Edric tried his best not to show it, keeping on one of those emotionless expressions of his, but he grew more and more agitated with each little fact Ella confessed. Ella spilled her feelings out - completely exposing herself, which honestly takes a lot of guts in itself - and this stupid Harvey kid just ignored it? Didn't even acknowledge what she'd said, just acted like it had never happened? Even saying, 'I'm sorry but I don't like you that way' would've been more courteous. At least then Ella would've had a response. But leaving her hanging like that… that was just cruel.

And it only got worse.
Apparently this kid DID know Ella well after all. Deep down, Edric had actually hoped it had been the opposite way. He'd kinda hoped that Harvey hadn't known Ella very well, and so then there'd be a good, logical reason why he wouldn't return her feelings. However, that wasn't the case. He knew perfectly well the kind of person the little Hufflepuff was. So then… why on earth would he be such a jerk?!

Edric remained quiet for a few long moments as he thought about all of this. Despite his ogre ways, he had made an effort to think of some reason to justify Harvey's behaviour. But the Ravenclaw boy had no redeeming qualities.

"You may not realize it, but you deserve better than that, Ells," said Edric, who began to grow from irritated to concerned. "I know you have a bad habit of bringing yourself down, but you've gotta remember to see the good things about yourself too. You're smart, funny, pretty, too nice for your own good. If that boy failed to see that, then it's his loss. You didn't lose anything. You still get to be smart, funny and pretty." Because seriously. As much as Edric loved to troll and pick on his fairy godchild, he knew that at times the girl needed to hear some nice things, or else she would grow up thinking she had as much worth as dog food. And that was as far from the truth as she could get. To Edric, Ella was worth more than all the gold in the world.

When Ella confessed that she knew Edric would ruffle her hair again, the boy rolled his eyes. Fiiine. So perhaps he'd become a little predictable and easy to read by now. And then the girl was asking him not to disappear so much, that she missed him sometimes. At this, the boy raised his eyebrows in surprise. No one - besides his overly-affectionate mother - had ever really told him he was missed. He was used to having no impact on people. Though that was probably because he avoided them like the plague.

"I'll try to be around as often as I can," the boy promised as Ella nudged him. "But you have to promise to stop growing up already. I feel like I'm going to wake up tomorrow and you're going to be celebrating your 58th birthday. I'm supposed to be the old one here, remember?"

Bliss had stopped just short of where Terry was sat and could clearly see that boy had almost fallen asleep. That was before she called his name, of course. Now he was more wide awake than ever. She giggled when she saw the shocked and slightly panicked expression on his face and then he spotted her and came over to join her and grin became even wider.

"Hey Terry. I could tell," she said and laughed lightly. "I don't understand how though, there's sooo much to do on this lovely day," she told him and beamed. The day was perfect and he was almost sleeping? Oooh dear.

Ella really didn't know what to do while her ogre sat there and stewed over the information she had given him. She played with her hands nervously, deciding to let him process before speaking again. Besides, if he was angry, she really didn't want to add any more fuel to the fire.

Huh? Ells hadn't expected that. A concerned Edric was far more surprising than an aggravated one, though that wasn't really fair of her to say. Truthfully? Edric had looked out for her from the time they started hanging out so his concern shouldn't have been that shocking after all. Maybe it was the fact that he rarely showed this Edric that made Ella feel the way she did. Shrug.

The blonde looked at the ground as Edric complimented her yet again, feeling a hot sensation on her cheeks. Yup. She was blushing. That was a good thing, though. It meant Ells was slowly getting back to normal. When he was done, she looked up slowly, the smallest of smiles on her face. "Thanks." And she meant it. Also, because she knew the Grinch probably had the urge to throw pumpkin juice on her right now after being so kind, she decided to pull an Ogre on him to save him the trouble. "I didn't know you liked me so much, Edric. What do you go around writing lists of all my good traits or something?" She was playing, if half-heartedly, but she knew it was hard for Edric to talk about the emotional stuff. If this sort of thing helped, she'd continue to do it for her evil fairy godfather.

"Make it official." Ella said seriously, extending her pinky to the older boy. If he was going to promise her that, she wanted a proper promise. And then she giggled, because Edric knew very well she couldn't stop growing up, not even if she reallyyyyyy wanted to. "I'll try, okay?" That was the best she could offer at the moment. Oh...and she could offer her ogre a genuine Ella smile. He deserved that too. And so she did.

It was true.
Just as he finished speaking, Edric's hands began to feel this uncontrollable need to get a hold of a HUGE goblet filled with pumpkin juice. He considered the idea of perhaps pushing Ella into the hot spring, just to feel more ogre-ish and grinchy again, but opted best against it as Ella spoke, teasing him about writing lists of her good traits.

"Oh, ha-ha-ha," said the boy sarcastically, shoving his Hufflepuff friend. He was gentle, though, as he could never forget that time he'd playfully shoved her and nearly threw her off her seat. "Don't flatter yourself, leave that up to me," he replied, obviously teasing.

And then Ella was requesting that the ogre boy make his promise to her official by extending her pinky out to him. Edric merely stared at it. "I guess it's true after all. You're not growing up," he pointed out, stretching his hand out to the girl. "But you're still old. So promises are to be made the adult way." Which involved handshakes, not pinky promises.

Grin. It seemed that her teeny tiny Edrica ways had saved Ells from falling victim to some kind of weird Edric reaction to being nice. She laughed softly when she was shoved, rolling her eyes. The third year didn't fall this time, though. Nope. She was bigger AND stronger. ...So her ogre to add that to the list too! "Okay, I will." She said, deciding that was probably best anyway. Ella was rubbish at giving herself compliments.

As Edric just stared at her pinky, Ells stared at his hand. What was he doing? Blink.Blink. "But I don't..." How was she meant to explain the importance of a pinky promise to the Grinch? "Edric, handshakes are fine and all...but people who make handshakes don't always follow through." Sure it was all fine and good to be an adult but adults broke promises all the time. Kids...well they believed in pinky promises AND in keeping them. Ella would much rather use that as a means to make her promise official. "Please?" She asked, wiggling her pinky towards him again.

Taylor wanted to try the new hot springs so she decided to go. She put her things down then sinked into the spring. Tay instantly sighed in relief and started loving the fact that Hogwarts had a hot spring now though she would miss the playground... and the topiary garden but they have a hot spring, mini-golfing and a fruit orchard so it was okay... though Harvey and her would have to find somewhere to meet now since they used to hang at the topiary garden... perhaps they could go to the fruit orchard or maybe the lake... since the duck pond seems to be gone as well... Hogwarts seems to be always changing which is good and interesting.

Damon was walking around, as usual, looking at everything new at Hogwarts. He sighed, still feeling awful after his and Taylor's argument the first night back. He looked down towards the spring to see that same girl sitting there. He stiffened, though he wasn't even more than a foot away, maybe he could sneak away, but one step and the now gothic boy again fell face first in the hot springs, already ruining his new school robe. He came back out of the water with a slight glare at himself for being so stupid to trip over a tree branch again!!! He looked at Taylor for half a second before standing up and trying to leave again, almost positive she wouldn't want to see him.

Tay looked up as something fell into the water. She giggled as she saw that it was Damon, "You are a clumsy puff, arent you?" Taylor had a light smile on her face, forgetting that they were kinda of broken up and fighting... or were they? It was confusing especially when her head still ached for some odd reason. Tay tilted her head back and got her hair wet in the hot spring. It was a little good to see Damon despite not being his girlfriend anymore. Taylor had missed him a lot actually.

Edric listened as Ella whined and complained that handshakes were not the most reliable form of making promises. The boy rolled his eyes. Oh geez. What had he been so worried about? Inside, Ella was still as much a child as her old twelve-year-old self had been.

Normally you wouldn't catch Edric dead making a pinky promise or anything cutesy and childish like that. BUT. Since this was his fairy godchild he was dealing with, and there weren't any witnesses around, the boy sighed and gave in. Switching his outstretched hand into an outstretched pinky, Edric locked it with the one Ella wiggled at him.

The boy hesitated for a moment, then made his promise, "I promise to be around more often." Then he raised his eyebrows at Ella. It's your turn, Ells.

Damon stopped himself from leaving hearing her actually talking to him... And she sounded happy, "I guess tree branches have a bit of a crush on me," He smiled at her, "I've been dealing with them since my first year here," He looked down, his hand instantly went to the pocket that had her two necklaces in it. He wanted to beg her to take them back... To forgive him for being idiotic, and just admit to her how much he'd missed being with her, even as friends. He forced himself to stay calm and be happy that she was actually looking at him with something besides a scowl or glare.

Tay giggled and smiled at him, "Oh, is that right? I mean they have reason to have a crush on you..." Taylor winked, complimenting him. She was still relaxing in the hot springs and it was obivious that it was helping her stay in a good mood. Tay didnt think about how this is the first time since the break-up that she had been nice to him. Taylor had missed him as a boyfriend and a friend. She had been trying to find ways to distract herself but nothing seemed to work though she didnt want to back down since that would wound her pride which is a must not... no he had to break down first or it will humiliate her. Tay sighed, thinking how Damon probably didnt even miss her after the way she acted. Taylor twisted a curl absentmindly as she was having an interal conflict inside her mind despite it appearing like she was bored.

Damon looked at her, "Oh, they do?" He smirked at her, going next to her and sat down, "Taylor... Can I say something, to just be totally honest?" He looked down at her, his face showed nothing of what he was going to say, "And can you try to just listen and not go to anger like I feel you will..."

Was she smiling really big right now? Ells couldn't tell but she figured she was, mostly because she was witnessing something she considered to be a HUGE accomplishment. The self-proclaimed Grinch...her OGRE...was making a pinky promise. WITH HIS OGRE PINKY! EEP. This was one for the history books, definitely. She decided to tone down the excitement, though. Mostly because she was afraid her evil fairy godfather was going to take his pinky back and refuse to make the promise at all. She didn't want that.

Pinkies now linked, Ella listened carefully to Edric's promise, nodding in approval. Right..now it was her turn. "I promise that when you wake up tomorrow I will not be celebrating my 58th birthday...Oh! And I'll promise to try and not grow up too fast, okay? And to stop being so down all the time." Those were his conditions, yeah? And now he'd teach her the ice cream trick this term right? RIGHT?! Oh...and she could let go of Edric's pinky now before he threw her into the hot spring. And she did.

Tay nodded, "Yeah they do." She laughed and smiled as he sat down beside her. Her smile faded at what he said, "What is it that you want to say?" Her mouth was narrowing by the second at the anticipation as she tried to keep calm and not tense up with anger as she glanced at him. Taylor sat, waiting to see what he had to say to her.

"Taylor I... I," Damon sighed, looking at her as he started to sing.

Taylor looked at him, listerning to the song he sang. Once he finished, she started to sing a song back at him. Tay frowned at him, starting to hate him again. Her good mood was gone despite still being in the hot spring.

Damon looked at her, hurt obviously showing. He looked at her and sighed, before he started to sing again.

Tay looked away so she didnt have to see the hurt look. When he got done singing, Taylor started to sing a song to counteract his song.

And there was another stab. Damon took a deep breathe and looked at her still as he started to sing.

Edric listened with a serious face - yes, despite the fact that he looked absolutely absurd making a pinky promise with a thirteen-year-old, the boy still took the promises very seriously - as Ella spoke. No surprise 58th birthday? Check. No growing up at the speed of light? Check. Aaaand, no more putting herself down.

Edric smiled in approval.

"You keep those three promises and I'll be like gum on your shoe," the boy assured the girl as she pulled her pinky away. "But if I hear anything negative coming from you, or you've started to grow a beard and gray hair… then you won't be receiving any owls from me after this term." Edric paused dramatically for a second, his face totally serious. "I don't like bearded women," he explained playfully.

Tay looked at him after he finished the song, "Damon, cant you take a hint? I dont want you back and I dont love you anymore." She gave him a look and folded her arms. Taylor was a bit harsh but she didnt care right now.

Grin. Ella nodded, feeling much better now than when they had started the whole...boy conversation. "I'll keep them. No worries. And you'll...teach me the ice cream trick, yeah?" And the third year wiggled her eyebrows at her Ogre, knowing he'd probably missed that AND that he wasn't drinking anything. Mwahaha. O___O That wasn't nice. The threatening to not write thing...The blonde was about to tell him so when he completely caught her off guard. Bearded women? Ella looked at the older boy seriously for a minute before bursting into laughter. BEARDED WOMEN? Edric really was funny, even if he didn't believe he was. "I definitely WILL NOT be growing a beard." Ella assured the Grinch, all smiles now.

Realizing that it was getting pretty late, Ells pulled her feet out of the water and began to dry them off with her socks. Not the best method but eh, she didn't have her wand on her at the moment. A rarity for the third year. "Hey Edric, I think I'd better head back to the common room now. You going back to the castle?" Cause if so, they could walk back together.

Damon looked at her, "Taylor... I'm not saying we have to jump back to dating... But I do want another chance, as a friend even. I miss spending time with you. Laughing, playing, joking... Even studying... I miss our friendship, and how things use to be." He looked at her, his eyes pleading.

Tay's glance narrowed even more, "No, Damon. I want nothing to do with you anymore. I dont miss us in any way, at all." That is untrue but he would never know that... Taylor sighed and leaned her head back, soaking her hair.

"I will. Soon enough," promised Edric as Ella reminded him to teach her about the ice cream tricks. And then, all of a sudden, the girl just randomly burst into laughter, like she'd just heard the world's funniest joke. Her laugh nearly knocked the boy sideways. He was just about to ask what was so funny, when she assured him that she wouldn't be growing a beard.

Oh yeah. That was funny, wasn't it?
Whaddaya know, ogre!boy made a joke. Did anyone photograph that? 'Cause it was a first. And probably the last.

It was then that Ella announced that she was heading back to her common room, pulling her feet from the water and asking the Gryffindor boy if he was heading back inside too.

With a nod, Edric pulled his feet from the water and placed a quick drying spell on them, before slipping them back into his shoes. Now standing, Edric watched with disgust as Ella began to dry off her feet with her socks. What was she gonna do, wear wet socks back to the castle?!

"What are you doing?" asked the boy, snatching Ella's socks before she could do any more damage and placing a drying charm on them with the tip of his wand. Not only were the socks dry now, but they were softer and warm too. As if they'd just been pulled out of the dryer. "I really am going to have to keep babysitting you, aren't I?"

Edric then waited for his younger Hufflepuff friend to pull her shoes back on before leading the way back to the castle, this time actually making an effort to slow his steps to match hers. And as the sun began to set over the horizon, just behind the castle, the two friends walked at a leisurely pace, their friendship stronger now, with the bond of pinky promises that, though silly, Edric planned to keep 'til the end.