Cora blushed. She couldn't believe she had really talked THAT much, let alone about something so personal. She didn't know what came over her. Letting her feelings out like that was NOT something she liked to do. Listening, that was what she did. Never talking.

Embarrassed, Cora wiped her eyes. Eliza was being so sweet about things. She wasn't used to this, not at all. And on top of everything, Cora could tell that Eliza was tearing up. She had even made ELIZA sad. Not planned at all, it just sort of slipped out.

"It's fine, but thank you," Cora finally managed. "It was a long time ago. But I guess it explains my mom a bit," Cora said, with a somewhat fake smile. Cora was happy and bubbly and shy, that was who she is. Not emotional and sad. "That's really sweet of you." Cora knew her mom would never allow help, but Cora would keep this in mind anyway. No sense in saying that to Eliza. Eliza somehow seemed to really understand.

Cora gasped at the next thing Eliza said. Was she actually BRAVE? No. That was never something that described Cora. Still, something inside Cora made her feel differently for just a second. Then it was gone. "Me? Brave? Are you sure you have your head on straight?" Cora attempted to joke. "I've never been brave."

Cora then looked to where Eliza was pointing. Elliot and Ethan. She had almost forgot. And they were looking at her. "Um, yeah. I do." Should she say something to them? She didn't want to leave Eliza, but maybe she didn't have to.



Cora's cheeks were warm as she looked at Elliot and Ethan. Turning her head, she tried frantically to wipe her face off. She did NOT want Ethan to see her crying. OR Elliot. Her heart was racing as she looked back.

Almost tripping over the edge of a chair, Cora looked at them and smiled shyly. "Hi Elliot. Hi Ethan," Cora said, blushing. She was glad to see they were getting along better than how she thought they were before. "I didn't know you two knew each other," she commented. Who would have thought? Her best friend and her new, umm, friend. She looked at them pleading, wondering if she was convincing enough.

"This is Eliza," Cora added. She hoped Eliza didn't mind.

Addy sat in HER chair, eyes on the entrance (which is consequently the EXIT) to the common room. OH MERLIN! Milton Shacklebolt had gone too far this time. Her LOVELY kitty, Yoda, was snoring LOUDLY at her side, head tucked under her arm as she glared a hole in wall... He had to show up sooner or later. SOONER OR LATER THEY WOULD MEET. GLARES FOR LIFE!

Well, Milton was feeling better. Although his head was still kind of... light and airy feeling. Hopefully that would pass. He made his way into the common room again and headed over to the chairs by the fireplace. He was about to take a seat in one of his favorite chairs, but-

O___O

REDHEAD. It was HER.

Milton froze momentarily as he stared at her. And the cat. OH, the cat. THAT CAT. The one he regurgitated on. Yep, that was the one. Milton quickly spun on his heels and speed-walked away. She didn't see, right? RIGHT?

"NO SIR! GET BACK HERE. NOW!" Addy bellowed as she spotted the boy she had been waiting for. PFFFT! How could she NOT see him. She was STARING at the only way in and out of their common room. And well... Yoda stirred a bit and snorted loudly. He couldn't help it though... he had a deviated septum which caused him to have labored breathing. Not to mention he was obese. Heh.

Addy pulled her wand and trained it on the Captain and spoke again, "I suggest you stop unless you want a tail sprouting from your inferior bottom and a nose to match." Yep he was a PIG. A pig that vommed on her CAT. Not okay.

CRAP. She saw him. Milton was just about to bolt out of the common, but the psycho ginger threatened to give him a TAIL. And a matching nose! Milton froze mid-step. Was there really a spell for that? He didn't know, but she was a Ravenclaw and she was a GINGER, so he didn't want to risk.

Milton turned around slowly to face her. SIGH. "I'm sorry I vommed on your cat. Can I go now?" Please? He didn't want to gain any extra body parts today. Or lose any either, for that matter.

Jacklyn Addeline Kennedy narrowed her big eyes at the boy in front of her and stroked her cat. Menacing, right? Well, it probably would have been had her cat not passed gas and kicked his feet. GAH. What was she going to do with the fat beast?!

"No you may NOT. You need to apologize to YODA. And furthermore I think you owe me more than that WEAK attempt at an apology, MILTON." For reaaaaaal.

Addy crooked her finger, motioning the boy closer, and then pointed to the ottoman in front of her. Yep. He was gonna pet her kitty cat and tell him he was SORRY. And then they could go from there.

HA!

She was making him apologize to her CAT? But it didn't even understand English! "Don't be ridiculous! I'm not apologizing to that lump of furry fat. He got in my way!" Milton COULD have tripped over him and broken a few of the feline's ribs while doing so, so she should be GLAD that it was only his lunch coming back up.

Milton eyed her as she summoned her forward. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared. "Not happening."

AWWW HECK NAW!!! Addy's eyes blazed slightly with her anger as she clenched her jaw and GLARED AT THE BOY...

"HOW DARE YOU! He has a glandular problem. He can't HELP it that he's overweight!" she screeched at him, her face turning puce at this point. HOW DAREEEEE HEEEEEEE!

Addy pointed her wand at him once more and nonverbally summoned the boy toward her. ACCIO MILTON AND WHATNOT. She was hopping mad at this point, eyes bulging. Not to mention Yoda was stirring now, growling low in his throat, yellow eyes trained on the boy as well.

And needless to say; Yoda was not NEARLY as forgiving as his FAMILIAR. So yes, he understood English. GAH.

Chose the wrong school? Ethan could not disagree more. He would go back there in a heartbeat had he the choice. But here he was and here he would make the best of it... Yep, that was worry on her face, now he was sure of it. "She'll be fine," Ethan offered the girl a reassuring smile. "And it's helpful that she can speak French... even if she's not all that fluent... she'll pick it up really fast." It was a good head start.

"Surely, you've heard from her though?" Even if Ethan had been trying to put the suddenly-concerned girl at ease, nothing would make her feel more relieved than hearing from her sister herself. And being a month or so into the term, he figured the sisters must've owled each other at some point.

Oh that was good. "Charmed to make your acquaintance, Miss Morganzo," the boy replied, his accent heavily affected. His light snicker soon turned into a laugh as he suddenly found the girl quite amusing. He wasn't entirely sure she wasn't serious, but she was just so over-the-top that he couldn't help but find that funny.

The boy glanced back up at the ghost as Elliot explained who she was. Our ghost? As in each house had its own ghost? Bizarre... The boy didn't give the specter much more thought because 1. she wasn't doing anything but be boring now and 2. Cora was approaching.

"Hi Cora," Ethan said, his face lighting up as his friend came closer. "We, uh... just met," he answered, shooting a glance to Elliot. "Are you two... friends?" he asked tentatively as he turned back to Cora. That he still was unsure of... maybe they knew each other since they were toddlers... they seemed to be such polar opposites there had to be some sort of explanation. Ethan tilted his head as she came nearer and his face fell. He knew that look. He had seen it before on his mother and a couple girls he knew at Beauxbatons. The girl had been crying.

As the girl introduced her younger companion, Ethan managed a small smile and said, "Nice to meet you Eliza.. I'm Ethan." But he couldn't help but turn his attention back to the fourth year. "Cora... is everything alright?"

Milton watched as Addy got even more mad. Merlin's trousers, her eyes seemed to be on FIRE. Milton's own eyes widened at the sight.

And what the heck was a glandular problem?! "I don't what that means!" he yelled back, but it was nothing compared to her banshee screeching. She was almost as bad as the Hufflepuff Captain. SHEESH.

Suddenly, Milton found himself unwillingly walking over to the fiery ginger.

O___O whatthehell?!

His eyes flickered to the unnaturally large cat that was growling and staring at him. Yep. Officially freaked out now. "Okay, okay, okay!" he said, raising his hands in surrender. "My apologies. I won't vomit on your cat ever again." Pink swear?

"IT MEANS HE'S FAT AND HE CAN'T HELP IT!" Addy shouted right back at the boy. Now Yoda hissed and swatted his paw at the Captain in vain. Not like his fat paws could get to the boy, but it made him feel better.

Yoda would LOVE to get his paws and teeth into the other human making his master ANGRY. LOVE IT. But, unfortunately he was in a position that he could not seem to roll himself out of. He flailed his legs about and tried to push himself over so he could get to his feet, but it... Just... would... not... WORK.

More hissing and paw flailing at you, SIR.

Addy's eyes remained locked on Milton as he began to walk to her, a smirk playing at her lips. "No, no. You MUST apologize to Yoda, Milton. He's not just some dumb cat, he's my familiar and he has feelings. Which YOU hurt when you projectile vomited on him." Addy finally scooped the fat beast up and held him out toward Milton. Addy smiled sweetly as Yoda's ears pressed back against his head and he let out a menacing hiss. "And you better mean it. And I think you should also promise to stay out of my chair while we're at it." Or else Milton would be waking up with CAT vomit on his bed. Heh.

Milton twitched a little bit when she yelled at him AGAIN. Touchy, touchy... Milton saw the fat lard cat swipe at him, but he was to fat to get him. HAH. Dumb cat.

SIGHHH. He had to apologize to the cat that couldn't even understand english? Milton took a teeeeny step back when Addy held the cat in front of him. And it hissed. Ugh. What a horrible noise. Milton made a face and glared at the cat. He knew that the only way to get out of this was to pretend he was sorry and apologize to the grumpy feline. "Oh for the last time, the chair is not YOURS." It didn't have her name on it! But... "Fine." Milton looked at the fat cat. "I'm sorry I vomited on you." Good enough? Yes.

She was a little bit sorry that she had prodded Cora to talk about her family so much. She thought it would be for the best in the end though so she tried to remember that. She laughed a little when Cora said she was never brave. “Oh come on, you’ve got to give yourself more credit! It takes a lot of courage to talk about things like that.” She gave her a smile. “And I’d say you’ve got plenty of it. Maybe you just don’t use it often.” She hoped that sounded as encouraging as she’d meant it to.

So she does know them, Eliza thought. She watched Cora turn to speak to them. Oh that’s nice. She’s introducing us. She suddenly got nervous as she walked with Cora towards them. What if they don’t like me? What if they’re not as nice as Cora has been? She kept a straight face and smiled at the boy who addressed her.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Ethan.” She smiled at Cora in thanks for introducing her to more Ravenclaws. Oh no, he’s noticed she was crying. Quick, think! Not wanting to feel even more guilty for drudging up bad memories for her friend and not wanting Cora to have to get into it all over again, she tried her best to cover for her. She’d deal with the moral conflictions of lying to the boy later. “Oh, gosh! She’s okay, I just - ” she flapped her hand to her forehead and tried to laugh, “I was reaching to get in my bag, and I bumped heads with her.” She turned to Cora. “Sorry about that again, I promise it wasn’t on purpose!” Back to Ethan, “Anyway I think some of my hair got into her eyes.” She kept her eyes on his for a moment and gave an apologetic smile towards Cora again. Please don’t hate me, please don’t hate me, she thought to herself. She peeked at both of them. Convincing? Maybe...but now he'll think I'm a klutz forever. Or a liar. Super. If it helps Cora then I guess that's ok.

Elliot sighed at Ethan.."Yes, I have. I just...I don't know..." her mother hadn't been that much...of a mother lately, with dealing with the new baby. Neglecting her other children..it was the typical precedure in her household, anyways. The Morganzo children were no strangers to neglect.

Pa! Pahaha! He had an accent. It made her laugh.."Your accent is amusing me, sorry. if you could just...keep talking or something..that'd be great.." Empress Elliot...wanting to be amused? Hmmm..She smirked a bit before turning to...

Cora. And...a little firstie with her? Hmph. "No, We don't know each other, Cora, darling...we just met." And that blush did NOT go unnoticed, Miss Cora...NOT AT ALL, sweetheart. She may have smirked a but smugly at her friend before looking at the girl behind her...

Wait. Ethan was right...Cora HAD been crying..Merlin! Elliot's loyalty was tingling! She raised an eyebrow at the girl...the little one..."Eliza..." she nodded, staring at her as if her life depended on it...just making mental judgments...no big deal..."You were...reaching into your...bag. And bumped heads." While that DID sound like something Cora would do, she was very clumsy...Elliot saw that. The lie. IN her eyes. Elliot smirked a bit, evilly, too. "Really? I don't see...any bumps on either of your foreheads..."

Heeheee. Messing with first years was FUN! But Elliot would play nicely...for now.

Addy narrowed her eyes at Milton and WAITED...

NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH. HMPH!!!!

"First off, it IS my chair and you will do well to remember that, Captain Shacklebolt. Secondly, that was not a sincere apology. I think... no I KNOW... you can do better than that," she said in a growly type tone.

Her wand was still gripped in one of the hands holding her cat... and she was holding a LARGE feline with anger issues. She could throw him at Milton and be done with it... but she would give him a second chance at this.

EYEROLL. Pshhh.

"Fiiiiine!" Grumblegrumblegrumble. Milton took a deep breath and siiiighed it out before looking at the obese cat. "Yoda, I'm very sorry that I vomited on your soft fur coat. I promise it won't happen again." Probably because it took excellent timing AND aim to vomit directly on a cat and Milton doubted he could do it again. But that was besides the point.

He rolled his eyes at heeeer. BAH! This made her want to throw Yoda at him...

"Now pet him. And agree to stay out of my chair," she said as she narrowed her eyes and wiggled the fat kitty around in his face. He BETTER comply or she would glue his shoes to the floor and continue to torture him with the cat. Doing as she said would be less tedious.

Milton now had a chance to redeem himself and lose one crazy ging as a mortal enemy. Choose wisely young man. CHOOSE WISELY.

Pet him? PET the CAT? Milton made a face. He did not like cats. But he was also afraid of the wrath of crazy!ginger. Milton outstretched his arm and awkwardly patted that fat cat on the head. Ew. Now he would have to go dump his hand in a bucket of bleach.

"I'll stay out of your chair." NOT. NOT EVER. That was a lie. He LIKED that chair, thank you very much. But he just wanted to be freeeeee.

Presley walked into the common room, exhausted from her day, and still a little bit jealous of Elliot. She was still searching though. She wouldn't give up. As she thought that her eyes fell upon Milton Shaklebolt. Ravenclaw Quidditch captian. That would show Elliot up for sure. If Presley could manage it. If not..well there were other wizards at Hogwarts, right? Presley skipped up to him with a grin on her face. Only to see him arguing with another girl. Oh well. That could only help her case. To be sweet and happy. "Hello," she said casually as she sat down in a comfy chair. Because if he caught on too early, the game would be over and Presley would have lost.

There wasn't much feeling behind that petting... but Addy would let that slide for now. She smiled and set Yoda down at Milton's feet. "Okay. Just so you know I will sit on YOU if I come in here and find you in my chair. Is that understood?" she asked as she stood up and extended her hand. They would shake on it, yes?

"Show me your abs again?" she asked suddenly. Maybe she could make him do all kinds of things since he seemed mildly frightened of her. Hehehe.

...In the middle of something annoying child person.

Addy turned to stare at her rather deadpan and then turned back to Milton. "It should be illegal to be that chipper..."

Anyway. Shake hands, show abs, be done. Yes?

YES!

The girl next to Ethan was staring at Eliza intently. She was pretty sure she was trying to size her up. She knew that story didn't sound all that believable but she had hoped Cora would pipe up and agree to it. Maybe she hadn't wanted me to cover for her...? Eliza was really confused now. She thought she had done the right thing, protecting Cora from having to talk about personal things again, but... There. She saw it. The girl, Elliot, didn't believe her. Well, she wasn't going to ditch her story now, unless Cora wanted to come clean for the both of them. The story wasn't really hurting anyone so she looked right back at the older girl and went on.

"Well I don't think it was the bumping so much as the stabbing from my hair that made her eyes water." She tilted her head slightly and smiled at the girl. She didn't want any problems with her. In fact she was curious to get to know Cora's other friends. She held out her hand and said, "It's nice to meet you. I've seen you in some other classes." Please Cora, talk about something to make this less awkward! she pleaded inside. Maybe if I think reallllly hard she'll hear me. Maybe? "Do you have a favorite yet?" She glanced back to Ethan, "Either of you?"

Milton rolled his eyes at Addy a little bit. "Yeah, whatever." He could care less if she sat on his lap when she sat on "HER" chair. If anything, she would keep him warm in the drafty castle they lived in. So he didn't really mind.

He was about to shake her hand, when she suddenly asked for him to show her his abs. Again. Milton raised an eyebrow. "Really? Right now?" It was TEMPTING, yes. But they had just gotten over a mini fight and it was kind of weird timing. Then again, Addy was weird.

But then some girl he didn't know somewhat approached him. Milton kind of stared at her for a moment. "Hi..." he said slowly as she sat in the chair. Random. "Can I help you?"

She was not keen on the whole yeah whatever response, but he was an angsty boy, so she figured she would get no better a response. She smiled genuinely at him and kept her hand outstretched.

"Well I figured you'd shake my hand FIRST and THEN show me, but whichever you prefer," she said with a giggle.

Presley rolled her eyes at the girls comment about being too chipper. She wasn't even being chipper that much at all! It was just a casual-just-got-back-from-the-pep-rally kind of mood. Whatever. The older girl wasn't the point. Though was she asking the quidditch captain if he would show off his abs? Because if he agreed, Presley wanted to stick around for that for sure.

She didn't want to look as if she'd come over here just to talk introduce herself to Milton, so she pulled out her transfiguration book and flipped it open to the chapter they were working on in class. Can I help you???? What kind of a question was that? It was as if he thought Presley cared at all! Which she kind of did, just not the way he was acting like she did. Which didn't really make sense at all except in Presley's warped brain. "I've a right to be here, same as you," she said calmly, trying not to let her easy temper get the best of her. She could lose this game in an instant, and so much of it depended on him thinking she was at least mildly attractive, which hadn't been working out so well for her lately.

Introduction time. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Presley, by the way." There. Once it was out she couldn't take it back. Even though now she could think of a million better ways to introduce herself. She wanted to take it back and start over, but it was too late now. She'd probably lost now, and would have to find someone else. But who could be better than a sixth year Ravenclaw who happened to be the Quidditch Captian?

Milton eyed her for another moment before finally shaking the crazy!ginger's hand. "But I'm not showing you my abs. You don't deserve it today." It was a privilege, not a right. Maybe another day, though, because he didn't really mind showing off. Heh.

"Ooookaaay..." She had a right to be there... Riiiiight. He knew that, obviously. But it was just RANDOM that she RANDOMLY came over to them, said hello, and then sat down and started reading a textbook.

Or... maybe he was just being overly suspicious. But that was kind of a Milton thing.

Presley? Hmm. Didn't ring a bell. Was he that oblivious to his fellow housemates? Apparently. And it didn't really bother him. "Milton Shacklebolt. Pleasure." Or WAS it? That was to be decided because he was still suspicious of her. And everyone.