Lexi narrowed her eyes and Lorcan as he said no other girl was interested in him. Bah! She could think of one in particular that wanted to be near him. But, she wouldn't bring that up.

When he spoke of the slippery little Slythie she scowled and said, "Yes, I think I will have to give the cow a taste of her own medicine. Pushing people around is fun, is it? We'll see how she feels when she can't take a step near either of us without falling on her face."

She couldn't help but chuckle softly as Lorcan choked on butterbeer and spluttered. Well, at least I am not the only one she thoguht to herself smiling. "Are you okay. Need some help over there?" she asked rather impishly.

Lorcan noticed that Lexi had narrowed her eyes when he sad no-one was interested in him. Am I missing something? he wondered.

"Y-you c-c-c-could p-p-p-pat m-my b-b-b-back." He felt like he was actually choking. When Lorcan emerged from his coughing fit, he looked at Lexi. "So do you know how to do a trip jinx? I say we get her at every opportunity for the rest of the year."

Lexi got up and patted Lorcan on the back a few times to try and help. "You okay? Not drowning are you?" she asked with a note of humor in her voice.

"Yes I know a trip jinx. Why do you think Marie fell after she pushed you in that dung?" Lexi admitted with a giggle. She simply shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of her butterbeer. "I fully intend on giving her quite a year here! No flat surface will be safe if I am around. Maybe I can get ahold of some stink pellets also." she mused.

Lorcan shot her a dark look. "Not drowning no, just choking." He drank deeply from the bottle, feeling slightly better, although his chest was sore form all the coughing.

Lorcan laughed appreciatively when she mentioned her plan for Marie. "That's a good start. You'll have to teach me that jinx. Isn't there a joke shop in the village? Shall we go there next? See if we can find some inspiration?" He gave her a wicked grin.

"Oh, that is a great idea. Let's go now." she said to Lorcan as she jumped to her feet.

"Come on then!" he drained his bottle, grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the pub.

He grabbed two butterbeers and passed one to her. He sat down and grazed her hand with his by accident. "That's cool that you run. I could never do that."

Kylie took her butterbeer and almost cradled it, stroking the mug with her finger. A jolt of what felt almost like electricity ran through her as Nate's hand accidentally brushed against hers. She smiled, "I'm sure you could. It's not nearly as difficult as people make it out to be." She took a sip, the warm bubbly liquid gliding down her throat. It warmed her up immediately. "Have you ever had a butterbeer?" She asked.

Jason walked up to Kylie." I know you do not like me anymore and I am sorry" Jason told Kylie. " Bye, I did enjoy being friends with you" Jason said to Kylie. Jason turned away and went back to drinking his butterbeer.

Kylie sighed. Oh, this is ridiculous. She thought to herself. "Jason. I don't hate you, I don't even dislike you. Is it even possible for a Hufflepuff to dislike someone?" Her laugh was one of a blithe nature. "We'll talk later. But.." She motioned to Nate, giving a wink. She was in a good mood, no doubt about it-nothing was gonna get her down.

" Thanks Kylie, glad we are still friends" Jason told her. " Be good to her Nate or I have to come after you" Jason told him laughing and teasing him. Jason weant back to his butterbeer.

When Whit heard Raven tapping her fingers on the table, she figured it was probably time to give the ring back. "Sorry," she said, then put it on the table next to her hand.

Leaning back in her chair, Whit looked around and only saw a few other students there. "So...why did you decide to come here today?" It was kind of random but what else was there to talk about?

Nate smiled and took a sip. "I have. I love them. They taste so good." He took a larger swig and set it on the table.

"Ok!" he said saluting him in a friendly manner. He chuckled when she winked. He waited for him to walk away to turn back to her. "Umm...do you..ummm..."he said turning redder ever time he said something. "Yeah..." he continued to stammer. He wanted to ask her to be his gf but it seemed kind of sudden. He was debating weather or not too.

Kylie rolled her eyes, she was in utter disbelief. How could Jason think that she was so mad just because of that? After she realized what Jason had just said to Nate, she blushed a little. Oh boy.. she thought.

Kylie was glad when Nate treated the whole thing as a joke. She smiled, happily. Nate seemed to be contemplating something.. his face was turning a deeper shade of red each time he stuttered out an 'um'. "Yes?" Kylie said patiently, "Are you okay?" She asked, a light chuckle on the tip of her tongue.

Nate stared intensly at the butterbeer avoiding eye contact and said"Wouldyouliketobemygirlfriend?" He looked up for a second and then looked at the table and picked at his thumb nervously. Nate turned to color of a tomato.

Kylie'd barely heard a word he'd said. It was so rushed.. it almost sounded like 'wood you look to bee my gralshiend.' Kylie looked at him with a concerned expression. "Excuse me? I.. well, I couldn't understand you." She hoped he wasn't going to tell her she was a twit, or ugly.. or something. She'd really enjoyed being with Nate so far.

He took a deep breath and looked her directly in the eyes. "Umm...Would you...like to be...umm...my girlfriend?" he looked at the floor when he said girlfriend. Nate didn't want her to say no or feel like he was rushing things. He just really liked her.

Kylie's eyes widened. She'd never been asked out before, she'd never really let herself get close enough to anyone to be asked out.. but still. "Wait. What?" She said, without thinking. "Really?" A smile twitched on her lip, but her face stayed in the same shocked expression. A feeling of joy was building in the pit of her stomach. Yet for some reason, it was unreal to her. Her green eyes sparkled with hope. Somewhere, her brain was screaming at her to say yes. But words wouldn't come out of her mouth, not until her idiotic question was answered.

"Yeah, really. And by the way, I saw that smile. So you better not say no, missy." he said lightening the mood. Nate really hoped Jason wouldn't come over again and interupt this. He stared in her green eyes as his stomach filled with nervous butterflies. He took a big swig of butterbeer to try and drown them.

"Yes!" Kylie said impulsively. Something was whispering in the back of her mind, it bothered her. But you're so young. It said. You're only 11! She smiled. She didn't care about the little voice in her head. "Well. On some conditions." She said boldly. She wasn't about to come off like a pushover. She was strong, bold, she refused to swoon for anyone. She knew who she was, a determined look shone in her eyes. Her cheeks flushed with color. She thought Nate might be a little scared... she hoped not. She needed someone brave, someone who could talk back to her and not be afraid of her. She was sensitive, loyal, kind, good-hearted... but she also had a keen sense of adventure and a bit of a reckless edge once in a while.

Nate liked a girl who took charge. She seemed to be determined and he liked that in a girl. "Well, what are they?" he said finshing his butterbeer. He wanted somebody who could be loveable but reckless and crazy. He wanted a girl who knew she was pretty but was modesty about it. He wanted a strong bold girl who knew what she wanted. He knew she was all of these and that was why he was head over heels about her.

Kylie smiled a beautiful, sparkling grin. "Well. We're young.. and for most guys I wouldn't even contemplate saying yes. But.. well. Basically. We have to take it.. slowly. Does that make sense?" Compassion and empathy touched her tone as she asked if he understood. She didn't even understand how this was happening. Nate just seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't be scared to fight back and tell her no. Yet he seemed kind.. and sweet. She knew simply from the house he was in that he was loyal as well. The fire that had burned in her eyes now dimmed, being put out by a softer, sweeter emotion.

His insides churned when she smiled. " I want to take it slow, too. If we leave and go somewhere else, I'll tell you a secret." he winked in a playful way when he said it. He held her hands in his and rubbed the back of her hands with his thumbs. "I agree with you completely. I know I probably sound lame for not fighting back but I want to take it slow too."

Nate grabbed his bag and threw his cloak around the two of them. He held her hand in his and walked out the door. "Follow me, Kylie." he went down the road.

Ethan had one bag, just one. It had been transfigured to hold a lot more than what it appeared capable of and indeed he'd packed everything he thought he'd need. The cherry wand was safely in his holster as he walked into the pub. He was not sure if he'd be waiting long and once Annie arrived, he wasn't entirely sure how quickly she'd want to leave. He ordered a firewhiskey for himself and wondered why he'd decided against waiting in the Hogshead, at least there it was quieter, no students and all.

He sat down at a table that had a good view of the door, but of course had an escape route too. Constant vigilance and all that. He kicked his feet up on a nearby chair and sipped his drink, waiting quietly and surveying everything from beneath dark glasses.

Anastasia might have looked a bit frazzled when she breezed in the door of the Three Broomsticks. But it wasn't her fault if she smelled like mooncalf dung and her hair stood on one end. It was all because of the CHILDREN.

She sighed at the sight of Ethan so nonchalant and at ease in his chair there, sipping a drink without a care. Two long strides and Annie was standing by his chair and eying his Prada manpurse, her hands deep in the pockets of the jacket from the garden.

"Weren't we going somewhere?" Please????