Pierre chuckled slightly at Torin's little outburst. "They're pretty cool. Really mischevious though. He's claimed my school bag as his own little bed. I have to throughly check it before going to classes." He laughed a little harder when Torin asked what a ferret was. "They are little weasel like creatures. Really cute and pretty tiny when their little." He glanced back down at the little kitten who had seemed to be drifting off to sleep in his hands.

He nodded his head as Torin spoke. "I've known a lot of girls like that. The ones that go to Beauxbaton's are just crazy hormonal."

Okay, he wasn't sure if Pierre was laughing because he was amused, or because he was making fun of him. Hopefully it was because he was amused, because Torin didn't like being laughed at. "Oh, I see. I've never seen one before." He blushed 'cause he felt stupid. But what could he do?

"Oh, that's that French school. I've heard a bit about it before." And there was also Durmstrang.

Giggling at her friend, she continued to stroke Perseus. "You look fabulous darling, just fabulous!"She watched to chocolates as they floated over to her, catching them as they fell and placing them in her pockets. She placed Perseus on the ground so she could eat one. Taking a bite out of the chocolate she playfully glared at Allison when she brought back up the horrid gift she recieved. Really, she thought her best friend would know her well enough to choose a decent gift. "Alot more now that I have something to hold my tissues."she said smugly.

Allison crossed her arms and gave her friend a huge smirk. "I'm so glad you have all those tissues! However you will need something better won't you?" Leaving the statement hanging, the young Ravenclaw approached her Hufflepuff friend and took a tissue from the funny-looking holder. Still smirking she began to twirl the tissue and spoke to her other friend...

"Ya know Ivory, it was quite fun to get yalls presents. Lucky for me I knew what you all liked. Like with you, you love reading...and you seem to be good with Transfiguration. When I told meh grandmum that, she took out two books. Both really old and kind of stinky." Pouting she remembered how there had been a twinkle in her grandmother's eyes as she approached her grandchild, "With a swish of her wand both books still looked old, but they no longer had dirt or that nasty smell. Instead they looked like regular old books. She told me that one of them was mine. That I could do whatever I wanted with it. And well I can always borrow my grandmum's. So baam I had your present."

Looking at the tissue on her hand Allison directed herself towards Arya and her smirk returned, "And then there was Arya. The sportie girl. The girl with energy and skill for sports for both of us. I was thinking of getting you a soccer ball for that wonderful memory in Muggle Studies," Allison's smirk faltered and she winced as she recalled her little kick being overly strong and had the ball hitting Arya right in the stomach. "Well...I thought this was much better. A tissue holder, because you will always need to have a clean nose, right?"

Carefully Allison did the trick her mum had thought her to surprise Arya. Holding the tissue tightly and flapped it on her shoulder, "Lucky for us sometimes we don't need to worry about cleaning our...noses," swish, swipe, flap, POOF, "Cauz we got," one last swish, "magic..." Removing the tissue after the last swish, Allison showed Arya her real gift. On the young girl's shoulder a small poofy purple little Pygmy Puff had magically appeared.

"Silly Arya, the tissue holder was a clue. Ya know, their larger versions clean ya nose! This lil fella is your gift." Allison poked the creature, "Arya the care-taker of animals and magical creatures alike. Go on, grab him from meh shoulder...and name him! This gift is for you and Perseus!"

Clapping her hands Allison spoke once again, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year yall!~"

Yellow!? That just happened to be Wesley's very most favorite color (and it wasn't just because it was the same color of the sun, and butterbeer, and Hufflepuff...actually, on second thought, it was). Giving her own wink back to Sarah, which looked more like a half squint/half flinch because she couldn't really wink, Wesley grinned. Super!Wesley That sounded so grand!

As Tall Kid and Sarah brought the attention to her feet, Wesley lifted up the hem of her gown to look at them. "There wasn't any time," she offered quietly to Sarah, abashed, "I didn't know if someone was being ki...hurt. And I'm really-" About to whisper she was not too cold, and Lori needed her shoes more than Wesley did, the Hufflepuff stopped herself before she could say anything more. Any time Mother ever bought or offered her something and Wesley refused, the happy smile on her mother's face ended up crumpled in dramatic sobs. And, it seemed to the 13-year-old, Mother and Lori were very similar in character. "thankful." she finished, accepting the soft tan shoes and slipped her feet (after wiping her gritty soles with her dress) into them, curling and uncurling her toes in the soft wool with surprise.

Then, with a serious nod to Sarah, and the cheering of Miranda behind her, the Hufflepuff turned her wand in the direction of the staircase, shuffling with purpose in the too big (but really warm) shoes.

Pierre looked at Torin. He could tell that he didn't know what Pierre had meant by the laughter, but he didn't know how to explain it. "You'd have to see my sometime then. I think you would find it cool and you would probably want one yourself."

Pierre nodded his head. "There are by far more girls there than guys and the girls have separate classes that are like classes that teach them how to be lady-like." Pierre made the most disgusted face he could muster.

Arya looked at her friend with a puzzled expression. She didn't have the slightest clue as to what Allison ment. She watched as the girl grabed a tissue and waved it around as if it was a wand. She stuck the rest of the chocolate in her mouth as she mused over the words of her friend.

She shifted her weight to the other leg as she stood there listening to Allison'd story, rolling her eyes at the begining. If you knew what I liked then why did I get a tisse holder?So Ivory had gotten a better gift than her, well it true that she loved to read so that was easy. But how had she ended up with a tissue holder? Her brown eyes looked at Allison, waiting for the story of how she received her ridiculous present.

She sighed deeply when she Allison's smirked returned, becoming slightly irritated at the fact Allison seemed to know somthing she didn't. A smirk of her own emerged as she thought about thier first Muggle Studies class. That was definantly a fun day for her. She would need to find Georgie so they could play soccer on the grounds. "I guess so Allie, though I'm sure I would've enjoyed the soccer ball more." Arya was obviously growing impatiently from the never ending story Allison was telling.

Sighing deeply yet again, her fustration was beginging to show. She didn't have the slightest fart in space as to what Allison was getting at. Of course she didn't to blow her nose, but did that have to do with magic? "Allison I don't know what this has to do with my gift--"Before she could say anymore, Allison had revealed the cutest little pygmy puff she had ever seen. Her mouth slightly agape, Arya returned to gaze of the puff.

Out of nowhere, Arya began laughing. She laughed so hard that tears began to flow down her face, she couldn't believe Allison had got her a pygmy puff! Looking back to Allison she gave the girl a big bear hug, remembering to be mindful of her new pet. "Thankyou Thankyou Thankyouuu Allie!"All of her fustration melted away as she picked up her new pet, bending down so the curious Perseus could give him a sniff,only to turn and run down the hall, not to happy about the new edition to the family. She didn't care though, the kitten would have to get over that soon enough cause Arya was smitten with the puff.

Standing back up she held the purple puff and eye level before giving him a kiss. Stroking him, she began to run through names trying to find one perfect for her new friend."I don't know what to name him. Got any ideas?"She looked between Allison and Ivory, waiting for a name for her new friend. As she did, she whiped away her tears of joy.

Ooh, Torin would love to see Pierre's ferret. Because he liked seeing new animals, and he also liked this boy. So really he wouldn't mind spending more time with him. And he needed more male friends anyway. "Oh, I'd love to do that. And you can see my tarantula again. And my puppy." He missed his puppy so much.

"Wow, that sounds so snobbish." He snorted. It was the kind of thing that he could picture Brody having to take. It was a good thing that she didn't have to, because he didn't want a girlfriend that was too posh.

Pierre looked down at the little kitten. It was sound asleep now and it was adorable. He looked back up at Torin. "Your tarantula was pretty cool. I love dogs, not as much as I like cats, but dogs are cool. Do you know what kind it is?" There were certain breeds that he didn't think were cute at all.

Pierre nodded his head. "It is. I was lucky to find one girl who wasn't taken in by all of it." He tried to shake this thought from his mind because he always got quiet and depressed when he talked about it.

He nodded. He and Pierre had that in common. "You know, I used to prefer dogs more, but now I think I like cats. They are just such lovable animals." He'd been around so many kittens lately, and they were all so lovable. "But I have a golden retriever puppy, and he's so sweet." Even though Tammy was convinced that he hated her. Whatever.

He noticed that he seemed a bit sad about that and he totally got that. He had left a girl he liked very much. But then she was nothing like Brody to him. "I bet you were."

Pierre was starting to realize how much him and Torin actually had in common. It was pretty nice seeing as he didn't really have any guy friends. He used to be friends with Evan, but then he got all fanatic about football and Pierre just couldn't stand that. "Golden retrievers are usually very sweet. My uncle used to have one."

Pierre let out a sigh. "I definately was. But I think I'm even luckier to have Ziva." He really liked her and she made him forget that girl who had broken his heart.

Rafe was actually really excited about the slumber party. He felt on top of the world. He's spent a wonderful evening with Marilyn and the Gryffindors just won their first game. It felt like he'd drank Felix Felicis or something. It took him awhile, but he finally found a t-shirt to go the his pajama bottoms. So, with his pajamas and his sleeping bag under his arm he was ready for some fun.

Marilyn wasn't sure what her emotions were about the uncoming slumber party. She'd had the best time with Rafe earlier in the evening and had admitted to him that she'd planned on going, which hadn't been a lie. She had a gut-feeling that something of importance was to happen tonight. Something that the Slytherin couldn't miss...but that didn't necessarily mean it was going to be something good...

She'd taken Rafe's advice and dressed appropriately, opting to wear her green and black plaid pajama pants and black shirt instead of the red and white she'd gotten last year. For this one night, she'd also decided to go back blonde, truly feeling the lighter shade complimented her sleepwear better. So, it was with her sleeping bag, Nightmare before Christmas bedroom slippers and a blonde ponytail that she left the Slytherin common room.

As she neared the Great Hall, a familiar face caught her eye. "Rafe Lycaon, we can't seem to stay away from each other, can we?"

"Well, well, well if it isn't Monroe, back to blonde I see!" he said with a laugh as he gave her a little nudge to the shoulder. "Are we secretly stalking each other," he said with a low chuckle. Rafe couldn't help, but smile at her clothes. She definitely looked good with green, and it was definitely ironic that they were both wearing black shirts.

"We're almost matching, I could always go blonde, but I don't think my complexion could handle it," Rafe smiled. He couldn't help, but look over her from head to foot and stopped by looking at her feet. "Umm...interesting slippers," he said with a crooked grin. He was barefoot, it was just too hot for him when he wore a full pajama outfit. He was already hot (temperature-wise) just wearing the t-shirt, even though it was in the middle of winter. "I'm surprised to see you walking alone," he said trying to sound as upbeat as possible.

Marilyn smirked at him, pleased that he seemed to approve of her pajamas. "I don't think you could handle being blonde...Its not as easy as it seems, you know. And don't diss my slippers!" She gave him a brilliant smile and would have wrapped her arms around him had she not been carrying her sleeping bag. Rafe looked amazing, of course. Not that he ever looked unamazing. There was a small pleasure in the fact that they sort of matched.

When he mentioned her walking alone, all she could do was lower her head and chew at her lip. "I've been avoiding him...so, of course i am alone." She tried to feel ashamed but the emotion just wouldn't come. "Before you even say anything...No, I don't feel bad about it, either."

"Yeah, I'm simply not intelligent enough to pull of the blond," Rafe said as he ran his fingers through his jet black hair. "I'm not sure you can handle going so dark, might make you look a little too dark and depressed." Rafe put on a radiant smile. He never really imagined himself with any other hair color, both his parents had black hair. "Maybe I could be a red-head?" Rafe pondered.

Rafe bit his lip, but then quickly stopped. He was starting to pick up on some of Marilyn's habits. "I'm not saying you should feel bad at all. You've always been independent. Though now you don't have to be alone. I'd be more than happy to take you the remaining journey all the way to the Great Hall," he said as he extended his arm. "There's no telling what we might find ourselves getting into once inside!" Rafe raised his eyebrow.

Carter arrived for slumber party. He didn't even have to go in to find the girl he was looking for. "I have a surprise for you." he said with a huge smile. He then noticed Rafe. "Oh, hey man." he said giving his outreached hand a high-five. "Great game today." He put and arm around Marilyn. "Come on he said."

"I'd have to say no to red hair. I'm not that fond of it, for some reason..." Her grandmother had mentioned red hair once when she had still been alive, and Marilyn remembered her face scrunching up in disgust. Her grandmother had just laughed, saying that some of the Weasley hatred was still there...or whatever. "And I'd have to agree about the dark color on me. I think chocolate is as dark as I'd go."

Grabbing his hand, she began walking the rest of the way to the Great Hall. Her eyebrow arched delicately when Rafe mentioned getting inside. "It almost sounds as if you've planned something...but I know this couldn't be true. Not my sweet, loving Gryffindor. He'd never do such a thing." Marilyn laughed, shaking her head. "Carter's going to be in there...I just hope I'm strong enought to handle this tonight..."

She froze when Carter suddenly appeared. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her away before anything could really be said. "Um...Carter..."

"Well you're the expert, so no to red, that's for sure," Rafe grinned. He gave her hand a little squeeze. "Plans? No plans, but you should always expect the unexpected and..." He couldn't even finish his sentence because what just happened he didn't expect.

What just happened? Before he could even blink, Carter had swooped in out of nowhere. "Yeah, good game," Rafe said as he was taking in deep breaths and quickly slapped the man's hand, a little harder than usual, hoping to leave a sting. There was no point in overreacting. He just needed to remain cool. But, before he could say anything to Marilyn, Carter had his arm around her and the blondes were heading inside and Rafe just kind of stood there dazed. Well, he wasn't just going to stay there, he slowly followed behind them, with his sleeping bag in hand to see what Carter had in store for Marilyn.

"Yes, absolutely fabulous!"

Ivory struck a pose...or well tried to since when dressed as a giant blue ball there was only so much one could move really.

Giving up in a fit of giggles she watched with silent amusement at the exchanges between her friends-if she didn't know better she'd say Allison had something up her sleeve.

It turned out that much to both her and Arya's surprise she did. A cute little pygmy puff.

Letting out a gasp of delight, Ivory rushed forward and eyeballed the little critter.

"Awwww it's as cute as a button!"

Bringing up her hand to scratch her head in thought,(although truth be told her arm was barely able to bend enough to reach her head) she pondered on possible cute names...

"Pop? Ollie?...hmm what about Smore? or just Puff since your in HufflePuff? or Huffie?! or Clyde? or Boots? ooooooor Toto? or I know BOB!"

Spewing off the list of the names that first came to her head made her remember-

"Oh gosh guys I haven't even given you your gifts yet. Lemme get them they're in my belt..."

Reaching around her middle she tried to undo the buttons of her topmost coat.And of course failed.

"Uuuuuh guys do you think you could i don't know...help me"

The last part came out as a squeaky plea....what if she stayed a ball forever!

Oh noooooooooooo!

How would she ever go to the bathroom? o.O

Arya giggled at the list of names Ivory had givin her. She liked them all but one stuck out in her mind the most. "I like Smore the best. Since I do live smores!" She stroked her new pet while letting the name run through her mind. "Ya like that name Smore?"The puff just blinked at her, obviously enjoying the strokes to his fur.

She turned to her friend who was having the hardest time trying to get out of her huge bubblegum blue coat."Sure we'll help." Placing Smore on her Shoulder she went to Ivory and unbuttoned to coat starting at the top and working her way down until she done."All done!"She took a step back and admired her handy work as if she just built painted a masterpiece.

Ivory took in a huge deep breath as if she'd been deprived of real air for eons when the huge coat finally came off, leaving her in the blue light warm jacket she had wanted to wear ... alone! Without the bulk of the additional jacket.

"And thirty pounds later here I stand!" she exclaimed glaring at the weight that was her jacket, wondering whether or not her mother would be upset if she accidentally on purpose lost it.

Deciding she'd ponder on that later, she removed her wand from it's holster, sat down indian style and tapped the fiery tip to the patch on the exact side of her mokeskin belt.

Immediately out billowed out a large satchel.

Pocketing her wand, she dug her arm in past her elbow. Fishing around for a few moments and ridiculously ducking her head into it was well as she muttered some unintelligible phrases, she finally lifted her head and smiled.

"Aha!"

Bringing out first a flat white circle that looked suspiciously like a muggle Frisbee, she set it in front of Allison's feet before digging into the the satchel again.

A few moments later, she removed some wooden pieces one by one until she had a miscellaneous pile of wood in front of Arya.

Smiling innocently, she looked up at them. "It's not much but I hope you guys like it...these ....things...have a lot of emotional sentiment attached to them and I know you all will take care of them."

Moment of awkwardness....

....
...
....

Brushing off the seat of her black leggings, she tried to put on her most crestfallen face.

Scrunching up her face as if she was going to cry, she continued.

"You don't like them!"

Sniffle, sniffle, sob.

"I...p-p-played with this growing up and you-you don't even like it." she wailed as convincingly as she could.

Peeking through her fingers at their expressions, she brought out her wand.

"Juust kidding guys... I so did not get you a pile of wood and a frisbee."

Laughing at her little joke especially on Allison, she pointed her wand and swished it gracefully. "Erecto!"

The flat white frisbee seemed to began being inflated and pop up into Allison's actual present.

Similarly, the pile of wood began to assemble itself piece by piece into Arya's present.

Smiling at the finished products, she smiled at her two friends.

" I know how your butterfly is always just waiting for you in the common room while you're in classes Allison so I thought maybe we could fill this with flowers and stuff that way it would have a nice little place of its own while it waited for you."

Turning to Arya, she explained her gift too. "I know how your little kitten is your pride and joy soooo," she gestured toward the ensemble."I figured a small kitty playground would keep it entertained too."

Her head bobbing from one friend to the other she waited to see their reactions...

Alexa had made her way out of the Great Hall, leaving all of her friends behind. She cautioned a look over her shoulder as she slipped out. Having grabbed a pair of boots she stopped to slip them on her feet and took a deep breath. Midnight... time to go... Darn it was freezing out there. *sigh* but she had to go...She pulled her coat tight around herself as she slipped out the front doors and onto the grounds.

It was midnight.

It was midnight AND it was cold.

Reese slowly walked up the streets towards the entrance hall wearing her black jacket that she just so happened to find in her trunk. Her hands were stuck inside her jacket pocket as she crept down the entrance hall towards the front doors. She wasn't wearing heels tonight, but instead some flat shoes that didn't make too much noise as she crept along.

As soon as she made it towards the door, she took one look around the hall before sneaking out and closing the door behind her.

"I almost forgot what you looked like without your coat Ivory."She giggled at the small joke."That's a nice jacket though."

Arya watched with child-like curoisity as Ivory dug in her sachel. She stared at the pieces of wood placed before her with confusion. What this really her gift? What was it?"Um...thanks...I think..." She tried to figure out what her gift was when Ivory started to cry.

She tried but couldn't pull off a believible look that said she truely liked her gift."No....I really do like it Ivory. Its sooo..."Giving up she went to her friend giving her a comforting hug instead. Then she started to laugh, saying it was only a joke. Letting go she grined at her friend, relieved that this wasn't her real present. "Good cause for a second there I thought you lost your marbles."

She watched as her and Allison's gifts had transformed. Allison had a cute little basket, but she paid it no mind cause she was staring wide eyed at her gift."Thanks Ivory!! Perseus will love it! I'll put it beside my bed for him to play on."She gave her friend a bear hug before going over and admiring the cat toy. To bad Perseus had run off before he could she to new toy. Oh well, it would be a good surprise for him when he got back to the room. "How am I gonna get this to my room?"she joked.