"Nu uh, your hair couldn't possibly be better than mine. It's just not possible." Everett said with a grin. It was true. The curls atop his head were too amazing. When she said she thought his hair was pretty awesome, he laughed, "See, even you can't deny it." Everett said. "I'm handy with stealing bats off people though. And who is to say I can't songwrite better than you?" He hadn't tried really a whole lot yet, but he was sure he'd be good at it. "Fine, you can win that battle. I win the hair battle though. My hair is the best."

"I don't remember every saying anything of the sort," Everett said, before raising eyebrows as she pulled out the necklace she had put away before and chucked it at the pond. That was unexpected. "No you're not," He said, noticing tears falling again. Great. "He won't hate you." Everett said, trying to comfort her by patting her on the shoulder. This was another reason why he should stay away from girls. When they cried, he had no idea what to do.

"Why thank you," Everett thanked, proud that his hugs got recognition. He stayed quiet for a few moments as he thought of what to do, and what to say. He didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet, giving a simple nod at what she said. "Alright then." Now what though? He had to tell her his feelings about her still so he supposed that. Which he still wasn't sure of. Emotional stuff was hard. He preferred his usual way of just going with the flow.

Logan walked down to the Duck Pond and noticed a boy who looked a bit older than him sitting on the ground with a guitar. He played guitar too? Awesome! He walked up to him. "Is it okay if I sit here?" he asked.

Cornelius gave a smile as the other student agreed to share his blueberry muffin with him, watching as he settled down on the grass next to him, placing the source of crumbs between them. As he introduced himself as Paulie Foster, Cornelius reached out a hand to shake his own, flashing him a smile as he introduced himself, "Cornelius Rune, nice to meet you."

He took a few bread crumbs from the pastry between them and gently tossed them towards the water, watching with vague amusement in his expression as the ducks swam towards them and collected them happily. "What year are you in?"

"It could be? I mean do you know anyone else with hair as bight as mine?" She asked sarcastically. "Well, it is amazing, you can't deny it with curls like that." She stated. It was true, those curls just kind of hypnotize you. "Yeah well I'm handy at hitting people with bats...while flying on a broom." She stuck her tongue out. "Because you never wrote me that song." She said, and put her hands on her hips.

"Well I do." She said, being stubborn. Then she realized what she had done. She quickly got up and ran over to the pond. "WHERE IS IT?!" She exclaimed, searching everywhere for it. She couldn't stand losing it. Then, shimmering in the pond, she scooped her hand into the water and grabbed the necklace. She took a breath of relief, and sat down again next to Everett. "How do you know?" She asked. "You should have seen him two summers ago, Jake got jealous and broke Isobel's new boyfriend's nose." She looked around.

Maybelle was smiling. "You're welcome, but mine are better." She had stopped crying, but stayed where she was, hugging Everett. She didn't want to leave here. Ever. She felt safe, like nothing could hurt her. Maybelle took a deep breath and brought her arms back to her side, but her head stayed resting on Everett's shoulder.

Jez glanced over the photos, wincing. Team Wolf hadn't taken many of her family's deaths, but they seemed to have gone mental with the camera for Nate's parents'. Maybe because that was their trump card with Nate - until they got a hold of Pam or Jez, they couldn't quite manipulate him in the same effect. Jez still had Keegan and Des, and Pam still had her dad, and possibly her mum. Jez didn't want to think about Samantha Barstow being dead. She'd been so kind to the Blacks over the summer, and she might be dead because of it.
Jez put an arm around Nate, resting her head on his shoulder in a hug. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry your parents ..." Died because of my family? Jez had been about to say that, but now she questioned it. Nate's red typed note had said that Team Wolf were now focusing on her, Nate and Pam. So hadn't Nate's parents died because of them?
As soon as she came to that conclusion, Jez tried to push it away. She'd never voice that - Nate probably felt bad enough without her input. So she kept her mouth shut, biting her lip and putting her other arm around Nate as well, hugging him properly.

''Yeah Sure,Your Logan from the train.''He said trying to remember.''You Play the Guitar.''He asked loving anyone who did.

For a moment, Daichi thought that his friend had rescued him from the duck attack but when he looked up from his make shift protection shell he saw that it wasn't Thea but an older boy.

Standing up because the duck wasn't attacking him anymore, he watched with amusement written on his face as he started to run around in circles. Oh come on! that was a funny sight! EVERYONE would laugh at that!

"eh?" he asked as the boy started to speak. "I-i wasn't stealing!" LIE Daichi quickly defended himself and to be honest , in his mind he thought he was being true. He just wanted to borrow the duck and make it his pet. And then when the year was over he would bring it back to the pond another LIE But it made him sad that after the Giant Squid didn't want to be his pet now even the duck didn't want to be...

The Slytherin watched as HIS duck ran away and the older boy chasing after it. And when he made a circle again, Daichi saw a kind of badge...just like Kurumi's.... wait a minute... Ordering, badge, Prefect.

Prefect....prefe- O__o LE~GAAAAAASP!

Kurumi had been sitting by the duck pond reading her Care of Magical Creatures textbook cover to cover for the fifth time in preparation for her OWL when she heard some raised voices and she grumbled in annoyance. Yes, she wasn't in the library and therefore there was bound to be distractions, but she didn't want to be inside. She had discovered a new love for autumn and wanted to enjoy it before it turned to winter.

Slamming her book shut and shoving it in her bag, Kurumi marched over to the noise and her eyes narrowed further. Adam Burn had once again managed to annoy her. Couldn't he just ONCE move in the positive direction? She was about to ask him to lower his voice when she noticed Daichi was there as well. Tayla was with them, but Daichi was the one her eyes fell on the longest.

No Mr. Duckles all term...and now Daichi was at the duck pond clearly trying to capture a duck. Slowly, she walked over to Adam and put a hand on his shoulder. "Adam, let me handle this, I know these two really well." Not to mention she was pretty sure she understood WHY Daichi was doing what he did.

"Okay Daichi, if you weren't stealing then what were you doing? Be honest. Does this have anything to do with a certain missing stuffed animal?" Because, if he was, Kurumi might be able to figure out something where he didn't get into too much trouble. Not to mention there might be chocolate involved too. She had a soft spot for the boy after all.

Well. Thea had totally missed while aiming for the duck, and as she looked up she could clearly see Daichi grappling with Squishy. Frowning, she removed a shoe and ran towards the duck. 'Get away, ugly thing..' she cried and began waving about her shoe.
However, before she could come into contact, somebody else intervened.

Getting to her feet, and dragging Daichi with her, the Gryffindor plastered a scowl over her face. Was this a joke?! Ah. Prefect. Yey. Stealing?! What was this madness?!
'Stealing?!' Thea knew he was addressing Daichi, but whatever. 'He.. we weren't stealing.' Thea looked up, one eyebrow raised. 'The duck got away!' She smiled.

Folding her arms, Thea turned as she heard yet another voice. Brilliant. Why were all the Gryffindor Prefects down here?! This was like a Friday 13th..
Thea turned to look at Daichi; as expected, he looked totally terrified. 'It's fine!' She muttered to him. He would most likely need counselling after this scenario..

Thea's arms remained crossed over her chest as she listened to Kurumi interrogate Daichi. Was this going to take long? The Gryffindor smoothed down her black jumper, and patted her hair. Pffft. Brilliant. This was just Brilliant. Honestly.

Daichi felt himself being dragged away by a pair of hands and as he looked to his right he saw Thea. Wah she really helped him! His smile brightened when she also defended him. "Thanks.." he mumbled at her as the duck stealing plan wasn't going exactly like..plan.

He turned around to look at the boy Prefect who's name he didn't know only to find Kurumi walking towards them. Two prefects?! this was not good!

And again, Thea muttered that things were going to be fine and he relaxed a bit. Only to be dragged out by Kurumi for some interrogation. He looked back at Thea with a pleading look before sighing and standing in front of her.

He could normally get along with Kurumi that he had forgotten that she IS a Prefect. Hanging his head low, Daichi bit his lower lip in nervousness. "I-i..i don't know.." he finally answered as his cheeks blazed fire and he looked up again when she mentioned *certain stuffed animal*

"What? no!" he waved his hands frantically at her question. "It's not like that, i'm not a little kid who misses...." he bit his lip again.

Dodging Daichi's frantic hand waving, Thea frowned. This so was not helping. 'Can I interrupt?..' She smiled at Kurumi. Thea had promised herself she wasn't going to be rude if.. when they got caught. 'Daichi just wanted a pet duck. Simple.' She shrugged. 'We honestly didn't think there would be a problem. It wasn't as if the duck was going to be hurt.. and the chances were it would escape and come back here anyway!' Here, she shot an apologetic look at Daichi. but it was true..

'But.. maybe we could get Daichi another duck.. or write to his Dad and ask for the other one back. Personally, I don't think Daichi's up for a life of crime. Stealing ducks.' Thea smiled again, and looked at her feet.

Kurumi hadn't forgotten about Thea, and she would probably have a word with her in a bit, but Kurumi figured that this little duck adventure as mostly Daichi's idea. The boy did have a thing for the creatures after all.

She smiled and shook her head when Daichi spoke, her expression stern but soft at the same time. "No, Daichi, you are not little anymore," she agreed. He WAS really tall now. But that was besides the point. "Which is why I know you can be honest with me." Because that is what big kids did, her father had said that to her when she was his age anyway. She turned her gaze on her younger lioness. "You two Tayla."

Kurumi looked for something to lean on, since it seemed as though there might be a story behind this, but there wasn't anything. Alas.

She peered a little closer to Daichi's face and studied his expression. He was a terrible liar, an adorable one, but also a terrible one. "Daichi, there is nothing wrong with missing him. I have a doll that my grandmother made me that was given to me the day I was born and I still refuse to go anywhere with out it. She is sitting on my bed in the school dorms right now."

And then Thea spoke and Kurumi's suspicions were confirmed. At least that was all out in the open now, right? Smiling, she looked back at the two students. "Did...either of you think to ask the Groundskeeper about the ducks? I'm not suggesting that he would have let you keep one as a pet in your dorm room, but he might have let you be his special helper. Someone who could help him take care of the ducks." Now here was the kicker to this idea. "That way, you wouldn't have had just ONE duck...you could have considered them all your pets."

Yes, it wouldn't have been the same as having one in the common room quacking away, but these were wild ducks, not pets. Kurumi had tried to keep a pet squirrel once. Her mother had been furious when she had seen the mess the tiny creature had made trying to escape their home. Rice paper walls torn to shreds...among other things. Kurumi just wanted to cuddle it and love it. The squirrel didn't want any of that and had even bitten her. That had been an awkward hospital visit.

Thea laughed out loud. OF COURSE! Dear Merlin, it was all so obvious. The Groundskeeper! 'Maybe we could ask him then, for Daichi..' She flashed a smile at the Slytherin.
'Yeah.. there was no point in lying about it. How could we explain diving for a duck..' Thea wrinkled her nose. It would of been difficult.

She turned to wait for Daichi's expression at the idea of having more than one duck.
'Do you know where we found find the Groundskeeper?' She asked Kurumi. Thea hadn't even spoken to him before.. she wasn't even sure she knew what they looked like.

Minerva had left the lake without waiting on Harvey and Justin she needed away from the class. Her anxiety was at the fullest it could be and why wouldn't it. A girl taken over the summer, found, put into hiding, come to school to find what she thought was her mother in the lake tied up.. Then to find it was just a doll. Hair still wet Minerva sat next to a tree curled in a ball shaking.

Harvey went upto the duck pond as it had become his new favourite place. Upon arriving there he found her, curled up into a ball. He rushed over to her "Mins! whats wrong? Something happened?" he askes concerned. He hoped nothing serious.

Minerva looked at him like he had snakes growing out of his head. "Are.. you.. kidding..me..." She breathed. "You were there, you saw them tied to the bottom of the lake." she couldn't stop shaking. "I know it was.. just.. a spell and she wasn't really there, but it felt so... real.."

Harvey nodded "Oh Mins I know it did! its ok its over now! They should not have done that! They should consider people's feelings before doing that! " he said looking at her. He then put a hand to her shoulder and gave her a smile reassuring her that it was all over

Minerva looked at Harvey "I know it's over and I know it was just a class. I get it, but seeing her at the bottom o..f..the..la..ke was just hard." she shuddered at the thought again. "I actually like the lesson, but it just brought to much back that I thought I was finally getting over." she pulled her legs closer to her.

Jordan allowed Jez and Nate to have their moment alone, he wandered over to the rock where the pictures were drying at a painfully slow rate. He decided to be helpful and took out his wand, drying out each photo carefully taking in everything that they'd been through. "What now then?" he asked, picking up the now dry pictures and handing them back to Nate, "What do we do now?"

Harvey looked at her concerned as she talked about the lesson. "Mins you ARE getting better.. yes ok this is a setback.. but you are getting better. . You just said it yourself that you enjoyed the class that was full of people. So thats good!" he said to her. And it was true! Before she couldnt handle a room full of people and now she was actually enjoying the classes that WERE full of people.

Minerva shook her head "I know, I know..I'll be fine." she tried to push herself to be fine she had to at least in front of Harvey she had put him through enough. "So who was tied up for you to save?" she asked hoping it would help a bit.

Justin came looking for Minerva. She had been pretty shook up over the lesson in the Black Lake and he wanted to make sue she was alright. So, after changing he headed to where he thought she'd be...And what more relaxing a place was there than the duck pond. And sure enough there she was....And she had company in Harvey. That was good seeing as how he hadn't seen Harv for a while, plus he knew that Harvey would be trying to cheer her up. " Hey, Harvs! " he called to his best friend. " Min. How are you after that whole thing today?" Justin said as he kissed her cheek.

Harvey was about to tell her reluctantly when Justin came up.. and Harvey sighed with relief.. saved by Justin's entry.. good timing mate.. he thought to himself.. "Hey Justin." he greeted his friend as he saw him kiss Minnie's cheek... well he would have to get used to that now.. it would be a regular occurence now.. he knew how Justin felt around them now.. well Minnie had made her decision and he had promised to support it and he was going to abide by that promise..

Minerva was waiting for Harvey's response when Justin came. Even upset she blushed a bit with guilt when he kissed her cheek in front of Harvey. "Oh Justin I know it was a lesson and it was a good lesson, it was just seeing her tied like that." Minerva put her head in her arms again.

" Hey, Mate. Glad to see you. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry...Ya know for evrything, But know that I'm going to treat her right. I'm sure ya know that, but I just wanted to let ya know. " Justin said as he shook Harvey's hand and pulled him in for a hug as he whispered, " I really am sorry, Mate. "
Then he turned his attention back to Minnie. " Well, good thing you've got the two best guys for the job of cheering you up. So, What next.....Anything on your mind? "