Kayla made her way into the quill shop and headed over to the shelves. There were quills here that could just about do anything...hmm did she really need a colour changing quill? Oh a self correcting one would come in handy and a spell checking one that would be good too. She picked up the quills and scanned the other shelves to see what else she could get.

Cela skipped into the store and scooped up some pretty inks and a leather bound journal. She hummed hapily to herself and skated up to the counter to pay.

"Hello Celandine" Kayla said without turning around and studying the quill she had in her hand. Really who would want a quill with a flamingo feather? "Going easy on all that candy you bought? she asked finally turning around and facing the younger girl.

Celandine turned, mid hum and stared at Kayla for a moment, before recovering, "Gave it to Garret." Cela said honestly. She chewed on her lip for a few moments and shifted from one foot to the other, finally settling with one hand on her hip and the other holding her purchases against her chest. Still staring at Kayla, Celandine somewhat awkwardly adjusted a shoulder strap before wrinkling her nose, "How's all that prefect stuff?"

Kayla nodded, "Good" she turned and placed the ridiculous looking flamingo quill back onto the shelf and then turned back to Cela. She eyed Celandine, with curiosity as she shifted around. "It's going okay, the first years seem to be keeping me on my toes but other than that I'm handling it" she answered. Kayla looked at Cela again, "Is there something you want to ask me or tell me Cela?"

"You can handle anything." Celandine answered quietly. She shrunk into herself for a moment before straightening up and again shifting from foot to foot, eyeing Kayla and wondering what she already knew and which 'something' Cela was supposed to want to ask or tell her. "No." Cela answered, chewing her lip.

Kayla almost snorted at Celandine's comment...not quite anything but she tried. She raised an eyebrow at Cela and folded her arms across her chest as she leaned against the shelf. "Is there anything going on between you and Copernicus? I've seen you around the castle holding hands and obviously going on a picnic."

Celandine jumped in surprise at Kayla's question, Copernicus? Something going on? Cela couldn't convince herself that she didn't know what Kayla was trying to say, even though she tried to. "Copernicus is my friend." Cela answered after a moment, "Like... how you are friends with Maddox."

Celandine of course wasn't aware of how close that comparison actually was to the odd little situation that seemed to be creeping up on her.

"And holding hands doesn't mean anything. I've held hands with lots of boys." Cela pointed out and managed to stop a tiny blush as she thought about how Plymouth had ended up... and they had ended up... eeeep! that label still scared her; better not to think about it.

"And Juniper came with us, the picnic was for our astronomy assignment, and Barry and Mari came too and Livvy was going to but after she found us holding hands in the kitchen she disappeared." Cela noted.

"And, Cope is really smart and we both got assigned Abraxans for the Care of Magical creatures project, so we are working together and researching together."

Why did she feel the need to defend it all of a sudden?

... weird.

"And he gives me candy." Cela finished, some things still being of paramount importance and all.

Oh lovely! Nicholai, would have a fit if he knew that Celandine was holding hands with lots of boys. She compared her and Copernicus, to Kayla and Maddox and that didn't make her feel that much better considering at one time she and Maddox had been attracted to one another.

Kayla stood and listened as Cela, went on and on about Copernicus and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Just friends huh?" She pushed off the shelf and walked over to Cela. "You sure do talk about him a lot for him to be just a friend" she gave her a wink. "I don't think you've quite worked out how you feel about Copernicus yet." Kayla placed her quills on the counter and looked back at Celandine. "I'm not going to say you're too young because I was the same age when I met your brother and I have no plans on telling him either...because well there's nothing to tell at the moment" Kayla chuckled to herself for a moment. "But you know I will hurt him if he hurts you."

"Yes, I... I don't talk about him more than any other person in particular or anything, its just that you asked about him." Cela pointed out logically, "I could talk just as much about Garret or Barry or Pl..." Celandine trailed off and blushed, still trying to avoid confronting the Plymouth thing in her mind.

She shook herself and looked at Kayla strangely when she made a little threat, "Oh Copernicus wouldn't hurt anyone ever, he's so nice. He doesn't even like candy all that much but he still gives me some and he opens butterbeer bottles for me and he's always polite and clean and all honourable and stuff. Kind of... kind of like Nico actually. Except that he's a bit prettier than Nicholai." Celandine chewed her lip thoughtfully, "I think he's smarter too." Cela noted.

"Oh! Hey! I got another pet! Barry got me a Pygmy Puff and Metal-Mouth helped me name it Whoopsiedaisy and he helped name my scorpion." Celandine smild brightly, thinking of her pets, "Plymouth and Copernicus haven't met Him or Whoopsiedaisy yet." Him being the name of her scorpion.

...the one that often made its home down her shirt.

Kayla noticed the blush on Cela's face and she frowned slightly. "Tell me you weren't just about to say Plymouth and blush in the same sentence. That boy is disgusting, he actually made me throw up in Potions and then offered me his filthy handkerchief" she gave a small shudder as she thought about it again.

She raised her eyebrow at Cela again as she spoke of Copernicus, the girl had it bad she just didn't realise it yet. "You know you just said he was better than your brother, seems to me Mr Kettleburn means an awful lot to you."

"A pigmy puff? That doesn't sound like the kind of pet you would normally get Cela, but I think the name fits." She chuckled as she thought about the names for her pets. "And you obviously don't have them with you today either. I got myself another tarantula as well, his name is Webster." Kayla searched in her pockets for some money, "So have you heard from your brother lately?"

"He isn't disgusting!" Celandine defended, "Plymouth is nice. He wrote me a poem!" A weird poem that didn't quite fit what Plymouth knew about her but then maybe he'd just talked to Barry or one of her more observant friends.

"Kayla. A lot of people are better than Nicholai." Celandine poked out her tongue, "And of course Cope means a lot to me, he's my friend and all my friends are special or I wouldn't be friends with them in the first place." Cela paused, "It is nice to spend time with someone almost as smart as I am though; he's second in Ravenclaw."

Cela nodded, "I know. Barry gave me whoopsiedaisy and some candy for my birthday. You know last year he gave me an owl? He's trying to make me like safe pets. Which I do; its just that Him is soooo cool. Him is just a nickname, he's really called He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But I like nicknames." Cela perked up, "Webster? Can I meet him some time? I love Tarantulas!"

Celandine looked away a bit guiltily, "No, but then I haven't really replied to his letter. Or... given his letters to people so that they can read them and reply. Probably he thinks nobody likes him anymo... oh! I have to send him a copy of the yearbook! Did you see?" Celandine smiled brightly, "Nicholai and Anna got Mr and Mrs Hogwarts together!"

Kayla decided that Plymouth was not worth the argument, although next time she saw him she was soooo going to have to pay out on him. Writing poems to girls, she would never have imagined. Hmm...which reminded her she must speak to Denton about the sonnet he wrote.

"Not in my eyes they don't" she muttered under her breath. "Okay, okay he's just a friend...I get it" she held up her hands and then rolled her eyes when she said he was as smart as her. "Oh yes it must be so horrible for you to spend your time with us dunderheads" she said dryly.

Kayla let out a laugh. "Of course you can meet Webster, as long as I can meet Him. I also have a female tarantula by the name of Charlotte, but she doesn't like to go out much and she hasn't taken to Webster like I though she would" she shrugged, guess you can't force love onto others.

"Hmm...yes which is why I asked and which is why I just write to him anyway" Kayla shook her head at Celandine. "Yes, it's simply lovely" she answered with a twinge of sarcasm.

Celandine just made a face at Kayla's response about Nico, "Why Nico anyway?" she couldn't help but blurt, she'd never really... ever... asked that. She hadn't ever wanted to know before. Not that she did now. "Never mind." Cela added.

She smiled at the dunderhead comment and spoke consolingly and jokingly, "Thats okay Kayla, we can be friends again when you get back on the top five for Hufflepuff."

Cela smiled happily, "Sure, I'll bring Him to meet you whenever you like. But you have to have some of the potion Nico made or you will get sick if he stings you." Cela listened wide eyed to Kayla and let out a little giggle, "You wanted him to be Charlotte's Web?"

She stiffened and shifted awkwardly, "You... write to Nico?" She paused, "Does Maddox?" Cela cringed slightly, "Does Anna?" Oh she hoped that neither of those two would say anything to her brother! "Oh it is! Aren't you proud? I wonder if Cale is proud? I need to touch his hair." Celandine added absently.

"I'm going to answer that question anyway Cela and I won't grose you out with the mushy details" she chuckled, although she should just to be annoying. "You're brother gets me like no other guy has. He makes me happy with the things he does for me and the things he says to me" she shrugged, "It's as simple as that."

Kayla glowered at Cela. "Why thank you for reminding me of that Celandine but my Transfig homework hasn't come back yet, so I should be back there very soon." Well she hoped she was anyway.

"Oh cool" Kayla replied and she waved her hand in the air dismissing the whole stinging thing. She had never once been stung or bitten by any magical creature. She gave Cela a wink. "You got it. But of course being a female she's being tempremental."

Kayla gave Cela a weird look. "Of course I write to him. And I have no idea if the others do." And now she was going to have to speak to Anna and Maddox about Cela because it was obvious they knew something she didn't. "Oh yeah real proud." NOT!!!

Cela's interest, despite her natural aversion to the subject matter, was piqued. "What does he do for you? What does he say to you?" she asked curiously.

Cela smiled brightly, unconcerned by Kayla's glower. "Oh neither have mine; Transfiguration, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures... and I'm doing Ancient Runes this term; its so exciting!"

"Can you imagine what Nico would say if you got stung and hadn't taken some of his potion?" Cela pointed out before cocking her head slightly, "Tempremental how? Like how you are sometimes?" Cela asked innocently.

"Well that's good." Celandine responded quietly, hoping that Mads and Anna didn't.

"Oh I'm proud!" Celandine gushed, "Of Nicholai and of Anna! Though I think that Will would have been a better Mr. Hogwarts. He's more photogenic." Cela said seriously.

"Hmm...I thought you didn't want to know. He looks out for me, he makes sure that I am safe and if he can't do it personally then he makes sure that he gets someone else to. He cheers me up when I'm feeling down. He tells me how much he cares about me and that I'm the only for him...things like that." Kayla wondered why Cela wanted to know all this stuff and then she smiled a mischevious smile. "And the way he kisses me, it's like my whole senses come alive. With his soft lips and his sweet caresses..." she trailed off leaving the rest unsaid but she was sure Cela would get the picture.

Kayla shrugged, "Nico, knows what I'm like but if it makes you happy I will take the potion" she grumbled, she knew she wouldn't need it. "Yeah exactly like me, that's why I bought her."

She almost choked at that. "Will? If you say so Cela." Honestly where was this girl's taste?

"Lots of people do that for me." Celandine mused, "Does he write you poetry?" Cela asked before making a face at the kissing thing. But wait a second, "Senses alive? Like with really good candy?"

Celandine shrugged, a gesture that was remarkably similar to a common one of Nicholai's. "I haven't been stung yet either, but you know how worried Nico gets about me and having that potion makes it much easier to have Him here at school." Celandine smiled, "do you know why I got a scorpion?" She wasn't entirely sure if Kayla remembered the form that Cela's patronus had started to take.

"Will." Cela agreed firmly, "He's interesting looking. And his smile is happy and real and makes other people smile too. When Nico makes people smile, it's intentional and calculated." Celandine was sure Kayla knew what she meant by that.

"Actually he wrote me a song" she admitted and then laughed at Cela's face. Uh-oh she wants to know about kissing, Kayla eyed Cela suspiciously. "I guess you could put it that way. When Nico, kisses me it makes my heart race and it sends shivers throughout my body and oh my god why am I telling you this? Nicholai, will kill me if he knows I'm talking to you about this sort of stuff and why do you want to know anyway?"

Kayla nodded at Cela. "Because your patronus was a scorpion and because you like dangerous animals."

She had to agree with her there. "Yeah but that's what works for Nicholai, he always got what he wanted didn't he? But I must admit I did like Will also."

"A song?" Cela repeated. Hmmm.

Cela made a face but made a mental note of Kayla's response. Research. It was still research. "So don't tell him." Cela suggested brightly, before adding in a slightly arch tone, "Does it matter why?"

Cela nodded happily in reply, glad that Kayla remembered. "I wonder if Copernicus and Plymouth will like Him?" she mused out loud.

"Everyone likes Will." Celandine smiled, "I wish he was my brother." Celandine shrugged again and took a few half-steps toward the door, "I'm gonna go do my homework now. Oh... and Kayla?" Celandine smiled innocently, "Nicholai isn't the only Toussaint who always gets what they want. See you later!" Cela skipped out of the door, purchases tight against her chest and humming happily.

Kayla shook her head as she watched Cela skip out the door and she turned and placed her money on the counter and picked up her purchases. "Yes I've just realised that Celandine Toussaint" she muttered as she made her way to the door.

Daphne shot a warning sideways glance at Celandine when she began mentioning her kiss again. At least, Daphne knew it was a warning and she only naturally assumed that Celandine would catch up on it. Pushing the door open with one hand, the blond trapped her lower lip between her teeth.

He even had a phase? According to houses?! What kind of gentleman Nicholai Toussaint was pretending to be? One hand reaching up to slap its' owners face, Daphne groaned again. There was a distinct pain behind her left eyeball. Migraine.

"Let me know when you do this, okay?" she told Celandine. So I'm not there. Running her hands over the different colored quills, Daphne wondered if she could just wish this sensation of imminent doom away.

"When I do what?" Cela asked, looking at Daphne with an absent expression before stroking some of the qull feathers. She yawned a little and wondered if she'd have time to get more candy before returning to the castle.

She needed the candy to fuel the whomping willow research after all. She glanced sideways at her friend as a thought occurred to her, "Daphne," Cela began tentatively, "Do you like boys?"

"When you shout--" began Daphne once more losing her patience, pale cheeks decorated with bright splotches of different rosy hues. Breathing heavily, her nostrils flared unattractively. Aware of this, she turned her head away from Celandine's eyes. "Never mind."


Turning on her spot repeatedly, Daphne finally found a shopping basket and seized it violently, clenching it tightly in her grasp. Something had to receive some kind of punishment! Heading down the aisle, bag dangling from one arm, Miss Hopton finally found the stationary sets. There was a baby blue package with white glittery floral stamps along the borders of the sheet. It even brought an assorted sheet of baby owl stickers. Picking it up, Daphne tried not to make her sudden rigidity at Cel's question obvious. "Like?" repeated Daphne, eyes blazing. "Like? No I do not like boys. In fact, if I were one to have feelings of hate--" she trailed off, throwing set after set of stationary in the basket, not really paying attention to which ones she picked and that she was choosing enough stationary to last her the remainder of the term and the next one.