Ruby was about to crumple up the letter and stuff it down a toilet (she thought she could better job of making it sound as if she was REALLY busy) when someone stopped right in front of her. She looked up at the towering figure, as she was sitting down, and noticed a blonde chick smiling at her. Ruby instantly raised her eyebrows at her friendliness.

The redhead nodded her head when asked if she was writing a letter to her parents but spoke no words. She was wary of anyone she met, which, of course, resulted in her having little to no friends. In fact, she had more enemies than friends--which she probably liked.

Sit down next to her?! The lioness made a face, clearly not wanting to sit next to this unknown girl. And, as she spoke yet again, Ruby found out that she was a Slytherin. Oh, but she had heard that Slytherins were supposed to be cunning and evil...like her. It was a pity she wasn't placed in Slytherin, she would have fit right in. But even as she took in this information, Ruby found it hard to believe this girl was cunning or evil--heck, she was still smiling at her! So she grumbled a bit and scooched over, making room for her to sit down. "I'm Ruby," She mumbled, hoping she wouldn't have to give any more information than was necessary. "Sixth year Gryffie."

Selina peaked out from behind Kyle and looked at Lafay. For a second she thought Lafay looked her way and she ducked back behind Kyle. This was safe and comfortable. She didn't need to reach down to her Gryffindor courage to step out into Lafay's line of vision. She was content hiding behind Kyle.

When she commented about Vindictus Selina whispered back, "Really? I like him, he just likes order. Lafay is just scary. I mean everyone has heard the rumors. They aren't exactly warm and fuzzy."

Rebecca walked into the courtyard, trying to get away from the dorms so she could get some fresh air. "It's so nice out here," she thought as she fixed her shirt. To her surprise, she saw Oakey, whom she had met in her Potions class. She walked up to Oakey, who was sitting on the ground, and sat next to him. "Hey Oakey," she said with a smile as she hooked some of her wavy strawberry blonde hair behind her ears. "How are you doing today?"

Lexi smiled at him and giggled a bit when he spoke. Sal was great for her ego. And not too bad on the eyes either. Not to mention she really DID love him. She let him pull her a few more times and then let go of his wrists and sprung up from the ground in one graceful movement.



"Okay then. Try and keep up you two," she said as she took off running toward the Lake. Perhaps she would jump in and have a swim when they were done running. Hehehe. That was part of the assignment as well. Smirk.

"Seriously! COME ON!" she shouted back over her shoulder as she ran off.

SO THIS WAS RUBY! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Okay.. The girl that had a little bit of an anger issue. Pshh.. Braeden was wrong. Ruby seemed.. nice. The blonde smiled at the girl as she moved over. Even though it seemed as if the girl didn't want to move over. "Nice to meet you Ruby. Sixth year Gryffindor? Then you must know Braeden Stonem. I saw you chase him down Diagon Alley." she exclaimed warmly, smirking an evil smirk. Aaah SuperBrae. What would she do without him. "I'm his babysitter," she cried, sarcastically. What would Braeden do without Emma? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Even Emma didn't know.

"Anyway, I'm guessing this is your first year here. Welcome to Hogwarts!" she exclaimed, beaming her a friendly smile. The blonde glanced at the stones in the courtyard and let her eyes linger on them for a while before glancing back at Ruby. "So what do you like to do for fun? Pulling pranks?" she asked, smirking her famous Malfoy smirk.

Nika wasn't sure how this was going to go. "Alright well erm..." This is awkward. "Let's just dance how ever. I don't think he really expects us to know how to ballroom dance anyways." Why would they want to know how to ballroom dance at age 12!? Nika spun around a few times and doubled over in laughter.

Nika stared at Zara with wide eyes at the next statement and burst out laughing as well. "Hey well if anyones going to be the guy it's not going to be me. I dyed my hair pink." She said holding up a strand of hair to show her.

Zara went along with Nika in dancing. Of course, Zara knew nothing about dancing, let Nika lead the way. And the whole time, she let out a few laughter, chuckles, and giggles escape. They sure looked funny.

Then she raised the left eyebrow. "You know, we can always dye it black and cut it off." She stuck out her tongue at Nika playfully. Zara can't be the guy, her hair's too long, and she wouldn't want to say goodbye to her curls.

Caroline was still upset over the fight that she had just had Carter and Marie. She just had to get out of the castle and go outside to think. She walked around the fountain a few times. She finally took a seat on one of the benches.

Tapping her feet in annoyance. She told herself that she wasn't going to cry. Nope not at all She had just taken what marie had said a few weeks ago and laughed about it. She pushed it down, until today. And she just about exploaded. She hadn't cried about, until now, She didn't any of it get to her until now, and now she was crying alone in the countyard.

As the tears started to come down she could here foot steps coming into the courtyard. Wiping her eyes, in case they seen her or know her and wanted to know what was wrong with her. She didn't feel like going into details with anyone.....at all. She just wanted to be alone or get this straighten out like now, She hated this feeling and feeling like this.

‘Funny, eh?’, Gwen grinned to her fellow friend. ‘I’m really happy to see you too, actually’, she said. Gwendolyn started thinking aboute the fact that she usually was great at loosing her balance, so, maybe it wasn’t Ari’s fault….But-was it necesarry to admit it? Nah,it’s not that important, the girl thought.

Noticing Ari continuing talking about the clases, she tryied to listen carefully,or at least pretend to. Right, Muggle Studies.Now that is something I DO NOT understand, she started thinking. And that was the truth. Every time she said something it was either not good enaugh, wrong or…extremly wrong.

‘The thing with the spell, I’ve got to tell you I haven’t done any reserch for it, I totally forgot.’, she replied. And that was another thing. HOW on earth was I supposed to find a spell when I haven’t even got a name for my cat. So…what if she asks about it?, the girl considered. Think of a name. Any one will do. Just think Gwendolyn…think!

Artist?Artist?, she kept telling herself willing to laugh. Good one…

‘Yes, well, as you can see I usually draw buildings,landscapes or objects…quite rare portraits. If you wish I could try drawing your portrait’, she announced and then she realized it wasn’t her most brilliant ideea.

Giving a small smile, Samira replied, "Yeah, I actually wouldn't mind meeting your friends." It sounded very silly, but Samira has never actually talked to a real Muggle, and she wanted to see how it was. Plus, anyone who was decent to Levi was a good person in her book.

Samira didn't see what was fair about that situation. Levi's siblings were able to be away from the house as much as they wanted, but poor Levi was condemned to stay, still being a minor. "I have no doubt you will get out of there soon," said Samira fervently. She was positive he could do it.

All this talk about abuse was starting to wear on Samira. She didn't think she's ever truly felt so much sympathy, and just plain emotion, for another human being. The playful glint in her eyes was gone by now. Clearing her throat, the Slytherin managed to give a shaky smile. "Hey, all this serious talk is taking it's toll on me. What happened to making up our own words?" Hopefully this new, lighter subject would cheer Levi up, as well as herself. They needed something more carefree to talk about.

The Gryffindor smiled. "Just keep your fingers crossed for me," he urged her quietly. It certainly wasn't an ideal way of living but he would even become a drifter if he had to get out of that house. Once he learned how to stop being a klutz, he might have been able to use his broomstick for transportation instead of a car and probably take it all over the world. He was not going to allow himself to be tied down to the same place forever. He would rather die than live at home for the rest of his life.

"Took the words right of my mouth," he agreed, lightly taking Vlad off his arm and transferring him to his shoulder. The bat opened one eye, somewhat like an owl to look at Samira groggily, before he repositioned himself and went back to sleep. He had it so simple compared to them.

"What about funner?" Levi suggested, feeling kind of lame. "I use that one a lot. I could have sworn it was a real word." He paused. "Not to, uh, get off track but do you have any pets? I mean, you were really good with Vlad a few minutes ago. Usually he doesn't let people approach him that quickly."

Apparently Emma was some kind of anomaly of a Slytherin--she was still smiling at Ruby. Ruby's eyebrows were still raised in dislike as the girl took her place beside the redhead. Mumbling a bit as Emma talked, Ruby took out a fresh piece of parchment so she could rewrite her letter. But she stopped suddenly as she heard Emma mutter two words--two words that Ruby shuddered at. And apparently this girl had seen the whole chase in Diagon Alley--how nice.

Ruby turned around and made a face. "Yeah, I know that Goofball," She said, pretending to throw up. He had made her life a misery whilst she was here and yet, she couldn't get enough of him. Apparently.

Babysitter? She snorted loudly as Emma said this and then turned back to her parchment. "That boy doesn't need a babysitter. He needs a leash--and a cage." Picking up he quill, Ruby started again on her letter. But she had just began to write Dear when the blonde chick spoke again.
"Uhm, this is actually my second year here." Ruby's nostrils flared; she didn't like this girl too much. First of all, she smiled WAY too much--and it wasn't even a goofy smile like Brae, it was worse. Second of all, she didn't act like a Slytherin at all. And lastly, she talked in a superior tone that made Ruby clench her fists. Rolling her eyes, she returned, once again, to her letter.

"For fun?" Ruby repeated, scrawling on her parchment. "Pulling pranks so is overrated, sugar. I like to...GLARE at people." The redhead laughed at her own joke.

Nika continued dancing and even though she probably looked stupid doing so she didn't even care. "You're doing great!" Yes things were working. She twirled Zara around and chuckled. "We aren't half bad." She said nodding.

Nika a boy? "But I'm way tooo girly to be the boy!" she said defensively. "Okay how about we make a promise to help each other in finding boys so that we don't have to become one?" Yeah there. It's a compromise.


Nika walked around the courtyard and saw a sad looking girl that she recognized from a few classes. Poor thing looks like she could use a hug. Lucky for that girl cause it's HUG a slytherin day!! Nika ran up to her and gave the girl a HUGE hug.

The blonde mentioned as she mentioned Braeden as the goofball and then she pretended to throw up. "He must make your life pretty bad for you to be pretending to throw up." she added, smirking her Malfoy smirk. Yet, Emma still didn't know why Ruby didn't like Brae. "So why don't you like Brae?"

She burst out into laughter as the other girl mentioned a leash. "Maybe two leashes." she added. Emma blanched. "Whoops. Sorry I didn't know. I didn't see you around last year at all. Funny. So how is your sixth year here like apart from Brae?" The blonde pushed a strand of blonde hair off her face as she looked out at the other people talking.

Emma smirked as Ruby proclaimed pranks were overrated. She laughed about how Ruby said she liked to glare at people! Woah- she was funny yet serious at the same time. "I think it depends on who you pull the prank on. If you pulled it on Professor Lafay- that would be wickedly fun." The blonde raised her eyebrows slowly. "You're joking, right?" she added, sarcastically.

Carter walked around the grounds absentmindedly kicking at random pebbles. It was safe to say that he was in big trouble. Or maybe it was an understatement to say that?

Either case, he was just completely confused. He had no idea how to react to any of it. Where exactly did Marie get off with exaggerating like that? He thought that things were finally working out between them. He said everything he needed to say and they agreed to try and be friends again.

And then Marie runs off and tells Caroline that he's still in love with her?!?!

Actually he knew exactly how he should feel. And he knew exactly how he should react. What confused him was why he didn't feel that way. He wasn't mad at Marie. In fact, he wasn't really anything toward Marie. He didn't feel like it was worth it adding a whole new set of feelings in her direction. As far as he was concerned he was done with all of her snakelike behavior after their talk in the kitchens.

In fact, all that crossed his mind was how Caroline must be feeling. And then he spotted her... rubbing her eyes. Great. She'd been crying. He did not do well with crying. He walked over and sat on the bench next to her. "Hey." he said quietly. He wasn't sure what else to say. If she wanted to talk she would. And if not... well, he just hoped she wasn't a puncher like Marie.

Caroline heard the foot steps grow closer, and felt a person walk over to her and hug her. Then the girl just disaapeared. what in the world Now this slytherin had been a victim of National hug a Slytherin day. Really? She rolled her watery eyes. Well the hug was needed but she really wanted that hug to be from Carter. She wiped her eyes again. Caroline had never been much of a crier ever.

Then hearing yet another set of foot steps coming and stopping in front of her yet again. If this was another of the these hug a Slytherin supporters, she would punch them. She just wanted to be alone. Couldn't anyone see that. then she felt a person sit down beside her. Then greet her with a hey. At sound of the voice her heart dropped, it was Carter. She wiped her eyes once more to clear any evidence of her crying, it probably didn't help either way. "Hey" She wanted to say more but didn't know what else to say. All she did at that moment was put her head on his shoulder. She wasn't mad or didn't want to mad. She was just confused and wanted some answers.

"What's going on?" was the only thing she could come up with. It seem like what had just happen was years ago. She couldn't even think enough to rememeber what had happened. But it hurt and that's the only thing that she could feel, comperhend, or think about it that moment.

Carter ran a hand through his hair unsure of how to answer that. There was a lot that had just happened. He wasn't sure where exactly to begin.

"Umm... where do you want me to start...?" he asked. He knew that now that Marie had brought up their meeting at the beginning of the school year he had to explain what happened.

It wasn't like he was hiding something from Caroline. He just wasn't planning on telling her that he talked to Marie. Which... now that he thought about it probably wasn't the best idea.

But he couldn't help not wanting to talk about it. After all, it was really weird to talk about your ex-girlfriend to your current one.

That is, if Caroline was still his girlfriend.

Caroline didn't exactly know where she wanted him to being either with the kiss or the letter, which ever one would ease some of this pain. She had so many questions, but didn't know what to ask first. Or how to ask them. She let out a sigh, and breathed in. "This kiss? What was that about?" Really after all that he went throught when was with Marie, one would think that he would learn from it. "That letter wasn't writen when we were together, right?" That was all that she really needed to know. She really wasn't even that mad at Carter or the fact that him and Marie had talked. Was she really his replacement for Marie?

When Marie had read the letter aloud to her, she had this feeling that she was just up to trying to get her to break up with Carter or something. There was a big difference from what Marie told her, and what her head and heart told her. Both of them were crossing her mind as she sat there. "I just need to know those two things." She finally looked over at him, but by doing that it only made her want to cry again. Which she started to. She couldn't say want she wanted too, not yet. She had been holding it in for a while. "There is something that I need to tell you." putting her hand in his. Maybe if she would have told him sooner, this would of happen at all

Oakey saw Rebecca. She was wearing a very strange get-up. Oakey starred down at his dull clothes just a green army jacket a white button up shirt and jeans. Hiya Rebecca Oakey replied I'm doing just fine Oakey continued to stare at her funny looking outfit...That's some crazy style you've got going on there. Oakey hoped he hadn't offended her.

Right. So she only was interested in the two things that he didn't want to talk about. That was... convenient.

Now he had a decision to make. What was he going to tell Caroline...? He could start from the top and say everything that had happened down there. He could say that the reason Marie was doing this was probably because she thought he was replacing her and that he just didn't care about her or them anymore. Really... that would explain just about everything. But he couldn't do that to Marie. Not after the way that she asked if he was replacing her. She seemed a little insecure about whatever they had. And him getting back at her wouldn't help that situation at all.

"I don't even remember doing it." he said. Which was partially true. But it probably didn't help his case at all. In fact... it probably made it worse. "Have you ever broken up with someone?" he asked. "Like... a mutual breakup? Anyway... we never got the chance to... you know... end things properly." he explained. Although, it seems like rather than that ending anything it made it worse. "I gave her a hug, pecked the top of her head, and wished her the best..." he said trying to sound as causal as possible.

And saying it out loud made him feel slightly guilty. "It was goodbye. That's all it meant." And this was why he didn't want her to find out in the first place. Girls had a way of blowing things out of proportion. That conversation between he and Marie was bound to happen at some time... it just so happened while he was dating Caroline.

"As for the letter... no. That was written terms ago..." he said. "She just recently got her hands on it." he said turning a slight hint of red. Marie was never supposed to see that. And Caroline was definitely not meant to see it.

What? She had something to say? He squeezed her hand. "I understand..." he said. He closed his eyes. "I'll get going..."

Yup. He knew it. Caroline was going to break up with him.

Caroline wiped her eyes, she really really hating crying especially over a boy, not just any boy. This was Carter that she was crying over. Listening to Carter. "How do you not remember kissing someone." Really? he was getting tons of brownie points up til then, He would have been better off not saying that. You don't tell your girlfriend that you don't remember kissing their ex.

Then she was starting to realize why they had even met in the ktichens in the first place. She was fine with them hanging out or whatever. He was finally putting an end to them properly. This made her feel a bit better. She nodded when he asked her about breaking up with someone mutually. She wiped her eyes. "That's all, just a hug and a kiss on top of head head?"Well Marie made it sound more like a snog fest in the kitchens to her.

Who did she believe? She wanted to believe Carter, she really did. But after that letter Marie read to her, Does he still love Marie? Or the better question would be does Marie still love Carter? This lettter was suppose to be a few terms ago right? So why would she bring up the letter to her, then. A sudden rush of realization hit her, just like she had thought that day, Marie just wanted to cause trouble between Carter and Caroline.


Boys really didn't understand, all at. It was a good bye kiss? Okay, okay she could deal with that, she guessed. "A good-bye kiss? I can take, but only once. So that better be the first and only time you kiss another girl while we're together." She give him a I mean it look.Yes, she was going to give him another chance. Going agaisnt her better judgement, and all. It was just a goodbye kiss. So it shouldn't happen again. Right? As for the letter she just needed to hear from him that it wasn't a recent letter.

She had finally stopped crying. She still hadn't looked straight at him yet. She lifted her head off his shoulder. Her eyebrows furrowed He understood She felt his hand squeeze hers. What? Get going? What was he doing? "Wait Carter. Stay. " She squeezed his hand back "I really need you to hear this." She slid over closer to him and took his other hand. "I not mad, at you. It just totally caught me off guard that's all." She gave him a smile. That was the truth. "You're the best boyfriend that I've ever had and I love you, for that. I'm glad that you and Marie finally had that talk." Now they can get on with their lifes. "Carter, I love you." She gave him a kiss and smiled sheepishly at him. Now that she told him she really felt better. The timing may not be the best. But that was okay.

Connor held tight to the charm she had given him. He held onto it for dear life, sighing after he spoke. He wasn't usually this nervous but he was on pins and needles waiting to hear what she would say. The wind blew around them sending his faint veela scent flowing between them. He bit his lower lip and looked up into her lives. He felt like there were owl wings fluttering in his stomach.

"You're not wring about that. My mom tells me that I should accept it because I can't change it. She taught me sometthing to say that sometimes helps. It goes; Merlin, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things that I can and the Wisdom to know the difference. When I remember to say it it helps but I have a hard time remembering to do it a lot lately. I-I just wish that I wasn't so scared. I'm all confident about a lot of things but when it comes to this I'm not so good at being confident." He squeezed the charm again. It seemed to help, getting it out. It made him feel some better. She'd said that denying that part of himself hindered him from greatness and prevented him from becoming more. He nodded, finally getting it. "So what you're telling me is that I will never achieve greatness in anything, my music or anything unless I accept myself completely for who I am. Both sides of me."

He listened to her again. His face fell as she said she was afraid she liked him because she wanted to use him to fill the gap that that Adam guy had left in her heart. He took a deep breath and tried to get past the pain. He almost didn't hear the rest of what she said. "I don't want to be used Kurumi. I'll give you the space you need. I want you to discover the man in me. The man who...." He sighed softly. He figured she was going to run if he said it so he didn't. He wanted to. He wanted to come right out and tell her. He knew he had hinted around at it but it wasn't the same. He bit his lip. He would wait.

Connor's eyes widened and brightened as she took off the millstone disguised as a ring. "I'm proud of you Kurumi. Now what you say we go get that dinner?" He gestured toward the castle, indicating for her to lead the way, and doing it without touching her.

Kurumi stood in silence as Connor spoke to her again. The scent of vanilla was almost intoxicating and it took all her will power to not grow weak in the knees. She had found a new resolve in the past hour. A new inner strength that she hadn't had for the past six months and she needed to hold onto it as she moved forward.

Smiling softly, Kurumi rested a hand on his arm. "And I know a wise man who once said that it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." While her ability wasn't necessarily one that had her living in fear, it was one that made her feel uncomfortable. Selina, on the other hand, was living in fear every second of every day and there was nothing she could do to control it. At least Connor could have some control over it. He knew what triggered that part of him.

She shook her head. "I am not just talking about your music," she continued returning her hand to her side. But he seemed to have understood that bit. "I am talking about discovering who YOU are. I-I only recently began accepting myself...and that was all thanks to Lexi. I really owe her a lot. Adam helped me too...and when he left...I lost everything I had gained." She looked up into his eyes and her own flicked towards the silver chain in her hand. "I need to rebuild, and I don't know how long it is going to take."

She blushed, not really knowing what he was congratulating her on, but at least they appeared to have come to a mutual understanding about a few things. "D-D-Do you mind if I meet you there?" she asked putting the ring back in her robe's pocket and leaving her hand there as she played with its smooth surface. "Th-Th-There is something I need to do first."

She looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. It wasn't something that she wanted to do...but it certainly was something she needed to do.

Samira held up her crossed fingers jokingly, taking what the Gryffindor said litterally. "You betcha."

She nodded. "Ooh yeah, I use funner all the time." It drove her parents up the wall. That's one of the perks of using bad grammar. "And gooder, too!"

Samia waved an airy hand. "You're fine. I get off track all the time." Sadly, Samira shook her head. "I wish." Samira reached out a finger and stroked the top of Vlad's head breifly. "My parents hate animals. They're too much work and too much mess." The Slytherin rolled her eyes. "Plus, we do so much travelling it's almost impossible to take care of anything extra." She rocked back on her heels. "But if I could have a pet..." Samira's face took on a dreamy expression. "I would practically have my own zoo! I'd have dogs, cats, horses, birds, and snakes! Lots of snakes!" And now she was rambling. Samira snapped her mouth shut and smiled sheepishly.

Hahah, ballroom was fun...Zara thinks so. But she remembers her grandparents tried it once. Was it only for old people? But if Lord Borr was making them do it, maybe it wasn't? Or was it? Gahh, so many questions. Zara twirled around Nika and giggled. She liked the twirling part. "I wanna twirl some more!" She chuckled and twirled more and more. Until she got dizzy.

"Fine. I found mine, can you help me?" She asked mockingly. Of course, she knew that her guy would never even notice her. Not even a second look. Why? Because he's almost graduating and Zara's just waaay too young for him. *sniff*