The top of the Astronomy Tower.

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Sareph stands on top of the tower, looking out over the landscape, not wanting to be disturbed.

"Look at me," he stated with a hint of frustration in his voice, "Just what?" he asked, wiping away the wetness on his face with the back of his hand.

Her tears stopped and she turned towards him. 'You're too good for me. Go and find someone who deserves you. I'm incapable of trust and of true love. Can't you understand that? She turned away again and slapped her fist into the stone side. A cut appeared and she watched the blood fall out, holding her hand up, she stood mesmerised and said, softly. 'Well what do you know... I am human after all.'

"Aimee, once I walk away from here. I'm not going to come back." he said quickly. "You're not incapable of either of those. You don't let yourself experience those things. Why? I don't know, but you aren't incapable. So if you want me to leave I will. I won't return."

She stood, indecisive, and sank to the floor, her head in her hands. She fought the tears and after a few moments she said horsely. 'I don't want you to go but I don't want you to stay and be burnt by me.'

Ruin, annoyed, began to pace back and forth. "Aimee what do you want?" he asked, stopping in front of her and throwing his hands in the air out of frustration.

She looked up, her eyes betraying her once more to show her fear and confusion. But also, a spark of her love. 'I don't know what I want. You scare me. But I've never felt as safe as I have since I met you.' She almost whispered it, knowing the words were, for probably the 1st time, spoken from her heart.

Ruin let out a relieved sigh when he looked into the girl's eyes. "See. This is what I need." he said, sitting down in front of her. He reached out and took her hands in his healing the cut on her hand with a quick incantation. He laced their fingers together and squeezed lightly. "You're giving me emotion. You don't have to be guarded and cut off from me."

She couldn't stop herself, she had to look away. 'My father always told me emotion was only for the weak.' She said, closing her eyes.

Ruin lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Showing emotion to someone you love is different then showing emotion to someone you know nothing about." He lifted a hand and turned her face to his. "You're not weak. Even if you show me some emotion." he leaned in and kissed her softly.

She kissed him back, knowing she loved him. After a moment she drew back. 'If only that was true.' She shook her head.

Ruin shook his head. "You are anything but weak." he said quietly, sliding his thumb along her cheek.

Aimee looked into his eyes and smiled slightly. 'You'll never let yourself see who I truly am will you?'

"How can I see who you are, when you don't let me." he said, a smile quirking his lips.

She looked into his eyes and whispered so as anyone who was listening in to their conversation would not hear. 'You know me. You know what I've done. And you must know I wouldn't hesitate to do any of it again. That is who I am.'

"And yet I'm still attracted to you." he said, pulling her so that she was closer to him. "I still do not think you are weak." he said, kissing her forehead.

She placed her hand on his cheek and kisses him softly. 'Weakness is having something someone could use against you. And in showing my emotions for you, that allows me to be vulnerable. And could place you in harms way.' She said, serouisly.

"I'm perfectly capable of handling myself should I ever be considered to be used against you." he said, conjuring a pillow for himself. He laid down and looked up at Aimee. "I am an adult you know."

She faintly heard a cry come up from the lake. She stood up. 'That sounded like someone saying crucio. Ruin, we have to go help. What if it's Elad or Apollo? Maybe someone snuck up on them?' She said, her eyes slightly fearful.

Ruin nodded and grabbed her hand. "Let's go." he said, tugging her down the steps and hurrying outside.

She ran with him, hurrying down the stairs.

Gabrielle looked out across the grounds of Hogwarts, she enjoyed coming up the Astronomy Tower, she had plenty of time to think and it was a wonderful place to read because no one was there to distract her. She didn't have to worry about too many people getting near her and making her uncomfortable she was usually just alone. "And that's the problem," she said softly herself, thinking of her promise to her father that she would try to make friends this year. However, she had steadily realized that it wasn't going to happen she was entirely too shy, which was okay with her but she knew it would disappoint her father who worried about the way she isolated herself, surrounding herself with books and the occasional pet. "Friends are overrated anyway," she mumbled to herself, as though trying to convince herself.