Gustav grinned. "Yeah..some people would...but some would just take a nap on the book...make a good head rest,"he chuckled. He cut out a paper mustache out of the parchment and put it above his upper lip.
"Or I would this...muhahahaa...I'm evil!"he said,acting sinister as he took out his wand and pointed at her.

The longer they talked, even though it was about Runes mostly, the less Stella felt the guilt at making Matt close his textbook. At least they were still talking about classes, so people shouldn't get too angry if they got caught. She tried to keep her voice low, either way, but she smiled as he'd responded to her trust. "That would definitely have been a problem," she agreed. They'd gotten past that a long time ago, though, barring Professor Lafay ending up in a bad mood again and deciding to teach evil potions again. Plus, she knew the idea of not being trusted had to hit closer to home with Matt, given her knowledge of certain family members, and she definitely wasn't about to make things harder for him. She got out of her chair long enough to give him a hug as he'd sighed. "I'm sure your father wouldn't have agreed if he didn't think things would be alright," she said, trying to console him. "You know I wouldn't try to keep you here if you didn't want, either. Even if it meant less time I could spend with you." There was already the feeling that her parents had only allowed her to stay at Hogwarts because Talia had been too busy to go home for the holidays, anyhow. She really didn't like seeing Matt so frustrated, too.

"Is there really a rule saying that a person can't get their Christmas present early, anyway?," she asked as he spoke of sending Gidget off later that day. "Besides, you could always just write on the package that he shouldn't open it til then." If his brother would pay attention to that. She really didn't know, but then, matt had gone on to answer her question about the sickle and she grinned. "I think that can be arranged." A dance would be nicer than a sickle anyway, even if they'd already talked about trying to dance in the Room of requirement again. Without it being a deal. And the grin grew as he showed curiosity about Risa, and what she might have said to pique her best friend's interest. "Rien de mauvais," she assured him, holding back the giggle that wanted to come out. "I told her that you were coming to visit next summer," she added. Hopefully that wouldn't scare him, with the few things she'd told him about her best friend and her planning things. She knew she could rein the redhead in if necessary.

Hmm, it appeared that there wasn't going to be any more studying going on which wasn't a problem; Matt definitely would have much rather been continuing to talk to Stella even if he had to make it look like he was busy doing something else as the same time. A light bulb went off in his head then he grabbed a fresh piece of parchment before picking up the quill and started to sketch something, he wasn't exactly sure where to go with the picture but it was going to be interesting. "But at least we don't have to worry about that honestly, it's better to know for sure that you trust me rather than just assuming." The scratches of the quill on the parchment was the only sound that could be truly heard since he was trying to be quiet as he spoke, the last thing that he wanted was to be in trouble for having a conversation when he was supposed to be reading. But before he could say anything more, he seemed to just stop as soon as she hugged him; well now he felt a little bit better over the whole holidays issue. "Both are true, I guess I just need to distract myself; that shouldn't be too difficult either especially since there's something I want to investigate." Hogwarts always seemed to have mysteries that he was curious about, like what had happened in the dungeon corridor back in October; but that just turned out to be India with an umbrella which honestly he didn't understand to this day what she was up to.

"If there was, I certainly didn't hear about it. But Addison's probably just going open the present as soon as he gets it which is fine, so as long as Max doesn't get into it." That was all that he was worried about, his dog usually got into everything that wasn't properly put away; like his old broom that's now turned into a chew toy. Well it wasn't like he was flying much any more, not after certain events. As soon as the whole subject of having a dance with her came up, he just smiled slightly; the last time that they danced was last term and it was the waltz. But it meant a lot. "Oh well awesome, we still have to do a little bit of swing dancing if there's time." Hopefully there would be time, otherwise he might have had to make time somehow during the second half of the term. He couldn't help but look up from the parchment as soon as the discussion of what she had been telling her best friend about him had come up once again, it wasn't like he was concerned anyway. "Oh you did? Interesting, actually I'm quite interested in meeting her after what you've told me." There was a lot of curiosity wandering around about what exactly was going to happen over the summer, getting to spend time in France with his girlfriend and seeing her world; it was going to be exciting. That much he knew.

Matt had to know starting to sketch was going to pique her interest. Stella was fairly certain by now that he knew she liked his artwork, and she was just as certain that the parchment he'd taken out wasn't for notes. Not when they weren't currently discussing anything lesson-related, but she did see his point. Looking like they were actually doing something other than just talking would probably be a good idea, given how weird the professors had been. "That makes sense," she replied quietly, nodding even as she slid one of the library books closer to herself. She couldn't sketch, so pretending to read was going to have to do. She responded to his comments about her attempt at reassurance first, though, especially as she'd had to sit down again after hugging him. "I'm sure we can come up with plenty of distractions," she replied, opening the textbook even as she glanced at him over top of it. "What are you investigating this time?" She wasn't against joining him on the investigation, after all.

That thought got sidetracked as other holiday topics took its place, though, and she nodded again. "Too bad you can't tell Max not to chew the present up," she mused. "Maybe you should send him a present too. Distract him." She was already thinking that might work with Bogie, although not this Christmas. Not when she wasn't there to need to worry about the puppy chewing up her things. That would be up to Talia, which made sense since he was her dog. She grinned as Matt had brought up swing dancing again, however. "We do," she agreed. "There's always time, though. Even if it has to wait til summer." She'd rather they get to dance one more time at Hogwarts, but if it didn't work out, she could wait. As long as she got to dance with him at least once more before next term. And she had to stifle a giggle behind the book as he'd looked up at mention of her telling Risa about next summer. "I did," she repeated, "And I'm pretty sure she's going to make sure she's around to meet you at least at some point next summer, so I'd guess she's just as interested." As long as Risa didn't try anything, things would be alright. She wasn't going to let her best friend monopolize their time together, though. There were planty of other things they could find to do, and she could always as the boys to distract Risa if she had to. Joshua and Lucas were good at that.

Sophie went to the study tables and glanced around at the other students that were already there. She smiled at them without saying anything and took a seat. Putting her bag on the table, she opened it and pulled out some parchment, a quill and an ink pot, placing them in front of her.

She grabbed her quill, dipped it into the ink pot and then started writing her Herbology essay.

Kurumi stumbled through the library with a stack of very thick and very advanced Potions books. One was about memory potions and had a title that Kurumi could only guess was Latin considering that she couldn't even guess how to pronounce it let alone the meaning. She had had to flip through the pages in order to figure out what it was about. A chapter about Jobberknoll feathers had given her an indication. Another was an intensive study on Phoenix tears, one that had so many scientific words that Kurumi had had to grab a Magictionary to try and make sense of it all. There were several other books, mostly ingredient encyclopedias with various parchments sticking out of it with notes written on them.

Finally arriving at one of the study tables, Kurumi set everything down with an unfortunately loud SLAM. She immediately bowed her head to anyone and everyone in the area in apology. She hated it when people tried to distract her from her studies, so she hated that she may have disturbed others. Now finally taking a seat, Kurumi reached for one of the ingredient encyclopedia's and flipped open to a random page before rummaging through the pockets of her robes for a torn piece of paper that she had torn out of a medical journal during the holidays.

See, he'd been here the whole time, because today Ellie had to practice, which meant he wasn't seeing her until she was out...and he got to spend his free time in the Library. Good thing, because he needed to catch up in Charms and, probably Arithmancy, but the book he was holding was one related to Charms.

He was sitting pretty far away from the table Kurumi chose, but the LOUD sound of books being drop onto that table made him look up.

His own book was closed with a not-as-loud thud, he instantly got up and walked towards the Gryffindor Prefect. "There's something wrong, isn't there?" because it wasn't like Kurumi to throw books onto a table, she was usually very delicate with them.

The Head Boy didn't wait, nor asked to join her, but he took a seat next to her anyway. "Potions?" He asked, tilting his head to one side. Well, he could see why she'd want to throw some books around.

Turning the page in the Potions Encyclopedia, Kurumi moaned when she found that nothing on this page either seemed like it would be helpful. Well, maybe one drop of Dittany would work as a sort of catalysis for the other ingredients, but other than that there didn't seem to be anything. Kurumi hadn't even thought about how to go about getting any of these...she couldn't just go in to Professor Lafay's office and ask for things like phoenix tears to experiment with.

Kurumi jumped when she heard a voice, a voice that had seemed to be asking her if something was wrong and Kurumi felt the urge to slam her head into the open book. She did not want to have to answer that one anymore. There was nothing wrong with her. Looking up, Kurumi was surprised, sort of, to see Treyen and sort of just watched him as he sat down beside her, moving the conversation along.

"Y-Y-Yeah," she stammered like a first year. "Potions...just...um...looking up ingredients and see what everything does..."

Oh? Something was actually wrong? Treyen was expecting her to say that all that was wrong was that she'd fallen behind on her studies but it seemed to be greater than that.

A frown made its way to his face.

He was good at Potions, though, perhaps he could help her? Somehow? She was good at that class too, so...that's what puzzled him. "I think you know all you need to know for OWLs." Because the exams were based on what the students were taught, therefore, there was NO need to be checking out more, unless you truly liked to do so...in which case you'll be like Treyen and be nice to the books in front of you, without a hint of stress.

THAT wasn't Kurumi's case.

"Kurumi." Eyes on the Gryffindor Prefect. Yeah, his tone was serious. "What do you need to find? And why?" It was easier, because he's been through many books while working with Sierra.

Fudge. Fudgefudgefudgefudge.

Kurumi should have known that Treyen would take an interest in what she was doing, especially regarding the subject matter. Treyen was one of the few friends of hers that actually liked Potions AND Professor Lafay. Kurumi glanced at Treyen out of the corner of her eye, knowing that the slight bullying attitude she had taken with Adam in the common room wasn't going to work with the Head Boy. Treyen knew her too well, he would be able to see right through all that and then she would break down right then and there. That wasn't an option.

Then he mentioned OWLs, which momentarily distracted her. "I think so," she nodded. "I got a really good foundation last term while studying with Jonathan and tutoring him in other subjects and in return he tutored me in Potions." Merlin, she was rambling. Pull it together Kurumi. Pull it together.

And then....Kurumi got THE look. Kurumi's posture folded slightly under his intense gaze. "I'm just...curious about ingredients that have restorative properties..." she replied with a hint of a questioning tone. As in...did he believe it? "Um...to...you know, counter deterioration..."

Mmhmm. Mmmhmm. He nodded. Potions foundation and whatnot. He could agree with that, but Kurumi was good in Potions anyway. Yet, the boy actually smiled, Jonathan got himself a good deal. He only got to tutor Kurumi in Potions, while she had to tutor him in other subjects? Yeah, great deal.

That wasn't the answer to his question, though. And he was more than ready to point it out when Kurumi kept on talking. Good.

The change in her posture was noticed, and the only thing that changed about him was the fact that his Charms textbook was finally placed on the table. The book was forgotten as he turned his body towards her. Why? Restorative was keyword here. His (and Sierra's) potion was meant for Alzheimer's, so he knew a bit about that whole 'restorative' ingredients...but..., "What do you need and why, Kurumi?" There was something troubling her. "You can trust me," she knew that, and he knew he could trust her too, "What's going on?" Not every fifth year wanted to do research in this matter...unless they needed to.

Kurumi winced a bit at his questions. Double fudge. Why did Treyen have to be so bloody perceptive? Or was her hair changing colors and giving her away again? It had done so to her in the common room and she knew that it was only a matter of time before it started doing so now. She had even less control over the changes now...

"I don't need it," Kurumi said shaking her head. She wasn't lying. She personally did not need any of the research she was doing and she was perfectly fine. Kurumi turned her eyes away from Treyen's now, unable to bring herself to look at him. It was different than when she had spoken to Adam...in the few weeks she had been back to school, Kurumi had been able to close everything off and shut it all in because the right people hadn't asked her. Even Jonathan had managed to distract her from those thoughts, celebrating their one year - even if the Gryffindor was slightly half hearted about it all. He had picked up that something was wrong too, but Kurumi had ran then.

Instincts had her look up, towards the nearest exit, and her eyes flicked there first before falling back on the pages. "Nothing is going on with me." She said, once again not really lying.

Jen took out her books from her bag. She was studying for DADA. She looked at her book.
"The only trouble I have is the difrence between Pretago, and expelearmis..."

Say what?

An eyebrow was instantly raised. She didn't need it? Then why...

...well, this was rather confusing, honestly, and he limited himself to look at her, to see if maybe he could conclude something just by her reaction. Only..she even turned her eyes away from him which actually made him believe that whatever was going on...was a big deal.

And she didn't look at him again.

That was a very odd behavior. Not to mention the fact that he saw her eyeing the door. You know what? She could easily say that she really didn't want to talk about this, and Treyen might stop the questions going her way, but right now...this only made him more curious. And concerned. "But there's something going on that is affecting you, therefore, it's related." True. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me, though. You don't have to, especially if not your problem to tell." He gave her a small smile. Loyalty was a value Hufflepuffs liked, no?

Related, yes, her problem...no. Kurumi wasn't sure if Treyen's passive behavior was making this easier or harder on her. Her small frame began to shake and her fits, still resting on the table, clenched into small fists. She felt overwhelmed and like the library she was sitting in was a swirling vortex.

"I...I...I can't," she managed to squeak out when he asked about her reasons for telling or not telling. It wasn't that it wasn't her problem to tell. It was. It was her entire family's problem. No, problems implied that there was a solution and, for her family, there was none. Not unless she was able to discover a cure on her own. She now looked back up at Treyen, her eyes quivering in the late afternoon sunlight. "I can't tell you...because...because..." Her hair began doing the spotting thing again. Dark navy blue, purple and reds streaking her hair in random locations before fading back to black. "...because that would mean that it was real..."

Kurumi shut her eyes tight and leaned forward on the table. Why her...why did the disease have to choose her family?

Er, what now?

It was okay. She didn't have to tell him, really. He was only worried, well, worried since he realized there was actually something wrong. Very wrong, for all he knew.

"It's fine, Kurumi, really." He nodded, and then her eyes...when she finally looked at him...could it be worse than what he'd imagined? Considering he'd imagined nothing, then it probably was worse. His eyes didn't leave her, though, as she kept on talking, or tried to complete a sentence, the latter was more likely.

Now her hair faded from one color to another, rapidly, she'd been better at controlling this too, he'd noticed that. No matter how much he wanted to know what it was that caused her to behave like this...he didn't want to push her too much into telling him.

Most importantly, he didn't want to see her cry.

Treyen searched for her hand, "Hey, you don't have to tell me, okay?" she didn't, but..., "I'm worried, though," he was being honest, he always was, "About you."

He was. He always was. She was the first girl he ever made cry, right? Back on the train to Hogwarts, with Vashti. It was only normal he'd worry about her, no? "I'm here for you if you need me." As far as Kurumi needing him...he didn't know if she did or not, yet the friendly offer will always be up.

Kurumi's hands clenched into tighter fists now as she stared at the table, her vision coming in and out of focus. She didn't want to say anything...saying it would make it seem more like it was real. Make it seem like it really was happening and not just some terrible nightmare. Her eyes shut tight again and hot tears slowly forced themselves out of the corner of her eyes. Her shoulders hunched forward and a few tears stained the pages of the encyclopedia in front of her.

"Why...Treyen...why," she murmuered. "Why did the illness choose her? Why?" Everything was coming to the surface now. All that pent up rage and pain. The worst part of it all had been how Kurumi had felt when she had first heard the news. Kurumi felt dark...like a horrible person. She could never admit to anyone what she had felt then, in the deepest part of her heart of hearts. It was to cruel. Even now Kurumi was confused about her true feelings...but...seeing the way she had been when she had been home over the holidays. How quickly things had changed... "Why Treyen...why?! We've suffered enough....all of us..." Her head was on the table now, buried in the sleeve of her robes as she tried to hide her face as her hair continued to perform its dark metamorphosis. "Why? The word fate isn't a good enough explanation!" Everything happened for a reason? No one could honestly say that THIS was happening to her family for a reason.

Kurumi turned her face to the side and allowed all the pain, fear, and doubt just flow out.

OH NO.

He shouldn't have mentioned anything, he should've stayed at HIS table reading about the most boring book of Charms, but noooooo, he HAD to come...and MAKE HER CRY. AGAIN. Treyen was sure it wasn't normal to make someone cry so many times since they'd met, right? It wasn't.

But...she was asking 'Why' when he had no idea what was going on to begin with. It was rather difficult to give a proper answ---ILLNESS? AND KURUMI WAS DEFINITELY CRYING!!! AND HE WAS TO BLAME! He was such an idiot, really. Mostly because he didn't know what to say. Nor how to react. So he just froze, eyes on her, as she cried and continuously asked the most unanswerable question ever.

WHO was ill? He didn't know. Nor he truly cared to know. Not if it'll make Kurumi feel even worse. If that was even possible.

Oh, wait. Family? She didn't have sisters...so...her mom? If it was her mom, then life was being too mean to Kurumi, she didn't deserve this kind of hurt. No one did. But he waited until she had no more words to say. Which was something that happened. Eventually.

Good thing he didn't panic too much when girls cried, eh?

It was all too sad to see, though. "Kurumi...," he started to say, as he stroked her hair, and, yes, he knew she was a mess because it was the first time her hair had reacted in such a way, "...I honestly don't know why." Well, yeah, he was brutally honest. "But...I don't think you should find reasons for why it's happening, just try to find reasons to deal with it somehow, you know?" he'll explain, "Like, reasons to keep on going when everything is falling apart." The reasons to 'why' it happened weren't as important as the reasons to deal with whatever problem had arisen.

Kurumi hated this. Not the illness, although she hated that too. But she hated what she was doing right NOW.

How many times had she cried in front of people since coming to Hogwarts? Too many times than she would care to count, that was for sure. How many times had those incidents been in front of Treyen? Once again, more times than she wanted to count and this wouldn't be the last of them. He still needed to graduate and she still needed to say her good bye.

Good bye. She hated that word too. It was so final and what, if anything, was GOOD about parting ways and perhaps never seeing someone again? Friends often told her that it wasn't really good bye, but more like see you soon. That wasn't true...

There would be no see you soon for her.

Deal with it? That is what her brother Ryonosuke had said. They were going to have to deal with it as a family. How did one deal with an absolute? Keep going? That was really all that time was doing. Moving forward without stopping. Time was the fire in which they all burned...slowly eating away at the embers of life until there was nothing left to burn and the flames went out.

"How do I deal with something that is incurable?" she whimpered, wanting so very much to slam shut one of the books on the table but finding that she just did not have the strength to do so. "She still won't look at me Treyen..."

Treyen hated to see her like this, and the only good that could come out of all of this was that, for once, he hadn't been the real reason for her crying. He was still to blame for bringing up the tears, but he hadn't been the initial cause.

That didn't mean he stopped feeling terrible.

Her question...he didn't know how to answer it without sounding too harsh. "The way I see it...you either try to change it or...accept it." And since she lacked the proper knowledge to change the outcome of an illness, then the best thing would be to accept it. "If you cannot change it, then acceptance is always the best choice. You should probably want to spend whatever time left you've got with her." Whoever this she-person was. By now, he was certain it was her mom they were talking about. If so, he wanted to give Mr. Hollingberry a big hug.

Okay, in order to make a proper comment to the last part, Treyen needed to know who it was for sure. "Maybe she's having a hard time accepting that as well." And he didn't know if Kurumi felt anything like he was about to say next, but it was worth the shot, "If anything, this isn't your fault." So, perhaps she shouldn't take that bit too personal, as if she'd done something wrong. Because she hadn't.

She was the most spectacular girl he's ever known, apart from Ellie and Arya, and 'wrong' didn't equal 'Kurumi'.

"It's your mom you're referring to, right?" he needed to ask.

Kurumi could tell from Treyen's usual bright and sunny yellow aura fading to a more burned goldenrod one that she was making him sad. This was why Kurumi didn't want to talk about it. Another reason anyway.

Change it or accept it. Well, she supposed that he knew why she was looking at Potions books now, right? Problem was that there was NO cure. Nonmagical or magical. Last she had seen her mother, the cells in her cerebellum were being destroyed at a rapid rate and her body movements were awkward and to the point where she was struggling to move her legs since my knees would not bend. No one expected it to progress as quickly as it was. Time was not on Kurumi's side.

"Treyen...how am I supposed to accept that she is....she is..." Kurumi couldn't bring herself to say it. She was being torn apart by this. All her life she had wanted to be free of her mother. From her horrible and judgmental gaze...but not like this. Not like this. "She is dying, Treyen."

And that was it. Kurumi completely lost control over everything and sort of threw herself at the Head Boy, burying her face in the front of his robes, and cried so hard that no sound came out.

He didn't know.

If he'd had any experience on the matter then he'll probably be a lot more helpful, no? Right now, he felt useless, he REALLY wanted to be of more help, but all he could do was...hold her.

The Hufflepuff wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

It wasn't fair. THIS. What life was doing to Kurumi. Plus, he knew that Kurumi and her mother didn't see eye to eye on many things. Or...a lot of things. But she'd never wish for something like this to happen.

What was worse? Knowing in advance that you'll lose someone this important...or having that person taken away in an instant? Maybe his sister was lucky enough not to see their mother sick, she simply...they simply...lost her one day. Granted, the pain must be equal. "I'm so terribly sorry, Kurumi," because there was very little he could do or say about this, "It...it isn't fair." To her, and anyone for that matter.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, as he stroked her hair. He was trying very hard not to let his eyes water on their own.

Still, it was too upsetting. Not being able to do something about this. He kind of understood why Kurumi was doing what she'd been doing until he interrupted her AND broke her, one more time.

Kurumi just sort of sat there as Treyen held her. Her body was limp like a rag doll's and still no sound came out as she continued to allow tears to pour out of her. Tears that represented fifteen years of hardship. All the while the only thing Kurumi could think was, why?

Kurumi didn't even feel him lean down and kiss her head. She was desensitized to everything around her right now. Someone could have poked her hard in the side and she wouldn't have felt it. She was numb, both in body and spirit.

Eventually, she heard Treyen ask her if there was anything he could do for her and her blurred vision returned to the Potions books on the table. Research that she desperately wanted to do, while at the same time knowing that the knowledge of a fifth year wouldn't be enough. This wasn't like trying to brew a Potion to cure boils, this was a complex disease that no Potion Master had found a cure yet. It was...hopeless...especially given the remaining time she had left.

Kurumi sniffled a few times, trying to steady her voice a bit. "C-C-Can I just stay like this? For a little longer?" she asked softly. It reminded her of the way her brothers had held her when she was home during the holidays, and it was a feeling that she needed right now.

Everything was wrong with the world at this second. He'd much rather have Kurumi cry over something he'd said or done than this.

Treyen wasn't going to stop her if she wanted to do some research, but if they had much more experienced people working on her mom...then they're the ones who were supposed to discover something, correct? Yes. So, she could lay off the books...and...will chocolate ice cream help a little bit?

No. Chocolate ice cream won't change anything. And he knew that chocolate didn't mend hearts either, it had been a fair coincidence that a girl had mended his heart when Moretti offered him chocolate.

AND...the Head Boy smiled, not caring that she couldn't see that smile, though, he only hugged her tighter. "For as long as you need me." Which clearly meant that she could stay the way she was, he wasn't minding the hug anymore.

Kurumi whimpered a bit when she felt his arms tighten around her small frame. Why was it that she couldn't get through a term without ending up in this sort of situation? She was a fifth year now and SHOULD be able to handle herself and whatever was thrown at her. She didn't want to appear weak and helpless anymore. That is all she had ever been in people's eyes. Before, the older students had babied her and even tried to shield her from things to keep her innocent or whatever reason they tried to attach to it.

She was supposed to be stronger this year...NOT weaker.

"T-Treyen," she whimpered, attempting to sit up a little more straight now. "C-Can you do me one more favor?" Although, she was pretty sure that there were going to be more than just one. "Can you...not say anything...to anyone?" This may have been a given in the Hufflepuff's eyes seeing as it wasn't his life to share, but somehow saying it out loud made everything feel a little better. "I...I don't want people to think I can't handle myself or my problems...."

She looked back at the textbooks now, vision still blurry, and whimpered again. Which was the more mature thing to do? Fight until the last minute to maybe find something that may or may not cure her mother...or face the facts?