Can't take the heat (Lien)

Serena sat in the common room with her feet curled under her on the couch. She had a book opened and she was lazily leading the pages. She had known alot was going on inside the Ravenclaw Tower. What with the Lien and James Drama. And the drama between Atticus and his sister. Ravenclaw was never one to attract drama before. It was why she enjoyed her house. She turned to the next page of the book and felt a presence enter the room.

@Lien Chang

"So it was you who checked that out of the library."

Lien spoke from above her, looking down at the Potions book she was reading.

"It's a bit advanced for a fifth year."

@Serena Snape

Serena smiled at Lien and nodded, holding the book up for him to see, "Yes I did. And it may be advanced for fifth years, but I'm a bit advanced for a fifth year as well. I have a real gift for potions, I've been told." She had a feeling it had to do with her heritage, her grandfather was Severus Snape, maybe she got the potion gene from him.

@Lien Chang

He folded his arms across his chest. Yes, that's right, wasn't this girl a Snape or something? His eyes bore down to hers as a flicker of irritation crossed over them. This was the girl that was constantly being mentioned in Potions classes as a shining example: even when she was two years younger than he was.

"If it's already too advanced for your level, then you should give it to someone who actually requires it for their classes." His voice was rather sour. "So. Can I have it?"

He was looking at her as though she didn't really have a choice.

@Serena Snape

Serena raised an eyebrow and shook her head, holding the book closely to her chest,"No. I'm using it. I need to catch up. Professor Maddox says his fifth years lessons are borderline useless on me. I could teach those lessons in my sleep. So he's moving me up. I'm going to be in seventh year potions." She said, matter of factly. She gave him a smile, ignoring the resting bitch face he was wearing.

@Lien Chang

"I see."

That was annoying. How could Professor Maddox allow this brat to study seventh year Potions? He was taking away reading material from the actual seventh years! Lien was clearly annoyed by this information, and was giving her a very cold glare.

"How long will you have it for?" he asked irritably.

@Serena Snape

Serena nodded, glad he understood why he couldn't have the book. Of course once she was finished, she would gladly give it to him, "I'd say maybe just another day or so. I'm half way through it now." She said, showing him where she was in the text. "Why did you seem annoyed?"

@Lien Chang

"Because now my studying is delayed thanks to a girl who doesn't actually need the book that I do. Wouldn't that annoy you if it was the other way around?"

Ravenclaws could be very competitive, and most other houses didn't realise that. Especially when it came to matters of academics.

@Serena Snape

"Obviously I do need it if we are to be taking the same class. Maybe try the library again. I'm sure Ms Vega has more than one copy of the book." She thought for a moment, "I guess it would annoy me, yes. But I still have to finish the book before I can return it." She wasn't going to give the book up just because he was being mean to her about it.

@Lien Chang

"You still need to take your OWL before the NEWT. As if you just got out of taking it entirely!"

Frustrated, Lien pushed his glasses up his nose. This is exactly the sort of thing he loathed: clear and evident favouritism. He worked hard, damn it!

"I'll ask her, but I believe that is the only copy," he said stubbornly. This was becoming less about the book now, and more about her getting the best of everything. "Just try to hurry up with it..." Argh.

@Serena Snape

"I didn't get out of taking it. I took it over the summer and passed." She had done some working with Maddox and Voclain over the summer to allow her to skip up to the level she needed to be at. She just wasn't being challenged before. She pursed her lips but nodded when he told her to hurry with it, "As I said. It should be tomorrow or the next day."

@Lien Chang

"Fine," he breathed, collapsing into one of the couches. "Find me when you're done with it, so I can check it out from the library myself."

It was exhausting, all of this. He just wanted to get on and study - why were there so many annoying people at this school? Urgh. Taking things out from his bag, he went about studying a different subject from what he planned - Ancient Runes. It was a subject that he actually found interesting, rather than just studying it for the sake of a high result.

@Serena Snape

Serena continued to read her book when he sat on the couch. She looked over the top of the book at him, with her lips pursed, "You need to relax , you know that? You're all tense. It's not good for your chakra which in turns messes with your brain activity. You can't really focus and study when you're stressed out."

@Lien Chang

Lien glared at her from above his book.

"Oh yeah? I suppose you have a suggestion for relaxing then?"

If you're so bloody smart...

@Serena Snape

"Well, there's many ways to achieve reaction. Some people play or listen to music, some people wrote out how they're feeling to get out of their system. You can have sex and reaching an orgasm is known to stimulate endorphins and help with relaxation. Other people work out to help with their emotions." She said, listing off multiple solutions for him to choose from, not thinking anything of them.

@Lien Chang

Lien stared at her with his mouth slightly open.

Come again?

His cheeks turned pink in surprise. How did she just openly come out and talk about orgasms? Then again, she had a point. And it didn't necessarily have to involve sex, either. He could just try to find some alone time tonight and treat himself...

"I'm fine handling things in my own way, thanks."

@Serena Snape

Serena shrugged and returned to her book. Something about the boy stood out to her though. Something in his aura. Maybe she would be able to decipher it some day. If she kept him around enough, at least. She realized she was much closer to the end of her book then she though and realized the last couple of chapters were special thanks and the index and such, "Huh?" She said before closing the book, "It's your lucky day."

@Lien Chang

"Hm? You're finished with it?"

A smile crossed his face. He closed the book he was reading and waited for her to pass it to him. That was going to happen, right?

He waited patiently.

@Serena Snape

Serena noticed the smile on his face and it caused one to form on her own, "Yep. It's a fascinating read. Alot to learn from it." She got up and walked over to him, handing him the book, "Here you go." She said, in a cheerful tone.

@Lien Chang

"Thank you. I'll check it out at the library later. Don't worry, I will remember to do it. I won't get you any late returns or anything."

Happy to have the book, he took it from her and opened it to the index. Scrolling down it with his finger, he found what he was looking for and flicked to the right page.

Lien sighed.

"Sorry if I gave you a hard time about it. I've just been frustrated. There's a lot to catch up on. I'd been distracted..."

@Serena Snape

Serena nodded in appreciation at his word to go to the library to properly check it out in his name, "Thank you." She cocked her head to the side as he apologized, "It's alright. I understand. I don't associate myself into drama, but I still notice it. I think you are better off without Alayna. You need someone more grounded and stable. Someone more similar to yourself." She looked at him and smiled, "If you ever need any help with your studies, you can ask me. Im always available to help."

@Lien Chang

"I don't think I really need anyone. I just need to get on with my studies."

Again with the opinions. Why did people suddenly felt they knew him? It was very irritating. The smile vanished from his face, and he tapped the spine of the book as he skimmed over some of the words.

"No offence, but I prefer to go my own way about things. And I don't ask for help. I never have, and never will. I just help myself, and that's always worked out for me."

He stopped tapping the spine and looked at her.

@Serena Snape

Serena stayed silent for a moment as she gathered her thoughts on what he said. It must be pretty lonely for him. No one to truly confide in and have be there for support. No one to help you when you need it most. She looked at him, "That must get rather lonely." She then turned and returned to her spot, pulling out another book.

@Lien Chang

He looked at her, then his eyes moved away to the fireplace. There was a soft crackle of it that was good for atmospherics while studying. But, he was thinking now... just how lonely he was. All that had happened since the dance had only made him more lonely, more sad, more frustrated. The corners of his eyes started stinging. Urgh. He blinked several times to clear the sensation. He couldn't bloody well cry in front of her, not when he'd already made himself look pathetic in front of that Veela girl. How many more girls was he going to be pathetic for?

@Serena Snape

Serena noticed a change in the energy in the room and looked back over at him, "Hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." It was evident he was upset, at least to her it was. "Sometimes I say things without really thinking them through. I'm sorry."

@Lien Chang