Gideon had to bite back the grin that tried to spread over his face when Holly admitted that she was afraid of Jerome. It wasn't that he'd not pretty much guessed it, but still, it was good to hear. Kept him a bit more secure.

"I much prefer you. Quiet. Mysterious. Roguishly handsome."

And then his grin grew to full blossom. "Roguishly handsome, am I? I think you'll have to use that in all your love letters to me from now on, Miss Chant," he teased. "I'm a man in need of much ego stroking."

Kissing the fingers she pressed to his lips, he watched her for a long moment, a hand stealing again into his pocket to feel the box. Laughter burst from the other side of the room, his eyes shifting to see Jerome with that girl he'd joined, and his fingers slipped away from the ring with lightning speed.

He couldn't do this. Not here. Not now.

"Your being awfully strange today. I think all of our homework is definately getting to you."

"Huh? Oh..no...you know, you know what it is, Hols? It's just this place. I mean, I love coming in here every once in a while, but I'm feeling a bit...stifled."

Suddenly he was pushing back his chair, not even concerned with the fact that they hadn't finished their tea or sweets, and his hand was reaching for Holly's. "Besides, we need to go. I have..um..just, come with me."

Maybe he could take her up to the hills. Or maybe to that small pond - no..that was where Fabi was waiting for Kibby. Or maybe Fortesque's? No. Damn that that place was in Diagon.

He couldn't quite stop his thumb from rubbing along her own at a nervous pace as he led her from Madam Puddifoot's. His plan for the day was fast falling to pieces around him.