"Not embarrassed, just... I'm not good at this whole emotional thing. My parents loved each other but they weren't effusive with it, and I never... you know... really had a big interest in girls. Never had time for it." He leaned forward. "You can talk to me, but since I'm not so good at all the emotional stuff... maybe you want Livvy too?"

She liked hearing more about his parents, it felt nice that he was opening up a little. "Are you interested in being involved with one now?" shocked at her own words, she wishes she could take them back. She'd already embarrassed him enough.

"I mean, if one of them told you they wanted to go out with you...ImeanIlik..." stopping and ducking her head in embarrassment. Oh, my gosh...now I've done it...

He swallowed hard and gave her a very level look. "Maybe you want to think about whatever it is you want to tell me and consider... not telling me right now. Because the thing is... the thing is that I really like being friends with you and Livvy and Rian. I would... hate to lose that."

Nodding, Liz looks horrible. "I'm sorry..."

Just wanting to leave, because she had embarrassed him, herself and probably Livvy, she looks up at him and says "It's getting late, I think...maybe we should go."

"I hope you don't...hate me for this." she says with a catch in her voice.

"No!" He slid forward and took her hand. "I respect you a great deal for being so brave. I'm not brave at all. I just... I hope you don't hate me for saying that's just not where I am right now. Boys always mature way more slowly than girls, did you know?" He tried to joke.

"I couldn't hate you..." she whispered, when he took her hand. "And I do, want to stay your friend" with a small smile "If you want to still."

Thinking sadly Maybe Winters was right...poor Copernicus, Plymouth and Cela...what a mess.

"Good," he put his other hand over hers so her hand was trapped. "Can we still do the strolls, or is that... reserved for other people now?"

"No, I don't mind. It gets kind of lonely going by myself." Liz says quietly looking down at their hands. "And if papa knew I was doing that alone, I think I'd be in trouble...he hasn't found out in 3 years." she says with a short laugh.

He let go of her hands when she looked uncomfortable. "Surely the grounds at Hogwarts are safe, if anywhere in the world is. But... my dad worried about bizarre things when my mom died too. He got all germaphobic."

"I think so too," Liz replies "No one can get in those gates, that I know of...anyway. Particularly muggles."

"Mine just got wierd, I guess," she says with a laugh. "He is now determined that any animal or creature on our land, must be helped, in every way possible. Including the gnomes!"

"Why do you think that is? I mean, I get the germ thing. He doesn't want either of us to get sick," Copernicus slumped into his seat. "What would the reason be for taking care of those animals?"

"I have no idea," completely stumped about it "I mean, if it was to keep them off, I'd understand, for our protection, and to keep them out of our garden. But to feed them...no idea."

"I guess it's one way for me to learn about those creatures. But we do have fun with the degnoming each summer..."

He laughed. "I've always wanted to do that, actually. Well, no. To be honest, I haven't. It looks fun, but awfully dirty, and I'm likely to get bit. Maybe I've always wanted to watch it."

"Your always welcome to join us. We have a huge get together with friends and family. It's a week after the end of term." Liz says looking at him again, "Maybe you and Plymouth could come."

"Yeah?" He nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds good to me, actually. Plymouth needs socializing, and obviously I do too. Teach us how to interact with perfectly nice girls like you."

Hugo raised his eyebrows at her. "A bit of hyperventilating?" He repeated, laughing out loud. "Well, still. I'm really glad you did something...together." He smiled at her, and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. She looked so worried! Honestly, poor thing. "Lighten up Lettie, it's my birthday afterall," he teased, planting a reassuring kiss on her cheek to cheer her up.

"Ohhhhh. Makes sense!" Hugo contemplated, wondering how on earth they managed to persuade the elves to bake a whole cake. Sure, they loved making stuff for students, but normally small orders like cookies or cupcakes. But THIS...he ogled at the cake, mouth watering. "Very well done on the icing," he complimented.

He laughed at the 'girl in cake' joke, and winked at Terry happily. "Sure...LET'S EAAAT!" He squeeked, clapping his hands together. Oh oh oh! Taking a deep breath, he huffed with all his might, and each candle was extinguished. WOOHOO!

"I'll make sure that papa, sends both of you an invitation." she says with a smile.

Still hurt, a little, she guesses that won't go away for awhile. Maybe I should find Rian, she'll understand, she's going through something like this now with Sneeze...

Livvy had actually fallen asleep, right when she was pretending too. Oh well. They didn't seem to notice one bit. It was all cool. She opened one eye and stood up, yawning. Livvy walked towards them with a weary look and said, "Hate to burst your guys' bubble. But don't you think it's rather late and time to go sleepy doo?"

Amelia walked into the 7th floor corridor, the place she had been constantly hearing the music coming from. A few days ago she had overheard some older students talking about the so called "room of requirement." Is this where it was? Now, how do i get inside again? Oh, yeah. Amelia paced up and down the hallway. She had to know if it was here. She tried focusing on a room that contained piano, but it was difficult with all the different levels of that composition floating through her head. Come on! she thought. I need a piano to compose! When she looked up, there was a door there. She went over and opened it.

Inside, it had a GRAND piano on a slightly raised dais in the middle, with variety of instruments arrayed around it. "Perfect" she muttered. She felt the rush of energy flowing down her arms, and into her fingers. She looked down to find the subconsciously playing the piano part for that song that was rushing through her head. All of her yearned to go to that beautiful instrument in the room, but she shook herself. "No. You have homework, and a MIA best friend to find. Come on. Go!" She gave herself another small shake, and shut the door on the one room she had wanted to find in this school. "I'll be back." She muttered, to whom, she didn't know.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Copernicus scrambled to his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets for lack of a better thing to do with them. "I'll escort you ladies back to the common room."

Nodding, Liz agrees. Standing up she heads to the door with them.

Livvy grinned. "Why thank you Copernicus. Such a gentleman," she said, winking at him. She then headed out the door.

Robert chuckled slightly as Mari spoke, "That's a good thing to do. Otherwise you'd just be upset all the time." Hearing her sigh he smiled slightly and did likewise as he sank into the chair. At her words however his eyes flew open and he sat up, "What do you mean? I didn't do a bloody thing to you to deserve that." As she continued he stood up and threw his hands in the air in exasperation, "You have to be kidding me! I was bloody joking! If I were going to do something to you as payback I wouldn't do something I can't undo!!!!" He stood in front of her, meeting his glare with one of his own, "See and there's the bloody difference! You DID do it on purpose. Whether you knew how to get me out or not it doesn't matter!" He groaned in frustration and walked away a few steps before turning back, "Why are you so bloody aggravating all the time?! I just...you make me...gahhh!"

Mariska narrowed her eyes at Robert as he stood up and began shouting, like he always did. She folded her arms across her chest again and rolled her eyes as he stalked away. " I did do it on purpose. But like I said, I knew what I was doing. Even if you were joking, I'm sure..." She stopped as he questioned her and she stood too, coming up to him. " I'm not aggravating. And it does matter that I knew what was doing. I could have gotten you out of that maze in five minutes. I just thought if I kept you somewhere for a bit maybe you'd remember me and not ignore me next time." She said, knowing she wasn't making any sense at all. " And you don't have to yell I can hear you just fine!" She said, matching his loudness because he was really starting to irk her. " I think we're done here." She said, glaring up athim. " Unless you'd like to yell at me some more of course, then by all means DO go ahead!" She said, her chin stuck out a bit in a show of odd defiance and her hands on her hips.

Robert looked down at Mariska as she stood up and spoke to him, "No..no you're very aggravating. I don't know anyone who frustrates me as much as you do. Every second it's something else. Always something else." As he heard her last words he looked at her puzzled, "What are you talking about?! You want to talk about ignoring people...I'm Mr. Invisible now thanks to that block head Cayden." His eyes narrowed as she yelled at him. No, he didn't want to yell at her but god help him if he didn't want to wrap his arms around her. He shook off the thought, "I don't..." Seeing her hands on her hips and the look of defiance he stuck his hands in his pockets, "Fine, leave, see if I care. I've got better things to do then sit here and pick yet another fight with you." But he didn't make a move for the door. He just stood looking at her to see what she would do with the same look of annoyance and frustration on his face. Not letting even the briefest flash of the inner turmoil within him to show.