For a few minutes, Kat remained blank. She was still under the influence of the truth serum. Merlin this thing was STRONG. Kat promised herself she'd never absentmindedly take a Truth Serum. She's scared of whatever things the person would demand out of her mouth. Constant vigilance!

Soon the effects of the serum was wearing off and her conscience returned back. "Whoa," Kat said as if a Quaffle lightly hit her on the forehead. Well that was weird! Truth serum is so... just so weird! Then Cassia thanked her. "You're welcome!" She was so helpful, it was TOO awkward for her to accept. REALLY.

Oh the studying. Indy giggled. Daichi was no ravenclaw. Indy quite liked studying, lathough she doubted that was going to be true next year. Not with her OWLS. She didnt really feel ready for them. But she had another whole year, so it would be fine. "Don't stress...." She mused with a smile. "I'm sure you'll ace your OWLS" And he still had a few months to prepare anyway. So it would be fine. Indy was sure of it.

He'd gotten her a present. That brought a big smile to her face. Indy loved getting presents. Who didn't really. She was practically beaming at him as she took it from him. It was already special without her even needing to open it. The present was from Daichi and that meant enough to her. She smiled, looking down at it. It was a bracelet with a teddy. A teddy. Like her pink ted. That made her giggle a little. He'd remembered. He hadn't forgotten about her teddy. That was so amazing. It was the best present she had ever got.

"I love it..." She murmured with a smile, instantly putting the bracelet onto her wrist. It felt right there, and Indy would never take it off. "It's not stupid..." She murmured, shaking her head. She loved it, and she didn't care if it was immature. They were kids, they could be immature if they wanted too. "Nope....It's not. I love it."

"Indeed," he said contently with a small sigh. Yep. This small talk was almost over. He couldn't do it. Not with him.

Both teams played really well. "From what I heard, Ravenclaw played the best," he said casually, adjusting the watch on his wrist. "It was a shame I couldn't play in the match..." Milton put on a thoughtful look. "Why did I miss the match agai-- Oh, that's right... Your girlfriend." Ah, yes. There was the subject matter Milton really wanted to talk about.

Milton kept his voice and composure unusually calm. Unusually calm for such a normally-grumpy person. "Anya Phillips. Clever girl, that one. But I'm sure you already know that, don't you? Let me guess... She told you that you're nothing like any guy she knows. Not Alec... Not Tag... Not me." Milton finally turned to look at Jacob in the eyes, his expression serious, but still eerily calm.

"That's a matter of opinion," Jake said slowly, with a nod. Again, he wouldn't say his opinion on the matter. It was really hard to appreciate talent when you really hated disliked the person that was somewhat responsible for putting it all together.

...His girlfriend. Jake had tried to keep his expression neutral - he knew it was bound to come up eventually - but he couldn't stop the smirk that was back on his lips. He folded his arms, nodding. He knew what Anya had done to keep Milton from playing.

And apparently... they were still talking about her. Jake kept his gaze ahead. His smirk had disappeared again. When Milton had finished talking, Jake stayed quiet for a second, trying to figure out some hidden meaning in his words. What was he getting at? "Frankly," he said, turning to face the Ravenclaw, "What Anya tells me is none of your business." Last time he checked, he wasn't in a relationship with Milton. "...Why do you ask?"

"Hmm." Milton looked off and away with an amused smirk. 'That's a matter of opinion.' That was just another way of saying YES, in fact, Ravenclaw DID kick butt, but Jacob was just too stubborn to admit it because he obviously hated Milton. But Milton knew his team did the best. That's what mattered.

As Jake turned to face him, Milton continued to look at his with slightly narrowed eyes and the smallest of smirks. That meant yes. "Oh, it's not really what she tells you. It's what she tells all of us." Milton looked across the grounds, hiding his smirk better. "But I suppose I could just ask her myself. She tells me everything anyway." And that was definitely the truth. Whether Jake liked it or not. Why did he ask? Milton shrugged lightly. "Just curious as to whether she actually told you anything different. Or if you're really just like the rest of us." Internal!smirk.

...Was it bad that Jake wanted to wipe that smirk off Milton's face? Like... in a not-nice-at-all way. It was creepy, the smirk. Like, how many girls had seen that expression? And now Jake was getting it. Ew. Shudder.

This was going nowhere fast. Jake listened, his expression neutral, as Shacklebolt rambled. When he was finally finished, Jake turned slightly and put his arm on the back of the bench. "Why do you care what Anya tells me, Shacklebolt? She's happy with me. If she wasn't, she wouldn't be with me. Just because you're a jealous git, that does not give you the right to butt into our relationship."

... "So. Is that all you have to say to me? Are we done here?"

Was he not paying attention? Milton knew he was an idiot. He never said he cared about what Anya told him, he was just merely curious. Like he said. Milton let a little bit of amusement flash across his face. 'She's happy with me. If she wasn't, she wouldn't be with me.' "Maybe that's because no one better has offered," he said with a sideways glance in Jacob's direction.

Milton let out a small sigh and stood up at Jacob's questions. "Yes, I think I'll just leave you to your... thoughts." His thoughts that Milton hoped were churning in his stupid brain and creating giant oceans of self doubt... One could hope. Milton took one more look at Jacob before giving him a nod and a slight death-glare before walking off back to the castle.

...

...

Jake had no response. He squared his jaw, his brain suddenly sent whirling as Milton stood up and left. After a second, he shook his head and looked down at his hand in his lap. Milton was trying to scare him. Anya was with Jake because she liked him, not because he was her only option. That was for sure.

And if Anya wanted someone else... she would have gone for it. She wouldn't have settled for the only one that was available.

Anya liked Jake. Simple as that.

...Right?

Cora hummed as she skipped around, killing the time. She was waiting for Nora, who she hadn't seen in forever. She had gotten changed out of her soaked clothes, but assumed she did this faster than Nora.

Cora stopped skipping, and took a seat that was placed so she could see Nora if she came, but was out of the way.

There it was again. The *i'm sure you will do fine* speech. Why did people always think that he would do fine with his exams? Were they feeling bad for him that they knew he wouldn't make it so they lied to him? Because he just KNOWS he wasn't going to ace it!

Breathing rather loudly, Daichi realized what he was thinking again and tried to calm himself. Before his fifth year he hadn't felt this much pressure before and he thought it was a miracle he wasn't in the hospital wing yet for a calming potion...

Eventually, his breathing came to normal and he watched Indy as she took the bracelet from him. His heart was pounding now as he waited for a sign that she liked it. And when she said she did his cheeks blushed again. "R-really?" he asked as his eyes watched how she put the bracelet on her wrist. "I-i'm happy to hear that" he wasn't going to say that he had had that bracelet in his pocket for a year now. That would be just awkward...

But the fact that she had accepted the gift was special to Daichi. It meant that this was his chance right? His hands were shaking again though he didn't know if it was from the cold or the nerves. "Indy?" his voice was soft, maybe not even audible when a strong gust of wind swept over the courtyard. "Do you.." Another strong blowing wind rushed over as the snow was covering the duck hat he was wearing. "want to" Again, the wind blew so loudly that he couldn't even hear his own voice. Getting frustrated by the irritating wind that was ruining EVERYTHING, the Slytherin took a deep breath to shout over the loud breezing wind.

"WANT TO GO OUT WITH ME!?" Daichi froze when he realized that the wind had not been loud this time and he had just literally shouted to the Ravenclaw. "I-i'm sorry! i didn't mean to shout, the wind.. and the wind!" he waved flailed his arms up and down and then quickly walked to the entrance to the castle. Feeling embarrased yet at the same time he hoped that Indy would stop him...

Ella walked out to the courtyard, pulling her sweater tighter around her. The third year was grinning, mostly because she was meeting her two best friends out here any minute. It had been far too long since she'd last had the time to just sit and hang out with them and she as anxious, very anxious. They'd be here any second, yeah?

Ella walked over to the fountain and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. Now all she had to do was wait. Mhm.

Laura couldn't wait for this, she had huge news for Ella and Sophie and she was soooooo excited it had been ages like last term since they had all been together and Laura wasn't really happy about that but at least they were going to meet up which was awesome.

Laura looked down at herself and smiled, she had made sure she put a sweater on because it was so cold, but she suddenly forgot that when she saw Ella. "ELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Laura screamed as she ran and hugged her bestie, "You won't believe what has happened!" Laura smiled bouncing up and down.

She knew she was late.

Well, they hadn't set a certain hour to meet, only that they'd see each other in the courtyard after cleaning themselves. She still couldn't stop thinking about that awfully disgusting water that filled that corridor... ugh.

Walking at a fast pace, Nora finally reached the large doors that led outside, and instantly spotted Cora. "Cleany clean, I am," she said with a large grin on her face when she was close enough not to yell to be heard, and finally took a seat next to her friend. "I'm sorry it took me so long, though." She just wanted to make sure she got off all that icky yuckyness.

Lalalalalalalaaa! What a lovely day to hang out with her besties!

Sophie skipped all the way to the courtyard and grinned when she spotted the two girls. She continued to skip until she reached both of them. "You've been expecting me, I belieeeeve!" Teehee! "Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo!" The young badger beeeeamed and waved at the other girls, even though they were very close to each other.

Befelda felt so bored and sleepy. She couldn't take it any longer so she decided to go to the Courtyard and watch the fountain at the middle of it. Besides, she loves staring on that fountain.

As she headed straight to the Courtyard, she almost forgot that she still need to get her DADA homework done, practice the Torparticus spell. She had practiced the Petrificus Digitirus spell long enough with herself and with the help of some of her friends. Besides, she hasn't practiced Torparticus that well yet, and she's having a hard time casting it.

When she got to the Courtyard, she walked straight to the fountain and sat on one of the edges of it. She started by pulling out her wand and pointed it to her hand. The movement is in jabbing motion, ok., she said to herself. With her wand at the ready, she made a jabbing motion and clearly said "Torparticus!". She suddenly felt a prickling sensation on her hand, as if it has been stuck and laid for hours. This was her first time to practice Torparticus spell on herself and the feeling was not soo good.

"Ahh...great! I hate this prickling feeling. So, this is what the spell does. Well, I could have liked the Petrificus Digitirus spell to be casted on me rather than this one. At least I wouldn't feel any prickling sensation.", she said to herself, still staring at her cursed hand. She can no longer take it. She immediately cast the counter spell for it. "Finite!". And her fingers suddenly loosen up and the prickling sensation was gone. "Aargghh! Why am I doing this on my own? I'll be needing a partner the next time I practice this spell." she said to herself.

Sleepiness and boredom gone.

Minerva walked out to the courtyard. Spring was finally here and she wanted to head out with the warmer weather. Finding a nice place to sit, Minerva placed her bag on the ground and stretched out a bit. It felt good to have the sun on her and just watch the other students. Smiling thinking about how term had gone so far, it had many ups and downs, but she wasn't expecting some of the ups, which had turned out to be amazing.

She couldn't believe how quickly term had been going. All her fifth year friends studying for their OWL's, she would even have to start thinking of final exams soon. Then her smile grew as she thought of someone special that would be studying for his OWLs she wondered if he could use any help. She would have to ask when she saw him next.

Ella was just hanging out and enjoying the sunshine when she heard a very familiar voice call out her voice. She turned around and BEAMED at Laura, arms open and ready for the hug she knew was coming. She smiled at her best friend's enthusiasm, bouncing a bit as she got excited too. "News? Well you'll have to spill when Soph gets here." Nod. Cause that was she wouldn't have to repeat herself, right? Seemed like the best idea.

Speaking of Sophie, Ella GRINNED as she saw her other best friend skipping toward her. She giggled at her greeting, bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet. "Helloooooo, Sophie!" BEAM. "We've been waiting for agessssss" Kidding obviously, but Ella placed her hand to her head dramatically as if she was suffering a great deal. The act only lasted a minute before she broke down in giggles. "So Laura has some news for us..." She said with raised eyebrows, turning her gaze to Laura who could share now if she wanted.

Ameliah had been roaming the grounds for a while. Finally it had gotten warmer, so Am could be able to walk around. Of course, her mind had wandered the entire time. Classes, Hogsmeade, her fear of the cold, Logan....

Eventually Ameliah spotted a very familiar colorful head and grinned. "MINNIE!" she exclaimed, rushing to hug her friend. It had been about a year since she saw the Puff. "Whatcha been uptoooo? I haven't seen you in ages!"

Presley's best studying was done while she was dancing. It was easy to remember the uses of dragon blood if she could remember she was doing an adagio while she recited them. The problem was all of her friends were busy, and in general nobody wanted to quiz Pres while she danced. They found it a little awkward.

So she was going to try to do it herself. She was going to read a question, dance a step repeat. Hopefully it worked out. In her dance gear, toting a billion books she stepped into the courtyard and instantly her eyes fell upon a seemingly bored firstie. This could work out. Maybe. Presley walked up to her with a fun smile. "Hey! What'cha up to?" she asked casually.

Laura smiled and waved at Sophie as she came upto them. "I have huge news." Laura smiled. "Sophie I want you too do me a huge favour please." Laura would tell them in a couple of minutes but first she wanted to speak to them about something else. "I'm actually doing school work and working now for some strainge reason, I've been to the Library and the Hufflepuff Study area." Laura smiled. "I've even gain points though I have lost a few basically you shouldn't shout at a Professor because your wand is broken." Laura sighed.

Laura then blushed when she realised they would want to know her news. "Sorry got side-tracked there." Laura giggled before blurting it all out. "Basically I met this awesome guy called Mick, who is AWESOME and we well started talking and then he was awesome because he is awesome and said he would come and watch me in our next game." Laura smiled. "So basically I want you Sophie to make sure he's well looked after." Laura blushed. "He's never been to a game before." Laura would only trust her two bestie to look after him but well Ella was playing quidditch anyway. "Oh and did I say he was awesome." Laura smiled, she wanted to get that in. "Oh and I almost forgot he's a Ravenclaw and a fifthed year." Laura smiled. "He's totally awesome." Laura then stopped for breath and looked at her two besties. "Anyway how are you?" Laura casually changed the topic they didn't want to know more about Mick right?

Minerva had seen Ameliah walking and was going to say something, but her friend spotted her and started over. Smiling she was happy to see her, they hadn't seen each other all term. Was she hiding for a reason or just busy with classes Min wondered. Shrugging it off she smiled "Am where have you been hiding? Sad that it takes the common room being locked for you to come out and be social." She joked with her friend and gave her a hug.

What has she been up to.. That was a crazy question within itself for this term at least. "Well..... Let's see, I moved in with my muggle grandparents over the summer and wasn't suppose to come back, but then got to come back." Yes that was new, "I've been crazy busy with classes, Maxwell and I are no longer together, he is actually with a claw named Elliot. I have been announcing quidditch games, which as been a blast. I'm still changing my hair that's not new." She giggled about the hair knowing Am would like that comment. "Oh and the best part of my term. I'm dating a fifth year claw now, and he is just wonderful." She smiled with her last statement super happy about it.

Befelda just stared at the fountain for like a few minutes. She dipped her left hand into the water of the fountain and swayed it back and forth, with her face still frowning, as if still dismayed.

When she was about to take off her hand from the water, she noticed a Ravenclaw student walking towards her, carrying tons of books on her hands and the girl was about to approach her. Befelda thought, Hmm...maybe I could ask her a favor, she seems older and in the higher grade of course. I know Ravens are nice., she thought to herself. And yes, the Ravenclaw student talked to her finally. "Blimey, that's a lot of books!, she couldn't help but be shocked with all those books with her. "Oh, you know.....homework stuff. I've been doing and practicing this Torparticus spell and it's somewhat difficult doing it on your own, casting it with your own fingers. I can't take the prickling sensation, I hated it, it really gives me the creeps!", she said to the RAven girl, dismayed.

"By the way, I'm Befelda. First Year.", she offered her right hand to the girl. "How 'bout you? You seem so....busy." Nerdy actually. "And what on Merlin's beard are you going to do with all those books? Are you working on something?", she asked, though with a bit frown on her face. What is she up to?, she asked herself.

Sophie giggled at Ella's little dramatic scene and bounced up and down a bit. She loved it when they three of them were together to... talk! Just taaalk! It was always fun! "Does she??" The brunette turned to face Laura at the same time Ella did.

A favour? Sophie listened to what Laura had to say. What? "Of course you shouldn't shout at a professor, Laura!" She said with wide eyes. Even if your wand was broken... which sounded horrible. Sophie shivered at the thought of breaking her wand. She'd die or something. Wait, but what was the favour?

Sidetracked. Hehe. Sophie listened as the blonde continued to talk. Ohh, a boy! She raised her eyebrows as she looked at Ella while Laura kept talking about Mick. The thirteen year-old still had not idea what Laura wanted her to do. "What is it you-" Ooohhhh. "Look after him? Isn't he old enough to take care of himself?" Sophie frowned slightly and tilted her head. "You want me to spy on him??" Whaaa?

Anyway. "We need to meet him!" Sophie added, nudging Ella. A fifth year? That was good enough! And a Ravenclaw! "Maybe Harvey knows him, huh?" She said to Ella. Then she looked at the horizon. "Maybe I should find myself a Ravencalw as well..." She joked before breaking down in giggles.

Ella smiled at Laura as she talked about her new found desire to study which totally still surprised her, btw. Honestly she was really wanting to hear her big news, especially since she was sure it involved a boy. What? It was kind of the THING to talk about these days, right?

GRINNNNN. So Laura WAS into a boy...another boy. Ella wanted to point out that her friend was supposed to marry Oakey but figured it was a sore subject and thought it best that she keep quiet. The third year raised her eyebrows and looked back at Sophie, bouncing a bit. Heh. Just like old times. "I um...he sounds really...awesome." YUP. Extra emphasis on the awesome and then Ella burst into a fit of giggles because Laura was pretty funny and cute when she was in love.

"Yeah!" BOUNCE. "I demand to meet him as soon as possible." And Ella smiled, looking from Sophie to Laura. Wait! And he was a Claw? This made Ella smile even more. "I'll have to ask Harvs if he does." Nod. Do a little background check on the guy...seemed legit. The third year started giggling again at Sophie's comment, rolling her eyes at her friend. "Yeah...maybe!"

Oh..and speaking of that. "Soph I um...well I talked to Mordred the other day and um..." Shuffle. "He asked about you."

Good. She was working on Homework. This was turning out better than expected. "Presley Black, fifth year." Presley introduced herself in the same manner as the firstie had, shaking her hand. "I also am working on homework. Studying for my O.W.L.'s mostly." Because at this time in the year, any fifth year doing anything else was crazy. Psychotically crazy.

The fifteen year old studied the kid for a second before just blurting out her idea. "I have an idea. How about if I help you out with your homework, and you help me?" Lay out the basics, then expand the idea. "I can help you out with that spell, but more importantly, can you quiz me from my books? It'll help me, and by the time your fifth year rolls around you'll already be familiar with the concepts." Right? Any Ravenclaw firstie would jump at the chance to be helped on homework by a fifth year. Hopefully this kid was on the same page.