Just when she had thought she'd seen enough of him during the few weeks of July spent in Zuheir Manor, Aurelia was cooped under the same roof with Hadrian for summer camp. The parents of the engaged couple were adamant about the convenience of having the two under watchful eyes. With her new set of skills, Animagi and Apparition, the adolescent witch could appear anywhere she pleased, but they were unrelenting, especially after the stunt she pulled not too recently last semester. For the trouble that she put them through during her escapade, it was fair enough.

Travelling to France and Italy later in the month was only for some official arrangements organised and escorted by her Mother, Thellea Bezuidenhout. It was barely a vacation despite the lavish accommodations throughout the trip. They'd brushed back into England to visit the Miller Manor for arrangements pertaining to her younger brother, Heinrich. Another betrothal, it felt as if it was only so recently that she and Hadrian were set under contract.

The camp provided an escape, some space to breathe and finally spread her wings. Best of all was reuniting with her boyfriend after multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact via owl - both having had busy schedules, apparently. The less fun part was the duel which just happened to be against Lysander's very own cousin, Phaedra. To her chagrin, the stubborn phoenix feather wand refused to serve her and her teammate for a good part of the duel. Aurelia was at least glad that was up and over with despite taking a loss and a trip to the infirmary to tend to her ugly, painful burns. And very recently was the triathlon, one of the last few events in which Aurelia herself was impressed with how well she competed.

The owl animagus expected the small humble tent to be empty at this time of day. Most were having supper, celebrating the last of summer camp before everyone was shipped off to their respective schools. But she was wrong as upon soaring through the tent's pale curtains, she had collided straight into a figure - wasn't the first time with cousin Draven usually falling victim to such mishaps. The impact compelled her to regain her human form, a pair of hands now around her waist to steady them both from falling over. "Woah, watch it," Those hands and an all too familiar voice belonged to none other than Hadrian. What was he doing standing in the open? Of course, accidents like this weren't her fault.

Naturally, a her cheeks flushed a tint of red as she scuttled into the bunking area of the small tent. "Just here to grab some... stuff," An excuse really, she'd been avoiding Hadrian like a plague this summer, even if they were under the same roof, she had maintained the form of an owl more so than she did human - such a great fiance she was. "Aurelia," Hadrian called from behind. The Gryffindor did not quite know what she was looking for, praying that perhaps the American would somehow find his own way out while she was mindlessly rummaging through her trunk.

"We need to talk, Aurelia." At those words, Aurelia almost winced if not for her back turned against. It was true that a talk was due, as in every relationship, communication was key. The Gryffindor sighed, she supposed could only leave her problems unaddressed for so long. Hadrian was already set at the small table as she turned before ambling across the room to the small pantry area. "Tea?" she asked, putting the kettle on.

The change in the pretty young lady's behaviour was noticeable, the way she'd avoided him, barely even making eye contact when in the same room. There was once when things between them were different, but as of late, all he concluded was that she found something else to have her fun with. He could say the same for himself. But inevitably, regardless of their own agreements between them, they were bound by the inked words on contract.

"Sure." The American adolescent replied to the offer of tea, though he was more of a coffee drinker himself. As Aurelia put the kettle on to boil, she joined him by the table across from him. He thought it would have taken a bit more persuasion as she'd seemed set on delivering her silent treatment the past month. "So talk," seated poised with her hands clasped in front of her, the girl said. How terrifyingly regal she always seemed to carry herself. A fist rose to meet his lips as he cleared his throat.

"What's your problem, Aurelia? You mailed your ring back and barely spoken a word since the train station." Despite his bluntness, his tone hardly carried a sharp edge. On the other hand, the look she returned, a glare of sheer disdain and lips pursing into a thin line to convey her discontent, could easily send a child running. "What's my problem?" The brunette repeated his words back right at him in a harsh whisper. If only he could turn back time and consider his words a bit more carefully, yet his cards were already laid up. "Taking a child to the ball as a date? Not to mention having the nerve to embarrass me in front of my own under the guise of an accident. Is your head so thick that you cannot see for yourself? Are you really that petty, Hadrian?"

Unfortunately, the teen boy's own brash need to preserve his own ego would not allow him to eat her words, no matter how true, blindsiding him from realising his own mistakes. Petty? No, he would not accept that. "Why do you care about who I take to balls, huh? I don't care who you hang out with, let alone pretty tall guys. But I suppose you got upset enough to entrust that eleven-year-old to deliver that ring back. No communication? Nothing. That was uncalled for, Aurelia." He huffed, his arms crossing around his torso, slanting back against the backrest of the wooden chair.

Silence hung between them for perhaps a moment too long, enough for a slight unease to set. Aurelia leant slightly forwards, hair tousling down her shoulders at the shift, her eyes narrowing cynically. What he did not expect was the twitch of a corner of her lips as a smirk formed, a deep piercing scowl no longer. "I can't believe it, Hadrian, you were jealous. That's why you were such an arse. Seeing me with Lys made you jealous. Why hadn't I realised?" It dawned right then. The lightly derisive tone that carried her words may as well have cut right into his soul.

Naturally, coming to his own defence was denial. "Why the fuck would I be jealous? Him? No, you were jealous of Seren. Why else were you so bothered about my date?" Steering the accusation back at Aurelia was a petty and weak attempt at saving face. "Because she's eleven! Oh please, what else would drive you to spill a cup of punch on me if not for spiteful jealousy?" Aurelia guffawed mockingly. There was no way he was getting out of this easily. "I wasn't fucking jealous." He mumbled, clearly having taken offence if not for the redness in his cheeks and avoidance of eye contact giving him away. Now backed into the corner and guilty.

The scream of billowing steam filled the tent, interrupting their heated conversation. Saved by the whistling kettle. Aurelia left her seat, allowing the boy some grace of time to try and salvage the matter at hand. He'd asked her out which the Gryffindor rejected, already having her own plans. Perhaps he was jealous, which he would never admit to, not till the end of times. Typical. And if that meant apologising for another one of his mistakes to diverge, then so be it. "I might have crossed a boundary by throwing the drink at you. I'm sorry. I've clearly utterly disrespected you in more than one way."