Cass walks in to the common room and sees everyone already in groups and just walks over to the study tables to work on his homework and class assignments.

Alice, who had just spent the entire day trying to catch up on the work she had missed (which believe her was more than anyone cared to know), came bustling into the common room. Finding the nearest chair and in her mind claiming it before anyone else could, she flopped, or perhaps she should say slumped, into it, her body going limp. She let out a sigh, glad to have her body weight off of her feet. Alice just sat there for a couple of moments, so content to have a second to herself, that she didn't even realize Lexi sprawled out in the chair next to her, with what looked like a chocolate frog leg sticking out the side of her mouth. Muggle Politicians in America huh?

"You know I personally always liked FDR," Alice said with a gentle smile, giving the back of Lexi's book a gentle tap with her finger. "After all, he did bring America out of the Depression."

Lexi was enthralled with her book to the point that she really didn't notice Alice at first. Even the flopping and the sighing and whatnot was missed. Perhaps that was due to the VERY loud nature in which the child chewed her food.

"Eep!" she let out when she realized the voice was from her fave little Lioness. Heheh. "Okay first of all, I have missed you like mad, and secondly... what's an FDR and why was America melancholy?" she said seriously. How COULD a country be sad? Weird lot, those Americans. She was INTRIGUED.

Alice let out a little chuckle upon Lexi's facial expression once she noticed Alice was there and was in fact speaking to her. "It's good to see you too!" Alice said with a little smile. "And it's really great to be back."

Alice couldn't help but let out a little snort of laughter when Lexi asked what an FDR was and why America was melancholy. "FDR is actually one of the Presidents of the United States who came into office during the Great Depression. And America was melancholy so to speak because the stock market crashed and almost the entire country was in a state of economic depression. People were poor, losing their money and homes. It was rough times really, by FDR helped create new programs to bring the country out of it."

Alice had always enjoyed history in her muggle school, even after she found out there was a whole new set of history to learn within the magic world. "So, if I may inquire, what's got you so interested in Muggle Politicians?" Alice asked, her mind instantly jumping to boys, but keeping that thought to herself.

Rex ses a lonely boy in the corner. He walks over there. " Hi, my namie is Rex Trigwell" he introduced himslf. 'Working on homework?" Rex asked him. "So how do you like HogWarts?" Rex asked him.

Lexi smiled brightly at Alice and thought to be sure to ask her how things were... perhaps in the dorms where there weren't so many prying ears to listen in. Indeed. "Well I am glad to see you back around here," she said genuinely.

Ooooh. He was a president... and the stock market crashed... Lexi wasn't sure what that was but it sounded bad. "Did a lot of people get hurt when it crashed? What did it crash into?" Lexi asked blinking a few times. Sheesh. Sounded terrible.

Closing the book Lexi looked at Alice and giggled. "Well... Salander was telling me that there are some famous Kennedy's in America... and inquired as to whether I was of any relation. I honestly had never heard of them. I didn't stay in the Muggle school system very long before my family decided I was too much of a risk to be schooled there... so I don't know much about anything Muggle. And especially nothing about America other than New York City is fabulous for shopping," she said stupidly. "Are you American? Did I never ask you where you are from... if I have and have forgotten I apologize... I have been so caught up in preparing for OWLs and such... I keep forgetting things," she admitted. She had also been awfully caught self involved lately... this she knew. But, she was working on changing that. Right now.

Alice smiled warmly when Lexi said that she was glad to see her back, before desperately trying to hide another snort as Lexi asked what the stock market had crashed in to. She knew it wasn't nice to laugh, and Lexi being from a completely magical family, Alice didn't really expect her to know much about muggle history. But still, Alice couldn't help but smile warmly.

"The stock market is a bit complicated to explain, but it didn't literally crash into anything. It just sort of..." Alice bit her lip. "It just sort of went from being a really good thing that was helping people to being a really bad thing that hurt people, in a financial sense, if that makes sense?" The complexities of the stock market were even a bit baffling for Alice, and she figured there really wasn't much of a need to go into it.

Alice could tell when Lexi closed that book that she was about to divulge some juicy details about a certain someone but no one could have prepared her for the words that came out of Lexi's mouth. Salander...as in her Slytherin bestie Salander? Alice, who was rather skilled at hiding surprise from her face continued to stare at Lexi, listening closely as she explained how Salander had asked her if she was related to the Kennedy's, before going on about America and not knowing much about it, and wondering if Alice was from there. Alice, who kept staring after she had stopped talking quickly shook her head and gave Lexi a little smile.

"Yeah, I'm from Virginia actually," Alice said with another smile. "And John F. Kennedy is actually one of America's most well known presidents, although unfortunately he died rather young and soon after he came into office. He was assassinated by someone who uh, disagreed with his politics. There's a bit of question and mystery around the whole incident, but it was very sad nevertheless. Actually, now that I think about it, most of that family has died young and under tragic circumstances." Alice zoned off for a second, the sadness over that bit of history and the confusion over what Lexi's look when she talked about Salander meant, before she again brought herself out of it.

"So, yeah. I'd take it as a compliment though," Alice said, rubbing out the creases in her jeans. "Kennedy is known for being rather strapping!"

Strapping? What was she...fifty? "So..." Alice said after another pause. "You and Salander close?"

Lexi nodded her head and tried to look like she knew EXACTLY what she meant. She had no clue. Muggle politics was confusing... no matter what country it was. Oooh John Kennedy was a famous famous man... interesting. Lexi was enthralled. She listened closely to her friend, mouth slightly agape as she nodded her head. "The family has died... young... under mysterious circumstances?" Lexi said quietly. Sounded like her family... a bit. Interesting.

Then she asked about Salander and she. Lexi couldn't help but blush heavily. Shifting slightly in the seat she smiled brightly. "I suppose... you could say that. Oh Alice, I like him SO much. He is such a lovely person. He.. forgave me for what happened before. I don't know if he is my BOYFRIEND, but there is something there. I don't care about a label, really. Salander... is ... he makes me very happy," Lexi said with a smile that was borderline dreamy. Hehehehe.

Jacqueline quitely walked in the room. She was holding a her bag that was pretty heavy,so she just threw it on the floor. At the back,she saw Rex talking to a boy. Ohh lets scare him!!! She quickly ran and jumped covering his eyes with her arms. ''Guess who is it?'' she yelled! Hope this scared him a lot!!!!!! That boy was doing homework,she will definitely join him later. She has a lot stuff to do,but a little chat with Rex is always a great thing for relaxing.

Cass looks up as the older student comes over and introduces himself. He replies with a bit of shyness in his voice and body language...

"Hello, I am Cass Sato-Rhodes. And yes I am doing my homework assignments. I have enjoyed my time here so far, though I have been here less than two full years, I'm a second year."

Cass while not nervous, is trying to not be standoffish though he is not sure why this older student came over to him all of a sudden.

Cass watches the girl about his own age comes over and them quickly jump behind Rex and cover his eyes saying 'Guess who' and felt she was trying to scare him. He just grins slightly at this and watches Rex's reaction to this.

Luckly Cass had just finished his most pressing homework and was going over class notes and wand motions so a break now was not a bad idea.

Under mysterious circumstances? Er...not quite. "Well the assassination of Kennedy wasn't all that mysterious, just there was some question around whether or not the guy was acting alone or under someone's orders. The other brother passed away in a plane accident," Alice said, biting her lower lip. "Just rotten luck I suppose."

Alice couldn't help but twitch slightly as Lexi shot up when she asked about Salander and Lexi. He forgave her for before? Did something happen before? Alice couldn't help but feel perplexed, like she had missed something that was obviously very obvious knowledge. Alice kind of nodded her head as Lexi spoke, going stiff at the world boyfriend, before finding herself sitting there in silence as Lexi said Salander made her very happy.

"Well..." Alice said, trying to keep her composure. "That's great Lexi. Salander really is a great guy!"

Alice wasn't sure why exactly it was that this whole situation left her feeling a bit uncomfortable. She really liked Lexi who had practically been a sister to her since she got to Hogwarts, and the same could be said with Salander who was practically a brother to her. But as she sat there, watching Lexi gush over him Alice was having a hard time figuring out her emotions. She definitely wasn't jealous since she didn't see Salander that way anymore, and she wasn't angry because what better thing than to have two good friends date?

Uh-huh, there it was. What if something happened and the two of them fought? Then, Alice would be stuck in this horrible in between situation that would make her have to be Switzerland, and well, you know how that whole remaining neutral thing goes. "So...have you two gone on a date or anything?" Alice asked casually, hoping that her probably strange expression and demeanor didn't insult Lexi. Perhaps if she could just find out some more information things wouldn't be so...confusing? Uncertain?

The stuff about the Kennedy family made her frown slightly. Assassinations and plane crashes... sounded funnny to her. Who could say there was no... funny business involved there? Probably the work of WIZARDS. Okay... Lexi was creating a conspiracy theory in her head. Mhm.

Wait... why was Alice twitching? The subject of Lexi and Sal... why was it making her act like that? Sighing silently she looked at her friend sadly. Why did everyone think she was so bad for Sal? Or that she was doing something stupid? That is how it felt to her anyway. "Yes, he is a great guy, I know that," Lexi said simply. She DID know that. She had fought for him when he walked away. Didn't care that he didn't want to talk to her. She made sure it was FIXED. Then... she was made so HAPPY.

Nodding her head Lexi chuckled. "Salander was my date to the Prefect High Tea thing... I reckon you missed that though, didn't you?" she said with a shrug. It was difficult not to gush... but she saw that discomfort in Alice when she did...

"There has been something there... for a while now. Things have happened between us, but I was being stupid... and blind... I see now. Salander appreciates my quirks. Likes all of the weird stuff. He makes me feel like he really likes me for me... ALL of me. And that is not something I can honestly say for anyone else," she said quietly. Poo. Way to throw a damper on things, Alice. Sitting up in the chair she looked at her friend for a moment before asking, "Why are you acting like it isn't a good idea? Do you not think I am good enough for Salander?"

She KNEW it was her OWN issue popping up, but sheesh... the child made her feel weird about it. Did SHE have a crush on Sal like Kurumi OBVIOUSLY did? Dammit, not again.

"Who can this person be?" Rex asked as the hands are over his eyes. " These hands are girl's hands and they look like Jacqueline's hands" Rex said to her. "Am I Right?" Rex asked her. " By the way, you are so sneaky" Rex told Jacqueline,

" Glad to meet you Caa Sato-Rhodes. " Glad you like HogWarts" Rex said to Cass." I am in my seventh year and I like meeting new boys and girls at HogWarts" Rex explained to Cass.

Cass just grins at this between the two...


"It is nice to meet you to Rex. I did not expect a seventh year to be interest in me. Though you do seem to have plenty of folks playing games on you." Cass looks about the common room, but doe snot seem to really be interested in many of the groups there. "Sorry I am just use to being around fewer people, even after being here a year I am still not that use to this many in one room... even a big room."

Elyon ducked into the Common Room, exhausted. She flung her bag off of her shoulder and flopped onto the couch. She kicked off her chucks and leaned her head back on the pillow. She sighed and closed her eyes, running her fingers through her long ponytail. She was pretty sure she could fall asleep right then and there.

Alice nodded as she listened to Lexi explain how they had gone to the Prefect High Tea thing. "Yeah, I was at home so I did miss that. Was it fun?" Alice asked, hoping to lighten the conversation since Lexi's face had taken an image that Alice didn't particularly feel comfortable with.

And if that had made her uncomfortable Lexi's next comment, accusing her of not thinking it's a bad idea certainly didn't help the situation. Instantly feeling like she needed to defend herself Alice straightened herself up slightly. "Woah, now don't go putting words in my mouth! I never said anything about thinking you and Salander are a bad idea! You and Salander are both free to live your lives the way you want to, and I'm not going to stop you. And why in the world would I think you're bad for him? Honestly Lexi, I'm your friend, not everyone." Alice was just slightly hurt that Lexi thought her to be "everyone" else, and not her friend, which until now Alice had thought was what she was to Lexi. "Did you think that perhaps maybe I look at both you and Salander like siblings that I've never had, and that heavens forbid something happen and things don't work out between you two I feel bad having to choose which friend to stand by? I don't mean to turn this into something about me, but I like you both equally, and I would just hate for something like a relationship gone bad to make me choose sides."

Alice feel silent, reaching in to her bag to pull out a water bottle, before unscrewing the cap and taking a big sip along with a prescription pill that Alice had stealthily pulled out and slipped into her mouth. She was trying to forget how poorly things had gone at home with her Dad, who was now in a hospital to make sure he didn't do anything silly so to speak. Alice was better than when she left, but she was still fragile and of course the horrible hallucinations of last year were back in full force.

Alice turned her eyes slightly to look at Lexi, uncertain as to how she was going to take her words.

Adelyn entered the Common Room, and looked around for an empty place to sit. The only place that held any room was next to a girl she didn't know on one of the couches. Oh well, she was exhausted, and would sit anywhere at this point. Tucking her a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, she walked over to the couch. "Do you mind if I sit here?" Adelyn asked, pointing to the empty spot next to the girl, "Everywhere else is taken. I'm Adelyn, by the way."

" Well, like I said I like friends" Rex told Cass. " You dhould get used to the common room, lots of students in here most of the time" Rex said to Cass. "Do you have a favorite class?" Rex asked Cass.

" Are you sure you do not want to sleep in the girls dorm?" Rex asked Elyon. "What has you so tired?" Rex asked Elyon.

"I like friends too, I am just not that use to older students coming over is all. It is just that it is not a huge room and usually a lot of students here." he shrugs, "The classes I like the most are Defense, Transfiguration, and usually charms. Though most of the classes are interesting to me as I am a half-blood in more than one way."

Cass looks over at the student that Rex spoke to and seeing a girl about his age looking like she was about to pass out.

"So what are you favorite classes Rex, and you... Jacqueline...?" Cass says her name rather shyly as he has not meet her yet and does not want to be to familiar with someone he just met.

Lexi quirked an eyebrow when Alice got so defensive. Sighing slightly she sat back in her chair again and let the girl finish speaking before she replied. "I know you're my friend, Alice. With everything that has happened lately I suppose I am just... defensive myself. And for the record... I would never make you choose sides, Alice. I wouldn't have any friends if I made people choose sides between myself and the people I don't like," she said with a soft smile. THAT was not entirely untrue... Take Jim for instance: He was fast becoming one of her good friends. If she made him choose between she and those two best friends of his... well, that would be one less friend she had. WOuldn't it.

Sighing heavily she looked at Alice for a long moment before speaking again. "Look... I am really sorry about that. My own insecurities make me assume everyone else feels the same. Now... how are you? You wanna talk about things?" Lexi said softly.

Alice listened intently as Lexi explained the situation to her, before looking back at her when she apologized. "It's okay Lexi," Alice said with a gentle smile. "I suppose it's natural for us all to get a bit defensive of things, but really Lexi, I don't think your friend situation is as bad as you make it out to be, and just remember I'll always be your friend." Alice gave her another little smile before reaching out and giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "So, do you and Salander have anything planned to do together in the near future?" Alice asked, hoping to create a lighter tone.

Then Lexi asked how things were with her. "Oh, I'm alright you know. Everything is fine. My dad's being taken care of, so I felt like it was okay for me to come back." Alice gave a little smile. She refused to fall apart like she had before she went home, which was really the main reason that she had to go home. Alice had lost quite a bit of weight, and even though she was starting to gain it back she still looked thinner than usual. She just worried about her dad so much that she just was never hungry enough to eat. But again, things that she was improving and working on. "I ended up coming back later than I had expected so I'm sure I've missed a ton of work! How is O.W.L. studying coming along?" Alice asked with a smile. She knew the time to take them had to be approaching relatively soon.

Lexi shook her head slightly when Alice said she thought Lexi's friend "situation" wasn't as bad as she made it out to be. Alice had no idea. Lex seemed to be burning a lot of bridges, so to speak. Sighs.

Taking the little girl's hand she smiled softly at her. "Thanks, hon. That means a lot to me. YOu have no idea." It truly did mean a lot to her. Someone that didn't judge her no matter what, it seemed. That was hard to come by these days.

Back to she and Sal. Giving a little shrug she smiled a bit. "Nothing to speak of, no. I kind of like that though. It doesn't feel like he has these grand ideas of what I should be or do... and I like that. I am done with this aristocratic idiot boys. Salander is such a breath of fresh air. Such a big personality. I am happy to say he never bores me. And my eating habits seem to not gross him out. Points for him on that one," Lexi said with a giggle. REally... had Alice SEEN her eat? It was kind of gross.

Nodding her head Lexi listened as Alice explained that her dad was being taken care of. Yay for that. "More importantly though, are YOU okay? I know you worry about your father... but how are YOU, Alice?" Lexi inquired.

...

OWLs. Yuck. Shrugging she said, "Been studying... not really sure if I can be properly prepared with every lesson being about Muggles and the Statute of Wizarding secrecy this term. But I am studying on my own when I have time."

Alice smiled warmly at her when Lexi said she appreciated her friendship, but her smile turned to a look of curiosity as Lexi told her that Salander didn't mind her eating habits. "Your eating habits?" Alice said with a perplexed expression. "Do you combine weird things or..." Alice herself didn't have any food quirks (she kept things pretty simple) but she did know of some people that would combine rather interesting things together that one couldn't help but be slightly repulsed by.

Alice gave a gentle shrug of the shoulders when Lexi asked how she was doing. "I'm alright," Alice said with another shrug. "There's nothing else I can really do for him so..." Truth be told Alice was pretty bad when it came to emotional things. Of course, that wasn't to say that she pushed things under the rug but she certainly didn't embrace the whole emotional confrontation as much as she used to before this whole incident with her Mom leaving and her dad crumbling to pieces. "I just want to kind of put it all behind me so to speak," Alice said with a gentle smile that barely touched her lips. "Best not to fuss over things that are out of your control, right?"

....

"Well I personally don't know much about that second thing you mentioned, but living most of my life believing I was a muggle and being around them as much as I was, I am here if you have any questions." Alice didn't know really all the things they taught in Muggle Studies since she'd only taken a couple of classes last year, but she still had a pretty solid amount of information on the issue.

" Friends are good to keep forever" Rex told Cass. " I am an unusual older students, most of my freinds are younger than me" Rex said to Cass." My favorites are Potions, Charms and now I kind of like Magical Creatures class" Rex explained to Cass. " I am muggle born" Rex smiled.

Ahh noo,why is he so good at guessing? He knows her so well,or she must thing something new that will scare him. Muahh! ''Ahh bro,you got it right! It's me,one and only Jackyy!''she kissed him on the cheek.''So,how are you? Everything's fine? I had a bad stomachache these days,so I was in bed most of the time,excpet when I had classes.Busyy!! Hahhah I know,god I am so sneaky,I'm not a good girl!''she laughed a lot.''Let me take a seat,my back are in pain, I have to put this bag down. Stupid bag.''she just threw it and looked at it. Burn in hell ya bag! ''You doing something this afternoon?''she asked him,maybe he was free so they can all plan to do something.

Jacqueline spoke to the boy that was near Rex. ''Hey, I am Jacqueline,but you can call me Jacky! Second year.''she shook his hand slightly,and winked him.'' I see you finished all your work! Better do it now,then leave it for later,that's what I always say! Tell me something more about you. Oh yea,you asked me what are my fav classes well it has to be Arithmancy,Charms and D.A.D.A ofc!she told him,hoping she wasn't too much attacky. She was just trying to be kind,make a new friend. He seemed like a really nice guy,they can be great friends.