Thomas remembered something important that he forgot yesterday and he didn't want to leave so he said, "Vick do you want to come to the owl barn with me please?" he said sweetly "And later we can go to Honeydukes. Okay."

"Sure, I will come to the owl barn with you and I will buy you some chocolate in Honeydukes" she smiled at him, she loved it when he is sweet.

"Okay so you'll meet me there in five minutes, so er... See you," said Thomas with his eyes starting to shine with his smile. He gave Victoria a packet full Pumpkin Pasties that he saved for the end of the year.

"Ok, see you there!" she saw that his eyes was shining, "Thanks for the pasties!"

Jack walked into the Three Broomsticks, rubbing his eyes tiredly and taking a booth all to himself in the back corner. As he waited for his butterbeer to be prepared, his closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall.

When he got home, he was locking himself in his room and staying in there till term started again. Yup. That was his plan.

Having NO luck with Torin, Reese headed down to Hogsmeade. Maybe Jack Fritzera was here somewhere. Doubting he was in Honeydukes since the boy didn't like candy that much, she walked inside The Three Broomsticks. She stopped in the doorway as her eyes scanned the place and, lo and behold, there he was. Sitting in the corner all by himself.

"JACK TYLER FRITZERA," she exclaimed, not even minding that there were other people in the room. She marched over to him and took the seat across from where he was sitting. "You have TEN seconds to explain what happened in the common room," she told him. "Starting now." One...Two...

Blink.

Jack's eyes flew open as someone started SHOUTING his name from across the pub--and he knew who it was without even having to look in the direction the noise was coming from. REESE. And she KNEW. She had to have known--why else would she be ATTACKING him right now?

And ZOMG SHE LOOKED SCAREH! She plopped down in the seat across from him and demanded an explanation and honestly, he wasn't even sure he could explain to HIMSELF what happened. "I--I--I didn't do anything!" he said.

When in doubt--plea your innocence.

Five...Six...Seven... Reese stopped counting in her head once Jack spoke up. Didn't do anything? DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?! She began tapping her fingernails on the table in front of her as her brown eyes looked at Jack.

"Oh, really? That's not what I heard. I heard you and Evolette McKenna kissed," she told him. "Why don't you tell me why you kissed Evolette McKenna when you like me?" Yes, it was time for him to know that she knoooows he likes her. She stopped tapping her fingernails against the table, but she didn't take her eyes off of Jack.

She wanted answers and she wanted them NOW!

Oh Merlin. This wasn't happening--IT WASN'T HAPPENING! It was all a dream, that was all it was...if he just closed his eyes, he'd open them and find out that he was dreaming. DREAMINGGG. None of this had ever happened...the kiss, this argument, none of it was realllllll...

He shut his eyes and opened them again. Nope. Still in the Three Broomsticks. Still with an angry Reese.

"No, I--I really didn't do ANYTHING!" he insisted. Really he HADN'T. SHE had attacked HIM hadn't she? Of course she had! Attacked him with her big lips. "I was attacked! I swear, we were just sitting there and..." he trailed off, flailing his hands desperately as he tried to find words to explain the whole story.

"I--like you?" he asked, his statement coming out more like a question. How did she know? Pssh, that was an easy one--Torin had told her. Duh. Jack would have been a fool to think he WOULDN'T tell her. If only Jack had the nerve, he would punch him in the face next time he saw him...

Growing bored with her tour of Hogwarts, Camille had quite successfully escaped her over-acheiever tour guide. Due to, unexpected events, Camille had had to change schools halfway through term. It was certainely not a good idea. But it was going to happen one day or another.

Stopping infront of a shabby looking building, Camille looked up at the sign. 'The Three Broomsticks' looked interesting enough, so she heaved the door open with her thin arms.

Camille's eyes widened as the stench of butter beer filled her nostrils. Definately different to the last place she had been. Never the less, she headed over to a table, and sat down, wondering whether or not she should order a butterbeer.

Reese raised her eyebrow when Jack closed his eyes and opened them once again. Closing his eyes surely wasn't going to make this all go away. She was mad and he was stuck with her madness until they sorted everything out.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You didn't do ANYTHING? So, you are telling me that Evolette McKenna just kissed you for..." She stopped mid sentence when she heard Jack said he was attack. Evolette attacked him? Was she REALLY suppose to believe that? Evolette was a cool girl, so why would she attack someone like Jack. Not saying that Jack wasn't cool and all, but he just wasn't Evolette's type. Literally. "I don't know, Jack. I don't know what to believe. I've been lied to before this term from someone I trust. How would I know you are not lying to me right now? Am I suppose to believe that you wouldn't go off and kiss someone as pretty as Evolette? Am I suppose to believe that she was the one that attacked you and you were...innocent?" She told him. She tapped her foot against the ground as she tried to think of what to say next. Once she figured out what to say, she said it: "Why don't you just tell me what happened?"

"I don't really know as of right now, Jack. Do you like me?" She asked him. "I know two people told me that you liked me. Well, one assumed you liked me and the other actually told me you liked me. But, then, I heard that you kissed Evolette, so I don't know what to believe." She crossed her arms and took her eyes off of Jack for one second to look at the person who had just walked in.

Jack frowned. "Please Reese you HAVE to believe me! I really really WAS attacked!" he moaned. How was he going to get her to believe him? He supposed he could get Evolette herself to tell her what had happened, but after all that had happened how was he supposed to know that she would tell Reese the truth? "I was just sitting there talking with her and she just flat out KISSED me and ran away!"

He sighed and tried his last possible defense. "Do you honestly think that I am the type of guy to go around initiating spontaneous kisses with pretty girls?" he asked her.

Come on now. Let's be serious.

He bit his lip as he tried to think of the best way to put this. Torin had to be the one who told Reese he liked her, and...who else would spread a rumor like that? In fact, who would spread rumors about HIM period? No one ever cared about Jack, and most of the time he liked that just fine.

"Well erm...yeah, I mean...yessss..."

Thomas entered the Three Broomsticks with no one. He sat down on one of the chairs and ordered some butterbeer. He took out his books from the library and from the books he brought from the beginning of the year. The waiter gave him his butterbeer and the Ravenclaw didn't notice it. Thomas read paragraphs from each page and some how he noticed that his butterbeer had came. The first year took some sips from his drink and something caught his eye in the book. It was a creature which looked like a winged horse but it was drawn. The book said: 'This is a Thestral. It is a breed from the winged- horse family. The creature is invisible to wizards and witches. But for some it is not because...' the writing was so small that he couldn't continue reading it. Thomas finished his butterbeer quickly. The Ravenclaw packed up everything slowly wondering why some people can't see this Thestral. He finished packing his books and walked out of the shop slowly and quietly. The first year thought if they are any Thestrals in the school area and if he could see them. This subject was kind of bothering him now because of all his questions about it. So he tried to forget it.

Reese looked down at the table as she listened to Jack. Evolette ran away after the kiss? That’s strange, but some strange some HAS been happening lately. Like, Torin reading a novel! Maybe this flood was getting to everyone’s head and everyone decided to go loopy or something. Or, at least, everyone she knows.

Taking in a deep breath, she was about to say something until Jack continued on with his defense. He did have a point there. Jack never seemed like the person that would go and just kiss someone. “Okay, I believe you,” she finally spoke up. It was kind of hard not to believe Jack after all. He didn’t seem like the guy that would, you know, try to hurt someone emotionally. She didn’t really think about Jack being that kind of person before she marched in here yelling his name. But, even though she believe and all that, that didn’t mean she wasn’t still mad that the kiss happened. Oh, well. She’ll get over it sooner or later.

“But, why would Evolette kiss you?” She thought out loud. Hmm. That was still an unknown question.

Her heart started pounding against her chest when Jack admitted he liked her. Oh. Torin was right and so was Anna assumption! “Y-You do?” she stuttered. “I…I…” She was completely lost for words at this moment. She was now regretting ever bringing up the subject about him liking her, because now it felt like they were just going to travel into an awkward silence. Maybe she could just go before this got any more awkward. She glanced towards the door, but then decided against it. She wasn’t going anywhere. Looking back at Jack, she waited for him to say something.

Jack let out a sigh of relief and smiled. She believed him! He KNEW he had a good argument when he told Reese that HE wouldn't go around kissing girls. Cause that was just not...him. He'd never have the nerve.

He shrugged. "I dunno...it was really weird though. We were just sitting there and then...well I don't really remember what she said, it wasn't anything related to KISSING though...all I know is I closed my eyes and then BAM she was kissing me and she just ran into the dorms, like she didn't want to stick around to get questioned or anything." he explained.

He bit his lip again and blushed. Erm...what was he supposed to say now? He wanted to sink through his chair and into the ground and just not be in THIS situation anymore. In fact, he slouched in his chair a bit. This. Was. Awkward.

Reese began to tap her fingernails on the table once more. That WAS weird. A kiss out of no where. And, Evolette ran off! This just wasn't making any sense to her. Shaking her head slightly, she took her brown eyes off of Jack and looked towards the girl she looked at earlier. Aww. That girl was still by herself. Hopefully someone would come and talk to her in a little bit. Being alone wasn't any fun.

She turned back to Jack after it got quiet. Too quiet. Forgetting what she told herself earlier, she was actually going to leave now. "I'm going to get going," she said as she stood up from her chair. "I need to go study. So, I'll see you later." With that, Reese Upstead left The Three Broomsticks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

Ethan offered Cari a slightly wistful smile at mention of Iliana. They had almost been friends before that whole mess with Kazimeriz and Less had happened, but Ethan hadn't wanted to get in the way of her friendship with Alessia Lupa. "I'm not entirely convinced that gossip has a point. It is merely propaganda for the masses." Ethan reached forward and tapped Cari's untouched butterbeer gently.

"I did try the ignoring thing. And I do ignore him as much as I can, but when every word that escapes his mouth is goading, and every look a challenge..." Ethan shrugged, "I suppose I'm what he made me."

Oh right, he got her a drink, the least she could do was actually drink it.

Cari sipped at her butterbeer thoughtfully and considered it. "Gossip I think is how people entertain themselves when their own lives aren't interesting enough. I think that speculation is a pastime for a lot of people, and I think that there are some who make up stories to see if by putting them out there, they will become reality. And sometimes I think gossip can, because people like to speculate and tell stories and embellish, make an innocuous comment or moment into a huge issue, confuse the facts and ruin lives."

This would be a perfect moment to tell Ethan about Clark Landers and her efforts to put him off. But did she? No she did not.

"You know I think Valon Kazimeriz is just like that," she told him, "I think he had a similar abrasive kind of relationship with my great-grandmother, but she won't talk about it, so I guess that tells you how effective it is."

Cari took another sip of her butterbeer and regarded Ethan. "Not in any bad ways, if that helps at all; I don't really see any of that caustic, challenging tone that he takes, in you. I see a bit of his paranoia in you. You're pretty sure he's out to destroy you, which admittedly isn't a shining trait, but I think he thought I was in on your plot to destroy him. And frankly while either of you wouldn't stand still and be picked off, I don't think either of you is going to make the first move, I consider that positive."

"I don't do so well with gossip." Ethan answered quietly, "There was a lot of it in my old job. The acting thing..." He shrugged and repeated, "Propaganda."

Ethan sipped his drink thoughtfully as Cari spoke. "He's... an impressive man, always has been. I wanted to be like him once."

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

"I don't do so well with gossip." Ethan answered quietly, "There was a lot of it in my old job. The acting thing..." He shrugged and repeated, "Propaganda."

Ethan sipped his drink thoughtfully as Cari spoke. "He's... an impressive man, always has been. I wanted to be like him once."

Caroline had trouble with gossip herself, it's one of the reasons she was so mad at Marcus. But she didn't want to put Ethan in the middle. Friendship was different for men, which was probably why it was easier for her to be friends with men, but she still didn't want to complain to Ethan about the slights of one of his oldest friends.

"One rumour can destroy a person's confidence, particularly a child; young girls are vicious about gossip, so it wasn't so much of an occupational hazard for me, as much as a hazard of growing up, " Cari confided, "It put me off people in general for a while. I kept to myself and my books for company."

So what if she hadn't really been properly socialized?

"I had a Professor I wanted to be like too you know," Cari said, raising her bottle to her lips. "I wanted to be like your predecessor, Professor Lainey. She fascinated me. I was a little broken-hearted when Tobi told me she had left."

"The disdain of someone you admire can destroy a person's confidence just as effectively." Ethan answered and frowned. "That aparecium publication contains an awful lot of gossip about about the young girls at Hogwarts, when it isn't... about you or Annie." Ethan frowned, "It's a concern when people find their self-worth in gossip."

Oh.

"Sorry about that... there is a young lady that attends my classes who clearly feels the same. I suspect she doesn't like me much and does not involve herself in the classes as much because she resents that I have taken Lainey's place. It's a shame, she really is one of my brighter students."

No Tobi Avalon of course, but still very bright.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

"The disdain of someone you admire can destroy a person's confidence just as effectively." Ethan answered and frowned. "That aparecium publication contains an awful lot of gossip about about the young girls at Hogwarts, when it isn't... about you or Annie." Ethan frowned, "It's a concern when people find their self-worth in gossip."

Oh.

"Sorry about that... there is a young lady that attends my classes who clearly feels the same. I suspect she doesn't like me much and does not involve herself in the classes as much because she resents that I have taken Lainey's place. It's a shame, she really is one of my brighter students."

No Tobi Avalon of course, but still very bright.

Cari rolled her eyes. Oh how she hated Aparecium. "After the water, Aparecium is the hardest thing about being here for me. Technically it's freedom of press, but I hate it." She also rather hated seeing Ethan so wrapped up in Kaziemeriz's opinion but she didn't know what to say to make him care less. She wasn't even sure it was a good idea to try.

"Change is hard, harder than for some than others. But I don't see what you should feel sorry for," said Cari playing with her half-full bottle. "Lainey quit, you didn't bounce her into retirement. She was my Head of House, taught me History, was generally fascinating and I admired her. But I also find you to be an excellent teacher, equally fascinating and I admire you too. And I'd say so to anyone without hesitation, including your former mentor. Seeing as he seems to have some kind of affection for me, it actually wouldn't hurt for me to try."

"I certainly didn't expect it." Ethan frowned but waved off Aparecium with one hand.

"I think," Ethan began slowly, "Had I not met Annie and now yourself during my time at Hogwarts, I'd regret it. It helps that there are a fair few bright students too I suppose. You could... but I doubt it would help. He'd probably think that I was sending a woman in to fight my battles or some other rubbish."

Caroline had two separate reactions, the first was the blush that tended to creep over her nose at moments like this. "I take that as a high compliment," even if you had to mention Anastasia in the same breath, "But I hope you aren't using it as the beginning of a farewell speech; I never even got to peruse your book collection. It wouldn't be fair to leave having never let me do so."

And the other was the desire, just a little, to bury her head in her arms and scream. She didn't. There wasn't enough room on the table.

"So if there is nothing that you or anyone can say or do to change the mind of a decaying old man, why do you hold his biased opinion in such high esteem?" she asked.

"Not so far." Ethan answered. "I'm just... considering it is all." He was, though he felt like he'd be missing something if he did leave. Odd.

"Well, the majority aren't damaged which is a pleasant surprise after all that flooding... though the ones that were taken by students in an attempt to save them are damaged almost beyond repair from rough handling, but perhaps you could help me attempt to salvage them? Save my neck from the ministry?" Ethan offered.

"I suppose I'm just as stubborn as he is." Ethan answered after a slight pause, "He has taught me so much of what I know..."

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

"Not so far." Ethan answered. "I'm just... considering it is all." He was, though he felt like he'd be missing something if he did leave. Odd.

"Well, the majority aren't damaged which is a pleasant surprise after all that flooding... though the ones that were taken by students in an attempt to save them are damaged almost beyond repair from rough handling, but perhaps you could help me attempt to salvage them? Save my neck from the ministry?" Ethan offered.

"I suppose I'm just as stubborn as he is." Ethan answered after a slight pause, "He has taught me so much of what I know..."

"Give it lots of consideration," Caroline suggested, "Years maybe..."

Flooding. Never again. She was going to live somewhere WAY above sea-level and in some high up structure. "Is it bad that I think that actually sounds like fun?" she asked, hiding behind her bottle of butterbeer as she took a sip.

"So then he has no one to criticize other than himself if he isn't satisfied with how you turned out. I have no complaints, I don't know why he should," she told him matter of factly.