Braeden's eyebrows raised slightly as Emma seemed to go all dreamy-eyed when she spoke of her best friend. Huh; seemed like they must've been pretty close or something. He decided not to be nosy, though, and chuckled lightly at her sarcastic comment about the 'demon books' - as Brae liked to call them - being fun. Getting pinched by a bowtruckle's sharp fingers was probably more fun than dealing with those dratted books. How could the school even allow students to use them?! What if a student died?! Braeden seemed to go a bit pale at the thought, but then shook his head slightly to himself. Enough thinking about evil books and bowtruckles. What was she saying again?

Oh yeah, Quidditch. The boy laughed lightly as she shared that falling was half of a Quidditch game. Well, that made him feel a little bit better. He fell a lot, so he must've been doing half the game right. At this realization, the boy flashed one of his dorky lopsided grins; oh, he was such an athlete. Not really, but let's not burst his bubble. "If falling is really half the game, then I might not be as bad as I thought," he said quite proudly before the girl went on to ask about football.

Now it was Brae's turn to get all excited and dreamy-faced. Even if he wasn't the best football player out there, he loved the sport to death. "It's nothing but the most amazing game ever invented!" he stated with a grin before going on a little more seriously, "It's really fun. People think it's just about kicking a ball around, but there's more to it… everyone's got a different position, like in Quidditch, and… well, the way I see it, it's sort of like a very well-planned-out battlefield. You've got defenders, attackers, it's like two armies going against each other. Or at least that's the way I see it," he said with a shrug. He could go on about football all day long, but he figured it'd be wiser to spare Emma from such torture; girls usually fell asleep when he started talking about this stuff. "Anyway, if you ever want to learn, I'll be more than happy to teach you," he offered with a smile; though Emma shouldn't look forward to learning anything more than tripping on her own feet and getting hit with the ball if Braeden was to be her teacher.

She noticed his eyebrows raise slightly and she laughed for a minute. Oh dear.. Did he think? "We're just friends." she said. She giggled and beamed him a smile. "Aww, yes! Well it's also about just flying around kind of playing.. tag, I guess.." she said, with a huge smile. Braeden seemed like a positive thinker.. and she liked that! The blonde was kind of glad that he had spilled butterbeer on her journal because otherwise, they may have never met!

Then she noticed Brae was getting all dreamy faced. Ooh, football. She grinned. The most amazing game? I think I'll have to try it, she thought. So it was kind of like Quidditch but then again different. She began twirling a strand of golden blonde hair as she listened. He seemed really excited! Then Brae started using a battlefield analogy.. Sounded like Potions class to her sometimes... "Ah, you're right it does sounds a bit like Quidditch! Except for not being on a broom." she said, smiling. "Oh, thank you. Yeah, I'd love to. It sounds like fun. And if you ever want to practice Quidditch, I'm always free to play Quidditch." she explained. Maybe he would accept and then again he might not because of how he described Quidditch.

"Yep, I am" she smiled "I'm a half-blood" she added simply "My dad's a muggle. That's why he wanted me to go to muggle school"
Uh, She had hated him for that. For years she had. Well... the hate still wasn't completly gone now.

Hugo returned to his table with another butterbeer and a book in his hand. He would just have to let go off the security thing and realize this man wasn't going to give a straight answer.

Justin made his way into the Hogs Head and went to the bar. He got himself a drink and searched the room for an empty table. Hmm. It seemed a little busy today. Well this was a little wierd. O well. He walked over to a table with only one person sat down. A boy with a book and a butterbeer. He seemed friendly enough. Making his way over, Justin hoped the boy wouldn't mind. He stood before the boy silently and read the title of the book. He couldn't be bothered. "Hey, mind if I take a seat?" he asked quietly. Why was he being so quiet? It wasn't as if he was shy or anything.

Hugo looked up from his book when an older boy approached. Did he mind? Yes. Yes. Yes, I do mind. "No, not at all," Hugo said and smiled a bit weirdly. "I'm Hugo." he said and put the book down.

Justin looked suspiciously at the boy. He didn't seem as if he meant what he'd just said. But o wells. This was going to be awkward. "Thanks". His mood lightened when he heard the name. Hugo as in Fee's boyfriend? O dear. This was going to be more awkward than he thought. So. "Nice to finally meet you. I'm Justin" he replied. Probably best not to say the finally bit?

Hugo frowned at the guy. What was going on? He felt slightly awkward and slightly urging to mark his territory with this boy. "Finally? How so?" he asked suspiciously.

Justin didn't wanna refer to this but he felt he had to. "You're dating my best friend. Feenella Schwartzberg?" he said. Now that should cause some trouble. Not that he wanted any but he knew there was going to be some. He and Fee were very close.

Best friend? "Rex, and Alex... Those are Fee's best friends. I know them. How come I never heard of you?" he asked. This wasn't good... It didn't seem like Fee had told him about Justin at all.

Justin narrowed his eyes. There had to be a reason Fee had never mentioned him. "Probably because she never thought it was valid to mention me. She doesn't have to mention every male best friend she has. It's not a crime" he replied. He could sense he and Hugo weren't going to get along. But Fee couldn't hear about this. It would ruin their friendship.

Yes. Well, uh, that would be it. "It's just because every friend of Fee's is a friend of mine," he said to Justin. Wait, no... That's not what he meant. Justin wasn't his friend. He didn't trust him at all. Hugo cleared his throat. "So, err... Do you enjoy your classes?" Oh great. Even more awkwardness. Boy this was weird. Were was Eino? He would get the awkward level down with his pet cactus and his knight roleplaying games.

Justin cocked an eyebrow. This boy didn't appear to be that interested in being his friend. "You realise we're gonna have to get along for Fee's sake, right?" he informed Hugo. But if he wasn't interested, then he couldnt be the one to get the blame. He was trying. Sitting back, Justin tilted his head to one side. "Some of them. It depends on the class, I guess. DADA. Muggle Studies and Charms interest me most" he explained. Was he going to say DADA was a typical favourite now?

"Oh! Oh-- I didn't think-- I mean--" Gah, Braeden didn't want Emma to think he was nosy, asking her about her personal life after only knowing her for half an hour, but… Wait, how had she noticed what he was thinking anyway? Oh Merlin, was he that readable? Anyway, back to explaining himself. "Sorry, I didn't want to be nosy or anything," he said with a small sheepish smile, listening as the girl went on to explain that Quidditch was kind of like flying around playing tag, something which got him to chuckle softly. He'd never looked at Quidditch that way.

Braeden grinned as Emma agreed to letting him teach her football and offered, in exchange, to help him out with Quidditch. Sounded like everyone ended up getting what they wanted; Braeden had always needed someone to help him out with Quidditch, since his family, being muggles, weren't really much practice. And, of course, it helped that his new teacher happened to be a very pretty girl. He couldn't say no to that! "You've got yourself a deal, Ms. Malfoy," announced the boy with one of his cheery, goofy grins, holding out his right hand for the girl to shake.

Whaaat?

Patroclus didn't have the badge on him? Destiny thought he was supposed to wear it at all times. All times besides when he let her wear it, of course. Frowning, she leaned in closer when he started to whisper, thinking that there was this amazing, epic reason for him not to be wearing it. Except, there was nothing epic or amazing about someone STEALING it from him. "Don't worry, Patroclus. I will find the person that stole it from you." And then she would get Marie to beat them up.

With narrowed eyes, she glanced around the room in hopes to find this thief, but she turned back to Patroclus when he said it was okay. It was NOT okay and the thief would..

"Something on my shirt?" she asked, forgetting that she was looking for a THIEF. Her first thought was chocolate on her shirt, but that Ikenna guy hadn't even gave her any yet and she was pretty sure she didn't have any. Merlin! What if she was wearing a dirty shirt!? Glancing down at her shirt, Destiny couldn't help the giggles that left her mouth when she saw the Prefect badge. "You put that there!"

More giggles.

And if the giggles weren't enough, Destiny would have went in to HUG Patroclus, but hearing that Ikenna Gevrik guy tell her to catch, she instead raised her hands and watched the chocolate frog land easily in them. The guy had good aim and she wondered if he would throw her a bottle of butterbeer next.

Chocolate did make her thirsty and all.

Just about to open the chocolate frog and SHOVE it in her mouth, she stopped when Patroclus turned back towards her. Pffft. Don't eat it all at once? Wasn't that how you were supposed to eat them? "Fine." she mumbled and placing the frog in her pocket, she placed her hands together so they formed a heart shape in the direction of that Ikenna man.

Destiny loves..that he gave her chocolate.



And she also loved that Ikenna man gave Evelyn chocolate. Well, with the way that girl's arms were flapping, Destiny would have given her a nice spray of water. It looked like she was on fire..but then again, Evelyn would have probably liked that.

Snickering at her friend's reaction, Destiny watched as the chocolate frog fell to the floor before slowly sneaking her way closer. It was still wrapped, so it was all good!

Perhaps she could use the Prefect badge she was wearing as a distraction.

Shiny, shiny.

Oh. She forgot to introduce herself. Fail.

"Cass Prewett." She said with a smile. "No problem..." Then she asked "Not to be rude or anything, but why are you hosting this ice breaker party?"

Wow, Matthias, that was not suspicious...not at all.

Gevrik could see what the boy was thinking, even without his special abilities. He calmly raised an eyebrow at the Hufflepuff's antics and, instead of commenting, turned toward Mia.

"Yes, I will be making a public announcement, should some people...have the patience to wait for it."

He gave Matty another deliberate look.

"I do not know what you mean by 'divide' amongst the students, but you may tell me of that in a minute." He smiled politely and muttered a 'pardon me' as he moved away from Mia and back toward the centre table.

"Excellent question, Sakura." Ikenna was almost...impressed by the Gryffindor using his true title: counter-intelligence. "Yes, you are correct in thinking that just now is the right time or me to make my move." He chuckled slightly and waited for her to sit down.

"Speaking of timing, if you'll excuse me, I will clarify a few things for you in a public announcement..." He dipped his head and moved to the next...person requiring his attention.

"Then you are in the right place, as I am about to make an announcement." Gevrik gave Chad a slap on the shoulder and again prepared for his speech, only to be interrupted...once more.

People tend to meet by bumping into each other? Oh Jake. Gevrik smirked at the boy's interesting phrasing and briefly glanced from his...co-worker to the Hufflepuff and back.

"Please, just a few more moments, Jake, is all I ask of you." Ikenna nodded briskly and flicked his wand out from his sleeve.

He was about to cast a sonorous charm on his throat when the little Gryffindor caught his attention again.

"Hmm, I appreciate your honesty, Selina." He returned the skeptical look. "But keep in mind that should the Statue of Secrecy, for example, be abolished...it will only be after great debate and precautions put in place to protect all sides it will effect."




Finally relieved of the students that had been trying to speak to him, Ikenna cast sonorous on himself and stood in the centre of the Hog's Head Pub. He cleared his amplified throat once and then spread his hands wide in a welcoming gesture.


"Students, professors, patrons - everyone gathered here today." Ikenna slowly allowed his arms to fall. "Thank you for coming. As promised, today is a meet-and-greet party, not just for all of you to meet me," he smiled around at them all, the corners of his eyes crinkling with warmth, "but also for you to get to know each other. We have some brilliant minds here, both younger and older, and I can only hope that such brilliant minds will continue to work together the same way you all have gotten to know each other in the pub today."

Pause.

"Now then, it seems we have some confusion on why exactly I am vital to Hogwarts, the Ministry, and to all of you, and why exactly my presence in this very pub should necessitate a gathering." Ikenna allowed himself a cheerful chuckle and brought his hands back together in a loose clasp. "I will again be honest in informing you that I am a high-ranking 'employee' in the current British Ministry of Magic, and, should these things matter to you, I also possess a unique skill set in the arts of counter-intelligence and security. It is because of my abilities and my connections that I am here today."

Gevrik's tone was gradually beginning to take on the pacing of a well-practised discourse. It made him sound all the more trustworthy, like a new and easily likeable professor.

"Who these connections are will be made more clear to you in time. If you would like answers now, please seek out a copy of the Quibbler magazine or get into contact with one of my colleagues here today."

Ikenna glanced toward Josephina, Hecate and Isabelle, flashing them all smiles before he continued.

"It is true that I do possess certain beliefs considered 'controversial' by a few, but it also these strong convictions of mine that make me so adept at securing Hogwarts. I have friends in high places, friends that have been working in the knight to bring our widely-accepted views to light, and friends that are currently working on the very streets of Hogsmeade right now."

He smiled even more broadly, half-nudging his head toward the street where there was a witch and a wizard acquaintance of his working to solicit students at this very moment.

"We all have friends, eh? As you continue your educational journey at Hogwarts and beyond, I hope that you feel you can rely on me as you would your friends.

"I assure you, if you cooperate with me and open your mind to my ideas, not just about security but also about using magic to broaden the connection between wizards and Muggles, to save the environment, and to strike real change into the hearts of ineffective leaders, then only good things will happen to you.

"I am not a hard man to contact or connect to - just look at my generosity with the drinks and chocolate! - so as I said before, please, enjoy them all now.

"Things can only change for the better from here."


Gevrik brought his hands together and tapped his throat again to remove the speaking charm. He bowed his head politely to signify the end of his speech and then gave a general wave toward the crowd and those sympathetic to his cause in particular.

Then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd of the pub and perhaps even those out on the street, just like a Ghost.

Mia was quite prepared to tell him what she was thinking but the man quickly excused himself.

Ooookay then.

She picked up her bottle of butterbeer and was just about to take another sip when Mr Gevrik started to give his speech. The bottle hovered near her lips but didn't go any further as she listened to the speech.

Her eyebrows shot up into her head and she quickly put the bottle of butterbeer back down onto the table. Broaden their minds to his ideas? And good things will happen to you?

She was all for wizards and muggles working together. But she would not have someone force their ideals onto her. Mia moved forward to speak to the man again but before she had even taken two steps, Mr Gevrik had vanished.

Oh so not good. She had real bad feeling about this.

His beliefs, huh?

Cass was alright with Muggles and Wizards co-existing in harmony, really that would make it a whole lot easier, but this kind of movement has been going around for centuries now, why only now would they be invited to a party regarding this?

She glanced at the calm surface of her butterbeer and frowned, she didn't have a good feeling about this. She liked Mr. Gevrik well enough and she knew that with Hogwarts so close by, and a lot of accomplished witches and wizards in the room, she was in no danger.

Then she cast a glance at Lafay, her own head of house as Mr. Gevrik mentioned her along with a couple of other professors, she had given them homework during the first potions lesson that concerns rethinking the Stature of Secrecy for the betterment of muggles...could it be related to all this?

When he had finally finished his speech, she set her butterbeer down on an empty table to go after him to ask about his so called...beliefs..but when she looked up, he was gone...

Weird...

Emily sat and listened to his speech, sipping butterbeer as he talked.
Friends working in Hogsmeade right now? What was he on about. She just wanted to know what he was doing here.

Cooparate with him? Emily didn't like those choise of words. They had been said to her before, and only bad things had happened to her.

Things can only change for the better from here. She noticed his voice had got louder when he said that. Did this mean he was up to something? Or... Something to do with the statue?
She remembered seeing something in the quibbler about it. Was that why he had said to go a seek out one?

So many questions, and she was sure she wasn't the only one. But before anyone had a change to even get close to him, he had vanished.
Emily almost dropped her drink. What was going on? She was even more confused than before she had entered!

Justin had a point. He hated when people not in Ravenclaw had points. "You're right," he said simply and dry. He slightly rolled his eyes, then closed them and opened them again. "Muggle studies?" Hugo asked, sceptical. DADA and Charms were a given. But Muggle studies? "What about muggles interests you?" he said with a bit of a frown.

Justin narrowed his eyes. Somehow he thought this was going to be rather difficult. But he was willing to try to be friends. But if Hugo wasn't going to participate then what was the point in him trying? Looking away and shaking the slight look of anger off his distinguishing features, Justin tried to calm himself down. Though he was unsure why he was slightly angered by the boy. Probably because he'd taken his chance at an amazing girlfriend away from him but he couldn't blurt that out. "Just make sure you take care of Fee" he whispered hoping Hugo didn't hear it. But he knew he would and he'd take it as an insult or something. "You seem intrigued. What? A Slytherin can't be interested in muggles?" he replied. Yep, this was definitely going to serve as a difficult process. "Everything. The way they live, not a care in the world and they do it all without magic. Not to mention, my uncle's a muggle so I pretty much show a huge interest in his lifestyle" he explained, a slight sign of sarcasm in his voice.

Jealous much? Hugo just didn't trust this guy. The way he said "Fee". "I will take care of her," he said under his breath. He wanted to be able to take care of her since last year. "You're a fifth year. Fee is too young for you, stay away from my girlfriend, you creep!" That's what Hugo would've said if he wasn't such a coward. "Wow, don't be offended. I just think that's not a common favorite subject," Hugo said and rolled his eyes. Somehow having a normal conversation with this guy wasn't possible. He wanted Adam to be here, so he could take the tention away just like Hugo did with him and Eino on the train. "Well that's probably because they don't know any better. If they'd discover magic even excisted I'm sure they would give up on all their technology and such," he said, trying to keep his tone upbeat and light, because he was afraid the fifth year would give him the grumpy look once again.

Did he not know Justin could sort of lip read? It was a good thing to be able to do when you're a Slytherin and had enemies. "I don't wanna have an argument with you but if you're thinking about something offensive to say to me, get the courage to say it because believe me, you'll feel a lot better for it" he told Hugo. He wanted everything to be out in the open. Unless he was too chicken to admit what he was thinking. "So, not all Slytherin's are interested in DADA more than something else. In fact, it'd my least favourite" he told Hugo. This was really not going very well. "Know any better or not, they're still intruiging. And you realise you just belittled muggles. Magic isn't everything. We have our world and they have theirs. At the end of the day, both of our worlds collide" he said.

Okay? Did Hugo need to speak his mind? "I don't want you stealing Fee. You're to good looking to get along with," he said frowning, looking at the wand in his pocket. "I don't want to lose her and you are obvioulsy a threat," he said and he felt his throat sore. Did Hugo just really tell someone about what was going on in his head? That was new.

"I didn't belittle muggles. Their technology is brilliant. I'm just saying, why do you think there is a Statue of Secrecy in the first place?" he said. Alright, awkward or not, this conversation got more interesting sentence by sentence.