Did Miranda just.. snort? Oliver looked up at her to see that she looked like she was trying not to laugh. Was the idea of him wanting to be alone seriously all that funny? ...Actually, it probably was – the lad never made any secret of the fact that he liked to have a captive audience at all times. He would have an entourage to follow him around all the time and wow at his awesomeness if it were up to him. But this news... and then the failure at Quidditch had brought him down to the point where he just didn't want to be around anyone. He didn't want to have to defend his team and deflect any negative comments with his usual humour and a smile. He really didn't have the energy right now.

He almost regretted handing Miranda the letter as soon as she took it and kept a-hold of it for a moment before letting go. He was so ashamed of what had happened with his mum. He'd convinced himself that he was what drove her away. The woman was fragile, depressed, and Oliver didn't make her life easy with his condition and his erratic behaviour. But that didn't mean he wasn't angry with her for what she had done? What kind of mother abandoned her own child?

He sensed Miranda freeze, her body language tensing. This was awkward for her, he wished now that he had just thrown the parchment into the fire and forgotten he'd ever received it. He felt her sit, and glanced at her before reaching for her hand needing some kind of comfort.

At her words he swallowed thickly despite his mouth being dry. “I-I don't know.” He shook his head, his expression contorting into pain. “I don't think I have a choice...”

Bahahaha! She had been only joking about him not being tan, but now that she really looked at him, perhaps SHE was tanner then HIM. Which was saying something, she she had a hard time getting tans. Snickering at the thought, she vowed that this summer she was going to get a really good tan. Or at least hopefully more than she already had. "Your tan is a shame to others." she joked with a small giggle.

Taking a deep breathe, she let it out shakily when she heard Patroclus say he was sure he could find it. He wasn't...going to be searching for her home was he?! Not only was that stupid and dangerous, but technically, she didn't know where her home was yet. Still figuring that one out! At least...she knew where her old home was, but she wasn't...welcome...there...

Ohhhh, perhaps he was only joking. What he said afterward actually made sense. And was quite...poetic. Hmmm poetry. "That is...a really nice way to think of home."

Staring into his blue eyes as he looked up into her own, for a moment, she became a bit nervous. Why? She didn't know. But after a moment, she considered looking away but... it was too hard. His eyes were really blue...

If she had learnt anything during these few years knowing Oliver, it was that he was quite like her. So sitting down and acting like this wasn't a big deal was her idea of her trying not to make him feel akward about this situation. If it was her feeling crappy that her AWOL mother had called...she wouldn't have spoken of it to anyone, really. Miranda was a bit surprised when she felt his hand on hers, but didn't hesitate to hold it tightly.

Her eyes left the Willow and landed on Oliver. He looked really torn. Who wouldn't be.
"You always have a choice, Oliver." He of all people should know this. "You've made it quite clear that you're the one incharge of your own life...like the way you kept nagging about getting that stupid Willow stump to make a bat." She sighed dramatically but glanced at the boy with a slight amused expression.

How did that go, by the way?
...well, maybe not the right time to go into a discussion about that.

Getting serious again, she skimmed through the letter still in her hand. "She does seem rather eager to see you again. Maybe...maybe it would be good for you to meet her." Yeah, so he could tell her off. And perhaps Miranda could come with to kick her butt. Snort.

Did he ALWAYS have a choice? He guessed, thinking about it, that whatever he did in this situation, it was always going to be his choice, even if he went to see her purely because he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn't. It was still HIS decision, right? He sighed and shook his head. It was all too confusing.

Miranda, however, was making light of it and for that he was eternally grateful. He managed a small smile at her jesting over his none stop prodding and poking to get someone to help him get some wood from the Willow... which, incidentally, he still had not achieved. No one in school was stupid enough to assist him – hey, maybe he could ask Torin . Heh. He found himself elbowing Miranda playfully when she sighed oh so dramatically, a smirk starting to play on his lips.

Rather eager? She sounded desperate. Part of Oliver wanted to punish her by ignoring her completely. But then what? He would stress for the rest of his days that he had driven her to do something.. stupid. Gulp. She was never the strongest or most balanced person. “I know. I guess I knew as soon as I read it I would go. I'll regret it forever if I don't.” He squeezed Miranda's hand – he just needed a gentle nudge in the right direction, and it seemed the girl who knew him the best was the one to do it. He looked at her and swallowed. “I-if I go... would you come with me?” Because Oliver was a giant coward and couldn't do this alone.

Was it cold? Oliver shivered involuntarily. “You fancy going inside?” He nodded towards the castle with a grim expression on his face. It wasn't cold – Oliver was just emotional. The Great Hall was bound to be empty because everyone was out enjoying the sun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by individual

Bahahaha! She had been only joking about him not being tan, but now that she really looked at him, perhaps SHE was tanner then HIM. Which was saying something, she she had a hard time getting tans. Snickering at the thought, she vowed that this summer she was going to get a really good tan. Or at least hopefully more than she already had. "Your tan is a shame to others." she joked with a small giggle.

Taking a deep breathe, she let it out shakily when she heard Patroclus say he was sure he could find it. He wasn't...going to be searching for her home was he?! Not only was that stupid and dangerous, but technically, she didn't know where her home was yet. Still figuring that one out! At least...she knew where her old home was, but she wasn't...welcome...there...

Ohhhh, perhaps he was only joking. What he said afterward actually made sense. And was quite...poetic. Hmmm poetry. "That is...a really nice way to think of home."

Staring into his blue eyes as he looked up into her own, for a moment, she became a bit nervous. Why? She didn't know. But after a moment, she considered looking away but... it was too hard. His eyes were really blue...

"Hey I heard tha giggle!" The boy cried in earnest, "I may be momentatirly pale, but I will be as brown as a broomhandle when you see me in the holidays! Just you wait!" Supressing the urge to reach out and pull Evelyn down onto the robe beside him, the boy plunked a blade of grass from beside his head, and began to roll it between his fingers.

"Well you can steal that little gem," he replied in regards to the Slytherin's soft compliment of his idea of home, "Having it with you, you will also remember that you have a home somewhere."

His eyes seemed to shake in their sockets, the desire to blink was stripped of importance by the boys desire to maintain his connection with the hazel eyes floating above him. A slight distress seemed to dawn on Evelyn's face, and he torn his eyes from her, not knowing she had done the same. There they sat two thirds year, staring everywhere but into the eyes they had just locked with.

Conan made his out of the school , it was a very tiring day especially that he had double potions and double DADA , his school robes were untidy and so his hair , he was happy that the day was almost over .
out of school was the nice cool air , and there were many other students out , he wanted to be in a quite place so he thought not much people would be near the whomping Willow .

Willow walked out of the school. She was in a bad mood and rather exhausted. She'd just had double potions class with the Slytherines, and there was a discusting goo all over her new trainers. With nothing better to do, she decided to take a short walk over to the Whomping Willow. She enjoyed watching the students try to get into the hidden tunnel at its roots... nothing like a good thumping.

As she reached the grounds by the tree, she noticed Conan Edogawa. He didn't look much better than Willow did. "Hey Conan!" Willow sighed, as she flopped down on the earth beside him, " you're looking pretty down... bad Potions class?" Willow grinned. She'd been there; she knew the class had been a disaster...

Conan heard a familiar voice near by , and it was that Huffie girl , who he wasn't sure of her name .. she wasn't very beautiful ( payback *evil* )
and she was kinda pushy , she sat beside him without even asking for permission to join and what makes things worse is that she was asking how was potions !! as if she weren't there . " Ohai ... no not really bad " Conan lied " Just ... long "

Willow was astounded... had they even been in the same potions class? Willow decided to let the whole potions conversation go. "So, you have much going on today?" Willow asked, when actually, she couldn't wait to get to the Dining Hall; she was starved.

" not much left to do indeed " Conan replied " what about you ? " he wasn't really interested to know the answer but he felt that he had to ask .
he kept gazing at her just because he is polite " oh btw do you know someone who has invesibility cloak ? "

Willow looked at Conan as she answered. "No, I'm sorry I don't. What do you need it for anyway? Suddenly, Willow could smell the intense aroma of cooked meat... Jumping up, she said, "Sorry, Conan! I've got to go... Dinner's ready and I'm starved!" Without waiting, Willow followed a few other students back up to the castle.

" I need it for ,,,, " and before he could answer she was already standing up and leaving " ok , see you later "
Conan joined some other students after few minutes and went to the great hall to have dinner ,

Damon walked over to where the big giant tree was. He could not find a suitable place to do his homework so why not do here with a tree moving about. Finding a safe place where he would not hit he sat down and started setting a little project he was working on.

After dinner, Willow headed back down to the Whomping Willow. She'd changed out of her wrecked trainers, had a full belly and was feeling marginally better. As she reached the tree, keeping a safe distance from the swaying branches, mind, she spotted another student. He seemed to be doing homework as well. Walking up to him, Willow smiled and said, "Hi! I'm Willow... Willow Weasley... want some company?" Willow held up her HOM text to show that she too had work to do.

Damon while he was working heard a student speaking to him, after listening to her introduce herself he said 'Hello certainly you can join me" he patted a place next to him for her to sit down. "I'm Damon Cunderthorne and it is a pleasure to meet you. What homework do you have?"

Willow gracefully slipped down and made herself at home beside Damon. She was exhausted. She showed Damon her huge HoM text and laughed. "I've got two chapters to read and summarize before tomoorow..." Then she giggled. "I kind of let things slide this week! So, what are you doing there?" Willow looked at all of the stuff spread out around Damon and wrinkled her nose.

"Oh this is just stuff for divination, im trying to come up with a thing for the class that can tell about future events in ones life." Right now it was just a small pile of wood but soon it would be a fairly large apparatus that hopefully would work. "Well you better catch up on the homework" he said smiling at her. "Still i admit ive fallen behind a little in my homework as well. so tell me are you enjoying school this term?"

Willow had a serious look on her face. "So... that pile of odds and ends is actually going to be something when you're done?" Willow asked, intrigued. "Why don't you just use your wand? I mean... wouldn't it be a lot easier?" Willow was interested now and quickly threw her text book aside. Then leaning forward, she picked up one of the longer pieces of wood and began twirling it between her fingers.

Then, hearing Damon's question, she replied, "Aw... school's going okay, but I've been a bit lonely lately. My parents are travelling and my brothers are busy working and stuff. How about you? You doing okay... enjoying life at school?" Willow twirled the piece a wee bit too hard and it flung from her fingers. It landed in Damon's lap. "Good catch!" Willow said, as she giggled and covered her face to hide her embarassment.

"I'm doing just fine right now. Term is nearly over now then i have to wait again for the next one to start." Damon looked at the piece of wood on his lap and he smiled at her again. "That was a 30 pound board if it had hit my foot i might have had a broken ankle. Willow if you need to get away from your loneliness come to me and i can make you happy." He said to her. "but yes this project i'm working on might get an award or two."

"Thirty pounds!" Willow exclaimed, as she flexed her arm muscles. "Who knew?!?! You're just lucky it didn't land on your head and crack your skull!" Willow was a little anxious over what could've happened if things had turned out different... "So, this thing you're making, will it actually work? Where are you going to keep it?" Willow was impressed with Damon's idea, even more so, when she heard that he was going to create it without using magic.

As she pondered this for a bit, Willow then said, "But school's over for everyone... and we're all going to be waiting for next term to start. What do you plan on doing with your vacation time?" Willow wondered what she would be doing during her vacation time. She'd love to join her Dad, as he searched Europe for stray dragons, but she supposed she'd wind-up with her mother doing intense research on the forbidden plants of France. If this was the case, her summer was going to be quite boring. "Maybe I can write you over the summer if I get bored," Willow exclaimed thoughtfully. "It'll give me something to do and your letters will help to ease the boredom. What do you think?" Willow smiled. The plan sounded fine to her...

'Writing letters between us would be great but dont forget we have the train to talk on as well. This device i am creating will be without magic i expect that it may take a few terms to create but hopefully sooner. You would definately help me if the board had hurt me wouldnt you have?" he asked her. Damon liked how upbeat she was.

Willow thought about the long ride home. She loved the Hogwarts Express and saying good-bye to her friends, but still, she did not look forward to the long day's journey. Pulling herself out of her reverie, Willow suddenly laugheded, "Well, I suppose if I'd knocked your block off, it would've only been right for me to be your slave forever. So, it's a good thing the wood landed where it did isn't it!" Willow was glad that no real harm had been done to Damon.

Reaching forward to grab her HoM text, Willow asked, "So, this inention... what's it going to be? What's it going to do? And why, are you doing it, if it isn't even for class?" Willow giggled and shook her head in wonder. Damon was a little too intense.

"I basically want this invention to be able to foresee what will happen in the future like for example it may tell you that you will be a wealthy person or something like that or that you have a great family." Chris picked the board off of him and vanished the wood instantly. "My dad was a master of inventing things and he passed all that knowledge to me." Suddenly one of the branches of the willow above them hit Damon in the side and he was down in pain. "Ouch" Damon said "That hurt" then again the branch hit him and trying to move he quickly got out of the way of the branch. but not before he swiftly tied that branch down. "Stay down and dont move" He told the branch that had hit him.

"Ohhh...." Willow said, "you plan on being an inventor like your dad? That sounds like an excellent idea. You seem to have a lot of good ideas. Maybe when you get this one figured out, it'll be able to tell me what my future holds... it's not looking too promising at the moment." Willow sighed.

Then, Willow watched, in horror, as a huge branch descended upon Damon, but before she could warn him, it got a mighty blow in. Willow instantly ducked as it came after her. The Whomping Willow was one mean tree! "Look out Damon!" Willow screamed as the branch came after Damon for another good hit. Willow watched in wonder as Damon had the brilliant idea of tying the offending branch down. She laughed outright, as she heard him give the branch a stern warning. Well, at least, he had a sense of humour... or was he being serious? Willow wondered...

Willow quickly rolled a way from the offending branch and to a safer place.

After all this was over Damon had broken his hand and thought he would need to go to the hospital wing. "I think i broke my left hand." He said to Willow. Damon wrapped his hand as best as he could. "Thankfully i was able to teach that tree a lesson wasn't I?"