hidden away (Closed to James)

James felt he spent more time at the library than anywhere else lately. The dim light emitted by the candles and the utter silence that reigned in the ancient alleys had such a soothing effect on him. Besides, the shelves held thousands of fascinating books, and just as he ended one, another always seemed to pop up and steal his attention.

Just as he finished the chapter of a volume about wizarding history, a soft melody resonated through the vast room, followed by a faint voice. Mister Lunarion will be furious. James thought, closing the book. Truth be told, the Librarian could never get angry, he would just pretend to scold students for a second before feeling sorry for them and forgiving their infraction. I shall better warn them nonetheless.

Raising from his armchair, James headed towards the source of the sound. After a few seconds, in one of the dark corners of the immense maze formed by the countless alleys, he found himself face to face with Sydney. "Hey Syd. What are you doing?" he inquired, keeping his voice down.

"I don't think you should be playing here." James replied after a moment of hesitation. "Mister Lunarion is kind of strict when it comes to noise in the library." Old as he was, the man probably couldn't hear them from his desk, but he still didn't want Sydney to get in trouble.

James carefully stared at her fingers, dancing swiftly from one string to the other as they produced as they produced a simple yet harmonious melody. "You're really talented." he complimented her when she paused. "Is there more?" he quickly inquired, noticing that she blushed when he had spoken.

James remained silent, enjoying the song until silence was upon them again. "It's really beautiful. Did you have anyone particular in mind when you wrote it?" he wondered.

"Well, maybe he likes you too, but is just afraid to tell you." James replied after thinking about it for a moment. He was no expert in matters of the heart, yet he wanted to offer her the little advice he could. He hesitated for a moment, but then refrained from asking the identity of Sydney's interest. Even though he was her friend, it was not his business unless she decided to make it so.

Yet he couldn't help wondering who it was. His thoughts first went to Leonardo. He recalled how earlier that night the two Ravenclaws were sitting together by the fire. Then he asked himself if it could be Wade. Perhaps there was more to the Quidditch lessons than a simple will to improve her flying skills. But then, Wade liked Shah. And Shah liked him back. But Ella liked Wade as well, at least according to the rumours. That's why I don't like to get involved in those matters. he said to himself, his head beginning to spin. It always gets so complicated and someone inevitably ends up hurt.

"I still think you should tell him." he heard himself say despite his musings. "You know what Professor Umbranox always says: defeat is not when you fail, but when you don't try. Or something like that." he added with a soft smile.

"Maybe that's just what you should do then." he agreed, an encouraging smile on his face. It was a rather direct approach, but perhaps Sydney's mystery man would find it to his taste. Yet his words seemed to make her feel uncomfortable, so he kept his mouth shut, trying to think of something less personal to ask her.

Sydney leaned closer, and the next thing he knew her mouth was on his. He was completely taken aback, and for half a heartbeat he yielded to her kiss. He had never experienced anything like it before, and for a moment he caught himself enjoying the touch of her soft lips... but then he turned away.

"I'm sorry... " he began, moving his face away from her and pushing himself up. How could I have been so blind? All along, he was the one Sydney liked. After all the accidental caresses, the nervous smiles and blushes, how did he fail to see that? Unless he had known, but had just rejected to admit it, always repelling the thought to some distant corner of his mind. Did he merely refuse to believe it in order to avoid having to let her know the truth? Did he simply take so much pleasure in the attention she gave him that he couldn't break her illusion in fear of losing it? Am I really such a bad person? 

"I'm sorry..." he repeated, not daring to meet her eyes, fearing the pain he would find in them. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted, but he knew the wrong was already done the second he broke the kiss. "I... I like someone else." he confessed. The words had come so naturally, as if there were capable of relieving some of the harm from Sydney's heart. He didn't even know if there were true. Yet just as he pronounced them, Lucy's smile came haunting his thoughts. 

It was too much. He wished he could just run away, bury his head in his pillow and think of nothing. "I'm so sorry" he said one last time before turning around and disappearing in the dark alleys of the library.