"To repay you of course." He looked at me from over his shoulder, watching as I lifted the watering can to water the plants closest to me, "I did say I would." "And I told you that you didn't need to," I reminded him. "If you paid any attention to me over the last 5 years then you'd realise that I don't tend to do what I'm told."

"And you decided to kidnap her instead! Once Weasley finds out about this, we'll have hell to pay."

"I don't think we're a fit," he admitted, and I kept my agreement silence, simply nodding my head. "I'm out of your league."

"I'm fine," he assured me instantly like he had grown used to having to tell people that. But he really wasn't fine, I knew that. He'd never needed to tell me that.

"Just – what are you doing Wiley? What are we doing?" He tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, waiting for an answer that I really couldn't give him. Not because I didn't know the answer, but because I didn't want to say it. "Well?"

"I just remembered that I have some favours to call in."

"That girl – the one that made an entire fool of herself for you-you have to understand – that girl wasn't me."

"James – what are we doing here?" "Truthfully?" He sighed, meeting my eyes for a moment. "I have no idea. All I knew was that I couldn't let you go on this date. Not with someone else."

Elbowing him in the ribs, I frowned up at him when he refused to remove his arm. "Are you this touchy with all of your friends?" "Only you." He grinned down at me, wriggling his eyebrows. "It's because I like you the best."

"Well, I'm not the same person that I was two years ago." "I'm not so sure about that."

"You can trust him," I assured them again, forcefully making them release me and ushering them towards Adrian. "I'd trust him with my life." "But not your heart," he piped up quietly, the words meant for my ears only, but I didn't bother to answer him.

"You don't get to run in and slay the dragon, to fend off the ghosts haunting me, to be the shield that lets me hide behind him whilst taking all the blows. You don't get to do any of that for me, Frank." Swallowing thickly, I glanced away from him for a moment. "I won't let you. The only person capable of saving me is me, so don't try it."

"So can't you like me too?" And as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell, he tucked his hands into his trouser pockets before turning on his heels to walk away. I stared at his retreating back for a moment, trying to wrap my mind around everything.

"What would your mother say if she knew you were teasing me like this," I called out to him, following his pace and jogging a short distance after him. "She'd tell us to get married!"

Elbowing their brother in the ribs, they took the chance to run off down the carriage. Before Weasley could shoot off after his brothers like he so clearly wanted to, I called out to him. "Weasley – there's … there's no way they actually managed to cast a bonding jinx, is there?"

"My father thinks himself a king," I cut in suddenly, meeting his eyes head on when his own faltered to meet my stare. "Sitting on the throne he gave himself and playing a game of war with the knights he's assembled around him. But you all seem to have forgotten that he's no king and I'm no princess. So, don't call address me as one – not you too."

"Really, where has your courage gone?" I wondered as I watched him closely. "If you like someone then you should just tell them. Don't you think?"

"Good," he said promptly, gathering his things and turning as if to leave the shop. I watched him turn away, taking a few steps before I blurted out, "Want to see some magic?"

Lupin cleared his throat, making me look back to him. "Well, what's got you so worried?" I hesitated for a long moment, not knowing what to say. My first instinct was to declare in annoyance that he knew exactly what was bothering me. But I didn't say that. Instead, I lowered my eyes to my book and murmured, "There's just something that I can't get my head around."

"You bloody pervert!" I screamed at his back as he cast a glance over his shoulder at me. "I'm a teenage boy!" he called back in response as I sped up and drew closer to him. "What else did you expect!" "James Fleamont Potter –" "If it helps, they looked bloody fantastic!"