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Mania kept staring at the book when Felix said he knew that she was capable of all of that. It was unsettling that he was so confident in that. When he nudged her Nia dared a small glance in his direction and when he called her smart she still wasn't sure she believed it. She knew she was a lot of things but had never considered herself to be smart. His comment about the club made a faint smile appear on her lips as she regained just a little bit of her usual spark and raised a questioning brow. "Have you been watching me Layton?" She asked in a teasing manner, though if he said yes she wasn't sure how she'd react but then again if he said no she wouldn't be sure how to react to that one either. "Yeah I guess and I still got years to figure it out and get better at potions." It wasn't like she was graduating tomorrow or the day after, she had time to figure it all out. "Thank you," she said again, this time smiling genuinely and looking the fourth years way.
 
To admit he'd been watching her would have defeated the point that he'd also been doing his best to avoid her. His cheeks flushed and he did nothing to dispel the rumors that he may have been paying more attention that he initially wanted her to believe. It would only be later on in the day that he'd come up with some witty comment about how he was only watching her because he was supposed to be looking out for the younger students, but as he sat in the library he wasn't prepared for an answer. "Exactly, plenty of time," he smiled at her, debating his next move. Maybe if all he could be to Nia was her friend, that would have to be enough, "And look, if you ever.."
 
"Can I take all of these?" Luke dropped another handful on books on the table in front of Felix and the girl, sweat had now appeared on his forehead. "Like, I'm not going to be charged per book, am I?" He didn't think he had enough Galleons to last him if he was going to need a membership card or pay a fee for the books. They were already struggling without the lack of internet, but paying for their books too? That would be a step too far.
 
Had Mania expected Felix to deny the claim of having paid attention to her? Absolutely. Was she against him not doing so? Not really. She nodded in response to the plenty of time and then was about to ask him what he was about to say when a thump sounded on the table and she nearly jumped out of her skin, physically she did jump a little bit in her seat. Whipping her head back to the strange first year her eyes were wide with alarm for a moment but his question made her giggle a little bit. "I mean yeah they do charge you, ten galleons per hour so best get the information noted down as fast as you can." Her tone and expression were serious only for a few seconds before the front fell.

"It's called library not a bookshop for a reason. You can borrow the books as long as you return them within like I don't know what the custom here is but like a month or so. Just treat them well and don't damage." She gave a proper explanation, still a little put off by the interruption in her and Felix's conversation and what he was about to say before this strange minion interrupted the moment was bugging her.
 
Felix was somewhat in a world of his own when Luke slammed something onto their table for a second time. He fought the instinct to move his arm around Nia when she jumped next to him. He had to bite the inside of his cheek though to stop himself from chuckling at her comment and giving the game away, risking a glance in her direction it was hard not to kiss her there and then. He knew he was in trouble, and he knew this was going to hurt him in the weeks and months to come.
 
"AN HOUR?!" Luke was horrified. What sort of school would basically scam their students. Thankfully it sounded like the girl was joking, although he was a bit annoyed Felix didn't defend him either. Sure, make fun of the first year. He ignored the pair of them, yanking his backpack off the table and onto his book before beginning to stack the remaining books back into his arms. "I'm not going to damage them," he mumbled, hoping Butters didn't get a hold of them, as he left the library.
 
Mania swallowed her laugh as the first year yelled out the fact that they'd charge you per hour. She felt a little bad, but not too bad. As the boy took his belonging and left, making a comment of not damaging them Nia nodded then turned to Felix. "What were you about to say before he smacked his books on the table? If I ever...?" She asked curiously, wanting to know what he'd been about to say.
 
Felix was still painfully aware of the space and silence between them when Luke had wandered off, and turning back to face Nia it seemed that she was too. "I, er," Felix turned to face her properly again, their close proximity ever prominent. He wanted to lean in, he knew what to do, but he didn't want to scare her either. Was it the wisest thing to do? Unlikely, but that didn't stop Felix from wanting to. "I was just thinking," he started again, inching his way closer, ever so slowly to the point that he wasn't sure if someone was watching, whether they'd be able to tell. "If you ever wanted, any help.." his voice was only loud enough for her to hear him now, "..not that you'd need it I mean, but if you ever wanted it.."
 
Felix seemed a bit lost for words in the moment which only made Mania frown a little. Was he okay? She didn't rush him though, just waited to hear what he had to say. She noticed him inching closer and against her will she did hold her breath for a moment, debating whether to do the same but that would end in an awkward collision if both of them started inching toward the other. When he made to specify not that she'd need any help Mania's hand moved out of its own accord to his arm, in what was meant to be a reassuring gesture. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." It was nice of him to offer and he clearly wasn't trying to insinuate that she'd need any help which she wasn't going to think he was anyways. Not after his efforts to reassure her before.
 
Felix was prepared for the rejection but it still stung. Even more so when he felt Nia's hand on top of his arm, "No, problem." He smiled, turning his head as to avoid any other awkward encounters. He had to leave before he did something stupid, or made a fool of himself. "I should go," he closed the book he'd so calmly been using as a pillow, tucking it under one arm. "You know where to find me," he said, doing his best to sound natural before he turned from the library, hoping Nia wasn't going to see this as he was leaving so much as doing them both a favour.
 
Mania was painfully unaware of any of the emotions passing through the boys head, she just figured he might have needed the bathroom or go find someone else to hang out with. Which was fine, she'd taken enough of his time so it didn't bother her as much, giving him a nod she watched as Felix walked away. Her eyes lingering where he'd gone for far longer than she'd admit.
 
Felix had bolted back up the library, having been downstairs for the good portion of the last hour. Approaching the doors he tried not to look around the room too eagerly although his heart was in his mouth as his eyes scanned the room for Nia. She was right where they'd been sitting. He crossed the room, sliding back onto the bench beside her without bothering to turn and tuck his legs in. "Hey," his cheeks were flushed after the climb, but he was doing his best not to look out of breath.
 
Mania had given up any hope that maybe Felix would change his mind and come back about thirty minutes in of constantly glancing towards the exit. She'd turned her attention to the book and started taking notes on everything it had to offer, it may have been another three years from now that she'd need them but if she started early the better her chances of fully understanding it all were. She'd just gotten into a comfortable rhythm again when someone sat next to her where Felix had been earlier, she didn't have to look up to know it was him either. "You came back," She said as she did look up to him.
 
"Yeah, yeah I did," Felix leaned a little closer, hoping he wasn't interrupting her work flow. "I forgot to ask you something," he added quietly, careful not to disrupt any of the other students that were around them. At least Luke was gone now.
 
Mania smiled as Felix confirmed what was obvious. She'd put her hair up in a ponytail so now all that there was were occasional fly aways that she kept blowing out of her face, but resisted the urge to do so with Felix around. "Oh? What is it?" Nia asked, a little sad because it probably was something normal and he hadn't come back because he wanted to hang out with her longer.
 
Felix lent a little closer still, partly because he only wanted Nia to hear but also because he didn't want anyone else in the room privvy to their conversation, "Do you.. already have a date to the Yule Ball?" She probably did. People like Nia always did, and he was prepared for the second rejection of the day.
 
Nia's brows pulled closer together when he asked if she had a date for the Yule Ball. "No, I don't." She answered, still a little confused. Surely he wasn't about to ask her to go with him. SURELY.
 
Felix's heartbeat only quickened in his chest as Nia told him she didn't. No one else had gotten there first. Surely that was his sign he should make a move. "Okay," he was a Gryffindor, he had the courage to do this. "Look you can say no if you want to, that's fine.." he prefaced, just in case. "Nia, do you want to go to the ball with me?" The last few words were barely more than a whisper.
 
Surely not.


Wrong because he did. Nia's jaw was inches from the floor, had she become more delusional recently? In the way where she began hallucinating instead of just believing in delusions? She didn't think so. Looking around quickly as if to make sure if there was another person named Nia around them or if anyone else was seeing what was happening. Had Felix asked her to the ball? Had he also made sure she knew she could say no? Pinching her own arm, just to make sure it was real and she hadn't fallen asleep on her book she tried to hide the grimace as it did in fact feel uncomfortable. A small smile pulled on her lips. "Yeah, I'll go to the ball with you." She finally answered, her smile only growing.
 
She had said yes. Yes. Lilith was right. It would have sucked if he hadn't taken the chance to put himself out there, to miss out on spending the Yule Ball with Nia because of his own cowardliness. His eyes dropped and he saw as she pinched her arm, his own hand this time moving to cover her arm in reassurance. "Okay, okay that's, really great," the adrenaline was pumping even harder around his body now as he was grinning at the third year. There were so, so many things he wanted to tell her, but in an effort not to overwhelm her he kept them at bay. He moved closer to kiss her on the cheek, "It's gonna be a good evening," it was perhaps the one time he was actually looking forward to it.
 
Felix seemed happy with Mania agreeing to go to the ball with him. More than happy, he seemed very excited. That surprised the third year but her smile didn't falter as she looked at his wide grin. She was still at a bit of a loss if that'd actually happened and his hand on her arm kind of grounded her from the overwhelming run of her thoughts. Then he kissed her on the cheek and Mania swore she could have screamed. Loudly. But that was best to not do in a library. "Good, great. It'll be good yes." She said nodding, still not sure it'd really happened.
 
Felix was on a high and one that he didn't want to take too far too soon. He was proud of himself for the steps they'd taken so far, and he was in no mind to rush anything. "I'm going back to the common room if you want to hang out in a bit," it didn't hurt to add, right? "But otherwise I'll let you finish your work," the offer was still there if she needed help, but Nia had been deep into her notes when Felix had turned up and he didn't want to intrude on her efforts. "I'll see you later Menace," he grinned, slipping off the bench almost as quickly as he'd turned up. So far, so good.
 
Mania blinked at Felix a few more times as he technically offered to hang out in a bit again. "I'll meet you there, I have to finish this up." She offered gesturing to her notes, that looked far better than anything she'd ever done during actual class. Her smile fell a little and she whipped her head to stare after him and narrowed her eyes. "Don't call me that," she told him, though it didn't seem like a mock but she'd rather take Chatty B, because that one wasn't tainted by the fact her mum used it too.
 
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