Serena entered the room, and smiled grimly at Professor Branxton. "Hello again, professor."

Rae pushed the door open to Doyle's office and gestured for Rave to take a seat. "Now, Miss Stone... let's chat. Tell me what happened."

Rave sat down nervously and cleared her throut. "Well..." she began shakily, "I didnt know who Matt was when I first started talking to him, we just talked about the clues and how maybe we could help each other out. Professor Branxton knew about my looking for the clues." She paused and ran her hand through her hair, "Then while me and Lua were walking in the halls I got an owl from him telling us to meet him in the Room of Requirment. So we went and found Matt, Lee, Linny and Kay waiting for us. We descided to go after the book later and all headed to our common rooms. After we found it, Matt started acting really odd and then I remembered a letter I recieved from my parents that sort of hinted that something huge was going to happen here." she continued praying the Headmistress didnt know that she hadnt spoken to her parents in years. "Then it all sort of clicked. But I didnt want to just accuse someone of being evil with out proof so, stupidly, I asked him about it while Linny and Lee were arguing and he said if I didnt help him... he'd hurt Lua." she finished with a pained look on her face. She hoped that the story sounded plausible, after all it was the truth... with a little twisting of the end that is.

Rae sighed and glanced at Doyle, letting him know he could weigh in at any time. "You should have stuck with the Imperious story, Rave. No one can disprove that. But changing stories... it doesn't look good for you. Let me ask this... if you were only helping Voldemortist to protect your sister, why did you attack her once it was clear that I had the book safely? He couldn't hurt her at that point, but you still tried to help him. It looks bad for you, dear."

Rave looked confused, "Imperious story? I never said that. And I only stunned Lua to get her out of harms way. You saw how the spells were flying everywhere, you were all aiming for Matt but Lua was on his back! What if you hit her? You saw Matt, he Crucioed Professor Devine! I didnt want that to happen to Lua." she finished truthfully, if anything had happened to Lua she would have never forgiven herself.

"Have I ever before given you a reason not to trust me?" she asked of the professors, "If I had really wanted to help Matt then why would I have told Professor Branxton about the progress I was making with the clues?" As she finished, Rave's eyes filled with tears and she bowed her head. What in earth had she gotten herself into.

"She did tell me of her quest for the clues, that much is true," Professor Branxton spoke up to collaborate at least that much of the story. "She never spoke of Matt Walters to me, though. Is there a reason you left that bit out of your reports to me?"

"Well Sir, I only met Matt down at the Quidditch Pitch right after I found the second clue with Lua. With all the students looking for clues I didnt think that another one asking questions was a big deal. Now I know I was wrong." Rave said miserably. "Are you going to kick me out of school?" she asked on the verge of tears.

"Probably," Rae admitted honestly, an atypically grouchy look appearing on her face. She would NOT be the reason a student came to harm again, and if this girl was going to be the cause of Voldmortist having a foothold in her school, she'd let the Ministry deal with her. "I'm going to have to contact the Ministry, you know?"

Rave's jaw dropped and she shot look at Branxton that was clearly begging for help. She wasnt the begging type but desperate times called for desperate means. "Headmistress I have no where to go! My parents dont want me and I have no other relatives, what am I going to do?! This is the only way I can see my sisters and I love this school!" at these words Rave lost her composure completly and began sobbing into her hands. "I'll do anything you ask, just please let me stay."

One thought was running through her mind over and over. 'Stupid Rave. Stupid stupid stupid. Going home wouldnt be worth this and Mom and Dad wont take you back since you failed.'

Rae looked at Doyle for his opinion. "I can't put your peers into jeopardy until I figure out whether or not you're telling the truth. I truly don't want to judge you harshly for a small mistake, and in any other matter, you know I'd let you stay."

"I think perhaps that Miss Stone should take an early holiday this year and go to wherever it is she goes during the summer. I'm sure we can arrange for some care and therapy for her over the course of the summer holiday. We can speak with the therapist and Miss Stone before the start of next term to determine her state of mind at that time," Doyle suggested.

Rae nodded. "If that's acceptable to Miss Stone, I'll support the plan of treatment and reevaluation at the end of the summer," she offered the girl a small smile. It really was out of character for her to jump to conclusions, but this had been the most stressful term yet in some ways.

Rave sighed. Now they thought she was crazy. 'Oh well, she thought Its better than being kicked out for good.' "Yeah.... I guess thats ok... And I'm sorry for any trouble I caused... I was just trying to protect my sister.'' Rave said. She didnt like the sound of 'therapy' but if it let he come back to Hogwarts.... shed do it.

Novalus finally made it to the professor's office and was about to knock when something inside him told him it was better to wait outside it

Professor Branxton nodded his approval, then looked to Cassandra who had the final word in decisions of this nature.

"Nothing is settled, but you and I will have a meeting in Diagon Alley at the end of the summer. We shall discuss your progress. I'd actually prefer for you to stay with your sisters and to avoid contact with your parents for the summer. You're dismissed," Rae rose and headed for the door. She needed to get to the End of Term feast.

Novalus was waiting outside office of Professor Branxton when he decided that maybe he shouldn't do anything until he gets word from a far and decided to head down to the great hall

Rave got to her feet and followed the headmistress out the door hopeing she wouldn't run into anyone on the way to the feast.

Professor Branxton followed out after Cassandra and Miss Stone. His presence would be needed at the feast, as would Cassandra's. He stepped up next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. Handholding was inappropriate at this time but, he thought she might at least appreciate a small comforting gesture after all that had happened.


ooc: Since Professor Branxton is now at the end of term feast and unable to respond to posts made in his office, I am closing it.