Lorcan allowed Lexi to lead the way. He sighed. "No-one kows this, except Mum and Gran." He voice was still colourless, except from the bitterness with which he spat the last word. "No-one Lexi and I like that. I can pretend it's not true." he stopped and faced her. "But it is true and I don't want to lie to you." he walked on, still holding her by the waist.

"My dad was called Cathair. It's my middle name. He was a practicle joker. We lived in Lisdoonvarna in Ireland. For some reason, someone put a hex on his broomstick. It bucked him off and he fell fifteen feet onto the garden path. Magic could have saved him, but mum's a muggle so there was nothing that she could do. I was five. Sometimes I have dreams where I can see how scared he was. It happened just now. Fresh tears rans down his face and he wiped them away again.

"Mum packed up the house and we went to live with Gran. You know the rest. I look so much like him that when it was obvious I was magical she went from unplesant to out-right nasty. So there it is. The reason I'm a coward." he stared straight ahead, feeling utterly wretched.

Lexi's heart broke as the bitter tale of Lorcan's dad flew from his mouth. "Lorcan, that is terrible. I am truly truly sorry. But that doesn't make you a coward." She shook her head vehemently. "The fact that you have kept on going and are living your life is proof in and of itself that you are no coward. Most young people, as we are, could deal with such tragedy Lorcan." She squeezed him a bit closer to her and smiled, "you are a great wizard also and I bet your father is very proud of you! Besides that, a coward woldn't have blown up a planhk in class or confronted an angry girl with a wand." She said with a little giggle. "And as far as your grandmother is concerned.. well she can bugger off! You can't let a wretched old woman make you feel bad about yourself!"

Lorcan looked at her. She knew everything and she still wanted to be around him? "You... you won't tell anyone, will you?" He chewed his lip. Her response so far had warmed him more than any fire could have. "I know I should learn to fly, I'm just scared that I'll make a fool of myself and people will laugh at me." he was being more honest with Lexi than he had ever been before, even with his mother. He noticed a snow flake that had settled on her cheek and he reached out and brushed it away. He looked around and realised that the snow had covered up their footprints. "Lexi, I think we're lost."

Evan nodded slowly at Fallon's question. He really hated to bring this up to her, but what else could he do? Anderson was dangerous, and he had to tell her and beg her to realise this too. Beaumont was nice comparing to her mad boyfriend. Really. Evan might still give her a chance, but Anderson was dead. Literally.

From her surprised expression, he figured out that she too didn't expect an attack. Well, not everyone would expect their close friends to attack someone just because they didn't like each other. The blondie wondered what Fallon would do now, would she talk to that thing Anderson, or would she not care it much, wait for the second attack? Come to think about it, what could she say, stay away from my boyfriend, or I won't talk to you? Bleh. Childish.

His blue eyes, which had lost their focus while thinking, looked at her again, this time with shock. She did know? He seemed to be angry for a second, but then controlled himself, and asked the most troubling question: "What is their problem with me, for God's sake?!" he half shouted, removing his arm from her. What kind of a friend would hex their close friend's boyfriend? Evan wanted to point out that Anderson was not a good friend--not a friend at all, but then managed to hold his tongue. They were already dealing with problems at their very first date. Just perfect.

Fallon took in the shocked expression on his face and his question. Great. How do I answer that. She sighed trying to think of a way to put it. "From what I've heard, it has something to do with the first time they met you in Diagon Alley. Something about you interuppting their conversation."

She sighed, knowing this probably wouldn't suffice as an answer. "We haven't talked about anything like that since the beginning of term so it's a little distant."

Evan's eyes lost their focus again as he thought of the first time they had met. The only thing he remembered vividly was that they had shown off their love pretty perfectly, and that all he wanted to do was to get away. He rolled his eyes when he fully remembered what had happened: Iris had stared at him, and he had asked why. Then crazy Anderson had started to "protect" her again. Just unbelieveble. So they were acting all hostile for this? Just unbelieveble.

He then shook his head to clear it, and turned back to Fallon. Being the "mature" he stated "I guess there's nothing I can do about it right now, is there?" Like he'd do at this time, he just wanted to make Fallon feel better about this nonsense.

Fallon started to frown a little. She had been trying to get Aaron and Iris to be okay around Evan. She thought Iris would be more understanding of the situation in the first place. "I've been trying and it doesn't seem to work. Iris has always seemed to understand more." Dang it! I didn't want to actually say that outloud!

At first Evan didn't understand what Fallon was saying, and looked lost. Then he grasped the meanings, and could only stare.

So, she too wanted to solve the problem, but they were the uncivil ones? Who would do that?! Even Lyra came to an understandment, even she was civil to Fallon even though she still liked him. And these guys were just acting stupid on their own pleasure? Because they had misjudged Evan at the first meeting? That was quite unacceptable, and he too would drop being nice. He realised Fallon would be the hurt one, but it wasn't in his control: they started it, and obviously they wouldn't end it.

He always knew Iris was the good one, but still she was the good of the bad. Nope, she too would be nice towards him if she wanted, but apparently she didn't that she didn't even stop Anderson down the lake yesterday. Evan seemed at loss for words. He wanted to say her that they weren't her friends if they were doing her this, but he knew better than to talk what he wanted to say. Instead, he said "Let's go to the common room, shall we?" not even looking at her, nor touching her. He knew it wasn't her fault, but he just wanted to be with someone who didn't have such crazy "friends". Lyra was a good friend, or Shana. Maybe Rayedem... anyone really that didn't talk to Iris and her crazy boyfriend.

Fallon carefully watched the expression on Evan's face. She was a little hurt when he suggested going back to the common room without even looking her in the face. She pulled herself up to her feet and started to wipe the snow off of her. "Sure."

She then looked around the maze. "Which way did we come from again?" After their conversation, she had forgot which way they had entered the maze. And this is why I hate mazes.

Lexi held up her hand and said, "I swear to you that I will never tell anyonea word of it, Lorcan. Your secret is safe with me." She nodded reassuringly at him and smiled. "There is no shame in being afraid of things Lorcan. I am afraid of snakes. Like, really really afraid." she said to him in a hushed tone. When he reached up and touched her cheek she smiled moreso and giggled.

Looking around at their surroundings she realized they had gotten a bit lost. "Not to worry! Me aunt taught me a simple spell for times like these." she said with a broad smile. Reaching into her robe sleeve she unholstered her wand and set it on her open hand and said very clearly, "Point me." her wand started to whiz around and came to a stop pointing back in the opposite direction. "That way is North and the castle would be North of us, so we have to go back this way." she said matter of factly and began to lead him in the direction of the castle... hopefully.

Lorcan couldn't help but grin as she held her hand up like she was making a oath to keep his secrets. When she smiled ang giggled because he had wiped wiped away the snow flake, something in his stomach squirmed and he blushed. Scared of snakes eh? he thought privately, I wonder if that's why she's so unfriendly with Marie.

He watched, impressed, as she caused her wand to spin around and act as a compass. I'll have to remember that one.

Lexi strode off, pulling Lorcan with her, in what she said was the direction of the castle. She seemed certain that they needed to go north, but he wasn't so sure. They reached a fork in the path he didn't recognise. There were three possible paths to coose from. He looked at her uncertainly and said, "Alright Captain Scott, which way now?" His joke was a bad one, but he liked it.

Evan wondered if he was being a jerk for wanting to go back to the common room. It wasn't Fallon's fault at all that her so-called friends were against her happiness. He looked at her, but couldn't read anything. What was she thinking now? See, he so needed to pay a visit to Prof Lawson for occlumency. Totally. It would so help in understanding girls.

He too got up, and looked around. Every direction looked like the same. He glanced around uncertainly, and said "Er... I guess... this way." to the right, which would lead them deeper in the maze. He too had forgotten after that conversation, and he was relying on his insticts... which weren't strong at all.

Fallon looked the direction Evan was talking about. "That looks right to me." She started to walk down the path at a slow-ish pace. She wondered why Evan wanted to go back to the common room so bad. She knew it probably had to do with something she said about Aaron and Iris.

Lexi frowned a bit when they approached a three way fork in the paths that did not look familiar. SHe shook her head quietly and though, "Is the castle to the North?" . She decided the path to take and said to Lorcan with some confidence, "I think wee should take the path down the middle, what about you? If we get awful lost we can send up sparks and surely someone will find us. Being lost isn't so bad sometimes if the scenery is nice." She gave him a devilish smile and waited for his response.

Lorcan tried to think of a reason not to go down the middle path, but he couldn't think of one. "Ok, the middle it is then. Are we still heading north?"
The scenery? "It all looks the same, that's the point of a maze. When it's all weird and different it's called a labyrith." He noticed that she was grinning at him in a way that could only be described as devilish. Does she mean me? He thought. Nah, she can't do, I'm not nice to look at. He frowned, feeling perplexed.

"My wand says we are heading Northeast to be honest, but I have to admit I am not sure which way the castle is now. I don't mind being lost though. Like I said." Lexi said matter of factly. They set off down the middle path and she hoped that they wouldn't get too awful lost, to be honest. SHe really would be embarrassed if they had to be rescued from the maze. "Oh, I was only partially referring to the maze." she said offhanded. She began to skip through the rows of corn and hum a tuneless tune, all the while with a huge smile upon her face. She really hoped she was thoroughly confusing him. She was confused about things as it were.

She's not sure where we're going? That's just brilliant. I was really cold and... she didn't mean the maze? Well then she must have meant me then unless... I suppose the snow is quite pretty to look at? He shouted after her as she skipped away. I really don't get this! He thought.She had got quite far ahead now and was just about to disappear from view. "Oi! Wait for me! I don't want to be lost on my own!" He started to run to catch up with her, the snow crunching under his boots. "Lexi?"

"Yeah, yeah. Snow is snow I guess. Hurry up Lorcan." she called over her shoulder as she skipped away. Once she got just out of his sight she stepped into the cover of some of the corn and waited quietly.

Lorcan had taken off after her, just as she had planned. He got right past her and she jumped out and yelled, "Gotcha!" as she grabbed his ribs and tickled him relentlessly.

Snow is snow? what does that mean? Why are girls so complicated? He looked around but had lost sight of her completely. His heart began to pound and he was panicking. Suddenly she was jumping on him, shouting and tickling him. He was so surprised that he toppled over backwards pulling her with him. "Why is it that we always end up like this? he said, taking his revenge by tickling her."

Lexi squealed as they toppled over. Snow flew everywhere as she flaled around from Lorcan's counter attack. "I am... determined to... win, Lorcan....I do not take.... failure well and I.... have surrendered twice now. That just will not do!" she said through fits of giggles and snorts. Suddenly she leapt up and pulled Lorcan with her. She dropped his hand though and said, "Catch me if you can!" As she bounded off down the path.

Twice? I can only think of once? he shouted after her, grabbing a snowball and aiming it at her but missing by a country mile. He started to run to try and catch up with her, but her legs were longer than his and she had a head start. He ran faster, skidding here and there but determined to catch her up. The path was becoming narrower and darker. In places there was no snow at all. He followed the path around a sweeping curve, at the end of which was a fork. There were no footprints to follow. "Lexi?" He shouted nervously.

Lexi was giggling as she skidded to a halt in front of the fork. Right or Left? Hmmm... right, definitely. SHe could hear Lorcan approaching and had a brilliant idea. She stepped into the right fork, careful to cover up her tracks behind her and started to construct the BIGGEST snowball ever made. She stifled giggles as Lorcan got closer and called her name. She didn't speak before she threw. After she lobbed the huge thing with both hands she shouted, "HEads up!" And stepped back into the pathway where Loracn could see her. THat is, after he got all of the snow out of his eyes.

All of a sudden Lorcan felt a snow boulder (that thing was no snow ball) explode all over his head. Shaking his head like a dog, with his hair and snow flying he spat out the snow that had ended up in his mouth and wiped his eyes. "You best hope nothing's tried to write it's name in that snow" he said darkly. "And what's this twice that you had to surrender? I can only think of once?" he demanded. "And more importantly are we square now? That's got to be a two for one." His hair was longer now that it was so much wetter and he could feel it on his back. Keeping a wary eye on Lexi, he pointed his wand at his head and dried his hair. "My backside hurts from where you knocked me over."
He blushed, not really sure what had caused him to mention his backside to her. It did hurt though.

Lexi was doubled over with laughter. Taking deep acxhing breaths she finally said, "I'm sorry Lorcan. But that is payback for the tickle surrender and the snowball surrender." She began to guffaw again as he dried his hair and looked at her darkly. "Ah, ease up, Lorcan. It's good to laugh at yourself sometime. I laugh at myself quite often, all the funny things I do." she said a bit more serious. SHe walked over to him and took his hand still chuckling a bit and said,"Well, mate... if we ever make it out of this maze I hope you get your bottom back right." Then she burst into hysterical laughter.

"I can laugh at myself, just not when my bum feels like it belongs to someone else." She took his hand and he thought his skin was burning at her touch. This is really weird. What's going on? Come on then mate let's work out how to get out of here. It's getting dark. He looked around with no idea which way to go. He was pretending to be in a bad mood with Lexi, but really he was relieved to have a friend that was so much fun. "Do you need me to dry you out?"