Gwen came in the common room, looking around bug-eyed. "Wow!"
She saw a new girl who looked like she was around her age and went up to her. "This is great, isn't it?" she struck up a conversation, smiling. "Hi, I'm Gwen, a first year."

Salima walked into the common room and was about to walk towards the Girls dormitory, when she saw a girl, who she was sure this girl was a first year becase she had not seen her for the two years she had been at hogwarts. Salima stopped at the girl 'Hello' She said 'Are you ok? You must be a first year. How are you liking Hogwarts so far?'

"Teasing could mean like too." Sometimes. It did when she was with her Gryffindor. Heh. "But I don't think you have anything to worry about, they're just little firsties." Who would probably think the thought of liking Treyen in such a way was gross if they were anything like she'd been.

Oh good. She relaxed again when he said it wasn't that Simon, but after a moment of realization, she looked over at him somewhat alarmed. "He's so young." Her voice was quiet despite the look on her face, and she had maybe allowed her thoughts to drift, not much though.

He couldn't believe he was king?

"Neither can I." Pause. "Or that he's getting married." Merlin, she couldn't wrap her mind around it. The kid was younger than they were and already he was getting hitched. "He can't be too happy about having to take on all of that responsibility.."

" Well, what's the name of this snake? I'm not sure about that , Ame. " Justin said relunctently.
Justin made room again for Minnie. He didn't understand why she had gotten up for in the first place. So , he decided he would see if Minerva was able to tap into thoughts. It was likely the the four of them were so close it could be possible. They just needed to focus and realise it now.' Minnie, can you hear me? ' Justin thought hoping she would think she heard something. Now all he needed was a sign that she heard something.
" Oh, okay. Yeah sure. Another time. " Justin said as he sat back down head hanging. He was really disappointed. He had wanted to learn as much as he could from one of the best players from last term. Plus, Justin wanted to hang out with her.

Minerva looked at Justin "Are you expecting something?" he was looking at her so oddly that she thought maybe she had something on her face. "Anyway, I can't understand why he never tried to use this power on me if he has it." She looked at him a little puzzled. "Is that why you have been acting so.. angry all the time."

She hadn't heard him. Which explains why He was going through Justin to get at Minerva. He couldn't read her ....But Justin couls read her like an open book. But he was after Amethyst....Why the anger...Edward was a bloody good tracker.....Justin kept thibking then like a bomb was dropped he said in disbelief, " Min, Edward is using you to split Ame and I up.... Then he's gonna try and lure her away....You need to keep a close eye on her at night. You've got nothing to fear. He's after Ame now. " Still said in hushed tone.

Alyssa heard the panic in Minnie voice. "What's going on? Who are the Slytherins that want to meet you guys. Do you want me to tag along, Minnie. Just in case. Don't worry. You are not alone. You now have your friends with you." Alyssa tried to comfort Minnie.



Alyssa heard the disappointment in Justin's voice. She knew that she should try to spend more time with her friends. "I tell you what. If I can try to finish showing Alec around by the afternoon, maybe we can go up for a spin. Maybe I can get Keefer and Janice to come along too."



Alyssa didn't mean to eavesdrop on Arya and Treyen's conversation but when she heard Simon's name being mentioned, she could help but listen. She was even more surprised when Treyen confirmed that Simon, their King Simon, was getting married. She couldn't believe it. She was sad when she heard that her fellow Quidditch teammate wouldn't be coming back to Hogwarts, but then she was excited when she heard that Simon had been made King. "Wait sorry for eavesdropping but are you saying that OUR Simon is getting married? I'm still getting over the fact that he's going to be crowned King and now he's getting married? Whoa!! Will he be getting married during the coronation ceremony? Kita and I have been invited to that and Kita is going to apparate me there." Alyssa was really excited. "Come on Treyen, talk faster."Alyssa grinned at him.

Justin perked up a bit when he heard she might be able to go later in the afternoon to fly around a bit. " Sounds good to me.... Sometime after lunch then.... Maybe" He said as he smiled at her.

She giggled, seeing the worry on his face. "Don't worry. She's a first year." She blushed as she remembered how sweet the girl was at the Slytherin Table. "Her name is Butterfly." She smiled wider. "Butterfly Penta!" Odd, but pretty name. "I'm the first friend she's ever made here, and I know that you guys with be the second, third,..and Harvey four!" But the order really didn't matter at all.

"Wait let me check my busy schedule book,"Alyssa mimicked checking her diary. "Yep! I think I'll be fine. But let's make it a little after lunch. One of you might end up getting nauseous and I don't want you to lose your lunch up there. I don't think Professor Vindictus would like that."Alyssa grinned at both Justin and Harvey.

Minerva was half listening to him. "Yeah I know the part about him trying to take Ame. He is working for both Alberto's family and Ame's mom he is in it for money." she looked away trying to collect her thoughts then she turned to face him her legs at to be on his for her to be face to face with him. "Justin it just doesn't make sense he wouldn't just give up on me the money he was getting and the power I saw in his eyes. Plus there is so much at stake for them with me free what they.." she trailed off was she really able to tell him her secret.

Minerva tried to smile "Oh Ame just wants us to meet one of her Slytherin friends. I just get nervous meeting knew people anymore." she thought about last year and how easy it was to walk up to strangers and start talking now this year she barely wanted to leave this room. She shook her head in disappointment with herself.

" Oh, Okay. She sounds interesting. How does she feel about muggle- borns and Half bloods? " Justin was still very protective of their group and anyone close to them.
" Sounds good. How about around 2 pm. That should give us enough time to digest our lunches a bit. " Justin smiled. There was something about Alyssa that intrigued him and he just felt that they may get to be close friends this term.
" Min, if there is something you feel you need or want to tell me, you can...But I'm not going to push you about it." Justin said to her as he gave her a friendly hug. " You can trust me to be supportive ... You're like a sister to me...."

Minerva looked at him in silent for awhile trying to figure out whether or not to reveal everything she took a deep breath and moved her head closer to his and talked low. "Justin you know how I am taking the medicine for anxiety and panic attacks right? Well it's not just for my nerves of being taken again, well it is but not just that, there was more going on." she leaned way into Justin and whispered in his ear. Then she moved far back in the chair and folded her arms nervous of the reaction she was going to get. She looked to the floor not wanting to make eye contact with him. "It's why at first I pushed all of you away when you first found me."

"Okay 2 p.m sounds good. We need to make sure whether it's okay for us to practice on the Quidditch field first though. I don't want Professor Vindictus docking us house points if he has it closed right now."Alyssa reminded Justin. "I'll check with Keefer whether it's okay."

"Oh okay then. Well if it's someone Ames know, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. I know that you''re now nervous meeting people right now. That's just Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. You've been through a very scary ordeal and it'll be awhile before you get your confidence back or trust anyone who's not close to you. Maybe you should talk with Professor Hadley or the School Nurse. They could help you get through it." Alyssa suggested to Minerva. She didn't like seeing her friend like this and she hoped that she'll find someone to help her get through her anxiety and fears. But for now, she, Alyssa, would be there to get through it anyway she could.

Justin wrapped his long arms around Minerva as she told him what had happened. He held her tight hoping that his embrace would help her feel safe and secure. He kissed the top of her head. He loved her so much....As a sister of course. He could believe what she had been through when they had held her captive in that dingy room. As she finished she tried to pull away from him.
" Minnie, I'm so sorry that I wasn't there to protect you..... I really can't imagine how you feel. Just know that you can always talk to me about anything....Anything at all. " he said to her as he looked into her eyes. He wanted her to know that he was sincere. Then he pulled her back into him. Perhaps more for himself than for her. As lond as he held her nothing could hurt her.
" Okay, just let me know. " Justin said with a broad smile.

Minerva looked at Alyssa and smiled "Yes I have thought about talking to the healer. I didn't think about Hadley, but they are busy. I'm not the only one with issues around here. I will be fine as long as I use my medicine and I have decided to avoid all the main social places during busier times. I have asked professors if I could have extra work to keep my mind busy."

Minerva felt Justin pull her back into a hug, but she wasn't sure she should. She was afraid to see judgement in her eyes if she looked at him, but then she finally looked. Once she did every emotion and thought she had all summer alone came to her and she began to cry. "I'm sorry for putting you all in danger this summer. I'm sorry for pulling you and Ame apart. Why did I do those stupid dance competitions? Why did this happen to me?" she fell into his chest sobbing.

Amethyst looked at him, blushing deeply as she forgot to ask. "Honestly, I don't think she minds." After all the was the. Nicest Snake she'd ever met. Well, aside from Sarah Oliver, her best friend, who she missed so much.

Yeah, probably. He was going to have to agree with Arya on this one, and why? Well, the awful truth was finally going to be let out for his best friend to hear. Just his best friend, okay? No one in the room would be able to hear this. "Perhaps." No, not yet, the truth was coming. "I'm not exactly convinced I'm the one that should lead them, though."

THAT was the truth. The reason why what Arya had said at the feast worried him so much and had made his smile disappear.

Of course, the smile was meant to vanish any minute now because the topic was kind of bittersweet. "I know he is." One year younger than he was. And Treyen was worrying about doing a good job as Head Boy. That seemed like nothing compared to what Simon had to deal with.

"I'm not sure, he sounds glad about it all." Perhaps the boy had been more mature than Treyen ever considered him to be. And...in all fairness, Treyen was kind of thrilled to be someone's best man.



Blink.

Blink, blink.

He listened. And he listened. And he couldn't answer because Alyssa was NOT giving him time to answer. Man, she was really excited for this, right? And she was going to attend the ceremony? How was that possible? Had she spoke to Tate about it? She had to leave Hogwarts for Kita to come and take her to Hollian. "Faster?" He laughed, wholeheartedly, "You're not letting me think!" She wasn't! What with the talking fast and demanding answers and all.

"But yes, he's getting married. Not too soon, though, since he'll do it when I leave Hogwarts." Or so it seemed. Simon could get married over the winter holidays and ruin Treyen's plan of spending Christmas at the castle. "I'm the best man." Wink. And he liked that bit.

Messer followed the other older Hufflepuff students into their common room. The first thing he noticed when he entered the common room was how huge and how comfy their common room was. Wow! He was in love with his common room at the first sight.

His eyes went to the couches. Back at the feat Arya said that their couches are the BEST couches. The eleven years old boy quickly claimed one of the empty couch. His female prefect was right this couch is the BEST couch he ever sit on.

It felt so good to be back. Nessie had really missed the common room. It was just one of the best places to relax and chat with friends, especially when it was cold outside. She did prefer the outdoors, but that didn't mean she didn't like the common room. The Hufflepuff common toom had to be the best, it was right by the kitchen which meant they got free food and it had all sorts of beautiful decor. Nessie just loved the place.

Feeling tired, Ness walked into the common room. She looked around and saw most of her friends sitting together, and she usually would have headed in their direction, but when she saw little Messer she went to him instead. He was so small and cute and just too sweet. Plonking onto the couch next to him she took a seat."Hey Messer, how's it been??" She'd talk to her friends later now she wanted to make sure the firstie was doing alright, she wanted to look out for him. She needed to learn how little boys worked, seeing as she'd be getting her own little brother soon. She had mixed feelings about it, but she planned to make the best of it.

Minerva stomped into the common room tears still running down her face. She threw her bag into the nearest chair with a ton of force and then threw herself into the chair crossing her arms and looking down at the floor upset and angry.

Justin just held his best friend as close as he could. He wanted to protect her from all the hurt that was flooding back to her memories. " It'll be okay, Min. You'll see. My mum and Kyle 'll take care of them. Don't you worry. Plus, you've got me and The wolf here to protect you." he said as soft as a whisper into her ear as she cried into his chest. " It'll be alright....I promise. "
" Well, she better not or I'll...." he trailed off. He didn't like the idea of anyone new joining their group. The only people he trusted the people already in the group. Justin was better , but the summer's events made him feel distrustful of any outsider.

Minerva finally stopped crying enough to look up at Justin. "Please let's talk about something else. I.. just.. need to.." she quickly got her bag and got her medicine out to take some. Then she laid her head back down on Justin's shoulder.

" Alright then. We'll find a new subject...." Justin said as he settled back into that overstuffed chair with her. He thought for a moment and said, " Well, we've got charms class tommorrow.... We'll sit together if ya like. Plus, we still have to plan that party we were talking about...And I do love to plan those with you. " he said as h held her close. It was strange...Justin just felt really comfortable with Minerva in his arms....But he knew that she was in love with his best friends and that was really what bothered him. Justin decided to ask her why not him.
" Min...I don't want to upset you or anything , but something has been on my mind ever since that kiss on the train..... Have you ever thought about us....Ya know... Being together? " As he held her and rested his head on her head as he thought.

Minerva listened as he tried to change the subject then he really did change the subject that made her look up at him in surprise. "Justin should we be talking about this..You are my best friend and I love you very much. Ame is my best friend too. I just don't know if we should have a conversation like this." she couldn't help think about what he said. She scanned the room to see who was all in there as she normally did. "Well yes I have thought about it before. I did like you once last term. But..you were with Ame and you loved her so much, then you started with those wands and I just knew that we were only to be best friends." she tried to smile through her wet face and placed her head on his shoulder again.