Presley's father would be dissapointed if Pres didn't get to Hogsmeade within her first week, but he had refused to tell her about any secret passages out of the school. All he had said was 'Try the most obvious routes first.' So here Presley was, at the gates of the school that were most firmly shut. She explored the nooks and crannies around the structures that trapped all students inside their school. It seemed that this was not the obvious route her dad had been talking about. Then a thought struck her, maybe there was a way around the wall that enclosed Hogwarts. They certainly couldn't fence in, say...the forest, could they? She grinned, and headed toward the forbidden forest. She knew it had been well, forbidden, but she never had been one for rules and authority.

When Cass walked towards him, the young Gryffindor took a deep breath. This wasn't going to change anything. Because he honestly didn't know what his feelings were, other than friendship, that is. He smiled at her, hiding his mixed feelings the best he could.

"Hey Cass!" Christopher answered casually. "Oh, not much, just glad to be back at school.... How about you?" I will not let this rumor get in the way of my friendships, I will not let this rumor get in the way of my friendships.

Presley returned to the gate, a bit discouraged by her venture to the forest. She couldn't even get into it, let alone out! Maybe she had missed something obvious at the gate. She did tend to overcomplicate the simplest things. Obvious route, obvious route...well, the most obvious route would be to ask someone older than her, who had been here for a while. But that couldn't have been what her dad meant. After all, she had asked him, and it hadn't done a bit of good. Well, it might be worth a try at least. Presley spotted some older students near her.
"Excuse me?" she asked them. She instantly thought better of her plan. They might inform a teacher that she was trying to sneak out. Now that she had interrupted them, she had to come up with a legitimate reason for it, on the spot. Using her improv skills she asked, "Could you tell me where we got off of the train? It wasn't on the grounds, was it?"

"Same." She said nonchalantly with a shrug "I miss summer though, I didn't need to worry about anything."

She wasn't a mind reader, but she was rather good at reading people's actions and expressions. She was a Slytherin, masters of deception and all that, and right now, she could tell something was up.

She frowned at him and asked "What's going on? You seem a bit out of it."

Of course the girl didn’t want to get out of Hogwarts. She didn’t even think of it…She only wanted to study the Front Gate’s architecture, so she could draw it later that day.

The gate seemed really symbolic for the school, she thought, while trying to memorize some of its details.

"My home life isn't ideal..... I'd much rather be here." Christopher said in the same casual tone. He hated making a big deal out of his home life. He just wanted to be back at school where he belonged.

Cass's frown wasn't breaking. She was in no way at all buying his calm act. Which was good, because he wasn't going to lie to her. He hated lying too. It seemed really stupid and pointless to him. And it was just mean. He'd rather have people be upfront with him, so he was like that with everyone else.

"Oh, I just kind of heard this weird rumor. I'm not really sure if it's true or not, or how I feel about it. So I guess that's why I'm a bit out of it." He felt a bit better to get this off of his chest, but he didn't want to confront this thing just yet. Not when he wasn't about what his feelings for Cass were - friendship or more.

Pastry Lady and whomever else
 

Ivan was walking along the outer wall trying to gather up the courage to just ask Dora out already and failing to do so. It shouldn't have been as difficult as it was but Dora wasn't like the ones this summer that he just wanted to have some fun with. He actually liked her. Finding a stone he started kicking it when he heard a familiar voice and looked up. Was that...LEXI!!!

He gave up on the stone and the deep contemplation and ran toward her. "Lexi! You're back!" Thank god cause he'd missed her. Wrapping his arms around her tightly he lifted her up with a grin.

Lexi has been mopping her eyes on the sleeve of one arm and trying to disentangle Rufus' paw from her hair with the other when the monkey began to chatter and she heard someone shouting her name. OH! Was she in trouble?

Rufus' eyes narrowed and he jumped down from Lexi's shoulder as Ivan grabbed his mistress and hugged her... he wouldn't ruin the moment just yet...

Lexi was totally caught off guard by Ivan's display and for a moment just kind of hung in his arms. Then a smile stretched her face and she hugged him back. "Yeah, got time off for good behaviour I reckon," she said with a giggle.

Good behaviour her foot... she had raised ever loving hell with the lot of them. Heh. In the end the princess got her way.

Ivan grinned and set Lexi back down on the ground. "Good behaviour? Somehow I don't think so," he said cheekily. He knew her she would have put up a fight everyday until they got tired of her. "Finn and I tried to come save you but the steering wheel was tied down on the boat and we couldn't figure out how to undo it," he said with a smirk.

"You've missed a bit but nothing you can't be caught up on. The professors are crazy and there's a boat in the lake that we got to explore." Yup that was it in a nut shell. Seeing the monkey he made a face at it. "Was your trip back alright?"

Lexi adjusted her hat and smoothed down the front of her sweater as he set her down. Chuckling a bit she leaned in closer and said, "They mentioned St. Mungo's a few times and I went bananas on them all. I won't be going back there for holiday... and come the summer I will be of age, so problem solved." She patted his shoulder and chuckled.

Finn and Ivan teaming up to come save her? Odd. "Let me guess, Salander was too busy looking for rum to think of that one, eh?" she said with a snort of laughter. "Well yeah I went to Runes briefly before I was pulled out... that Viking guy or whatever. And the schooner I knew about from the article."

Rufus had taken to circling around Ivan... just to make him uncomfortable. Mhm.

While Merlin sat on his mistress' feet like a good little familiar. The monkey was the troublemaker. Always.

"The trip back was DREADFUL. They made me take Muggle transport. And they escorted me to Hogsmeade and everything... and then I had to walk up the ruddy path because my broom is already at the house in France... I had some of my things sent there in preparation for Christmas break. Which, if you would like, you are welcome to come to the house for the holidays. We will be getting settled in, but we want a big Christmas tree and all that ood stuff," she said with a little bounce. Despite the stupid trip THERE, the events that took place, and the DREADFUL trip back, she was glad to be there.

"That's my girl," he said with a smile and wrapped his arm around her in a hug. "Well if you ever need anything you know where to find me and I'm already of age so I have complete control of the estate with a few exceptions for my mum." Yup he'd take care of her if he needed to even if she was dating that idiot.

Letting her shoulder go he gave a shrug and stuck his hands in his pockets, "I've no idea. I saw him on the boat and then he went down below with that Gryffie Quidditch Captain." He eyed the monkey that was circling him and gave a slight smirk. "Well there's a weird Transfiguration professor now and the man is a few bricks short if you know what I mean."

He leaned down and held his arm out to Rufus, "Oh come on you ruddy thing I know you want to." Considering he'd fallen in mud and then some with Dora already he didn't really care any more. He looked up at Lexi and gave her a smile. "I'd like to but it'd have to be before Christmas. We're going back to Russia to spend the Holidays with my cousin Gregor and his new wife. I'm sorry your trip was so bad though." Looking at the monkey he raised an eyebrow, "Either hop on or stop with the circling Rufus."

"Well as it stands, the house in France is in the Muggle world, technically, and I am the executor of that estate... they cannot stop me living in my own home," she said with a smile.

"Weird Transfiguration professor sounds like fun. Can't wait to meet him. Might be my type of teacher. And Sal and Simon running around together. Hmm. Whatever," she said with a haughty tone. She knew that Sal was distracting himself, but sheesh... it was nice to be missed ya know.

Rufus stopped cold in his tracks... he was really going to let Rufus climb on him and such? Brilliant! Chattering wildly Rufus skipped the arm up and went straight for his pant leg and climbed all the way to his shoulder where he perched and chattered on. Grabbing a hand full of hair he leaned his little face down so he could look Ivan properly in the face and licked him. HA!

"We will be there from start to finish of holiday so you are welcome to come anytime you would like so long as you are nice," she said with a knowing smile.

"Well not just that though Lex. If you need anything at all. But I'm glad that that's sorted out. Maybe you can be happy for a change," he said with a smile.

"Yeah I'm sure the professor is one you'd like. His name is Shawn and that's what he wants to be called. First class he turned a desk into a chainsaw and carved his name into the board." Man definitely was a nutter. He gave another shrug as she mentioned Sal and Simon. It's not like he actively sought Sal out to make sure he was properly sad about her not being there. "I'm sure he spent every night missing you," he said with a small smile. Yeah...and if he didn't he was a right fool who didn't deserve her.

Ivan watched as the monkey climbed up his entire body and he rolled his eyes. Of course he would. Couldn't just take the short way could he. Then he was being grabbed by his hair AND licked. "Ewwww. Come on now. Can't just take what's given huh." Raising his hand he wiped off his face and turned to look at Lexi.

"I'm always nice when I have to be," he said with a grin. Though he wouldn't go out of his way to be nice to certain people. "Oh so I kind of ruined a pair of shoes you gave Dora. Think you can replace them? I'll pay you if you want but she was right upset with me." He reached his hand up and gave Rufus a little scratch on his head.

She shrugged slightly and gave a lopsided smile. "I won't jinx anything... but I can only hope so, ya know. And I appreciate it, Ivan. I really do," she said with a genuine smile.

Lex couldn't help but bounce a little bit as Ivan talked about the crazy Transfiguration professor. "Awesome. Can't wait until the next class, then," she said with a big grin! Maybe he would let them set stuff on fire... that would RAWK! At the next comment Lexi simply rolled her eyes. She had a feeling that everyone she was close to had been breathing a little sigh of relief at her not being around for a few weeks. No crazy Lexi to deal with. Heh. "The Healers gave me these potions to take everyday... said it would help me stabilize my moods or some mess. Guess they have been working alright. I didn't set fire to the Denver's when they locked me up in the house," she joked. Heh. They had her wand... so technically she could not have, but she had wanted to.

WHY was the MONKEY getting all of the attention? Merlin moved forward slowly and came to rest of the guy's feet and swatted playfully at his pant leg. HELLO! CUTE CAT DOWN HERE!!

Rufus chattered in a way that sounded somewhat like a chuckle. Heh. He liked Ivan alright, but he knew that Ivan was NOT his biggest fan. So licking him was funsies. For now, though, he draped his tail over the boy's neck and just kind of stood there watching and stuff.

"Well I have noticed you have been making an effort with Salander and I appreciate it more than you know. I just want all of the animosity gone. It will be a lot less stressful for me if we could all get along," she said firmly.

...

O____________________O

He. Ruined. A. Pair. Of. Her. Shoes? Okay so she had given them to Dora, but.. still. "Ivan... those shoes are all pieces of art and you go and RUIN a pair? I suppose I will have to replace them won't I? I need to downsize a lot of things anyway it's no problem, really. Just... be careful with designer shoes." Cue the LEXI eye.

Ivan gave Lexi a smile as he saw her roll her eyes. "Well I missed you." He listened to her and watched as the cat walked over and started batting his pant leg. "Well if they're working I guess that's good but I love your craziness," he said with a smile.

Sighing as he watched the cat he bent down and picked it up, "Alright, alright. Just don't claw up the slacks, thanks." He gave the cat a pet behind her ears and smiled at Lexi.

"Just give it time Lex." No animosity. Right. Maybe if he could gather up some courage to ask Dora out he could forget about the bloke. "Well it was an accident...kind of. I didn't realize she still had them on when I fell into the lake with her." He gave her a smile and looked down at the cat in his arms.

helloooooooooooooo you two XD
 

Kurumi had been wandering the castle looking frantically for a certain stubby legged cat who had managed to wander off somewhere. She suspected that he had gone down to the Care of Magical Creatures classroom in hopes of finding Professor Saylen, but she figured she ought to check everywhere just to be sure that the feline hadn’t gotten himself stuck somewhere like he had the other night in the common room under the sofa

Black pony tail flowing behind her as she peeked around every corner and hole she saw, Kurumi spotted Lexi. Lexi? LEXI! Kurumi took off at a sprint towards her Lion Mama, who had her back turned to her, and threw herself into a bear hug around the girl’s waist.

“LEXI! I’VE MISSED YOU!” she squeaked. Hopefully she hadn’t taken the girl too much by surprise. Hehe.

Peering around the blonde, Kurumi saw that she had been talking to another boy. Kurumi recognized him from the rather awkward events of last term in the kitchen and hadn’t spoken to the boy since – not that they had really spoken at that time either. It HAD been a rather chaotic experience for all.

“Oh…h-h-h-h-hello,” she mumbled hiding her face behind Lexi again. “W-Was I interrupting something?”

"Well it's nice to be missed. Wish it had been for different reasons. And the Denver's and the Healers seem to think I need to act like a proper lady if I plan to make any difference in... my life and apparently calming me down will make that happen. That is their thinking anyway," she said with a sigh. Shrugshrugshrug. Wait... he loved her craziness? Heh. He WOULD.

Merlin began to purr as soon as he was picked up by the man in the nice clothes. He bumped his little kitty head against his chin a few times to show appreciation for picking him up... as if Lexi didn't give him enough attention as it was.

She sighed heavily and looked up at the castle. "Time. Doesn't seem to make much of a difference around here, does it?" she said bleakly. Back to the shoes... "It's fine, really. I already promised she and Katrina that they could have the things I was getting rid of, so they will have a chance to rifle through my things in the dorms."

:whaa:

She was being attacked by a little person!! Lexi flailed a little bit and stumbled forward, thanking Merlin she was wearing Chuck's and not heels. Ah. She heard the voice and smiled.

"I missed you too, kiddo. And it's okay, come on out from back there. This is Ivan. I don't believe the two of you have been properly introduced. Ivan is one of my very best friends, and Ivan, Kurumi is my little lion cub." Yes. Meet, greet, all that good stuff.

Ivan gave her a smile and would have given her a hug if the cat didn't seem so content in his arms. "Being proper is over rated. Trust me." He knew that for a fact since he ALWAYS had to be proper. Which was why he tormented his cousin. Yup.

"Well I wouldn't say it doesn't make a difference. Look at us." He'd once wanted nothing to do with her and now she was one of his best friends. He smiled at the cat and rubbed his head against the cat's, "Isn't that right little guy." Turning his head back to Lexi he smiled. "I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Like I said she was right mad at me though it kind of evened out because I fell in the mud trying to pull her out of the water," he said grinning. And he hadn't even been mad about that. Hmm.

Then someone was coming and tackling Lexi and he laughed. He adjusted the cat in his arm so he could hold out his hand to the little Gryffie, "Hi there. I won't bite. Promise. Though Rufus might," he said with a laugh.

Peeking out from behind Lexi again, and deciding that now would be the appropriate time to release her from her death grip, Kurumi shyly waved to the boy. “H-Hello Ivan,” she said. Had she attacked him with cookie dough too? She sure hoped not.

Turning her attention back to Lexi, Kurumi reached into her pocket for the gift she had been meaning to give Lexi for some time now. The lioness had disappeared before Kurumi had had the chance to do so. “Lexi, I have something for you,” she smiled pulling a small envelope from her pocket. “I was hoping to give it to you and Salander at the same time, but I don’t want to wait too long to give it to you.” She passed the envelope to Mama Lion. “They are pair charms. Said to help deepen love and connections between two people.”

The charms were also a sort of unofficial way for her to apologize for the whole kitchen incident, which she still felt sorry about.

Kurumi giggled a bit. It would certianly be odd for an older student to bend down and bit another, but she figured that THAT wasn't exactly what he meant.

"Rufus?" Kurumi asked tilting her head to the side and now finally noticing the small collection of animals in the area.

Which reminded her that she still needed to find Walnut.

"I nearly killed myself being a lady for the Hudson's over the summer. You know how I get around adults... I try my hardest to impress them and I turn into the proper little lady. I think that's why your mom liked me so much," she said with a laugh as she watched Rufus grow bored of not getting attention and jump over to her shoulder. She absently petted his head and thought about things for a few moments.

"You wouldn't be talking to me now had I not forced myself into your way, Ivan. You know it as well as I do. It just seems like... everyone around here holds onto the past so hard that the present is slipping away. You know... I properly met a housemate before I left and I honestly think he was frightened of me... when I began to talk to him and such he looked relieved to see that I was not going to attack him and rip his throat out like I was an angry Veela or something," she said shaking her head with disgust.

Merlin mewed at Ivan and let his eyes droop closed as he rested his little kitty head on his arm and puuuuurrrrrrrrreeeeeddddd loudly. Merlin LOVED attention as much as he loved attacking Lexi's toes when she was asleep. Heh.

The thought of Ivan in mud brought a lot of giggles from Lexi and then she stopped short... "Rufus does NOT bite. You lie!"

Lexi pulled Kurumi around to her side and kept an arm around her. Rufus now rested on her shoulder and chattered down at the little cublet. "Rufus is a pygmy marmoset. He was a birthday gift from a friend," she said with pride in her voice. She had always KNOWN that Rufus loved her more. Heheh.

Now she took the envelope and opened it slowly and let the two charms slide smoothly into her hand... How sweet and thoughtful of her! Lexi smiled down at her and then asked, "What exactly do we do with them? Do we wear them on our person? Or what? And thank you, honey. This was very thoughtful of you." She wouldn't cry. Not now that her emotions were under control. SIGH.

Ivan laughed and shook his head, "Knowing her that is probably why she likes you. Though you also go shopping with her without any argument. You were like an angle fallen into her laugh. Even my Aunt doesn't like all the fuss she makes sometimes." He smiled and watched as the monkey left. HA. Though the cat still seemed content with just lying there.

"Well...maybe. I'd have probably started talking to you after I met Dora. But we'll never know." He gave her a smile. Hearing her talk about the housemate though his smile fell. Really? Ridiculous. "I'm sorry about that. People are ridiculous some times."

He looked between the two girls and smiled his eyes following the envelope that was being given to Lexi. He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the description of what it was. "I'm sure he does bite if he's made angry."

He rubbed the cat's head some more and nodded to the monkey, "Yeah that's Rufus. He loves to annoy me." Shifting his weight he looked at Lexi and Kurumi though he didn't really know the young girl. She was a Gryffie though maybe she could help too. "Can I ask you something? I want to ask Dora out but she told me herself she sees me as a brother and that there was no spark. Should I try anyway?" Or should he protect himself and not bother.... That was his dilemma lately.

I WANT ON TOO! *flails*
 

Kurumi looked up when she heard the SUPER!ADORABLE! creature chriped down at her and Kurumi couldn't help but let out a loud squeel. "LEXI! HE IS ADORABLE!" she said flailing around but a bit with excitment. "I've read about them before and seen them in zoos, but never up close before!" She stopped flailing and peered up at the SUPER!ADORABLE! little guy. "Hello there Rufas!" No wonder Walnut had been in such a terrible mood with the new smell. "Did you know that some countries call them leoncito which means 'little lion'? Seems rather fitting."

Then Kurumi's attention went back to the charms but Rufas was soooo SUPER!ADORABLE! "Some people wear them on their bags. It depends on what sort of symbolism you want. If you want to continue for your feelings to go, then you would keep the red one. However, if you want Salander's feelings to grow more for you, then you would keep his. Although, I suppose the outcome would be the same."
Kurumi looked back at Evan and was about to ask how anything so SUPER!ADORABLE could annoy anyone, when she remembered that some people just really did not like cute things. Her middle brother being among them.

Then, Kurumi got that GIANT invisible question mark over her head that she did whenever she didn't have a clue. First, she had no idea who Dora was and second, she knew even less about dating and relationships. Clearly.

"I-I-I am not the right person to ask about girls," Kurumi squeaked. That probably sound ridiculous considering that she WAS a girl.

"It seemed proper manners... especially with you aristocrats and all," she said teasingly and gave a tinkling little laugh. "Please send your mother and Miles my love. I do miss shopping with your mother and terrorizing Miles," she replied with a snort.

Lex just gave a shrug. One that said everything... and nothing. Kind of like,... eh, what can you do?

"I wouldn't know... I have never made my precious little Rufus angry." Really. Was Ivan trying to test the theory? Lexi could try to make him angry and sic him on Ivan for poots and giggles.

...

"Be bold, ask her out. What's the worst that could happen? She says no? Not the end of the world. You just move on to the next one, bud," she said as she dug through her bag for the little ziploc of grapes she kept for Rufus.

Rufus jumped up and down on Lexi's shoulder and pulled her hat off in his haste. The small person chirped like HIM. How cool?! Without hesitation he dropped Lexi's hat and hopped down onto Kurumi's shoulder and planted a little monkey kiss on her cheek and then chattered a little before hugging her head.

"HA! That's why Rufus liked me more! He was always a Gryffindor at heart! That explains it ALL!" she said with a smile.

...

Wait that was CONFUSING. "You tell me which one to keep. How about that?" she said with a chuckle.

Speaking of Salander... She looked up toward the castle and sighed. OH! Turning around and bending over she unlatched Wasabi's cage and let her take off to do whatever it was her crazy owl wanted to do and then with another few flicks of her wand she sent her things soaring through the air toward the window of her dorm in the Gryffie Tower. Sure hope it's open... Heh.