A far too early invitation Fin PV Simon Kincaid

Truth should be so simple @Simon Kincaid

Simon's words made Haley think. It was a topic she had been thinking about a lot lately. Honesty was incredibly important to Haley, but she struggled with this one point. She wanted to be honest with Simon but avoided bringing up the subject, because she was sure he already knew but she had never said it. And now his words about being open about true feelings upset her and she felt bad about not being open with him. She felt like she owed him that. Her eyes met his and they looked deeply into each other's eyes for a moment.

She had always told herself that she would have to wait for a better moment, a perfect moment to talk to him honestly about her feelings, but sometimes the perfect moment was when it wasn't decided perfectly. She wanted to do it here and now, but at this moment she was not the brave lioness but a shy sheep.

His question brought her back to reality, "I'm happy to try to help you. I am similar to you but I would still consider myself good at this class." She liked the knowledge about stars and planets but didn't like the complicated big thing behind it very much. But she would try to help Simon at any time. Her mind was not on the topic and she hoped Simon wouldn't notice. Her eyes kept wandering back and forth as she thought about his previous words.

She wanted to be honest with him, but she didn't want to ruin the good friendship she had with him. She didn't want to be weird or anything, but he was right. True feelings should be spoken. "Speaking of truth..." she began to speak and now looked Simon in the eyes. Fear was clearly visible in her gaze and her stomach told her not to do it. But she didn't want to listen to her gut feeling this time, because it only spoke of uncertainty about this situation. "I think you are right, everyone has the right to deserve the truth. Whether that's negative feelings or positive feelings." She paused for a moment, still looking into his eyes. Would she really do this now? Excitement rising, she tried to put her thoughts into words, "And I don't think I've ever told you what my feelings towards you are." She looked sheepishly at her hands now but there was no turning back now and she continued, "Well they are clearly positive, I'm sure you're aware of that..." she had to laugh briefly, it really wasn't a secret anymore, "Well I mean really positive, if you know what I mean." She found it hard to turn her gaze to Simon, she was afraid of what she would read in his body language but she forced herself to look up from her hands again and at the same moment doubt came that he had even understood what she meant. That was probably the worst attempt on earth to confess one's feelings to someone.

He wanted to joke around with her. He wanted to say something about really positive feelings as in radiating sunshine, compassion, understanding - those sorts of positive feelings? Or he wanted to say something along the lines of maybe positive feelings in that he was more than an acquaintance, a friend, or perhaps more than a friend but a good friend...but the way she was being rather shy about this showed that this was difficult for her and so therefore it was not something to joke about.

Really positive.

There was a part of Simon that wanted to try and get her to elaborate on that but she was clearly already having trouble saying what she had said.

And he was afraid to say too much back because what he felt for Haley was more than 'really positive.'

So he decided to sort of push it aside and gave a small smile. "Really positive is good. It's better than sort of positive and a hell of a lot better than negative."

Her eyes raised up to his and he smiled a little bigger, not wanting this to be awkward between them and certainly hoped never to complicate things between he and Haley. That was the last thing he would want.

a failed attempt @Simon Kincaid

Attempt failed and not just a little. Haley had to laugh at her failed attempt and shook her head. "Yeah, you're right about that. Better than positive and much better than negative." She smiled briefly but it wasn't a genuine smile. She was disappointed in herself that she couldn't bring herself to say it in a way that someone, and that someone was Simon, would actually understand it the way she meant it. - No you idiot, I mean not only really positive. I mean I like you. I like you more than just like you - but the now reserved girl only thought that part. Firstly, she would never call Simon an idiot, because he wasn't. He was anything but an idiot and secondly, she would not broach the subject any further now. She wouldn't want to make this situation awkward so she let it go. She would have to tell him sometime. It would only be fair to him but today there had already been one failed attempt.

She did her best not to show her feelings and put on a smile again. Another topic, but what? What did they talk about again? Astronomy - right. "So, when should we meet for a study date?" Great, had she really just called it a date? Well done Haley, excellent job of steering the conversation in a different direction. But she covered it up and just kept talking. "And you'd still have to give me an exact topic. Then I can prepare myself and try to pass on my knowledge to you as best I can. Haley promise!" She laughed at the last part, really hoping she could help him.

But as soon as she was done talking, her thoughts drifted away again. Had she really just tried to reveal her feelings to a boy and failed entirely? That was actually the easiest thing in the world. One sentence and the cards would have been open on the table, but at the same time it was also the hardest thing in the world. The reasons were simple, doubt and fear of the reaction that reshaped this one sentence in such a way that the other person did not understand.

She quickly shook off her thoughts and tried to focus her attention on Simon as best she could. She had enough time to think about it when she was alone. And Simon's answer also made her understand that there wasn't much to think about. They were good friends. Now she wanted to use the time with him and not be absent.

Maybe her attempt wasn’t so much failed but rather he wasn’t brave enough to accept her words or return them. Did he feel the same? Absolutely. But this would take them out of the friend category and was he ready for that?

He was never really one to dance around a subject and he really needed to be truthful with Haley.

Ready or not, it was there and they couldn’t just go on pretending. She tried to admit feelings and he couldn’t just let them go unsaid now. “This is the very spot we first met. Do you remember that? Those first days at a new school and one never knows how they’ll fit in and then you meet that one person and you know everything is going to be okay because you have them in your life.”

Okay, he started. No going back.

Simon moved his bag that was sitting on the table between them so it wasn’t anymore and he reached out, taking hold of her hand.

Could she tell he was nervous? It was the good kind.

“If someday fate should be so cruel as to tear us apart, I’ll look back on these times so fondly. And if I’m lucky then I’ll never have to experience that and we’ll have a lifetime of memories built between us.”

“In the mornings my eyes directly go to find you in the Great Hall, I have difficulty in class because my thoughts drift to you, and on the nights before I find sleep, you’re what’s filled my mind. You talk about your gift and worry about the influence it might bring but you have an entire other gift that you never told me about. Somehow you’ve got me completely captivated, but I don’t mind. I’d never mind and never complain because I like being right here with you.”

It might not have been completely perfect but it was where they met and that held sentiments. Plus, she was the brave one while he had avoided it. No longer. Now he was being brave like the Gryffindor before him.

You always have the right words @Simon Kincaid

It felt like everything was happening too fast and at first she didn't understand what was happening. She had tried to banish this topic from her mind. She wanted to close the subject before it led to any damage, but suddenly Simon started talking about this place. The place where they had met for the first time. He completely ignored her attempt to change the subject, but it would soon become clear to Haley that she didn't mind at all.

She looked deep into his eyes and nodded in agreement. Simon always found the perfect words, no matter what it was about. When it came to cheering someone up, describing a moment or talking about memories. Haley had to smile at the thought of that moment. What would she have done if she had never met Simon that day. What would she have done if he wasn't the good friend to her that he was? She didn't know. And that's why it was so important to her that this friendship didn't end, even if it meant putting her feelings in the back .

But suddenly he took her hand. It was not an unfamiliar feeling that she felt his closeness and his coldness and her gaze rested on their hands. They both wore the ring and Haley had to smile even thinking about this moment. How could she have ever hidden the fact that she had fallen for this boy. But something changed in the atmosphere. It seemed like Simon was getting nervous now. Could it be that he had understood her correctly after all? Could it be that he was now going to talk about his feelings? And already Haley's nervousness was back.

Haley's heart ached at the thought that she might lose Simon from her life at some point. He was one of her closest friends and she felt so much more for him. And no matter what came, as a friend she would never want to lose him. She gently squeezed his hand at the more joyful part of his sentence. A lifetime of memories. She wanted to express that that was exactly what she wanted for them too.

And Haley could not have imagined anything more beautiful than the following words from Simon. She was again amazed at how perfectly he could put everything into words. Unconsciously, a big smile formed on her lips and it was quite obvious how she felt about his words. Not only her mouth smiled. Her eyes did too and her cheeks had turned red. Oh Simon, if you knew I felt the same way..but wait, this was the moment to tell him she felt the same way.

"When I wake up I think of one thing. When I wander the corridors, I think of one thing. In my spare minutes, I think of one thing. Simon, that one thing is you." It wasn't just her who had captivated him, it was him who had captivated her. She knew she wasn't half as good at finding such beautiful words as Simon, but she hoped she had made it understood that she felt exactly the same way. That she felt the same way as him in class and that no matter where she was, she always hoped to find Simon with her gaze. Whether it was at breakfast, in the library or when she was walking through the corridors.

Simon smiled and he was probably blushing a little too from her words. That wasn't something he did often but when a girl like Haley, who he liked, was sitting there telling him how she liked him back - how could he not?

He looked down to their hands that were intertwined with one another. The snake ring that each of them had seemed to rest so nicely against one another's and yet the colors of them contrasted beautifully together. It was something that he realized early on and helped him see how well he and Haley Rose fit together.

His heart was beating relatively fast, he could tell, and even his breath had picked up a little from the excitement of the moment. How did someone as wonderful as she was like him back? What had he done that was so great as to deserve that?

"So, maybe..." he paused. "Maybe if it's not too forward of me, I could suggest the idea of us; being an us?" Did that sound awkward?

No.

Absolutely not.

He wasn't going to start over-analyzing every little thing now that he had admitted feelings for this girl. This was still Haley and still one of the people he was most comfortable with. If he had something to say he was going to just say it.

"Maybe if it's not too forward of me, you wouldn't mind me asking if you'd be my girlfriend?" And now it was his turn to do the classic Haley move. He stood up and then knelt himself down beside her, as if proposing marriage.

A thousand times yes @Simon Kincaid

Us. As Simon said these words, a big smile formed on her lips again. Us - Him and her. Simon Kincaid and Haley Rose. To her, it sounded like it just fit together. Like the two of them just fit together. And she couldn't imagine anything better at that moment than being a n us with Simon Kincaid.

But before Haley could respond, Simon continued. But this time he didn't just talk about an us, but about whether she wanted to be his girlfriend. Yes. Yes. Yes. Was all she could hear in her head. As if it wasn't already obvious how the Gryffindor girl would answer, she wanted to give him the most honest answer. But before she could think about it further, Simon stood up and knelt in front of her.

She could not believe it. He was really doing her move and it was perfect. She couldn't help but start laughing. There couldn't have been a moment more perfect for this than this. She took his face between both her hands and looked deep into his eyes still with a huge smile. Because she wouldn't be Haley if she didn't go for this little game.

She slid off her chair, his face between her hands, and now knelt on the floor with him. Her look now changed to a feigned shocked face. "Oh my God, Simon..." she paused briefly, her gaze shifting back and forth between his eyes, "I thought you'd never ask." She gave him a quick wink before wrapping her arms around his neck and continuing to speak. "Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes." She acted like accepting a marriage proposal and said the words probably a little too loudly and started to laugh. But she didn't care if anyone was bothered by that right now, because her thoughts were only in that moment.

Simon laughed too because this was now their what - fourth proposal? He loved it every time though and this time carried the most meaning as the two of them, that were verging on more than friendship, that were acting like more than a couple - were finally a couple.

She brought her hands around him and pulled him into an embrace and he just held her there for a moment, squeezing her softly back and glad to have this. Friendship with Haley was great but he knew that this meant even more trust between them.

When he slowly began to pull out of the embrace, her green eyes still watched his and he couldn't help but lean in, bringing his lips softly to hers. Things like this moment should be sealed with a kiss. It was soft and sweet. No need to get carried away in the Library after all and they were also among a few other students. He'd never want to embarrass Haley.

Thinking it was still rather tasteful, he overheard a clearing of the throat towards the door of the library. Was it the librarian? A prefect? Simon stood up and took Haley's hand, bringing her back into the reality of the library with him. "Some people just don't appreciate the good things in life," he whispered.

An older girl, a student who was maybe in her fifth or sixth year passed by them and gave them both a wink, as if to say a silent congratulations and then headed out. Sadly, as always with these two, it was nearing curfew and their time would need to be cutting short soon. Still, it had been one of the most eventful evenings he had at Hogwarts - Simon Kincaid had himself a girlfriend.

Saying good night @Simon Kincaid

Haley closed her eyes as Simon kissed her and as with the first three kisses, this one was beautiful. It didn't matter where they were. Whether it was in a dark chamber under Hogwarts, in a ballroom or in the library with prying eyes. When she was with Simon she blanked out the world around her and it was always the perfect place because he made it perfect.

She giggled softly at his comment and her cheeks turned slightly pink again. She looked sheepishly at the ground as the girl walked past them and winked at them both but couldn't help smiling. Now it was official, they were a couple and it didn't bother her one bit if anyone here had seen that. She would like to shout it out to the whole world. Simon was her boyfriend.

But like every time she spent time with Simon, it went by far too quickly. They would soon have to go back to their separate common rooms and you could tell by the look on Haley's face that it made her a little sad that they would have to go their separate ways again so soon. But it didn't help and they still had plenty of time to spend together.

She packed up her bag while talking to Simon, "Unfortunately, it's almost curfew and I think we should head to our common rooms." She looked at him a little sadly but smiled at him. They picked up their things and made their way out of the library.

Arriving at the stairs, Haley knew their ways would part here. She would have to walk up a few floors to get to the Gryffindor common room and he would make his way to the Hufflepuff common room, which was next to the kitchen. She stopped and stood in front of Simon and had to look up slightly due to the size difference. "Thank you for this afternoon." She smiled warmly at him and went up on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Hope to see you soon." She said to Simon and turned to walk up the stairs with long strides.