"I'm always serious..," Plymouth's eyebrows pulled together as he glanced to his stepbrother. "But go for it. Pull up a chair in my office."

"Well. It's like... hmm," Copernicus struggled for words and then put his head on the table. "I think my dragon pox are coming back. I can't talk about this with you."

"Why in the world can't you...?" Plymouth raised an eyebrow at his brother. "I mean, I have a girlfriend so I clearly know a little something..." What did girls and dragon pox have in common..?

"Because you'll make fun of me. Or you'll tell me I did the wrong thing. Or... I don't know." It was true, though, that Plymouth had a girlfriend, and a very sweet and clever one at that. He probably knew things...

Plymouth leaned over and put his arm around Copernicus's shoulders. "We're related now, you hoopity cow. I won't make fun of you. Just spill it out."

He took in a huge breath of air. "Okay. I was in that room where stuff appears when you think of it? Have you been there yet? It's pretty neat. And... you know Liz?"

"What? What's this room where I get what I want? How did you find it??" Plymouth really needed a looksie into this room.... "Liz... yes.... go on... "

"I'll take you there later," Copernicus promised. "Anyway. She was giving me this really intense look, right? And asking all these questions about how if she knew someone who liked me, then would I want to know..." He covered his face. Embarrassing.

"And you said...?" Plymouth asked, giving Copernicus a nudge and another nudge. "Was she giving you that, "OH KISS ME PLEASE" look?" Merlin girls were scary creatures.

Livvy walked towards the Ravenclaw Table and Plymouth and Copernicus. They seemed "intense". She wondered what they were talking about. As she approached, she heard Plymouth say something about a oh kiss me please look. "What "OH KISS ME PLEASE" look?" Livvy asked, sitting down. Clearly she was butting in.

"No. She was sweet, but she was scared. And I told her... Merlin, nevermind. I hurt her feelings. How do I make this better?"

He glanced up at Livvy. "Hey, Liv. How are you today?"

Walking down to eat, something though she didn't really feel like eating. She spotted Livvy and walked over to her, until she saw Copernicus...Unsure of what to do, she takes herself in hand and walks over. Determined to keep the smile on her face.

"Scared of... you? What were you DOING, Pern??? You scared a girl?" Plymouth raised an eyebrow before looking up to greet Livvy. "Hey, hey girl. Don't you even play like you don't know the look. Girls use it ALL the time..."

Livvy smiled. "Hey Copernicus," she said and grabbed some bread. She had a feeling they were talking about Liz. "Hey Liz," Livvy said, smiling at the girl that just came. Poor girl. She was like in love with Perni.

She gave Plymouth a blank look and laughed. "We use a look?"

"Hi, Livvy, Plymouth...Copernicus." Liz says walking up to them, with a small smile on her face. "I think I'm just going to grab a muffin, and head out to the courtyard..."

"Eep," Copernicus made a little overwhelmed squeak and gave Liz and Livvy a wave. A wordless wave. He did NOT want to have this talk with Plymouth with girls here, or deal with awkwardness with Plymouth here. Maybe HE should leave.

"Liv, do you want to go out with me to the courtyard?" Liz asks.

Plymouth was oblivious to the awkwardness of the situation. "Oh hey Liz! We were just talking about you. Did Copernicus scare you earlier? This mug scared you?" Plymouth reached over to tug lightly on Copernicus's chin. He laughed and gave the chin a little shake.

Her eyes widening, she looks at Plymouth. "I...what...no of course not. It was just...a misunderstanding." she says unconvincingly. Looking over at Copernicus she gives him a apologetic smile. "I think I better go," she says grabbing a muffin and walking away.

Livvy gave Plymouth a sharp look and elbowed him in the gut really hard. She smiled at Liz. "You know. I'd love to. Come on," she said, getting up as she grabbed a muffin.

"Plym, you are a royal idiot," Copernicus whispered fiercely.

"What did I say?!? Where are you two GOING??" Plymouth called after the girls. "What..?" Plymouth was so confused..

Celandine skipped happily to the table, passing Livvy and Liz and smiling at the older girls brightly.

She came to a halt and looked between Plymouth and Copernicus, her happy smile faltering into a pout, "Where am I supposed to sit if you two are on opposite sides of the table? I want to sit next to both of you!" Her friend and her boyfriend; what could be better?

Cela picked up a cauldron cake and nibbled on it thoughtfully.

"I could sit on the table."

It hadn't occurred to her to sit with one or the other; rather it was a conundrum that begged to be solved.

Amanda swallowed. She had been afraid of this. She had never told anyone what had happened that had caused her father to leave, and her hatred of anyone ever arguing. She took a deep breath, and explained the whole story to the only person in the world who would listen without judging her; her best friend. "Okay. You want to know everything? Here you go. You know how my father left, right? Well, it was because of a stupid argument he and Mum had had the other night. It was about...well...that's not really important," she said. It didn't really matter that her mother had accused her father of cheating. "Daddy got really, really angry with Mum, and she screamed at him to leave, and never come back," Amanda sniffled, swallowing her tears, knowing that Amelia needed to hear this now. So much that Amanda had done would make sense to her now. "So he did. He left, and never came back. And it was because of an argument. Mum knew that he hadn't been...doing what she thought, but she was angry, and they were arguing. So he left. Because of this argument. And that is why I don't like to argue and that is why I got so upset. Because I'm so paranoid that something like that will happen to us. And I don't want you to leave me, Amelia. You're the only person here who understands me and puts up with my stupidity and forgetfulness," she said with a smile. "And I'm sorry if that was way too much information. But it's all relevant and it doesn't make sense without it." She looked at Amelia, wondering what she was going to say.

"Don't you see?" Copernicus began, but then Cela showed up. Okay... this conversation was over. "Hey, Cel. Just... sit by me and play footsie with Plymouth," he suggested as lightly as possible and then realized he was inviting Plymouth's girlfriend to sit with him instead. "Or whatever."