Piper sighed a bit as she smoothed out a non existent wrinkle on her jeans. The motion just giving her tiny white hands something to do while she thought about how to answer Emiliano. How do I say I'm not happy here without sounding to down or sad? She thought to herself. She decided not to answer for the moment, and instead address what was bothering him.
"Why do they say you shouldn't be here? Surely you like it here? Shouldn't that matter at all to them? What you want?" She asked her violet eyes filled with concern as she looked up at him. The look on his face just about broke her heart. See Piper, not everyone is happy here, they all have problems just like you do.. She thought to herself. Yeah, but at least they don't get ignored constantly.. She answered herself..

"Ohh yes, Um Grow more. I already left the school once you see. And my parents sent me back, they said I needed to face my problems not run away from them. Hence, helping me grow as a person.." Piper explained with a slight eye roll.

"More stressful than Durmstrang?" She asked. How was that possible, I thought they were a tough school? She wondered to herself as she looked up at him. " Well, you don't seem to be doing so well at the moment, would you care to tell me? I'm a good listener, and I don't have anything to do at the moment." Piper asked looked up at him.

Emiliano's face turned quite concerned when Piper didn't answer her questions. It must have been something that really bothered her.

"Well, my parents think that...magic will be of no use to me. They took me out of Durmstrang for the same reason, but I insisted on coming back to Europe...to continue." Constant arguing, yelling and then treaties...conditions. "But I hope I can solve it...and come back next year. I really like it...and I don't want to get apart from this school." He told her, quite a wide smile when he thought about staying.

"May I know what problems...you had at school or you still have?" He asked Piper. "I am a good listener as well. It just...seems weird that someone doesn't want to...stay here." He commented.

"...Maybe as I said, I...just went off the rhythm...Durmstrang was quite...hard, yes. But...this is sure a challenge as well." He said with a slight chuckle.

Piper's violet eyes grew even more concerned as Emiliano explained what had been going on. " Magic will be no use to you? But you are a wizard! Of course it will be of use to you! That is your life! Do they want to take that away from you?" She shook her head, her black locks flying as she imagined her parents trying to take away her life with magic. "I hope you will be able to solve it as well, I can see you really like it here, and well.. you should be allowed to continue to do what makes you happy." She said nodding emphatically, her hands coming up to press to her mouth.

She sighed a bit as she looked up at him, wondering if she should really tell him. "Well, you see.. I've been hurt here. I.. I had a boyfriend last year, but we didn't communicate at all this summer.. and now.. this year.. I know he's here. But he hasn't even tried to contact me." Piper bit her small lower lip hard, trying to keep from crying. "And... well.. I don't have many friends, I'm ignored often.. and.. no matter how how I try.. it seems like I'm not going to be happy here.Guys.. don't even look twice at me.." She bowed her head, and took deep breaths. I'm not going to cry.. I'm not going to cry.. She repeated to herself as she moved her hands to her face.

Emiliano's nodding became more often as Anthea spoke. "Yes...and now I have sorta the arguments, the reasons I want to stay here, more than...just fun. It's my life...and I am growing up to take my own decissions. Thank you, Piper..." He told her, a wide smile spreading all through his face. "...And I know this...can work. Me staying with my sister at home and...enjoy my life here at Hogwarts during the school months." He said, kind of relieved his mind was clearing up a bit more.

Listening to Piper's story, Em's heart just...tried to work in pieces. He stepped closer to her and hugged her. "I'm really sorry...I would have never imagined such..thing happened to you." That's all he could say to her. "You are my friend...and you can count on me. Alright?" He told her, showing a smile of support to Piper.

Vindictus had been abandoned and became increasingly frustrated. No one gave him cake! And now there was a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor student in his corridor. Watching their little scene was disgusting. "Eewww . . . gag me with a spoon," he said and made a gagging sound.

Emiliano let go slowly of Piper when he saw Professor Vindictus coming around. A smile was let out for the girl.

He cleared his throat and looked at the professor. "I..." He was speechless. "...err...I apologize for this behavior, but...my friend here sure needed support..." What a word, what an excuse.

Stressing times, yeah those were...

He put his shades on and then made a running start before sliding down the corridor in his socked feet. "So, like why is she gushing like a faucet? It's like totally ruining my mood for singing and eating candy!"

What was going on with Professor Vindictus? Was he usually like this? Emiliano didn't know him at all, so...maybe that's why his...behavior as if he was Em's age was...weird for him.

"...personal reasons, mostly." He wasn't going to tell the exact reasons, unless Piper allowed him to or told the professor herself.

Candy, did he just mention, CANDY??

Em's voice became a little softer, maybe it was because his mouth was melting for just the taste of a piece of chocolate frog, a lollipop. Anything...

"LOLLY, LOLLY, LOLLY GET YOUR -" Vindictus shouted in a sing-song voice and pounced on a few lollipops that were strewn along the corridor.

Stepping out of the Common room door, with a slice of cake, Liz starts down the corridor. I wonder... jumping at someone singing at the top of his lungs behind her down the hall, she turns around and sees Professor Vindictus.

Nearly dropping the slice of cake, she looks at him stunned.

Vindictus sat up with a wrapped lollipop clenched in each hand and he looked up at Liz with his eyes as wide as saucers. "CAKE - oh, did you bring that for me? I was a good boy today - Kraziman didn't give me detention!"

Ok...it surely was not the usual behavior the professor had normally. Emiliano looked at him stunned. What was going on with him, was he turning into some kind of child?

Em noticed someone, it was Liz. "Hey...Liz." He waved at her.

"Is he usually like this?" He asked her in a whisper.

Looking at him, she still isn't able to rid herself of the stunned look. Well nothing should surprise me after the ice skating rink of a third floor...

"Umm, sure, you may have it." she says with a nod, holding out the plate to him. "Umm, are you alright professor?"

Looking around, she sees Emiliano waving at her. "Hi!"

Quietly she whispers back "I don't think so...but lately..."

"Ooooohhhh . . . thank you!" Vindictus squealed and shoved the entire slice of cake into his mouth. Frosting was smeared around his lips and bits of the cake fell onto his now-dirty white shirt and Ravenclaw tie that was hanging loosely around his neck. But then he continued to speak with a full mouth. "Wherf Annar 'n Pawis? Dey pwomised me mo CAKE!"

As cake landed all over him, Liz's jaw dropped even more, and her eyes got big. "Professor...are you okay? I don't know where they are, but..." getting concerned, she's not sure if she should get help or not.

"Lately?" Emiliano's voice was...quiet, whispery.

Wait...was that the same symptom Professor Lupa was having, suddenly acting like a child, crying...well, Professor Vindictus was not crying at all, he was acting like a kid, wanting candies, and cake...

Stunned, he watched him eat the cake.

Sure...he was a child now. What was wrong with the professors now?

"Maybe we should try to get him to the hospital wing..." she says sounding really worried, looking at the professor.

"They took Lessie and Annie with them," Vindictus said and wrinkled his nose. "And the niffler, too. Something about a candy treasure. Do you know where the candy treasure is?"

Looking at Em, Liz nods, hoping he will catch on.

Looking gently at the professor, she says "Yes, I think it's down on the 3rd floor. I can take you there, if you'd like." she says extending her hand to take his.

"Err...sure." Emiliano...was really worried about the professor.

"Professor Vindictus?" He said with a smile. "...how about we take you...to the candy store?" emiliano knew it was the only way a child would leave with them, or at least follow, which was kind of bad in some situations.

"Lessie, Annie?" Emiliano was so confused.

"Niffler?" That was going out of control.

"No. I. Want. The. Candy. TREASURE!" Vindictus shouted and stuck out his lower lip. "And more cake!"

Trying to keep the gentleness in her eyes, she looks at the professor "Yes dear..." Did I just call him dear?!?! she wonders astonishedly.

"Let's go find that candy treasure." reaching for his hand again, she waits.

"Do you know where it is? If not, I can call for Anna," Vindictus grinned and cupped his hands around his mouth. "ANNA! AAAAAANNNNNNNAAAAAAAAA!"

"I know someone who has it." nodding she continues, "and I'm sure she can help us get it. But she's down on the 3rd floor."

Vindictus eyed Liz suspiciously. "Did Anna and Paris show you where it is? I know that they needed the niffler 'cause those critters are nifty when it comes to finding sparkly stuff."