A first date (Anna and Michael)

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"A whole week? But you came down for meals and stuf right?" She'd been sent to her room like all kids for getting into trouble, but never for more then an hour at a time. She had the feeling that he probably hadn't left them at all, and wondered if he'd seen his mum and dad at all during the time.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael shook his head, "No, Gilda, our house-elf, brought stuff up to me. One of my cousins sneaked up to my bedroom one night, but he was almost caught so he couldn't come back." His older cousin had always looked out for him, but he wasn't always able to help him.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"I don't think I'll ever understand the way wizarding families work." Annabelle said quietly. Her grandparents had a wizarding household, but they weren't purebloods, and their lifestyle varied greatly from most wizarding families due to raising a squib. She couldn't see how a mother, any mother, wizarding or muggle could leave their child locked in a room for a week.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I don't think the majority of the pure blood population grew up quite like I did," Michael said with a small smile. "My father wasn't the nicest of men, he had power and he liked it, still likes it, I can only imagine what he'd do to me if he found out I had changed my allegiance." The idea of telling his father literally scared Michael, and part of that fear shown through his eyes before he closed them, collecting his thoughts.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"He doesn't know? Don't you talk to your family?" Annabelle asked without thinking. She thought that all of you-know-who's followers would know if one of them turned. She bit her lip after realizing what she'd asked, and seeing how the topic was affecting him. She shifted her hands, interlocking her fingers with his again. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael opened his eyes and looked into hers. "It's ok. No, I haven't talked to my family, I wouldn't doubt my father knows, but if he were to find me, I don't doubt that he would kill me." He gripped her hands firmly, but gently as he spoke. "Anna, don't apologize for asking me something, ok?" he asked, "You have a right to ask me anything you want." He looked at her tenderly, thinking faintly that Dru had never asked him such questions.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle sighed lightly. "I've always had a huge curiousity for things I don't know or understand. But I don't want to bring up things that would make you uncomfortable." She knew the thought of someone in his own family, his father even, trying to kill him certainly made her uneasy. "I guess I'm a poor judge at were to draw the line at getting to know you and sticking my nose in your personal life."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael was silent for a minute, trying to think of a way to form his thoughts into words. "Keeping things hidden....dancing around questions, is what broke up me and Dru." He didn't really want to bring up Dru, but he figured it would be the only way to get his point across. "I really, really don't want that to happen to us," he said, laying a hand along the side of her face and looking into her eyes. "You can ask me any question, and I'll answer it to the best of my ability." He had been thinking about her ever since they had parted on the grounds, had stayed up late the night before, her on his mind.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle leaned her head into his hand, enjoying the feel of his touch against her cheek. He was putting a lot of faith in her, trusting her with anything she wanted to know about himself. She wasn't sure that she was deserving, but it meant a great deal to her. " You're offering a lot to help us work out. The least I can do is the same. I don't have many deep secrets, but I'll promise to be open with you too. " She could think of only one major thing she usually kept from others and knew it would come up eventually with their relationship. After all that he'd already shared with her, she felt compelled to tell him when the time came.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"You know," Michael said, smiling. "I was up until at least three last night, thinking about you." It was very rare that someone had such an effect on him, and it almost made him shy to think about it. He searched her eyes and soon found himself leaning across the small table and kissing her deeply. His eyes closed and all that was real in that moment was the feel of her lips and her hair threaded through his fingers.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle reached out and ran her fingers up his robes to his shoulders. She rested her hands there; one hand cupping the back of his neck. She wished the table would disappear and she could pull him closer. Her lips parted for him, softening at the feel of his, firm against hers.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael broke the kiss and looked into her eyes again, "Do you want to go somewhere else?" he asked, he personally thought that the room of requirement or the lake sounded good. Just away from people for a little while.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Sure." She extracted her arms from him and stood up. "It's really nice outside, how about a walk?" The storm last night had swept away, leaving nothing but bright clear skies. Taking a final sip of her butterbeer, she returned the near-empty glass to the table before holding out her hand for him.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael quickly drained his butterbeer and threw some galleons onto the table before taking Anna's hand and standing. He linked his fingers with hers and started walking towards the door. "So where do you want to go? Or do you just want to walk around the town?" he asked, watching her move.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle wrinkled up her nose at the idea of walking around the small town. "Nah, lets go back to the school grounds, it's prettier." She'd never been one for shopping, and there wasn't much else to do in Hogsmeade. The back of his hand brushed against one of her legs as they walked close, sending butterflies through her stomach again. She smiled up at him, hiding the effect he was having on her.