Mo looked at the Head Boy and nodded his head as he stepped a LITTLE closer. Not much though, he was still not sure if that marmoset was going to fling poo at him like monkeys often did. Or so he had read...

A monkey that liked cold weather? Mo was FASCINATED! Smiling at the little monkey he dug around in his pocket... and produced some Bott's Beans. MHM. He shook them in his hand a bit and then held said hand out flat so Rufus could see them. HEHE. "That's amazing. Does he... have little clothes or anything to keep him warm?" the Ravenclaw asked before he could really stop himself. Curiosity clearly got the best of him sometimes.

OH! "So... he's like a yearbook mon... marmoset? That's brilliant! Does he not mind being passed around so much?" Mo kind of knew what that felt like, though he didn't mind much anymore. He had found a home... ISH.

"Well... I haven't really gotten out of the office or the tower much really. I am not too sure how the term has been. It's better than living in a small flat with three other people, though. That's for sure," Mo chuckled slightly as he spoke.

WHEN WAS RUFUS GOING TO COME SEE HIM????!!!!! "I take it you were close with my predecessor? I feel like I have some pretty big shoes to fill, figuratively speaking." Since he had no idea what size shoe the girl wore after all.

OH, for the love of monkeys! CANDY! But now Rufus was eyeing the boy, suspiciously. How come he got the candy now instead of before, eh? He still got closer to the boy and was thinking about, maybe taking one of those...unless Treyen would be so kind to get them for him?

That was a nice move, though, Mo. But the Head Boy still didn't understand why Rufus hadn't left his shoulder and found a new home in Mo's hand. Clearly, he wasn't too picky when he left him for Alec, no? Still, it was rather odd, but he wasn't getting any candy for the monkey. If he wanted some, then he could go ahead and get them.

Back to Mo. "If he had clothes in the past, he doesn't wear them anymore. Though, I reckon the Hufflepuff Common Room kept him warm enough during the winter." Very warm. He didn't know how Rufus managed up there in the towers.

"Yeah, you could say he is....," he liked the Yearbook, and Hogwarts, so yeah, "...but I think he'd rather be kept by one person for more than one year."

Got that right, Head Boy.

Wait, he hadn't gone out of the tower much? "You've definitely decided to get out of the Castle at the right time." With that gecko over there. "Your family, I suppose? The three people in the flat?" Not the gecko. "And...your pet?" Between this one and the weird bird from that other kid, Hogwarts was being very open at accepting all sorts of creatures.

His predecessor. Lexi. A smile suddenly made its way to his lips. "I was. She's a great friend of mine." Supposing she still was, given what had happened over at Rae's. He still wanted to talk to her, but when she had the twins, not before. "I'll say you do, but you're doing a very good job." Kurumi was swamped with work, anyway. They must be doing something right. Perhaps.

Adam arrived by the front gates in a hurry. Nessie had informed him that she had wanted to talk to him,but with her tone, she didn't seem really excited or happy about a talk. So, he figured it was something pretty serious. Their talks usually turned into something serious or awkward,so he didn't know what to expect with her.

He looked around the gate and behind bushes but could not find her yet. Perhaps she was taking her time getting down here and planning out what she was to say?

There was no rush today, Nessie took her time getting dressed and ready to venture out to the grounds so that she could meet up with Adam.He was already there of course just as expected. She wasnt that late was she? Her lips formed their usual pout as she reached her 'big brother'. "Hey, Adam." she said with a hint of excitment in her voice. She hadn't seen him in quite a while and she was glad to be with him now.She had been at home for the weekend so she could see her new little brother that was only a few days old, but now she was back in Hogwarts where she was supposed to be.

She looked down at her shoes as she thought of why she was here. Her weekend was probably the worst yet the best weekend she had ever had. Her little brother, Ethan was beyond adorable and she already loved him to bits, but she had, had a huge fight with her parents which ruined everything...and she felt Adam was the right person to talk to, as he had experience in these things. "So..um.." she said not sure where to begin.

"Oh,hello." He said to her in a slightly upbeat tone,which was unusual for him to hear nowadays.

And then she looked down in a shy manner. That was when he knew something was up. Either she was being insecure about something or didn't want to mention anything at exactly that moment. "What's wrong. What's going on?" He asked her in a worried tone.

Logan walked down to the front gate, carrying his guitar. His kitten, Peeta, bounded after him, sniffing the air once in a while. Probably trying to catch the sent of a mouse again. Logan glanced at Peeta and sighed. "You gotta stop killing mice." he said, watching as Peeta bounded up to his side, and looked up at him, his head cocked. "I don't want you accidentally killing someone's rat." Logan said worriedly, sitting down on the ground and putting his guitar on his lap. Peeta meowed and pawed at Logan's leg. "I got to keep you in the dorm tonight. You bring in too many dead mice as it is..." Logan said as he tuned his guitar, shuddering at the thought of all those dead mice he woke up to when Peeta returned from his nightly hunts. Peeta curled up by Logan's feet, and fell asleep. Logan shook his head and began playing a song, and singing as well.

It was like he had read her mind. She bit her lip and looked back up at him. "Well um." she looked back at her feet, it was easier to think when she didn't have to see someone's eyes on her. " I kinda had a huge fight withmyparents." she said mumbling the last bit rather fast. It was usually how she spoke when she was anxious or nervous about saying something.

Starting to fiddle with her fingers she raised her head once more, but not to look at Adam, instead she stared out to the iron gates. The weather was begining to become warmer and she watched as some chirping birds flew past them. If only her life was as simple as a birds, but for some reason it clearly wasn't.

Was it just him or did Nessie get into many arguments with her parents? It just seemed she always had a tiny thing to say about them. It bothered him that she didn't seem close to her parents too. Why were some parents just like that?

"Well, if you want to talk about it we really can't talk if you don't tell me what its about?So, what happened?" That was why she had asked to meet with him, he assumed. To talk to him about something. She wouldn't have come all the way her just to mention that and stay silent. Unless, that's how she wanted to cope with it.

WHY WOULDN'T THE MARMOSET COME TO HIMMMM?!?!?! Mortimer felt like hyperventilating he was so excited to see a MONKEY! Oh gosh if it would just come sit on HIS shoulder a while that would be SO awesome.

Turning his attention back to Treyen he nodded his head (as he shook the beans around in his hand so as to taunt the monkey slightly). "Well your common room is beside the kitchen, no? I suppose it is a bit warmer than the other common rooms." Even the Slytherin's had to be cold down there UNDERGROUND and all.

POOR MONKEY just wanted a stable home... how SAD! Mo looked at the monkey and nodded his head. HE GOT IT! He lost his parents and was taken by his sister who gave him to his brother who moved him in with that WOMAN and her brother... he got the whole being passed around thing better than Treyen knew.

"Um no actually the only one I am related to is my brother. THe others are... his girlfriend and her brother," he said with a grimace. The BROTHER was bad enough. "He's a Westland Green Gecko. ANd his name is Dionysus. You can hold him if you want. He is actually pretty cool... though he doesn't do much."

He couldn't help the blush that covered his cheeks at the compliment of sorts. He could do BETTER, but he was doing alright. Heh. "Well I would hate to sully what she has done with the yearbook."

The kitchen. Yes. Probably. The winter was still something to be feared if you were accustomed to it, of course. But he's grown fondly of it, especially this school year since he stayed over for Christmas.

Treyen merely nodded, and shrugged too, "Perhaps." The boy was a Ravenclaw, and what he said made sense, but Rufus would be the one to know, no? And he wasn't really reacting! Not even when the boy was pretty much handing him candy.

Except...

Rufus won't beg. Things always came to him, and he never asked...so...since the Head Boy was being nice to the blue one...and the blue one seemed desperate to want him...

...he, rather rapidly, made his way to the blue one's shoulder after he'd made a little jump to his arm. He took no candy, though, this was not a zoo, and he wasn't going to be tempted with candy like the animals in there. But he'll take one...after a while. Not right now. At the moment, he'll try to keep away from the green lizard that wasn't moving on the boy's other shoulder. BIG EYES on you, blue person.

...he moved to Mo. Good.

Now they were bonding, somewhat.

"Oh, I see. But that's still family." His brother, at least. And...Mo didn't like it. But he didn't know if he should ask any more questions about it, so he kept quiet. "Dionysus, you say?" Treyen took his time taking the lizard, really, but once in his hands, it stayed there. "You Ravenclaws have the oddest pets." The marmoset had first belonged to a Ravenclaw, after all.

Considering his eyes were on the gecko, he missed the blush. Not that he'd thought something about it other than knowing the boy was slightly embarrassed and slightly shy. Like Max. Like Ravenclaws, apparently. But..., "You're doing a good job. Don't worry." Really, he was doing excellent.

Rufus seemed to like him now. So, yeah, excellent.

Biting her lips she looked up at, Adam. To tell him everything or not? She couldn't decide. She was afraid he'd over react like she herself did. What her parents had told wasn't one hundred percent going to happen but nonetheless she was still worried.

She took a deep breathe and then began with her talking. " I..um..well..we were having these really 'important' people over for tea and they kind of said..erm badthingsaboutme." she began already speaking fast from her anxiety. She kept her eyes on Adam watching him carefully and watching how he was reacting. "...and I..I.. I got mad." He had seen her mad before, hadn't he? She was a monster when that happened. Surely, Adam knew that. "I started shouting at my parents and all the guests and I..I even threw this plateonthefloor." Not need to mention that it was an expensive plate too. There she had said it..well half of it. She looked back at her shoes again feeling highly ashamed of herself.

Within a few seconds later she could feel her eyes get all watery, but she kept dabbing at them so she wouldn't cry. It wasn't worth it she had to keep on telling herself, but she knew the fight wasn't the real reason as to why she was upset. It was more because of what happened after the fight. "I'm..goingtomissyou." she mumbled quietly to herself and before she could do anything she could feel a small tear run down her cheek.

Bad things was something Nessie didn't need in her life. She already was struggling through a difficult time of trying to figure out who she was as a person and to add that some people had said anything bad about her, which Adam could not find.

He grabbed her shoulders and look her intensely into her eyes. "Don't listen to them. There's nothing bad I can think about you. They were just being stupid. And don't listen to them because they just want to make you feel bad even though you shouldn't because you're wonderful. Maybe they're insecure about themselves and threw it out on you."

Smashing a plate? That was pretty extreme but that didn't matter anyways. It wasn't of importance.

And now she was crying and mentioning of missing him. Now, that he found very odd and confusing. It was really important to her, seeing as she was crying. "Why...why are you going to miss me? What's going on? What happened?"

What in the of Merlin was Adam doing now? Ness blinked as the older Gryffindor grabbed her and looked at her straight in the eyes. He wasn't trying to hurt or anything right? Because with the way he held held her she felt like he was about to threaten him or something, but she realised there was nothing to worry about when he began to talk.

She bit her lip and continued to listen to him. How was it that he was so good with advice, but when it came to he's on life he was always confused? "I couldn't help it, they were right there and everything they said just infuriated me more and more." She was after all only human right? Not everyone ws capable of controlling their emotions so easily. "..and um..you really, really think I'm wonderful?" She had to ask, because to be honest she didn't believe him. People said things like that all the time and half the time they didn't even mean it. "Maybe..imjustsilly." she mumbled more to herself than him.

There was no reaction about the plate at all? Adam just remained quiet about it, which suited Ness fine, but she couldn't help to try think what he was thinking. He must have thought she was insane, a monster and someone not to be trusted. She really hoped he didn't though, because if there was one friend she needed right now it was him. Her best friend, Thomas wasn't here and there was no one else she could think of.

One by one more and more tears kept rolling down her rosey cheeks. "I..I.." she had to tell him now didn't she? Sighing a little bit she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. She needed it she'd knew it help her speak and say what she needed to. " I..I..ImightbemovingtoFrance." she said very quickly, as there were more tears in her eyes now. She still hoped he heard every word she said, because repeating it wouldn't be easy.

This was Sierra's last observation for this assignment, so she decided to go to an area she didn't travel to all that often. She skirted along the edge of the grounds until she came to the familiar looking gate marking the front entrance to the castle. It was late, but she could still see the distinct features that made up the gate. She looked at it for a moment then turned on her heels and set up her telescope.

Wanting to get this done with as soon as possible, Sierra began to look around at such a speed that things were appearing to be a blur. She sighed and slowed down. When she did, she was able to clearly see Lyra. It was small in comparison to the others, and it didn't really look like much, but it was a sighting that could complete the assignment for Sierra.

With a pleased smile, she pulled away from the telescope, documented her findings, and then packed up and left.

"Its fine to let your emotions run. And what they said was over the line to be honest- so I'm not gonna judge you on your reaction, everyone acts differently when they are being insulted to some extent." Adam had a tendency to scream or punch the wall when he was enraged by something. Again, they were kind of talking about the same topic they always had, how Nessie felt about herself. "You are wonderful. You care so much about your friends, and are fun to be around, and just so easy to get along with. Lots of people love you,and someone must really like you..Anyways, look at the friends you have and who help you. We only help you because we love you." Hopefully he didn't make that one mention make things awkward. She'd probably start blushing or something.

"Oh." Was all he could muster. Last year she had mentioned about not coming back this year, maybe,hopefully this year would be the same. She'd say she'd be leaving and then she wouldn't leave. Although Adam had known Nessie for a short while, about a year and a half, they had grown on each other so rapidly they called each other family and they always went to each other on private matters. He couldn't imagine not spending his last year without her. "Well... Do you have to go?" Adam felt like it might be something that happened to him a few years back.

He had been given the choice to stay at Hogwarts while living with his friends during his summer, when his parents had forced him to go to Mexico. And, as far as he could tell, her parents seemed to pay little attention to their daughter and dragged her along without a word from their child. "I mean.. You can stay over the summers with my cousins and I. I live with them- I'm sure they wouldn't mind you living with us."

Options. Take the options Nessie.

Ella walked to the front gate and with her back to the bars, slid down to the ground, clutching the wrinkled letter in her small hands. The first year had just reread the letter for what seemed like the millionth time, trying to accept the words written there. I'm not coming home. Please understand. But at 11 how could anyone understand why a mother would just up and leave her family? The first year took a deep breath, trying to calm the feeling that was building up inside her.

Cardigan walked outside, Catching Fire tucked in the crook of her arm. She was aiming to finish at least the first two and some of the third before Hogwarts finished. Liesel would be happy to hear that. She intertwined her unocupied hand into one of her pigtails, whistling as she skipped along. The snake was trying to think of the perfect place to read her book, not wanting to be distracted or anything. Ah yes! The Front Gates! Wasn't too full; had plenty places to sit against or something like that!

Cardigan sat against the Fence, not noticing that Ella was there untill two or so chapters into the book. "Hello Ella! How are you?" She asked, not noticing how sad her friend seemed. Hopefully Ella was good...

Ella had heard someone approaching but refused to look up. She wasn't really up for a chat at the moment. When someone did suddenly speak to her, she recognized the voice and forced a friendly smile. "Cardigan, hey! Haven't seen you around much recently. How are things?" Ella intentionally avoided the question about how she had been, not sure she wanted to share just yet. She fumbled with the letter in her hands while she waited for her friend to answer.

Cardigan frowned when Ella didn't answer. Something was definately up. But, if Ella didn't want to to talk about it, then so be it. "Good I guess," she said, frowning even more. She was NOT looking foward to going home! Her parents would be more pushy and bossy than ever, seeing she could do so much more things than before. She'd go with her big sister. They could do it you know.

Damon quickly laid his gift for Taylor under his invisablity cloak and sat it beside the path. Now just to wait for her to show up.

Maxwell walked up to the place he was supposed to be meeting Taylor and saw Damon. He was holding a wooden box that looked like he carved it himself with lots of small holes in it. "Damon." He said to the other boy.

Cardigan was frowning too now. Uh-oh. Was she also dealing with something? "How come you're frowning? Everything okay?" Ella hoped it was. She didn't like to see people upset and hated it even worse when her bad mood rubbed off on others. Trying to lighten the mood a bit, she motioned her head towards the book in Cardigan's hands. "Any good?"

"Maxwell..." He nodded, "And it's Ash, if you don't mind." He took one last look to make sure none of the gift could be seen.

Tay came down the pathway to the front gate, to meet up with Maxwell and Damon. She was wearing a new dress and had her hair in a waterfall braid. "Hey Maxwell, Ash." Taylor smiled at both of them.

"Of course i meant no offense." He honestly didn't.

"Hello, birthday girl!" He said giving her a kiss on the cheek. "How's your special day been so far?" He asked smiling at her. "And might i add you look Lovely in that dress."