Veronica stood anixously in the Great Hall. It was almost deserted, but AJ told her to meet him there, for pumpkin juice. Come to think of it now, pumpkin juice was her favourite drink. She smiled when she saw him enter. "Hey..." she said, calmly and cooly.

After leaving April and Veronica in the halls he went straight up to the Ravenclaw common room to drop off his school things and grab his copy of Transfiguration Today, which he didn't count as a school book.

When he arrive at the Great Hall he had realized he beat Veronica there. He sat down at a deserted table, and since it wasn't a dining hour, the four long house tables were replaced, making the Grea Hall look more like a giant cafe.

He dug his nose into a chapter about Transfiguring people into objects. This excited him. He had been trying to learn to be an animagus, but hadn't quite figures it out yet.

Andrej heard a voice, he looked up and it was Veronica.

"Oi, sit down." He smiled at her. Two Pumking Juices were sitting at the table waiting for her to arrive.

Veronica took a seat next to him. "Transfiguration, eh?," she asked. "My favourite subject, hands down, is Charms." Veronica took a sip of the pumpkin juice, wishing that she would have more meetings like this with AJ.

"Transfiguration is my life. Outside of muggle sports." He told her. He let the pumpkin juice sit. It wasn't his preferred drink, but he enjoyed it.

"So what was going on with you and April?"

He asked, obviously clueless to everything.

Why did he have to ask, she wondered. How could she lie to him? Veronica nervously looked at AJ and said "Well, I dunno... we just,,, don't get along. She has been a bit... rude..." Well, technically, she didn't lie. "So... are you guys... like, together or what?"

He was dreading this question. She must've heard what had happened the night previous.

"Er...I honestly don't know. We haven't talked much. Right after that night we were okay, but recently..."

He now gulped his pumkin juice. "Sorry to bug you with my problems. But as a girl, what should I do?"

He was asking her advice about another girl. Veronica could not believe it. "Well... urm..." she started, "Is there anyone else you'd rather be with? Is she worthwhile? Because, if you guys are both not happy... it's just not gonna work."

He thought about what she had said.

"Well I dunno. I just met her. She's nice. But I'm not really into relationships. I mean, I naver dated. That night was a first. Probably a last for a long time. I dunno." He frowned.

He just wanted to be friends with everyone. He wanted to go back to exploring the forest and dungeons, swimmiing in the lake, and reading a lot.

"I think I need to tell her we need to be friends. Then work on that. Physical features isn't everything, right?"

He was lost...but didn't want to be.

"Look, AJ....," she said. What was she doing?!, she thought to herself. "I just...... Just make yourself happy... okay?," she didn't finish her first thought. How could she tell him how she felt?

He took a sip of his juice again. "I just want to forget about girls until next year. I wanna finish my NEWT's and that's it. I've gotten myself into to much trouble."

He was so confused now he didn't know what to say anymore. He wanted the subject changed.

"You should come to the Forest tomorrow, I'm planning an expedition deep into the woods."

He smiled. The more the merrier he thought. And safer.

"Eh... I don't know...." Veronica hestitated. Forget about girls until next year...AJ forgetting about them until next year. How?! "AJ. Really, I think maybe... you should look, I dunno... around. There might be a special worthwhile girl for you." She smiled, then sipped on her juice.

If she was giving him signs, he didn't want to read them.

"Perhaps." Was all he said and changed the subject.

"But what about tomorrow. Wanna join us in the forest at dawn?"

He pulled his book back out, but wasn't reading it, yet.

"I don't know..." Veronica said, a frown forming on her face. She could take a hint. He didn't want to be with her. "It just depends... I might go read.... I have a book...."

He realized she was unhappy.

"Look, you're a great girl. I just need time. Okay?"

He said smiling, patting her hand.

"I'd love it if you would join us in the woods." He smiled even more. Almost cheesy.

How could she say no to him? "AJ... urm. Okay," she said smiling. "Why... did you ask me to meet you here?" her thoughts were spoken aloud.

He didn't have a real answer, he just wanted to get to know you.

"Too meet you I suppose. I've been trying to meet new people recently."

Last time he tried to meet a new person without having and history with them he ended up sleeping with April.

"So any boyfriends for you?"

He asked with a smile.

Now we're talking, Veronica thought. "No... not at all....," she said with a wink. "I've just been kinda... holding out for someone special." She hoped he had too. "What about you?"

He thought about April.

"I don't think so. But you know about April right?"

He saw her wink but didn't think much of it. But he noticed how cute she really was.

"Did you tell me what year you were in?"

Urgh. April. "Oh... year 4... which is... 2 years younger than you?" Veronica stated. "Gryffindor, too. I really thought I'd be a Ravenclaw, though," she joked, playing with her hair.

He was definatly sure she was flirting with him.

"Hmm...interesting." He smiled, not trying to give her any ideas.

"It's a nice night out" he said trying to think about other things.

"Yea..." she said. Veronica knew he wanted to change the topic. "I often just go out by the lake to read a bit.... " she started. "I just started a new book, too. I love the characters."

"Oh?" He was curious.

"I write a little. Perhaps you could read some sometime?"

He really wanted someone to read what he wrote. Why not her. He was beginning to form a good friendship, he knew it.

She liked how he opened up to her. That made her feel more bubbly inside. "Why... yea... I could," she said with a smile. "Maybe one day you'll be on the bestsellers list," she teased.

He smiled.

Again changing the subject, but not meaning to.

"Did I ask if you're staying for the tournament this summer?"

He didn't wait for her to answer before adding, "I've applied to be in it."

He had a huge grin on his face.

"Well, I'm not much of a sports-girl..." she started. If AJ was going to be in the tournement though, she could try. "But.... I might stay." She smiled and took another sip of her pumpkin juice.

"Well. Good, I'd love all of the support I can get. Want another pumpkin juice?"

Just then a house elf came with 2 pumpkin juices and left without a word.