End of term feast.

Alec stopped and stared around at the Great Hall, slightly confused. He... was here early. Just like he had been at the Start of Term Feast... right? Yeah. Probably. And he had been sort of early to some of the classes this past term which was... weird. But what wasn't weird was seeing the familiar black and gold banner that represented Hufflepuff over towards the side of the Great Hall. It was actually... nice knowing that he had helped in a lot more areas than Quidditch this term.

The fifteen year old bounded along towards the Hufflepuff table and sat down somewhere towards the middle of the table, a grin spread across his face. He was... generally happy about this feast. Yeah. It meant that the summer holidays were just around the corner -- SUMMER = SEASON OF ICE CREAM = SUPER AWESOME! -- and so, he'd get to see his Dad again. And the past term had been really awesome! The best so far!

... Except... there was also the small matter of the seventh years who were going to be leaving this term. Alec rested his elbow on the table and his chin on the palm of his hand. No more Violet and no more Belle and no more Milton either. It would be sad... yeah. Although, Violet did say he could come over and visit her over the summer. And Belle told him to look after a certain someone coming in next term. Someone who'd hopefully be a Hufflepuff...

Speaking of, where were the other Hufflepuffs? ... Or just... people?

The feast.

Grin!

That meant food and friends and celebrating Hufflepuff being awesome, yeah? And Hufflepuff was really awesome. The blonde was quite proud to be a member of this particular house and friends with lots of awesome badgers. Cool people, badgers were. The feast was also nice because Ella got to sit with Alec, her boyfriend, and think about all the great stuff that had happened to her this term. And yes, tons of great things had happened. More good stuff than bad meant a win in Ella’s book. Mhm.

Noting that not many people were in the hall yet, the fifteen year old shrugged and headed right to the middle of the puff table, flopping down next to the hair ruffler and kissing his cheek. ”Hey Alec!” Grin!Blush. ”I can’t believe it’s nearly over.” The term, of course. ”It was a good year, yeah?”

Bliss walked into the hall slowly, empty of all feeling. She didn't want to BE here, yet here she was. She'd have to socialize and act like everything was great when it really, really wasn't. How was she even meant to do that? There wasn't an instruction manual thingy on emotions. Come to think of it, there should be, it would totally help. Maybe Bliss could write one for future generations that have to go through the same problems as her. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts and walked toward the 'Puff table.

It was practically empty.

Where WAS everyone?

Oh, people. How unexpected. BLINK. Bliss shuffled closer like the awkward badger that she was and peered at the boy and girl. ALEC. ELLY. Right, well .. for a second she thought of jumping on Alec's back. Y'know, their usual greeting. That, however, probably wasn't very appropriate for an end of term feast and all, so instead she meekly made her way over to him and sat down beside the both of them. "Hey, Alec. Hey, Ella" she whispered. She didn't have the energy yet to talk louder or speak more. A simple 'hey' would have to do.

Damon walked to his table... His final end of the year feast... It was sad, and he still had to find Ari by the end of the night to talk to her... But first, he wanted to find his possibly sister to be and just be with his family before heading over to the Slytherin table. He looked around... No sign of Min yet, he knew she'd be there, she always was there when he needed her.

The term was over... over.. her fifth year gone! Where did the time go, she was going to be a sixth year *Meep* that just didn't seem right. The sixteen year couldn't wrap her head around being that old yet. Plus that would mean Ethan would be a seventh year. Shaking these thoughts out of her head she looked down her table and smiled. They won again this term, it felt good to have Hufflepuff on top again. As she looked at the table, Minerva smiled all the excited faces, but her smile didn't last long as she saw a certain seventh year sitting alone.

Damon.. Her mind went back to the end of her second year, she had been having a hard time with her parents death and it was at this very feast she sat down with a Ravenclaw she had met and was introduced to her group of friends. If only Minerva would have known this group would have been the pick me up she needed that summer and would be there for her since. Walking towards him she tried to smile knowing he would probably be a ball of emotions being his last feast an all. "Damon" She wrapped her arms around him. "Congrats.. You did it. I can't believe it's the end of term already and you are done." She sat down next to him and looked up to see how his mood was.

Damon smiled and hugged Minerva back, "How will you survive without me?" He chuckled, "And... Just so we're clear, if you're grandparents are okay with us adopting you, I'm kidnapping you as often as I can." Damon looked at her, sadness and happiness showing at the same time, "And... Even if you two aren't getting along... Let me know how my Slytherin's doing... Please?"

Fina bounded into the Great Hall under an array of mixed emotions. She was about to head up to her usual seat at the staff table, but a familiar head caught her vision, as she backtracked over toward the Hufflepuff Table and placed a gentle hand on the third year's shoulder.

"Hi Bliss," she spoke softly. "Did... is ... everything okay?" Because she did genuinely care and when the girl took off suddenly with West, well, she wanted to make sure everything was ... okay. But the fact that she made it back for the feast was comforting, yes?

Minerva laughed, "Yes how will I survive. I'll tell you one thing the common room is going to be so quiet without you playing your guitar for me." No she was not dealing with this well, but she was trying. Every year this was getting harder. The friends she were beginning to lose were closer and closer to her heart.

Then he brought up a little topic that they only spoke briefly about, "I'll talk to Puck and Chelle at the station, but then I'm going to my grandparents soon after. My plane leaves about two hours after we arrive at Kings Crossing. I'll be there a few weeks, Ethan's coming out to spend some time with me there." She smiled with that thought and with the thought of their muggle challenge she was making him do. "Then before all this came about he helped me get a small job at a hospital in Germany. So I will be staying with his family, but in between the two I plan on going to your house to maybe finalize everything and do whatever it is that is done with this kind of thing." She felt like a fish out of water with it. So many emotions.."Oh you will?" She laughed, "I don't think it's kidnapping when I go willingly.. Plus we still have our mirrors." Yes the mirror her cousin gave to her expecting to keep one and Minerva took both giving one to Damon third year.

As for checking on Ariana she sighed, "Damon I can let you know how she is doing, but I don't think that's a good idea. I don't want to see you keep hurting over her. I know her and I have been having our difference, but I still think of her as one of my best friends, but so are you and I don't want to see either hurting."

Damon nodded to everything she said, then tried to fight a grimace. That sounded a whole lot like what he and Ari had planned to do... Her move to France with him, when school started him picking her up after classes were done and the two of them sneaking off every weekend just to spend it with each other... He sighed, "I... Min there's really no getting over her for me..." He sighed, "And I got stupid, and let her go because I got jealous... I'm know I'm young, and I know I've got a whole lot of life to live... But I also know that without it being her by my side... I'm just going to feel empty..."

He tried to give another smile and to go into a happy state again, but his and Ari's original plan was the only thing sticking... He sighed, "I'm sorry, Min... I'm not supposed to be moping I know but... It's hard." He had his hopes so high that everything was going to work out... And now they just seemed to be falling apart again.

For a moment, Bliss was lost in thought, only to be pulled out of them again by-- "Oh, hello Professor," she said, offering a weak smile. Everything okay? How on earth could she answer in a way that made sense and without crying. The whole, no crying thing was a challenge on it's own. The little badger started with a simple shake of her head. A shake that said, 'No, nothing's alright at all'. Or something to the effect. Now the tricky part, of how to say that her Dad was gone - not with them anymore.

Gradually, it all built up inside her and she burst out with the exact word she'd written to West when it had happened. "Gone," she whispered. "He's g-gone." A tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. "Mydaddied." The words came out in a rush, but once they were out, she felt slightly better. Though, it was proving difficult to keep herself together.

Well, this was a first.

As soon as he entered the Great Hall, he made his way toward the Hufflepuff table. Standing at the far end, he scanned the length of the table looking for a certain someone. “She’s usually in here early.” Mordred frowned and made his way to his own seat with the Slytherins. “Where is she? Is she okay?” After his encounter with Oakey the other day, he can’t help but feel the growing worry inside him for Sophie. He found her crying the other night but she wouldn’t tell why and what happened.

Patience isn’t one of his strong points, and he badly wants to ram his way towards the Hufflepuff dorm to look for Sophie. Seeing that he doesn’t have any choice but to wait, he stood up again and went back to the Hufflepuff table.

Welcome or not, he sat on the far end of the table away from the group of badgers and waited for Sophie arrive.

Aaaand Minnie was talking to Damon and she did NOT want to deal with him right now, soo she'd wait.. patiently for her.. overrr here. she sat down and eyed the guy who was sitting across the table and a spot or two down.. he was wearing slytherin robes..... ugh.. they didn't sit here.. he knew that right...."Hey." she said getting the odd boys attention.. he seemed to be deep in thought and ariana almost felt bad for saying something to him but.. too late now.. opps.

she had her hands in her lap and she was just eyeing him a bit... really.. what was he doing here?

HMMM.

Bliss vaguely recognised the face, but she couldn't put a name to it. Perhaps he was a friend of a friend? That would explain it. Cautiously, she approached him, not really smiling, but still looking welcoming. "Hey." The word came out as a whisper and she tried to speak louder, "are you looking for someone?"

Awkward potato.

He hates waiting.

Waiting was such a pain for Mordred and he could not help but frown. He was hoping for a miracle that no one would notice him and his robes, but his green robes was standing out. The Slytherin looked at the person who called him out...and well...hello fellow snake. “Hey.” He replied lazily and went back to staring at the golden plate in front of him.

“Oh wait, I know her...” Mordred looked up from the plate and tried to remember where he first saw her. If his memory serves him right he first encountered this girl back when they were locked out from their dorm. And yes...she’s one of the Slytheirn Quidditch players. “Are...you waiting for someone?”

Before he could even wait for his fellow Slytherin to respond, another person came to...sort of welcome him. Mordred looked up and nodded at the younger student to acknowledge her. "I...am actually. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here." The Slytherin shrugged and felt that his wording didn't sound nice at all. "Er...I hope you don't mind me taking up some space here...miss?" Eh...what's your name again?

He's really terrible when it comes to being friendly.

yes, she was just staring at him, possibly trying to make him uncomfortable.. eh, who knew, she was simply bored. ' All you need is love, ba da dada da dum.. all you need is love!' wait.. waht. Ariana was singing a song in her head and in her own world for a moment she didn't even hear the boy say hi. She shook her head, then ran her hands through her hair.. "huh? Oh hey.". hellllooooo weirdo.

She kept staring, and occasionally shooting glances to see if min was done, but she wasn't so she continued talking with mr whatever his name was. He was seriously deep in thought over something and she had no idea just what it was.. "are you alright?" he looked odd..

waiting for someone.. "Not really, no." lies. but whatever

And there was BLISSY! haiii blissy! she got a waavvveee

Aaaaand, he was off to the Puff table in hopes of finding someone who brought some snacks while food wasn't out yet.

He sat down next to a gloomy looking girl who seemed to mustering up energy to speak to people. Hm. At least Zeke could be at peace somehow. His eyes scanned the whole table...students talking...no food giving. Sigh.

The seventeen year old looked again at the girl beside him. "Tough day for you?" He tried to give her a smile, and failed successfully at it. Giving up the happy look he was aiming for, the lost Gryffindor just decided to introduce himself, "I'm Zeke, by the way." Not that his name really matters.

As his eyes continued to scan the rest of the students, he saw a familiar looking Slytherin. Err, he looked familiar. But Zeke couldn't quite remember him in his mind. Blame it on the lovely accident that erased his memories of the people he's met. Good thing he could remember everything a wizard should know. Or else, he's bound to be set back on first year. A seventeen year old first year? Not a good idea. Anyway, what was a Slytherin doing in the Puff table? ....or better yet maybe Zeke should ask the same question for himself.

"Hey..." Zeke greeted the Slyth guy, whoever he was. Probably someone he met before since he looked very very familiar.

Oakey moved his way down to the Great Hall and rushed himself over to his Table. He looked for a spot until he noticed some Green sitting down with his Yellow.
Grabbing the spot beside him Oakey pat the Slytherin's back "Mordy Mordaunt." Oakey said with a smile beaming from one cheek to the next.
"What ever could possibly bring you here to the Hufflepuff table?"
Oh Oakey knew, and Oakey was eying his table up and down for her as well.
Well now! Ariana was here too, anymore Slytherins wish to sit with the Badgers? "Ariana sit down with us. You don't have to stand." He patted the bench and scooted over a tad for the 5th year to sit beside him.
His eyes caught the only other Hufflepuff that was around this group of theirs at the table. Bliss, and she made it back. He had only heard that she and West left, but missed out on why. "Glad you're back Bliss." Again with all the smiling, can he frown yet for something? Maybe give his mouth a break, it was starting to hurt.

Oh well hello weirdo. At least he knows that he has a good reason to be in the Hufflepuff table. Ignoring the Slytherin, he looked and strained his eyes to see if Sophie was already there. Nope, no sign of her.

Was he all right? Nope, he wasn't. He didn't have to answer that question though because his answer was quite obvious...

soo....

Then another guy came. Well, it's been a while since the last time he saw this Durmstrang dude. "Zeke." Mordred acknowledged the Gryffindor and stared at him for a few seconds. "What is up with this guy? It seems his memory is leaking..." the Slytherin couldn't care less as he scanned the table again.

"Where is she?"

And finally a familiar voice. Mordred scooted and gave Oakey a space to sit in. Was he serious about his question. "You know very well why I am here. And I can blame everything on you if she doesn't show up soon." Mordred pulled the goblet nearest him and drank from it. This waiting business is just horrible.

As he placed the goblet down, the Slytherin followed Oakey's gaze and it landed on his fellow Slytherin. Mordred slowly looked at Oakey and gave him the look that says...'is-she-the-girl?' look.

Awesome. Lots of awkwardness about to come their way.

'So he does know me.' But Zeke doesn't know him. Before he could begin to ask about the guy's name, a greater curiosity struck him. Who was this dude looking for?

"Err, is something the matter?" 'Cause the Slytherin looked really troubled. This made Zeke feel troubled too, for some reason. So he, as well, looked around and scanned the table, hoping to find what the snake was looking for...or to find the food Zeke was craving for.

It's okay if you don't know his name Zeke. Just keep it cool and act like you know him. Avoid questions where you need to mention a name. Call him...dude or bro or something. Yeah. Just do that.

Minerva saw her little badger, well most of them. She scanned the room for Sophie and frowned, nope she wasn't here yet. Hopefully she would be down soon or Minerva was going to have to go find her and drag her down to have fun with her friends. She didn't like seeing Sophie sad and wasn't going to let her stay sad any longer. Moving closer to the other three Minerva smiled, "Hey little badgers, can you believe it's another year already." Nope they were not growing older, these three would be first years forever in her eyes, but they weren't now were they. Ella and Alec were even dating. DATING... It just didn't seem right.

She looked at Bliss, she couldn't believe no one had told her sooner, but at least she was finally told. Putting her arms around her she whispered, "I'm so sorry Blissy, if I would have known sooner I would have been there for you sooner. If you need anything.. anything please owl me this summer." Turning to the rest she gave a small smile, "That goes for all of you as well. I will be between the States and Germany this summer, so an owl can find me."



As Minerva talked to her little badgers she saw an adult coming towards the table and her smile grew as she saw one of her favorite professor and her head of house coming towards them. Of course she was coming to check on Blissy, she was a great house mom like that. "Hello Professor, I hope we did you proud this year." Well everyone that worked hard, she knew she slipped this term, not even close to helping with that leader board. That was new for Minerva, and she knew next term she would work very hard to get back the lack of work she did this term. "So Professor do you have any fun and exciting plans for this summer?" She was very excited for her plans and couldn't wait to get started with her summer.



Minerva sighed, "Damon your young, you will probably go off and find some lawyer girl and fall in love and then have to tell the poor muggle your a wizard with a crazy wizard family." She chuckled using his own words from the swimming dock against him with crazy family. "Yes you are young, and yes it does feel really bad right now, but once away from school it will turn around. You just watch." She knew Damon was going to struggle with this and she couldn't imagine if it were her and Ethan not together, she would just be heart broken, but he was young enough and there were plenty of girls out there.

"Hey, your allowed to be whatever you want. This is your last feast. I don't even want to think about how I will be. Probably will cry the entire time." She didn't even want her brain to start thinking of that, she had two more years left and had no clue what she wanted to do afterwards, she had some options in her head, the latest a healer, but she would see. Things seemed to change weekly with her when it came to careers. "So tell you what, if you need me this summer just get a hold of me, if I'm still at my grandparents you are welcome there, if I'm with Ethan, well I will find the quickest way to come help you out, okay?"



Minerva noticed two green robes sitting down the table, that was weird why were slytherin sitting at their table without any puffs around. Then she noticed the girl and smiled, was Ariana looking for her? She knew they had been fighting and hoped it was in the past now after certain events through them back together, but maybe she was looking for someone else, it wasn't Damon since he was right were she could see him. Minerva took the chance and walked to the end of the table, "Hey Ari, you looking for someone." She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer if his name started with an O, but she was going to have to except it now wasn't she.

"Can you believe term is over? I feel like we just started and now we will be sixth years." Oh that didn't seem right, no they shouldn't be sixth years already. "So. umm where are going to be at this summer?" She wasn't sure now that it seemed France was not happening.

By no way did Bliss mean to stereotype, but she could definitely tell that this dude was a Slytherin. That did sound a little judgmental, but everyone knew she thought Snakes were awesome, so it was no problem. Judging by the way he phrased things, he didn't care all that much about taking up space, but STILL .. he seemed nice enough. "Course I don't mind." BLINK. Miss? "M'name is Bliss," she offered, along with a friendly smile. "Who're you waiting for? If you didn't mind my asking." She was kinda curious to find whether she knew them or not.



ARIANA!

Bliss waved back enthusiastically. "Hey, you." BEAM. She wanted to talk to her cookie girl, yes she did. "How're you?" She asked. A great starting point if you asked her, cos they conversation could lead them anywhere. This was, again, QUITE a bad idea.



Bliss sat staring at the table; half bored, half sad. Though a little bit of hyper could or should be added in there. Hmmm. A PERSON. Could this by her ticket out of boredom? She looked the older boy up and down for whatever reason and glad him the okay, not that Bliss had ever given someone the not-okay. She was about talk to him, but he beat her to it. "Kinda. Yeah." She nodded simply, the boy seemed very relaxed. "More like tough week though," admitted, her word slightly mushed together as she spoke. She hoped he wouldn't ask too many questions, because wasn't ready to answer them all. Moving ON. "It's nice to meet you, Zeke. I'm Bliss." Bliss explained, this time giving him a proper, dazzling smile.



Hmmm, another voice. Bliss shifted her attention from Zeke to Oakey and immediately beamed. "Thank you, Beater brother!" She was glad that he was glad that she was back. Cos, yeah. He was her fellow Beater and also like a brother, so it all fit and made her happier. ISH. As happy as she could be given the current state of things. "Anyway, how're you doing?" She asked, shuffling nearer to him to talk properly. Right then he looked slightly fed up and Bliss wondered why.



While waiting for Oakey to reply, she turned to yet ANOTHER 'Puff who seemed to have quite a few words for her to hear. "Hello, Min," she said brightly, returning the smile. "I KNOW. I'll be going in FOURTH year." Yep. It was a big deal because it was the half way year in her Hogwarts education and it also meant that she'd be turning 15. These were big things, people. BIG. THINGS. Older Bliss was going to be more mature and knowledgeable and she was going to be a role model to kiddos everywhere.

Then, just like that, her mood flipped and a great sadness overcame her. Surprisingly enough, she managed to hold off an onslaught of tears after saying goodbye to a few of her graduating friends. However, with all the memories, thoughts and emotions that came with goodbyes, she didn't know how long it would last. She went into Min's arms willingly and clung to the older girl. "Thank you, Min. You know I appreciate it all the same," she gave a weak smile, her voice going a little shaky. "I promise I'll owl you if I need you," she assured her, giving her the most real smile of the next. It was nice to know that she was cared about.

Was she blushing!?

She felt like she was blushing.. like a lot.. she really hoped she wasn't.. at least not to where it was obvious. she was in her own little world for a while just watching the boys and everyone else, untill she heard her name "huh? Oh.. uhm yeah." and he was moving over and motioning for her to sit next to him, and she played it cool. Shrugging she went and sat next to him poking his side as she sat down. he was cute, but everyone already knew she thought that so no surprise there right?



What was that look!?
Ariana saw that look and she read looks better then anyone she knew ever and that was a look..

did these two know each other, like best friends or something, did they talk about her!? what was said? was it good!? maybe it was bad.. she would get to the bottom of it.. she Would.



Ohh so NOW min wanted to talk.. well she was talking with other's noww so she would have to wait... cause she was sitting right next to oakey.. hehe


Kidding..


"oh, no, i was looking for anyone really." looking for YOU min, but you were busy.. so she found Oakey & other's to talk to while she patiently waited for her to be unbusy with.. damon adn stuffs. but she was here now soo. " i know, it went by so fast, we're going to be 6th years." like WHOA! sixth years! that was crazy! " Summer, i have a few plans.. ill spend some weekends with Anya and some days with Oakey here. i might go to the states to see John & Erin but i might not cause well, you know.." John & Erin sucked! that's why. " but i'll be with Millie & Rowan other then that. with an annoying one year old who was just going to scream all the time ugh landon why were you so annoying!



"Hiya Bliss!" he said beaming back at her cookie partner.. the one that made them right. hehe. Bliss was adorable and one of the only younger kids ariana could really stand besides Odessa & Kinsley. "I'm good thanks." then she looked over at oakey for a split second and smiled.. just a QUICK second.. maybe no one saw that. "what's your plans for summer?" cause you know.. they could make cookies and stuff.

End of Term feast of sixth year.

Six years, that was a long time and for Ness it was scary to think that she had been here that long, but she was proud of that. Trying not to think about the fact that next year would be her last the Hufflepuff entered the great hall walking at one direction and one direction only, which was of course her house table.

Usually she would have sat down anywhere, but today there was somebody she wanted to sit next to and that somebody was Bliss. The Captain had been dead worried about her Eleciss kiddo and wanted to be as of much comfort as she could be through what Blissy was going through. It wasn't easy and from what Ness remembered when loosing her bestie everything felt like the world was over and nothing was good, she also remembered that all she wanted to do was let it out even though she forced herself not to and that had a bad outcome in the end. She didn't want anything like that to happen to her kiddo and so she would do her best to attempt to help her.

Aaah..there she was. The sixth year took a seat next to her baby puff and gave her a small but soft nudge. "Hey, kiddo." Then without even asking she gave her kiddo a HUGE glomp!

That's pretty ironic. For her to be named Bliss yet look so gloomy. Hm. Interesting. But then Zeke saw her smile, ah, yes. That's more like it.

Smiling back, he remarked, "Nice to meet you too, Bliss," and he liked her now. 'Cause she only said her nickname, and he was much annoyed by those who bother to say their full name when we won't be calling them that. Unless that person's really formal. This Gryffindor simply can't imagine someone going up to him and saying, "Hi Sir Ezekiel Andrei de Ferreis, good morning to you. Have a nice day, Sir Ezekiel Andrei de Ferreis. Take care, Sir Ezekiel Andrei de Ferreis. See you around, Sir Ezekiel Andrei de Ferreis." Urgh. Zeke could NOT take it if that ever happened. It's like having his own butler, with him as the "Young Master."

Anywaaaaay. What else should he say? Err, maybe he should start a conversation? Or not. Or..."Do you happen to have any food with you?" A sandwich? Maybe some ham? Oh, Godric has made him so desperate that even bread crumbs would do. With that, his stomach growled. Yep, he was a Gryffindor alright.