"Hmm, how about we find a new secret place... and snog... I mean talk along the way." They could have more than one secret place... right.

*Matty now raised both eyebrows and his smirk grew. Kissing the top of her head Matty asked.*
"Well look at you... getting out of the norm... what kind of place do you have in mind? Gardens? Forest? Willow?"

"I've been know to make some changes a time or two in my life." The biggest change happening earlier in the day when she had become Evan. "How about we head... that way." She said pointing towards the greenhouses. "Or, we could head down towards the pitch..." She really didn't care where they went, just as long as they went together.

*The greenhouses? It was hot in there and those plants like to slowly crawl up and grab you. That freaked him out a little. But he had a feeling Marie would want to go there. Girls and flowers he guessed. With a laugh and an evil grin Matty picked Marie up, put her over his shoulder and ran to the greenhouses.*

It was funny that he'd come here. Of all places on the grounds to get fresh air, Damien cane to sit in the courtyard. He was still trying to process his own thoughts and feelings, but to no avail. The image of Isobel kissing another guy was still burned in his mind.

And again he found himself having this conversation with himself. Why should he care? He had no claim on her, nor had they spoked of any feelings other than friendship (if even that).

So why care?

Heaving a heavy sigh, the Hufflepuff ran his hand back and fourth through his hair, as if hoping the answer would fall from his scalp.

Even though the weather had turned warm and had been that way for quite some time, Damien still wore his leather jacket; hands burried deep inside the pockets as he paced back and fourth around the courtyard, concentrating on his footsteps in an effort to clear his mind.

Isobel walked out through the Courtyard on her way to the lake. Apparently the Treehouse had been set on fire, so she couldn't swing. Instead, she wanted to play soccer. She had the soccer ball MisterChadStryker in one hand as she walked. Her long blonde hair was pulled in to a ponytail and she had put on a yellow headband. Yup, yellow for Hufflepuff.

As she was walking Isobel wasn't really paying attention to the things around her. But there was no missing the familiar boy pacing along the Courtyard. Even if he had been hiding in the corner, she still would have noticed him, no matter how much she had zoned out.

"Damien!" Isobel immediately brightened when she saw him, but then her smile faded when she remembered the library. She walked over to him instead of skipping. "Hi," she said timidly, like she was afraid he may spontaneously combust at any moment.

His back was facing her when Damien heard the familiar voice call out to him. He felt as if he might crumble again right on the spot, but he willed himself to gather it all together before turning around to face her. No smile in place, no sign of emotion on his face whatsoever.

Her tone of voice changed immediately from her perky call-out to her timid greeting.

"What?" he said, icily. "Did you forget who you were talking to for a moment? Excited to see me one minute and then suddenly changed your mind?"

It killed him on the inside to speak to her in such a harsh tone. But what she'd done to him was a thousand times worse --

Isobel stood there and stared at Damien for a moment. Why was he being mean to her? Had it really been that bad to hug her? Seriously!

Tears threatened to roll out of her eyes, but she refused to let him, especially here in the middle of the courtyard. Why should his icy attitude make her want to cry? Because he was one of her best friends, that was why. She had absolutely no idea what she had done to make him so mad at her. Whatever it was, she would take it back in a heartbeat.

She didn't let any of that show on her face though. She reacted insinctively by glaring at him. "Fine. Since you seem to not want me around I'll just leave." She turned around and began walking away...slowly. In her heart she was hoping that he would stop her.

Unbelieveable. She wasn't even going to own up to anything. Wasn't even going to attempt anything. Maybe what he saw in the library was a good thing then -- seeing as how Isobel didn't want to really put up much a fight and attempt to explain anything to him.

He wasn't going to let it go that easy. He wanted some sort of explanation -- Turning his body around completely he took a handful of rushed steps and stood infront of her, blocking the direction she'd begun to walk in (away from him). "You really think I'm just going to stand here and act like a fool?" he asked, hands still burried deep in his leather jacket.

"Tell me this, Isobel," he continued. "What are we?"

Samira couldn't help but grin at Lara's enthusiasm, and nodded in agreement. It was a wonder how they didn't see each other more often. Granted, Samira didn't really go out much in the cold. But it was warming up now, so she's been taking walks outside more often now.

She gave a nod of thanks and slid onto the bench, next to Lara. "So..." Samira leaned back in her seat, stretching out her legs before her. "How's life treating you?" Pretty standard question. It is usually a conversation starter, no? And they haven't talked since...since...the train ride, was it? It seemed like so long ago, and now they were almost through another term. Oh, how time flies...

And then Damien was standing in front of her. She almost ran in to him, but managed to catch herself just in time. Inside, she felt utter relief, but it changed to confusion. "Well...no, I suppose I would never expect you to do that. Why would you have to?"

This conversation was confusing her more and more by the minute. When he asked his next question, she didn't even know what he meant. "Um...people?" That probably wasn't what he was going for. "Friends. Best friends." She didn't even realize, then, how much it saddened her to say that. She wished she could say more, but she didn't know it then.

He watched her for a moment, knowing without a doubt he was making her uncomfortable. He just wanted answers. Some sort of closure to put an end to the past few days of tortue that had been plaguing him.

Then suddenly he recieved what he'd wanted.

Friends. Best friends.

It was like a second knife going through his heart -- the first one thrown in the library. Damien knew in the back of his mind (even though he'd hoped for something else) Isobel would have said the exact words she'd just uttered -- but it didn't make it hurt any less.

He should probably say something now, but words wouldn't find him. His throat felt dry, and he felt that sickening feeling again in the pit of his stomach.

"Right," he finally said with a single nod of his head. "Guess that -- pretty much covers everything, then." What else could he say? It's not as if he could be upset with her cheating on him. Friends. Plain, simple and clear. No need to make a bigger deal out of it.

William walks to the courtyeard, He is happy, He is also kind of sad. Hopefully someone will talk to him while he is here.

Lara crossed her legs and turned to Samira smiling "Well, it's good" she simply answered and then she added "You know it's the end of the term and it's all about our finals" she said. It's not like Lara was spending all her time in the library studying and preparing for the finals but she was studying a bit harder than usual.

The Slytherin girl was pretty excited about the finals but it wasn't a usual thing. Maybe because she's in her third year and she got used to them so she won't be very nervous about them. "What about you Samira?" she said "How's it going with you?" she asked her friend.

Yeah-wait...what? Isobel had no idea what he was talking about. "Covers what? Damien, what are you talking about?" Was it possible he had felt the same way she had when all she could say was, friends? No, that was impossible.

She felt that she had somehow hurt him, and she wanted to know how. She would do anything in her power to reverse it. She would have never intentionally done anything to hurt him, or make him sad.

Well, Layla had to admit that she didn't expect Samira to show up. But, she was wrong. "Hi, Samira!" She exclaimed. "Have you seen any pirates, because I found strange trail of knuts, a couple sickles, and pumpkin juice leading from the Great Hall to the Lake the other day!" Said Layla. She thought that they probably got a snack and then went back to their ship and sailed away. But then she started thinking. "Wait a second..." She said. "Do pirates drink their pumpkin juice with knuts and sickles, be cause I don't think that would be very tasty." Layla said. She actually swallowed a knut when she was a baby once. Since she found it under the sofa, it just tasted dirty. After that experience, she didn't ever want to eat any type of currency again.

Samira placed her hands in her lap and leaned back into the bench. It was a nice day, and she found herself enjoying sitting next to Lara and just chatting. Ironic, right? "Good," she said with a smile. "Finals are pretty tedious, I know," she said with a sigh. Samira always looked forward to finals because she wanted to show what she knew and could do, but she hated all the time she had to spend studying. Not to mention it signaled the end of term, which Samira always hated. "I enjoyed the Potions final, though," she grinned. "Polyjuice potion? Brilliant!" Luckily hers had turned out perfectly, and it was a fun experience.

"I'm fine," she said quietly, in answer to the other girl's question. "I'm not looking forward to leaving though. My parents and I are going to Africa, Dubai, and Egypt this summer," she said, unable to stop the small scowl from forming. She didn't want to put a damper on the conversation though, so Samira quickly tried to cover her annoyed expression with a smile, not wanting Lara to think the ill feelings were directed at her.


"Um..." Samira blinked. She found a trail of knuts and sickles, along with pumpkin juice in the corridor? Hmm, the caretaker must not have been happy about that. As odd as it was, if Layla kept thinking it was the pirates, Samira's job was done. "No, can't say I have," said Samira in answer to the younger girl's question. "But I'm sure they're just hiding." This whole charade was getting kind of old. Samira contemplated telling Layla she was just having her on, but the Slytherin part of her decided against it. She wanted to see how long the gag could go on, and if Layla would figure it out herself. If she believed it all the way up until seventh year, well, then Samira would be one happy witch.

Wait, what? Samira scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. Who eats money? "Um, Layla, I don't think the pirates eat knuts and sickles..." That was just weird.

Danielle moved into the Courtyard, pushing back her blonde curls as she sat down on one of the nearby ledges and pulled out her sketchbook and pencil, she opened up the much collaged book and started drawing, it helped her to de-stress instantly.

She looked around and wondered if she'd see anyone she knew, or meet someone new, that would be cool. She sighed a little and smiled to herself as she smoothed out her skirt, she was in a dilemma over this 'Belle stuff. Should she go back to Beaux. too? But she couldn't just leave now... She sighed again and carried on with her drawing absent mindedly.

Cove was out in the courtyard with her camera. She was scoping out the landscape when she came to a girl that looked familiar. Dani! She looked worried, even though she was drawing away, Danielle had this worried look onher face. Cove walked over to her. "Hey, Dani. You okay?" Cove asked. She took a seat next to her. "What's up?"

Danielle smiled at Cove warmly- "Oh, I'm fine thanks!" she said softly as she closed her sketchbook and rested it on her lap. "Just... my best friend's leaving to go back to Beauxbatons at the end of this term... I'm really going to miss her" she sighed sadly. "But Luke and my uncle James won't want me to leave here to go back so..." she shrugged a little but smiled at Cove again. "Apart from that... I really miss my... almost boyfriend" she smirked. "How are you?" she asked Cove softly as she pinned back her curls with a cute diamante slide.

"I'm talking about what you've just told me, Isobel," Damien sighed. At this point, he was completely worn out from the whole thing. From seeing her kiss another guy, to vandalizing the Common Room, to the conversation they were having now.

He felt numb.

"We're friends, you and me," he added. "Best friends and that's what I'm talking about. No cryptic messages, no mind games. It's a plain and simple fact --"

He could feel his voice begin to break and needed to pause to gather himself for fear of losing it completely infront of her. Something he was not prepared to do. That would be saved for a more private location. Damien forced a smile on his face and gave Isobel a nod of his head -- whether it was for her, or for himself he wasn't quite sure. "Best friends," he repeated, forced smile still in place.

Was he uncomfortably uncomfortable yet? Cassie was hoping he was almost there. Since Treyen was losing his cool she was going to push him even more. She stepped out into the courtyard with him and ever so lightly touched his hair. The boy really did have lovely Lockhart hair. He should be very proud of that.

JaiCass tilted her head to the smile and frowned at him."Well if you make the conversation difficult, it will be hard to move forward, won't it? And besides, it's not nice. I thought Hufflepuffs were suppose to be nice." Treyen was being a little meanie face, yes he was.

Excuse him? Oh no Treyen did not just let go flatulence well she was talking to him. Boys could be so gross sometimes."That is just nasty Treyen Lockhart! The next time you feel the need to relieve yourself, do it when no one else is around!" She took a few steps back from him, not wanting to smell anything.

CassieJai nodded."Yes you really are missing out on a lot. Why my boyfriend is just the sweetest thing ever. If you met him, and I'm sure you have, you would definitely agree with me." Of course Treyen did know James, he just didn't know he knew who jai was talking about.

Lexi? Cass and Lexi were barely even on speaking terms." No it certainly even..whoever she is.."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Why won't they let you go back? Is it too far from home?" Cove asked. Like California wasn't far enough away from her family. "Oooh, almost boyfriend?" Cove asked smiling. "Is he back at Beauxbatons?" Wasn't it a school for girls? Oh whatever.

"No... my parents... well, my Mum didn't want me there anymore so..." Dani shrugged. "And yeah, it would be too far from my new home" she said sadly but she sighed deeply.

"Dallas? Nah, he's in Russia" she smirked a little- "But I did have boyfriends back at Beauxbatons... everyone here seems to think it was just a girls school, but there were boys too" she shrugged (truefact) and then smiled at Cove. "Dallas is... trouble" she admitted. "A bit of a bad boy, so they say" she smirked a little. "But... he adores me" she blushed a little and looked down, fiddling with her book. "Err... how about you? Any boyfriends?" she asked curiously.

"Oh. So your uncle and your mom and brother, you said, don't want you to go back?" Cove asked. "Well, I think if you are happier going to school there rather than here, then they should let you go back. I doubt they wanna see you unhappy." She smiled.

"He lives in Russia and he was your almost boyfriend?" Bad boys were not good! EVER! "Oh no, Dani. Not a bad boy," Cove started. "I have dated enough boys, and have enough brothers, to know that they are no good. But if you feel that he is good enough for you then I wont be pushy on he subject." Now Cove sounded like her mother. "My most recent boyfriend happens to go here and we are best friends. We agreed that best friends was the best place for us. But now I like someone else."