It was obvious she hadn't learned her lesson from Isaac naming her 'Albie'. "Sure thing, Crabby." Yes, he'd finally said it! MUAHA. "Why can't you just call me Edmund or Ed?" He retorted with a smile.

Heh, at least they weren't too far away from said tree. "I'll keep in mind your suggestions, however, I think I'll choose to ignore it. Appreciate the concern." It was boring being 'safe' all the time. He craved danger and fun rolled into one. That was why he wasn't trying to climb one of the boring trees. "So climb with me." His mischievous brown eyes focused on her face, inviting her.

CRABBY? Abby stared at Almond for a second. Seriously? That was like the worst nickname in the history of nicknames. EW. "You know what? Just call me Albie. I don't mind." Not that she liked that name either but it was WAY better than Crabby.

Oh gosh. Was he just arguing with her? "Look, do you want to end up breaking your limbs? Because if that's your plan, go ahead." He was starting to annoy her. She was just looking out for him, right? But whatever. He could do whatever he wanted to.

Wait, WHHHHAAAT!? Climb with him? "Do I like the kind of girl who climbs trees, Al?" She loved to exercise but climbing trees was just overdoing it.

Bahaa. "You said earlier you didn't like it, so lets stick to Crabby. It'll work for when you're in a bad mood too!" He'd heard the saying that someone was 'crabby' and it usually meant in a bad mood, so double meaning! WOOHOO!

"I dunno if I'd break anything. I hope not 'cause that'd hurt." Ed wrinkled his nose, eyeing the tree once more. He turned to stare straight at her though. "I don't know, but you look like the kind of girl who enjoys an adventure." hehehe. "Are you?" Challenge considered, but challenge accepted?

POUT. Abby was unhappy. She really didn't like all the weird nicknames people had started to call her. What was wrong with 'Abby', people!? "Fine. Don't expect me to respond when you call me that." Heh. Smirk. That was one way of trying to get him to call her something else, right? Anything other than Crabby.

"'Course, it would hurt. That tree is called the whomping willow for a reason." DUH. She didn't know why people liked to do stupid stuff. Climbing that tree.. Yeah, right. "Um.." Abby hesitated for a second. She liked adventures, sure but this was ridiculous. "I don't think so. I don't want to risk damaging my beautiful face."

"Then don't expect me to respond when you call me Almond." It was his turn to smirk now. If she called him by his given name, he'd do the same back to her. Then it'd only by Issy with the funny name. Ed just knew he wouldn't like that.

"True." She spoke the truth, even if it was slightly impatiently stated. Her hesitation made him hopeful. Climbing partners were AWESOME. But she refused. He couldn't help but eye her. She had no problem saying she was beautiful, apparently. "Your loss." He started towards the tree again, obviously intent on climbing. He'd only gotten into trouble for throwing water balloons so far, boooooriiiing!

"I don't see what's wrong with Almond. It's a nice name and it suits you." Yeah. Maybe Crabby suited her too but she simply hated it. End of story.

"Hey, don't you think I'm beautiful?" Abby chirped loudly, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. And.. he started to head towards the tree again. She smirked before she reached for his arm and pulled him back. "It's not polite to just leave me hanging out here all by myself. You can climb later." Yeah, no. Abby wasn't going to stand around looking like an idiot. She was really bored and she wasn't going to miss an opportunity to annoy spend time with the older boy.

"Probably 'cause I'm not a nut, and my name is Edmund...?" Possibly? Maybe? Okay. Though some people have said he was crazy and muggles labelled crazy people as 'nuts', so...

Oh gosh. She asked the question! EEP! "Of course." There was only one answer to that which would keep his bones all intact, and luckily he knew it. Once again, he was pulled back, but this time he turned around and stared at her. Polite? He wasn't rude, that was for sure. Heh. At least she said he could climb later! "Okay then, so what do you wanna do? Something FUN." Something dangerous.

Oh. THAT was the problem. "I don't think you're a nut, if that's any consolation." Abby thought loads of people were nuts but she didn't think Almond was one of them.

YAY. Good looking boys who thought she was beautiful? That was the best feeling in the world. Not that she'd ever flirt with Almond or anything. She had a boyfriend and she was happy. But compliments were always well-received. What did she wanna do? Abby chewed on her lip for a moment. "I want to do something fun too but.. what? Do you have any ideas?"

"Uh, thanks." It was nice to know she didn't think he was crazy, but it still irked him that she called him Almond. "I don't think you're nuts either."

She looked sickeningly pleased about his response. His eyebrow raised a tiny amount, but then he beamed. She wanted to do something fun! "I don't have any ideas, but lets go have fuuuuun!" He span around and looked up at the castle. "I wonder how long it'd take to scale the wall." Not a suggestion, just a random thought.

He didn't think she was nuts? Of course she wasn't. Abby felt slightly insulted but she decided not to argue with him on that point. She didn't want him stomping off to the tree again.

Scale the wall? He was kidding right? At least, she hoped so. Abby shook her head and sighed. "Your idea of having fun is.. well, that doesn't sound fun at all." Bleh. This was hard. She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. Oooh, wait. "Do you like to swim?" Swimming was fun. Although, the weather was a little too chilly for swimming but she honestly couldn't come up with anything better.

"I wasn't suggesting it!" He stared at her with wide eyes, surprised that she thought he was. "You don't seem like the climbing type." Nope, otherwise they'd be up the Whomping Willow already. "I do like to swim! Can we go meet the Giant Squid?!" YEAAAH. He wanted to do that for sure!

Taylor sighed and sat down near the willow. She looked up a it, thinking about what happened a few weeks ago. Tay frowned and thought about leaving Hogwarts.

Damon walked around the willow, growing bored he was playing chicken with it, though he knew it probably wasn't a smart idea, he had the defense skills for it though, so no big deal right?

Taylor glanced up at the willow some more and saw Damon playing chicken. She sighed then looked back down, not wanting to talk to him.

Damon caught Taylor out of the corner of his eye, "Hey," He quickly dodged a branch then went back to her, "I really think we need to talk."

"There is nothing to talk about Mercada. I get it. Yiu are falling in love with Ariana. There is no need to rub it in every stinking time I see you."

Damon grimaced, "Taylor, I miss you, and you know I hate being called 'Mercada'... Please, I miss my best friend." Damon looked at her.

Taylor didnt look at him, "Then go talk to her because I aint her." Tay picked at her nails, "I am nothing but a cousin, Mercada."

Damon grimaced, "Taylor, you know you're my best friend, my first friend... Had I not met you I wouldn't be here anymore... Please."

"No, Damon, I dont know." She glared at him. "I dont know anything anymore." Tay looked away from him.

"You said you remembered me..." Damon eyes faded to brown, his sadness starting to show already.

Taylor looked at him, "I do remember you, Mercada. I just wish I didnt..." She sighed, "It would be so much easier..." Tay pulled her legs into her chest.

Damon felt a stab, "Is that a shortened way of saying you wish we'd never met?" He couldn't hide the hurt.

Tay sighed and muttered, "No..." Tears streamed down her face as she buried it in her knees.

Damon looked down, not hearing her then stood up, "I've learned silence is normally a yes with you... So I guess I'll just do that, act as if I never met you..." He felt a stab, knowing that meant leaving everyone else as well, because he never would've met them had she not introduced them or had she been there when they met.