Alex walked in the Great Hall and headed straight to the Gyffindor table when she spotted Rose and Logan talking. "Hey."She said as she slipped in beside Rose and hugged her. " I feel like I've not saw you since the wedding!."

Deep down Ari knew that her mum loved her too much to let things change, but her head was full of doubts, so it felt really reassuring to hear those words from Tayla. 'I guess you're right. I know I sound selfish, but the fact is I'm not used to share my mum with anyone else.' she explained, while apparently studying her cereal bowl very closely.

At Tayla's question, however, she shook her head at once. 'No, on the contrary, I really like him. Matt is a great person and he seems to make mum very happy. And he doesn't have children. Which is good, I suppose. But sometimes I can't help but wonder what it's like to have siblings. See? I'm so contrary, I don't know what's going on with me.' Teenage drama kicking in, perhaps?

'And there's more.' Ari took a deep breath before informing Tayla about her most recent discovery. 'I've told you how I've never met my dad or seen him before. I just knew his name. Well, until recently. My friend Gwen found a picture at her place with my mum and dad and her parents, who had known each other when they were young.' That was the first picture of her dad she had ever seen! 'And yet I remembered having seen that face before. In a newspaper last summer, in Muggle London. He's a politician, apparently, which means I can find out his work address.' the girl summarized.

'But I don't know how to contact him; I'm sure owls are smart enough to find him and deliver a letter, but as a Muggle I doubt he'd understand what is going on. And since he never tried to come and see me in 13 years, a part of me is wondering whether I should even contact him at all.' Ari had talked for about 15 minutes without breaks now, she hoped she hadn't scared Tayla.

Tayla opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again realizing she wasn't sure about what to say. She turned towards her food and thought.

"Hmmm...I think..." she began slowly. "Have you talked to your mum about that? About your dad I mean. You could write to him but...yeah...maybe you should write to him - and send it the Muggle way. My father's a Muggle, too. But he's used to owls and...I could have him mail it to your father for you. But I do think you have to talk to your mum about it."

Hesitating a little, Tayla added. "Do you...do you know why he left? Was it because your mum's a witch?"

At that moment, Tayla realized how lucky she was that her own father hadn't left. It must be hard for Ari living without a dad who never even tried to contact her. Tayla couldn't imagine her own dad doing that. Just thinking of it made her want to cry, so she understood how awful Ari might be feeling.

"And about siblings, well..." Tayla tried to turn the conversation to a more cheerful note. "Perhaps your mum and step-dad are planning to have a child? You'll have a sibling then. Right?"

Logan hesitated. Did he really want to talk to Rose about it? Well yeah, she was his friend, he could tell her anything, right? Right. He took in a deep breath. "W-well, I've just been thinking about....my parents lately. They died when I was a baby..." he said. There, it was out. Finally. Wasn't that hard, was it?

Jo entered, feeling rather chilly this morning. She wasn't sure why though but what she did know was she was awfully hungry and all she wanted was like a dozen of pancakes. She glanced straight at the Gryffindor table and spotted her friend Alex sat with Rose and Logan. She popped up behind them saying 'Morning guys!' quite loudly, making Rose and Alex jump. Logan, however, seemed to have merely noticed her. 'Gosh! I am SO hungry this morning, how are we?' She looked over at Logan 'You okay Logan?' (the grin on her face now starting to face away a bit).

Alex had overhead Logan and turned to look at the firstie. Awwwww I just wanna hug him... she thought, and what Alex thinks she normally does. The red haired thirdie leaned sideways and hugged Logan. "I never knew. Me feels swo sworry for yooooooooooou." she aid like a 5 year old, typical Alex Potter.

Alex noticed Jo approach. "Hey how are you?" she asked her fellow third year Gryffindor.

Kennedy made his way to to the Great Hall a bit put off. He had gotten no studying during Christmas holidays. He was probably really behind for his O.W.Ls and it displeased him greatly.

He pause and instead he went over to the table adorned in red and gold. John was bound to be eating there. Maybe having a talk with his best friend would chill him down a bit.

John noticed his best friend sit next to him. He was mostly concentrated on the food he was munching on.

"'Sup bro?" John greeted Kennedy.

He was hungry like as if he's never eaten before.

"Hey," Ken said taking a seat next to his brother from another mother. Daaaang, John could EAT.

Look at him go!

Kennedy took a muffin and made a face at it. He didn't like pecans, so he shoved it toward John.

"I think Aurora is still mad at me," he said. What made him nervous was that she said they needed to "talk".

John wasn't sure if it was walnuts or pecans, but what the heck he took the muffin and quickly ate it.

"you and I are on the same boat, my Aurora is mad at me too. Have you tried speaking to her."

John started feeling funny, he started breaking a cold sweat...

"oh dang! I think I'm dying!" John said as he drank his water.

"What did you do to her?" Kennedy asked, taking big bite from his toast. Watching John eat suddenly made him hungry.

Kennedy looked down at his plate. He hasn't spoken to Aurora...he was paranoid as to what she was going to say...or do. "No..."

O_______o

"What?" Kennedy said, patting John's back. "Are you choking?" WAS HE CHOKING!!!

John sighed.

"I kinda told her that it was her fault we broke up, a year ago although it's not quite true. And now she's mad and not talking to me..." John answered as his throat felt like it was swelling.

"Dude, if you like her then talk to her man. Make the first move!" he added trying to give him strength.

"dude! did the muffing have walnuts or pecans?" John said as he started to really freak out.

Kennedy nodded at everything John was saying. Then something clicked in his head. He SHOULD make the first move. He, after all, was the wrong one in this situation. GOSH.

He eyed John weirdly and picked up the muffin. "It had pecans," that's why he gave it to him because he didn't like them. "Wait....are you...allergic to them?"

PLEASE SAY NO!!!

John's eyes widened PECANS!

"you're gonna kill me bro! I'm allergic to 'em!" John said as he started to freak out even more.

"If I die, please tell my mom I didn't mean to take the 20 dollars off the counter, I really needed gas money! And tell Rory I love her..." John teased while he felt his throat tightening even more. His face was starting to turn read and purple.

Oh no...OOOHHH NOOOO!

Kennedy began to freak out and stood up. He paced back and forth, clutching at his hair. Then, he stopped. Quickly running to his bag he took out a vial and removed the top. If he brewed this correctly, which he thought he did, it would save John's life. If he didn't...then he would have to carry his best friend to the Hospital wing.

Boy...that was going to be a hard task. John was HEAVY.

"Here, drink this," he said, but didn't give John any time to respond. He shoved the liquid down his throat.

PLEASE DON'T DIE!!!

"Do you really expect me to drink that after you almost kill-" John was interrupted by Kennedy's action. John felt the swelling quickly subside.

John seemed as if he was going to faint, when all he needed to do was to burp.

"oh dang that felt good!" John said with his trademark of a smile.

"I almost died *laughs* this will be a great story to tell" John said as he chuckled and went back to eating his food.

Kennedy...just STARED. John almost died and he's...eating! Daaang, that boy was...cool. It was like if he wasn't afraid of anything, even of dying due to allergies.

The prefect sat back down and placed the empty vial back into his bag. "Yeah, great story, Bro," he said, chuckling and claiming his piece of toast. "Make sure to tell my mom how I saved your life." It would win him a reward.

Ch'yeah!

'I am very well, thanks'', Jo replied helping herself to a nice fresh pancake. ''How are you this morning? Could you pass me the maple syrup, please'' Jo continued while pointing her right hand at the syrup which was a bit out of her reach.

Alex looked at Jo then ruffled her red bed head hair that she had pulled back into a messy ponytail. "I'm good I guess." The third year yawned. "I could have lay in bed longer but would have been taken out by force which I would have disliked..." Alex then noticed Jo asked for the syrup so she leaned over and grabbed it before a little first year did, but in the process the half asleep third year knocked over the orange juice. "Whoops..."

''Uh-oh! You really are a sleepy head this morning, ain't you?'' Jo exclaimed while pouring looking for wand in her robes to clean the mess up. ''Thanks anyway''. She quickly poured the syup on her panckae with the other hand and stretched that arm towards the ickle first year, ''There you go dear'', she said with a smile. ''Now what to do with this'', said said with a 'sigh' in her voice, turning back to where the juice had been spilt.

A dinner date was in order for tonight. After talking with Taryn earlier in the week, they had decided that since Hogsmeade was no longer open to students and with how well their first date had gone; the couple would have a night in and would enjoy the fine cuisine of the Hogwarts House Elves.

Walking into the Great Hall holding his Slytherin girlfriend's hand, August made his way over to the Gryffindor Table, steering sneakily so as to not have her take him to the Slytherin one.

Taryn glanced over at the Slytherin table as Auggie was pulling her away from it. Eeek. She was sitting with the Gryffindors? Was that like conspiring with the enemy?

Hehe. Well, dating a Gryffindor was probably the SAME THING...

"Do you think anyone will mind..?" You know.. having a Slytherin at their table?

"Why would anyone mind?" August was still really not well-versed in the idea of house rivalries off of the Quidditch Pitch and the slightly worried tone in Taryn's voice had the Gryffindor rather confused. "I'm sure no one will care, there's plenty of room over here."

He continued to pull her along to a spot at the Staff Table end of the long table and swung a leg over the bench, waiting for Taryn to do the same into the seat beside him. "So what do you want to eat tonight?" He said eyeing the dish of mashed potatoes hungrily.

"I don't know? Just checking or something." Yep. Just checking. As she sat down, she glanced around towards the Ravenclaw table, hoping to see Aspen around, but she didn't spot her bff. Hmm. She'd just have to try to find her later.

"I think I'd eat a horse if the house elves gave me one." Hehe. Taryn giggled at her own joke. She was super funny. Also, she wasn't entirely picky either.

Yawning, Alex searched for her wand and when she found it (for down her sock) she waved it over the scene and everything instantly sorted itself out. meaning the juice jug was refilled and the stain in the table cloth was gone. Confirming everything was okay the thrid year turned to Jo. "So what are you doing today?" she asked eyeing up the fresh rack of toast that had apeared.