Sydney looked up at Alex. "If you've just got some message from Tatiana then I don't want to know Alex. You've obviously chosen your side and I don't want you to make it harder for yourself by talking to me." She told him with a tinge of regret in her voice. For some reason Alex's betrayal was hurting her a lot more than she ever could've guessed, and she'd thought it would hurt a lot. Sydney forced herself to break eye contact with Alex, instead looking down at the floor. She willed the tears welling in her eyes to stop, she couldn't cry over Alex or Tatiana would flaunt him in front of her any chance she got.

"Tatiana didn't get me to tell you anything Sydney. Do you know how much I wish this never happened? How much I wish I could just go back to being both of your friends?" He asked her sadly, he wanted to be able to be friends with Sydney so much. He didn't want to lose Tatiana though. Ugh. Why did this have to be so difficult?

"And you think that I don't wish the same thing? I wish it had never happened either Alex." Sydney said, 'it' being her and and Edward. She sighed and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "This is the way things have happened Alex, I've apologised to Tatiana and I've said my piece. There's nothing more I can do. She thinks I came back to be Queen Bee at Hogwarts, I didn't. I came back to talk to her and to see my family and friends but I won't let her destroy me through her petty little games. There's more to life than Hogwarts." She told him, hoping this explained it all. If she'd been given the chance she would've like to explain to him what had happened to make Tatiana and herself not friends but she hadn't had the chance, and she was also scared what he would think of her. Alex's opinion of her came second only to Ryan's in her mind.

"I know that Sydney. And I also want you to know that I don't think bad of you." He said truthfully, "even if I'm friends with Tatiana. No matter what, I'll always care about you." He said softly, "I have a question though. What does Edward want to do now?"

Sydney was tempted to say that Edward could go rot somewhere for all she cared but she held back this comment. "I don't know. He seems to have integrated himself into my party-planning group." She commented, not without a hint of bitterness in her voice at this fact. She glanced at the boy in question, she couldn't believe that all of this had been over him. Totally not worth it.

"Yeah," He said looking over at him. "What do you plan on doing with Edward then?" He asked Sydney, "I mean it looks like he still likes you." He said looking back at Syd, if Edward wanted to be with Sydney again then he thought it was pretty low. Especially because Tatiana just dumped him.

"Ignore him as much as possible?" Sydney suggested. She honestly didn't know what she planned on doing about Edward, she definitely didn't want to encourage him. Being away from people for a year really made her realise what she felt about them and she definitely did not feel attracted to Edward in any way. "She'll never forgive me will she?" Sydney whispered quietly, her eyes once more on the floor.

"I can't really be sure about that. I wish she would though." He said with a sigh, mostly though, Alex didn't want to talk to Edward at the moment. "I'm going to go see Tatiana. I'll miss you Syd."

"I'll miss you too." Sydney murmured as Alex walked away. She bit her lip and turned her head away so she didn't have to see Alex going back to Tatiana. She looked at Cameron and Ryan, a bright smile back on her face. "So, party planning time!" She said, trying to keep her voice even and not let her sadness show.

Alex slowly walked over to where Tatiana was and put a smile on his face. "Hey, you alright?" He asked sitting down beside her trying to keep any trace of sadness from his voice.

Tatiana looked up to Alex, and could see the sadness in his eyes, no matter how much he tried to hide. It did hurt her to see Alex upset, so she put her first step of her plan in motion. Standing up as Alex stood up. "Come on." She said holding her hand out, and peaking over her shoulder to Sydney. "Let's make this right."

Tatiana slowly walked over to Sydney and tapped her on the shoulder. "Truce? For everyone's sake?" She asked, her left hand behind her back, her fingers crossed, as she lied through a smile. "I won't be able to forget, but this is our last year. And you did come back, so I guess in time, I could forgive."

Alex stared at Tatiana but quickly followed her, he simply looked at Sydney waiting nervously for her reaction. He was amazed that Tatiana was actually doing this.

Sydney turned around and looked at Tatiana, the disbelief only barely masked on her face. She knew Tatiana, they'd grown up together and she couldn't believe that she'd call a truce, she'd never called a truce with an enemy before and Sydney highly doubted she would start now. Her eyes flashed to Ryan, Cameron and Edward, unsure of what to do. She decided that if a game was going to be played then it needed two players. Sydney stood up and brushed down her skirt. "Of course. Truce." She said, her forced smile beaming at Tatiana and they shook hands. Sydney quickly let go and glanced over her shoulder at Alex, at least she wouldn't lose him as soon now. She took her seat beside her brother once more, she wouldn't make this easy for Tatiana in the slightest.

"Are you doing this because you really want a truce, for you?" He asked Tatiana, if she was doing this because he was sad then he didn't want that. If she really did want a truce though, it would be a good thing.

"Don't flatter yourself Alex. You played a part, but weren't the full reason. I have reasons of my own." Tatiana replied with a smirk, not divulging exactly what her intentions were. She wasn't sure herself yet, but she knew she was one step closer to her goal.

Taking a seat opposite Sydney on a small sofa, Tatiana tapped the seat next to her for Alex to sit, just to make it obvious to all which side he had chosen. "So..." She said, not completely her sentence as she wasn't sure what to say. She smoothed her skirt, and crossed her legs, catching a glimpse of her stiletto. She smiled at the conversation she had with Vesper in the Great Hall about throwing shoes at the other students.

"We've decided to take over from the Slytherin's and do our own 'welcome back' party." Sydney told them both, if this was going to work then she had to pretend things were normal. "Why go to their party when everyone knows that Gryffindors do everything better?" She commented with a wink in Cameron and Ryan's direction. Sydney didn't care too much at the moment what Tatiana's plan was, she just wanted to enjoy herself at this party!

"That sounds awesome." Alex said sitting down and grinning, "It will totally be better. Have any idea yet?" He asked Sydney, if he was good at anything it was parties. Among other things of course.

"A party. How, original. But I guess your right, partying is what you're good at, I mean we're good at." Tatiana had a slip of the tongue, whoops, she thought. It wasn't intentional, but it would make everything just that much more awkward. "So, have you any definite plans yet? Or is this just a meeting of the minds?" She asked.

Sydney raised her eyebrows at Tatiana's slip but continued talking, deciding not to comment on it. She didn't like talking party plans with Tatiana as there was a chance that the girl would truy to take over but she had to risk it. "Well we mostly know what needs to be done it's just decorations that need to be decided on. Ry's setting up the entrance, Edward is getting us the supplies and Cameron and I are going to get a guest list together first thing tomorrow and send out the invites. Slytherin's are slack so we'll probably beat them to the party if we do it tomorrow, otherwise their invites will most probably arrive the day after tomorrow." She told them, speaking as her mind formed more ideas for the party. She also remember a gorgeous dress she'd gone in Paris last year, perfect opportunity for it to be worn!

Alex grinned, he loved parties. One of the best times to flirt with girls and have fun anyway. "Sounds awesome Syd." He said really hoping that Sydney wouldn't be upset with him for choosing Tatiana.

Sydney glanced at Alex as he spoke, she knew that the battle lines were still drawn and as far as Tatiana was concerned he was still with her. She'd play nice as long as she could. "Thanks." She said, her winning smile back on her face.

Alex smiled at Sydney, there was a lot of things he wanted to say but wasn't exactly sure how to. Alex looked over at Edward not really sure how he felt about him, he was his best friend after all. Alex grinned anyway though and looked back at the others, it looked as if there was nothing bothering him. Although there was a lot on his mind.

Sydney watched Alex's eye glance over to an unusually quiet Edward, she wondered what his opinion of his best friend was now, and if he knew the truth. "Any particular requests for the party Alex?" She asked him, trying to draw his mind away from Edward.

"As long as there's lots of girls, I'll be fine." He said grinning and winked at Sydney. He was quite excited at the prospect of a party, they were always really fun and he knew this one would be great. It was also good because it took his mind off things.

"I'm sure we might be able to accomodate that!" Sydney assured him with a laugh. She wished there was someone that she could invite to distract her from things but she knew the boys at Hogwarts and she was not interested in them what-so-ever..most of them anyway.