Originally Posted by grangerfan8

"An arts academy? That sounds cool." She said with a head nod. Not her thing, but still something cool. Arya shifted in her seat. "I'm from America as well, and still live there with my parents."

Originally Posted by Lockhartian

Well, at least his mood seemed to be improve by the sight of this Lockhart. Treyen couldn't help but smile back. And...he moved up? Well, the boy decided to take on his offer and seat next to him. There was plenty of room, what with both boys being not that tall and all.

The smile quickly faded into a frown, "You...don't like it here?" well, that was rather odd, everyone had always loved Hogwarts, or were amazed by it at first glance, it wasn't after you left the first year that you could love it, really. Then his eyes widened. He didn't like magic?! But, if he didn't...then how was he supposed to DO magic? Okay, this is the moment when a person that has a way with words was the one that needed to speak to Conan. He was not that person, really.

Only a waffle?! Oh, this kid was going to starve! And...almost instantly, Treyen thought about taking him to the Kitchen, but it wasn't a good idea if he saw the House-Elves and all the magic going around the food.

"Okay, Conan...I think it could be difficult for you because this is the only time you've been around magic," like the first time he was around planes? But then again, Treyen was fascinated by them still. "Do you think you could give it a week? Just a week, and if you still don't like it...well, I think we'll need to talk to the Headmaster," then he'll get in touch with his parents, no? "But you need to eat more this week," mmmhmm, totally, Treyen tried to keep his face as kind as possible, even if he was still concerned and holding that frown.

Originally Posted by lilithpotter

"Yeah, I dance sing and play guitar," she said, "Its alot to concentrate on but I managed." she said moving her legs to be more comfortable. "My mom and dad moved here about three years ago and of course I came with them. They figured the move would be good for us me and my brother. Do you have any siblings?"

Originally Posted by Super Spaz

Conan shook his head. "Nope. Don't like it. The food magically appears. It like popped out the table. And I don't have an explanation for it. The plates didn't even disappear for it to appear on." Like magic. But he knew magic didn't exist. It didn't. He was sure of it.

"A week? Ok a week." He could do a week. It was just going to be like a field trip or something. Yes a field trip. Then he could go home to his mummy and daddy. "But if the food keeps appearing, I can't eat it." Nope. He could not eat magical food. Wasn't allowed.

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Slightly sunk in the corner of one of the extremely plush couches, short legs dangling awkwardly above the floor, Wesley let her smile droop.

Cheeks sore, she watched the first years take in their new home, trying to avoid the picture of Cedric Diggory dangling upon the far wall. Some were nervous and scared, like she had been, and others were practically bursting out of their skin with excitement.

Watching one boy in particular, curled up on a different couch, his expression panicked, the 16-year-old began to squirm up and out of her seat, ready to go over and say something. But before she could do anything, Treyen arrived, talking to him, taking care of him.

The Hufflepuff's eyes became cloudy, threatening to spill.

She sank back into the couch and waited.

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Soon enough, Jake was there. He'd had enough teacher drama for one night, that was for sure. And it was only ONE teacher he'd really gotten fed up with.

Well... now Lafay knew where she stood in Jake's respect, and Jake knew where he stood in hers.

Rock bottom.

Entering the safety of his common room after the longest first night EVER, Jake sighed ran a hand through his blond hair. He'd already been back once and taken his contacts out, so now he had on his regular seeing glasses.

And it made him nervous. There were new people here.

Looking around for one person in particular, Jake spotted her, but his expression didn't change. He went over to the couch she was curled up on and sat on the next seat cushion to hers, right in the middle of the sofa.

"So," he said simply, gazing across the room towards the fire. "What's wrong?"

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Waiting made her nervous. Over the span of a couple minutes, or hours, or lifespans, the short girl's anxiety had steadily risen. Running away to her dorm and pretending she had forgotten her promise had been contemplated several times. Owling Mr. Lawrence and begging him to let her come home had been even more. But something had kept her there, twisting the unpinned prefect's badge in her hands, turning the gleaming metal dull with natural oil.

Engrossed in her thoughts, Wesley hadn't noticed it when the portrait opened. Or when the boy neared her couch.

It wasn't until she felt the seat shift, fabric giving way to another body. Looking up, heart in her throat, illogically hopeful, she searched for something in his face. It wasn't there.

Tears streaked down her face, and she sunk down in the seat further, waiting again for what he would undoubtedly say.

"M-," Wesley began to answer, but stopped just short as his question fully arrived in her swollen brain.

What's Wrong?

Jake knew that answer. He knew it. He knew the secret.

So why was he-

Oh.

"You don't know?"

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Jake kept quiet for a few moments. Confused... oh so confused. He watched the slightly younger girl fiddle with the badge in her hand and thought, wondering what she had been about to say.

And then he answered her question, looking straight at the badge and trying SOOOOOO hard to ignore the overwhelming urge to polish that sucker.

"Of course I don't know. Wesley... you need to tell me what's wrong."

Because it was clearly important and upsetting to her.

And... she hadn't gone all funny until he'd mentioned that badge. Hmm. "You know me, I never know what's going on."

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Her hands stilled, the badge frozen mid-turn.

He didn't know.

He didn't know.

HE DIDN'T KNOW!

And if Jake didn't know, then nobody knew. Nobody knew but her.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, of Jake's words, Wesley felt the urge to get up. To dance. To hug him like he'd hugged her earlier and spin 'til she fainted from dizziness. The worry - the fear - that had plagued her for the last thirty-some minutes lifted, evaporated and vanished. She wiped her wet eyes anxiously with one sleeve and laughed, giddy with relief.

"I guess, I guess I'm just tired," she replied, laughter stopped but still evident just below her light tone.

That much was true. She was exhausted.

Rising from her seat with some difficulty, the 16-year-old stood, tucking the badge in her pocket and brushing down her robes and skirt. Looking down at Jake, she paused, about to say thank you, but deciding otherwise, "No. I think you're perfect."

Her words were genuine, serious, the last a two-letter swap from what she thought he should have been.

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Jake could tell that Wesley was better, but Jake was still muuuuuuuuuch too confused for this. He had no idea what was going on or why Wesley was moodswinging like his mother did when she was pregnant with Ava.

"Okay," he said, his tone just edging off of dejectedness. For a moment he'd thought someone might confide in him. Trust him. Act li-...

Mid-thought, Jake stalled. He looked up at Wesley, who had stood at some point.

That... wasn't true. But Wesley didn't lie. So... clearly she was mistaken. "Far from it, I'm afraid." And little did he know he was also inadvertantly talking about that two-letter swap as well. Heh.

"Wesley, can you do me a favour?"

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

"I wouldn't lie." The Hufflepuff told him, eye contact direct, voice, for once, low.

But then it climbed back up to its normal pitch, "Lieing is bad because Mother said it is bad; she said 'Wesley, lieing is bad. Every lie catches up to you and makes you hurt and makes other people hurt, and you don't want other people to hurt, do you?,' and I said, 'no,' and so I never lie."

She wasn't offended by his denial, but she wanted him to know. It was important.

"Yes," Wesley answered Jake automatically, not stopping to think.

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

That wasn't healthy, the way Wesley told him about what her mother said.

"I just don't lie because... well... if something isn't why say it is?" Jake chipped in. He'd never ever had to be told about lying. Untruths rarely occurred to him.

Anyway, yes. "Wear your badge. Wear it proudly. You earned it and some people would kill for you. Be proud of what you are."

He'd noted the way she kept covering it up earlier and now she wasn't wearing it at all. Jake was so very VERY confused.

"That's the favour."

Just in case... you know... she didn't realise.

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

"Because," Wesley squirmed, "because sometimes you don't want to tell someone something." She shifted her weight anxiously, biting her lip for a moment, "You don't want them to know...that you did something...wrong."

Was it bad to wish yourself good?

The 6th year's eyes widened at Jake's next words, her hand reaching to the pocket where the metal, a lump beneath the fabric, rested. But that wasn't - she wasn't - he -

"That's not,"

true.

She stopped; something clicked.

"You too. Be proud of what you are too." Her brow narrowed, and, perhaps for the first time ever, Wesley looked stern. Demanding.

"Promise."

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Jake didn't understand that, but he nodded anyway.

He smiled slightly when Wesley reached for her badge, but that smile fell slightly. "Well... what exactly is there for me to be proud of?" he asked, not really expecting an answer. The young man shrugged. "When I find out what it is, I will."

Only his pride wouldn't be so visual. Hm.

"Sit down?"

Wesley was still standing... making Jake nervous.

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

His question made her stubborn expression fade, eyebrows lifting, jaw relaxing, mouth opening. The Hufflepuff stood there, absolutely helpless. Not because she didn't have an answer, but because she had too many answers, some concrete, others abstract in ways she couldn't even bring into words. They were bursting, filling up her stomach and throat and mouth and head, and she did not know how to let them out. If he could, could just see inside, just for one minute, he would understand. But that was impossible.

And so, pathetically silent, she sat down, face hanging, broken. Cedric Diggory grinned at her across the room. He looked like Jake, and Wesley looked away.

Inexplicably, then, as several moments had passed, the girl reached over. She picked up one of the older boy's hands, giant in her two small ones, and lifted it towards the left of his chest. "This," she said simply, referring to the spot where she was sure he could feel the inside drum, rhythm pounding out softly.

"You have a good heart."

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Had he done something wrong? Jake was worried again, that somehow he'd done something terribly terribly wrong.

But then, when Jake had given up hope for an answer (because when he waited that long, he always felt physically unable to talk), Wesley moved. Jake watched her pick up his hand, and he glanced up at her when she placed it over his heart.

"I..." he started, protest dying on his lips. He wanted so badly to protest, not wanting to say there was anything at ALL good about him, because he denied it so forcefully all the time.

But this time he was stumped. Well... he would have pointed out how the heart was just an organ which pumped blood, and his mind was where his figurative heart was... but something told him not to.

Realising he'd been staring straight at Wesley since he'd glanced up at her, Jake didn't look away. He smiled, and placed his other hand on top of hers, if only to feel like there was something or, better yet, someONE to cling onto in this mess of a world. "Seeing the good in everyone," he said quietly. "Is a rare gift. You have that."

And, keeping the smile, Jake added, "Thank you."

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Placid face turning nervous as he began to speak, she relaxed as she watched him take in the information, returning his smile with her own. His hands were warm and familiar; they were good hands, the hands that had helped her up on her very first day.

But at his next comment, her smile vanished, the sinking guilt returning from earlier. This was what she had meant, when she had explained why people lie. So nobody knew the truth, dark and evil, buried in her chest.

But Wesley couldn't lie. "Not everyone," she whispered, extracting her hands from his, "Not Remi."

With that name, the boy in front of her shifted, changing back into how he had been on that day. Covered in blood, arm bent at an awkward angle, dead on the floor.

Wesley lowered her eyes. That man had killed three students, three students she had never gotten a chance to meet, who would never graduate or have families or grow old. And he had nearly destroyed more. Miranda's scream. Oliver's sunken eyes. Tiberius, pulling Jake away. Professor Lupa, trapped in his strangling hold.

There was nothing good in that man.

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

When Wesley's hands fell away, so did Jake's, and he could no longer feel the beating of his heart. It was quite symbolic, if you were one of those analytic kind of people. Jake's good, warm heart could not be felt as soon as Wesley mentioned that name.

"That man," Jake started, voice trembling ever so slightly as he looked carefully at Wesley. "Is pure evil personified. Lupa knows it, Bontecou knows it, LouAnn and I know it... the school knows it," he said quietly, and then wavered.

"I couldn't stop it. If I'd have known what I was doing, I wouldn't have done any of that, Wesley. If I could only control myself, or give away those stupid runes when I WAS myself, those kids wouldn't have died."

He didn't know how much anyone else knew about all that, but it always played on Jake's mind. "If he can do that to people, he doesn't deserve for anyone to see the good in him."

The stinking git.

"You need to focus on the present. What's happening here and now, Wesley. I can't bear to see you down or upset or dwelling on things." Because he could always tell... well, he thought so anyway.

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Hearing those words come out of Jake's mouth was...frightening. They were angry, laced with hate.

Hate was a scary word.

As he continued to speak, however, she looked up, dark eyes soft and sad. She nodded. Jake had been Imperiused; Wesley didn't blame him. She didn't blame any of them. It hadn't been their fault.

But...wait. Those three kids, that had been before the fight, a year before. Jake hadn't killed anyone. No one had died. She didn't understand what he was saying. "I don't," she began hesitantly, confusion evident in the line of her mouth and brow, "What runes?"

She didn't know what to say to his next comment. Half of her agreed, and the other half didn't. So she remained in the middle, guilty for being unsure, for knowing, somehow, what she was feeling was bad.

Jake's demand was one she couldn't promise. Wesley clenched her hands, nails digging into her palms, knuckles white. "But if we forget, they'll disappear." Kyle. Abby. Helios. Mariel. Headmaster Bontecou. Professor Lupa. Tiberius. Anyone who had left and never came back.

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Jake bit his lip. He figured that since he'd already said it, he had to finish. And if people didn't know, then they'd soon have to find out.

"There were runes, the year before the big fight, the year those kids were killed, LouAnn Purple and I were slipped some runes and, I guess that was how he did it. We were... possessed. We killed those kids."

Jake went very very quiet. He wished he hadn't brought it up but the other students deserved to know.

"If you forget... you know... the better parts. How those kids were able to live at all, to be surrounded by the great people here..." the young man trailed off. This wasn't something he felt he deserved to talk about. "I don't know."

Maybe he should give up on that.

"I'm sorry."

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Oh.

Merlin.

Wesley hadn't - she hadn't known.

And now she did, and she, oh.

The 16-year-old didn't hear the rest of what Jake said, too in shock. The last pieces of the puzzle, the one she had so hard to solve three years ago, fell into place. The acting up in Professor Shackleton-Clark's class. Professor Lupa's lesson on Witch's Runes. Sir Nicholaus's Death Day Party. It all made sense.

...

She was going to vomit.

Clamping two shaking hands over her mouth, eyes wide and desperate, she jumped up. Visibly trembling, the short teenager stared at Jake for a moment. She uncovered her mouth to speak, but stopped as her throat contracted, the first stinging wave of that night's feast coming up. Biting her lip just in time, the Hufflepuff winced and gulped, then, hands back to covering, shook her head fervantly, an unspoken apology, and ran from the room.