Esme noticed that Eben's ears were going red. 'I wonder if he's got earache... poor thing.' She blinked at her own thoughts, 'I'm definitely going soft...' She thought with mild disgust at her own emotions. In her experience it was dangerous to be soft on people.

When he asked her something, or seemed to at least, Esme blinked again. "I''m sorry, but I didn't quite catch that." She gave him an encouraging smile. 'What is going on here?' She wondered, realising that she didn't actually hate Eben at all.

Eben's ears turned redder again when Esme asked him to repeat what he had just said and he rubbed at his ears again. Why was this so hard for him? She was just a girl.

'That's not true.' he thought to himself, taking in a deep breath and looking down at Esme. She was different than any other girl he had ever met. She made him nervous.

"W-would you go to Hogsmeade with me..sometime?" Eben said at a slower pace. Now his heart beat was in his ears, and he began to rub at his right one again.

As Eben's ears grew redder, Esme frowned. 'What the heck is going on here?' Esme couldn't work it out at all but when he slowly repeated his question, she got butterflies in her stomach.

"Hogsmeade? That's the village, isn't it? I haven't been because I..." She stopped short of saying 'because I had no-one to go with.' "Yes, I'll go to Hogsmeade with you."

Esme couldn't believe her own ears. Had she just agreed to go on a date with Eben Wallace? She didn't trust boys... or men come to think of it. There was only her father and Ronan Cavanaugh, who was sort of her uncle, whom she trusted. Eben Wallace was... arrogant, irritating and... sort of handsome. She blushed at this thought and her books wobbled. She concentrated on keeping them level and avoided his eye for a moment before looking back at him and smiling again.

Eben beamed as Esme said yes and almost rushed forward to hug her but stopped himself. What if she didn't want to be hugged. They had never had any sort of physical contact before, well other than hexing each other a few times.

"Brilliant. So we can go tomorrow then, round noon?" he suggested, seeing her blush and feeling better that his ears were red from embarrassment. At least he wasn't the only one who showed such an emotion easily.

Esme nodded slowly, blushing even more.

"Yes, we can go tomorrow. Is there somewhere to have a coffee?"

Esme didn't know anything about the village, she had never really taken much notice of it, other than as an escape route. She blinked a little, realising that she really was going to go out on a date with Eben. She wanted to ask him if that was what was happening, but she didn't dare... what if he said no?

"Yes, they have coffee at the Three Broomsticks." Eben explained, remembering seeing the beverage on a menu when he had gone the last time with his friend Callie Parker. He didn't like to drink much of it, he was partial to butterbeer or tea, but if that's what Esme wanted then it was alright.

"So yeah, I guess I'll see you again tomorrow." he finally said, nodding his head and smiling kindly. "Have fun..erm, studying." Leaning forward, the boy kissed Esme's cheek, and pulled away, his face turning red a little bit. "I'll see you around Esme."

Eben turned on his heel and walked down the hallway with a smile on his face.

Esme nodded. "That's the big pub, isn't it?" She wondered aloud, not really asking him. She hadn't been inside it, she had only walked past once.

Esme had started to feel comfortable with the whole situation when Eben suddenly kissed her on the cheek. Her instant reaction was to hit him but she controlled herself, screaming "How bloody DARE you!" inside her head. However, as he walked away she realised that she wanted him to kiss her. That shocked her more than being kissed in the first place. She was rooted to the spot as he walked away, lips pressed firmly together lest she say something really offensive or stupid.

Eventually, she gathered herself and headed towards the library, trying to work out exactly what had just happened.

He was on a mission, he wanted to collect as many abandoned spiders as he could. He’d found 2 and wanted at least 1 more, he needed 3 for his mission in the Room of Requirement. 4 would be better but he’d take 3…if he could find the last one.

He’d finally managed to get the Arania Exumai spell to work, and he’d been wanting to have some fun in the RoQ again. Searching the corridors, he spots a spider upside down against a wall behind a suit of armor. Picking it up, he grins looking around hoping no one was looking for it. Nope…nobody… he thinks silently after a few minutes looking around at those in the corridor.

Dropping it onto the ground, he draws an eight midair jabbing it toward the spider, “Arania Exumai!". Watching as it soared down the corridor he continues doing the spell all the way to the end of the corridor til he reached the stairs, picking it up before heading up to the Room of Requirement.

Klaudette's little legs were tired. She had ran all the way up to seventh floor, up the stairs to the owlery and tied her letter to an owl in record time. She had to make sure her letter reached her parents quickly so they would know about her possible summer plans before they came to pick her up from the train.

After making all that effort, Klaudette was even lucky to have made it down to the fourth floor corridor on foot. But now Klaudette could not go any further walking. So of course, she did the next best thing. Taking out her wand she made a small row boat big enough for about two average sized people, so about four of Klaudette. Then making two oars she hopped in the boat, picked up the oars, and began to try and paddle all along singing a sea song in a low voice. "Yo ho..haul together hoist the colors high!!!!"

Oliver bounded up the stairs to the fourth floor. Jaw clenched and a look of stony determination in his green eyes. The library. Ch'yeah.. Oliver Greenwood was going to do some SERIOUS NEWT revision, man.

He headed along the corridor, but came to an abrupt halt at the vision that greeted him. Stony determined eyes widened... and then softening into their usual 'amused at the world' warmness. The rather aptly named little Klaudette 'Oddkoule' was off her trolley.

He moved causiously towards the rowing boat and paused for a moment, watching Klaudette's slow progress.. then shrugged and got in there with her. “Two pairs of oars have GOTTA be better than one.” He smirked. “Where're we heading?”

hehe!

…

Hang on. Why was he up here on the fourth floor again?

Meh. Who cares.

Klaudette had been rowing for about ten minutes and had only moved about 5 feet from where she started. At this rate she was going to be in the dungeons by the time school ended. That was fine with her, no final exams to finish. The oars also kept slipping from her hands as she tried to paddle the floor. It was like she was floating in butter.

Then all of a sudden, her boat seemed quite heavier than before and there was some noise about oars. She turned around and grinned widely. "OLIE!" she exclaimed. It had been a really long time since she had seen him, and he was leaving soon. This was unexceptable.

"Well four chocolate gummie bears are better than two oars and a bubble machine, "she responded back and then added, "I was headed down to the dungeon, but we can go where ever we want." What a good choice this was.

Oliver mirrored the cute little midget's grin and grabbed a hold of the spare oars. Balancing one on the side, he saluted her. “Captain Oddkoule.” He greeted with a grin.

He was used to the little lassy's odd way of speaking and the flicker of confusion which used to cross his face when they talked was absent this time, and he merely nodded at her words. “Do you have any chocolate gummie bears?” He asked her in a serious voice and leaning forward to eye her intently, but then he smirked and shook his head. He enjoyed the bizarre banter with Klaudette - he was going to miss it immensely. Hell, he was going to miss her immensely.

“The dungeons sound good... but why don't we take this baby for a test-drive around the grounds.” He suggested as he patted the side with his hand. “I need to say my goodbyes.” To.. the castle grounds apparently. “You think a levitation charm counts as illegal flying?” He asked thoughtfully. Surely hovering a few feet off the ground in a small boat was nothing like flying your family around on a carpet. Plus they needed some speed otherwise the end of year feast would be over and done with by the time they got to the entrance hall.

Klaudette saluted right back. "Welcome aboard Scallywag Greenwood to the Piggy Wiggy Mcquicky, arggg" Klaudette welcomed and made a hook with her finger. "You need a funny looking hat to complete that outfit," she added and flicked her wand so a newspaper appeared on his head.

Then Olie asked her a serious question and she didn't have an answer. She looked around and then shrugged. "I wish." she said looking intently at him back and then pulled out two playing cards in front of his face. "Pick one," she said with a smile and sat back.

Hmmm. The grounds. That was an interesting thought. "The grounds you say? Does that mean we can show the giant squid our vessle, I told him I'd give im some cheese before I leave." she responded and then turned back around ready to head out.

Klaudette shrugged. "Aren't you head boy Olie, doesn't that mean you know alllll the rules. If you say its ok, it should be." she answered and then pointed toward the stairs. "Now ships ahoy, raise anchor, tighten the masts, fire the pistons, move the oars, sleep with both eyes closed and mouth to the sky, and let's boogy woogy."