Edem was walking around randomly at the castle, trying to find a place deserted enough so that he could sulk all he wanted without drawing attention. Not that he was expecting any attention at all, but sulking up never looked good, now did it? He finally arrived at the fourth floor and came across a strange tapestry. Then he looked around--no one was there.

He leaned against the wall next to the tapestry, sighing as he let thoughts overcome him. Thoughts about his parents, about home, about his sister.. Well, obviously he was homesick. But mostly it was all about the readings he and Tibi had earlier. Deception.. Lies.. Betrayal. Could it be? Suddenly feeling weak, he sank onto the floor, pressing his forehead against the cold wall. It was relieving.. Really relieving. He wanted to scream, but the voice wouldn't escape his throat. Having some kind of lump on his throat that he couldn't get rid of obviously didn't feel good.

Lucille was weirdly drawn to the tapestry on the fourth floor. She didn't know why, as she had never wandered this was in the castle before, but she felt a rope-like substance pulling her in that direction. She let it overcome her and wandered aimlessly, as though floating, nothing more than substance, to wherever it would lead her.

As Lucille approached she bacame aware of why this was. She saw Rayedem, leaning with his head against the wall of the tapestry, looking absolutly broken. Lucille watched him with her head on one side, before quickening her step towards him.

When she came closer, she stopped, not wanting to startle him. He might not want to be interupted. She was about to wrench herself away, to leave him to his thoughts, when she found that she couldn't. She couldn't just leave him there, in that state. She had never seen him like that before, and it shocked her slightly. Well, apart from....

Lucille cleared her throat softly to let him know she was there.

"Rayedem," she said, low and soft. "Rayedem, are you ok? I-I can go, if you'd like."

Edem's closed eyes snapped open at once when he heard a the sound of someone clearing their throat--and a familiar voice calling his name. Lucille? What is she doing here? Well, judging from the looks of it, it seemed that the place had had no visitor at all. He was even sure that he was the first. But he hadn't been there for fifteen minutes yet and someone already came in--wonderful. He didn't hate that fact at all.

Had it wasn't Lucille who came, he would've grumbled and shooed them roughly. At this kind of situation he usually tended to want to be left alone, but actually, he thought that company of a few people would feel nice. And that is of the people who actually knew him, who understood him quite enough to say 'I know what you're going through'.

"No.. You can stay if you like." Edem answered weakly. What was that supposed to mean? He wanted company so badly. He was devastated, confused, shaken.. And needed rescuing.

Lucille felt her expression soften as Edem spoke. Slowley, she walked towards him until she was level with him. She stood next to him and reached out to put her hand on his shoulder.

"Tell me," she said softly. She hated seeing him like this. She had known him so long that he was practically a part of her. His sorrow was her sorrow.

Edem blinked trying to push back the tears that seemed to have been welling in his eyes for the past few minutes he recalled his Rune readings. Come think of it, now.. Tibi read 'danger' in his future at Hogwarts. Wonder what could that be.. He took a deep breath, trying to relax as Lucille approached him. Her touch felt almost like his mother's--soothing, and that was all he needed.

Even so, Edem hesitated for a moment before he decided to share it with Lucille. He tried to speak, but failed--his first few times attempting to make a sound only resulted in opening and closing his mouth wordlessly. He swallowed, "I.. don't know how to say this." Where to begin? He wasn't even sure that Lucille paid attention when Professor Lupa assigned them to a homework. Pfft.

"Well, you know the Ancient Runes homework we got a few days ago?--Have you done it?" Edem added, part of him wanted to tease a bit, and the other actually wanted to know for real, and just in case she wanted to do it, maybe he'd volunteer to be her partner. "I did mine.." his voice trailed off; recalling that moment wasn't pleasant.

Lucille smiled kindly. "Ray," she said, "Pleaase try to remember who you're talking to." She laughed softly. "When was the last time i did homework?" She smiled again, gaging his reaction. She hoped interjecting humour would make him laugh, rather than shout at her.

"But i'm sure i can keep up, whats bothering you?"

She pretended not to notice that his eyes were unusually wet. Edem hadn't even wanted her to see when he had had the nosebleed in Hogsmead, so she wandered how he was doing this. He needed to know that she didn't think any less of him for bleeding, or crying, for doing things that he may think make him look week. He needed to know that all she cared about was whether or not he was okay. And now, he obviously wasn't. But how to say it?

Edem too, laughed softly when Lucille reminded him whom she really was. Never a good student, right? No. He wasn't either. All they did at school was pull pranks, yell around, take pictures, have fun.. Never anything to bother their minds. Tsk.

"We were supposed to, er, read our past, present, and future, using the Runes. Ask a question, you know.." Edem paused hoping Lucille would understand without further explanation. He wanted to make it quick.. "So I asked about Tannya, whether I'd see her again or not. And the readings weren't that good." he sighed deeply, shaking his head. His eyes were closing again. He hoped it was just a dream.. Why didn't he draw different Runes from the ones he drew? Guess that happened magically. Surreal.

"The Runes, if we read it correctly, said that there were something fishy about her 'going to France'.. Well, my Runes meant lies, deception, isolation, danger--that sort of stuff. The point is that maybe they meant that.." he paused, shivering against his will. His heart screamed; please tell me that's not true. "Maybe Tannya's departure was something that's done on purpose. Someone lied to me. Either it was her or my parents, or both of them, I don't know.. But something definitely is wrong." he shook his head again unable to continue.

And what's even worse.. The fact that Tannya might know something about this. Didn't she know how much he loved her? He was almost in love with her. How could she do this to him? At least one of the Runes was correct then; the number 3, Runespoor, betrayal. Not to mention the first readings, which was, he could say, almost absolutely correct. Edem's heart aches as it beat frantically.

Lucille sighed and gave Rayedem a small hug. "Edem," she said, "you know how those things arn't set in stone. It'll be fine, im sure."

"Look," she said, knowing that he would need more persuading. "If anything dodgy was goiing on, Tannya would tell you! Your her brother! And if something were to happen unexpectedly,...well, it wont."

"Try not to think about it? Its probably nothing. I know its worrying you but, just try. She'll be fine. She would never do anything to make you worried about her." She gave him a small smile.

"So," she said, trying to find anything to take his mind off things. Edem was her buddy, she hated to see him like this. "Any girls caught your eye yet?"

Things aren't set in stone.. Of course. That's what everyone said. Even Professor Lupa, if he had remembered correctly, said that the future could be altered. If only we tried hard enough.. It wasn't too late. He'd do whatever it takes to learn nothing but the truth. Is the end of the term anytime soon? Edem closed his eyes at Lucille's hug--he still loved the feeling. Lucille never changed. It was the same Lucille who hugged him when he cried after his dad called him names. Suddenly, he didn't feel alone anymore.

"Thanks," he whispered. "I'm going to find out about things soon enough.. I sent an owl to them." he said opening his eyes and smiled weakly. He grabbed Lucille's hand and gently pushed it away; she might be his best buddy, but it was still disturbing to have her see him in such mood. He wanted to assure Lucille that he was already feeling alright.

But Lucille's attempt to distract him was.. Shocking.

"Gi-girls? What?" Edem straightened himself up, stammering and blushing slightly. "What are you talking about?" Now that she brought it up, Edem realized that he had no other girl friends than Lucille and a few older students. What? He always ran away from girls. Yep. He left the question unanswered.

As Edem pushed hr hand away, Lucille raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. She wanted to tell him to stop being an idiot, that she didnt care that he might be weak at this particular moment, but she didnt think now was the right time to start calling him things like "idiot."

"You know, you really gotta reolise that i dont care if you think you look like a baby or whatever, as long as you're ok." She smiled, not believing his attempts to make it look like he was okay. No one got over stuff that quickly.

"Yep, girls," she nodded, "Spill the beans Romeo." She remembered the train, when Rayedem was stuck in a compartment full of girls and had to stop herself snorting. Ok, so he wasn't exactly used to them, but there had to be someone.

Edem also raised his eyebrows. Shrugging and looking away with lips pressed tight together, he wanted to make that face he always made when he pretended to know nothing. Fail. But maybe Lucille would understand why he did that. No matter how much the wizarding world had soften him down, he still got that much of an ego. Stealing glances at his childhood friend occasionally, he listened to her complains.

"Er, I don't know," he began, biting his lower lip, frowning. He tried to remember the faces of the girls he could remember. Lucille, Rhea, Xylina, Tammy, Chelle, Ellie.. Er.. Who else? He felt as if his brain was squeezed by a pair of hands. Not a long list, was it? "believe me, I don't have one." he sighed, then wondered. Why did Lucille choose this topic? Well surely it was distracting, but there are a lot of other things that are.. Less awkward?

"You look like you do have someone though." he eyed Lucille.

Lucille didn't believe that. There had to be somebody! There just had to be! Well, if there wasn't, maybe Lucille could work her magic? She could become a match-maker! She was sure she could find someone that would like Edem, someone that he could be himself around and be hapy with. But then a thought struck her. Edem would DEFINATLY not want Lucille to intervine here. She knew what woud happen, he would moan, they would fight, he'd get flustered at the mention of girls, and probably fall of his chair. Maybe.
"Hmmm," she said "Im not quite sure i believe you.."

Lucille had to look away from Edem's gaze, boring into her and practically suffocating her. She didn't really want to discus this with him, truth be told. Yes, he was her best friend and normally she would tell him everything. But they had never touched on this subject before. They had teased and wound each other up about it of course, but that was before, when both despised the opposite sex and avoided them like the plague. But now it was diferent, and Lucille didnt know if she cuold talk about this when the times have changed like they had.

"Er," she stuttered, "Really?" She left it there, knowing that if she said anything else she would blush furiously, stammer, and probably fall over.

Edem blinked several times, thinking, where did he go wrong? Why couldn't he convince Lucille? Then he remembered that technically no one had ever believed his lies. He was a poor liar, after all.. And on this subject, he had no experience. But he wasn't lying, was he? He tried staring into Lucille's eyes because that's what people would do when they don't lie. He stared Lucille down.. Lucille was the one lying.

"Yeah," he said firmly, still staring, probably too much, "What don't I know? Hmm?" he hoped he wasn't pushing Lucille, but the way she had mentioned the topic, Edem couldn't help but think that there might be something she wanted to share.. She just didn't have the courage. Maybe.

Cedric headed up to the tapestry without nothing to do with there of course. He just love wandering around the castle and wondering if he can find some friends around. With a white rose tightly sealed by his lips, he walked happily as he hummed his favorite song. He noticed some students around but he don't know them.

Leaving the Library, Reese walked down the corridor. She looked through so many book and, yet, she still hasn't found a job that she would be interested in doing after she graduated. Geez, this job searching thing was so hard. She sighed as she continued walking down the corridor heading towards the - tapestry? Yeah, that's what the big thing was hanging on the wall just up ahead.

She glanced at the tapestry for a few moments and then she glanced further up ahead; that's where she noticed Cedric. Hmmm. She hasn't talked to that boy for what seemed like months! "Cedric," she called out, hoping he would hear her.

Cedric had passed a girl and didn't recognized that the girl he'd passed was Reese. He turned around. Still, the white flower is tightly sealed on his lips. And Reese addressed him, he heard it of course as he don't have any hearing defects. He haven't talked to her in ages and he had missed her, very.

The flashback hit him, The last time he talked to Reese was in his second year. He took the white flower as he handed it to Reese unintentionally. Since he found Reese, he gave her the flower that would be for his crush. "Reese!" mused Cedric as he gave her his dazzling smile. He is still up to now, enticed by Reese' enchanted beauty.

Was Cedric handing over that flower to her? Aww, that was sweet of him. Personally, she would like getting chocolate frogs for suprise gifts, but pretty white flowers work too. Reese took the flower and smiled. "Thanks Cedric," she told him. "That's really nice of you to give me this lovely flower." Nice of him, indeed. She usually doesn't get flowers from people. This was quite new for her.

She stared at the flower for a few moments before looking at the Hufflepuff. "So, it's been ages since I've talked to you," she stated. "How have you been?"

Lucille tried to stare Edem back, she stared and she stared, but her eyes began to water and he looked so funny, trying to be serious, that she started giggleing. She stopped, however, when she saw that Ray was being serious.

Pft. She should....but she didn't WANT to! Ugh.

"Ah, but what DO you know?" she shot his words back at him, raising an eyebrow and folding her arms infront of her.

WIN.

Edem knew he couldn't lie, but staring people down was another story. He knew he'd succeed. Lucille had got to believe him now, but.. Alright, it was difficult not to laugh, especially watching the changes in Lucille's expression. He bursted out laughing when Lucille only giggled. She really took him seriously! It was satisfying.

Edem frowned, his head tilted to his side. What do I know? "Not much," he said, "see, I haven't seen you since Hogsmeade, have I? It's been quite a while.. But you can fill me in if you wanna," he challenged Lucille back but eventually gave up, "or.. Not?"

One year of age difference wasn't exactly nothing.. It still had a certain effect on him. Respect!

Poo. Why did he have to play the "Its been a while since i've seen you" card? Which was bound to make her spill everything to stop from feeling guilty that she hadn't made the effort to see him more. Ugh. Again.

"I, er, well......might have, maybe, kinda, met someone?" she cringed as she said it and made a point of not looking at him.

Edem saw the unhappy expression on Lucille's face. Err, win? Again? He pouted. Well at least he was being honest, right? He was being straightforward. Of course. Lucille wouldn't be mad because of this.. Maybe. Edem's fingers are crossed secretly behind his back.

But Lucille's response didn't please him.. Somehow. Edem raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Who?" he asked a little too roughly.. Oh, he wished he wasn't so protective.

Strolling down the corridor and pretty much minding her own business, LouAnn Purple stopped to fish a Cockroach Cluster out of her pocket. Since she started Hogwarts, she'd grown accustomed to eating the little treats, even if they were a bit...crunchy, one could say. She smiled to herself as she unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth. Things for LouAnn were...well, starting to look somewhat better lately. At least, her nightmares and blackouts hadn't been occurring quite so often. She'd even begun making pretty high marks in class, which was something she'd struggled with for quite some time. Yup, life at Hogwarts just might be alright after all.

Abby stops for a moment in the shadows. She takes out the eagle Ray gave her. Well I thought I'd never have an opportunity to use it. Ray's going to yell at me for bothering while he's studying for NEWTS, but I have to see him. Abby takes out her wand and places its tip on the wooden eagle. She starts to write her message when she sees LouAnn walking down the hall. Alone, how perfect. No Jake to protect her. I know Ray wants to be the one to get the stones, but I need them now. I need answers now too. It's time I find out what's going on before someone else gets hurt. Abby walks over to LouAnn.

A bit startled at the sound of another's presence, LouAnn jumped a bit when she turned to see Abby. It seemed as if the girl had really just come out of nowhere. As soon as she'd caught her breath, LouAnn relaxed and smiled at the Hufflepuff girl. "Hello, Abby. How are you?" she asked. LouAnn and Abby didn't know one another very well, but LouAnn had seen her around the school and in class quite a bit. She always seemed to be rather harmless.