Azura was content to sit and listen to Brady sing, he had a good voice and his guitar playing was excellent. She hadn't played the piano in such a long time, this was making her long to run her fingers over the keys to join him in his song, even though she didn't know it.

She leaned back against the shelves and slid down to the floor, crossing her ankles in front of her as she closed her eyes and listened to the words that Brady was singing.

The words seemed almost exactly like what she was going through right now and she was honestly trying not to cry! But, crying in front of someone just because of the song they were singing was probably not good form, so instead she swallowed back her tears and opened her eyes as Brady finished his song.

"Hey." She said with a warm smile at him. "I couldn't help but come over, the song was amazing and you are such a good singer and guitar player." She pushed her hair behind her ears and looked at him for a moment.

The first year was really feeling the music right now, he loved this song so much. He just liked a lot of well written songs that told a story or meant something to someone. He wasn't really sure if he could relate to this song. Probably not because it's about love and he wasn't in love or anything. "It's an old song, a very old song. I don't know why but I really like that song. It's amazing when done acoustically like I just did." The Scottish boy nodded to her. He set down his guitar on the side of him.

Bradson looked at her. "So how are you since the last time I saw you?" He asked her.

She didn't really seem like she was doing that well the last time that he had talked to her. He really hoped that she was doing a lot better. Brady didn't like to see any of his friends get hurt. He hadn't really made too many friends yet but the ones that he had made so far he was really protective of and for being an eleven year old he really wanted to make sure that his friends were okay.

Azura smiled as Brady spoke, "Well, old or not, it sounded quite amazing when you played it. I'm curious now about how the original sounds." She looked over at the Hufflepuff for a moment as he set down his guitar and pushed some of her hair behind her ear once more.

Her gaze dropped slightly as he asked how she was, and she suddenly become very interested in how the hem of her skirt was laying on her legs, she fussed with the blue edge of the material for a moment while trying to decide how best to answer him.

"All right I suppose, I lost that duel I was practicing for though." She finally looked up at him and gave him a half smile. Her magic had wonked out on her because she had been do distracted by thoughts of Jace and his rejection. "How about you? Recovered yet?" She asked him with some concern in her voice.

Tia hadn't been in the library for awhile and it felt kind of strange because just two years ago she'd been completely consumed with this place as she was studying for her OWLs. And now, she had more exams coming up at the end of this term and she'd been completely calm and collect about them . . . thus far. Maybe it was the senioritis, but anyone who achieved full focusing this year for classes and the cumulative exams, Tia had to give them loads of credit.

Honey eyes barely focusing on the titles as she perused the bookshelves for books to help her focus on her Runes studies - because she'd start her studies in alphabetical order and work her way down - the Head Girl nearly bumped into another girl also looking at titles. "Oops, sorry," she said apologetically, reaching her hand out to the girl's shoulder to keep from them both toppling. "Oh hey Abby, how's it going?"

Why crystals? That was a fair question since Haddie didn't really know her as of yet. Esme felt a pang of guilt over holding a grudge over someone she didn't really know but firmly told herself that she was just being a good friend to Rachel. "Well, I think that their uses in Divination are fascinating." As she spoke, she subconsciously fingered the crystal around her neck. Despite the fact that the Hag ruined her favourite subject she still held a love for it. Until things got better it would be Care of Magical Creatures in the top spot.

The sadness in the younger girl's expression made no sense until the Chamber of Secrets was mentioned. While she he'd no desire to go exploring a place that held dark connections to Voldemort, the appeal was completely understandable - especially to those in Gryffindor. "Sounds like you were placed in the wrong House," she commented while feeling amused despite the fact that she was supposed to keep her guard up. "I guess you didn't hear about what happened there a few terms ago. Two girls wandered down into the Chamber because it was opened and they were kidnapped by Acromantulas." A shiver went down her spine. She could remember staying in the Great Hall with her sister and brother, terrified that at any moment the spiders would break through the defences and kill them all. To get that thought out her head, she brought her focus back to the present. "What's happening next year?" Haddie was in her first term at Hogwarts so she should have a lot of time left at the school.

Turning her attention to the books, Esme picked a few off of the shelf in turn and glanced at them before returning them to where they belonged. The ones that they needed had to be around here somewhere... They could always ask Mr. Kitridge. "Rachel really IS a sweetheart. She's one of my closest friends." There were few people who were as kind as the young Ravenclaw. That was no surprise, but what came next WAS. Esme turned to face Haddie again. "I promise." No one would hurt Rachel.

Had she been wrong to hold a grudge?

Abby smiled at Tia and said "Hey Tia it is going pretty well, hows things going for you, i am going to miss you after you leave this year"

Brady shrugged. "It isn't too different from the original but my voice is different than Brett Michaels' voice." The dark haired boy nodded. "I think I have the song on my iPod but I don't have it with me right now." Brady frowned. He would have to start bringing his iPod around with him. He could even record a video or something of him playing and singing some songs. That would fun and who wouldn't want the Hogwarts castle in the background?

The Scottish boy looked at her with concern as she looked down and seemed to not want to answer his question. "The way you're feeling right now doesn't seem like it has anything to do with the duel." The first year was being honest with her. There was no way that she was that sad about losing a duel. He was concerned when it came to his friends he didn't want them to be hurt or sad.

Brady shrugged. "I still haven't been sleeping through the night. I keep having nightmares about the hag trying to eat me." He shuttered. He really didn't like that at all.

It was as if a weight had been lifted from the girl's shoulders. Haddie nodded. "Good. Thank you." She turned away and wiped her eyes. By the time she turned back, the mask was already starting to rebuild itself, covering up the sadness once again. She turned and browsed the shelves absently for a moment, as if she wanted to avoid the topic of next year for as long as possible.

"I was," Haddie said finally. "Put in the wrong house, I mean. I should be in Gryffindor." Oh look, topic avoided. "Even went to Moxxy to see about being resorted, but all she did was tell me to give Ravenclaw a chance." Haddie shrugged, almost defiantly. "Whatever." After a moment, the Eaglet sighed, turned around and leaned back against the shelves.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. Her eyes drifted to the floor. "Next year... I'll be back in Muggle school." Probably. The girl still had all summer to try and convince her Dad to let her return to Hogwarts, but even she didn't have much hope. "At first it was just Dad that didn't want me going back. But he found out about us being poisoned in Potion class, somehow..." Like he somehow found out about the Hag. "And now Natalie says that Mom is starting to agree with him on it. So..." She shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, but she wasn't fooling anyone. "That's why you need to protect Rachel for me. I won't be here."

Haddie turned back to the shelves, her interest in finding a book detailing how to get into the Chamber of Secrets renewed. "So the Chamber has to be opened or something? How do you open it?"

Azura smiled as he spoke. "Well, when you do have it with you, I would love to hear it." She said with a nod as she looked up at him, she liked his voice, it was super nice. Quite personally she didn't think anyone could sing as good as her friend, but then again, her friends were they best at everything they did in her mind.

Azura bit her lip a little as Brady spoke..and she slowly shook her head. "No, the way I'm feeling right now made my lose my duel because my magic went wonky on me." She admitted softly. "It's really dumb Brady, why I feel like that.." She twisted her fingers a little.."Someone found out that I liked them, and so I told them that it was true.. and they told me they didn't feel the same way.." She looked down, that conversation with Jace at the study tables still in her mind. "Now we aren't talking much, and he's my friend.. I miss him." She shrugged slightly.

Though now she wore a look of concern as he spoke about how he was doing. "Oh Brady, I'm so sorry." The struggle not to hug him was real, but she refrained and smiled at him. "Well, if you ever want to talk I'm here..anytime." She said with a warm smile.

Abby was always such a sweet and easygoing girl; despite the fact that Tia imagined she was overshadowed by sisters, Abby was alright, she decided.

Smiling warmly at the younger girl, she just sort of shrugged. "Things are just going and I kind of feel like this last year is just flying by. But you know, history tells us that a wise headmaster once said, I will never truly be gone from Hogwarts as long as there are those who are loyal to me." She bit her lip thoughtfully. "I'm not a Headmaster, nor am I even a Professor, but I think it rings true that as long as younger generations of students remember my kindness. My wit. Things I stood for, then I won't ever truly be gone. My legacy will hopefully be enough to live on through future generations."

The dark haired boy nodded. "Don't worry I'll remember to let you listen to it." He wasn't going to forget that. He never forgot anything that had to do with music.

Brady nodded as he listened to her. All of this was so crazy. Why did she have feelings for someone already? Why did she have feelings for a jerk like that boy? The first year looked at Azura and blinked. "Aren't all of us to young to have those feeling things that adults get?" He asked her. "Do you need me to beat him up?" He was more that welcome to do that for her. He didn't want to see Azura hurt or sad.

Bradson shrugged. "I've been trying to talk to my best friend about it but I think she dumped me as her best friend because I haven't seen her in awhile and she's been hanging out with another guy." What was his name? Carl? Corny? Corn on the cob? Something like that.

Abby smiled and said "Yeah hope your right there Tia but i mean this year is going fast, any ideas on what you will be doing after you graduate?"

Azura slowly nodded as Brady spoke, she had sort of been expecting an answer like this, which was why she hadn't talked about it much. Perhaps she was too young.. but.. She knew what she felt. Sadly.

"Well, it's not like I want to marry him or anything." She said softly. Or have two kids named Violet and Ryder and live in France and be the best healer there ever was. "I just.. like him, perhaps a crush is a better way to explain it." She said softly before she looked at him and shook her head. "Thanks for the offer, but he's still my friend.. hopefully. Maybe if he refuses to be my friend.. I might take you up on that." She said with a warm smile over at Brady.

She hoped Jace wanted to still be her friend.. She missed talking to him!

"I'm so sorry, My best friend got super busy and I've barely talked to him at all lately, so I know exactly how you feel." She said with a sigh.. "Well, you can still talk to me..if you want." She said with a nod.

With a small smile Esme nodded and watched as Haddie looked away. Clearly the younger girl wanted to hide her emotions and that was totally understandable. Being vulnerable was not a nice feeling; she herself did not like letting anyone see that side of her - only her twin sister got to. Despite thinking that she had been wrong in judging Haddie to be a bad friend she did have to wonder... Why draw on Rachel's face with marker or resent the crush on David? Tempted to voice these thoughts aloud, she managed to hold her tongue. This wasn't the time.

"Maybe you have some Ravenclaw in you as well but you haven't realized it yet. Neville Longbottom didn't feel like he fit into Gryffindor until he was older." One of the few things she had actually remembered when it came to Wizarding history and that was only because her mom had mentioned it in passing once a while back. "That does sound like something Professor Moxley would say." Esme would have said the same thing if she had been in the same position but then she was the kind of person who believed in giving chances. "I think that you should just be yourself even if it doesn't fit into the standard Ravenclaw mold." Too much was placed on House traits. It was pretty silly honestly. A lot of people shared traits with more than one House.

...Though did it really matter if Haddie wasn't coming back next term? It was understandable why her father would feel that way but she should be able to stay at Hogwarts if she really wanted to. "Could anything change his mind? My mom didn't want me and Juno back at Hogwarts after First Year but she and my dad managed to convince her to let us stay." At the time she hadn't wanted return to school but Hag aside she was pleased to be here. Besides she would have missed her sister too much. "Rachel will be perfectly fine." She gave a reassuring smile though it faltered a bit as the Chamber of Secrets was mentioned again.

Why anyone would want to go down into an ancient chamber that probably contained monsters was beyond her. "I'm not sure. I just know that the entrance is in Moaning Myrtle's washroom. I think that you need to speak Parseltongue to get in?" Not exactly a language that many people were fluent in...

"You don't want to marry him do you?" The first year asked to make sure. "We're too young to be getting married or thinking about being married." He couldn't wrap his head around those sorts of thoughts yet or even those thoughts about having a crush on someone. "Well, my offer will still stand no matter how long." He nodded. He was serious about this.

"My best friend thinks she didn't do anything wrong but she's been hanging out with other people more than me." Bradson shrugged. "I don't want to seem jealous but she talks about these other people to me when I do see her and then when I want to talk to her about some stuff it seems to me like she either changes the conversation or she just ignores what I say." He didn't know what to do about Kat but he was also worrying about it more that what he should be right now.

Azura shook her head as Brady spoke, "No way! I don't want to marry him! I just like him, that's all.." Azura said softly, to be honest she wasn't even sure what she would do if Jace or someone else liked her back! Maybe next year, when she was thirteen! But.. now.. She just liked Jace.. and he didn't like her back.. Which seemed to be enough to hurt her..

"Thank you Brady, I need to talk to him, to see if I can get him back as my friend.. if that doesn't go over well.. He's all yours." She sighed softly as she played with the ends of her hair a bit, before turning to look at her friend as he spoke.

Ohhh..That sounded terrible.. She felt her heart go out to him as he spoke about his best friend! He needed someone now too! Especially with what he had been through with the hag!

"Well, like I said, I'm always here to talk if you want.. I'm not your best friend..but." She shrugged a bit.. "I am sorry that is happening though.. so you've tried to talk to her and she doesn't think anything is wrong?" Who would treat their friends like that? Not Azura! That was for sure!

Bradson shook his head. "This stuff is so confusing. Why not just not like anyone in that way at all? It's so much easier and less confusing and painful." That was the thing about older students that he didn't understand at all. Like why would someone want to purposely hurt themselves like that?

"I'm keeping my word on that! Just tell me and I'll be there."

Brady shrugged. "I don't even think I'm best friends with my best friend anymore. She got mad at me when I was trying to tell her what was going on with me and I was the stupid on and just dropped it." It was horrible and he hadn't talked to her since.

Azura smiled a bit at Brady, "I really wish I could have not liked Jace at all.. I tried so hard not too, but sometimes, you just can't help it." She had tried so hard to deny her feelings, they only came to light when she was mildly poisoned.. So.. yeah, they had been buried deep. Azura sort of wished they had stayed that way..

"Thank you Brady, that means a lot to me." There was no way she was going to let anyone hurt Jace though.. whether he liked her or not.. someone beating him up wasn't going to change his mind..

"She got mad at you? Why in the world would she do that? Best friends are supposed to be there for you whenever you need them! That's like a requirement!" Which.. probably meant Jazzy wasn't her best friend anymore.. Well.. that was disheartening.