Salander was about to make his way back to the castle when he nearly stepped on what he thought was a small tumbleweed. It turned out to be a cat with such stubby legs it looked like it had difficulty moving at all. Thinking it was a stray (hey what does he know about animals), he wandered towards the front gate thinking of just tossing the creature over the wall and be done with it.

Instead the sight of the familiar blonde greets him "LEXI!" he called out as he sprinted over, seized her in his arms-- cat and all-- and twirled her around in the air. "MMMMwah! Welcome back Luv!" he said kissing her and muffling his welcome against her cheek. He finally settled her back down, eyes a little moist but blinked it away quickly. No tears rule, not in public, not even in front of his Gryffincess. "You got here ok?" he started until he could feel that there were others around them.

He finally turned as his sight fell on his Cookie!Princess and... the Kitchen Eagle. "H-Hey there!" he greeted them both a little too cheerfully, waving the tumbleweed cat in his hand, not even realizing he was still holding it. Hmm, why does company feel mighty familiar?

Kurumi felt like flailing around with glee as the SUPER!ADORABLE creature jumped onto her shoulders. She litereally felt like she was going to melt into a little puddle of Kurumi goo when it hugged her head and gave her SUPER!ADORABLE[/s]and slightly drooly[/s] kisses.

Being completely distracted by Rufas and all his cuteness - Walnut would be most displeased when he smelled the strange creature's scent on her later - Kurumi almost missed Lexi speaking to her again?

"Huh? What?" she asked scratching the SUPER!ADORABLE Rufus under his SUPER!ADORABLE chin. "I think you should have the red one. That is the one meant for the girl." Besides, Salander would probably resemble a Christmas tree if he walked around with a red charm on his bag.

"Salander!" Kurumi chirped as she ran over to Papa Snake and gave him a hug. She made sure she didn't run too fast because she didn't want the SUPER!ADORABLE! Rufas to fall off her shoulder and stop giving her monkey kisses "I actually just gave Lexi a gift intended for both of you."

Her cheeks flushed.

Ivan looked at the young Gryffindor and laughed. Moving his hand from the cat for a moment he ruffled her hair teasingly, "It's alright. I don't know much about guys." He gave her a wink and looked at Lexi.

"You missed me torturing him this summer. It was epic," he said with a smile. Yup definitely epic. He had taped him to the deck of the lake then pushed him in and got grounded because of it but damn had it been fun.

He eyed the monkey and made a face at him. "There's a first time for everything," he said with a smirk. "Wonder how much it would take for him to bite someone?" James had made him too much of a wimp that was for sure.

Hearing Lexi's suggestion he made a face. But what if she said no? Could he? He actually liked her a lot. She was fun to hang out with and...yeah. "I guess you're right." Man up.

Before he knew it their small grew grew again as Sal came over and he looked away from them and down at the cat sleeping happily in his arms. Yeah he may be over Lexi but it still made him uncomfortable. "Hello Sal," he said with a nod . They seemed like a very familiar group here now. He winced as he saw the small cat in his arms, "Umm...be careful you're going to hurt that thing." He may not be the biggest pet fan but he didn't go around torturing them....geez. Intentional or not.

"Your dad doesn't hit you, does he?" She asked cautiously, thinking of the scar that Levi had been wearing on his face when she saw him on the train

Then her frown deepened at the mention of a rumor. "Rumors aren't often true." Cass said with a small smile "It may hold some portion of truth, but more often than not, they're all highly exaggerated." It was true! All rumors were made to sound exciting so that people would keep talking about it. "So don't stress over it, I'm sure it's nothing."

He tilted back slightly having not expected Kurumi's tackle!hug "Good to see you too Kurumi!" he chuckled, giving her his trademarkl big brother hug. He hasnt actually gotten to speak with her since that day at Floreans and was immensely relieved to see that the young Gryff was doing A-Ok. He returned Ivan's greeting with a pleasant smile. Well at least killer stare is gone, and has gotten down to using his nickname. Making progress here yup. His attention returned to the young Gryffindor when she mentioned a gift "Oh really? What gift?" he wondered aloud and turned his head at Lexi. "She gave us a gift Luv?"

He turned his head again at the fluffy thing on his hand, only realizing he was still grasping it when Ivan mentioned it. "Oh!" he said, staring at the furball for a second and shrugged. "Anybody lost a cat? Cuz you know if its just a stray we can just <whistle>" he whistled as he made a motion of his head that meant that stray cat goes over the fence.

Cuz you know, nobody knows where this thing has been!

Lexi was just watching her things float off through the distance when she heard yet another voice calling out to her... this voice she knew better than any other. She could hear it in her dreams even. Her heart swelled.

Before she could even make to move there he was with her in his arms and off the ground. Kissing him back greedily she smiled and laughed as he spun her around and welcomed her back.

"Oh baby I missed you so much! And... I am actually glad to be here, I didn't think I wanted to come back until I stepped inside of these gates, baby." She peppered his face with kisses, not caring who was around.

"The trip was dreadful, to be honest. They made me take Muggle trains and buses just to be mean I think... but that doesn't matter. I am back and I am not going back to Oxfordshire ever again," she said triumphantly.



"SALANDER!" she exclaimed before bursting into fits of laughter as she took the poor frightened cat from him and set it down. Poor thing scuttled off like it's tail was on fire and it's head was catching.

Still laughing she wrapped her arms around him and made a little mental vow not to let him go. EVER.

Rufus clung to her, wrapping his little hands in her hair so he wouldn't fall as she flailed. Chitter chatter from the monkey meant he was VERY happy indeed.

Lexi was so happy too. She nodded at Kurumi from Sal's arms. "The red one. Got it. Here, Sal, you take the blue one." She actually tucked it in the back pocket of his pants and maybe squeezed his bum a bit. Hehe.

Lexi laughed at Ivan as she turned in time to catch his wink and his comment to Kurumi. Hehe.

"You really should lay off of Miles sometimes... he is a pretty alright guy, you know. And I am sure maybe YOU could make him angry enough to bite. Hahah. Otherwise everyone is safe," she said with giddy little giggles now.

Wow... maybe those potions and elixirs that the Healers had given her were actually working...

Christopher's right hand instictively flew over a few gashes on the back of his head and neck. He was glad that his robes covered his arms, legs, and chest and vack, for they were covered in bruises, scars etched deep into the surface of his skin. He was a litte taken aback when Cass suggested it was his father that had done this. "Cass...." Christopher murmured softly, "My dad.... He's probably not going to stay alive by Christmas.... He's got cancer...." The lion squeezed his eyes shut trying not to think of the pain of the only person who'd ever loved him would be gone soon. "Before I got my Hogwarts letter I was bullied and beat up a lot at school, but it was.. it still is my mum who does this. To both my sister and I. She thinks we're freaks. She hates us. She's ashamed of us." Christopher's hand drifted back to his side, his lung, red gashes still clear on his pale skin.

"Really? Oh thank goodness..." Maybe Cass had heard the rumor too! Maybe she knew it wasn't true either! Things didn't have to be weird between them, and the third year was really grateful for that.... But he still couldn't ignore that the possibility of liking Cass was close by. Which confused him to no ends.

"But he's so much fun to mess with," Ivan said whining slightly with a smirk. "I'm sure I could too. Maybe I should test this theory..." He gave Rufus a look and then looked down at the cat in his arms.

Hearing Sal's solution for the cat Ivan frowned and was about to tell him no when Lexi took the cat from him. Good. He may not be the biggest fan but he wasn't about to let it get hurt. Hmph. Poor cat.

"So I was thinking Lex that you could ask Dora what she thought about it before I did so I don't make a fool out of myself and all..." Yup he was a wuss. A big wuss..

Good to know she wasn't alone in not understanding the opposite gender. Why couldn't everyone be like a cat...or like SUPER!ADORABLE! Rufas? They were easy enough to understand!

Kurumi blushed a bit from Salander's hug. She had missed seeing him around and could really use some big brother advice as well. Lexi had taken care of some sisterly talk when they had had tea in Diagon Alley, but perhaps Salander could tred places where she literally could not.

Kurumi then noticed the cat in Salander's arms. There certainly were a lot of animals roaming about right now. "I've lost Walnut," she frowned. "He ran out of the common room after..." she paused to contain her giggles. "...peeing in Josh's shoes. Not sure he has noticed...I hope he isn't wearing them now either." Because, Josh would not only smell terrible, but his socks would be soggy as well. She looked at the cat. Sadly, it was not Walnut.
Oh? Was the monkey playing in her hair!? Perhaps giving her a much needed head massage? She was liking this monkey more and more. Perhaps Lexi would let her kidnap play with it in the common room...

"They are special charms for couples," Kurumi explained going for the sort version of the explaination.

He wrapped Lexi in a loving embrace and whispered through her hair "I'm glad you're back Luv, and didnt I say Hogwarts has its own brand of magic? Its just in the air; no spells necessary."

He caressed her arms with his hands as she recounted her muggle travel ordeals, sympathetic but also slightly bemused. He totally understood what she went through. "Well at least your still in one piece." he chuckled good-naturedly, although really he wouldnt be surprised if Lexi never wanted to travel that way again. Heck he wouldnt want to travel that way at all if he could help it.

He released the cat from his grip when his Luv took the cat and set it loose. He was about to whine about how strays bring diseases like nasty cooties when he was distracted with Kurumi saying about Walnut breaking loose and peeing in Josh's shoes. That had him bursting out laughing. "I'm sure Josh isnt the only one not exactly happy with that." Cue the image of a frowning, neat freak She-Snake

Ah yes the gift! "Blue one, alrght...." he nodded, eying the packet as Lexi slipped it into his back pocket. Oh! He felt that added bonus too heh. Cue eyebrow waggle and added his own tush grabbing. All discreetly of course, kids are around. We're rated PG right?

Then Lexi and Ivan started talking about "Miles?" head turns between the Gryff and the Claw "Prefect Miles? You know him?"he glanced at Ivan.

Then Kurumi started explaining about her gifts "Special charms huh?..." he uttered, taking that blue packet out to have a better look at it "What kind of charms does it do? Like, does it improve my chances in winning the wizarding lottery or increase my odds winning something in the kneazle race?"

"Miles is lovely. I am glad he knows now that I never really believed he was a spy. It was really fun leading him TO believe that though. He is pretty gullible sometimes. Hehe. And you will leave my monkey alone, Vorpatril!" she said with some giggles.

Heaving a great big sigh she rolled her eyes and said, "Stop being such a wuss, Ivan. MAN UP and ask her. But... since I am official wing woman to all Ravenclaw boys, it would seem, I will put in a good word for you." Ridiculous boy.

Wait...

HOLD ON.

Turning to face Kurumi she could hardly contain her laughter as she asked, "Did you just say Walnut urinated in Josh's shoes? Oh that is RICH! I wish I could have seen that!" Oh man. Josh Carter = Mr. Pee Pee Shoes. FTW.

Rufus continued to snuggle Kurumi's head and work his little hands through her hair. He chattered a little bit at Salander. Although... his feelings were still a bit hurt that he did not return the monkey hugs that Rufus had given him.

Then all concentration was lost as Salander whispered to her sending chills up her spine. Hehe. "You're the only one that matters, baby, but I have gotten such a warm welcome... I didn't expect it at all," she said in a soft tone as she spoke right into his ear.

Pulling back to look in his face she frowned slightly. "Barely! Have you ever been on a Muggle train... or on the tube thingy. Oh it's dreadful. I swear if there is ever another outbreak of the plague it will come from Muggles public transport. It was disgusting," she said in an EXTRA haughty tone. "Never again. I want magical transportation from now on. I am getting my Apparation license this year and never worrying about this again. Ever." EVER!

Then came some more giggles and hugs and nuzzles. "You know... I have something I need your help with. Something really important. It can wait a few moments though. Wouldn't want to be rude," she whispered at him and giggled once more.

"The packets are charms that will increase the love and... longevity of our relationship, babe... was that it, Rumi?" she asked, still not taking her eyes off of her Slytherin Prince.

Huh. Perhaps absence does make the heart grow fonder.

Ivan looked at Sal and nodded, "I sure hope I know him or I'm torturing the wrong person during my summer breaks." He gave Lexi a smirk and then looked back at Sal, "He's my cousin actually."

Turning to Lexi he laughed, "I'm sure it boosted his ego a bit. Dora thinks I'm one. I promised to tell her what the deal was at some point. But yes Miles is as gullible as they come. I think he likes the attention personally." He was always a bit of an attention junky. "Aww but the monkey is begging me to," he said with a pout and looked at Rufus. Okay...well maybe he wasn't.

Man up.... Yeah. "I'm not a wuss..." Mostly. Sometimes. "Fine fine." The mushy stuff was getting to him anyway. "Here unwind from Sal enough to take your cat and I'll go do it right now." Call him a wuss. HA. He scratched the cats head before holding him out to Lexi.

Evan needed to walk, not for a specific pressing problem or anything, he only wanted to feel his legs and wanted to walk without any disturbance. That was impossible on the inside grounds; around lake had always been to crowded and nowadays it attracted even more people due to the ship, some were herbology and animals, the rest were packed with firsties... thus, he had found himself wandering to the front gate, the place where he had made truce with Iris... hehe, that had been interesting, surely.

He walked up to the gate and stared, calculating how many days were left to graduate. He would miss the place... but, he long ago admitted his time had come.

After having lunch, Bissy was really full and wanted to have a walk she made her way towards the entrance hall. She didn't feel like going to the common room. There may be some people she didn't want to see at all. The only person she was getting along was Evan. He had always been nice towards her and was the only person to make the common room bearable for her.

The bright light of the midday sunshine was penartating into the entrance hall. The light breeze swept her face as she stepped out the front gate and saw the person who she really would have liked to see- Evan. She tapped on his shoulder from his back and smiled broadly. She said: "Hey, Prefect! What are you up to?"

OOC: She stood? He was sitting.. Oh well.

Rocking back and forth on his feet, the gryffindor boy glared at the little dog. He was a very bad boy and didn't deserve to be outside right now. If Eiri wasn't here right now, Jay would probably carry the pup back to his dorm and figure out a new way to lock him up. But he wasn't about to leave his partner in crime alone.

He paused in his rocking as his eyes wandered around the area, uncertain of what to say or do next. He was about to ask a question when she interjected before he could even utter a sound. "Err.. no. It usually makes them throw up.." he trailed off, realizing he'd have to clean that up later. Stupid dog. Like he hasn't eaten in years...? "He eats everything like that. Including clothing, bedsheets, and shoes. Shoes are his favorite if you couldn't tell."

The Gryffindor sighed, and wiggles his toes.

Kurumi laughed. "Walnut has made a bad habit out of peeing in people's shoes. I'm afraid some first years were the first ones to fall victim. They sat on his favorite spot on the couch."

Kurumi's smile widened as Rufus continued to snuggle her head. He certainly was a friendly little monkey, and Kurumi began scratching his hind legs. It was a spot that Walnut often enjoyed being scratch - even if he was a bit self conscious about his legs.

Kurumi nodded when Lexi explained the charms to Salander. "I bought them at one of the strongest power spots in Japan. Means they are the best sort of charm available." If one believe in that sort of thing.

Then Kurumi looked at Lexi and a puzzled expression came over her face. Rumi? She hadn't been called Rumi since Cam had left Hogwarts at the end of Kurumi's first year. She didn't mind, it had just surprised her.

"When you two get married, can I bake the cake?" she asked looking up at the couple. "And I want to be there when the stork comes to deliver your baby."

Kurumi really liked animals.

Cass stared in horror as he explained. What was going on with her friends' lives? One was being abused by his dad, the other with his mom. And well, Chris' story haunted her more than Levi's. She never really knew her dad, so knowing that someone else's dad was terrible, sort of brought relief to her, but Chris was being hurt by his mom, and that scared her because she grew up loving her mom.

"Why would anyone be ashamed of their own children?" She asked softly, the realization of not everyone can have someone like her mother drawing over her.

The shook her head "Yeah, like last term, there was this story roaming around Slytherin that Kurumi's cookies were poisoned." That was just soooo far from the truth.

Christopher became suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. He could feel Cass's scared eyes burning on him, and he wished he would disappear. Maybe that'd be better for everyone. The way Cass had talked about her mother in Diagon Alley probably made her so confused as to why somebody's mother could hate them. Her mum had seemed pretty cool when Cass spoke of her. She'd mentioned that her dad wasn't around, which made Christopher really upset too. She'd never got to have one, and if he'd been at all like his own father, that'd be a real shame. But since he left a great girl like Cass, he obvioiusly wasn't. But Christopher's dad would being leaving him too, in a different sense. He'd always be with him in his heart, but he'd never be there to comfort him anymore.

"I don't really know. I wish I did though. Then maybe I could fix everything." He couldn't just not be a wizard, so he'd have to find another way to make his mother care for her children again. She thought it was all his fault too. He'd gotten his letter first, so he was the freak who'd brought on such an 'epidemic' to their household. Or so Sofia James thought.

"What!?!" How could someone as sweet as Kurumi poison cookies!? I mean, the kid had only talked to her once or twice, but she was really nice and very talented from what he'd gathered in classes and around school and the common room and everything. "People were probably just jealous." Maybe Selina or Violet or someone had been jealous and started the rumor. But that still didn't explain Levi's abnormal hatred for him.... Maybe that was just the way things were meant to be. But he really hoped the rumor wasn't true. He valued their friendship to much for anything more just yet.

"I think this isn't something you could fix yet Christopher..." She replied slowly. Then she remembered when she saw him on the train, with his sister sleeping on his shoulder. So young, to be dealing with so many strains. No kid should grow up like that. It was just wrong...

She placed a consoling hand on his shoulder and said "Hey, if you and your sister ever need a place to...like escape to during the holidays, our place is always open for the two of you." Then she smiled "After all, there's more than enough room for all of us in there."

Then she laughed at his reaction "Yes probably. Not that anyone would admit it." Then she shook her head, smile still firmly placed on her face "Besides, It was a Slytherin who started it. I just forgot who." Then her smile melted as she moved on to a more serious subject. There was just something he wasn't telling her. And she couldn't rest until she found out what it was. "So, which rumor were you so upset about?"

Evan was still pacing the front of the gate when someone tapped him from his back. "WHA'YADOIN'?!" he yelled and jumped on the spot to face his attacker. Seeing it was Bissy, he calmed down, took a deep breath and smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, I was too in deep thought to be approached from back." He hoped she wouldn't see him as a freak. He wanted to be on good terms with her, because she was friendly to him and such... and she had an air of sly power... not something to be messed with.

"Yeah, I was just thinking..." he went on, running a hand through his hair. "How are you?"

Waiting for a friendly response with the friendliest smile Bissy froze at Evan's high pitched voice. That was extremely shocking! Evan shouting at her? No, no, no! That thing can't have happened. Yeah, Bissy could understand that he was in a kind of trans but that reaction. Ooooh! If she hadn't known how good-natured Evan was, she would have thought he would have been mad. Anyway, that could be tolerated. Seeing the awkward smile on his face, Bissy smiled back and said: "Yeah! It's extremely obvious that you were thinking, Cartwright. Good Merlin! You could have jinxed me instead of yelling. I'm glad to have been told off actually". She could sense that he was not happy with what he had done so the blonde girl was trying to cheer him up.

Oh thank Merlin, Bissy was smiling back. That meant she didn't think he was a freak, right?! It didn't mean she was merely being polite, right?! Evan laughed a little. He pondered if he should correct her to call him with his first name, but then decided against it--it was her style, he guessed.

"Yeah... I was wondering at how fast the years had gone," he said, frowning at that. It had been 6 years that he had first walked through these very doors... but it felt like just yesterday.

Very well, then. If he was smiling, there was no problem. Bissy took a few steps to face the snake boy. She patted his shoulder and said sympathetically: "I understand your point Evan but don't think about that at the moment. You have always been a great student as far as I can see and loved this place a lot. However, you should leave when the time comes. A new life waits for you out there as an adult."

She didn't know how Evan would react to her remarks but she said them to comfort him. Bissy was sorry for his having to leave the school, too. He had been a great friend to her by the time she first stepped to the school and it was a pity that they would be on owl post terms next year.

Fee made her way to the front gate with her head phones on.Music was way to important to her the blonde just knew it.But it made her calm.Right now she was super excited and felt liike puking.Seriously how could she be without music in a state like this?!

As the Slytherin reached the front gate,she walked up and down,up and down.Why couldnt she just stand still?!Meeeeh this was not good. Grabbing hold of something the third year finally calmed down and breathed in and out.Deeply. Goood,now jujst concentrate on the music.

Well this was the greatest day in the whole wide boring sometimes exciting world. He was going to try and find Fee. He knew that she would be happy when she saw him. He just knew it and maybe she would be more than happy. So where could she be. Well he didn't know. He hadn't been to Hogwarts for a few weeks so he still didn't know his way around but he knew where the Hogwarts grounds were and that was all that matters.

Out of nowhere Finbar felt a hand on his muscular arm. Well he felt it trough his black leather jacket and the grip was pretty darn hard. Fin turned slightly and gripped the girls hand softly. "Are you okay?" the Irish accent came out of his mouth.