To Consider It a Date (Victoria)

Zander met Victoria at the start of term back and September and since then, she had quickly become his best friend. It wasn't hard for her to claim that position, as she was kind and he had no friends. He spent every moment he had with her, well the ones that he wasn't working or in class or sleeping.

However, as they talked and grew closer, Zander's feelings changed and developed and he began to realise that he liked her. However, he was afraid of ruining their friendship, so he didn't tell her. The boy had only had one other girlfriend and that was when he was twelve so it couldn't be counted even if he did peck the girl on her lips.

However, today was a milestone in his life as he had asked Victoria to go get ice cream with him. It wasn't exactly a date if she didn't want it to be but if she did, then it was. He though and thought of how to tell her that he liked her, but he could think of nothing. Still thinking, he walked to Victoria's dorm to pick her up. He wasn't someone who would ever make her walk herself. As he door opened, he smiled and gave her a slight bow.

The first time Zander and Victoria had met was under not so great circumstances which resulted in Victoria staying the night with Zander. She had promised she'd be gone in the morning, but Zander had made her stick around as he woke up early to make her a rather large breakfast. She had promised him that she'd repay him for his kindness and he insisted she didn't but days later, she turned up with a highly pink cake and couldn't be more thankful. It was the best cake he'd ever tasted.

This morning, Zander had been extra careful to get ready. Typically he dressed fashionable however today, he'd shaved, pulled on a black button up, dark jeans and a winter coat and sprayed on some stuff to make him smell good. Since the night they'd met and he learned that she'd never had a boyfriend, he found himself constantly trying to impress her, even without knowing.

"You may not be the Queen of England but you're the Queen of someone's world," the boy smiled, "and for that you deserve respect." He took her hand in his and planted a tiny kiss on top. It was weird, the way he'd been acting but he sort of like it just like he liked Victoria. She was a pretty girl, one that he wanted to do his absolute best to protect. He hadn't been able to do the same for his parents, but he would for her.

He watched as she layered on more clothing, making sure to stay warm and he found himself a bit saddened as he didn't have any excuse to hug her or give her his coat.

As the girl told him she was ready, he wrapped his arms around her in a quick hug before pulling away and offering her his elbow. "We shall."

He enjoyed constantly causing the blush to rise over her face. In fact, it was often the best parts of his day because it usually happened when he complimented her and she definitely deserved all the compliments. "Well I don't exactly know your brother," his eyes locked on hers, "but I can assure you that he sees you like a Queen. He'd be lost without you." The boy smiled, his hand letting hers go gently.

He was glad that she didn't pull out of his hug but most of all, he was glad that she actually took his arm and didn't leave him hanging. His heart fluttered a bit and he smiled as he escorted her out of her room. When she showed him that she still had a hold of her key after closing the door, he laughed a bit, glad he wouldn't have to coax her into staying on his couch again. The first time had been hard enough.

"I certainly would," he replied making sure she had a good enough grip on him. From the few months he'd known her, he came to respect her dislike for apparating alone. He understood the way she felt and understood why side-along apparition was her better choice. "Ready," he told her, letting her know to tighten her grip. With a nod, they disapparated to Diagon Alley.

"You okay?" he asked, looking to his best friend as he steadied himself.

Zander was glad when Victoria didn't argue with him, however from the past few months of knowing her he had come to also know that she was not one to argue and secretly he was thankful. At one point he feared relationships and girls period because of how people portrayed them; as handfuls. However, Victoria was not like any other girl and because of this, he wished he could have met her in Hogwarts. She probably knew who he was especially with him holding Head Boy and Prefect, but she was a year younger so he never met her, merely saw her around.

Apparition was one thing he excelled at, it seemed to come natural to him. The boy had passed his test with flying colours and he never once splinched, nor did he want to. Hearing that Victoria was feeling better, he smiled. She was quite adorable to him. As he felt her gently pull him, he began to walk allowing her to lead him to Florean's.

"No, but maybe I'll just have them give me something random," he shrugged, looking down to her. "What about you?" He nodded when she reminded him of her dance practice and why she should not eat too much. He had become familiar with her activities and classes, he knew which day of the week at what time she had dance and he knew when she'd be studying or when she'd be in class. He worried that maybe he had tabs on her too often but then he justified it by knowing where she'd be if he needed him or if she needed him or even if something were to happen.

"What do you think of me?" The question from him came out of nowhere.

He was glad that she agreed with him about a random selection being awesome. In all truth and honesty, he'd never really been to Florean's so he didn't know what he'd like. "If you wouldn't mind that'd actually be better." He smiled, accepting the girl's offer for her maybe picking something for him.

He looked down to her as she decided on what she would get. "That sounds great," he smiled, debating what the flavour would taste like. Turning into the shop, he took in the sights, smells and the amount of people that was there. It was shocking, especially since it was already November.

For a moment, anxiety hit him and he debated asking her if she would mind going somewhere else, but he decided against it and put a smile on his face instead.

As his question hit her and her facial expression turned into one of concentration, he bit his lip as the anxiety rose up in him. What did he mean? He tried to think of an answer for her and failed. He didn't want to tell her he liked her, he wanted to subtly hint at it, but he didn't know how and now he had confused her. Confusion was the last feeling that Zander had ever expected to give Victoria.

However, she spoke anyways and when she did, he smiled. "No, no one has said anything of the sort," he explained, giving her a reassuring smile. "I guess I just kind of wanted to know where I stood with you," he said, his voice shaking a bit as his cheeks threatened to redden.