Oh, she just knew there was something strange in the air--And no, it wasn't cinnamon.

"It's Daphne Hopton, thank you very much," replied the girl, giving the book one last hateful squint before turning it around and holding the opened pages close to Plymouth's own nose. "Tell me, Morgan. Are the letters blurry?"

Of course they were. He had to say they were. Otherwise, what would that imply?

"THIS close, yes...," Plymouth put his hand up to put the book down to a more normal level. He gave her a funny look, but somehow - some sort of deep survival thing - told Plymouth not to verbalize what he was thinking.


"I have a favor to ask. Of you. What do you think?"

She blinked slowly at Plymouth before laughing. Pursing her lips in contained mirth, she raised her brows at him. "You're funny." However, by the way Plymouth stood slightly rigid before her, Miss Hopton had to conclude that Morgan wasn't as amused as she was by his ridiculous statement. "I'm sorry. You were being serious? Oh."

History told her that agreeing to favors before knowing what the actual favor was proved to be a dangerous and foolish decision.

"Very well, what is it?"

In "Rawr! : Being a Gryffindor" pamphlet she was handed years ago, Daphne was sure that running head first into things was a prerequisite of the house.

Plymouth opened his arms and stepped towards her. "Can I have a hug? I like - really need a hug right now. And my mum is SO far away. And my brother is a bloody traitor. And my girlfriend will electrocute me." Painfully true. All painfully true.

Again, Daphne laughed.


This time, her reasons were entirely different. Nerves, embarrassment and that awkward sensation one got when she knew that this should be the perfect timing to bring up: 'oh, yeah I know all about your girlfriend..and your step brother. Shame, really'.

Except, that really wasn't a choice here.

Her laugh died out into an uncomfortable wheeze, and Daphne swallowed, once more pursing her lips. "I'm not sure I'm the appropriate person to be hugging you. People might misconstrue the situation--" As it tended to happen in this school. What was it with the teenagers these days? They probably had way too much free time on their hands. "How about a good sturdy handshake?" declared Daphne with a smile extending a rigid arm.

Plymouth's look told her exactly what he thought about a handshake. Then, he hung his head. "Sorry. I'm just having an extraordinarily horrid day and I'm about to go risk my live in Professor Psycho's office and I just thought I could ... use a hug. Sorry though."

Suddenly, the volume in her hands seemed heavier. Groaning, the third year Gryffindor allowed her eyes to roll heavenwards, demanding to know what called for such a punishment as this. On the tip of her toes, she patted Plymouth's head. "I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely, with a small grimace. "I guess--if it's just a little hug..."

Plymouth hesitated for just a second - and then he pounced. He hugged her tight and then .... he told her just like it was, "I don't know what to do, Daphadil. I haven't ever had a brother, or a girlfriend, and CERTAINLY not a step-brother who KISSED my girfriend. I'm supposed to be FURIOUS, right? And then.. she's SO sad, oh she's so sad. My heart is so broken I could roll over and die here in the hallway. Like that kid in the library." And Plymouth told all of this to her hair and shoulder where his face was plastered. He was a big momma's boy with no momma. Saaaaaad.

Air. Air. Air.

Maybe if she repeated the word enough times in her head, oxygen would bounce into her system and inflate her lungs which seemed too busy collapsing on themselves, along with her knees. Struggling she kept the textbook between herself and Plymouth, although it didn't seem to provide much distance.

Plymouth Morgan was smothering her.

"Don't be silly, Plymouth," chided Daphne. "It's physiologically impossible to die of heart break." Chewing on her bottom lip as punishment for her lack of tact, Daphne tried to offer some kind of comfort which didn't involve poking him in the ribs with the corners of her book. "You know--I know it must be very difficult for you right now and perhaps, it's almost impossible to think of anyone but yourself in this situation--But I'm sure Celandine feels terribly terribly sorry about it all."

Copernicus Kettleburn would need to get himself a lawyer for all Daphne cared. "And so do I."

Not knowing what else to do, she maneuvered one hand to reach out and pat him awkwardly on the back.

Plymouth nodded. "I am going to go offer myself as sacrifice to save Cela. Kaziman can let me take her place. Because, despite the physiowhateverthingydo, I FEEL like I could die. She's SO sad. And she shouldn't be! THIS IS ALL HIS fault!" Plymouth was starting to boil so he had to let Daphne go.

He started to pace.

"Don't you think you're being a tad melodramatic," remarked Daphne shutting the textbook as Plymouth paced angrily around her. "Professor Kazimeriz is....certainly..." Creepy? Scary? Intimidating? "Unorthodox in his ways but I doubt he'll resort to anything illegal that requires you to become the sacrificial sheep."

Oh. Oh. OH! This...This was marvelous!

Nervously, she opened the textbook once more and hid her flushed face behind it. "Of course it's his fault. I knew it from day one that he was a delinquent. Horrible boy luring my poor Celandine into such uncouth behavior. Tsk tsk."

Heh. Heh.

Take that, friend napper. Trying to rid me of my allies? We'll see how fast your army crumbles when I attack it from the inside. Flipping a page, Daphne Hopton held back all urges to cackle.

Plymouth stopped his pacing and looked at dear little Daphne Hopton. He gave her the long look, complete with a head tilt. "You know.. .you're right. He'll just slaughter me and wear my sheepy fur for a hat." Plymouth sighed. "ANd, you could have told ME he was a delinquent. That would have been good to KNOW." Plymouth sort of laughed and then started rummaging around in his pockets. "I got you a Christmas present."


Plymouth pulled some spare paper out of his pocket and used it to wrap up Daphne's Christmas gift.





Plymouth's wrapping left a lot to be desired, but he handed it over with a great big grin and another hug. "Merry Christmas, Daphadil."

"Oh, Plymouth," whined Daphne as one would to their little brother who just wouldn't stop believing that there was ghoul living underneath his bed, which was entirely plausible in the Wizarding World. Instead of pointing out that it wouldn't have done any good to tell him his step brother was a delinquent due to the fact that he couldn't possibly force his Mother to divorce Kettleburn's father--Daphne simply chewed on the inside of her cheek, making eyes at her reflection on the shiny suit of armor nearby.

However her attention was brought back to Morgan at the mention of presents. Taking the oddly shaped (and wrapped!) plant from Plymouth's hands, Daphne smiled politely. "Oh, you shouldn't have!"

No, really, you shouldn't have. This put Daphne in a difficult predicament. She hadn't gotten Plymouth anything considering--well, considering she didn't think she needed to get him one. "I have your present!" exclaimed Daphne suddenly, holding the plant with one hand as the other rummaged through her robes. Wrapping her fingers on a gold chain, she pulled out the pocket watch and dangled it before Plymouth. "Happy Christmas! Belated--that is."

The watch twirled in its chain and when the reflective side of it met Plymouth Morgan's face, a tiny voice squealed in delight. "My, My! Such a handsome boy! Your eyes are like pickled radishes and your lips..."

Daphne shook the chain. "It's supposed to be a pick-me-upper...However, it's taste for prose is questionable."

"My lips...?" Plymouth raised an eyebrow at her. Hm... he laughed at her. But more importantly, HE got a gift!! Plymouth loved gifts!!! "Ohhhhh... a watch?? I don't have a watch! How'd yo know?? Spectacular!" Plymouth put it in his pocket and did a sophisticated sort of walk by Daffadil. "Do I look.... you know... pocket-watch-wearer-worthy?" He so did. He so knew.


"Here. Let me hold your book while you open it." Plymouth took her book from her and encouraged her to open HIS gift now.

Kazimeriz entered the corridor, holding Vindictus' body high in the air. He turned to make sure Addams and Alessia were with him. "Keep up; hurry now. We must move quickly."

Paris was having a time keeping up with that old bag of bones! She was winded as she ducked behind a suit or armor. She didn't want to be seen as she was seeing where he was going and what he was doing with Professor Vindictius.

Cackle! Giggle Scratchy-scratch.

"Come back here you little treeherder!" Ok, so Cale really needed to work on his insults. He skidded around a corner and went crashing into the wall. "Just wait until we get our hands back on you!"

"He-ha! Woo-wee!" Rustle ruslte came the reply from the gnomtruckle as it ducked between the legs of a Slytherin Student.

"Cale I thought you said you froze that - that whatever that thing is!" He lumbered behind his best friend.

"I TOLD you it was dangerous! I TOLD you! Why did you have to bring it inside the ca-" Tobi skidded to a sudden halt, crashing into Cale as the scene before him beheld his eyes.

"Oh my stars and garters."

Professor Scary Man had his wand trained on an decidedly Not-Moving Professor V. EEEk! Was he even still alive? The greatest Quidditch player since Dangerous Dai Llewelyn, dead? No, NEVER!

Professor Lupa, and Seymour the Boy Who Was Created were also there, the gnometruckle looked very interested in Seymour's knees.

Seymour bounced just behind Professor Kazimeriz, clinging to his books and occasionally glancing at Professor Vindictus' body out of the corner of his eye. This was, at the very least, guaranteed to be more eventful than charms class or your money back!.

He looked at Kazimeriz, just a tad bit nervous. "...Professor Kazimeriz, sir? Where are we going?" he asked with genuine innocence, quickening his pace so that he was more alongside the ancient professor than behind.

Paris was being her double 007 stealthy self when Cale of all people had to come crashing around the bend and almost ruin everything! Whatever he was chasing ran between her legs and she jumped up the back of the suit of armor to get away from the thing. "Cale" she whispered fiercely.

Then he his clumsy sidekick Tobi just had to crash into the picture. "Be quiet!" She whispered at both of them. She grabbed Tobi by the collar and pulled him behind the suit of armor who's back she was clinging to.

"Weeell," drawled Daphne and instead of answering simply dedicated herself to unwrap the plant. Meticulous as she was, Hopton's fingers worked slowly so as not to tear the crude parchment he had used to wrap the--Ouch! Sucking on her finger, Daphne finally realized Plymouth Morgan had given her a cactus.

How appropriate. Was he poking fun at her prickly disposition? And why did the paper have a slightly lavender scent to it? There was--hmm, writing on it? Balancing the potted cactus with one hand, Daphne shook the parchment trying to catch the letters hidden in the creases. Squinting, she did her best to decipher the squiggly and surprisingly feminine writing of Plymouth Morgan.

Hmm. Sweetie. Daphne shifted her weight. He thought they were awfully chummy if he felt comfortable enough to call her that. Disturbing. However, Daphne couldn't predict how disturbing the rest of the letter would be. The writing was difficult to read, mostly due to her need for an eye check up than anything so Miss Hopton read it twice to ensure herself she wasn't making things up. Apparently, Plymouth Morgan read muggle romance novels, thought Daphne participated in such sensationalist frivolities like winking, considered himself her 'baby' and was desperately in love with her.

Oh, crup puppies.

Cheeks a light with embarrassment, Daphne coughed. "Plymouth, dear," spoke Daphne shakily holding out the letter to him. "I know this might be hard to hear....considering you're already on the verge of an emotional breakdown and all..." Gosh, being beautiful and perfect was so tiring. "But don't you think you're moving on too fast?"

Honestly. Technically, as far as she was concerned, Celandine and him were still together! Did scandalous behavior run in the family?

"Ouch," Cale yelped stumbling forward as Tobi crashed into him. "I did. Sho poked it with his and it unfroze. So it's Sho's fault..." He tried to figure out where his gnomtruckle (the name had stuck once Tobi called it that regardless of if it really was a gnom-bowtruckle hybrid). "Ah - there it went..." He lunged forward.
And stopped as Paris Shh'ed him. "Don't shh me!" he said back in a low voice. "You have my gnomtruckle between your knees - move it!" He gave her a little push.

Oh no! The smelly man-child had discovered him. "Eeek!" It sounded as if a treebranch was being blown ruffly by a vicious wind. The gnomtruckle took off across the hall towards the other (boy)Slytherin.

"I'm coming..." for an old man with a cane, Papa Valon was a fast walker!

Why was Ugly Addams coming with them?? But he had a good question... "Yes Papa Valon, where are we going?"

Valentine seemed to come out of no where at times like these. At least it was times like these she always found herself in. "What trouble are you two getting into now?" She asked as she popped out from around the corner of the hall. She looked around. These boys were always into trouble it seemed, and... perhaps the girl she had never talked to before.

She stumbled as he pushed her! "Are you crazy?" She growled taking her wand and whacking him on the head with it. "Don't you ever push me again." She told him. He was crazy to put his hands on her over that brown thing he was chasing.

She looked at the new girl. "Please tell me you are here to take them away?" She asked her.