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”Thanks, I’ll be going first then. Good night, Jona—uh Lane.” August took his leave of the Daily Dragon room a little earlier than his usual 21:00. He waved goodbye to the Editor in Chief, then gave Rhea--who seemed to like hanging out with her brother here a lot?--a nod. "I'm headed back to the Common Room after an errand, Rhea, so see you in a bit." With that, August was off from the room at a brisk pace. But as he walked, he let his mind wander.

Fourth year was going remarkably well, August had decided. The highlight, of course, was being Managing Editor for the Daily Dragon. If Middle Lane had any ulterior motives, they certainly weren’t apparent yet— every editor meeting thus far had been productive, efficient, and insightful. They didn’t agree on everything, but August had correctly identified Lane as a good writer to begin with and was recognizing that middle Lane did indeed have some sort of Orion Lane’s … charisma? In any case, August was learning a lot, and having a good time.

His second year mentees seemed to be doing decently— Aidene had actually read the Dueling Tactics and Potion and Pastries he’d recommended? And then applied it? He felt like he was slowly building rapport with Eion as well— and the child was evidently holding true to his Rising Star Duo in the Daily Dragon. Wren… well, Wren was a headache he was going to ignore today.

OWLs prep was going very according to schedule, and his classes this year were somehow all genuinely interesting and perfectly stimulating (even while Herbology was never his best subject, he hadn’t even near-killed a plant yet this year!) Quidditch announcing was fun, Language Club was fun,— he was probably having too much fun, but Jeremy seemed to think he was just “finally gaining confidence” and Ferdie had practically glowed in his last letter (Said letter might have been framed and was hanging over his bed.)

And to top it all off, all the doki-doki nonsense seemed to be settled down. Sonora was dating Kam Hepburn—an excellent match, by the way, he couldn’t have done better himself— and not nearly as distracted by Middle Lane who seemed too busy to be making much trouble. Vespera was still diligently and very admirably at her studies. Aside from a stunt with some seriously fatafati glasses, Aeryn seemed great. And even Lizzie seemed to be back to her usual hurricane existence after an early clash with Knapp.

Speaking of Lizzie, she was late. August looked around, but the Quad was remarkably empty, particularly of Lizzie. It was then, of course, that he realized he had been followed on his detour. “Lumos.”

August blinked, which was about as far as he usually reacted. But his voice was more unguarded, betraying his surprise. “Rhea?”

He hadn’t known she was following. Had he simply been oblivious? Oh no, if he had learned one thing in a summer of dance classes, it was to move silently but quickly. He…didn’t. The little ballerina though? The pout was Exhibit 1 for teasing. She had let her presence go unknown. “This isn’t a date,” he corrected immediately, a twinge of miffed satisfaction at his literally just thinking the doki-doki lovey-dovey things were settled. Of course he hadn’t counted Rhea’s ridiculous crush. ”I specifically said I’d meet you back at the Common Room, but you followed anyways. Why’d you follow me out here? You don’t even have a scarf.”

As though to make his point, a mere breeze caused her to shiver. August shivered himself, then removed his scarf and set it gently over Rhea’s shoulders. If he could feel the cold, she was probably more so. He at least was wearing a sweater and jacket. She on the other hand, seemed to be in a perpetual summer. ”Colds start at the neck,” he informed sternly, gesturing for her to wrapped the scarf around her more warmly. ”You should get back inside,” he fussed.

Even August didn’t actually think she would agree to that though, and after a quiet moment between them, he really did feel guilty. He shouldn’t have been all upset at her for following. Not today especially. He sighed a little, more in reassignment and embarrassment than exasperation though. “Sorry. I shouldn’t complain you were curious. If you’re going to be out here, at least stay warm?”. He had his wand up anyways, so he held the light towards her—slightly dimmer to not be too bright on their eyes—”Portare Flamma.”

The spell dropped a little blue ball of warmth into her hands, and he was happy to cast it again if she wanted to hide one in her pocket or something. ”Do you know this spell?” he asked suddenly, realizing he only knew it because Sonora had used it at her ridiculous, no-doubt Lane-inspired, Picnic-in-the-Middle-of-Winter idea.

It was after that short conversation that August realized that they had been standing outside for almost fifteen minutes. Maybe Lizzie forgot. Besides, bluebell flames or not, he didn’t want Rhea catching cold out here. ”Should we head in?”

Rhea seemed to shrink when he fussed, and August felt another block of guilt form. This really wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Rhea was supposed to be warm and happy today, and maybe tease him a bit, but he’d hoped for at least a smile today of all days. The scarf…seemed to help? Was that a blush? Not exactly what he’d been hoping for.

He realized only after the fact that he could—again—have given more warning before casting magic at her. Sure she had made bounds of progress with casting last year, but he probably should have given her a few disclosure of the spell and its effects before casting magic at her. He was about to apologize again, but then Rhea surprised him when, after only seeing him cast it once and having beheld the effects of the spell only a few moments, Rhea drew her own wand and mimicked the bluebell flame perfectly. ”Rhea, that was incredible!” August accepted her bluebell with a wide smile— a little crooked, but genuine and completely filled with pride. He wasn’t even going to temper it. He was thrilled with the demonstration. ”Good form, precise wandwork, clear pronunciation, and obviously excellent envisioning. That was outstanding, Rhea. Keep but the good work.”

He tucked her bluebell for him into his coat pocket, so caught up for a moment that he forgot the purpose was to keep her warm. Was he praising her too much? Well, today could be an exception then. ”Very good. I’m so proud of you,” he nodded again, still beaming. Alright. Maybe he had read Ferdie’s extra glowy letter a few too many times lately.

When he finally nodded to go, August was glad she agreed anyways. They took a few steps back for the main stairways before the considerate princess lagged behind again, this time wondering if he was being kept from his errand. ”It’s fine, I think Lizzie just got caught up painting and forgot,” He hesitated answering the main question, leading the little princess in at least just inside the castle walls before speaking again ”Nox. I guess here is fine here.”

He tucked his wand into his bag, exchanging it for two books. ”The errand was just to pick up a proper bag for this after I’d destroyed the original one in Charms today. But either way, this is for you.” August offered the tissue-paper wrapped books, suddenly more nervous than he thought he’d be.

”Happy Twelfth Birthday, Rhea.”

For all the times Princess Rhea had given him things, August the Scribe had only been able to repay with notes or cards and things Aunt Verine made. But he had gotten a stipend (a pretty excessive amount if you asked him) for tutoring Wren that summer, and was eager to repay the generous Princess’s birthday and Christmas presents very year. August thought he’d done a pretty okay job at getting her something special, but it wasn’t really a creative thing. Of course he’d get her books though. He was her mentor—or one of.



August started rambling a bit when she noticed the bookmarks. “Oh so I realized I never got your favorite color so I kinda guessed and…made translations. You know, in case Your Highness ends up in foreign waters. What is your favorite color anyways?”

Princess Rhea, of course, was ever so polite, commenting that he didn’t have to get her a present even though she had sent him a Christmas package after one chance encounter. Then there was the fact that she seemed to be tailoring her presents now to snacks he liked. She commented it was thoughtful, and took a deep breath— s**t. She doesn’t like it and is just being polite, isn’t she?

Bu then she was smiling, a soft, sweet smile that touched her eyes. Pink. But then she talked about all the other colors of the world.

”Have you ever seen the ocean at dawn?” He had, but his favorite sunrise had been indigo with a p***k of peach, and a pale gold that shimmered against the waves. But her blues and pinks and purples—that sounded beautiful as well.

Without really knowing it, he was smiling as she described it, not wide and beaming, but fond and reminiscing and well, relaxed.

She gave a shy life and and apologized for ranting — ”Not at all, I liked it” he commented. And then she stowed the present and expressed her excitement. She seemed, actually happy, even giving him a tight hug. Well, whew! He was about the return the hug—an innocent hug was okay— but she pulled away after only a brief squeeze. And then she got the teasing tone to her voice again. He ducked away from there finger and sputtered when she accused him of trying to woo her. ”I did no such—Wait, you’re thirteen? But you’re a second year—“ Nyaka, December birthday.

He frowned. He’d always seen her a quite a years younger, in need of protecting and watching. In his head she was sometimes still the nine-year old who had tripped over her luggage only to tumble gracefully right back into step. If Middle Lane was right about anything, it was that they should not talk about Rhea in the dating sense. After all, she was a princess. ”Well, you are a young little princess, and this scribe is here to remind you that your formative years are for studies, not getting distracted by courtship. That can be for later.”

He pulled a step away again. ”Anyways, you were saying about sunrise on the ocean? Sona likes sunrises too. I’m more of a sunset person, — the deep purples and red are so vivid, and then everything just becomes washed in gold before it eventually all turns to dark.”

The bell tower rang nine and August glanced back for the Quad momentarily. ”Say, Princess, would you care to do another detour and possibly get another present? I’d bet my calligraphy brush Lizzie’s still in the art room and won’t notice until past curfew unless we poke her.”

Two years apart, August had to remind himself as Rhea noted that had their births been only slightly different they would have been in the same year. He glanced over at her bump on the shoulder and mentally chastised himself for not being precise and...shutting down this train of thought entirely? August tried very hard to maintain some semblance of professionality in this relationship, which was entirely impossible with Princess Rhea’s entirely-too-obvious crush. He...should probably try harder to rebuke her. But today at least, being the young girl’s birthday and such a pleasant evening thus far, he opted for nothing but a mild hum of resignment.

He was a little surprised when Rhea took both his hand and bet-- He hadn’t meant it quite so seriously, and what was this about a Venus pen? Venus = Aphrodite = Is she still on the doki doki things? The uncomfortable feeling grew when the “Bet Box” was mentioned: that entire box was a series of very fiscally irresponsible blackmail. How had he justified it for himself that night? Entertaining Friends? Calculated Investments? Teenage rebellion? Swallowing that memory, August maintained an even expression as Rhea proposed her bet: ”Very well then, let’s hear your wager.”

“I, Rhea Lane, bet you, August Li, my hand in marriage that I can get you to fall for me by the time you graduate.”

Lizzie. Once the dance thing came up, August knew exactly who had told Rhea about everything-- she was the only person he’d admitted to taking ballroom dancing classes. He wasn’t even sure Sona knew about them (although knowing the involvement of Sparrow, he wouldn’t be surprised). He sighed audibly. The bad feeling was basically panic throwing a party at the back of his head.

”To be fair about the dance thing, the classes only happened because my cousin Sparrow put ‘not looking forward to running’ and ‘a friend who does ballet’ together to mean ‘Tanzizi wants to take dance classes over the summer” He said, trying to lighten the tone. Confident that his voice and face weren't betraying panic, he continued. ”Rhea, please reconsider. Say I do fall in love with you but you don’t want to be married to me at the end of this? A less honorable man might use it to tie you into a lifetime of regret. And as we discussed, our time before graduation should be for studying, not courting,”

He stood next to her by the doorway, raising an eyebrow at the younger girl. ”As flattered as I am, please reconsider your wager, Rhea. Your marriage is not something to throw on a betting table with anyone, for any reason.”

Thankfully, Rhea seemed to be willing to and he relaxed. "Good. Then let's find Betsy-Kaye and get you another present." And talk about telling little secrets.