Parisienne Moonlight | Invite

[Nabih Al-Azma]

Sunday, August 26th, 2:30pm
Blackwood Books

There was still half an hour left until their set meeting time over at the bakery. Nabih had left his home a little earlier to make another stop in Diagon Alley. He'd received word not too long ago that the book he had requested had finally been aquired. Not many people managed to get their hands on books this rare, but Mr. Blackwood did not disappoint. After the state dinner, Nabih had done some research on his own, and then visited Mr. Blackwood. It paid off to have good contacts. And it did pay off to have money.

The man behind the counter had shown him the work and then Nabih told him to wrap it in something nice. It wasn't colorful wrapping paper, but Julia would not expect that anyway. While he waited for the man to finish, he browsed some of the shelves for anything interesting. Blackwood was known to have a very good collection, and Nabih had found several books in here before. Now, he stood in front of a shelf with books on psychology, and while he had read plenty on the topic, he was looking for something in particular. "Mr. Al-Azma? Here you go." The man appeared next to him and handed  him the wrapped up book. Nabih thanked him and left.

The same day, Bryce & Co. Bakery, 3pm

Nabih sat at one of the tables that were tucked into a neat corner outside the bakery. There was lots of shade, and from his seat he had a good overview on the comings and goings on the nearby street and marketplace. He was dressed very casual today, black jeans and a dark blue collared shirt with short sleeves. It was a big difference to last night's wedding, but it was Sunday and it was a nice day. And this was not a date.

The book, sitting in its black parchment wrap was on the table, waiting for its new owner to arrive. Legends of the Gods - Ancient Witchcraft was not a book that was sold in a store usually. Not even one you could aquire in a library. It was the first and only edition of this book, and it had cost Nabih a fortune to get from one of the collectors in Egypt. Still, he wanted her to have it. If anyone was going to do something good with it or even understood it correctly, it was Julia Laurence.

The waitress came and asked him for his order, but he shook his head and nodded over to the woman who was just approaching the cafe. "I'll order with her," he said and once the waitress was gone, he actually stood up to greet Julia. After last night, all he wanted to do was kiss her again, right this instant. But, since this was a public space, he leaned in to kiss her cheek instead. "Julia." Why did she smell so freaking good all the time?

Both of them sat down, and while they waited for the waitress, Nabih pushed the wrapped book in her direction. "It's for you," he said with a slight smile. And because he didn't have the patience for smalltalk and because it was killing him to know, he asked the next question right away as well. "How did it go? With Edward."

[Julia Laurence]

Sunday, August 26th, 2:30pm
The Orchards, Laurence Estate

Julia glanced over her shoulder cautiously, as she walked swiftly through the endless rows of cherry trees. Edward had eyes everywhere, and after their talk this morning, she knew better than ever, that they would all be on her for the foreseeable future. She hadn't told anyone she was going out; it would only give them a reason to follow. Even though she and Edith seemed to have found a quiet truce in the last eighteen hours, she didn't trust that her sister-in-law wouldn't be sent as a chaperone.

Julia had tested her boundaries with Edward, and found exactly where his line was. If she planned to cross it, especially hours after their confrontation, she had to be ready for anything. Dressed down in jeans and a black blouse, she quickly pulled her hair up high, and secured it with a hair-tie. Inconspicuous was the name of the game.

When she found that she was comfortably far enough into the orchards where no one would see her or track her, she pulled her wand from her pocket and swished it quickly. With a CRACK, the woman had disappeared.

The same day, Bryce & Co. Bakery, 3pm

She exhaled as she appeared in the side alley of one of the marketplace buildings. She glanced around again and waited a moment. If her brother's thugs were following her, she'd need a moment to watch for them and rethink her plan. Nabih would understand, she thought, she'd send him a message if worse came to worse, and hopefully, he wouldn't come looking for her.

Another moment. Nothing. She stepped out from the alley and maneuvered quietly around the crowds until she saw him, sitting at a table off to the side of the bakery. Where before, she may have felt a small flutter of excitement or anticipation, instead she felt anxiety crawl through her veins. They had to be careful, and watchful. Though they were in public, Julia didn't doubt Edward's boldness, especially in his current state.

"Nabih." she gave him a small smile as he kissed her cheek, and she brushed her fingertips against his hand. She sat in the chair next to him, looking him over quickly. She rather liked him looking so casual. It suited him, made him seem more relaxed. He pushed a neatly wrapped package towards her. She caught sight of a tattoo on the side of his arm. She'd ask him about that in a moment. "For me?" she gave a little laugh, and she looked up at him curiously. "Gifts already. Aren't I the lucky girl?" Her playful banter immediately subsided as she opened it, and she stared at the cover of the book in disbelief.

"How?" the word came in the form of a breath, and she ran her hand along the dark black leather. 'Legends of the Gods - Ancient Witchcraft'. Turning it over in her hands, she finally looked up Nabih, stunned. "The Ministry's all but banned this one. I've never even heard of them existing outside of museums." She stared again, admiring the silver embossing and stitching in the spine. Immaculately crafted, and the contents..."I can't accept this. It must have cost you a fortune," she tried to slide it back towards him. She could never repay him. At least not at the moment.

He wasted no time asking about Edward. She glanced around them once more and she sat up a little straighter. "Not well," she said softly but casually, and she played with the watch on her wrist to busy her hands. "He was angry of course. A lot of puffing of his chest, reminding me who I belong to, all the usual things that men in his position do to women in their lives." Her brown eyes pierced Nabih's. He'd know what she meant. Maybe he was the same with his sisters if he had any.

She couldn't tell him how Edward had rushed her, and what could have happened if she hadn't been fast enough with her wand. If last night was any indication, it would set Nabih off, and make him want to defend her. As much as she despised Edward right now, he was still her brother, and it was her job to protect him.

"I got him to back down over last night. A little debt he owed me." The day she and Nabih had met, in fact. The little job her father had sent her down to the ministry for. It had come in handy after all. She leaned closer to Nabih, the scent of his cologne meeting her senses. She tried not to think about the night before, or she wouldn't be able to say what she wanted to. "But, that doesn't mean he's letting this go."

"Are you two ready?" the voice of the waitress interrupted them, and she backed into her chair again. She smiled politely at the woman. "I'll have whatever he does."

 

[Nabih Al-Azma]

She seemed nervous. On edge a little and not because of him. Her eyes were giving it away a little, darting here and there. She tried to hide it though, so Nabih would let her for now. Things last night had not gone exactly well, and if Edward was anything like he assumed, their little talk had not been pleasant.

His dark eyes looked her over very slowly, not to assess her beauty, although it was breathtaking, but to find anything that indicated an injury. No one had to tell him that these things could be hidden so very well, and Edward was not stupid enough to make it obvious. There was nothing he could detect though, but that did not settle him down. He continued observing her every move as she unwrapped his gift.

Her reaction to it was amusing and a small smile played around his lips as she examined the book and its cover. It froze the moment she tried to give it back to him though. "Don't Julia," he said with a warning undertone and blocked her slide attempt with his hand. "You could not give this back to me, even if you tried, so don't offend me further. You're just racking them up, you know." His smile came back saying this. "It's for you. No strings attached."

Now Edward. Her nervousness came back and she actually looked around. Nabih settled into his chair and let her talk. She was giving herself away quite obviously, playing with her watch and trying to draw him out with her comment on powerful men and their treatment of women. The topic was serious though and not well and angry could mean almost anything.

She was not telling him everything.

"He's not letting this go. What does that mean? Is he planning to marry you off, and last night spoiled his plans? Or is he offended that I protected you - afraid that he'll lose his power over you to another man? Or that you share family secrets with me, like the will?"

The waitress came and Nabih ordered them black tea and strawberry cheesecake. Once the woman was done taking his order and disappeared again, Nabih's eyes settled on Julia. "Is he having you followed? What are you not telling me?"

[Julia Laurence]

She felt a laugh escape her at his warning, and she took the book back in her hands. She clutched it to herself before she relented and placed it to the side. "I'm sure by the time you're done with me Nabih, the list of offenses I'll have caused you will fill a book twice this size." Her eyes danced at him, and she reached under the table to squeeze his hand in hers. "Thank you." She could have done this back and forth with him all afternoon, had it not been for everything else they needed to discuss, and Nabih had a lot of questions.

She withdrew her hand from his and shook her head and pursed her lips. "He could try to marry me off, if he'd like to find himself at the right end of a potion bottle," she said under her breath and gave a small roll of her eyes. She sighed, her voice taking on a more sarcastic air. "No, I'm much more useful to him unattached. Which is fine with me. I'm not the 'arranged marriage' type." The thought of it was ridiculous, honestly. While it still happened in their world, any man arranged to Julia would have a miserable existence. She would make sure of that.

She shushed him quickly, and her eyes watched the crowd again, for anyone that looked slightly out of place. "Not so loud," she whispered. "I don't know if he's having me followed but...." The tea and cheesecake arrived, and she waited until the woman had retreated back into the bakery.

"He warned me, Nabih. When I thought it was all over." Edward could be a brutal man; she had always known this, from the time she was young. But it had never been so forcefully directed at her. She could still see the rage in his eyes, hear the fury in his words. "He said if he found out I was seeing you, he'd kill you himself." Her words were quiet and matter-of-fact. "He's not joking," she said quickly before Nabih could react or laugh it off. "You know he's not and..." she raised her eyes to hold his. He needed to understand her position clearly.

"I can't ask you to put yourself in that position. Not for some flirting and whatever last night was." She smiled at him, hating the words as she spoke each one. She knew it would be a surrender, letting her brother win. Another acquiesce of the control and submission her family held over her. It's just the way things were.

Julia would find her way out soon enough.

[Nabih Al-Azma]

And another one. Laughing at him. At least she took the book back, even though that little mouth of hers had to say something about his warning. He cocked his head a little to the side, his smile getting wider and his eyes matched hers dancing at him. "Funny. But I don't plan on waiting that long for you to start paying for each one of them." Keeping track was one thing, bringing them back up when the time was right, another. She was smart. She would learn.

Her squeeze under the table just made him all the more suspicious. His eyes flicked over towards the market place, scanning over the crowd. He did not know who Edward had on his sister's tail, but usually they were not that hard to spot. Although someone like Edward Laurence could afford the best there was.

Her sarcasm wasn't lost on him, and neither was her attempt to sound defiant. If Daddy dearest would have wanted her married, she would be. She had to know this to be true. Now her brother, that was a different story. He was just using her to get what he wanted. To top it of, she was fine with it. What did that mean? Did she sleep with whoever needed to be won over? It was difficult to believe this to be true, but who knew?

He would have to deal with his own arranged marriage soon enough. His second one, because the first had gone so well. It was just his father's way of torturing him. "Why would he think you'd be attached to me after one kiss?" Two technically, but who was counting? "Or is it because you did it without your family benefitting from it? Perhaps I should have a talk with dear Edward?" Questions over questions and—

"Did you just shush me, Julia?" This woman was quite unbelievable. There was a hint of annoyance on his features, although only briefly. The waitress interrupted them and placed everything in front of them and by the time she was gone, so was any trace of his emotions on his face. Another one.

So this was what she had not wanted to tell him. Eddie threatened to kill him and she believed her brother. Nabih just raised an eyebrow at this and shook his head slightly. "He really does not like me, does he?" Edward wasn't joking? No, he wasn't and Julia was risking a lot meeting him then. If he wanted to kill Nabih, what would he do with Julia?

Nabih extended his right arm to take his cup of tea. The eyes of his mountain lion tattoo flashed and turned from dark brown to black. "Is that all it was for you? Flirting?" Whatever last night was. Nabih could not even answer this really. He'd mulled over it during the night, sleep not really happening after that strong surge of feelings that had happened. "I said it last night and I say it again. Your brother does not scare me. If he scares you so much, why did you meet with me today?"

[Julia Laurence]

Julia watched that smile spread across his lips, and she was instantly drawn to him all over again. The man was nicknamed appropriately. 'Trouble' encompassed him completely, and it was all she could do to not lean over and take his lips into hers until the smile was gone. "I wonder what that would look like?" she asked sweetly, and she gave a tiny shrug of her shoulder. "I do pay every sickle I owe."

Why would she be attached to him after one kiss? It was a good question, one she had asked herself. She cocked her chin slightly, but her eyes followed a man across the road who she had caught staring. At her glance, he looked away and moved on. "I'm not sure," she answered slowly, "Maybe it was the way you were looking at me." Her gaze moved from the probably harmless man, and the smallest smile played at the corner of her mouth. "And for the record, I don't kiss men for my family's benefit. Only for mine."  Now he was the one offending her. Cheeky.

She stifled a laugh at his indignation at her shushing. "No, I'm afraid he does not," she lamented, though her voice remained matter-of-fact, and she finally reached for the sugar to add to her tea. One tiny scoop was enough, and she began to stir thoughtfully. "I think he sees you as a threat. You don't ask his permission and you take what you want." There was no flirtatious tone to her voice and she shook her head, "As I'm sure you know for a man like that, it's the ultimate offense. Especially if what you take he sees as his." She, on the other hand, had a very different view than Edward when it came to Nabih.

She noticed the eyes on his tattoo flash and change colors as he reached for his tea. Without thinking, she reached over with her free hand and ran her fingers across his arm, admiring the art. "It's beautiful," she said, "Is that how you see yourself? The king of predators?" She smiled. "The Romans all but worshipped lions. They represented power and wisdom. Their leaders were always depicted riding them or having them at their side." She flicked her eyes back up to his and pulled her hand back.

Was last night just flirting for her? "If it was, would I be here?" This time she smiled and she laid her spoon down before taking her teacup into her hands. "Maybe you don't know the answer to that. So no, I wouldn't. I try not to waste my own time." Now it was time for her to ask him a question. "And what was it for you? You don't seem the type of man to waste his time either."

Questions, so many questions. "Well I had to warn you of course," she said and she brought the teacup to her lips, taking a sip. Bittersweet and scorching hot. She never took her eyes off him. "And I wanted to see you. Didn't you want to see me?"

Julia could never be accused of being the shy type.

[Nabih Al-Azma]

So sweet and innocent. That's what she wanted him to believe, even though they both knew she was anything but. "I bet you do," he said with a chuckle escaping his mouth. If things weren't so serious right now, he would give her taste of it, right here and there. Alas, with possible eyes on them, this would have to wait a little longer. He would not forget though. Every sickle, she'd said. Every sickle it would be.

"Is that what he said? He didn't like the way I looked at you?" There was nothing wrong with how he had looked at her. Actually, there had been everything wrong with it and how it had felt looking at her. How it still felt, looking at her now. It was different from how he usually looked at the women he was willing to share his time with. He was so much more curious about her and what she thought, and he took in every detail of her as if his life depended on it, when clearly it didn't. It was unsettling, so perhaps Edward had seen exactly that, although Nabih doubted the man to have this much depth. "And how did kissing me benefit you exactly?" It was a tease, but he still wanted to know the answer to this.

She ignored his scold as she put a tiny scoop of sugar in her tea, but then became very serious as she continued to talk about Edward and his issue with him. It did make sense what she said. Nabih did not care so much for Edward's feelings about this though. That he saw his sister as his property to do with as he wished, well that was just how things were. Should he have asked for permission? Absolutely not. "He's not wrong. Now I am a threat." Nabih said it casually, but she would understand what he meant. Edward was digging his own grave making threats on other people's lifes like that.

Her sudden touch felt like an electrical current running through him. His eyes narrowed at her hand on his arm and it was only the teacup in his hand that made him refrain from pulling his arm away from her. While she ran her fingers along his arm and talked, Nabih could not utter a word, tension running through his body. Once she released him again and looked back up at him, his eyes had become very dark pools, serious and dangerous. "No, I don't. Stop trying to analyze me." Short sleeves had been a mistake, he realized this now. At the castle, he always wore long sleeves. It was cold in Scotland most days, so that was not difficult to do. But today?

Nabih broke their eye contact and put his cup back down after drinking some tea. Instead his eye swept over the crowd once more. Several figures were potentially watching them, and Nabih tried to focus on them. It calmed him, helped him to sort through whatever had just happened inside of him. Two men, catching his stare, looked away and hurried off. This was ridiculous. She could have sent him a message beforehand, and simple warding spell could have prevented them from being seen together. It was too late for that now, but he would remember in the future.

Finally able to look back at her, she would see that he'd become detached again. He shrugged a little. What had it been? He still had no answer to this, just like she suspected. And right now, he didn't feel like he was going to indulge her with trying to find one. "Consider me warned, although the look he gave me last night was warning enough."

His expression softened slightly again as she told him she wanted to see him. "I would not be here, if I didn't, Julia. I wanted to see you last night, and I wanted to see you today." It was true, and even though it sounded very matter of fact, his voice was not as devoid of emotion anymore as it had been minutes before. "Now the real question is: Do you want me to back off or do I need to pay your brother a visit?" It was her decision entirely. While he was not one to waste his time, the mess she was in at the moment had only been fueled by that kiss last night. Consequences mattered, and Nabih had no problem with dealing with them in this case.

[Julia Laurence]

It was interesting really, the way this man operated. He was a master at dodging questions he didn't want to answer, always turning the question back around on her. In truth, while it seemed Nabih was getting plenty of insight into her, she was still at square one with him. The scales were becoming woefully unbalanced at this point, and Julia began to wonder why it was he felt the need to completely hide almost every part of himself from her. Even the casual parts that one would normally share with a friend. He wouldn't even talk about his teaching position outside of 'teenagers'.

"No," she replied, "it's what I said." She wasn't imagining it, as much as Nabih seemed to feel the need to gaslight her. The look in his eyes the night before wasn't casual. It wasn't friendship or even flirting. He looked at her in a way no one else ever had. Edward didn't have to say anything. Anyone who had had their eyes on the two of them would have seen it. But of course, if Nabih didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't push it. She gave a small shrug at his question, "Simple. I wanted to kiss you, so I did. There's always a benefit in getting what you want. Whether it's a rush, or something else." For her, it had been both. The way adrenaline had rushed through her veins in the same moment feelings she had never anticipated surged through her chest was more than she had been able to comprehend.

He didn't need to know that though. She decided then, that he had gotten enough out of her. A book, albeit an amazing book, wasn't enough currency for her heart. Nabih's words came causally, but Julia understood them perfectly, and she couldn't deny he was justified in them. Edward had threatened him, and Nabih wouldn't take that lightly. While Julia loved her brother, he was becoming a problem, quickly. If she wouldn't be able to have James talk him down, and fast, this was only going to get worse.

Nabih's eyes turned cold and hard at her touch and she felt an exhausted smile come across her features at his words. She shook her head in pity. Men. She should have known. Julia could almost laugh at how ludicrous it was that she had actually let herself get played by Nabih. Hook, line, and sinker. She had half a mind to congratulate him, give him a sarcastic 'well done'. She had fallen straight into his trap, even believing his little line last night before they had kissed for the second time.

He was brilliant, really. Another question left unanswered. Of course, he wouldn't tell her what it was for him, because then he'd have to admit it was all a little game for him. Nevermind that his game could cost her everything, including her family. She wanted to ask him if it was all worth it, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Instead she sipped her tea and watched him, now without the benefit of lust surging through her. He was like every other man she'd ever met. An emotionally unavailable 'tough guy'.

How disappointing.

"Well, I'm glad I could warn you." Her reply came quietly, and she watched him skeptically as his eyes softened again and he said he had wanted to see her. She cocked her head at him slightly, her own eyes now hardening. How easy it was for him to lead her on, but it was her own fault, really. She couldn't truly blame him; she had played herself.

Another question. She set her cup down and sat back in her chair, her face showing no emotion either way. "I don't think we need to continue playing games that neither of us are interested in. Do you?" She placed an elbow on the table and rested her chin on her fist. Her eyebrows raised, "I don't think you're as interested as you thought you were, Nabih. So let's agree to not waste each other's time."

[Nabih Al-Azma]

She had seen it. The way he had looked at her. Well, of course she had seen it, but she had also come to the right conclusions about it. Last night had not been about claiming her, although that was what he initially had thought. It had been about being with her, dancing with her and feeling her close to him. It had been about her voice, her sweet voice, her bright eyes, sparkling when she looked at him. And it had been about her wanting him, being interested in him, just like he wanted her. She had seen all that.

Yes, she had wanted to kiss him and the rush he had felt had been out of this world. Part of him regretted that he had not taken her somewhere last night, to allow that rush to consume him completely. Only a part of him though. Not the part that always needed to be in control of himself and those around him. That part, which always had the upper hand inside of him, had made him back off and go back to the reception.

Something in her changed the moment she actually saw a real part of him shine through. She wasn't scared by it, but she looked disappointed or like he had offended her in some way. Her dangerous hands on his bare skin had just been too surprising and in combination with her words, trying to puzzle him out, it had raised about every alarm in him there was. She would not understand this, of course, but how could he even begin to explain this.

The way she looked at him changed completely. Gone was her sweetness, replaced by a more vicious side of her. And it came out right with her next words. The softness disappeared out of his face again. "I remember asking you, if you were interested. It's not been a game since. At least not for me. But thank you for clearing that up."

Even more, she made another assumption about him. What did she know how interested he was or wasn't? "How have I offended you, Julia? I just told you I wanted to see you." This was becoming quite frustrating and not at all how he'd wanted this to go. Her mind seemed made up though. She wanted them to agree on this. She wanted to go, scared of what she had seen. The darkness inside of him that had made a peek as she touched him unexpectedly.

"That means backing off then. If that's what you wish, I'll comply. I am truly sorry, that our time together last night caused a fall out with your brother, Julia." This was about it. Something inside of him was protesting vehemently against the words he had just spoken, but Nabih ignored this. It's what she wanted. She was done with her game and with him. "I'll better go then, before you're in even deeper trouble with him." Nabih got up, and looked at her.

Why did he still want to kiss her again? Kiss that serious hard look out of her until the sweetness came back. It killed him that he could not. Perhaps he was better off this way though.

[Julia Laurence]

This was why Julia didn't take the time to try and date or entertain anything beyond a simple flirtation. It was too complicated, too exhausting. Julia wasn't a heartless person. She was willing to offer her heart and gentleness to those that deserved it, or that she felt an affinity for. But she couldn't offer it to everyone. She had been careful in the past, but something about Nabih had allowed her to let her guard down and show him more of her vulnerabilities than she had shown anyone.

Clearing that up. She didn't respond, but she held his gaze. Of course it hadn't been a game to her, but what did it matter now? She had told him she was interested, and he was pendulum-swinging so fast between hot and cold she was getting whiplash. What was she supposed to think? Surely Nabih didn't think her a mind-reader in place of his ability to communicate his thoughts.

She looked away when he asked how he had offended her. Was it not obvious? Surely for a man as astute and observant as Nabih seemed to be, it couldn't be lost on him that his dodginess was causing her doubt. "I've been trying from the moment we met," she said quietly, "and for some reason, you don't want to give me an inch. How am I supposed to interpret that?" The coldness in her eyes was replaced with a questioning look. "How am I supposed to believe that you're interested when you pull away so easily?" How was she not supposed to believe he played her when last night he was so embroiled in her, and now he was bristling at the smallest touch?

There was something else in his voice though. Something that felt different, when he apologized to her. It brought her guard back down momentarily, and she didn't know what to say. She wanted to stop him, to tell him to fight for her. If he'd just tell her how he felt, then he could have her. He stood, and she felt hurt surge through her. He had said he wasn't going anywhere, and now he was letting her go. Just like that, so easily.

The look in his eyes, though. She could see it. It was the same look that she had seen last night.

Without thinking, she stood and moved to him quickly, no regard for anyone watching or the consequences that could come from it. Before she could stop herself, or put her guard back up, she took his face in her hands. If he wouldn't fight for her, then she would do it for both of them. "Show me." Her order was quiet, but almost pleading.

And without another word, she brought her lips to his.

[Nabih Al-Azma]

No, it was not obvious to him. Her shutting down on him completely had come rather surprising. First she was so sweet and gentle and handsy. Handsy, yes that been a problem with her from day one. She knew how to use them, and she used them well. Had it been his reaction to this? Nabih did believe so, but it was easier if she just told him.

Pull away easily? Did she have any idea how difficult this was for him? What feelings were raging inside of him that he had trouble to even identify, let alone tame? No she had no idea, of course. Also, he had given her plenty, if he thought about it. More than he had given most women before her. Actually more than he had given any woman before her. And yet she felt like he had not given her anything.

Instead of remaining silent again, like he actually wanted to, he shook his head. "I do not know the answers to these questions." Another thing he gave her. Him admitting he actually did not know something, while he prided himself with his wide knowledge. But it was the truth. Trust. It required her to trust him, which she could not. This he understood. He had not done anything to earn it.

As he stood, his gaze was on her, to take her in once more before they would probably meet again at the next social function in a few weeks. Strangers then, because that's what her brother wanted. What she wanted. But now he could see something else in her eyes again. Where he'd thought she was seeing him off with that vicious look in her eyes, a softness had crept back into her features.

Before he could really interpret this, she'd got to her feet, approached him and he felt those tender dangerous hands on his face and hair. Confusion and utter surprise, which he was entirely unable to hide out of his face, washed over him. Her order registered and her lips met his.

While at first Nabih stood completely frozen, it only took him a second to kick himself back into gear. Her scent invaded his nose, her lips, the sweet coat of the tea still on them, got caught by his own, and both his arms wrapped around her beautiful body. If last night had been absolutely overwhelming, this kiss was even more so. Nabih poured it all into her, every bit of want, feeling and confusion alike.

Time slowed.

He was just a man. Kissing a woman he liked more than he thought he could ever like a woman. Was this how it felt to love a woman? Another thing he did not really know.

Nabih's lips disconnected from her unwilling, but his need for taking a breath was getting urgent. His eyes searched hers for any clue, any understanding of what had just happened. She would be able to see just how lost he was at the moment. "You are confusing, woman," he breathed and placed his forehead lightly against her smaller one. "So confusing."

Nabih was rarely this confused. Things were usually simple and he had no problem seeing through most schemes, plans and people. It's what he had done his whole life. "Believe me when I say, that no woman has ever interested me more than you. Please." It was all he could say right now. All he had to give. The please more than he would give anyone willingly.

His hands on her back, he brought his mouth down for another kiss, losing himself in her once more. The voice of reason within him, the one who wanted to be in control, told him they were in a public place and they probably had eyes on them and for the first time in forever Nabih Al-Azma did not listen to it.

[Julia Laurence]

It was half a breath and he was responding in force, his kiss overtaking hers, and just like before, she fell into him, a perfect positioning of his arms pulling her into him. Her hands moved gently from his face and wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her if it was possible. The doubt and coldness that had enveloped her moments ago vanished as quickly as it had arrived, and she wanted to stay locked in this moment, allowing the rest of the world to pass them by.

Like the previous night, she could feel his want, leaving her breathless in his arms. In place of her confusion and anger, all she felt was her intense desire for this man. To keep him for herself, in a way that she had never wanted anyone else. Their kiss broke momentarily, and his beautiful eyes caught her honey brown. His words were quiet and she shook her head gently, before he placed his forehead on hers.

Confusing.

If there was ever a word that could capture the essence of what Nabih and Julia had, it was this one. She hadn't looked for it, asked for it, wanted it. It had just been a few glances across the room. A locking of eyes that made her stop and take notice of this man; a magnetism about him so powerful she hadn't been able to look away since. "Likewise," she breathed.

Something inside of her broke into pieces at his words. If Julia had ever felt it before, she would know it was the last of her walls coming down, and as he took her mouth back into his she let go of all the questions left lingering in her mind. How they'd do this. If he meant it. If she did. Her family. His. None of it mattered. All of it would be figured out with time.

The only thing that mattered was that he was hers. Against all of her instincts screaming at her otherwise, she chose to believe him.

[Ren Al-Sayeed]

"Ugh, excuse me.....Sorry.....Pardon me....Oops, I'm so sorry, ma'am"

Ren's hands were full on both sides with bags hanging off of his arms, navigating through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley while knocking into every other person. It didn't help that the bags probably weighed more than he did. A full day of shopping for books and extra vials for his own potions had taken a majority of his precious Sunday off, not to mention the extra tidbits that he'd bought for his friends on his rare outing.

This time around, he had secured the permission of a senior to access the floo powder network under the guise of a special, personal potion that he wanted to create.  Merlin forbid that he would run into someone who could get him in trouble for half the things he wanted to by, he'd probably lose any goodwill he'd gained throughout the year. Plus, if he'd been banned from Diagon Alley, he'd never be able to have another chance encounter with the lady who'd showed him the true meaning of magic.

He'd had the magical bauble tied to his belt ever since he got back to Hogwarts after their fateful encounter. A few trades with upperclassmen netted him a velvet string pouch, just big enough to contain the gift he'd been given. Since then, wherever he went, so to did his new treasure.

He had put his bags down long enough to take a couple of breaths, sliding down the brick wall while catching his breath. He promised himself he'd take charms next year much more seriously, as a weightless spell would be perfect right about now.

After a few minutes of catching his breath and another few of people watching, he decided to head out and try to make his way back. As he walked up to a bakery, his thoughts drifted to Rae, and he wondered how their second year would go about.

"Huh?"

He put down the bags and rubbed his eyes. Surely he couldn't be that lucky, could he?

The jeans and black blouse were far from when he had seen her first, and the pulled up hair had a style of casual he hadn't imagined her in yet. But the silhouette was unmistakable. Undeniable, even. He'd imagined meeting her in another bookstore or seeing her on the news in some fancy headline, but never did he think he'd meet her again at a bakery.

He walked up slowly, setting his bags down a step or three behind the table that she was sitting in. She seemed to have company, and seemingly whispering secrets to each other. But it was now or never.

"Miss...Miss Julia? Is that really you?"

An inescapable grin launched across his face as the sight of a woman who possessed his thoughts quite often suddenly materialized right in front of him.

"Miss Julia! It really is you! I never thought I'd get the chance to meet you again. Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt you and your....." Ren's head turned mid-sentence to apologize to Julia's guest, only to unexpectedly find a somewhat familiar face that he'd first seen in the stands of the semi-final duels.

"Oh..." The silence of the moment lasted for what seemed like forever. He closed his eyes and opened them again to make sure he wasn't dreaming again.

It would have been a strange dream with him in it though.

"Professor Nabih... Uh, hello... sir."

[Nabih Al-Azma]

The war inside of him was raging violently. His need for control clawing its way to the surface with so much force, that Nabih had to break that second kiss, even though he really did not want to. In fact, a few seconds longer and he would have just apparated them both to somewhere more private. On second thought, she perhaps would have not appreciated such a move, but as confused as he was with her, he wasn't even sure of that anymore.

Her sweetness was back and he could not get enough of looking at it. It made him all the more realize how much he had disliked seeing that vicious side of her. At least when it was directed at him. Last night, when it had been directed at her brother, it was the best thing he had seen in a long time. Confusing. So freaking confusing.

"How about we do this properly?" His heart was beating so much faster than it normally did. It was such an unusual and ill feeling for him, that he did reconsider his next words before having even spoken them. Whatever it was, she was doing, she was good at it. So much better than he was. The worst part was that he allowed it even. Allowed her to make him do something, he'd never done for anyone else. Yes, there had been dates, but Nabih had never seen them as such. Transactions, going through the motions to get what he wanted and needed. A smile, some charm, a lovely picnic to keep up appearances and that was it. It did not require real effort, especially if he had his elves do most of the work anyway. All he had to do was show up and reap.

"Go on a date with me? This Friday. I'll pick you up wherever you want." Nabih already had something in mind for this, and this time he would not let elves do the work. He would have to leave for Hogwarts on Saturday, and he did not know when he would see her again then. She had her work at the museum and he would be back knee deep in teenage drama, rule breaking and classes. There was also the issue with Edward. If they were lucky, no one had seen them now, but what where the chances really? However, for their date, Nabih would make sure that would not be a problem at all.

"Miss...Miss Julia? Is that really you?"

Nabih did not let go of Julia upon hearing a familiar voice. Instead he just looked over her shoulder and spotted the small boy that had approached them. Thinking of Hogwarts, and guess who showed up? Without a word, Nabih's arms retreated from Julia's back, and he took a small step back from her. While the kid had no manners, it seemed, he certainly had and kissing and hugging in front of students was definitely not something Nabih Al-Azma was known for.

Al-Sayeed was rambling, and from what he said, Nabih concluded that Julia had met him before somewhere. It also looked like the boy was overjoyed with seeing her again, that grin of his so wide that it looked almost ridiculous. And then it died, as the boy's eyes shifted to him and recognized him. By now, Nabih's soft expression had disappeared again, and was replaced by the one Ren would know from him.

"Professor Nabih... Uh, hello... sir."

"Mr. Al-Sayeed." Nabih stressed the boy's last name, a stern look on his face. Calling him by his first name was just as unacceptable as disturbing this beautiful moment, and a child Ren's age should know better than this. "Looking for detention before term has even started, I see." The Slytherin had grown a bit over the summer, but he was still small and very much alone with all those bags of stuff. What was sticking out of those bags anyway? Nabih decided that he didn't want to know just yet. Term would only start next Sunday and until then, this little one was someone else's problem.

"I think this one is all you, Julia. Watch out with him though. There's more to him than meets the eye." His hand moved to her arm as he leaned into her once more. "Wear something nice," he whispered into her ear, and then retreated from her again. This time bringing some more distance between them. Mostly because her fingers had once more brushed against his own very naked arm, and it had send chills down his spine. "Can I leave you alone with him?"

[Julia Laurence]

While a war waged on within Nabih, Julia only felt a temporary peace. With all other cares washed away, all she could focus on was this man in her arms. It felt like an intrusion, having the rest of the world pass them by when all she wanted was to be alone with him, in their separate world. His kiss spoke all the words he couldn't, and she drank them in, letting each one settle softly in her mind.

He broke their kiss, but she didn't let him go. Her hands around his neck held him a little tighter, as though she were afraid he would slip away, but she smiled curiously at his question. "Properly?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Properly would have had to start three meetings ago, by their world's standards. Julia had been through the whole charade before. Someone would come and have dinner with her family, and then ask her father or brothers to take her out. Normally, she wasn't even half interested, so these inquiries seldom went much further than that. "I think we're a little past 'proper,' don't you?" her words played against his lips as she spoke and she gave a little smile.

She pulled back just a little, to look at him when he asked her on a date. A real date. Not little hallways or courtyards where they only had a few moments before they went their separate ways again. Her small smile widened, revealing her dimples and she nodded. "It's about time," she said softly, a hint of teasing in her voice, "I'll send you an owl telling you where to pick me up." She couldn't risk Nabih coming anywhere near her family's home. What they were doing now was a big enough chance, and she wouldn't be surprised if someone had seen them.

The only relief she had was that within the week, circumstances would be changing.

"Miss...Miss Julia? Is that really you?"

A familiar voice tore her attention from Nabih, and she looked over her shoulder to see Ren. The boy from the bookstore. She felt Nabih immediately release her and step back, and she did the same, taking a step back and turning to smile at the boy. An unexpected interruption, certainly, but it was much more welcome than the alternative. Her brother's thugs would have interrupted with a curse.

"Miss Julia! It really is you! I never thought I'd get the chance to meet you again. Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt you and your....."

The small boy was overwhelmed by bags, wearing the brightest smile on his face. She looked him over a couple of times. Seemed the poor child was always trying to carry more than he was able. "Hello Ren," she started to say, but then noticed his face change when his eyes shifted to Nabih. She stood back for a moment and looked back, once, twice between the two. Nabih's face returned to its serious default and she almost asked if she should excuse herself.

"Professor Nabih... Uh, hello... sir."

"Mr. Al-Sayeed."

Julia's mouth tightened to stifle a laugh and she bit her bottom lip in amusement. Nabih was obviously irritated by the informal use of his name, emphasizing the boy's surname.  She had half a mind to give him a playful nudge when he offered the boy a premature detention. "What have you got there? All your school supplies. I think you overestimated your own arms." She pulled her wand, and pointed it at the boy, lifting all of his bags into the air. The bags floated, suspended alongside the boy, and she gave him a small smirk.

Nabih touched her arm and she returned his touch, her fingertips brushing against his skin as he leaned in and whispered. Her playful eyes caught his as he pulled away again and she nodded with a small smile. She'd wear something that he wouldn't be able to tear his eyes from. "We'll be fine, mon bel homme. I'll see you soon," she said and gave him a small wink that Ren couldn't see. She hated to see him go, but loved to watch him walk away. She said her goodbyes with a dimpled smile, and turned back to Ren.

"Where are you headed with all that? All the way back to the castle?"

[Ren Al-Sayeed]

Ren stood there, a little dazed, his eyes bouncing between Julia’s warm smile and the retreating form of Professor Nabih, whose stern expression was now etched into his memory. It felt like the entire alley had gone silent, and he was left standing at the center of some odd, awkward universe where the woman he admired and Rae's old intimidating professor had collided.

He cleared his throat, glancing nervously at Professor Nabih, who looked less than thrilled about being addressed so informally. The professor’s warning about detention echoed in his head, and Ren gave a small, awkward nod. “Uh, no, sir. I apologize. I just..uhh, don't actually know your last name..." He whispered as if confessing a dark secret. He'd only heard his name through Rae, and most of the time, the names that weren't "Nabih" were something he'd probably gotten detention for saying anyway.

As Nabih leaned in to whisper something to Julia, Ren pretended to busy himself by adjusting the straps of his bags. But his eyes kept sneaking back, watching as the professor murmured something with a softness that felt completely out of place. Then Nabih pulled away a bit.

In that moment, Ren let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, and his face lit up again, a beaming smile directed solely at Julia. “Miss Julia! I can’t believe it’s really you!” he said, sounding like an excited puppy finally reunited with its owner. "You’re… you’re here! Just like that!"

He looked down at the bags hanging off his arms, realizing how weighed down he was. Before he could even think about setting them down, Julia had already pulled out her wand, and with a quick flick, all of his bags floated up beside him. He blinked, looking up at them hovering in the air, as if magic itself was giving him a hand.

“Oh… wow. Thank you!” His cheeks flushed as he realized how much he’d probably looked like a pack mule just moments before. “Yeah, I might’ve, uh, overdone it a bit… got carried away with all the potions stuff, you know?”

He was still grinning, feeling a warmth in his chest that was part admiration, part relief. He glanced back at where Nabih had been, and then back to Julia, as if to confirm that yes, she was here, and yes, he could actually talk to her without getting a month’s detention.

“Where are you headed with all that? All the way back to the castle?”

“Oh! Uh, yes, actually… well, I mean, I was trying to make it back,” he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “It’s been a bit of an adventure. I… I didn’t think I’d run into you here, of all places!” He looked down, fidgeting a little with the hem of his sleeve, suddenly feeling every bit like the small first-year he’d been when they’d first met.

“And… um… thank you. For that day in the bookstore,” he added, glancing up at her shyly. “I still have the… you know, the bauble you gave me. It’s my good luck charm now. I carry it everywhere.” His voice softened, as if he were confessing a secret.

He looked away quickly, feeling his cheeks flush. Then, realizing he was still keeping her tied up, he stumbled over his words again, "So, um…I know you’re busy, I don’t want to keep you, Miss Julia." He gestured to her empty chair with a bashful smile. "But… I'm still working on paying you back! I'll be good enough one day to do it. In the meanwhile," Ren's eyes landed on the book resting where the two had been seated. It looked old, expensive, and a series of other things that made Ren afraid to look at it for too long.

He rifled through the books sitting lazily on the floating bags and fumbled through them one by one, eyeing the table on the book throughout. He pulled out one of his books, and with a motion, removed the leather covering protecting his textbook and offered it to Julia.

"My mom, a long time ago, taught me how to make these," he said, as he offered the leather covering to Julia. "I made them myself, while practicing how to make this satchel for the bauble. You could use it for that book on the table, if you'd like...until you get a better one, that is."

[Julia Laurence]

Julia gave Ren a strange but sweet look and she smirked, “Yes, here I am. In the flesh.” The boy was practically dancing with excitement in front of her, and she found herself rather perplexed. It was as though she were some sort of celebrity he’d been dying to catch a glimpse of. “Ren, are you feeling alright?” she asked, giving him a quick once over to ensure he hadn’t fallen and hit his head or something.

As the boy chattered, Julia’s eyes darted around the marketplace. Nabih was gone, but that didn’t mean she was in the clear with anybody who may have followed her. “How’d the potion we discussed come along? Made any headway with it yet?” Another glance around, deciding finally, that she was probably fine.

“You didn’t think you’d run into me in Diagon Alley?” She gave a soft little laugh. “Isn’t this where everyone comes to school shop?” She raised an eyebrow at him but smiled, “You’re quite welcome of course. I’m glad you like the bauble. I have plenty more where it came from if you lose it.” The boy was practically falling all over himself and she hadn’t the slightest clue why. Had no other adults ever helped the poor child with anything before? She pursed her lips, no, actually. They probably hadn’t considering she’d found him where she had.

He began rummaging through his bags, and produced a book in which he removed the leather covering. At his offering, her eyes softened and she took it from him. “Your mother must have been very gifted with her hands to teach you how to make something like this.” She ran her hand along the covering. Gifts galore today, it seemed. “Thank you Ren, but you don’t owe me anything. I love this though.” She smiled and laid it on top of Nabih’s book.

“I can’t stay, but I’m sure we’ll see each other very soon. Those bags will hold up until you get where you need to be.” She gave him a cheeky look, “Try not to bother the professor too much, alright? I wouldn’t want you to have detention on your first day.”