Don't you think it's time we said some things we haven't said -- Winter

I had heard that Quinn and Leo did not work out.  I was a little happy about that, but I also have not been seeing Leo around the halls.  And when I did, he looked horrible.  He was letting his stubble grow out and he just did not look like he was caring for himself that much.  I had to hunt him down.  I knew we were not on the best terms, but everyone knows how stubborn men can be... and I wanted to make sure my friend was okay.  I found him on the grounds and I could not help but wonder what made him choose that since it was extremely bitter outside.  I wrapped my robes around me a little more and stood beside him as he gazed across the ice covered lake.  I bumped my shoulder against his.  "Hey... you alright?" I asked, feeling the awkwardness and tension radiate around us.

I glanced over and was surprised to see Sedona by my side.  I was not out here thinking and being all depressed because things with Quinn did not work out.  That type of stuff happened.  It was life... not all relationships were meant to be.  I was out here thinking due to the fact of how I was feeling about other things.  I smiled at her, knowing it was taking all she had to have come out here.  "I'm fine, really," I assured her.  I knew that she probably would nto believe me, but it was the truth.  I was okay.  I just was out here doing some thinking that I should have done a long time ago.

Well, even though he did not seem fine, at least he was talking to me.  I shivered slightly, wondering how on earth he was standing being in the cold.  "Leo... what's up?  Normal people don't just stand outside when it's freezing out," I informed him wondering why I had to point that out.  If he would not talk to me, then I would leave.  I just wanted to try to get past what I did to our relationship.  Did I still have feelings for him?  Of course, those do not just go away... but I was willing to push them aside to save our friendship... even if it killed me.

She did have a point, but I had not even realized the cold.  Something I realized that had changed after my unfortunate incident.  I noticed her shiver and I took my cloak off and draped it around her shoulders; I really did not need it.  I had just put it on to keep up appearances.  "I know... but Dona, something has happened," I said quietly, realizing I had not said a word about this to anyone but Grandpa.  I had no idea how anyone else would have handled news like this... and I really had no idea what had happened, but who better to ask than someone who knew magical creatures and used to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts..  This definitely fell within that category.

I was grateful that he put his cloak around me, but I stared at him.  I had no idea how he was handling being that cold.  I smiled at him reassuringly.  I really wanted to know what was going on.  I put a hand on his arm and felt how cold it was.  "Leo... you're freezing.  You should probably come inside... we can talk in there," I said, my voice full of concern.

I turned and started to walk towards the castle with Sedona.  I put my arm around her shoulders to try to help warm her up.  I rubbed my hands up and down as well.  "I hated keeping this to myself... I've only told Grandpa... I haven't even said anythign to my parents.  I just had no idea how I would be able tot ell people.  I mean, it's not something that one broadcasts.  Quinn and I ended things for completely different reasons that were only partially te whole reason," I said quietly.

His last sentence made no sense to me, but I was not going to focus on that one.  He was clearly having trouble with something.  I wanted to just melt with his arm around me; it was sort of like how it used to be -- except that Leopold was acting as if he were made of stone or something.  His emotions and his physical state as well.  "Leo... what happened?" I questioned softly.  I did not want to keep pressuring him to tell me, but I was worried.

I ran a hand through my hair and stopped, turning Sedona to look at me.  "You have to promise me that you won't change the way you feel about me.  I need someone to be there for me... I don't know what I'm going to do," I said, tears coming to my eyes.  I did not necessarily need her to love me like she did, but I needed her to just be my friend.  Grandpa just warned me that this could change everything.

He was really starting to scare me.  I put my hands on his shoulders.  "Leo... you know I'll always be here for you - no matter what," I assured him.  "just please... talk to me."  I really wanted to talk about us, but there was no way I was going to get into that with him freaking out.  I had no idea what he was so worried about, but I waned him to be able to tell me.  If this would have happened before I told him my feelings, he would not be hesitating like he was now... he just would have told me.

I looked around and was not surprised to see no one around.  I looked back at Sedona.  "Dona... I'm a monster.  Well, I was bitten by one."  I saw the look of realization in her eyes and I smiled slgihtly, shaking my head.  "No, not a werewolf.  Do you think that I would call my grandpa a monster?  It was a vampire," I said, looking away from her because I did not want to see the look in her eyes.  I could smell the change from being worried to being a little afraid.  Fear is what enticed vampires the most apparently, because I was drawn to that scent tremendously.  That just tol dme that I needed to drink from my flask I carried with me.

I could not help but automatically think werewolf when he said he had been bitten by a monster; I could not help it.  I let my hands fall off of his shoulders as I stared at him.  A werewolf was uncontrollable for once a month... a vampire?  Could they even be controlled with their blood lust?  I mean, it seemed like Leo might have control... but would that change in an instant?  "Oh... well, that's interesting," I said, trying to be supportive.  Of course I was not going to shun him away or anything, but I may need a bit of time to wrap my head around this.

Okay, maybe I was not sensing the right thing from her.  Perhaps it was not fear... though the part of me I tried to ignore told me otherwise.  She was afraid of me... this was what Grandpa was talking about.  But how could I not tell my best friend?  Of course, I still needed to tell my parents.  "You can't tell anyone... and that includes Ally," I said to her.  I knew my cousin would mean well, I just was not ready for her yet.

I nodded, running my hand through my long, wavy hair.  I knew that it was not my place to be telling Leo's secret.  "No, I won't say anything," I said, quietly.  I looked down and then back up at Leo.  "This is a lot to take in, Leo... but it doesn't matter, really.  You're one of my best friends.  It's just... such a foreign concept to me," I explained, hoping that I was not making him feel utterly horrible about himself.

I suppose that this was the best I could hope for at the moment with how Sedona would handle such news.  I sighed and shook my head.  "I'm just going to go... let you figure out what's going on in your head... see you around, Dona," I said, hating that look in her eyes. I could nto describe it, but I just did not like it at all.

I watched Leo walk away from me and I stood there at a loss, wrapped in his cloak.  I pulled it tighter around me, taking in the lingering cologne that he had on it.  I realized that it was starting to snow and I slowly turned and headed back towards the castle.  I knew that this was going to be difficult not to tell people, but I would behave myself and keep my promise to Leopold.  I walked through the snow and headed back to the Hufflepuff common room.  I was hoping that I would be able to vaguely talk to the girls about this... I just had no idea what I was going to say to them if they asked what was going on.