Marilyn laughed as Rafe talked about the baby being up all hours of the night. "It will be hard at first, I'm sure...but try to be more positive." She gave him one of her special smiles and laid her head carefully on his shoulder. "Even though Jasper's not a younger sibling, he's been my best friend my entire life. I can go to him about anything and he's always got my back. How do you think I got away from my father's house over the summer?" She sighed and kissed his shoulder, pulling away to eat more of her fruit. Her simple gestures of affection were probably making Rafe a little uncomfortable. She just loved being close to him so much that she couldn't help herself...

"And Jasper already knows about us, by the way. To move forward with our plan, I had to tell him what was really going on...He doesn't know about you being half werewolf, though." Marilyn chewed her lip, thinking. "...But since you are what I really want..." She gave him another brilliant smile "...I doubt he'll have much of a problem. He'll definitely like you more than he does Jack, in any case."

"I don't think, I know pretty boy" She grinned and popped another candy in her mouth. "Well where shall I start...EWWWWW!!!!" She took a napkin and spit out the candy. "Chocolate yuck!!!!" Kat really did not like chocolate at all!! "So where were we..... Oh yess how I think you stole my best friend" She put on a thinking face and said "Well ..... Because you did!!!" She said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Mina ran her hand through her hair a little. "Really? I was seriously thinking of chopping it. It seriously whips around too much while I'm flying," she explained. It was too much hassle for her and Kiri's looked cute. Maybe she would try that look next year or something. Looking back at Kiri's hair, she tilted her head in thought. "You could grow it out and I could cut mine a bit. We could totally switch hairstyles."

Picking up her milk glass, she checked her reflect as well. Playing with a few strands, she tucked them behind her ear and placed her glass back down. Hearing the sound of the chair, she looked back up to see Kiri and her chair moving closer to herself. Thinking nothing of it, she shrugged it off and continued to pick at her cookie. All worries about the potion almost forgotten. Nothing bad really had happened, so there was no need to really worry. She just needed to write this all done and turn it in.

"Hogsmeade, next weekend...." Mina blinked. It was coming up, wasn't it. She hadn't really thought about it. She kind of wanted to avoid going since it was around Valentine's weekend and she wanted to avoid couples all together. "Honestly, I wasn't even thinking about going. You know lots of studying to do and I'm sure it will be swarmed with couples." she frowned and made a face. She figured it was best to just avoid it all together. She had enough trouble with Damar having that silly crush on her. "But maybe I'll take you up on the offer anyway, I have a coupon for butterbeer I should probably use." She wasn't all too sure how she felt about the coupon, but it would be a waste if she didn't use it.

"I tie mine up when I'm flying, that works reasonable well," said Kiri, running a hand through her hair, leaving several cookiecrumbs in it. "Of course, I end up losing the tie sooner or later, but I've never had any problems with it. I mean, I'm moving forward usually, so it's just kind of streaming behind me." How poetic.

She gulped down some more milk and turned to look at Mina. "Switch hairstyles? That's a brilliant idea!" Kiri nearly bounced on her chair. She'd be hair buddies with Mina, who was an all-around fantastic person! "Let's do it," she said excitedly. "Mine's pretty long already, but I guess I can grow it out a bit more. It'll end up eating combs, though, I think."

The bag of cookies was almost empty by now. Kiri had to dive in quite deeply to get her hands on one. That was very sad - but they could always start looking for more, of course. The house-elves probably had more than one stash in the kitchens. "Ne'er min'," she swallowed, "never mind the couples." Kiri waved the cookie dismissively. "They don't have the opportunity to go into Hogsmeade with you! In fact..." Her eyes turned wide again. She sounded quite ecstatic now. "In fact! It's good that they only have eyes for each other, otherwise they'd end up being jealous! Yep!"

She nodded, very satisfied that she would have the opportunity to visit the village with Mina. It was such a pity that she had no coupons herself, otherwise she would have given them to the girl. They'd be in much better hands than Kiri's who'd only use them to... redeem them for goods? Kiri's train of thought took a sudden brake. A sharp spike of pain pierced her forehead. "What..." she rubbed her temples. Was this some after-effect of the Pepperup Potion? No, that wasn't it... Why was she thinking of the orange juice again?

"Well at least you two are closer in age," Rafe said as he lightly laid his head on top of hers. "With me there will be a thirteen year age difference. By the time the little one enters Hogwarts, I'll be touring the globe." Well, that's what Rafe hoped he was doing. He'd like nothing more than to be on a Quidditch team, well that was if his father didn't have other plans for him. "Well, then I am in debt to your brother as well. This year hasn't been as pleasant until you arrived." Rafe smiled as he kissed her shoulder, though he wished more than anything right now that his lips were his shoulder. He chuckled at the thought.

Rafe couldn't help but feel loved. She really did care about him. "If you want to tell your brother you can...or maybe I could meet with me and get to know the real me!" Rafe put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure anyone is better than Jack!" Rafe hoped he'd meet Jasper's approval one day. Rafe knew how much he meant to Marilyn and definitely had some say in her life.

Tyler couldn't help but chuckle as Kat called him Pretty Boy. Luce called him Lover Boy so now Kat had Pretty Boy. Sad world for Tyler. Bingo. Tyler was only going to buy chocolate from now on. "And how exactly did I do that?" he asked, with a slightly smirk on his face.

"I hardly see her anymore.." Kat started. "And everytime I do she's usually with you!!" Kat was upset. Lucy was her best friend and now she hardly ever saw her. "So now I have to wonder around the castle looking for victims by myself!!" Lucy always helped her plan her pranks. But that's changed big time... "You're a cruel person Tyler, cruel person" She said with a smirk.

"I'm not always with her. I'm usually with her if we bump into each other or I ask her to meet me somewhere," Tyler said, playing with the zipper of his hoodie. So of course she was blaming him for everything. Typical Kat. She blames everyone else but herself. "So what do you plan on doing now?" he asked with a smirk on his face. What would Kat do to hang out with Lucy more?

"Riiiiiight" Kat rolled her eyes. Somehow Kat actually believed what Tyler was saying. But she wouldn't let it show. Evil smirk. "I'll tell you what i'm going to do!!!..... Nothing" Evil smirk. Kat had to make a evil plan now. And in this plan Tyler was the victim. HEHEHEHEHE!!!!!!!

"Riiiiiiiiight. That's not your style. You're probably up to no good," he chuckled and shook his head. Maybe this time Tyler was the victim, sounded like he might have been. But it all depends what kat has in store for him.

"Oh but i'm not" Kat smirked at him. She was going to do something to him but just not yet. She was going to play with him. Hehehehe!!! "Or maybe I am" She shrugged and leaned back into her seat "I'm just not going to tell you when it's going to happen." Evil laugh!!!

Mina should try tying her hair up at the next practice. She was still a bit green when it came to quidditch, but maybe it would help. But cutting her hair shorter would help with the drag too. Perhaps, she would do both to help her cause. Very much the over-achiever, she would try almost anything.

She smiled and let out a small laugh, at the thought of hair eating combs. She could so see that happening though. Her hair was a bit of a monster on certain days. Untamed and quite scary in the morning, she would probably prefer to have shorter hair and not look like some thing a hippogriff dragged in. "Yes, let's!" she clapped her hands in excitement. Change was good and maybe it was time for it. No one would really expect it from her, would they?

Mina shook her head and laughed. "Really? Jealous? I don't think so. " she replied with a shrug. Why would anyone be jealous? If anyone was jealous, it would more than likely be her of the couples. SHe was still a bit bitter over certain things, but she didn't want to even think about it. She have promised herself to never think about it again, but alas it was on her mind again. Silly girl.

Looking back at Kiri, Mina noticed a slight look of pain across Kiri's face. "Are you okay?" she asked as a look of concern crossed her face. Kiri seemed perfectly fine, just minutes ago and now she looked lightly in pain. Was it something to do with the juice? She couldn't stop the sinking feeling raising in her stomach, as she thought it just might be that. She never did intend on inflicting any kind of pain or discomfort on any one. She felt terrible just thinking about her doing such a thing to a nice person like Kiri. Mina didn't know that many Slytherins that she seemed to get along with as she did with Kiri and the mere thought of her being the cause of something like that made her slightly ill. Really, she didn't have a truly mean bone in her body and she wasn't the type to intently hurt others.

"Ugh..." Kiri pressed her fingers against her temples, which were pounding. She couldn't remember what they'd been talking about. Something about hairstyles? That did sound faintly familiar, but why would Kiri talk about that? She didn't give a house-elf's apron about hairstyles; fashion advice with Paris two terms back had been more or less enough.

There was something else. Visiting Hogsmeade, maybe? But why? Kiri didn't have any business in Hogsmeade, and what she'd really want to do is go there with Raiden anyway. It was on or around Valentine's Day, if she remembered correctly.
Not that her memory was very reliable just now if she couldn't even remember what they'd been talking about, she and... what was the girl's name? She screwed her eyes shut. She'd forgotten the girl's name?!

Kiri opened her eyes again and glared blearily at the girl. Mina! That was her name. "Dunno what's wrong," she murmured... The pain was slowly subsiding now, and as it left, her mind cleared up. Kiri was utterly confused. Why had she thought it a bad idea to go into Hogsmeade with Mina? She was the best person she'd met in a very, very long time!

"There was... something wrong with the orange juice, I think," she managed, eyeing the empty glass that still stood on the table next to them. There was a second glass... Concern for Mina ([I]Important! Have to make sure she's alright!) pushed Kiri's own headache aside. "Are you okay?!" she asked wildly, sliding closer on the chair and studying her friend's face. "You had some of that orange juice yourself, didn't you? No weird feelings or anything?"

Marilyn sighed, feeling truly content with her close proximity to Rafe. "You're right about the age difference..." She chewed the inside of her cheek delicately. "...but that doesn't mean you'll love the little one any less."

He could say what he wanted...but her opinion would not be swayed. Rafe would develop an attachment to the baby and be hopelessly in love. "And if you're off touring the globe as some famous quidditch star, im going to be right there with you." She leaned up and smirked at him. "Unless you have a problem with that, of course..."

Kissing his cheek, she laughed. "It's funny you should mention meeting my brother, by the way..." She ran a hand through her chocolate hair "Jasper wants to meet you soon...He was hoping to have lunch with us in Hogsmeade next month."

"Well, you better be...well that is if you want to," Rafe said. As much as he wanted Marilyn to be there be his side, always, he wanted her to be happy too. "I would just want you to be happy. I mean come on Marilyn," he shrugged, "I'm sure there are plenty of professional opportunities you wish to pursue...though with new family inheritance, and the wages you making being a quidditch star, if you stick with me, there's a good chance you'd never have to work!"

Rafe lightly touched his cheek where she kissed him with his palm. It felt so warm. "Oh really? I will finally meet the other man in your life," Rafe said with a smirk. He almost felt guilty with that statement, completely forgetting about Carter. He just couldn't help it, when he was with her, she made him feel like they were the only two people in the world. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Rafe had a feeling Marilyn might catch onto what he was saying. He didn't know if it would be a good idea to go more public so soon.

Mina's eyes darted to the empty glasses before them, as a look of concern flashed in her eyes. Her sinking feeling was spot on about the potion. Kiri was probably experiencing the after effects of the potion. Their sense on camaraderie was solely forged because of the potion, which made Mina slightly sad. She actually enjoyed talking to Kiri. They were talking like real friends and new friends were what Mina wanted this year. Maybe once the potion was completely out of Kiri's system, they could possible become real friends too. It was wishful thinking, but Mina still hoped for the best.

Mina bit her lip and nodded her head slightly. "I'm okay, but I think the juice is very bad. It didn't taste right before." she replied. Her juice had been fine, but should she tell her new friend that the other glass was laced with something. How would Kiri take the news? Mina didn't want to anger Kiri with the news. Seriously, who would take the news of themselves being under the effects of a potion well? Mina knew, she wouldn't take the news well.

Reaching for the glasses, she shook her head. "Yeah, definitely bad juice. Maybe we should head to the hospital wing and see Healer Ashford?" she suggested. If there was any negative lingering effects of the potion, the healer would surely know what to do. "I mean it's best to be save then sorry, right?"

On my, Mina was really worried now. She needed to tell Kiri the truth, before it could come back and bite her in the end. But how does one go about that?

Marilyn gave Rafe a look before examining her nails. Being with him was the only thing that was going to make her truly happy. Though sometimes things happen and people do change, she doubted her love for him ever would. "I'm a bit unsure about what I want to do when I graduate. I have a few ideas, but Im not settled on one option yet..."

She bit her lip, amused by Rafe thinking she'd ever let him financially care for her. "I'm not one to let others care for me if I can help it. I have enough money to live as lavish a lifestyle as I wish...I don't want you to ever feel like you have to work to support me. My independence is too strong to allow it." She gave him a heartbreaking grin and laughed. "I'd rather take care of you, to be honest..."

"And I didn't mean be seen together as a couple...I mean, not really." Marilyn felt a little nervous discussing this. Would she always be such a nervous wreck around this guy she loved so much? "Jasper knows everything except the wolf thing...which is probably why he wants to meet you." She rubbed the back of Rafe's hand idly with her fingertips. "It could be like we're just close friends..." It physically hurt to suggest such a thing...but perhaps it'd be the only way for now.

"I wouldn't expect anything less of you," Rafe said as she spoke of her independence. "I would just want you to be happy in whatever you do...even if you became one of those 'Real Housewives of the Wizarding World' or whatever that show was called!" Rafe laughed at the thought of cameras recording her everyday life, but he would much rather get to know her better in real life. And he would spend his lifetime to do so.

"Well I wouldn't mind you nursing me back to health," he said as he intertwined his fingers with hers. "It was better than taking my shirt off in front of the nurse and some unconscious kid." Rafe shook his, that wasn't a pleasant experience. Though, the stuff the nurse gave him worked, but he was still scarred more than ever under his shirt. "I might have to ask the boys to take in a few extra hits, so you can take care of me." He grinned. Though talking about his summer probably would just worry Marilyn more.

He quickly changed the subject back to Jasper. "Hmm... the F-word, well friends is better than nothing I suppose," he said as he gave her a peck corner of her mouth. He was going for her cheek, but she turned suddenly. His eyes were wide, like he did something wrong, but it felt so right. He looked at her, like he did in the back alley. He took his hand and brushed her chocolate brown hair out of her eyes and rested his hand on her warm cheek. He leaned in closer and felt her breath on his, and without a second thought kissed her.

This was just too strange! Kiri shook her head. Her mood seemed to change from moment to moment - either she was completely confused about what was going on, or, a second later, worried sick about Mina who was sitting right next to her and who had had the same orange juice.

The headache was slowly subsiding now. So that was good at least. She tried to focus. Mina still looked completely terrified, but there were a few operative words in what she'd said that Kiri needed to take care of first. "No... Hospital Wing," she said quickly, shaking her head again. She'd just bothered the healer with her stupid flu, Kiri wasn't about to go back for a headache. Anything that might get her closer to being forced to drink more Pepperup Potion was the wrong thing to do.

Kiri reached for her glass of milk. Oh good, there was still some milk left in it. She drank greedily. The cold liquid cleared her head some more - in one way, at least, she could think straight again, but she was also wondering if she'd really invited this girl to go into Hogsmeade with her.
With a shudder, she put the glass down and eyed Mina. "You look like you've seen a ghost or something," Kiri told her. Why was the girl looking so worried? Had she never seen someone with a headache so far? Or was she still afraid of what might happen to her?

Mina shook her head slightly. She was pretty sure that she looked a fright, but she was concerned. Her conscience was getting the best of her at the moment. She definitely needed to tell Kiri about why the juice was bad. Who really knew if the potion was even out of Kiri's system yet. It appeared to be, but again she wasn't even sure how well she had brewed it.

Maybe they didn't really need to see the healer, well at least not yet. There hadn't been any sign of a physical change, so that was a great sign at least. "Okay, no hospital wing," she replied with a nod. Maybe it wasn't a great idea to involve the healer. Mina really didn't want to get in trouble over slipping Kiri her potions homework unintentionally. Beside, if they did go to the healer and Kiri had to stay there, she would possible miss the quidditch match and that would definitely be unacceptable.

Frowning a bit, Mina shook her head. "No, just thinking about the juice. I know it tasted weird, so I wonder if maybe something was in it." she said. She knew very well it was tampered with, but she wasn't going to just come straight out and say there was camaraderie concoction in it. Seriously, how would that make her look to her new friend. She didn't want to come off as a crazy or some one that had to depend on a potion to make friends. She wasn't at all that type of person. "I mean it wouldn't be the first time someone might have tampered with juice in the kitchen. Who knows maybe Peeves is playing a trick on us." Yes, she could possible blame it on Peeves. It did sound like something he would do for a laugh.

"You're such an evilll little girl," Ty chuckled and leaned against the wall behind him. He slightly shook his head and rolled his eyes. Kat was obviously up to something. Oh well, Tyler would have to find out later what it was.

"Yes! Yes I am!!" Kat smirked evilly. Kat had alot of planning to do. She got up from her seat and evilly smiled at Tyler. "Well.. catch you later pretty boy"

Marilyn smirked. "I don't think id have the patience to let someone record my life day to day. Id be ready to fight someone." She laughed, moving closer to Rafe again. "There is something Id really love to do...but you have to promise not to laugh at me when I tell you..." She gave him a mock stern look, knowing she'd never be able to be truly mad with him. "Id like to be a mediwitch that specializes in babies and small children. Im terribly fond of babies..." Her smile was sweet and gentle. "I wonder if your mother will let me babysit when she gives birth?"

She went to say something else but the words died in her throat. Rafe's face was inching towards hers at a seemingly slow pace, the look in his eye making Marilyn's heart race, stomach flutter, and mouth dry. His expression was so lovingly sweet and adoring that her bright green eyes began tearing up on their own accord. When his lips finally found hers, she sighed in utter contentment.

Suddenly remembering where they were, Marilyn pulled away shakily. She gave Rafe a playful shove and laughed. Her nerves were all over the place. "Behave yourself, Gryffindor." Luckily it wasn't that obvious. "We'll need to appear as friends. Nothing else...no love, no kisses, no secret hugs." She chewed her bottom lip. "Think you can handle it?"

Nymphy ran in the kitchens. After tripping over a girls fallen potions kit, repairing it, apologazing, and setting off again, he was obviously last to the kitchens. "You won!" he said, smiling. "But its only casue a that accident upstairs. " He was not mad. but on the contrary, he was almost overwhemled with laughter for the incident was very funny. "Ok, what would the giant squid like to eat?" He looked around at the house elves, "Could we have about five turkeys and some hens?" he asked, they needed large food for it to appeal to a GAINT squid.

Rafe didn't laugh, he just smiled. "I think you'd be a great mediwitch! Don't get me wrong, as much as I'm dreading have a little brother or sister, babies are just so freaking adorable!" He made a pouty face. "It takes a lot of patience to handle kids, and I definitely have patience... and I certainly see that in you do too!" He was certainly patient when it came to Marilyn. He was after all waiting almost a year to finally date her.

Rafe felt a little hurt as she pulled away. He had a feeling that might not be what she really wanted, but he respected her enough to stop right then and there. He didn't want to be like that Jack bloke and do something she didn't like. "Hey! Even friends hug!" he said as he gave her a tight squeeze, he simply couldn't resist. "As for handling it..." Rafe had a quizzical look on his face and pursed his lips. "How about this..." he lightly tapped his forehead against hers, still looking lovingly in her eyes, "I promise never to kiss you until you ask it of me?"