Peace and quiet, finally [Blaze]-closed-

[James Potter]

James paced in front of the entrance to the Room of Requirement. His dad had told him where it was last year when he had needed somewhere to think about a lot of things. It had been something he had randomly put into one of the few letters he had sent his father. He hadn't realized he did it until he read where to find the room in the letter from his dad.

But back to his pacing. He thought about what he wanted the room to look like. "I want somewhere comfortable to relax in. I want somewhere comfortable to relax in. I want somewhere comfortable to relax in." He opened the door that materialized, letting Blaze go into the room before him.

The room was about the size of an average living room with a huge fire roaring in the fireplace. There was a large black leather couch in front of the fire with a modern coffee table in front of it. As he walked closer he realized that there was a silver shag rug until the table, almost inviting them to run their toes through it. Overall, it was exactly what he had asked for.

He turned back to Blaze as she was still by the door. "I don't know about you, but this is a much better place to talk and get to know each other. Why don't we sit down and get comfortable?"

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

Blaze was stunned by the door that had appeared out of the wall. She had heard of the said room but never had time to actually roam around to find it. She didn't need it anyway so she knew the Room of Requirement won't appear since she didn't need it.

She went in and was even more amazed. The Room of Requirement did give what a person who wishes need. She smiled at James and took of her jacket. The room was warm and the fire felt nice. "Wow, I must say this Room has lived up to it's glorious fame. It certainly gave what you wished for." she said and went down to sit on the sofa.

"You said that we'll talk... About what actually? What do you want to know James?" she asked him softly. She was doing a good job so far of hiding her nervousness. She was scared that he might not like her when he knows from which house she came from.

[James Potter]

James smiled at Blaze. He had that same reaction when he first used the room too. It is simply amazing.

He joined her on the couch. He sat sideways against the arm of the couch so he could face her. He sighed. He hoped that she wouldn't run off as soon as she knew who he really was. That or paw all over him. He rarely found a girl who didn't do either or those things. He wanted her to be different, wished it even.

"I brought you here so we could talk openly without anyone over hearing us. I want to start this friendship or whatever comes from this, which I kinda hope is more than friends, to start with a base of honesty. That being said, I know there are things I should tell you that I'd rather not remind all of Hogsmeade about. Some of it is general knowledge but not all of it is. I thought we'd both be more comfortable if we were somewhere private to 'spill our guts' so to speak."

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

Blaze knew that it was coming. He was right about one thing, the start of any friendship was honesty. And in order for her to have James and his trust, he ought to know who she is and from which house she is. She took a deep breath and faced him. She took his hands and held them tight. Her hands were getting cold ones again. She was just that nervous.

"I think I should start with the whole honesty thing. But you have to promise me that you will not judge me when you know the whole truth about me." she said with pleading eyes. She squeezed his hands a little. "My name is Sophia Blaze Livington, Seventh Year of Slytherin House. And with my name alone, you probably have heard a lot about me." she told him.

She didn't know whether to run away now or stay and watch him leave her instead. But she had a little hope in her heart that James wouldn't leave her. She hoped that he wouldn't.

[James Potter]

James sighed. He understood now why she had only given her middle name earlier. The entire school knows of her and not for good reasons. "You are right, I have heard of you. I won't lie to you, I'm not the biggest fan of bullies. I do however know that there is a different side of you. I can't tell you what to do, but I will tell you that I'm not likely to get as close as I think either of us want if you keep this bullying others thing up."

He didn't say anything about her House because he really didn't care. He knew his dad had almost been placed in Slytherin and hell his dad's boyfriend was a former Slytherin, why would he care?

"I guess I should tell you exactly who I am. It's only fair after all. I am James Potter, oldest son of Harry Potter."

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

Blaze sighed. She knew he heard of the wrong reputation. "I knew I was right that you like the rest of Gryffindor heard of the wrong one. I do not bully others. I don't even give them time at all. The reputation I meant was that I'm a cold and non-chalant when it came to other houses. I don't associate with non slytherins really." she began.

"But I don't really blame you though." she added. She listened at James and was shocked. "Potter? The Potter?" she smiled and laughed. "How funny my life has just turned. To think that I would actually fall for James Potter of Gryffindor.." she trailed off as she had suddenly realized what she just said.

"I.. Uh..." she stuttered.

[James Potter]

James wondered what she expected. According to everyone she only argued and insulted everyone. How was he suppose to know it was different.

James sighed. Here it goes. The 'you are from a famous family' and 'could you get your dad's autograph for me' talk or worse the 'can we be friends?' people who want to be friends just because of his name.

He was surprised when Blaze didn't say that. She said...wait did he hear her right? "Did she just say that she had fallen for me?" He couldn't believe it. They had just met, but she already liked him. The more he thought about it, he kind of felt the same. "I...I don't really know how to react to that." He laughed. "You know, you have made me speechless more in the last couple hours than most do ever!"

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

She quickly looked away, trying to hide her growing blush. "Forget what I said, Po-James." she stuttered as her nervousness came out and was drowning her. How was he doing it? He made her blush and comfortable despite being a lion and she a snake.

Then she smirked, "I think its my charm and infinite appeal that's leaving you speechless." she teased and laughed. She was herself again. No longer shy and nervous. For some reason her knew which buttons to push.

"Thank you James. For not leaving and running away as soon as you knew who I really am." she gave him a hug that was sincere. She was truly happy to have met him and she no longer cared if he was a lion and she a snake.

[James Potter]

James frowned when Blaze started to call him Potter. He didn't even realize that she had given him a hug. He could not catch a break could he. He knew it was too good to be true. "You know, I really hate when people call me 'Potter'. It's annoying as it shows that people only notice me because I'm Harry bloody Potter's son."

He turned away from her. He focused on the fire in front of him. He had thought she was different. He had thought she understood. He just...damn it he just wanted someone to like him for him, not his family name.

In the back of his mind he knew he was overreacting. The rational part of his mind was telling him that she hadn't meant it like that. That it had been a slip of the tongue, nothing else. He didn't listen to that part of his mind however. This was one topic that he just reacted without thinking.

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

Blaze watched him look away from her to the fire place. She lost her smile and wondered if he didn't actually liked to be called by his last name. She did what even her own mind couldn't believe she was doing it.

She lay her head down on his lap and smiled up at him. "I'm sorry for almost calling you by your last name, James." she told him softly. "You are not Potter, you are James. And I think I'm very well on the way to liking and wanting to know James." she added and closed her eyes as she smiled wider.

She was half way on the path to liking James and she was sure that she wouldn't care what people think about her when they find out. The important thing was that she and James were happy. Nothing else should really matter now.[/color]

[James Potter]

James was shocked with Blaze's actions. She just...it definitely was not where he expected that to go.

He looked down at her. She was beautiful. He ran his fingers through her hair. It was soft. He could just run his fingers through it all day long. "Apology accepted. I'm sorry for overreacting. It's just, that's all anyone ever sees me for. No one sees the real James. No one, except you. I feel connected to you somehow. I'm really starting to like you Blaze."

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

She smiled back at him and enjoyed feeling his hand touch her hair. It felt nice.. right. As if this was were she was really meant to be, with him. Blaze hoped that time would just stop for them that very minute. She didn't want to be anywhere else.

Then Blaze was surprised to hear that James liked her. No one has ever liked her with sincerity. It was always because she was rich or beautiful. Her eyes were wide as muggle tennis balls and just froze as he looked at her. his face seemed to shine from her point of view.

Before she could say anything, she reached up and touched his face. Tracing his nose and holding his cheek. Then she looked worried, "You don't mind that I'm a slytherin? That I'm a year older than you?" she asked him. She was now fearful. Fearing that she might lose him now.

[James Potter]

James was only slightly surprised she thought that way. Though things weren't as bad as they used to be, Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't exactly get along. It was one thing to be nice or even friends between a Lion and a Snake, it was another thing to be dating. Though they weren't dating ("yet" his mind added), it still would look as such.

"No, I don't mind either of those things. I don't mind that you are a Snake, mostly because I know my dad could have been one and he's pretty cool. That and he's dating a Snake so that would make me the world's biggest git if I turned away from you because of your House. I don't judge based on House, but on the person inside. You are amazing Blaze. Why would I say no to that? As for you being older, that is perfectly ok with me. I don't care at all."

[Sophia Blaze Livington]

Blaze was surprised to have heard what James just said. Harry Potter was dating a snake? But then she remembered reading about the divorce between Ginevra Weasley-Potter and Harry Potter. But then her mind recalled a small detail, "Wait.. What? Your father was supposed to be a snake? How did that happen?" she asked in curiosity.

Then she smiled and shook her head, "Never mind that. We are not talking about your family. Not yet at least. We'll talk about you and me... Us. If there is going to be an 'us' that is." she smiled at him softly, hoping that there was. She was no longer the same Blaze of Slytherin that was cold and snobbish. At least not to James and Tommy.

She cupped his cheeks and smiled at him, "I'm glad then." was all she said and stared at him back. He felt right. Everything felt right to here. She wasnted to keep feeling what she was feeling now. Alex had her own lion and makes her happy. So Blaze thought that being happy if for everyone.

[James Potter]

James couldn't help but smile. His smile turned to a slight smirk before he leaned in a gave Blaze a quick kiss. Well, what he thought would be a quick kiss. It wasn't until he kissed her that he realized just how...right it felt. The kiss was simple, but drawn out.

He pulled back and stared into her eyes. "Wow," was all he could say at first. "Uh...what was I going to say? Oh right, I think there will be an 'us'. I just want to take it slow. Okay I know kissing you doesn't scream slow but I just couldn't help it. But I want to get to know you more, take you out on a date or two, before we decide if there is an 'us'. And if you decide you don't want there to be then that's fine, we can just be friends. I don't want to just be friends but...damn, I'm rambling again."