A tiny white kitten came bounding down the halls but stopped suddenly at the sight of water. With an indignant hiss, he jumped into Lasca's waiting arms. The young girl walked closer and looked at the plaque that stated what the swamp was doing in the middle of a school.

Shaking her head, she took to studying the two statues. The school, she had found was enormous. She found it all terribly fascinating though. Everything was so different from what she was used to back home. Returning to inspecting the section of swamp, she made mental note to ask her friend about it.

Arms crossed tightly across her chest, Evolette McKenna stood a few feet away from the statues, leaning against the wall. For some reason, she found it easy to reflect here, it was more quiet than the common room or the dorms, and way less crowded than the grounds.

She stared at the statues with focused determined eyes, she almost expected them to come to life like the paintings on the walls, but they never did.

En route to Professor Kazimeriz's office, Anna headed down the fifth floor corridor, looking for any distraction that would ultimately postpone the inevitable. She needed to drop by the new professor's office sooner or later, but a little distraction here or there never hurt a soul. Just when Anna was starting to think that the fifth floor was void of any and all action, she spotted her good friend, Evolette McKenna. Evolette was, for some reason, simply standing still and staring at the statues. Anna quietly stepped to Evolette's side, staring at the statues just as her friend was doing. After a few silent moments and no revelation as to what was so interesting about a bunch of statues, Anna finally spoke up. "So, what are we looking at?" she asked.

Clutching at her throat, Evolette let out a tiny gasp as she jumped away from the source of the voice. "Merlin Greingoth." she said slowly, her breathing labored from the scare. "You're like the world's quietest walker or something."

She took a few deep breaths before turning to face the girl. "Me? I was just zoning out actually. Taking a break from studying." It felt like she had had her nose in a book ever since she arrived at Hogwarts.

"Anyway, how are you?" she asked, turning the conversation around quickly. The last time she had spoken to Anna was on the train, when she was acting slightly crazy and hiding her breakup, and she was sure it was going to come up soon, but she was trying to prolong it as long as possible.

"AHHH!" Anna exclaimed, startled over Evolette's wild reaction. "Merlin me? Merlin you, Evolette! I didn't realize you weren't aware I was standing there." Anna couldn't help but laugh a bit, though. It wasn't often she got a good laugh at scaring the wits out of someone. Especially if that someone happened to react the way Evolette just did. Anna also didn't blame Evolette in a way. With all the new ghosts floating around the school, the students really weren't sure at all of what would pop up next. Instinctively, Anna glanced at the walls and ceiling around her, making sure Peeves hadn't suddenly decided to make a little cameo.

"I guess I'm doing alright. This may prove to be a tough school year, but I'll get through it. I guess you can really get through anything with the help of a few good friends," Anna said. There were a few things bothering Anna, but she didn't want to burden Evolette with them. Positive conversation seemed a lot better of an option at the moment. "So, how's Terry? I haven't seen him around lately," Anna said.

Closing her eyes and taking another deep breath, Evolette placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I think we may need some kind of code or something, instead of standing behind each other and eliciting screams."

The scare had almost put her in a good mood, until Anna brought up Terry. "Oh." she said, tucking her hair behind her ear, "Really, well neither have I honestly." She hadn't seen him at all since he left her in the Leaky. "So, yeah I wouldn't know."

Chewing on her lip, her mind raced to pick up on something that Anna had said, "Tough school year?" she asked. You and I both. "Why? What's wrong?" she was suddenly very eager to know everything about Anna's life since they had last spoken. Maybe the girl would end up occupied with her own problems and forget that she had mentioned Terry.

Yeah, don't hold your breath McKenna.

Anna laughed at Evolette's comment about eliciting screams. "How about a nice hello next time?" she jokingly asked. "I'm sorry, Evee. You just looked so interested in those statues that I just had to walk up and get a firsthand look myself." Anna absentmindedly stared at the statues once again. Being here reminded her of Nico, because she'd sat here and talked to him for hours last term during her break-up with Cale. Remarkably, Anna actually missed that love potion-administering, point-earning Slytherin.

Anna eyed Evolette suspiciously when she mentioned that she hadn't seen Terry either. That didn't sound good---at all. Noticing Evolette's discomfort, Anna realized she'd said something she shouldn't have. Were Evee and Terry having problems? It sure sounded like it. Ooops. "Oh, erm....oh," Anna managed to mumble. Anna heard Evee ask about a tough school year, but Anna wasn't sure if she should answer that question. The answer involved Cale, and if Evee was having relationship troubles, Anna didn't want to go on and on about her love life. "Erm, tough? Did I say tough?" Anna asked.

"Right. Hello. That should work." Evolette said without taking a breath. Merlin, she was so tense now, with the scare, and the mention of Terry,it was enough to send her straight into the arms of her safe haven, her security. Her bed!

"Well, I was just thinking about how the pictures and even the staircases move, but not the statues. I mean, I've never seen them move, so I was sort of waiting, to see if they did." She had a lot of time on her hands lately, so it seemed that she had acquired a few odd habits.

Okay. Now Anna was acting weird. This was just starting to be too odd. They were friends right? So why did Evolette feel so weird about admitting to Anna that Terry had dumped her? Did she think it would mess up her reputation? Or maybe it was because at one point, Evolette had been nothing more than the other woman to Anna, and maybe if Anna knew about her problems with love, she would think it was deserved?

Or maybe she was just thinking about it too much.

Right, that had to be it. "Okay." she started, eyes circling the area quickly to make sure no one else was around. "I'll tell you, if you tell me. Deal?"

Anna nodded when Evolette started talking about the moving pictures and staircases. The thought actually made sense to Anna, though, and she glanced back up at the statues once again. When they didn't move, she turned back to Evolette. "I came here with Nico once last term," she randomly said. "We just sat and talked and got our mind off things that were bothering us. I guess it's a good thing the statues don't move, you know. I don't think the place would be quite so peaceful if they did."

A few more moments of silence awkwardly passed. Both Evolette and Anna had something to say, but neither were really talking about it. Just when Anna was starting to think the conversation was getting a little too awkward, Evee finally spoke up and broke the silence. Anna considered Evee's deal for a moment and then nodded. "Alright. Deal," she said. "Do you want to go first?"

Evolette listened to Anna carefully, "Youre right about that I guess. It does rather seem a nice, peaceful place. Much quieter than the Common Room, that's for sure."

Did she want to go first? NO! But, she thought, she might as well get it over with. Out in the open so that she didn't have to hide it anymore. "I guess." she shrugged, pulling at her hair.

"The reason I haven't seen Terry recently is because he broke up with me. Back at Diagon Alley. Which is also the reason why I was acting so odd on the train, and the people I was trying to avoid? Namely him."

There now it was out. For the whole world to know. Except, she hadn't told the whole world. Just Anna.

"Your turn." she added feebly, forcing a smile.

Anna nodded as Evee agreed with her about the peacefulness of the statues. There was no need to reply to the small talk, though. There were bigger, more serious matters to discuss. Anna waited quietly and patiently for Evee to tell her story.

As soon as the news broke, Anna's eyes immediately widened and her face dropped into one of shock. Terry had broken up with Evolette? They'd been perfect together, though! Anna knew that if she could see herself in the mirror right now, she'd see a face full of shock. "Oh, Evee, I'm so sorry," Anna said, giving her friend an apologetic look. "Would I be out of line if I asked why?" Instinctively, Anna reached over and hugged her friend. She knew that wouldn't make everything all better, but she hoped it would at least help some.

All too quickly, Anna was being asked about her dilemna, as well. Anna sighed and prepared herself to spill what had been bugging her for the past few weeks. "Evolette, the thing is, I never thought I'd fall in love until I was way older than I am now. I thought I'd be twenty-five or so, you know. Never did I imagine I would only be fourteen when I met the love of my life. That blows my mind sometimes when I think about it," Anna explained.

She stopped talking for a moment and looked up at Evolette, feeling kind of guilty to be discussing her love life when Evolette and Terry had broken up. Anna sighed and continued her story. "Cale's graduating this school year, and I just...I don't know...I don't think...I mean, I don't want to be separated from him while he leaves for the working world, and I leave for a year full of school," she said. "I've tried to talk to him about it, but he just kind of shrugs it off and says he wants to only think positive since this is his last school year. I don't know, though. I've just grown so close to him that I can't imagine being here without him."

Fifth floor corridor, the statues... same thing. The important thing was that both things were located in the fifth floor. Besides, Willow had already put up fliers in the two previous corridors, so why don't got with something different now?

Spotting Anna, the Gryffindor prefect, and Evolette engaged in some kind of conversation that she did not care about, Willow took a few steps towards both of them before interrupting their chatting, and saying, "Here you go, Anna. Evolette." That said, she handed fliers to both of them, before putting up one in the wall, and then continuing her little wandering.


*click on poster for link*

"Er- thanks Willow." Evolette said, taking one glance at the flier the Ravenclaw had given her. Merlin! That was an ugly cat. Or was she just extremely scareable? Nevertheless, she waited until the girl was out of hearing range to continue, Evolette knew how much Willow hated talking about relationships.

Shrugging her petite shoulders, Evolette shook her head slowly, "He didn't really give me a reason is the thing." she started, "We'd just had this very heated conversation about how much his parents love me and my parents, and if they would even approve of him, and I know he got freaked out by it, but he never admitted that that was the reason he wanted to take a break. I guess, it was his turn to bolt."

In the back of her mind, she cursed the Leaky Cauldron. If they had not been there that day, if she hadn't brought up his parents, maybe he would still want to be with her.

She was a little surprised when Anna reached out and hugged her, because it brought her out of her cursing, but it did make her feel better. A little. Every hug from Anna, every kind word from Cale, every kiss from Hugo, it was starting to heal the hurt.

Ooooh. Evolette should have guessed. Graduation was what Anna was worried about. "You know what, Cale's probably just as worried about it as you are, but, like Terry and everyother guy I've ever known, he doesn't want to admit it." She punctuated her sentence with a comforting smile and continued on, "I think, you should tell him that it is important to you that the two of you talk about it, because you're worried about it."

It was an odd feeling giving someone advice about what to do with their boyfriend after her own had dumped her, but Evolette shrugged again, "Or you know, don't listen to me. I'm not the most reliable source at the time."

Shana was wondering around school,,Going in and out of different rooms trying to find her way around...she thought it would be abit embarresing if she got lost.

She'd spent ages on the moving stairs she kept finding herself in the same place all the time.But eventually she found herself in a place she hadn't been to before.She was on the fifth floor..she thought in a room with some statue's.She walked over to one of the stautes and Looked at it observantly.

John who had looked around the fifth floor, had decided to check in the statue place to see if there was anymore clues as to were Liam could have hid his peace of the letter and the only place he could think of was the Statues. He looked around but couldn't find anything. He was about to leave when he saw this girl. He went upto her and smiled. "Hello, my name is John Mosier."

Shana was looking at the statue and started to think about the time her and Charlie had broken that statue in the muesum and their mum had to pay for it.She gave a little giggle.Then turned around as she heard a voice say something to her.Hey,Im Shana,Shana Miller Are you looking for something ?

"Yes but it doesn't seem to be here." Replied John as he looked around the room. Suddenly he saw something he wasn't going to forget for awhile, now what was he going to do, he wanted Professor Dumont. John looked around the room, tears were beginning to form in his eyes. What was he going to do?. "Shana nice to meet you." He wondered if she would mind if he left.

Shana looked at John and smiled then she noticed tears rolling down his face.Was he ok ? she asked herself Ermm John are you okay ?

Ruby finally made it to the statues and found John she saw he was looking upset she walked over to him and asked "what happened John?"

John looked at Shana and then said "I have to go." He hoped that she would follow him, but had a feeling she probably wouldn't.

Anna peered over Evolette's shoulder and glanced at the flyer Willow Kovak had left behind. Hmm...Agony Aunt. That looked interesting. Anna studied the flyer a bit more and then turned towards Evolette once again. "Are you going to use that? If not, may I have it?" Anna asked. She didn't know for sure if she'd write to this so-called "Agony Aunt," but she still wanted to consider it. "I mean, not that I'm going to write to this Agony Aunt person or anything like that, but I just...erm, think the cat's...cute," she said. Ugh. No doubt Evolette would be able to see right through that little lie.

Anna listened as Evolette described what had happened with Terry. As her friend talked, Anna's face lit up. "Oh, Evolette! Can't you see what's happened? Terry is, unfortunately, like most other guys out there," Anna declared. "Guys have this weird way of dealing with relationships. We get excited about things like the future and being together forever. They are the exact opposite. They run from those sorts of things. Mark my words, Evolette. Terry will come back to you, you just wait. He'll be back..."

Anna sighed and took a seat against the wall. "You really think it'd be that easy to talk to Cale about him leaving?" Anna asked. She'd been holding her feelings in for weeks, afraid that Cale would get upset with her if she went on and on about this being his last year at Hogwarts. "Evolette, is it wrong that I actually played with the idea of wishing Cale would fail his seventh year?"

"Be my guest." Evolette said, handing over the flier to Anna, she briefly wondered if Anna was in fact going to write about Cale, but, she wasn't going to say anything.

"I know." She muttered, "But, it's not like I've hired a wedding planner or anything. His Mother might've, but not me." She felt better though, for some reason, after Anna assured her that Terry would be back. It was almost as if Anna really knew that it was going to happen.

Sliding down the wall, Evolette sat next to Anna, resting her chin in her hand. "It's the one thing I do know right now." she said, "You have got to talk to him about it, because, you know how guys are; Terry, Cale, they don't like to talk about how they feel, so they're definitely not going to bring it up on their own. Cale's probably just as worried about it as you are."

Chuckling, Evolette smiled, "Nah." She shook her head, "Wrong would be taking actual steps to cause him to fail. You know, like bribing the Professors, brewing potions, distracting him from studying with flirting." she shrugged, "But I doubt you are doing any of that."

Hugo was slightly concerned for his health. Recently, he'd been getting more bumps and bruises than usual. Plus, he missed his friends. Sure, he'd gone Panda dancing with Maxxie but that was before he'd broken his nose and had to rush to the hospital. As he remembered this, his hands flew to his nose, just to make sure that it wasn't actually bent like he'd feared. Phew. It was fine. And then he'd made up with Miles, which had been the PLUS of the century. Except he wanted to make up lost time with his bestie. Hmmm. And Terry had practically evaporated, the idiot. Where was he half the time?

As for Evolette. WELL. Hugo hadn't come in contact with the girl since...since...

TRIP...BANG.

Hugo's feet collided with two figures huddling against the wall, and his arms flapped desperately through the air as though trying to cling desperately to some invisible grip. He managed to keep his balance, but his head made contact with the wall. Ow. "Lettie!" He exclaimed, blinking in a daze. "Whatchu doing on the floor?" She was with Gryffindor prefect too. What were they doing?

Evolette threw her arms up in defense, turning her head and wincing as someone practically threw themselves at her and Anna. She was not about to let some random fall ruin her perfect face.

"You clumsy oaf-" she started, before allowing her blue eyes to take in the face of her best friend. "Hugie!" she squeaked, jumping up and trying to move him off of Anna, "You should probably pay more attention to where you're going you know." she chided, brushing a patch of dust off of his shoulder.