made the minister of magic proud for five whole hours, researching every detail, making sure her writing was immaculate with every t crossed at a perpendicular angle and every i dotted just above the first line. She had been extremely proud of her work, it was sure to get her a top mark, when suddenly, out of nowhere, one of the school's devious barn owls swooped into the library, jerked it out of her delicate hands, and swooped away to oblivion through an open window. The tragedy had left her without the heart to do the paper over again, and so it was with a heavy heart that she had had to go to quidditch practice late with no evidence to give her an excuse. Her captain, her cousin, and her brother had been infuriated that she was late, and so they'd made her stay for extra time after practice was over. She didn't return to the Gryffindor common room until ten pm, when she ten had to rush to do her potions and didn't complete it until midnight. By that time she was too exhausted to take another shot at her History of Magic homework, so she went to bed. And that, sir, is why I didn't get my homework done.

It was quite a tale, of course. Lots of imagination. Lily's daydreams and random babbling stories always were full of it. But however awesome the story would be if it actually occurred, it was hardly believable. Her professor would have to be a gullible fool in order to think there was any truth to the claims, and he wasn't. Still, it was fun to think about... and her day-dreaming 'fun to think about'ness was what had gotten her loaded with this extra work in the first place.

"History of Magic 'bonus work'." she shrugged. "Apparently my lack of focus in class was too notic-" She let her voice trail off as the second part of what he'd said registered to her. A blush appeared on her cheeks to match Ivan's. It wasn't like she hadn't been told that, or flirted with at all, before. Especially this year the guys her own age were beginning to act like that all the time, as though they were god's gift to the world and any girl who was lucky enough to be complimented by them should fall on her knees in worship. But this wasn't a regular, hormonal fifth year. This was Ivan. He was a lot different than an immature fifteen year old who just wanted to make girls uncomfortable. "Th-thanks," was all she could think of to say. Oh god, Lily, did you just stutter? Seriously? That's pathetic!

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan was smiling when he saw Lily blushing, but it as a genuine smile that gave him a bit of triumph of having gotten a blush out of her for a change. Brushing a hand through his bed-head hair, but it was like that naturally too since he rarely combed it. Today was a special occasion for him as he was going to try to make a good impression on Lily Potter, one of the few girls he had considered beautiful. Sure a lot of the other boys were crushing on her, but they didn't know her as well as he did. They hung out a lot, but sometimes he wondered if he should have asked her out or not. Afraid of being shot down was his own fear, but the worst he could was ask. Hormones were definitely not driving him at the moment, and sometimes the other girls fawned over him instead.

Ivan was always trying to avoid his many fan girls in the hallways usually, but he was glad he had a confined dormitory to hide in at night away from prying eyes. The library was a place of solitude as he considered the options of what the future held for them both. Huffing a bit as he then closed the book in front of him realizing he had been staring at the wrong creature the whole time. It was the second close cousin to a Mandrake, just not as annoying, but he really didn't care either way. The book was garbage to him as he handed it towards Lily while smiling as she seemed to thank him for admitting that to her. "You're welcome anytime, but I promise not to make it a habit..unless you want me to," he spoke in a softer tone so only she would hear. In his own weird way, it was another way of wondering how much she liked him.

Even Ivan could read signs of when a girl actually liked him, but with Lily it was always hard to tell with her half-sarcastic answers. Not only that, he sometimes liked just watching her think about various subjects so he could stare into her eyes without being bothered. Maybe that was creeper talk, and he no longer cared at all as this was Lily, not some other girl that he was just randomly crushing on. There had been an intense, silent crush behind his words and now he was speaking his mind finally. Maybe it was his foolhardy bravery speaking for him now as his lips were moving on their own, "Hey, Lily, so what are you studying to become?" he asked again, stopping himself from asking the question for now. It was his awkwardness that made him rather obvious as he was scratching his arm lightly.

It was very hard for him to admit his feelings to anyone, and the one person he usually opened up to could easily read how he felt. Lily had been one of those people, but he had honestly never really revealed that he loved her per say, just liked her a lot.

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[LILY LUNA POTTER]

"What girl doesn't like being flattered?" It was the easiest 'non-stuttering' response she could give without waiting an hour to think of an answer that wouldn't make her feel like a complete idiot when vocalized. And then her mouth ran away on her again, "I don't think I could get tired of it." Her cheeks exploded in crimson color again. Lily didn't blush easily. ...At least, she'd never thought she did. All of those hormonal fifteen and fourteen year old guys over the last few years constantly trying to make her blush, saying things to get a desired reaction... After a while, it all just seemed to get a little bit old. She'd kind of grown immune to all of the meaningless flattery. At least, she'd thought she had. She just didn't blush to things easily anymore, and stuttering was a strict no-no, so she obviously wasn't as immune as she had thought. Or maybe it was the guy who was making her so easily affected? Ivan was pretty cute... and funny.. and smart... and kind... and oh dear gosh, did she like him? Ivan? Well... maybe...? Who could really understand a fifteen year old girl's mind: not even a fifteen year old girl. But all the things she'd listed before were certainly true, so... maybe was the best answer she could give, but it was definitely plausible.

She didn't really date much. Oh, there was a Hufflepuff boy in her third year and a relationship there that had lasted for sixth months, a sort of 'secret' thing with a Ravenclaw the year before that hadn't even been official, just little meetings in quiet hallways. She wasn't one of those girls who got together with and broke up with boys within a week, gave five days to moan and groan about how 'He was the one!' and then be snogging with another guy in a fifth floor corridor a day later. She had more respect for herself and her reputation than that. That didn't mean she was completely against dating, she just swore to never be one of those girls with her lips locked to a new guy every week.

"I'm going to follow my Dad," she shrugged, smiling softly, to wrapped up in trying to keep her blush under control to really notice Ivan's awkwardness. "I can't see myself teaching, or doing some stifling desk job at the ministry all the time, and I could never teach. 'Sides, being an auror would be great. What about you?"

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan shrugged his shoulders a little and even through his slight anxious mannerisms he was now honestly wondering what Lily really thought of him. He knew she had been hit on by many of the boys within the school, but he was sure none of them had done it so profoundly in a way that even she, the great Lily Potter blushed before him. It was considered an accomplishment in his books, but he wasn't going to put in his resume or anything like that. In fact, he was merely working up the mere courage to ask the one question that would debate what his chances were. Numbers were rolling around in his head now as he contemplated the question itself even as it rolled off of his tongue.

Pull yourself together, buddy, the worst she could do is turn you down, go for it he chastised himself mentally already. Shutup was his retort of course he knew fully well he was going to dump himself head first into a pot hole with this. Did he really see her as more than a friend, sure she was intelligent, funny, cute, and most of all had everything he desired in a woman too. Making her blush twice was more than he could say for the last few girls he had attempted to ask out, but had quickly made fun of him as soon as he started stuttering his sentences. They thought it was cute, and after about two dates decided he really wasn't worth their time. Just leaving him without a word, and like in most other students cases they were the girls snogging with another boy the day after.

It infuriated him to be the rebound guy at times and always made sure to hex the girls that used him as a rebound for their relationship woes. It really did sit well that she loved being flattered probably by him. Most of the other fifth years in the school had their hormones controlling their actions, and it was pathetic to see them try every trick int he book to see how many women they could hit on in one day. Sorry to them they were just girls, but to Ivan, most of the girls above the age of fifteen were women to him. Considering that fact, he loved using the term too, but he always asked what women liked being called at times. "Ah, an auror, that's what I want to be when I eventually graduate from here too, that or I'll settle with any other ministry position like perhaps that dragon task force one. I don't remember the name of it. Well, actually Lily I have something I want to ask you, tell me your honest opinion of what you think of me. If I had to answer for you, I'd say your beautiful, intelligent, funny, smart, and a person I could see myself being around a lot. You always make me smile no matter what you do, and not only that, I'm wondering.." he paused there.

It was obvious he was catching his breath a little and this wasn't just some little boy's crush he had on her. It was more than just those other students who were letting their hormones control them and the whole time they had been friends, it had been true, she had always made him smile while they hung out. Finally he just let it out, his lips moving fluently as the butterflies flew everywhere around in his stomach, and like the Gryffindor he was bravely asked the daring question, "Will you go out with me, Lily?"

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[LILY LUNA POTTER]

What was Lily's honest opinion of Ivan? Well, he was friendly and warm. Not all seventh years, even if they were a Gryffindor, would take the time to know a student two years younger than themselves, even if that student was the only daughter of the famous Harry Potter. She had a lot of respect for him because he wasn't just using her and his friendship with her to get the latest gossip and information on her family, as some of the busybody gossips in the school had done in the past. While Ivan wasn't a Ravenclaw, he was intelligent, and there was far more to brains than just constantly getting the answers to quizzes and exams correct. He was cute. Lily had to admit that she liked the 'messy hair' look that he pulled off so well. There was something refreshing about a guy who didn't try to perfectly style his hair each day to get the perfect look to impress girls with. No guy should spend more time on his hair in the morning than a girl. He was witty, too, which was a plus. No guy or girl was worth any time for company if they didn't have a good sense of humor. Most important of all: Lily was comfortable around him. Now, she wasn't one of those girls who had extreme troubles when speaking to anyone of the opposite gender, but she tended to be at least a little bit uneasy with guys any more than a year older or younger than her. It was some sort of gap and difference in the personalities, as though because someone had a two or more years age difference from her, if they weren't family or like family they were from a different era entirely and therefore she wasn't as comfortable with them as she was males her own age. But she had never, in all the time she'd known him, felt that sort of awkwardness around Ivan. His personality and the way he thought worked well with hers.

While this list of some of Ivan's good qualities had been quietly formulating in the back of Lily's brain, Ivan had been going off on a list of his own that was no help to making Lily's blush fade any time soon, but before she had a chance to vocalize her own list he asked a question that she, somehow, had not been expecting, even with their whole conversation thus far and the flirting. Go out with him? "I'd love to, Ivan," the words were practically out of her mouth for the world to hear before she even had a chance to realize she'd said then. She was pretty sure that the sudden, happy grin that had appeared on her face was about as likely of fading as her blush, too.

(OOC: Sorry if this is poor/hard to understand in general. I'm doing the whole 'fall asleep at random times' thing again, and so my thoughts on this post are disconnected in between bouts of unconsciousness.)

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan honestly understood what it meant to be left in your parent's shadow and you had to fill a cup that was already full. Even so, his own parents weren't like that at all, and encouraged him to actually go to Hogwarts. It was rare to see parents like that, but that was the nice thing about being a pureblood at times. Not that Ivan judged based solely on blood status since after all he did like muggle borns and half-bloods just the same. There was no distinct difference between them to him, the only people he really disliked were those dark wizards. Or the blood purists, and couldn't stand to see people being picked on by them. Back to his original question previously stated as he wondering where he could see Lily and himself int he far future.

Well, not too far into it, plus he had put a lot of consideration into this for at least during the fifth year when he had finally you know started to flirt with her a little more than usual. Plus, those hormonal fifth year males did make it hard to actually make her take him seriously as he never was this vulnerable around anyone. Another feeling that he would have to admit felt great at times when he needed someone to talk to, and Lily seemed to be the kind of person to easily open up to him. "Okay, sorry, I interrupted you, you were about to say what you thought of me," he said calmly to her, although mostly everyone in the library had heard them say this.

Waving them away with their hand as if they had seen nothing, most of the students returned to their business while others would also do the same. Every so often one of them would turn around to peak at the two of them thinking they might have made a cute couple. Well, that's what Ivan was thinking, however, his eyes never left Lily's as he was blinking respectfully so he wasn't staring. Not that he didn't want to stare at her the whole time she had been sitting there, but rudeness wasn't in his personality traits. Defensive, sure, but not bad manners. That was another thing he couldn't stand was people talking with their mouths full or running into you when it was clearly their fault then blaming you for it. Ivan continued to smile and then rested a hand over Lily's to kiss the back of it softly, a very bold move on his part.

Of course Ivan, didn't say anything else until she answered, considering he had considered himself a little over-zealous to ask that question right away when he should have way earlier in the year. Ivan felt just as comfortable around Lily as well, and the fact that he could probably pour his heart to her was another factor that had been considered.

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[LILY LUNA POTTER]

Lily despised 'blood purists', those who thought they were better than others just because they had nothing but wizards in their family stretching back for generations. That was probably the reason why she Slytherin was now the only house that she had never gone out with a student of. She tried not to judge, she knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help but at least make a slight impression of another student based on their being in Slytherin. She'd just heard too many bad things about that house from the past. Some of its students were the source of so many troubles her father had encountered during his time at Hogwarts. Voldemort had been from Slytherin, and even the house's founder was a rather shady and moody fellow whose beliefs were much of what Lily hated in a person. How anyone could believe that they were better than another because of their family's past she didn't understand. It was the person who made the person, not the person's family who made the person. But she knew she didn't have to worry about getting stuck dating a blood purist idiot with Ivan. She'd known him for long enough to know he wasn't like that (though there were those stuck up snobs in houses other than Slytherin). He was a genuine nice guy.

She was used to people staring at her. Now, it hadn't been as bad for her has it would have been for say James, but she was still a Potter and the only daughter of the family. In her first year there had been plenty of looks in her direction, looks that had died down in time, but looks nonetheless. All looks were because of her name, of course, which was a little bit frustrating because she'd rather people looked at her for her than her last name, but they were curious stares all the same. And new relationships turned heads all the time, whether because people had seen it come from a long way off or had been completely blindsided. She guessed she might want to get used to it.

"It's not like I minded the interruption," she told him with a smile. It seemed rather awkward to go back to saying what she thought about him now... really awkward, actually. She guessed that it didn't really 'ruin the moment', but it just seemed a bit off from the track of their conversation. "Obviously I don't think anything negative," she grinned, "You're cute, funny smart-" her train of thought completely disappeared as he kissed the back of her hand. "And uh... yeah." Things like that tend to destroy your thinking process.

(OOC: Don't you hate it when muse fails you?)

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan was merely nodding towards Lily and seemed to have his blush dissipate while he was examining the rest of the inhabitants of the library for a moment. Shrugging his shoulders lightly as he was stretching his back to arch it upwards, but now his hands were stretching across the table to reach towards hers. Well, he was sitting beside her so it was obvious that he was going to obviously be able to do this, while one of his hands merely rested on her own for the time being. Trailing one hand along her slender, smooth finger, loving the way her skin felt but then he moved his hand away in case she didn't like the public display of affection. Of course, he knew that the mood was definitely not ruined yet, but he knew the few secrets about her that most would blush about.

Just like Lily also knew that Ivan had some secrets he'd blush about if she was going to reveal them shortly. Unable to stop his lips from moving after she had responded to him, "Yeah, you really think so huh? I'm glad, I've wanted to get his off my chest for a while, I just needed courage," he said hoping she didn't think he sounded childish just then. Even as he let her hand return to her, what she did with it was up to her. For all he knew she could easily hold that hand to her chest, and bring it up to her lips to touch it towards her full lips. Those kissable lips of hers, but he wasn't about to break the ice by just leaning forward right there.

One does usually ask to meet up on a date at a later time, but he figured just sitting there in solitude with her while there was a bunch of audible awes from some people in the back ground. It almost made Ivan get up to smack them across the face to mind their own business, I mean who else butts in and tries to tell them they're cute together. Ivan already knew that this probably wasn't the first time he had hit on her, but he had also asked her out while flirting today. Licking his lips softly, he soon looked down at the table for a moment, as he soon courageously looked back up into Luna's eyes, "So, do you have anything planned for later today or tomorrow?" he asked her calmly as the students around them resumed their studies.

Other onlookers only continued to watch in awe, and dumbfounded silence as Ivan had finally taken a plunge. Some of the other male fifth year Gryffindors seemed to be silently cursing Ivan for having been so bold with the question, yet they should have known his maturity would win over their hormone levels fluctuating so rapidly.

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[LILY LUNA POTTER]

"I'm glad you did," Lily smiled, simply resting her hand overtop of his on the table. This wasn't exactly the way she'd thought her day might progress when she'd woken this morning, but she'd be nuts if she complained. Ivan was a great guy, she wouldn't have agreed to go out with him if he wasn't, or if she thought that a relationship between the two of them had no hope of lasting. Who knew what she'd be missing out on if he'd just kept his silence and never gathered up the courage needed to ask her out. For all she knew, she might have then had to awkwardly reject some other random guy tomorrow for no other reason but 'I don't like you that way'. She would have, of course, since she would never get in a relationship with someone if she didn't like them, but she hated the awkward rejection stage that left some guys with such a lost puppy dog look in their eyes. Now she was taken, and she didn't have to worry about any awkward rejectings.

"I've got about an hour before Quidditch practice..." Had it really been a half hour or so since she sat down in the library to get to work? It seemed like much shorter, but the huge clock on the wall hanging over the librarian's desk did not lie. She was suddenly really wishing that practice were cancelled for the day, but she knew that her cousin would never do that. Rain, snow, sleet, or shine, Quidditch always took priority over everything else. "On the bright side... tomorrow, I think I'm completely free!" Even if the team sucked in practice and it was decided that they needed a sudden extra practice before their first game, it would be really hard for Rose to book the Quidditch pitch on such short notice. At least, Lily hoped it would be. She loved Quidditch, but too much in a short amount of time was just plain tiresome, and besides, she now had someone else she wanted to be spending time with. "And I've got nothing after practice." Okay, so, well, there was the tiny issue of a History of Magic paper that she was now sure she wouldn't be completing in Ivan's presence, and then there was the whole Potions assignment... but she could pull a late night. Procrastination was a girl's best friend, sometimes, even if it screwed you over in the end.

She looked around at the curious faces, catching someone's glance every so often, and sighed. The library was not a good place to begin relationships away from prying eyes, but it was too late to change anything now. Suddenly she moved, pulling her hand back from his to snap the large book of centaurs in front of her shut. "Would you like to go for a walk?" she suggested. "I could do with some fresh air." And privacy from these gawkers, she thought to herself.

(OOC: - - - - -

[IVAN VLADISLAV KIRKE]

Ivan knew that both him and Lily would end up like this in the end even as the awkward stares around them almost drove him insane until she suggested a solution. Nodding his head, and he doubted anyone would follow them, besides the ones who were nosy enough to do so. Having a plan thought out for that already, he grinned as he then took her hand in his own. Even as she was standing up he moved closer to her and then wrapped his arms around her waist to bring her close to him. Bringing his lips close to his own, he then whispered against her lips as his breath was slowly breathing on her own beautiful full lips. Of course, he was deciding on whether or not he wanted to tease her, and did so just then as he then let go of her waist to grab hold of her hand again.

"You're right, this library is a little stuffy, it makes it hard to look into your beautiful eyes without being embarassed...nah just joking. I could get lost in your eyes any day, Lily," he whispered to her ear sensually, but made sure that it was sort of in a private way so that only she could hear him. Maybe it was just the hormones that were talking for him now, but he really didn't care since he was still rather giddy she had said yes like most guys his age would be. Ivan usually wasn't one of the pranksters that made attachments to anyone really, but even with his distant attitude, he still had a rather upstarter attitude that involved anyone around him. Considering his earlier actions as well, and wondered if he had crossed a line at all, not that it mattered. Why had Ivan come here in the first place? Oh yeah to find a book instead of talking to Lily although he had got caught up in discussing a lot with her.

Now he was moving the books around on the table to make it look like he was organizing them, however, in his mind he was actually just trying to see if he had found the right book in the first place. Still holding onto her hand at the same time of course, and then he put the book back on the shelf where he had found it while letting go of her hand to do so. It was weird how he felt like he was clinging onto Lily, but he definitely didn't want to lose her, despite how much stuff she was in. While Ivan didn't want to bolt himself down to Quidditch or even any other events. Being a prankster and getting away with lots of them would suit him, but even then he sometimes found himself alone at times. A feeling he no longer knew whenever he was with Lily as it was rather joyous just being by her side and had almost kissed her...every girl's dream was their first kiss.

Ivan really hadn't kissed anyone, and was unsure if he was ready to part with it to Lily as he soon got up to wrap an arm around her waist to escort her out to the grounds for a walk. "Yes, some fresh air would be nice," he said gently while then rubbing her side idly to test how ticklish she was just to tease.

(OOC: Whee, sounds like fun, did you want to move this thread to the grounds or quidditch pitch or something? xD I could post as James as well if we went there, of course that would get confusing for me, or we can just continue it here without having to move it at all. xD))

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[LILY LUNA POTTER]

If any of the curious pairs of eyes and the bodies they were attached to decided to follow Lily and Ivan to wherever they happened to go, Lily knew what she'd do. You didn't have a family as big as hers and as many older siblings and cousins as she did without catching on to a few useful spells and hexes along the way. She'd turn around and make them blind the instant she thought someone was following them for the sake of being nosy. Or she could string them upside down... what was that spell called again? Her Dad had mentioned it once. If she could remember the incantation she was sure that she could make it work. Nosy busybodies wouldn't dare mess with her or any of her buddies as long as she were able to hear about it after she was done with them. The next thing that Lily couldn't stand after blood purists were people who couldn't stay out of other people's business.

He could already make her breathless. Not even a half hour after he'd first asked her out and she felt lightheaded simply by the closeness between them. Were her hormones just raging strong today? None of her other boyfriends had had such a strong effect on her so immediately; at least, not that she remembered. She packed up her bags, trying to clear her head for their walk as she did so. Each of the books she had taken out of the library slid easily into her bag. It was bewitched with a spell that made the small space inside large enough to hold a car if she wanted it to. The spell was one her father, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Weasley had used way back in their final year of adventures before Voldemort's death, and according to her father it had served them well. Lily wasn't hiding, and she had no reason to store changes of clothes and other survival materials in her school bag, but she did agree that the spell was a pretty cool one.

She liked how comfortable she was with him, leaning into him slightly as his arm slipped around her waist. It didn't feel awkward or 'too touchy-feely' to the young Gryffindor girl. It just felt right. Natural. His hand against her side made her squirm and squeal a bit, almost as though she was trying to get away though she clearly didn't want to. She was rather terribly ticklish on her sides, as well as the bottoms of her feet and neck, and had he been seriously trying to tickle her she would have erupted into a fit of laughter. Some people thought her ticklishness was cute. She generally viewed it as more of an annoyance.

Lily smiled as they started their walk out of the library, leaving the prying eyes behind staring after them. She could only imagine the eruptions of whispers and gossip that would come the moment they left the room, but she didn't care. She was happy, so let the other kids gossip all they wanted. It didn't matter to her.

(OOC: New thread = Click!)