Heart to Heart (Nick)

[Delaney Laurent]

It was just after supper and the library was mostly deserted except for the few stragglers here and there. As Delaney pushed her cart of books around the shelves, she could make out the profile of Lucinda Grigori giving a confident smile to a Slytherin boy a little older than her. Knowing Luce, she was most likey up to no good. Probably trying to recruit another admirer and from the looks of it, it was working despite the obvious house rivalry.

With a small sigh and shake of her head, she continued with her work. She started with the closest shelf and began placing the books where they belonged, making sure that nothing else on the shelves were out of order. Laney had a little obsession of keeping her library in nearly perfect order which is why it practically took her all evening to put everything back in its place. But Laney didn't mind, the library was home to her.

The smell of the books brought a faint smile to the Librarians lips. It reminding her of her days as a student when she used to spend all night reading a book in a small corner of the library that she called hers. It was in that corner that she first met her best friend, Nicholas. Of course, he was a few years older than her but he didn't treat her like the little kid her brother thought she was. Sure, she was younger than Ash, but what's a five minute difference really?

Delaney had moved down a few shelves when she heard the faint echo of footsteps behind her. Seeing as she was in a library, she figured it was a student trying to do some last minute studying. She tried not to get in the students' way and always tried her hardest to help them out when they asked. She was a former Ravenclaw after all and she liked helping students out when she could.

She must've spaced out as she was organizing the shelf in front of her because she jumped when she heard a familiar voice right by her ear.

"Need some help, Ma'am?" Nick asked with a smile.

Delaney spun around and smacked him in the shoulder. "Damnit, Nick! You know better than to sneak up on me! If I had my wand on me, I could've killed you! And don't call me Ma'am. Do I look like a Ma'am to you?" She tried her best to be quiet as she chewed out Nick but in a library thats practically empty, it wouldn't have mattered if she started screaming.

With a small glare sent Nick's way, Laney turned her attention back to the shelves. "Just start handing me books."

They worked in silence for a few moments but Laney had a feeling Nick wasn't just there to help her. He was a professor after all and probably had some assignments to grade. Without breaking her concentration, she cast a curious glance his way. "Alright, spill."

[Nick Prince]

Nick tried to stiffle a laugh as Delaney yelled at him. He couldn't help sneaking up on her, of course it wasn't the smartest idea considering her past but Nick wasn't smart. At least Laney didn't think he was. Maybe he wasn't because if he was smart, he wouldn't comment on the Ma'am question.

"Of course you don't look like a Ma'am. You still look like a second year but I wanted to make you feel older. That's why I called you Ma'am." This earned him another smack on the shoulder but it also brought a smile to Laney's face, so it wasn't all that bad. Besides, she still hit like she did her second year, but Nick wasn't going to bring that up.

Nick did as he was told and stood just to the side of her and began handing her book after book. He watched with mild amusement as Laney made a fuss over where the books went, making sure they weren't even a decimal point out of order. He would've made a joke about this if he didn't know how seriously Delaney took her job as a librarian.

He also knew he wouldn't be able to keep anything from her. Nick sighed and leaned against the bookcase. He stopped handing Laney books but she didn't mind, she just picked up where he left.

"How's Ashton?" He made a grimace as Ash's names left his lips. The last time he saw Laney's brother was while Nick was packing for Milan. The last image he had of Ash was burned in his memory like a nightmare.

He could tell Laney was hesitating on answering him, so an akward silence hung between them for a few moments.

"He's alright, I suppose. He loves his job as a professor and takes it more seriously than you do. But other than that, he has his moments. He doesn't talk to me about it, but I know somethings bothering him." It wasn't there, but Nick could hear the blame meant only for him in those words.

Nick knew Laney didn't hold anything against him. She even came to visit him in Italy. Of course, she grilled him for days, but he was glad he didn't lose her along with Ash.

There was one question that was bugging him. One he didn't know if he wanted to know the answer to or not. Did Ash move on? Nick couldn't blame him if he did and he would try to be happy for Ash too if he found someone else. Nick mentally beat himself up, he wouldn't know the answer if he didn't ask.

"Is Ash seeing anyone now?"

He thoughts were confirmed when Laney sent him a look of pity. Nick put on a brave face and nodded. He figured this would happen. Nick looked away and was glad for the silence Laney gave him. He could tell she wanted to say something to comfort him but Nick would've shrugged her off and left and he didn't want to do that to her.

[Delaney Laurent]

Delaney hated the awkward silence between her and Nick. It wasn't like Nick didn't expect Ashton to stay single. That wasn't in Ash's nature. Laney loved her brother, but sometimes he jumped into things right away but from what she knew, Ash was happy now. Of course, he had his rare moments where a dark cloud hung over his head, but that was usually when Laney showed up to put a smile back on his face and to distract him. She couldn't always save him from herself though, but she always tried. After all, Ash saved Laney countless times in the past.

She couldn't take it any longer. She pushed the cart a little ways away from the pair and mimicked Nick's posture, resting her back against the bookcase. Delaney could tell he wanted to know more and of course she was going to tell him. With a sigh, she went on.

"His name's Tyler Monroe. He's the Hogwarts Healer. I'm sure you've seen him around before. He's drop dead gorgous, not that you care," she added on quickly. She could tell by his expression that she had in fact seen Tyler around the castle.

"If it really bothers you that much, why don't you try talking to Ash again? At least for some closure. You guys used to be so close and you and him were best friends before you got together. At least try to talk to him, please? For me?"

Delaney didn't know if she would get through to him but she had to try. She didn't like the way the two boys made her feel whenever she left one of them to spend time with the other. It was like playing favorites with divorced parents. Laney loved them both, almost equally actually. Nick was her bestest friend and Ash was her twin. She hated this thing that got between them all.

She nudged Nick's shoe with her own and looked up at him. She put on her best puppy dog eyes she could and gave a little pout. "Promise me you'll at least make some sort of effort to communicate with Ash. For me?"