Lexi nodded absently and began to chew on her bottom lip a little. She was so confused about this whole thing. Turning her full attention to him she gave him a sad little smile and said, "I know babe, I am sorry that you have to see me upset. Dylan and I just had a row... it always upsets me." Boys are weird about feelings... that was the understatment of the century. She gave a humorless chuckle and shook her head. "Sometimes I am not so sure he has feelings anymore," she said with another little sniffle. Maybe the whole "incident" had hurt Dylan more than anyone knew.

Finn smiled at her, feeling a bit bad that he hadn't sat next to her. She probably wanted a cuddle, but he really didn't want her to get angry at him or something. "It's okay...." He smiled at her. It really was. He didn't like it, but he knew it would be something that he would have to put up with, seeing as he wasn't going to be ending them any time soon. He stood up, sitting back down on the arm of her chair, rubbing her shoulders gently. "Everyone has feelings Lex." Why did he feel like her older Brother right now? He was her boyfriend not her brother! This was weird.

Lexi just gave a little shrug as Finn came to sit on the arm of her chair. She immediately turned so she could wrap her arms around him. Sighing she said, "I just don't know anymore. But, that is enough about all of that mess. Do you want to do some studying since we are in here?" Smiling weakly she looked up into his face and chuckled.

Finn rubbed her back gently, kissing her head. He was glad that she didn't look as upset as she had before. It didn't mean that she wouldn't go back to her common room and cry later. He knew she'd done that over him at the start of term, and it kind of worried him. He laughed at what she said. Yes. His Lex was back. He smiled at her. "Care of magical creatures?" He asked, because well he kind of sucked at that subject. He sucked sooo bad.

"A reverse sneakoscope.... nice! You gotta tell me how to hack one of those" Salander mumbled as he eyed the contraption. Listening to Jimmy he raised a brow and smirked "For some reason I think that will be a very convincing excuse for you..." he snickered, just as he shifted his attention back to Hailey. Silence. Then he looked back at Grayson Is it just me or are the girls unusually quiet? Am I missing something?.... he scowled looking back and forth between the two. "Well... ok then!" he clapped his hands together, echoing little too loudly in the silent hall. Oops. "We can use the sneakoscope for future meet-ups. If we're gonna start assembling anything, then i think the Room of Requirement would be the best place to go right?... " And Jimmy can still use his very convincing excuse on Grayson... or Hailey.... or whomever he wishes. Everybody wins!

James yawned but stopped halfway through the movement with his eyes on Hailey's face. He winked at her mid yawn and finished stretching too, his eyes flickering to one side to notice Finn and Lexi.

Ehhhhh.

Get a room and all that. And you know, stop making him think about a certain person in ways he did not want to be thinking about them in. Anymore or ever.

The smile was back a moment later.

"Its not about what you say, its about how you say it." Y'know, suggestively. His lips quirked up crookedly. Now the question was, what was Hailey's plan?

Better be good, just sayin'.

Lexi sniffled some more and then shook her head. "On second thought, I think I will just got have a nap or something. Maybe Kat is around and we can sit in our pyjamas in the dorms and eat some candy or something. You understand, don't you?" she said as she looked up at him.

There was no time for thoughts of what had happened with her and Jimmy since Hailey was meant to be in business mode however once he winked at her, all of her thoughts regarding the plan were out the window. Do I want to kiss him.. umm maybe? But not now of course.. damn you temptation! "The Room of Requirement is perfect, I've got a few plans drawn up that I have to bring with me; they're tucked away in the dorm. I should make this clear now, if any trouble happens to fall upon us; I'll take full blame for it, you three will be safe from any punishment and can continue right where the plan left off." she realized that any good leader should take the blame for anything in order to protect their comrades.

"I need you all to meet me in the RoR in an hour, I'll have the plans as well as a few mini models that show you what exactly it's going to look like when we are finished." She bit her lip slightly and averted her eyes from Jimmy for the moment, that wasn't exactly easy; maybe it was time to just give up and after that mere thought, a small grin etched upon her lips. As she started to walk off, she stopped for a second then leaned up and kissed Jimmy for a second before leaving the library. Maybe that'll give people something to talk about.

Well, at least it doesn't seem like Salander is one bit thrown by the same thing that me and Hailey were, Grayson thought, a bit incoherently, as she tried to get back on track to the planning. The fun stuff. Not the confusing stuff and all that. She still wasn't exactly sure how to grasp that part, so simple mischief or whatever would be so very welcome. Even as just a distraction. "Um, yeah," she said to his trying to get things figured out, before she found her gaze following Jimmy's only to see Finn and Lexi. At which point she lapsed into silence again. This was just too bizarre, so moving to a different location would be welcome as well.

She didn't even register Jimmy's suggestive comment, to salander or hailey she wouldn't have known which, but as Hailey spoke up again, she returned her full attention to the small group, and smiled as it seemed her suggestion had won out. Yay for her first real contribution to the cause. That brought her completely back into the game. "Of course. But I should add that I rarely get into trouble. Get caught, however you want to look at it," she said with a mischievous grin. The alumni ball didn't count, 'cause she didn't get in trouble. She got away with that totally. "RoR in an hour. Got it." She nodded as Hailey started walking off, then averted her eyes to the stained glass as the Slytherin kissed Jimmy (apparently again). But then she glanced at Salander again with a shrug. At least the plan should be awesome. Hopefully other things didn't get in the way.

"Right..." Salander nodded cordially but gave Jimmy a dont-discuss-the-MO-in-front-of-the-enemy look. He shifted his eyes to Hailey when she offered to take the fall "We'll cross that bridge when we get there Hailey." he shrugged casually and gave her a reassuring smile. Truthfully the lad didnt really care much about dodging detention. He'd proudly wear it as a badge if they managed to pull off the most awesome stunt. Awesome being the operative word. But then again, he was sure not everybody shared his enthusiasm for the detention block Eh different strokes.....

"Alright, Room of Requirement in an hour" he nodded as he pushed off from the ledge he was leaning on, just as he saw Hailey bid Jimmy goodbye. He deadpanned then shifted his eyes and walked away. This had better be good. he mused. He certainly didnt want to have to climb all the way to the 7th floor just to watch a couple of his friends snogging.

Oh. She'd changed her mind. Finn smiled at her softly, standing up, pulling her with him, just so that he could give her a big hug. "Go sleep." He replied softly. Yes he was a little disappointed that they coudn't spend more time together, but a nap might be good for her. He pulled away, and smiled at her. "And no crying on your own in your dorm....okay?"

James grinned. Like Grayson he was of the opinion that he was quite good at avoiding trouble. But like Salander, he didn't mind it all that much. "No need to be a Martyr, Hailey." He pointed out. From what he knew about the houses, that wasn't particularly self-serving or Slytherin of her. Maybe the hat sorted her wrong too?

Oh hello.

The grin didn't go away after Hailey surprised him with a little kiss. The reaction of their other friends amused him to no end and Jimmy watched Hailey leave before standing up himself.

It was hardly his fault, right?

Smirking he sauntered off, intending to meet up with them all again in an hour.

Lexi gave a weak little chuckle and shook her head. "I make no promises, Finlay. I think I just need to be alone for a while. Maybe I can cry it all out and forget about it. Has worked for me in the past," she said quietly as she got up with his help.

Good gracious! James Wilkes... what a player. She couldn't help laughing a little. He was going to get himself into trouble with all of the girls he ran around with. Tsk tsk. She shook her head and wiggled her fingers in Salander and Jimmy's direction as she wrapped an arm around Finn and said, "Okay... walk me to the tower?"

She was going to cry wasn't she? Finn knew that he was going to. "Lex..." He sighed, turning away from her for a moment. He didn't want to get angry with her, but he really didn't like knowing that he was going to leave her on her own to cry. He just couldn't do that. He ruffled his hair, before turning back to her, shrugging. "Whatever suits you is fine." And he did not like it. At all.

"Of course." He had said it a little coldy. But he really didn't want to take her to the tower, not if she was going cry. He smiled at her though, taking her hand, an dleading her towards the exit.

Lexi stopped dead in her tracks and took her hand from Finn's. "You know what? Why don't you just stay here and I will see myself to my tower. I am so damn sorry that I have personal issues that are upsetting me, Finlay. If you would rather not have me tell you the truth then I will keep to myself for a while. How would that suit you?" she said in a small voice. His turning his back on her and speaking so coldly was NOT cool right now.

Before getting an answer she spun on her heel and started to walk away. She was so not in the mood to deal with an unsympathetic boyfriend. The boyfriend that CLAIMED to love her. Yeah... she could really feel the love.

Finn stared at her as she had her little outburst. He didn't get it. He was trying to help her, and she had this reaction. Man. He really did not get girls, not at all. Was she really worth all this bother? He knew she was, but this was rather annoying. "I would rather you not make me so worried about you!" He really would. He watched her start to walk off, and he stepped forward, grabbing her hand. "Lex...stop." He didn't want them to fight. Not at all.

"I'm sorry." He smiled at her, hoping it would make her understand. He wasn't used to worrying so much about a single person. It was weird to him, but it didn't mean that he didn't care her. "I'll still walk you up....if you want to be with me that is." He could understand why she wouldn't want to see him....he just didn't want her to say it.

Lexi heaved a sigh. "He's my brother, Finlay. Of course this upsets me. He was there for me when my entire world was torn apart. He and his family helped put me back together. I am going to be upset about this," she said quietly still. She was SO sorry that her being upsert WORRIED him. She didn't quite enjoy it either.

Then he caught her hand and she stopped. Sighing again she looked up at him. "Finlay... Nothing is going to stop me wanting to be with you. You have to understand that when I get upset you just have to let it run its course. I will get over it but not so quickly as you might," she said giving his hand a squeeze.

"Yes, I would like for you to walk me up if you don't mind."

Using his other hand Finn rubbed her arm gently, whilst smiling softly at her. "I think I can understand Alexandra." Why were they suddenly using their full names again? He didn't like it. Yes he liked her full name, but Lexi was much easier to say. "I just don't like leaving you on your own Lex...you have to understand that." He really hoped she did, because he didn't want this to push them apart. He seemed to be falling back into his past, and he knew that was not good.

She had stopped. That made him happy, at least she was going to actually listen to him. He smiled at her, pulling her forward, and hugging her tight. "You can be as upset as you like. Just let me be there to hug you." Because that would make him feel much better. "And of course I'll walk you up." Because he was nice like that.

Lexi nodded her head slightly still not really able to smile. "I do understand, Finn. I really do and I appreciate that you care so much. It makes me feel good. But I also don't want to drag you down with all of this drama with my families," she told him finally meeting his eyes.

Letting herself be pulled into the hug she smiled a bit and rested her head on his shoulder. "I definitely love your hugs so I think I can learn to deal with that. Alright let's get up going then, eh," she said with a chuckle but didn't let him go just yet.

"I really do care an awful lot about you Lexi." Finn leant down, kissing her cheek. He had to care about her, she was his girlfriend. "I don't care about all the drama." He told her, very truthfully. "There might be many stresses in our relationship, but that is not going to change a thing." At all. He was pretty certain about that.

He rubbed her back gently. "You have to learn to deal with it." He laughed at her, pulling away and wrapping his arm around her waist. He much preferred this, them not fighting, it was much better. "Yup....let's go." Out back into the chilly corridor. haha.

Miss Neptune Bott was resting in the Ravenclaw window. She'd spent a lot of time there lately. The cushions were almost conformed to her. And though she wasn't doing any particular sort of homework, the spot was very Ravenclaw and she felt her thoughts were clearer and less tainted by MEAN Jim people and ugly words.


She was flipping through a magazine, not a book, but not really reading anything. Just perusing and thinking.

Fletcher strutted into the library, a book tucked under one arm as if he was actually studying. Yeah of course he wasn't. He just liked to chill out in the library because it was usually quiet, empty and the perfect place for a nap.

Only today, the area by one the windows --- Fletcher's favorite sun-warmed spot --- was TAKEN. TAKEN. Sure he really wanted to nap by the Merlin window but.... the reading person was.....

"Awesome Bott?" Fletcher halted by the window and tilted his head, looking down at the girl reading. "Whatchoo doinn?"

It was The violent Champion!


Neptune frowned at him to start, but couldn't QUITE keep it there. He was just too pretty. And, well, a Champion.


"I'm not doing anything in particular," she answered, raising to feet and stuffing her TeenWitch magazine out of sight. "Suppose Congratulations are in order for you."

Not really noticing the frown, Fletcher watched Neptune tuck the magazine away and stand up. Huh. Did that mean he could take her sun-warmed spot?

"Yeahhh," he replied slowly, tearing his eyes away from the squishy-looking cushions there to grin goofily at Neptune. "Thanks?"

"You're welcome," Neptune answered with a cheery little nod, then sat back down in her place. She patted the spot on her cushion, offering a bit to Duncan. "Sit if you'd like. I'm sure you're probably still tired from all that," she paused to wave a hand around nonchalantly, "Tournament stuff."