Nate smiled up at Jez and got up, wiping away the angry tears that had formed when he casted the curse. He didn't want to think about it. He never wanted to think about it again. "Jez," he said, holding out a friendly hand, "Should we go back to the commons? It's probably getting late." Indeed, he had no idea of how long they had been in the Room of Requirement. Nate was beginning to fear this place, though, and wanted out as soon as possible. Despite his efforts, his face showed it, too.

Jez accepted the hand up. "Good idea." She realised that hours could go past and they wouldn't have any idea in the Room of Requirement. It was a kind of creepy thought. She noticed Nate didn't look too thrilled with the place either. "I could wipe your memory," she offered. "You know, make you forget the curse thing." And possibly other things too, but Jez didn't mention that. No need for him to doubt her magical ability.

Boring directly into Jez's eyes, Nate said, "No," sternly. "I need to remember this. I need to remember everything. I'll be incomplete if I don't. If I don't remember that one time I was eleven and used the Killing Curse. If I don't remember that one time I broke the heart of the first girl I loved. If I don't remember that one time I broke the heart of my best friend over the first girl I loved..."
No, Nate hadn't let any of it slip his mind. He tried to ignore it, but it still plagued him to know what pain he had caused people. Maybe that's where the killing curse came from. he thought. "Come on, let's go back to the Common Room," he said, still unknowingly holding Jez's hand.

Jez looked into Nate's eyes as he let everything out. That was good. Jez supposed it was easier to do it with someone who wasn't part of that love triangle. But he was right. He needed to remember that to learn from it, and to not do it again.
"Okay," she agreed when he was finished. She walked towards the door, and it was only as she lifted her hand to open the door that she realised she was still holding Nate's hand. Oh. Jez smiled in embarrassment and let go, and felt a tingle of cold air. His hand was warm at least. "Sorry." She'd pulled him halfway across the room without noticing.

Nate sent her a small smile. "No, that's fine. Wow, it's dark. I hope it's not past curfew. Come on, let's go." And he led the way out of the Room and down the hall to the Ravenclaw Commons.

sweet a tv that has music channels and some rootbeer and some butterbeer and some video games and a computer

He was too kind? João grinned. "One can only be so kind when the lady is pretty." He did notice she hadn't commented on him, but maybe that was because she was embarrassed... hopefully she was embarrassed, or else that would mean he was rowing for nothing and in fact lowering himself in a girl's eyes. He would hate that.

"Oh, I've been fine. Busy with this OWL exams." He waved one hand as if to dismiss them. They were so unimportant right now. He was sure he would be the best of school. "How about you? How are you?" Because, obviously, she had the spotlight here.

OWLs right he had to take those this year. "Well I do hope that your OWL exams go well" she smiled. It was just like India to forget to comment on the fact that someone had dressed up for a simple chat - but obviously she had noticed. "Oh I forgot to tell you really have outdone yourself with yourself as well - but you do look absolutely smashing" she smiled - a cheeky little smile.

Right had asked her a question - he hadn't asked her to gush over how absolutely amazing he looked. She hoped it wouldn't be taken too - oddly. People here already said she was much like the infamously quirky Ravenclaw Luna Lovegood. It was all because of Chip - the invisible dance partner. "Oh me? I've been alright - studying as usual for next term" yeah it wasn't like she had to take the NEWTs next year and study her brains out all summer, fall, winter, and almost into spring so she could get stellar marks. After all she wanted to be a top scorer since she didn't just want to be a nobody she wanted to be an amazingly amazing person one day - maybe have a job at the equivocally nutty Quibbler if it were still around that is.

On a whim the girl said something she had never intended to say. "Oh and I'm exactly like I was in the beginning of term - utterly single. I mean I think I scared more people off of being friends with me or liking me than I encouraged them."

João shrugged. There wasn't even the possibility that his OWLs would go bad--after all he was both a Neves and Teixeira, a combination that just had winning in its genes. Nobody from both families had never failed in their Muggle lives, and he had no intention of being the first at both being a wizard and a disgrace of the families.

"Thanks," he said nevertheless, because it was only kind to thank so. His smile got bigger and more genuine though when she commented on himself rather than other earthly things. So she had simply forgot--and she truly thought he looked well. "Thank you, again," he said with a much brighter face, not forgetting to bow with his head a little. Now, that was what he'd call a nice day.

Right, next year was her NEWT year. How silly these exams were. They created too much of a pressure on students of ages only 15 and 17. "I'm sure you'll do great," he said in a tone as if it wasn't even a contest--and it wasn't. She was definitely smart enough for a few exams.

Just as he got even more comfortable on the armchair he was sitting at, she said something that could be considered as the first step... just as he wanted... just as the room cued. With a different twinkle in his eyes, attention fully on her, he said casually "Oh, you should be sure of at least one fan. I like you, indeed." He smiled confidentally. He had no idea whether she knew about Louisa or not, so better to play safe and not talk about his status at all.

Glancing over to João as he thanked her for complimenting him - ah so polite? Really, Chivalry in this world was dead and it seemed that João Neves had it in spades. And the bright smile - it just made her feel like a school girl. Why was that - hadn't Matt told her to stay away and yet here she was sitting talking to the guy she was adversely told to not talk to. She didn't care she would talk to who she wanted to, and be with people she wanted to be with, not to mention she just wanted to be here.

"Well, thank you for that I'm sure I'll do fine...I mean why else would I be a Ravenclaw?" She shrugged smiling over to him. A small, flirty pouty lipped smile as she always seemed to have that pouty-lip look no matter what she was saying.

Despite being in the same house as Louisa she didn't really know her. Well didn't know that she was with João. Maybe that was because India spent most of her time walking around with her egg project and talking to little eggbert. Even so - if she had known about Louisa it might not have stopped the flirt from doing what she wanted. "I was wondering where is your accent from actually - its wonderful really...I love accents they give people character" yes she might have been a little high-and-mighty when it came to accents but who cared? She thought well of herself and that was all that mattered.

The blonde Malfoy with her new short hair cut walked into the Room of Requirement. The Room had changed into this modern looking lounge place with bright red sofas set against a dark background. As the blonde looked up she saw thin white rectangular lights hanging from the ceiling. With her journal in her hand, Emma made her way over to the couch and sat down. Sighing briefly, she opened up her journal and began scribbling things down. She needed to remember to start taking pictures for Braeden. However, she hadn't been in the mood the past few days thanks to a certain Gryffindor and Slytherin female.

Jasper walked into the Room of Requirement. This was his second time here and it looked different. Was it suppose to look different? He really needed to get out more so he would know more about the castle. Jasper walked on into the room more and saw a blonde girl that looked familiar to him but he might be wrong.

"Hello." his british/irish accent spoke softly.

She had heard footsteps walking towards her. Hmm... And then she heard them no more and the only thing that echoed the whole room was a british accent with a mixture of Irish in it. It was pleasant to hear. Emma liked it. The blonde closed her diary briefly with her pen in it, to keep her place, and placed the book on the red couch. Then she looked up at the tall boy with the nice accent. Ah a new face! Someone new to be friends with!! But... Merlin, he looked familiar. Way too familiar.

"Hi," she said, smiling sweetly at him, "You know.. You look really familiar? Really really familiar? Have we met before? I'm Emma. Emma Malfoy, fifth year Slytherin," she added at the end as she held a hand out towards him so he could shake it.

João nodded at her Ravenclaw comment, without feeling any necessary to comment any further. They had many better things to speak, and she had summarised the whole thing perfectly.

Ah... she had dismissed the topic. He sighed to himself. "I'm from Brazil." Had he not told this before? "And if I recall correctly, you are from Australia." Yes, they had talked about this before. It was a little disappointing that she didn't remember. No, it was very disappointing that she didn't remember about him. But... he would see to that.

"Why have you moved here?" Learning about her past a little. That got girls.

Dia just smiled over to him, it was when he said Brazil that she remembered asking him before her cheeks reddening at her stupidity. "Oh Brazil, I always wanted to travel there especially to São Paulo I heard its rather beautiful there" she smiled. Yeah wasn't that where he had said he was from many months ago when they talked by the lake?

When he asked her why she had moved to England she just smiled, "Honestly I was sick of being known as India Johanson the girl with a country for a name - and not only that my dad and his entire family it seems work in the Magizoology field specifically the Aquatic side and well...me, I'm not that good with animals horrid in fact" she blushed. "And my mum and her family work muggle politics - it can be rather bother some. I just wanted to spend some time learning about Muggle London, and the wizarding world as well as you know looking into the Magical Law Enforcement Field or Minister's office." Yeah she was grooming herself for politics like her mother Amelia Johanson and well the Darling family.

At least she remembered now that she was embarrassed for forgetting. João smiled at the girl, trying to say it was fine. As long as she didn't forget any major detail about him again.

"Yes, São Paulo is precious, as well as Rio de Janeiro, Brasília..." Well, maybe Brasília wasn't that glorious, but how would she know? Obviusly she only knew São Paulo and he didn't see her travelling any time soon. Plus, there was no way he would call his hometown ugly. Yep, Brasília was in that list of beautiful Brazilian cities.

He smiled at her as she told her story. "I'm horrible too," he admitted with a chuckle. See? One more common point for them.

What?

He blinked for a moment, before he collected himself to smile--although not as brightly as before. Her mother was also in politics. He wondered for a moment whether she was taken care of well at least by a politician, but he refrained from asking so. He also refrained from showing a his hatred for the job. No, his hatred wasn't for the job--after all, he would be a politician too, but for those who made it their only lives. He could only hope her mother wasn't one of them.

Avoiding sharing that both his parents were also Muggles and politicians, he said "Maybe we can work together then--I want to be in politics too." They just had so many in common. Though one could never look for dear ones when in politics; too much was at stake to let any dear one interfere with. He just couldn't let anyone at all be better than him. Luckily, there still were years for such an ugly race.

As if hesitating whether to tell her something or not, he remained thoughtful for a moment. He was decided, long ago, but he wanted to keep her silent and all her attention on him as he played his act. After nearly half a minute, he finally seemed to have made his mind and spoke.

"India," he adressed the girl with an uneasy smile. "I've wanted to ask this ever since I first saw you in that dancing lessons--" he looked away for a moment, after turning his gaze on her eyes again, "--and, well, would you... go out with me to Hogsmeade, this weekend?" He offered a little smile. There it was, his official question for a date.

Let's hope she would accept it... and even more importantly, knew nothing of Louisa.

India smiled over to João as he began to say other glorious places in Brazil. When he said Brasília, she raised her eyebrow slightly. Not too scrupulously but just enough to show that she was more well traveled than she seemed to be. "Isn't Brasília where the National Library of Brasil is, not only that where the President of Brasil lives, and works and where National Congress is" right had he forgotten her mums family worked in muggle politics? She smiled softly she wasn't trying to one up him at all she was just saying hey i'm not an idiot I know about Brasília.

"I really do want to travel there myself - Brasília seems like a place that is more beautiful in person than it is in photographs or pensive-memories" yeah her mum had gone there once or twice but mainly to visit her cousin when she was traveling. Before she could stop herself the next comment had just jumped from her lips. "I don't mean to put Brasilia down, but I personally think Melbourne is far more spectacular...then again, Melbourne isn't in Brazil its in Australia" yeah she was so using hometown snobbery right now. But she didn't care, she loved Melbourne. "That would be fun working together I do believe though, I have to admit I am rather competitive usually, like the fact that Ravenclaw is only in Second place is driving me mental." she blushed at her honesty. Yeah honesty was good right?

And then her jaw dropped slightly as he looked over to her and asked if she would like to go to Hogsmeade with her. Really? That was a long wait to ask her out. She blushed. "I-well, I would love to" she smiled.

Cassie finally made it to the seventh floor. She had no idea how the Gryffindors did this every day. Of course this was a trip she made every Thursday but she still couldn't get used to it. IN fact she was seriously thinking about asking Josh to find a different room to keep their training in. The problem would be getting all the stuff they needed there. Too much hassle..especially if there was a room that would provide everything they needed.

Maybe it was the stress of finals or something but she was feeling a bit off her game today. Instead of stretching like she normally would before he got there or before they started, she plopped down on a beanie and closed her eyes. He didn't need to know she hadn't stretched.

Knowing the time to continue the training with Cassie had come, Josh rushed out of the lions' common room hoping he had not been too late to realise it. He did not want to keep her there waiting anyway. That'd make him a horrible trainer. Hopefully he had gotten rid of his school uniform long before so he was able to rush out the Gryffindor tower directly without visiting the dormitory. Surely he, especially his hair, looked messay but it had always been like that anyway. It did not matter. This was going to be a training after all. There was no need to fix anything if they were already going to be messed up.

Once he reached the corridor, the opened the door slowly and stepped inside giving the Hufflepuff girl inside a quick smile before closing the door behind himself. Maybe he had been having very difficult days lately however he could not walk around like a totally depressed figure. His friends did not have to deal with his problems after all.

''Hey there.'' he greeted the girl waving a bit. ''Seeing that you have already started sitting down and taking a breath, i assume you have already dealt with the warming up part?'' To be honest, her general look did not look like she had put it lots of effort yet on the other hand he knew girls. She probably had fixed it the moment she took the break.

''You know, you tend to complain about that part a lot.'' So, if she was not done with it, a long period of doing so was waiting for her.

Cassie hopped to her feet when Josh's voice greeted her. Whoopsies, she had hoped to be pretending to be doing warming up exercises but meh, he assumed she was and who was she to go popping his bubble? She instead smiled at him. Smiling was technically not lying right?

She chuckled a little when he said she complained a lot about warming up. Well it was so tedious and she really didn't see the importance of it, especially since she was warm enough from walking up all those flights of stairs.

"I do nooooooot...okay..maybe a little, but can you blame me? We spend forever warming up. I want to get to the good stuff." She grinned at him and stepped away from the beanie.

He was looking a whole lot better these days. She wasn't sure if it was because he was keeping busy of if he was just putting on a good front so his friends wouldn't worry.

"What are we doing today?"

As Cassie quickly stood up and moved about the spot she had been sitting, Josh looked around the room a bit. There seemed to be all the necessary stuff he was going to need for today's training. Not those beanies of course but they were probably Cassie's request otherwise they would not have showed up in the room, would they?

Looking back at her, the Gryffindor boy blinked a few times looking confused. Had she or had she not? The answer she had provided did not tell him anything so narrowing his eyes a bit playfully, he took a step closer and crossed his arms. Looking like the intimidating trainer he was supposed to look, right?

''There's no a little, Cassie. Have you warmed up or not? All the good stuff will be nonexistent if you have not warmed up properly.''

Stopping for a moment he eyed her a bit.

''We are going to start warming up and streching, if you have not yet.''

Cass sighed exasperatedly as Josh eyed her up. Clearly he was looking for a yes no answer which she did NOT want to give. Oh well, this was only a small lie wasn't it? Not like anything could possibly go wrong if she didn't warm up just this once.

"I have..I have jeez.."

She turned her back to him, unable to face him while lying. Gah she felt terrible but she just couldn't be arsed to warm up right now. Besides, surely coming up those stairs was warm up enough for her body.

"Please let us start some warm up techniques today Joshua..pretty please.." she bat her lashes at him and mini pouted. This never worked on James but maybe her luck would be better with Josh.

What was going on?

Trying to figure out what was up with his 'trainee', Josh just stared at her back eyes narrowing a little bit more. Girls. They had always been VERY difficult to understand so he had no idea what she was doing now did mean. ''Cassie?'' he repeated the Hufflepuff girl's name with a questioning tone making it obvious that he had been waiting for a proper answer to his very important question.

Then...huh?

''So, you have. Good.'' Had she really? In order to understand anyway, he took a few more steps to have a closer look and he was about to walk around to her to see her face just when she turned back to him and did...that...

...the batted eyelashes and little pout. And that totally made him fall into a dilemma. He very well knew how important warming up was but on the other hand he had been teaching her that for days so maybe she already figured the importance of it. Yeah. She was an of age witch after all.

''All right.'' so he said sighing a bit and giving up. ''But i do hope you have performed your bit well.'' Eyeing her for the last time...suspiciously, the Gryffindor boy turned away and walked to the large punching bag. ''Now we are going to start with developing your skills of defence. Physically. I know i am not the greatest example around but the best of fights is the one you avoid. The case with me is different.'' Yeaa, he had anger issues and he knew it. ''Now, show me what you'd do for defence if attacked physically. No wands.''

Cassie nodded and smiled. It was all she could do to avoid adding more lies. See clearly the founding fathers knew what they were doing with this whole putting in house business. She felt the need to be a good little HufflePuff so lying had become quite difficult and almost painful. Curse them..but not really.

Josh seemed so willing to believe her too. Such a sweet guy. She thought abouut fessing up for a bit but him mentioning defensive techniques kicked the idea clear out of her head. There would be no fessing up. She listened attentively as he spoke about fights and avoiding them and all that deep stuff she was sure was important with pent up excitement.

Of course she knew she was going to gave to part with her wand, so she rested it on a table close by and took a deep breath.

"Well it depends on how I'm attacked really...hit me..or something.."

With a little smile on his face, Josh waited patiently for the girl to show off her possible means of physical defence wondering if she had something useful in mind. While asking that he had actually meant anything that would be considered a physical defence not necessarily only those stuff that one performed during fist to fist fights.

Yet, she said that and it totally made the the king of lions' smile grow wider. ''Nice answer there'' to be honest he was half expecting her to list some of those common girly ways of defense that he had had faced before. No doubt that would have been funny. But this was good too. Even the part that she asked to be....attacked. Not that hitting her was something he could do. That was going to be needed to teach her stuff, no doubt....to a point But she was never going to have one of his real hits.

Still smiling, he walked around and circled the Hufflepuff girl once before stopping right in front of her again. ''Then let's see what you'd do in case of...a bit of captivity.'' and right after he pronounced the last word, the Gryffindor grabbed her right wrist and quickly took it to her back, locking the arm there. And while he stood at her back, he did not bother to take the other arm.

''Now?''