After the Welcoming Feast, Dalton thanked the ghosts for the third time that the Slytherin dormitory wasn't in one of the towers as he dragged his feet slowly down the steps, and pushing through the entrance ahead of all of the first years. He continued to drag his feet across the Common Room and up into his dormitory, before spotting his trunk and flopping face first onto his bed sheets.

Suppressing a groan into his pillow, he lay still for a while, hoping slightly that this year would be better than the last.

Tom knew he'd opened the wrong door when he saw Dalton sprawled face-first on one of the beds. He groaned reflexively--he was so tired and overwhelmed that he really just wanted to find his bed and avoid anymore questions or confrontations--and realized too late that the noise had likely alerted the other boy to his presence.

He blurted, "Sorry! I was just looking for my room. I probably should have waited for the prefects to show us, but everybody else is lingering downstairs and I was just so tired of all the noise and talking..." He cut himself off abruptly, remembering the million times before that his father and brother had called him out on his habit of rambling when he was uncomfortable.

Fourth Year Dorms.

It had a pretty awesome ring to it. He was alone in it right now deciding on how to make this the most awesome dorm possible. He would need Hugo's ideas of course. It was his dorm too. But now he had some ideas of his one. Though it sucked he didn't know advanced enough magic to magically move the beds with almost no effort. That would be the dream.

But right now he was just piling all the pillows and blankets into the middle creating a mountain.

It was the time for jumping on beds and launching off them onto the mountain of pillows and blankets.

HE was such a mature fourteen year old.

There was groaning coming from behind him. At first Dalton didn't bother moving, because it wouldn't have been out of the ordinary for his year mates to have made that sound, but when he heard the voice, he flipped his head to the side, so that he could hear it better.

Yeah. It was that kid... Tim? No, Tom, from the feast. First year. First year whom he respected. Which was definitely a first, in some respect. He'd been snarky and smart, quick lipped and witty, and he really needed to stop apologising. With that thought, Dalton turned so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, and offered the little kid a smirk.

Or what passed as a smirk, smile, lopsided face thing.

"Don't worry, kid. Straight across the hall, opposite here." He raised an eyebrow slightly. "I get it about the noise and talking though."

Tom sighed, his posture slumping just a bit in relief. He'd decided at the feast that one probably never could tell how this Dalton boy would react to people, and Tom really hadn't felt up to the task of anymore snark and sarcasm just now. But this... this smile-looking thing had certainly not been what he'd expected at all.

Tom found the corners of his own mouth quirking up in response almost before he'd realized it. "Thanks, Dalton."

He paused for a moment, considering, then decided to add, "My older brother says that I'm too serious and not any fun, but honestly I don't see how anybody could like all the mess and the noise."

It was the best moment of the day: going to bed. Well, not exactly going to bed just yet but relaxing and since the common room was always crowded, Hugo decided to go straight to his dorm.

So, here he was just by himself. He took off his shoes and plopped on his bed. With his eyes closed he let out a big sigh. Hogwarts was killing his life energy and it was only his fourth year.

And he should have brought something from the Great Hall to eat.

Dante was not even tired enough to really head back down here. He was just here for a book and hopefully his spot would not be taken when he returns. If it is then someone is getting moved. He was going through his things when he finally noticed he was not alone.

Well Well Well seemed Hugo had beaten even him here and was ready to pass out.

"Looks who is turning into an old grandpa, trying to sleep so early"

Dante smirked, grabbed a random pillow off a bed and threw it at him.

Hugo heard someone walking into the room but was too lazy to even look up so, he would just let it be. Though it seemed the person was someone he knew and before he could even answer, a pillow was thrown at him. Thanks. "It is called resting the eyes" obviously. He was full of life and just needed a moment to recharge energy.

He sat down on the bed and threw back the pillow at Dante. "And what about you? Are turning into a ladies man? " and winked. Mmm? MMM?? "You should have helped me last term with Marigold" except that she was a senior but, whatever, age doesn't matter and she could have made a exception for him, of course. Ehem. But nevermind, he wanted answers from Dante and it was going to be an interesting talk.

Yeah Yeah, resting his eyes.

He was about to go to sleep this early. Well someone had a busy day then. Much busier than Dante's. Though it was basically just a jumble of class together with some parts he remember and other he will have to remember when tests start appearing.

"I have no idea what you are talking about and i tried remember"

He would admit that it was more teasing than helping. But he did encourage him to talk to Marigold. If his memory was right.

Hugo stared at Dante with a serious look "Suuure" referring to helping him with Marigold. Which he didn't but it didn't matter now. He nodded a few times but was not convinced. Of course. "Come on, aren't you going to talk on how are you getting girl's attention?" Dante couldn't lie to him. He knew or at least suspected. "Maggie for example?" MMMM??? He smirked.

"You don't have to feel ashame, I know why they are dying for you. So mysterious and quiet" he was teasing him "I bet they are having meetings in a secret fan club with lots of pictures of you with hearts drawn around your face" cute, right?

Caleb was just about done with this whole potion thing, and since it took him many many MANY more steps to get around the school as a tiny dog, he was EXHAUSTED. Time to take a nap and see what it was like to curl up in a ball like a little pup!

He hopped on his bed - which was a LOT higher than his Beagle legs had been anticipating - and walked over to his pillow. He plopped down and then...realized something felt off. It didn't feel RIGHT. That was weird. So he stood up and paced in a circle a few times, really packing down the blanket and making a good place for him to lay down, before he plopped down again and yawned. OHHHH yes, that was much better now!

Now Caleb understood why dogs did that whole circle circle circle thing before taking a nap. To make it comfier for themselves. Nice!

And now, nap time. When Caleb woke up, he'd probably be a person again...at least, he HOPED so. He didn't want his potion to work THAT well...

Fine, maybe he did not help. Maybe he just teased and smirked at Hugo's attempts to talk to her. Sorry. But yeah, he did maybe do overboard this past summer. But whatever. He did not want to talk about that and seemed Hugo was more interested in his apparent ladies man ways.

"What about Maggie?"

Dante said smirking. Though he just rolls his eyes at everything else he was saying.

"Really, mysterious and quiet? Better quiet than say something stupid" Dante believe that. Plus if he talked all the time that would waste so much energy and who has time for that, really "I would not be surprised if they do have secret meetings and talk about boys"

Though Dante couldn't care less about that.

What Dante needed was a little bit of veritaserum in his pumpkin juice or orange juice or whatever type of juice he liked. Hugo shrugged "I don't know, you tell me ladies man. Do you like her?" and wiggled his eyebrows. "Don't you trust me? Your best friend, partner in crime?" he was being dramatic "I mean, if you are worried to show any emotion, don't be. Let love come to your life and embrace you" he wished he had little paper hearts to throw at Dante to add some effect.

Now, getting serious. "Or there is another girl? I have heard some rumours" kind of. Hugo chuckled "Well, all I know is that girls like the mysterious type or something like that" not really sure about that but whatever. Though he did agree with Dante "Mostly about you. Just let me know when do you need a bodyguard"

Just what he need, Hugo interrogating him on who he liked. Not like Kaycee did it enough as is it or Maggie. As a matter of fact they both do it. He would never understand why this was fun to talk about.

Major eye-rolling was going on with Hugo being the Dramatic King right now.

"Yes i like her" They have been friends since they were eleven. But yeah he liked her. "But she is not the only girl i like" Dante said shrugging

"And where did you hear this ladies man thing?" He was not going to deny it. But he could not let this just be about him.Plus it not like he wanted a girlfriend or anything and why was he even saying any of this.

"I don't know about mysterious. And you would be first on my list of potential bodyguards."

Maybe he was more tired than he thought.

For a moment Hugo was going to drop this off and let Dante go to wherever he was going with that book but he just said yes. "One girl isn't enough for you, I see" he chuckled "Who is the other girl?" now that Dante was talking he must continue to keep him that way.

"I heard it from two girls. A year younger than us I think" he shrugged, wasn't sure who they were. Or if he heard right. Anyways, "But you'll be like the guy that they can't get so that's more attractive to them" Hugo pictured Dante annoyed by lots of girls around him and it was fun to imagine. "We'll discuss later how you're going to pay me" and lay down again on his bed.

"Oh, you won't get names out of me that easily"

He was talking and that is more than he should be doing. He should have just laughed, threw another pillow at him, and walked back to the common room. Really, gossip was everywhere. Dante did not believe him.Tough he knew that Maggie, Kaycee, or Maddie would openly share the lists he gave them.

"So the guy they can't get makes them more attractive?"

First time hearing this for Dante. Though he was never interested in this type of stuff before.

"I can't wait for that conversation"

Dante said as sarcastically as possible

Yeah, too good to be true. "It's not like I'll go and tell everyone" maybe embarrass Dante a bit but that was normal. Heh. Hugo shrugged, "[B]We'll see then, mysterious ladies man/B]" it sounded funny saying it out loud since he never thought Dante would be in this type of situation. Kind of like a plot twist.

Hugo nodded, "Something like that yeah. I don't understand why that would make someone more attractive. Girls are weird and crazy" and Maggie was the first one to be on that list. "I'll protect you from all your fans so, try not to use your charms that often" he chuckled.

"I have to keep this cool mysterious exterior free of embarrassment, thank you very much." He was completely kidding. He trusted Hugo. But he knew he was going to embarrass Dante if he told. Since you know Dante would do the same thing in his situation.

"Well at least one of us is being a ladies man" Dante said with air quotes on the ladies man part. "What have you been up to Post Prefect Marigold?"


Unless he just wanted Dante to play to be his bodyguard. Though knowing Hugo he would charge a very high rate just for the fun of it. Dante would do the same.

"I will be ever in your debt if you do keep all those fans off me"

Because being serious. Dante has seen first hand how annoying/crazy fans can be.

Hugo chuckled "For your fans?" there were so many ideas to embarrass Dante that he was going to keep them to himself. Hehe. "Don't worry, you'll still have them" maybe some firstie liked Dante too, wouldn't surprise him. Ladies man and future heartbreaker.

He shrugged "Nothing" sighed "No one can be compared to her" sometimes he could be a bit dramatic. "Besides girls are complicated and crazy" he was not ready to deal with them. "Sure I will, what are friends for? Besides making fun of you" said and threw a pillow at Dante. "Just please, don't break too many hearts"

"Of course and that's all i can hope for in the end." Though being dramatic was not Dante's strong suit. But it was fun on occasion in the dorms.

When it was just him and Hugo.

Oh and look at him talking about Marigold now. Well this is kind of new. Since he did not seem depressed talking about it anymore. "Well you are right about that girls are complicated and crazy. I would even add weird to that. But not in a bad way. And please i bet you will meet someone better than Former Prefect Marigold during your time here. We are only fourth years"

Words of wisdom from Dante Barrington. Who knew basically nothing. But yeah it sounded smart. Plus since he was weird. It was only fitting most of his girl friends were weird too. But he would never say that to Maggie because she would take it the wrong way.

"And I can promise nothing."

It was true.

Hugo rolled his eyes, how modest was Dante. He simply chuckled.

"Look at you, talking about girls and encouraging me" he teased but did agreed on what he was saying "I guess so" shrugged "But by next term you will have all the girls for yourself. Can't compete with that" Dante could take the weird crazy ones and leave the normals to him. Fair enough.

"Only fourth years" he repeated "Imagine how you gonna be by our seventh year?" anyways. "I'll take that as a 'yes, I'm gonna be a heartbreaker'" and smirked.

"Well one of us has to be the voice of reason in this dorm and it probably should not be me"

Since apparently he was going to take all the crazy girls. Which he did not mind and leave all the sane ones to Hugo. Which he did mind either. So they had a plan of sorts. you know with him being a future heartbreaker and all and look at him only a fourth year. He had three more years of being in the castle.

"We will rule the school when he are seventh years."

That was just going to be a fact.

Hugo nodded "I do agree on that. I volunteer" or they both should be, not a good idea either but they made a good team. What Hugo wanted to see was Dante surrounded by girls so he could say something embarrassing in front of them.

"Sure we will" obviously because they were cool and awesome. "Get ready for your birthday by the way" just saying.

"Good. You can be the voice of reason and i will be the heartbreaker. There we are good to go with our future"

There, they had their roles down. And while Dante was kidding. This was all in good fun. Though they could just be epic wing-man. That could work as well. Plus they were cool and awesome. So just confirming that did not matter.

"Why what about my birthday?"

Dante was still thinking about Christmas and had not even thought about New Years ad his birthday.