stepping stones, ISO: anyone:]

[Atlantis Gibbon]

Having spent most of her day either in class or avoiding a certain Hufflepuff, who ironically she didn't want to avoid, Atlantis had decided to seek refuge in the enterance hall. Sure it wasn't the most secluded of spaces but it would do. Afterall there was no way she would be seen in the library, and she could not be bothered with the other Slytherins right now. She had much more important things on her mind. Like why was she falling for a mudblood hufflepuff? Or why she was hiding out from that exact same person. She'd loved the time she had spent with Atticus on holiday. But that was under different circumstances, she had just thought he was a gorgeous local to have fun with. Boy had she been surprised when she saw him at the Hufflepuff table. She'd had to try so hard not to make eye contact with him. not to smile, not to let out any sign she even knew the boy. And since she'd been hiding.

It wasn't like her friends hadn't noticed the change, infact many people had asked her why she was always in such a rush. Why it was so hard to find her. Fortunately none had asked why she became so distant when a certain hufflepuff was near by. Things would have been so much easier if she did not still harbour feelings for him, but the fact was she did. Strong feelings at that. Much stronger than the ones which she held for her boyfriend, and betrothed. Of course this made things even more difficult, she did not love the man she was supposed to marry, but she could not leave him too run off with someone who she could not be with. There was no way in hell that she could ever end up with a mudblood. She was, afterall, a respectable pureblood girl. With a bright future, and handsome and intelligent fiance and everything she could ever want.

Shaking her head gently she placed herself on the ground next to the door, humming a song and staring at her feet. No doubt someone she knew would see her and ask what on earth she was doing. But until that happened she would not bother thinking of an answer. She wouldn't need too, she was a manipulative liar, she was good at making things up on the spot. Which annoyed her. She could convince anyone fo anything, so why couldn't she convince herself she didn't want Atticus. She had tried, tried so very hard. But her mind always drifted back to the evenings they had spent together, the special moments they had shared. She'd risked her relationship with her boyfriend for him and now she couldn't even look at him.

It was obvious she was not going to enjoy her final year at Hogwarts. So far she'd had a great time, parties, friends and being one of the biggest bitches in the school. But one summer and one boy had changed all that. She seemed shy and withdrawn, spending very little time with her friends and basically no time with her boyfriend. What annoyed her more was if she could she would not change what she had done.

[Atticus Catchlove]

It was over. Atticus had nearly given up on getting the girl he’d spent an amazing summer with alone. She wouldn’t talk to him. She wouldn’t look at him. Heck, she wouldn’t even acknowledge his existence, except when she made herself scare if he came near. At first he had thought that she would gladly come up and say hello, but that was not the case. Apparently she was not the girl he had thought she was. When they had been together over the holiday he never would have guessed that she was one of the pureblood elitists. If she really cared about blood and house, then she would have made sure that he was a suitable match, wouldn’t she? She hadn’t even asked him where he attended school, so he had figured that she was accepting of all bloodlines. Only the thought that he might know the real Atlantis, the one who really didn’t care about all of that pureblood nonsense, kept him after her. Well that thought and the feelings he still had for her.

In the span of just a few months, Atlantis had shown him that any feelings he had for other girls in the past had been nothing. His feelings for her now were completely new to him and so much stronger than any other feelings he had ever had. And he’d grown closer to her so much faster than any of the other girls he had been with. Even on that first day, when they had just been talking, he had known that she was something special. That’s why he had started trying to find her at beaches and clubs. Never before had he spent the entire night dancing with same girl. Only Atlantis had ever captivated him enough for him to practically forget that there were other girls in the club.

None of that mattered now though. She had sent a very clear message to him. She wanted nothing to do with him, but he just couldn’t stand for that. However, it was very hard not to feel down and hopeless. He kept trying to give up and move on, but he couldn’t, but he had stopped trying to find her in the halls. He tried to get to her after classes sometimes, but that was it. Instead he actually tried to stay away from her during the day, hoping that she would come to him instead. This was why he spent much of his time alone on the grounds. If he was alone he thought she might feel more comfortable coming to him if he was alone. That was why, yet again, he was heading out towards the grounds.

As his eyes swept over the entrance hall, he jumped in surprise. The only time he wasn’t looking for her, he had actually found her. Atticus kept his eyes off of her after that first glance and made his way over to the large hourglasses by the entrance, pretending to take note of who was winning the race for the house cup. He was now close enough to talk to her, but far enough away, so they could pretend that they weren’t having a conversation.

“So do I have to put a full body bind curse on you or are you actually going to stay put so I can talk to you?” he asked softly, still keeping his eyes on the Hufflepuff hourglass.

[Atlantis Gibbon]

At first she did not realise the voice was directed at her. At first she didn't even register what had been said. That of course was until she recognised exactly whose voice it was and what had been said. Startled she looked up and confirmed her assumption. It was the exact boy she had been hiding from. But now if she ran away it would be the most obvious thing ever. Though it did seem like a very tempting prospect, especially since he wanted to talk to her. She was never very good at talking.

Sighing slightly she shrugged trying to look casual and suddenly greatful for the fact he was trying not to appear to be talking to her. A small smile appeared on her face but it was gone in seconds. "I suppose so" she practically whispered on glancing at the boy. God how she'd missed him, but she would not let him know that. That would make it even harder to forget about him than it already was.

"But only if it's quite, no people okay?" she added suddenly the Slytherin side of her returning. She couldn't just let her guard down because he was standing there talking to her. She had a reputation to keep up. And her reputation had nothing to do with hufflepuff or muggleborns except insulting them. Yet here she was head over heels for someone who was both. It was awful. Bloody awful. And she couldn't change how she felt one bit, no matter how hard she tried. And she had tried very hard, extremely. But unfortunately the summer just stuck in ehr head an upleasant reminder of a happy time.

Glancing around the enterance hall to check no one was watching her talk to Atticus she was relieved to see the place was practically empty except the odd student passing through quickly and that god damn awful cat. She'd always hated Mrs Norris, even though Slytherins tended to get away with murder, that cat was always a worry for anyone doing something against the rules.

[Atticus Catchlove]

Was his imagination playing tricks on him? Had he just seen a smile similar to the ones he had cherished during the summer? It must have just been his mind showing him what he wanted to see though because the next time he chanced a glance at her there was no trace of it on her face. She looked like just another Slytherin. She was even furtively looking around hoping that no one would see her near him. Did blood really matter that much to her? Was he so low in her eyes? If she was afraid to be seen talking to him, then he must have been low to her. If he only knew what was going on in her head. She must not be this cold. This was the girl he’d spent the greater part of his summer with. She had been so sweet during those couple months. This was the girl he’d held close under the stars when they decided to spend the night on the beach. She hadn’t been opposed to being with him then. What had come between them?

Atticus knew of course what had come between them. The guy he had seen her with was one reason she was avoiding him. He’d nearly fallen over when he’d seen them kissing in the corridor once. He couldn’t believe it, but that still didn’t stop him from wanting to get Atlantis alone. He didn’t care if she had a boyfriend and he didn’t care if her house wouldn’t approve of him. No real man would give up on a girl so easily. He could convince her to be the girl he had known over the summer. He knew he could.

“I don’t know why you care so much,” he answered, letting out a heavy sigh, “But alright. Where do you want to go then?”

He didn’t bother whispering like her. There was hardly anyone in the entrance hall, and if anyone asked him who he was talking to, then he would just say he was ranting to himself about how Hufflepuff never won the house cup. That was a good enough excuse, considering it was true. Hufflepuff hadn’t won the cup during any of his six past years at Hogwarts.

[Atlantis Gibbon]

He didn't seem to impressed with the fact she wished to go elsewhere. But who could blame him, she'd spent the whole summer with him, laughing, kissing, having fun and now she couldn't bare to be seen with him. In a perfect world she would have happily kissed him here, in a perfect world this meeting wouldn't be as risky as it seemed to her. But there was no such thing as a perfect world so she'd have to make do with keeping them private until maybe there was such a thing.

"I care so much because I have a reputation to keep up, not just for me but for my family" she hissed as she pushed herself up off the ground and once again looked around for other people. Fortunately there was no one there but the cat this time, and with that she siezed his wrist, desperately wishing she could be holding his hand like she once had. Making sure her grip wasn't too tight and dragged him into the nearest room with a door. Letting go of hims he pulled her wand out from under her robes and pointed it at the door lock muttering "colloportus" in order to seal the door.

Before turning back to face him she pulled ont eh handle happy that is was definately locked from atleast people just trying to open it by hand. "Ok, what do you want?" she questioned her tone strangely softer than it had been previously, yet still a bit anxious. Yes it was shall, and yes it was stupid. But she cared deeply for her reputation. What would people say if they knew she was locked in a room with Atticus discussing the relationship they had over summer.

It would not be good, and probably not for him either. Her boyfriend and his friends would probably kill Atticus for even looking at her. So in a way she was merely trying to protect him from harm. Well that was what she was telling herself to make what she was doing seem almost right,

[Atticus Catchlove]

“Oh so this is all for your family,” he muttered under his breath as she practically dragged him into an abandoned classroom, “That makes it okay. Yeah that makes it so much better.”

The girl didn’t want to give him any sliver of hope to hang onto, did she? She didn’t even take his hand like she once had. There wasn’t even anyone around and she still couldn’t do that. She had to grab him by the wrist instead. Though the wrist wasn’t far from the hand it seemed so much more impersonal. It was an aggravated gesture instead of one that showed she cared. As she sealed the door shut behind them he thought about just kissing her and seeing how she reacted, but he decided that it would safer to keep his distance for the time being. She didn’t seem to be in the mood for any of his shenanigans. Who knew what she would do? She might even hex him and leave him in the classroom for some passing student to find.

“What do you think I want?” he asked, frustration evident in his voice, “I want you to act like the girl I met over the summer. I want you to stop acting like you’ll catch the plague from me if you come near me, and most important, I want you to come back to me. Does what the rest of the school thinks really matter that much to you?”

There was no point in beating around the bush. Atticus knew what he wanted and he would do whatever it took to get her back. Well he’d do whatever it took to an extent. Perhaps the only thing he wouldn’t do was dress up as a Slytherin and pretend to be pure of blood. He was a proud muggleborn and wouldn’t pretend to be somebody he wasn’t. If he couldn’t have Atlantis while acting like himself, then there was no point in having her.

“Doesn’t what we did over the summer matter at all to you?” he continued, “And don’t tell me it meant nothing to you. I know you better than that. Or I thought I knew you better than that. Maybe I was wrong though. Tell me, Atlantis, I am I wrong or was that the real you I met over the holiday?”

[Atlantis Gibbon]

His words felt harsh, yet she knew they were the truth and she could do nothing. She had to listen even though it hurt that he could read her so well and seemed to dispise her right now. Eventually she chocked an "I'm sorry" not quite ready too answer him properly straight away. She was still making a desperate attempt to digest everything he had said. She had wanted to scream at him to shut up, but she couldn't, the only reason she wanted to was because he was right. Completely and utterly right, every word he said. Why was she geting so upset though? She had known the truth for ages, and she had known how it would be when eventually they had begun to talk about everything, yet she hated what he was saying.

Instead of maintaining the safe distance she had kept previously she move closer to him until they were face to face, like friends, perhaps closer. "It's not just what the rest of the school thinks, it's my family, if they knew they'd disown me, my sister basically has" she told him knowing full well he wouldn't care. But to her family was very important she loved them dearly and what they thought of her was soemthing that matter much more than anyone else. It was clear they would not approve of any relationship she had or could have with Atticus, even if it was what she wanted. And secretly it was.

"Of course it mattered" she whispered, this time not out of need for secrecy but merely because she felt unable to talk to him normally. She felt horrible, but she couldn't help staying away from him. They were worlds apart, it could never work. "Don't you understand? I want to be with you, but I can't I'm betrothed, I'm going to get married" she explained attempting to sound rational. So far this was her best arguement, but it still sounded weak to her. Her boyfriend had mattered not when they were making love under the stars. He'd not mattered when they'd spent evenings together just talking. He'd not mattered at all on holiday. And in some way he still did not matter.

She felt sick to her stomach, wanting to reach out and touch him, but unable to do so. Mostly due to fear, not of what others would think, but of what he would do. Would he push her away? She wouldn't blame him she'd been a cow towards him. He deserved so much better than her. But she wanted to be with him. Merely months before her life had been set, finish school,get married and be the perfect little pureblood wife. Now everything was so confusing.

[Atticus Catchlove]

This wasn’t what he had expected. Atticus had thought she would act like a pureblood was supposed to act in this situation. He had assumed that she was going to act as cold towards him in here as she did in the halls and in class. It seemed he had been wrong. She wasn’t denying that she had ever had feelings for him. When she apologized it was like a slap to the face, and he didn’t bother trying to hide his surprise. The girl that he had fallen for was still there. At once all his anger melted away. He was still frustrated, but just hearing her voice made him rethink his slightly aggressive approach. She sounded so small and confused that he couldn’t be angry at her.

“I just don’t get it,” he admitted, raking his finger through his hair as he looked down at her, “Who cares about your family? And your sister seemed fine with me over the holiday. Why do all have to care so much about who my parents are?”

Family was definitely something that Atticus really didn’t get. His mother had left his father when he was just a child, so he’d never been exactly fond of her, and his father was never much of a father figure to him. Besides, his old man had passed away in his fifth year, giving Atticus the excuse to live alone at his mother’s expense. He was close to his little sister, barely a year his junior, but he would gladly tell his sister to sod off if she didn’t like who he chose to date. Not all families were like his though, he supposed.

“No I don’t understand,” he repeated, “I just don’t get why you have to do whatever your parents tell you to do. If you want to be with me then be with me. Just tell Travers to take a hike. Wouldn’t that make things so much easier? You and I could make our own lives. I’m telling you, the life of a muggleborn is much more glamorous then the life of a pureblood princess.”

That last bit was a joke of course; an attempt to bring back the good times they’d once had. What he was willing to say or do to make her smile always surprised him. He would act like a complete dunce if it meant seeing her smile. Those smiles were few and far between now though. He hardly ever got to see her. Oh bloody hell. He couldn’t take it anymore. If he couldn’t see her whenever he wanted to, then he would at least take advantage of the time they had together. Almost tentatively, he reached out to take her hand in his and draw her closer to him.

“It’s going to be alright,” he said, trying to comfort her a best he could, “We’ll think of something.”

[Atlantis Gibbon]

"It's not who your parents are, it's who mine are" she replied almost instantly. But it was true. She could almost deal with the fact that Atticus wasn't exaclty a pureblood, but her parents would be a different story.They were pureblood fanatics through and through. In truth she was too, she had been raised as one it wasn't her fault. It was amazing she was even in a room with Atticus and not wanting to curse him. But it seemed as if he had a completely different type of spell over her. One that made her feel weak and vulnerable but yet so very happy.

Yes, even in her current state of confusion and desperation she was happy. Happy just to have a few seconds with him where she didn't have to worry about who she was, and who he was. It was just like it had been all summer, the summer she missed so much. It had been easier then. He was just a boy and she was just a girl. Basically made to be, but now they were back at school, and there was so many things they would need to face if they even hoped to be anything. The worst part was they wer all because of her, he'd caused none of them it was her.

She couldn't help but smile gently when he made the joke of glamour, but in truth it seemed as if she would prefer being with him than being just what he said. A pureblood princess. She had a life of riches and power yet right now she would give it all up just for this one person. Especially when he took her hand and her heart fluttered. His skin felt so right on hers, but so wrong at the same type. She was confused, wishing things made more sense, wishing it was just them to, that the room they were in was all there was. Though noises just metre's away made her constantly aware that this wouldn't last.

"I wish I could, but it's just not that easy" she finally replied to his suggestion of ignoring her parents, dumping Travers and just going with him. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but nothing worth fighting for was ever easy. Of course for someone who was born with a diamond spoon in her mouth everything else had been easy and she wasn't sure if she was quite up for the challenge even though she wanted the prize.

Squeezing his hand for a moment another smile appeared on her face and she rose on her toes kissing him softly for a second. The fingertips on her other hand placed gently on his cheek, she smiled into the kiss, merely using what time they had alone to remember exactly how things had been. And how she wished they could be.

[Atticus Catchlove]

Her response was so instantaneous that it proved to him that she had been brought up to never question her parents or the way she was brought. Didn’t she understand that she was going to school? Once she was finished with school nobody had a hold of her, unless she let them. She could start her own career after school was over, though she probably had her mind set on being a housewife. That was what most pureblood girls did, wasn’t it. Atticus didn’t really know. He had never had much experience with girls from the old pureblooded families that were prim and proper, and set in tradition. Why couldn’t they all just get off their high horses and admit they were no better than everyone else. Perhaps if every pureblooded boy and girl fell for someone of ‘lesser’ blood, they would understand, but that was too impossible to even wish for.

“Can’t we just disappear after school ends?” he practically pleaded, spitting out any idea that came into his head, “I hear Paris is lovely around June. Or maybe we could farther. America sounds like it would be a nice change.”

Wasn’t there anywhere that they could escape to? Or did she truly believe that the arms of her parents could reach her anywhere? They could get away from all the prejudice surrounding people like him. There had to be somewhere they could go where they could be happy. They were happy now. It proved that they could be happy anywhere if they had each other. Right now they had limited time in an empty classroom together and they still managed to feel the same way about each other. He could see it in her eyes. Even if she was torn between him and doing what her family thought was right, she was happy. He knew her well enough to see that.

“We’ll think of something,” he said, admitting defeat for now, “I know we will. Just don’t avoid me anymore, okay? I don’t know if I can take I anymore. If you do I swear, I’ll walk right up to you when you’re with Travers and kiss you more thoroughly than he ever could. And don’t think I won’t.”

Atticus couldn’t help but smile as she rose up to kiss him. If they couldn’t be together in public, they could at least be with each other in private and share a few special moments. When he had been apart from her he had vowed that he would be firm and wouldn’t see her unless they were in public and she finally ditched her pureblood values, but being with her made those thoughts fly out of his mind. As he kissed her back, wrapping an arm around her waist, he realized he would take whatever spare moments he could get with her.

[Atlantis Gibbon]

His ideas were ridiculous, amazing and wonderful, but ridiculous. They couldn't run off to Paris, or America. They'd have no money, no house, no nothing. They'd never be able to make it but still the thought of such an increddulous idea was just perfect. She'd love more than anything to escape with him, to somewhere beautiful, new and safe from other people. But it couldn't happen, if they thought it could they would be kidding themselves, and that would make nothing better. In most part it would make it worse, and that was the last thing she wanted to happen. She was so happy here. Just being with him made things seem better. But she knew it wouldn't last. Nothing good lasts forever, and the small moments she had with him would hardly console here until their next moment.

Hearing his threat she couldn't help but laugh slightly. Travers face would be wonderful if Atticus just walked up and started to make out with her. Though she would fear for the condition of Atticus' after that event. There was no way a Slytherin would take kindly to a mudblood stealing his girl. "Ok I won't ignore you anymore, but only because I don't want Travers attacking you" she promised him a small smile to show she was sincere. Though of course this would bring difficulties she would give him one rule to stick by. To help both of them until they could think of what to do. "Just don't mention us, okay?" she questioned hoping he would know she wasn't embarrassed of him, just trying not to make things for the pair worse than they already were.

After moments of kissing him which felt like a lifetime of pure and utter joy she pulled away. Hoping he did not take it the wrong way she gave him a big smile. "I'm so sorry for everything" she told him meaning every word of it. She hated putting him through pain because of her values and her family. Especially when he was being so great about everything. She'd found the perfect guy, but it would just be so hard to be with him. She pictured secret meetings, finding hiding places, the room of requirement and secret ways of communication. Anything just to be together, and right under the nose of her long term boyfriend. It would be hard, she knew it, but it all seemed like it would be worth it.

[Atticus Catchlove]

Yes Atticus was known to have a rather wild imagination, and right now that imagination was running away with him. His mind was trying to come up with any possible way to be with her, and he wasn’t thinking it through to see if it was even possible, though he still maintained that they could run away together and still be fine. All he had to do to get some money was threaten his mother with a visit. She wasn’t exactly fond of him coming to visit, so she would gladly pay up to keep him in another country. That would last them for a bit, and they could use it to get settled down. Then they could get jobs and make their own money; their own life together. It would be hard in the beginning, but if they both worked enough he was sure that they could make a great life for themselves. Perhaps he would bring up that plan again someday, but now was the wrong time. Perhaps it was best to give him time to actually think it through and realize all of its flaws.

“I’m going to tell the world,” he joked, though there was sadness in his eyes, “Everyone and their mother will know about us by tomorrow. Oh come on. You really think I’m that dense? I won’t tell. Just promise me you’ll think about me when we’re not together. If I can’t talk about you, I want to know that you’re at least thinking about me.”

Atticus, too, was envisioning everything being secret. There would be secret meeting of course, and he could just imagine the quick smiles he would flash at her between classes when he was sure no one was watching. Maybe they could leave messages for each other behind certain statues in the school. That way he could actually somehow communicate that he needed to see her. He wasn’t sure how long he would be able to last. Surely she wouldn’t want them to meet every day. That might get suspicious, but their meetings would need to be somewhat frequent or he would go bonkers.

“It’s not your fault,” he murmured to her, hugging her close to show her that he could definitely get over having to see her secretly, “But I can’t do this forever, baby. Sooner or later you’ll have to make your choice.”

Truthfully he wasn’t sure whether he should look forward to that decision or if he should dread it. Who would she pick? Right now he would put his money on Travers. She was betrothed to him and didn’t want to do anything to upset her parents. What would he do then?

[Atlantis Gibbon]

She attempted to smile at his joke, but even him joking about it filled her with fear. Seriously if anyone found out anything the last year here would be awful. And she didn't want her last memories of Hogwarts to be bad. Or for Atticus to get hurt or anything because Slytherin boys could be pretty vicious when they so wished. However she simply hugged him tighter and nodded slightly as if she understood. Then a real smile came when he asked her to think of him. This would be no problem at all due the fact she already did. Basically every moment of everyday it was him on her mind.

"I already do" she whispered looking into his eyes for a brief moment. Until now the fact she thought of him almost all the time had been torture, something she was not meant to feel. But now thinking of him and thinking of being with him would bring a smile too her. She had missed the time spent with him and was joyful for even the time they'd had together today, even if they were in hiding she was happier than she had been since she'd returned to Hogwarts.

Hearing his next words she felt sick. She knew it was true, sooner or later she'd have to choose between the life she'd known and loved and the boy she had steadily fallen for. Right now she couldn't do it but maybe somedays he would be able to. When her head and her heart weren't screaming completely different things. Logically it would be easier to stay with Travers, and stay in the life she was accustom to. But her heart was telling her the exact opposite, stay with Atticus, the choice she preferred.

Nodding she gave him a very small smile "I know and I will, eventually" she whispered. Hopefully she could put off the decision as song as possible, or atleast until she had been able to think about what she wanted properly. When she was less confused.

[Atticus Catchlove]

The reaction he got from his joke didn't please him, but Atticus douted there was anything he could say to keep her from worrying. She would always worry that someone would discover their secret. It was sad, but it was the truth, and there was nothing he could do about it, though he desperately just wanted to somehow solve the problem. Life would be so much easier if he was of pureblood or if he hadn't fallen for one from an old family set in their traditions. Her family would hate him even if he would treat their daughter as well as he could.

Once or twice, since the beginning of the school year, he had entertained the idea of pretending to be a pureblood. He imagined her parents loving him and telling Travers that they would rather have Atlantis marry the boy she had brought home from school this year. Then of course he and Atlantis ran off together and began their lives. Only then did she tell them that he was muggleborn, then there was nothing they could do about it, and they would have to struggle with the fact that they had enjoyed the company of a muggleborn. Of course this would all be impossible. He wasn't sure if he could masquerade as a pureblood. He was proud of his heritage and unafraid of being who he was.

As she looked up his eyes, even though it was just for one short moment, he lost his ability to speak. There was something about that moment that seemed completely indescribable. It was the recognition that they both thought about each other all the time, even when they didn't want to, though he didn't think that they would want to ever again. Did he even need to tell her that he thought of her too? Probably not, but he still felt the need to as he regained his voice.

"I think about out too," he replied, just as quietly as she had, "And I want to see you whenever I can. Not just whenever we can't stand one more second of being apart. I want every moment you can spare and a few that you can't."

Atticus wished this whole thing wasn't so hard on her. He hated that it was. Most girls her age didn't have to deal with any of this. When they liked a guy they could be with him. They didn't have to be with the guy their parents told them to be with, and they definitely didn't have to worry about marriage this early in life if they didn't choose too.

"I can't stand seeing you with him, baby," he confessed, "I hate watching you hold his hand in the halls, I can't stand knowing you two are off kissing in a secluded spot, and I can't even bare thinking about you being in bed with him. I don't know how long I can take this."

[Sorry that took so long. I was really messed up on pain pills.]