SIXTEEN.

Noel could not believe it. It didn't feel different but still. Grinning because this was HIS day, Noel walked into the great hall. He was expecting mail. He always got mail but today it would be special. Since it always sucked that he was not home for his birthdays, this always cheered him up. It had become a ritual since he started hogwarts to start his birthday by reading mail.

He was a little EARLY though - the eagerness had dragged him out of bed and he had actually sneaked around hoping to not be caught by Benzi. He DIDN'T want to go running on his birthday, ok? Sweating was not fun on your birthday. Just no.

Sliding onto a seat, Noel waited for the arrival of owls with their daily mail. And just when he had started his breakfast, the owls swooped in. Noel grinned, looking up and searching for the owl from home. Sure enough - there it was. It swooped low and dropped packages on his lap along with multiple letters. He wanted to rip the letter from his mother RIGHT THEN but he knew he had to wait for one other owl.

AND there it was. The owl from his aunt and uncle. Noel grinned wider, as the bird dropped things from Aunt Emery and Uncle Quill. Just like every birthday. It was perfect.

Kace made his way to his table, he needed to do his Divination homework. The puff brought down his glass vial down to the table and he wondered who he could do the homework with. He began to look around and he didn't see anyone yet. He shrugged and maybe they would show up eventually. He began to pour himself some cereal since it was early in the morning. He needed some substance in his stomach. He began to pour into his bowl and he began to eat it.

He even saw his owl bring him the Daily Prophet. He grinned and pet Charlene's head and said, "Thank you.." and he began to read it. He wanted to be in the know with the wizarding world. He seemed like a full grown adult with the paper but he didn't care.

Clara was in a mood, as usual.

That was it, really.

She needed to do her divination homework and couldn't find a single soul available to do it with her. In fact, she'd been carrying this blasted glass vial around with her for days now. So, it was time to change her tactics. The redhead planned to prey on some innocent student and force them into it. That's how desperate she was.

...... But, perhaps, it wasn't necessary. Was that Kace with a vial? He wasn't exactly her first choice for a partner .... or her second, third, fourth - you get the picture - choice, but he would do in a pinch. She headed over in his direction, trying to plan how to go about this. The last time they'd spoken she'd been very rude, but she could hardly start with an apology and then ask to do the homework, because that would take away from the sincerity of the apology. Best to go in with claws out, then apologise later.

When she reached the 'Puff table, she all but slammed her hands on the table to get his attention. "You, me, Divination homework?" Weirdly phrased but straight to the point. She could see his glass vial, so he could hardly say he'd already done. Clara hoped he'd just accept .... she didn't want to beg.

As he was eating his cereal and was dazing into his daily prophet, he was really startled when he heard a huge slam right next to him. He could have almost choked on his cereal if he wasn't too careful. He turned around and noticed it was Clara. She must have realized he had the vials next to him. He raised an eyebrow and gave an amused chuckle at how she asked him to do the homework. I mean after their first confrontation they weren't on the best of terms but I guessss he could do it with her. He shrugged and replied, "Yeahhh I guess." he said finishing his cereal and sipping the milk. He closed the Daily Prophet and put it into his robes.

Then he fished in his backpack for the assignment. He needed to put a couple drops from his vial into a food of her choice. "Okay so I need to put whatever is in this vial and put it into a food of your choice.." he began to tell her. "Which food would you prefer?" he asked being polite of course.

Clara was already regretting asking him to do the homework with her .... for whatever reason his chuckle irked her. Come on, Wilde, you can be pleasant, she told herself. It wasn't like he was a terrible person or anything. In fact, she could think of no logical reason as to why she should dislike him, so her attitude was completely unreasonable. "Okay. Good," she replied bluntly, before sighing and trying to relax.

........... "Thank you."

She sat down across from him as he finished his cereal, triple-tapping her fingernails against the table. Finally, he seemed ready ... and it looked like she was going to consume the contents of the vial first. "Mmmm," she replied, biting her tongue on whatever rude retort she was going to come out with. Just because she already knew what they needed to do for the homework, didn't mean it was a crime for him to tell her. "Uh ... pie? Or something with pumpkin in it?" Since spending more time with Gabriel, she'd been eating more pumpkin pasties. She'd grown quite fond of the taste.

Kace shrugged and he knew they would never get along that well. This was progress right here working together. He saw her sit down and he nodded when she was being polite. "You are welcome.." he said back. "Sorry we got off on the wrong foot.." he added in about their first encounter. He raised a skeptical eyebrow when she fingered tapped while he was finishing his cereal. Could she be even more impatient or was it a nervous habit. Whatever it was it was annoying, his sister did it when she was impatient. He always asked could you not? She would roll her eyes and continue it anyways.

After explaining and going over the assignment for his sake but it seemed Clara knew what she was doing, he shrugged and found a pumpkin pasty and he needed to put the potion into it. He used a knife and cut inside it and then poured the vial inside it. He waited till it was soaked and then gave it to her. Don't worry Clara he washed his hands. Now he needed his stethoscope and he searched for it in his bag. Man this wasn't gonna be awkward or anything. He just needed to listen to her stomach gurgles. Once he had his stethoscope in his hand and had it ready, he was gonna listen to her stomach gurgles. "You ready for me to listen?" he asked making sure she was comfortable.

Mel marched down from the Ravenclaw tower to the Hufflepuff table in the Grand Hall. She needed a guinea pig for divination homework and she was hoping that Lux would be able to help her out and be one. She shifted her bag some, making sure not to break the vial of gas potion or spill her ink. Melek glanced down into it to recheck that she had everything for this assignment... parchment... check... quill... check... ink... check... vial of gas potion... check... divination book... check... stethescope in case she cant do the spell right... check... her wand... check... all seemed to be in order. She smiled and glanced around for her friend. "Luuuuux?"

Mmmm, lunch time.

Lux could smell the amazing food as she made her way to the Great Hall. The house elves were true geniuses in the kitchen and she couldn't wait to eat what they had prepared for everyone. Yum yum yummy.

heading over to the Hufflepuff table so that she could see her friends, Lux stopped when she heard her name. The person had to be calling for her because as far as she knew she was the only Lux at Hogwarts. It wasn't exactly a common name. Oh. It was Mel. Smiling, she took a seat beside her friend and began piling food on her plate. "Yes?" She wondered if Mel needed help with something?

Mel beamed as Lux joined her, "HEY!" She hugged her friend then eyed the plate of food. "Sooooo before you begin scarfing that food down, can you do me a favor?" Melek pulled puppydog eyes while looking at the younger girl. "You see... I still need to do my divination homework and I need a guinea pig..." She gestured to her bag, "Can I use you as one so that I can get it done and turn it in? I need to finish it ASAP so that I can go back to studying for my NEWTs..." She paused and took a breath. Mel stared at her with the puppy dog eyes for a little bit before taking out the gas potion and holding it up to her. "I would only need to pour this onto your food then listen to the gas in your stomach... it is suppose to help tell your future or something..." She shrugged, not 100% sure what exactly how gas could do that despite going to class.

A favour? Lux had no problem with that, but hoped that it wouldn't interfere too much with her eating. She was a hungry girl!!

Right. The Divination homework. She had recently completed it with Tia, so Lux knew the drill. "Sure thing!" All she had to do was eat and then have her stomach listened to - that wasn't exactly hard. Plus food. Patiently she waited for Mel to do her thing with the potion so that she could get started on eating.

If only more classes and assignments were based off of food. Lux would be really happy then!

She beamed, "Thank you so much!" Melek squealed, happy that she had someone to give the potion to now. Mel opened the vial and poured it over Lux's food, making sure that she put enough of it on. She gestured to the food and beamed, "Okay! You can eat up now." Speaking of eating, she started to get food to eat as well because she was hungry herself. Melek poured a goblet of pumpkin juice and scarfed down some food, waiting for Lux to eat so that she can listen to her tummy. Mel was all smiles because it was hard not to be around her friend and the thought that soon her homework... or at least her divination homework will soon be over with. "So how are you and how are things with Bay? Are you having fun this year?" Melek wanted details but she also didnt want to talk much until the homework thing is over and she can be carefree. She made sure that her parchment and quill will be ready to take any and all notes.

Smiling, Lux watched as Mel put the potion into her food. Now it was time to eat!! First she got herself some pumpkin juice though, because eating made her thirsty half the time. No problem!" She was glad to help.

Looked like Mel was going to eat too, and Lux was all for that! She was trying not to eat so fast, but everything was so good that it was hard not to. The only thing that was missing from her plate was cucumber sandwiches, but they were nowhere to be seen. "I'm pretty good! Things are going great with Bay. We talk through two-way mirrors and see each other in Hogsmeade and during holidays." She still missed him a lot, but they had chatted recently so she was happy! "This term is nice so far." No real crazy stuff and she was thankful for that. "So how are you? How is your boyfriend? How is life?" Lux wanted to know!

She beamed and scarfed down more food. Melek was guzzling her pumpkin juice. It was like she hadnt ate or drink anything in ages. "That is awesome! I am so happy that you are good and that things are going great!" Mel nodded, "Yeah, I suppose it has been a nice term... though the astronomy homework was awful..." She shivered, thinking about having to overcome her small fear of the lake. Melek shrugged, "Been better, been worse..." Then she mentioned her boyfriend... or exboyfriend or whatever... A frown appeared and she glanced down, moving her food around on the plate. "I dont think we are together... He just disappeared... no information... no bye..." Mel sighed and leaned her head against her hand and her elbow on the table. Now she was all depressed. Melek didnt even bother answering the last question because now all she wants to do is go dive into a good book and forget her lack of a boyfriend.

Please. Not now.

Clara really didn't want to deal with apologies and the like at present, she simply was not in the mood ... but, for the sake of being polite, she nodded. "Don't worry about it." That was probably not the response he was expecting, but it's what he got. He'd probably expect her to apologise when he did, but ... for one, she didn't think she needed to, despite knowing she had been rude.

Again, these things could be discussed later. For now she watched him put the contents of the vial into the pumpkin pasty, looking for sabotage. Ridiculous, really .... but necessary. Her eyes followed his hands as he looked for - presumably - his stethoscope. Personally, she was going to use a charm to listen to the noises of his stomach, but whatever worked for him ....... "Give it a minute after I eat," she mumbled, reaching for the pasty. Clara took a big bite, thoroughly chewed it, and swallowed. Now it was down to him. "Go for it."

Kace nodded and waited for Clara to eat her food. He looked at the clock and waited five more minutes and then he went with his stethoscope. I mean now he knew it might look creepy and he might wanna try the spell. He may need to log this too. He got out his notebook and wanted to scribble some notes. He said the charm on her stomach, "Sonorous!" and he could hear everything. He nodded and began to hear the gurgles.



He looked up and showed Clara the notes. "Okay this is what I got.." and then he ended the spell and said, "Finite!" and the spell was supposed to stop. "Okay I will give you the meanings now.." and he began to scribble and show them to her.



After he gave her the meanings, he grinned and said, "Your turn."

It wasn't as if Clara had anything better to do with her time, but she couldn't help feeling impatient as he listened to her stomach make unflattering noises. She tried not to move around too much, in case it affected the results.

Before long, though, he was finished. She peered at the results ... which all showed quite .... negative things.

"Uh, right..." She paused, reaching into her pocket for the vial of gas potion.

"Do you have a food preference?"

As he used the stethoscope, he saw Clara trying to hide her gurgles. It won't work with him that is for sure. He knew what was going on. He saw Clara's reaction and he knew she might be surprised by all of the negative results. He shrugged innocently and looked down at his finished food. Kace was ready for this and now he would let Clara listen to his stomach. "Ermm no I have no food preference..." he trailed off and then he saw something that caught his eye. He saw some yorkshire pudding and he pointed to that. "You can use that." Now time for her to put the potion is his food. Let's see what his stomach has been telling him.

Clara glanced between Kace and his chosen food: Yorkshire pudding ..... well, whatever floats your boat, she thought, before pulling the plate of food towards her. Step one, add the potion. She unstoppered the vial, cut a little opening in the edge of the food and poured some of the gas potion in. That didn't seem to be effective, so she poured the rest of it into the centre of the yorkshire pudding.

She pushed the plate towards him.

"Eat up."

Kace nodded and saw the food being pushed to him. He took the fork next to him and he began to eat. He was chewing a couple of mouthfuls and didn't feel anything. I mean did she even add the potion. Then he got to the middle of it and he tasted the sogginess of the pudding. Yup there it was. He took a swig of pumpkin juice and felt a little better. Hmm he was hungrier than he thought. He then let nature takes it course and told Clara, "Well now you can do your stuff." He wondered if they were negative things or positive things.

Was she gonna use a stethoscope or the charm? Well let's wait and see.

It didn't take long for Lux to finish her food. It really helped that she had been hungry. Wow, her stomach must be starting to talk up a storm already with the help of that potion. But then again it hadn't done much when Tia used it on her.

Lux supposed that it was a good thing for everyone in the Great Hall that she wasn't a very gassy person, because no one needed to hear her burp or fart. "The Astronomy homework wasn't too bad I found. It just was a little hard making sure to check the flags at a specific time in the afternoon."
Oh dear... She had touched a nerve. That made her feel bad. "I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm sure there was a good reason for him to have left and he probably would have contacted you if he could." Lux couldn't imagine how she'd feel if Bay did that to her, but she knew it would never happen. Bay would never leave her, he loved her.

Melek watched Lux, waiting until it seemed like she was given the go sign then she waited for a few more moments before using the spell, "Sonorous!" Mel tried to politely stare at Lux's stomach, trying to listen for gas but she felt a little awkward so she just glanced somewhere else while trying to listen. Her quill was posed to take notes. Melek had her book out already so that she could quickly interpret for her. She glanced at her watch, looking at Lux again before jolting down what she heard.

SPOILER!!: sounds noise parchment thing

-small gurgles for at least a minute... close together
That means worried about future?

She looked at her notes then to her book then to the notes again. Mel looked at Lux and ended the spell with a simply, "Finite." Melek glanced at her notes then to Lux again, "Okay... either you are good at hiding your stress or I totally suck at divination because... it says that you are worried about the future or something stressful is coming... or you know, this divination stuff could just be all made up and hold no true weight on anything..." Melek shrugged and looked at her friend, "So is this fake stress or do you need to talk about something?" Because ya know... she was a little worried but she couldnt think of anything that Lux would be stressing over because ya know... she seemed to be so happy now and she was saying everything was all good earlier so yeah... divination must be a load of crap. Mel giggled and smiled at her friend.

She looked at Lux, "I heard horror stories about the Black Lake so I was absolutely TERRIFIED that i had to go in it twice a day for a week..." Melek shivered at the thought. "I talked to the lake... or techinally myself and called it Lakey just to try to calm my fears and stuff." Mel blushed at the tiny confession. Then it was back to the lack of boyfriend stuff... Melek sighed and twisted a lock of her hair, "I dont think so Lux... I think he is gone and gone for good..." A sigh escaped, "No where to be seen and it is our last year here... I am not even sure that he even goes here anymore to be honest despite him having been a Ravenclaw which you would think I would know if he was here or wasnt here since..." Mel gestured to her robes, "Though I barely had any time to do anything but classes, homework and studying." A sigh escaped.

Well, now Clara could wait for five minutes and then do her stuff, actually.

While she waited, she twirled her wand between her fingers 'skilfully'. Hah. Not really, she had terrible hand-eye coordination, but she still managed not to drop it, thankfully. That would be embarrassing if she did, especially given her and Kace's not-so-friendly friendship. "Do you think it's been five minutes?" She asked rhetorically, leaning across the table to get closer. "Sonorous," she murmured, pointing her wand in the direction of Kace's stomach, and listened carefully.

She immediately began hearing noises, so, while still trying to listen, she reached into her bag and pulled out some scrap parchment and something to write with. Clara recorded every noise she heard for about five to ten minutes - his stomach was an interesting one - before leaning back again and ending the spell. "Finite." Looking between her notes and him, she said, "I heard three different things, I think; the noises kept alternating between being very quiet, almost non-existent, and lots of louder noises, but close together, and ..... did you burp at one point?"

Quote:

• Quiet/no sounds
• Lots of loud noises close together
• Burp

Now, time to look up the meanings.

Kace heard Clara's question and he grinned sheepishly. "Alright you got me. I did burp at one point. Sorry I couldn't help it." At least he covered it up right? He didn't want to burp in her face. I mean that would have been rude and then Clara would definitely like hate him for eternity. He didn't want that. He saw the list and it seemed right to him. I mean he couldn't control his stomach gurgling sounds. Now he waited patiently for the readings now.

"Let's see what my stomach has been telling.." he said and he slid over his divination textbook incase she needed it.

Patiently Lux waited as Mel listened for her stomach sounds. It might look weird to anyone who was passing by, but then maybe not since everyone would know what the homework was anyway. Besides, she wouldn't have cared. She did her own thing no matter what people thought.

When her friend was done the reading, it wasn't too surprising to hear that her stomach hadn't been gurgling and rumbling all over the place. It seemed that she didn't have very loud digestion. "Divination isn't always accurate, but yes... I am slightly worried about my NEWTs next term though I'm not really stressed." Yet. That would occur next term. She didn't even want to think about that right now. It was very nice of Mel to offer to listen if there was something seriously wrong. But it looked like more things were bothering HER.

"What stories have you heard?" Lux couldn't really remember specific stories besides the one where it had flooded Hogwarts - but that had been years ago. She was curious. "Did talking to it help?" Facing fears was a hard thing to do, and anything that made it easier was good in her book. Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Frowning, she wished she could help Mel feel better about her boyfriend leaving.