India?Well that was the name of her motherland..'I'm Namitha..'

Stella nodded slightly as Matt tried to reassure her that she wouldn't have failed her OWLs just because of a few little slips. He was right, too. She'd managed to accomplish what was asked of her, even if she'd ended up with a few bruises along the way. At least those had gone away already, because she had a feeling he would have been more likely to press the issue of her earlier comment if she'd been visibly injured. "Of course you'll hear how I did, once I know myself. Do you know when the results might be out, anyway?," she asked, curious if she'd end up getting her results after she'd already returned to London and therefore would be seeing him more. That would make things easier, since she still would have to borrow an owl if she got her results while she was still in France. "What observations were those?," she added, with a tiny giggle as he'd continued trying to assure her she'd passed. It was funny, since in a way it was the same as when she'd told him he'd pass his Apparition exam because she had faith in him.

The topic of conversation had soon changed, however, at almost the same time as Lyra jumped off the seat across from them and jumped up into her lap, and Stella petted her kitten while Matt had continued to speak. She smiled again as he finished, though. "I'd love to see Gidget again, too. Especially if she's carrying good news," she replied. "I don't think Lyra will bother her. She didn't bother Oberon, after all." Even after the little tiger had hatched. It was amusing, actually, because sometimes she felt like the two creatures understood each other, even though one was a tiny charmed metal sculpture and the other a real cat. "I still say you're going to pass." She couldn't help but add that, even if he didn't really think he'd failed. Even the idea that he did made her want to make him feel more positive.

Minerva smiled at the eager cat. "He does really want out, doesn't he. Wonder what he smells." Minerva said with a shrug didn't matter cats are cats. "Do you know many of your neighbors? Do you have many cousins? My family has moved so much I don't get to know many people."

So she wanted him to be back? Well, he didn't really want to leave Brazil, but of course, he had to do his shopping here as well and he hated doing things in the last minute. "I'll try," he said, placing a kiss on her forehead. It depended on his parents, really. And the availability of the planes. He still had to travel by plane, such a hassle.

...she didn't know his parents were never married, did she? He guessed not only her, but no one did. And they didn't really have to.

"My mother works in Brazil." Enough of an explanation? He hoped so. He had other matters at hand to adress--such as this unexpected invitation of Dallin. Didn't he have a girlfriend already?! Didn't he know that Louisa fancied him in the past? Why was he tempting a girl now, when she had already had a boyfriend--and she seemed happy with it?! That boy, he needed a hexing too, but too bad he and João had never met. And now, who was João to deprive her of going to that far, far away land Florida where--

He was going to teach her how to surf. They were going to sleep on hammocks. They were going to build a sand castle together. HE WAS GOING TO BE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH HER!

Take a deep breath in... you can still win over.

With a genuine smile on his face as if he was also delighted with her plans, he said "Wow, you have that one week full." One week, all alone, with an activity such as 'teaching how to surf'. Stupid Muggle inventions. They let people too close. "Well, you know... Florida and Brazil is only, what, 4 hours by plane. Why don't you spend as much time as you wish there with me? We can stay all the summer and I can show you wherever you want in Brazil, from Amazons to Rio de Janeiro, the festival city--everywhere." This was the first time he invited someone to his house to stay for free... and certainly the first time he offered his services especially to a girl.

That Dallin boy was on his black list now.

Her heart skipped a beat, the way it always did, when his lips touched her forehead. A try was all she wanted, anyway. Louisa smiled at him and wrapped her hands around his arm snuggling closer to him.

"It must be really sad that your parents don't meet that much then." Louisa did not understand how a wife stayed so far from her husband and for so long. "You must be missing her a lot." Looking up at him to search his face features for any unexpressed emotion. He was that kind of guy and she grew used to that - he didn't express all of his emotions freely, he'd hesitate or just shrug. It was only the things revolving her that got him emotional. And that made her happy and even more attached to him.

Full week! Louisa giggled, "Yeah, I'm going to wear him out. He didn't seem to mind all those plans, let's just hope his family is okay with that." Since she was staying over there and had to follow the rules of the house. "He said his parents were cool, though. We wouldn't have curfews or anything." Louisa's grin was very wide at this, "He's of age, you know." YAY magic would be involved in their summer vacation.

Then João was talking...

...INVITINGHEROVER!

Louisa pulled away from him to look directly into his eyes, propping herself up on the seat while sitting on her knees. She paused for a few seconds scanning his face for any joke or prank. Nope, there was none because he was João, he was always serious.

Then she let herself react. The fifteen years old slapped her hands on her mouth and squeaaaaaaaled, "MERLIN! You're inviting me to Brazil?" She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek in the process. "That'd be so freakin' great!" Still holding on to his neck, suffocating him probably. WHO WOULDN'T? Last summer, Louisa didn't even dream of going to Liverpool, let alone to Florida and then to Brazil! With Dallin AND João.

That wasn't a dream, was it?

Sad? João let out a bitter chuckle, unable to contain it. "It depends on your 'sad' definition," he said with a small smirk on his lips. For him, it was fortunate, because his parents liked to tease each other for their carreers and the unplanned birth of João. It was very healthy for him indeed that they were at the two ends of the world.

Funny, she was. But of course, this time his face betrayed none of his not-good-at-all feelings for his mother. "I got used to it," he said simply with a shrug, although his voice might have got a bit harder than intended. He didn't miss him--the farther she was, the better their relationship got. One thing Louisa would never understand.

Oh so he was also dealing with a 'cool' family and an 'of age' boy. Just the summer activity he was looking for! He cursed in his brain. Once he found that Dallin, he would give him a good talk about how Louisa got excited and ethics, right before, of course, he punched him. There was no school in the summer, so no one could punish him. And frankly, he doubted Dallin would also whine to Louisa; after all, no guy would let a girl know of their humiliation--unless, he was a sissy, of course. Whichever view he took, he won in this equation.

"That's good, a summer without rules." No, it was not. Not for him. "You know, we can surf in Bra--I'm suffocating!" he breathed with a chuckle. Gently detangling himself from her arms, he placed a soft kiss on her cheeks. "I'm of course inviting you. I want to be in Brazil, but it will mean very little unless you are with me..." If she was with other boys, more correctly. Precisely the ones she fancied in the past. "Your parents would be fine with it, right?"

Hopefully, she hadn't jumped to his neck too when Dallin planned all these. Hopefully, he was still the only boy to get her so excited.

Oh! She was strangling him! Louisa let go and sat down on her legs, facing Joao with a bright smile. Ignoring his 'define sad' comment, she nodded, "Yeah, getting used to being motherless is not that great though. Do you get along with her?" Considering that he sees her only one time a year. If he didn't, then they would have another thing in common! YAY!

... in fact it'd be their first thing in common. But that didn't matter to her! As long as her heart kept beating like that when he was around, she was okay with it.

"Yes! Dallin would have been taught me already so we can do it in a professional way." Was it possible to surfe professionally after one week of training? Louisa had no idea, especially with the already busy schedule she'd planned.

Her parents? Louisa's face fell and she looked down at her hands, "Well, Jason doesn't have his stepdad powers on me anymore so mom's left." And she didn't even know about Joao yet, "I guess she'll have her... motherly moments." Forcing a smile, the girl looked up again, "But I can handle her. Don't worry about it. Do you have a phone in Brazil?" She could call him from Florida instead of owling him, "Or I can use Dallin's owl and tell you when I'll be there." They still needed to specify the arrangements of her travel though.

And speaking of which, "Do you think there are Portkeys that go from where I'll be to your place? Can you arrange that?" Because she didn't afford planes and she wouldn't accept Joao to pay for it - she was already staying at his house all summer so... she wasn't that annoying.

Surely, if your mother was a proper one that wanted you in the first place, being motherless was a bad thing--but his mother had neither of the qualities, so in his case, he was far better off without her. Still, they weren't on the bad terms either... see, it was one thing she was definitely incapable of understanding about his family--she didn't care him, and in return, he didn't look up to her to be a mother.

"Um... We do." If we see each other. She would get plenty of him this summer though, because he had just invited his girlfriend over a jealous moment for the whole summer, and she had to behave in front of her. Image was everything, after all, and he knew she wouldn't hold it as a grudge against him if it got her the reputation 'a loving mother at house'. Her son's girlfriend was the perfect guest for it. Off-stage, she would just give him the money and see them from dinner to dinner--enough for a politician hoping to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs herself at the next elections.

"Louisa, I doubt it is possible to learn it in a week." More likely, they would be fighting in the waves and he'd save her--HE would save her. Merlin! Even the image of it was unbearable, and what would he do if she started explaining it all in detail? HE, João himself, had to be the one to save her from the waves while having a fit of laughters in the open ocean--not some stupid guy she used to fancy! And the worst thing was, João knew Dallin was handsome as well as he was not some silly Gryffindor; so he did have the wits as well. If only João had seen the threat before and had already invited her for the full summer...

Use Dallin's owl? Use anything of him to communicate João? NO. WAY. "Of course we do, my parents are fully Muggle, Louisa." He smiled. "If it will help and save especially you the bothering of confronting your mother, Brazil's Private Secretary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs can call your mother personally and ask for permission. That's my mother's work, you know." It was always effective on people. He knew no parent could deny it. It was basically the protection of the country itself, because no such person would let the issue of safety ever affect their reputation.

Hmm... the issue of travelling. "I don't know about the portkeys, but I'm sure we can arrange a Floo Network directly to our house." He shrugged. It wasn't even a question.

The fact that he still had a sketch to do seemed to come back to his mind and Matt couldn't help but grab the sketchbook back from his bag, quickly flipping to the page he had started the picture on and he continued right back where left off on the Slytherin banners that were in the Great Hall at the End of Term feast. But that didn't mean that he wasn't paying attention to what Stella was saying, he was more than capable of just doing two things at once and it seemed that she had been influencing what he was drawing since the banners that were originally there started turning to Slytherclaw banners. Huh that oddly looks better. Wait.. this is supposed to be of the Great Hall, those banners weren't there. Dude, it's creative license. As the battle of thoughts continued in his head however, he managed to remember exact when OWL results were going to be released. "Well, when I got them last year; it was towards the end of July. So, it sounds like you won't need to owl me anyway because you could just come over to my apartment." Though that did depend on if her sister was going to let her come over, but that thought ended right there since he didn't want to circle back into being concerned on how well that was going to go. Nervousness was the enemy at that point and he wasn't about to let it just get to him, nah it was going to be good. "Well I saw that you knew all the material well; to the point when I knew that even if you thought you'd do terrible on your exams that you wouldn't. And I believe the results will show that." Hopefully he was right after all, since he did take the extra time out to help her when she needed it; though that was really what he was here for, helping people out whenever they needed it.

When Oberon was discussed though, he became immensely curious at what had come out of that egg; however it just seemed like there were other things he wanted to talk about at the moment but they could wait. Curiosity would always rule the day. "Speaking of Oberon, what was it? I mean, I knew it was an egg but what hatched from the egg?" Well that was a perfect example of articulating his thoughts. Right. Maybe Gidget was actually going to behave around Max this time, since the last time he brought the owl around his dog; they had fought and he had to put her back in the cage in his room. "Well.. I think so too. Even if I had been nervous during the entire practical since it's a big deal." It truly was because it meant the difference between getting to see his girlfriend whenever he wanted to, or having to wait until there were holidays or something which honestly wouldn't have been much fun.

They do. Hmm. Good. Even if it didn't sound that sincere, Louisa let it go. People had issues with their mothers so no need to be pushy. She settled in her seat so she could wrap her arms around her legs. "Did you tell her about me?" She asked cautiously, a bit worried about the answer; if it was a yes then she would be in a bad spot for not telling hers, if the answer was no then no harm would be made.

Pooooooooutt. Louisa let down her legs, crossing them, and puffed up her chest, "I can at least gain my balance on the board." Which was the main thing in surfing, right? Louisa had never been into sports that much, really, and she had very little information about surfing but she was determined to show Joao that she was good in everything including sports.

O___________O The Secretary of what?

Louisa's eyebrows were shot up in her forehead and a nervous chuckle followed, "N-n-no. Thank you. That'll only freak mom out." Who was she dating?

Floo Networks. Hmm. "I'll have to check with Dallin about those. We'll be in touch anyway so no worries." She stayed still for a moment, dreamily looking at the boy before her before speaking again in a soft tone, "It's really going to be a great summer. I mean I couldn't sleep the night before the feast from excitement." Siiigh. "We stayed up all night, Dalling and I, planning and talking about." Louisa leaned in slowly, "Now that I'm spending the rest of it with you, it's even better."

...now to think of a lie to tell to Pauline.

Ugh, why did she ask so hard questions? Now she probably expected him to have told his mother about her, while he would consider himself lucky if the woman even knew the name of his school. Running a hand through his hand, he let out, at last, a "No." Should he explain, or not? "See, we don't have that many chances to talk, with all this time difference and long distance..." His father knew of her, of course, although the man was only let to know her name and that she was his girlfriend. That was enough for a parent.

"Yeah..." No. Wasn't that the hardest part anyway? He didn't want to crash her moment of joy though, so he let her believe that. She'd see it herself anyway, all alone with Dallin. Hopefully, he would break his leg or something... but then again, he was a wizard. Darn. This was the toughest battle João would probably get in for her.

Chuckling, he shrugged. "If you ever need it..." His mother would at least do that for him.

"You--you stayed awake whole night with Dallin." He swallowed hard, trying not to show anything on his face. "I hope you have fun..." Not. "We should get ready. We're nearly at the station." Luckily. Luckily, they had arrived at last. Or else, he could have betrayed the internal struggle he was having with all this new Dallin threat.

YES! They were on the same page. "It's all right. I'm sure you would've told her had you had the chance." Smiling sweetly at him. "I didn't tell mom either. But Marina knows." And she was her godmother so it was somehow approved.

...and then he stuttered- well, not quite but he repeated a word twice and despite the neutral face he gave her, she realized the mistake. He did know of her last interest in Dallin during the summer. Smiling nervously at João she shrugged, "Yeah. In the common room. We just.. talked." He wasn't going to be jealous or insecure now did he? Nope, João was so confident. But he didn't even acknowledge her assurance, instead he busied himself with preparing to leave.

Scooting away, with a deep blush of shame on her face, she nodded. "Right." Nope she wasn't mad or annoyed at him. On the contrary, she felt bad for not assuring him of her honest intention with Dallin before. Her subconscious stuck to the idea that he did trust her the way she did, he didn't need reassurance.

Or so she thought.

Yeah, right, he so would have told her. He did refrain from a snort and a sarcastic chuckle, but it did contort his face. Collecting himself fast though, he said "So I take it you'll first drop by Dallin," which meant she would compare their time with him, and the boy had already set the standards as high as surfing and hammocks!, "Then I'll make the necessary arrangements in Brazil." He hoped Rio de Janeiro wouldn't be that rainy when she came over. Or else, he could never compete with surf boards and hammocks.

"Yeah Louisa, talking to your ex crush till morning in an empty common room about your summer holiday together, alone again, is perfectly normal." He nodded naturally as if he really believed that. Maybe it was a bit harsh, but she had deserved it.

"I'll see you... somewhere, sometime." If she had any time and energy left from her vacation with Dallin.

Getting up, he left without any physical touch, only adding before slipping out of the door "You'll call me when you and Dallin are done. I'll send you my Brazil phone number some time." Yeah, he was suddenly the second option. Or maybe he had been so since the beginning, only he had failed to see it.

Fancy.

And... There was someone else there! WOOO! So she didn't need to be alone at this gathering thingymabob. Except... Cassie was here as well. And the two girls could easily spend most of their train journey talking about clothes, shoes and boys.

Speaking of boys... here was hers! Kita couldn't help but grin as Jai entered the compartment and came and sat down right next to her. Merlin, he was tall though! "Hai!" she squealed, despite the sadness that was now seeping inside of her. Seriously. How had seven years gone by so quickly?!

...

SQUEEEEE! Okay, they had... kissed before. Kind of. On the cheek. Whatever. But... it was nice when he did that. So Kita turned her head and kissed him back on the cheek. "Hai!" Again.

Okay, maybe it was just her but... there was a figure right on the other side of the compartment door! Kita couldn't help but frown slightly. Was someone waiting for one of them? Waiting to... kill them?

WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN?!

Slowly, Kita got up, her hand clutched around her small bag. I someone was out there waiting to hurt one of them, well, they would have to get past her first! Bag raised, she opened the door and...

...

WHAAAAAAAT?! "Lyssie?" Merlin! SHE wasn't scary! Kita giggled as she threw her bag onto the seat before turning back round to the second year. She threw her arms around her fake younger sister and gave her one of her special hugs. Kita style. "Hai! Were you waiting for someone?"

A 900 year old man called The Doctor? Not just a doctor but THE Doctor. "Doctor who?" She asked curiously. Isobel paused for a moment, and then started laughing when she realized what she had said. Now she knew why that was the name of the show. "Why does he travel in a box? Wouldn't it be more efficient to take a train, or a plane, or a car?" Anything seemed more efficient than a box. She listened carefully as Sammy explained the Silence, but it was not making any more sense than the rest of it. "Why do they want to kill him? Is he an evil doctor?" Probably not, because the entire show was based about him. It was more likely that the Silence was evil.