Keeley solumnly walked into the great hall, dreading what was coming after the feast. Of course, going to wherever Bella's parents took them would be nice, but she would give anything to stay. Sitting down next to a boy in her year that she didn't talk to, was Jacob his name?, her thoughts strayed to friends. Choluna and Bella had always been telling her that she needed to talk to more people and make more than two friends a year. But shy people weren't always into that. Although, the little Ravenclaw had been feeling rather lonely this year. Eh, she'd talk to people if they approached her. Yes, that's what she'd do. Impatient for the feast to quiet her growling stomach, Keeley fiddled with her boy cut brown hair, already picturing the scrumptious meal ahead.

Jacob sat quietly, thinking of hitting his own stomach every time it started to rumble. Man he should have brought something down to snack on with him. Now Jacob kept closing and opening his eyes hoping that the food might appear. Everytime there wasn't a plate sitting in front of him, he sighed.

Jacob barely registed that someone had sat next to him. His mind was fully on the food, maybe if he hoped hard enough it would come. How long would they have to wait for the feast? hurry up, teachers. I'm hungry! Jacob finally gave up with the wishing, and sat up straight. Looking next to him, he saw a girl that he had seen around the school sometimes. "Hello" he said to her. Hoping that talking would get his mind off of food. "You're...uh..." geez what was her name, he should know this. Ka...koo... "Kelly? No..." Remembering names was not his thing. He needed a hint. If he hears it, and goes 'Oh Yeah' he will feel like an idiot. "Keeley?" Maybe

Keeley looked up from a very wistful staring contest with her empty plate. Great. She had been approached. She smiled as the guy fumbled with her name, picturing herself in the situation. Been there, done that. "Yup." Now it was her turn to play the name game. "Ummm....Er....Ooooh.... Jacob. Isn't it?" Total awkwardness.

Lina made her way to the Ravenclaw table, still thinking. Had she seen Celandine around at all? She'd woken to find she was gone... She stopped a little short when she saw Raiden... and Tibi crying into him. The boy seemed really upset. But why was Raiden here? And why was Tibi crying? She almost asked herself why Raiden looked upset, but the boy was often rather sympathetic, so someone crying was probably enough. She made her way over quietly and waited, averting her eyes and letting the boys have their time.

Yes! He got it right, Score one for Jacob. Sitting back a bit, he nodded when she got his name right. "Yeah" He wondered how they didn't meet before this. But then again, he didnt meet a lot of ravenclaws. "you're a sencond year, right?" he knew that she was. He had seen her around enough, to at least know that. He was determined to keep this conversation going, no matter how awkward it was, it was keeping his mind off of the food. And decided to talk about the thind that was to come after the feast. "Do you have any plans for the summer?" He didnt even know what he was going to do. Maybe his grandfather would take him in again. But what he did know was that his parents werent going to.

Keeley did an inward victory dance as she got the name right. Heh, who could say she was antisocial now? "Uh huh. You are too, right?" That had to be right. She had been sorted with her last year. Then again, transfer students were springing up like weeds. She blinked her big brown eyes with the awkwardness. But she had promised herself, and breaking it would just make her antisocial again. "I don't really know, actually. I think I'm going to India." But he didn't need to know why. There were lots of orphans here, more than one might expect, but pity was rather annoying. Well Keeley technically wasn't an orphan, but it was much easier to refer to herself that way. Or more poetic, really. Orphans always seemed to be getting into some kind of interesting stuff. "So, are you on the quidditch team?" That normally sent people into excited accounts of matches, which always started conversations. Maybe she could finally learn the rules to that game.

The homework was turned in. Tests taken. Things packed. Bedroom furniture and pictures lining the halls said goodbye too.

There was only one thing left, and then she could go to her new house and spend the whole summer feeling completely free.

But, as Wesley neared the Ravenclaw Table, she realized she might not be able to check off that one last thing. About to offer her assistance, or comforting, or maybe even just one of the extra handkerchiefs she had stored away in her robe's pocket, the Hufflepuff bit her lip and turned away before walking to her own table.

No need to mess things up even more than they already were.

Especially when she wasn't supposed to have any clue of his existence.

Arya slowly walked into the Great Hall. Finally after what seemed like an eternity they were soon going to be leaving the castle that continued to remind her of the horrors that happened weeks ago.

She spoted a few of her friends at various tables, but it was not there company she was seeking. Sluggishly she made her way over to the Ravenclaw table. Ivory still wasn't there but she didn't mind waiting, that and she was far too exausted to leave.

Without looking at anyone who was occupying the table she ploped down on the seat, rubbing her weary eyes. Resting her head in her right hand, she lazily stared at the food laid out before her. Her stomach craved for some food, but she still didn't have much of an apetite. So she just sat there staring at the food, waiting for her friend to arrive and the day to end.

Oh yea! that was 2 right, he was on a roll. "Yes, I am" He said. He tried to think of the exact time, the end of term feast started last year. Darn brain! work, just because the term is almost over doesn't mean you can shut your self off. "India, Intresting place." Big separation between rich and poor. You can always tell the diffrence there, if someone had some money, then they really had money. Oh sure he remembers random things about india but he cant remember times.

Then Keeley started on the subject of quidditch. Something he wished wouldn't come up, 'til next years try-outs. "Uhmm... Yeah I am, not so sure I'll make it next year" he said rather embarrassed. "We had a rough year" He said quietly. Bad memories, many bad memories. But they had some good moments. Like when he had started that small mud fight, too bad Vindictus broke it up. It made him feel better about losing when he had hit Jakers in the back of the head. “Do you play?” well he knew she wasn’t on the team, but had no idea if she actualy played.

If he makes the team next year, he just needed to be a beater, that way he had a way of deflecting the bludgers. And he wouldn’t need to worry about the quaffle. "Did you try for the team? I dont remember seeing you at try-outs." Either she wasn’t there, or he took too many bludgers to the head. Which was very likely, another reason to be a beater instead. He really needed a bat, get those bludgers away.

Phoebus watched Adrienne as he listened to her, tilting his head on his hand as she spoke about not coming back next fall. It was weird, when he thought about it. To know that they wouldn't ever come back here again, not unless one of them decided to try going for a professorship that is. Or..well, came on some sort of business with the school. Either way it was odd.

" I do think it's weird. Like...For the first time, there's no plans buy my own. Y'know?" he said to her. He would have to send an Owl to Cela's brother, see if he couldn't get in with him. Until he got his N.E.W.T.S back he'd have to feel around, see what his options were. At her mentioning of surviving Quidditch, he had to chuckle, that usual unsure laugh of his. ' Oh come on. You knew you'd make it. Even if you got a few scrapes and bruises on the way." He said. " And as for Riley...yeah. I don't know. Maybe he'll get over it after a while." he said, sounding a little hopeful. " If he doesn't...well. I mean...that's not our problem? Right?" he said, looking to Adrienne again.

Mina walked into the Great Hall and looked to the Ravenclaw House Table, it was that time of year again. Soon they would all be on the train and on their way home. She didn't want to think about where she would going after she stepped off the train. No, she needed to live in the moment and take in everything. This could be her last time here and she didn't want to forget anything.

Walking over to a fairly empty portion of the table, she sat down and looked around. To her, it still felt like she was just sitting down for the first time at the beginning of the term, surrounded by old and new friends. It felt like all that happened just yesterday and that tomorrow they would still be there. Sighing, she rested her arms on the table and let her mind wander.

Phoebus seemed thoughtful, so Adrienne went back to looking around the room as she let her comments about the weirdness of graduating stand. She wasn't sure, really, if he shared her views on that, but considering he seemed about as deidcated to classes as she'd been, she figured it was highly possible. And more people had finally shown up in the hall, so at least she had something to look at. Distracted for a moment by both something at the Gryffindor table, and Torin walking away from Jack and Reese at the Huffie table, it took her a few seconds to realize Phoebus had spoken again. But finally she turned back to look at him again.

"Exactly," she said, before smiling a little. "So what plans do you have?," she asked curiously. She figured she wouldn't try and do much until she got her NEWT grades, even though something told her she'd end up doing something with clothing or shoes. Which didn't really need NEWTs, but she wanted the excuse to stall kind of officially shifting to the real world. And that was part of her reason for thinking about going away for a while, too. But as Phoebus went on to laugh at her comment about Quidditch, she grinned. "I seem to recall you being more than a little bothered by some of those scrapes and bruises, yknow," she teased, "but yeah. I guess I did." In a way, she was grateful her black eye from the last match had ended up superseded by the crazy battle with that Remi-guy, or she would have had to hope more people didn't end up on his disliked list. And as the topic changed to her brother, she shrugged. "He'll get over it. Not that I'm really worried about his approval, but he'll get over it. In a way, though, I almost like knowing something I had a hand in doing has actually bothered him this much. Usually he doesn't bother to actually care about what I get into." She smiled a bit as he looked to her for verification, though. "Nope. Not our problem."

Quote:

Originally Posted by grangerfan8

Arya slowly walked into the Great Hall. Finally after what seemed like an eternity they were soon going to be leaving the castle that continued to remind her of the horrors that happened weeks ago.

She spoted a few of her friends at various tables, but it was not there company she was seeking. Sluggishly she made her way over to the Ravenclaw table. Ivory still wasn't there but she didn't mind waiting, that and she was far too exausted to leave.

Without looking at anyone who was occupying the table she ploped down on the seat, rubbing her weary eyes. Resting her head in her right hand, she lazily stared at the food laid out before her. Her stomach craved for some food, but she still didn't have much of an apetite. So she just sat there staring at the food, waiting for her friend to arrive and the day to end.

Ivory shuffled into the Great Hall her eyes downcast, lacking the usual merry bounce that characterized the younger girl's walk.

Stopping at the entrance, she paused and looked around. The End of Term Feast looked a bit empty compared to the masses of students that weren't here yet.

Maybe she should just skip it. Maybe she should just stay in the dormitories. No one would really miss her...right? They wouldn't even know she wasn't there. She could just turn around and forget about everything besides going home. Turning on one foot, the sudden rumbling of her stomach in a small Godzilla-like growl made her stop mid-step.

...Maybe a little food wasn't such a bad idea.

Thinking back she caught a glimpse of her best friend seated at her house table, and realized that she couldn't remember the last time in the last few weeks which she'd actually sat down in the Great Hall to eat. Lately the kitchen had been a haven of privacy to be away from what she was sure would be accusing glances that would merely make the guilt she felt gnawing constantly increase tenfold.

But then this was Arya. At the sight of her best friend, Ivory almost smiled. Almost. As close as one could really.

Shuffling quickly her dark hair falling halfway over her face, she took a seat next to Arya and gave her friend's hand a squeeze as she looked around at the people already sitting down.

Tiberius clenched and unclenched his fists, balling Raiden's robes up in them and he cried, not really hearing anything the boy was saying. But... it felt better, the hugging. It did.

Eventually, the sobs gave way to weak whimpers, which gave way to sniffles, and Tibi just silently clung there for a few more moments, aware of the dampness of his face.

Pulling back a little, he looked around the room - anywhere but at Raiden - and dragged his sleeve across his face, sniffling again.

"Sorry," he whispered.

Cause there was like, tears and probably snot and stuff on his robes now.

"'s fine," Raiden murmured, looking down at the damp spots Tibi had left on his shirt. Would be easy enough to dry them, but he wasn't particularly worried about it. "I've had worse."

Bending down, he picked up Tibi's dropped wand. He held it for a moment, eyes tracing up and down the length of the thing; it was a good wand, he finally decided. Just as good at Tibi. He held it out for the kid to take it back.

"It's probably pointless to ask, but... are you okay?" The kid was still... looking everywhere but at him, and it almost made him uncomfortable. He didn't want Tibi to blame himself anymore.

Tiberius' eyes rested on his wand as Raiden picked it up and examined it. It was strange. From the moment he'd gotten it, it felt like part of him... but now? Every time he looked at it, he felt this odd twinge. It was a weapon now and he just didn't know how he felt about it.

Reaching out to accept it as Raiden handed it over, Tiberius finally chanced looking up.

"No," he said simply. "I'm not." He slipped his wand back in his holster, shrugging.

"Everything is... all messed up. Ok is... too much to want." He blinked then, breaking eye contact, and shuffled awkwardly.

Sigh. Raiden withdrew his arm as Tibi took the wand, his hand automatically moving to the back of his neck. He didn't expect Tibi to be okay, but maybe... hopefully he was a little bit better now, than he had been since the battle. He'd been blaming himself for what had happened, the entire time Raiden had been in St. Mungos... Which hadn't exactly been long but it hadn't been a short time, either.

"You can talk to me any time you want to, you know." It was pretty much the only thing the boy could offer... "I might not completely know and understand what happened to you, but... I can try. To help."

He could owl him, even. Considering that the term was ending, it wasn't like they could hunt each other down in the castle for the next few months. It wasn't like he thought he could go anywhere this summer; camping with Kellen and his father seemed nearly impossible now. His father would probably have him in Mungos again... Sigh.

Nn... Looked like Tibi needed some time to calm down. Oh look! Ivory and Arya! She edged around Raiden and Tibi and made her way over to the girls.

"Hey," she said quietly, walking up. "I was just... kinda checking up on my patients." She shifted lightly, biting her lip. "I mean... Just I really wanted to see how everyone was doing. Last time I saw you guys things were a little... stressful."

Tiberius sniffled, again dragging his sleeve across his face. "Y-you mean it?" Tiberius was still not used to people meaning things. Especially bigger boy people. "I-I don't want to bother you." Tibi muttered, sheepishly.

He sat back down, still facing Raiden, wondering why he would even offer something like that. Folding his hands in his lap, he looked down and considered. Swinging his feet absentmindedly he thought. Not about whether he wanted to talk to Raiden... but why Raiden was even bothering.

Looking back up, he frowned. "Term's over though..."

"I'm not exactly easy to bother," Raiden said with a shrug. "If it helps you, makes you feel better, then it's not a bother at all, is it."

Hmm. Yes, term was over. And they were soon to be leaving. But leaving Hogwarts behind for the summer didn't mean leaving behind Tibi's worries and guilt. Things that were, in fact, partially Raiden's own fault.

"Could write. Or visit, 's not like we're cut off from floos or brooms." The prefect managed a smile at the younger kid. "Just because we leave Hogwarts for the summer doesn't mean either of us stops existing, does it."

Tiberius drummed his fingers on his knee, thinking. "Y-you're offering 'cause you want to, right?" Tibi pouted a little, wondering if maybe he didn't? "Not cause you feel like.. you have to?"

Hm. Tiberius bobbed his head, thinking. "I've.. never used a Floo before," he said suddenly, wondering if there was a way. They had a fireplace at home... but would they hook up his Mum's house? Frowning, he figured visiting was probably out of the question, especially once his mum found out. He'd be lucky if she let him out of her sight at all. Though... he wasn't sure he wanted to be.

He looked up again decisively. "But I would like to write. I think that could be good."

Okay. Raiden very nearly laughed. Of all the questions Tibi could have asked... Raiden bit down on his bottom lip, the amusement still evident even as he covered his mouth with one hand.

"Oh Tibi," he finally managed. His hand moved to the top of his head, where the cat ears were no longer. "Let me tell you something... it's not really a secret I guess." He leaned forward a bit though, as if it were a secret, and lowered his voice. "I am... well I'm kind of a bit of an accomodating person, you could say. And this term especially, I've done a fair few things that I didn't really want to. It's safe to say that this is definitely not one of them, and even if it were, it would easily be the most painless of the lot."

The lightened expression grew serious for a moment.

"I think I'm tired of doing things I don't want to do. So believe me... I'm not offering because I feel obligated."

Besides, Tibi wasn't a girl. For some reason, Raiden was far less accomodating for other guys than he was for girls.

Strange, that.

"Writing could definitely be good. Certainly can't hurt anything, can it."

"Ok," he said simply, having considered it. "I just don't like it when people are" friends with me? "friendly because they feel bad for me."

It seemed that almost everyone he talked to, though, when he thought about it, other than Jake, was someone that started out concerned for him. He lost himself in thought for a moment, thinking about his first feast in the Hall, when he dove under the table.

Shaking the memory loose, he turned back to Raiden, voicing something he'd only been thinking until that point. "Will you... still write if I don't come back?" He had thought about not returning after last term, but his mum had made him. He... wondered if she would this time.

Friendly because... so pity friends? Oh goodness no. Pity friends, Raiden had none of those.

"I'm friendly with near everyone, because I want to be." Nod. "Not out of pity or anything like that... just because I want to be. I don't really... feel sorry for you. I'm worried, but that's completely different. Wouldn't be worried if I didn't like you already."

Because one did not worry about people they didn't care for. At least, that was how he suspected it worked. Probably wrong, but he often was.

His stomach gave an odd squirm at Tibi's question. If he didn't come back? Well, the idea made him a bit sad, honestly. The idea of anyone not coming back to Hogwarts was sad-making. A slight frown creased his forehead.

"It... I wouldn't like your not coming back, if it happened..." He nodded again, however. "As long as you wrote back, I'd still write you. Whether you were here or not, you'd still be a friend."

She had been staring at a bowl of mashed potatoes, wishing she had brought Perseus with her when Ivory sat beside her. Squeezing her hand in return, she spared her best friend a glance, unable to force a smile to her face. With her other hand she pushed away all the butterbeer from her sight, she was NEVER drinking the stuff again...EVER.

At first she didn't acknowledge Lina's pressence, just continued to replace the butterbeers with pumpkin juice. She knew that coming to the Great Hall would mean she would have to speak to someone besides her kneazle and pygmy puff. Still she longed for an invisibility cloak, anything to keep from the inevitable conversations that were to come ."I'm fine." She lied solemnly, moving the last butterbeer and placing her hands in her lap. Still she spared the girl no glance, but atleast she spoke....that was better than nothing right?