Tony sighs as he closes the door to his room and leans back against it. "Gods, I'm... so sorry about him. Matt's a menace... but I'm sure he didn't mean to spill his soda on you like that." Tony had been getting slowly exasperated at his family's "after dinner attack the guest with questions" session, but when that had happened he had dragged you upstairs as soon as his father had cast a drying charm on your clothes. "He's...um... just annoying..."

Kevin quickly tries to reassure him, holding up his hands. Actually, he's rather liked all the attention for once. "No, no...really, Tony. It's okay. I...well, I don't understand because I...don't have a brother, but, it's fine." He gives you a quick, smile, hoping it helps.

Tony shakes his head at all of it and then smiles shyly at you, shrugging and walking across the room to sit down on his bed. "I'm sorry...anyway. But, I'm really glad you're visiting..."

Kevin sort of stands by the door, not sure if he should come sit by you or not. "Yeah, I...better than how I normally spend my summers, so..." He trails off.

Tony nods. "Yeah...it's better to have you here than just to be...well, stuck, with Matt." He chuckles softly and then looks over to you, patting the space beside him. "You can...um..sit. Or something..."

"Okay, um..." Kevin comes over and sits on the bed, facing  Tony. His shoes are off, so he pulls his feet up onto the bed, wrapping his arms around his knees. "Well, I'm glad you don't have to be...stuck with just him. You can, um...be stuck with me too...I guess."

"That's different. I.. invited you." Tony laughs softly and turns to lean against the headboard, so he can face you, pulling his legs up to his chest in a mimic of the way you're sitting. "So...what do you usually do, in the summer, I mean?"

Kevin shrugs. "Read, mostly. Sit in my room and play on my computer. Go swimming, sometimes..." He shrugs again. "Nothing really...interesting."

Tony nods and rests his chin on his knees, brushing his hair out of his eyes with the back of his hand. "Thats..um...mostly what I do too. Though, we can go to London. To Diagon Alley. In the days...if you want."

Kevin smiles a bit, excited at the idea. "That would be cool. I like Diagon Alley lots."

Tony smiles at that and nods again. "Me too. I... spend most of my days there. We can definitely go."

"Great..." Kevin picks at a string on the frayed cuff of his trouser leg, not sure what to say. "So..."

"So... " He stops, not knowing really what to say. He wants to tell you about the reason he's been smiling dumbly in his unguarded moments all day, but he doesn't know how to start. He's never had friends close enough to actually talk about things with. "So... um... My mum really likes you. You can tell because she actually came out to talk after dinner..."

"Does she?" Kevin blushes. "Well, um....she's really nice. And your dad, too."

Tony smiles and nods. "Yeah. They were really...um, really happy that you were visiting. I've never had anyone over, before."

"Really? I...well, if you hadn't told me...I'd be surprised. I think my Dad was a bit surprised, too. I, um, nobody's ever asked me over, so...this is nice. I like it."

"Yeah. Me too! I've never had... well, friends. Before. You know? It's nice to have people to hang about with...talk to. We really should have talked a long time ago." He smiles over at you, a bit sad that he's missed so many opportunities to get to know people as he's been stuck in his books.

"I know! We really should've. I mean...we seem to have lots of stuff in common. But...we also...um, have being really quiet in common." He laughs a bit, wondering if you find it funny as well.

Tony chuckles, his smile widening slightly. "Yeah... which is how we missed each other. I'm glad we... talked. On the train. So that we're not... missing each other anymore. You know?"

Kevin nods. "Yeah, I do. And...you're a lot easier to talk to...than I thought you would be. Well, anyone. You know?"

Tony shrugs but blushes. "I'm not.. I mean, I bet other people are easy to talk to too. But, I'm...glad.. that we're talking to each other."

"Me too. And...you're easy to talk to cause, well, you're about as...um...well, you...you're just like me. When it comes to talking and...stuff. So that makes it easy."

Tony blushes further and leans his forehead against his knees for a moment, smiling widely but hiding his blush behind his knees until it's cleared, then looking back up at you. "So..." Brushing the hair away from his eyes absently.

Kevin's starting to find himself more and more comfortable with you, smiling a bit more easily, now. "So...um...who's Sam." And that is _so_ not what he wanted to say.

Tony's eyes widen and he coughs a little, blushing bright red. He opens and closes his mouth a few times silently - he hadn't been expecting you to ask so bluntly. "Um. He's... um.. he owns a bookshop in Hogsmeade." And that's not really who he is at all... not to Tony at least.

"Oh..." And Kevin's not really sure what to say to that. It's obvious to him by your reaction that there's something you're not saying, but he's still not comfortable enough to mention it.

"Yeah...and. Um. He and I have... well, not really hung out intentionally or anything.. but. Um. We keep running into each other and talking..."

"He's...nice, then? I mean....you don't mind seeing him over and over again?  Or..." He shrugs and flushes a little, not sure what the 'or' part of that statement would be.

"I..Um... I wouldn't mind seeing him all the time." Tony blushes again and lays his chin against his knees, hugging them tighter to his chest. "He... he likes me....like <i>that</i>, you know..."

Kevin's eyes go wide. "Really? I, um....um...do you...? You know..."

Tony nods, blushing more and closing his eyes for a moment before looking back at you. "A lot..."

"Oh...oh wow. Tony, that's...really great! I mean...so are you two...but, he's so...well, I mean, not...well, Dad's like, nine years older than Tim..." He trails off, feeling stupid for bringing it up, looking away from you.

"I... I mean, we're not..." He bites his lip. "Not...like, seeing each other.. or anything. And... he's. Yeah. 22. But that doesn't, you know, bother me..."

Kevin shakes his head. "Not me either, I mean...if he likes you and you like him, well. I mean..." He smiles. "It really is...cool. You're lucky."

Tony smiles. "Wow. It's really.. nice to be able to talk about this with someone. You know? And yeah... I think I am. Lucky. We... we were talking in the library, this morning.. before I went to the station...."

Kevin leans a bit closer. Hey, if he can't have anything for himself, why not live a bit through Tony? "Oh? Really? And...?"

"Um. That's when he told me he... was interested in me. I mean... I'm not sure what he meant, really..." Tony flushes again and bites his lip.

"Well...what did he say? And...how did he say it? You can tell a lot from people by the way they say stuff."

"Well... he said.. that he was interested. And asked if I was... And his eyes sort of flickered a little. I guess...."

"Um...I guess if he said he was, then...well, I guess he must be. I mean...not that I doubt it, or blame him or anything..."

"Well... yeah... I mean. I know he's interested. But..." Tony blushes and lowers his voice a bit. "But, in what, you know?"

"Um...you?" He doesn't quite get the question.

"Yeah. But... " He sighs  and bites his lip slightly again, hugging his knees. "But.. like.. a relationship... or like.. "

"Or...like...oh!  I um....I dunno. I mean...I hope that it's not just that...cause...I'm sure you really like him. I mean, you sound like you do and you've been smiling funny all day, so...I guess that makes sense."

"Yeah. I mean... I hope it's not that. Because I really do like him and... " He blushes even redder. "And... I really don't know how to do... that."

"Well...he's...older. I'm sure he knows how..." He stops and blushes himself. "I mean...only if you'd want to do that." He's blushing about as much as you, now."

"Yeah. I'm... I'm sure he does..." Bright red and burying his face against his knees as he talks, now. "But..um... if that's all he wants from me... and I'm not... I mean, I wouldn't want to do that with just anyone. And I really like him..."

 "I...I know you do. But...Tony? I don't know a lot about this stuff, but...I want you to be careful, okay? Because, you shouldn't...do stuff like that with just anyone. And if that's all he wants, then...you shouldn't do it with him."

Tony looks up from his knees and nods. "Yeah. I... I know that. And. I won't. Just... I hope that's not all he wants, really... "

Kevin nods, a bit startled. "Wow, you really <I>do</I> like him, don't you?"

Tony blinks. "Um. Yeah. I do... really. Is that... is that weird? Because, I really have only talked to him three times.. and I don't know him that well at all. Just.. he seems really...good."

Kevin's silent for a moment, thinking. 'Well...we've talked about once in five years, and...here I am. So..." He shrugs, and pulls his hair back from his face. "I mean...I'm not <I>him</I>, so..."

Tony nods. "Yeah. Here you are..." He brushes his hair out of his eyes again and considers that. "You know... it's really odd. That I just... I started making friends all at once. You know. Because...even if nothing..happens. I think Sam and I would be friends..."

Kevin nods. "That's good, and...if you two aren't...well, I'll still be your friend." He smiles and reaches out to touch your wrist like he did on the train. "Promise."

Tony smiles at that and covers your hand with his, gently. "Good. Because... you know... I always watched everyone else with their best friends... and I knew I was missing out on something really cool."

"<I>Best</I> friends?" He blushes at this as well as your hand covering his, but he's smiling back at you all the same. "Really?"

Tony blushes slightly too, but nods, his smile widening. "I.. Yeah. Best friends."

He squeezes your wrist gently. "Wow. I've...never had one. It's...nice."

Tony squeezes your hand in return. "Yeah. I've never, either. And..it's <i>really</i> nice."

"Yeah..." On impulse, he leans forward and squeezes you in a brief hug. Then, seeming to realise what he's done, he leans back, blushing furiously. "Sorry...I just...sorry."

Tony tenses, then relaxes and smiles at you. "No. It's alright." Leaning to give you a gentle hug and not pulling back. "Friends..."

Kevin sighs a bit, relaxing, and putting his arm around you, the other still on your wrist, covered by your hand. "Yeah. I just...didn't know how else to say thank you. For...being one."

Tony pulls away and pulls his hand away, but it's only to turn so that he's sitting beside you, and then he puts his arm over your shoulders. "Thank you, too. I'm really glad you're here."

Kevin nods, looking over at you, his cheeks growing a bit hot as you put your arm around him. Almost unconsciously, he snuggles up to you, relaxing. "Me too. This is...we're going to have a great time, this summer. I really think we will. And then...back at school...it'll be nice to have someone to talk to."

Tony squeezes your shoulder with his arm, almost out of instinct, and nods. "Yeah. We'll spend the days in Diagon Alley and stuff... And then... Yeah. Someone to talk to. And study with, and avoid Lisa when she's hyper and stuff. It'll be really nice."

Kevin smiles. "Yeah." He giggles a bit. "Definitely someone to study with, cause...I mean...my marks aren't great."

Tony shrugs then giggles with you, smiling. "I can always help you study... I help everyone, seems like... but... you're really smart. I'm sure your marks are just as high as mine."

Kevin blushes. "Really, I'm just...okay. I'd like your help. I mean...especially stuff like Defense Against the Dark Arts. Last year...really no help at all. And Herbology. I'd like to take NEWT levels, but I don't know if my OWL's were good enough..."

Tony's smile widens. "Well, I can definitely help you with Defense... I.... Um... I got really a lot better in that last year. Working with Harry and all... "

Kevin's look is complete and utter confusion. "Working...with Harry? Potter?"

Tony looks at you curiously for a moment, then his eyes widen when he realizes you weren't there. "Um. Yeah! Last year a..um... a group of. Well. Harry, taught us some things... It was like a... study group."

"Oh, I...not surprised I missed it..."

"Well. I'm.. um I'm sure they'll have it this year too. But. If not. I'll teach you."

"Would you really? Ooh, Tony. That would be great." He reaches back to touch the hand draped over his shoulder. "Thanks."

"Of course." Tony smiles, patting your shoulder and then stifling a yawn with the back of his hand. "And, yeah. It'll really be nice having a friend in the dorm."

He nods. "Are you tired? I can go, so you can get some sleep and all..."

Tony shrugs a little and nods. "Yeah. I should probably... I think I'll get online and check the journals and then go to bed. There's um... a computer in the guest room, too... if you want too..."

Kevin nods. "I'll probably do that for a little while too." He smiles sheepishly. "I really don't sleep much, so..."

Tony stifles another yawn and shrugs again. "I sleep a lot... I guess."

"Well, I shouldn't keep you from it then..." Reluctantly, Kevin pulls away from your arm, sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

"If you need anything... come and wake me up or something..." He stands, leaning to give you a quick hug and then stepping back. "I'm really really glad you're here..."

Kevin stands as well. "Okay. If I need anything, I'll...come wake you up." He steps forward and gives you a longer hug, enjoying that he can freely do so. "I'm really glad I'm here too. More...more than anything right now." He pulls away, smiling, and takes  a step toward the door. "Good...good night, Tony."

"Night, Kevin." Smiling as you walk out and sitting down at his computer.