Kelley smiled at Mikey's stories about his mom. "At least you know she was brave and mischievous and also curious," she said, trying to lighten up the mood but really not sure if it would work. "A lot of great wizards and witches have those qualities."

"Yea but the really great ones dont get caught" tugging at his robes and thrusting his chest out a bit

"S-Sorry," she blushed hunching her shoulders a bit. "It's just...some people didn't always like it when I would go off on tangents like that." It was moments like that that she sometimes wished she was in Ravenclaw.

"Smores...with peanut butter?" Kurumi had come close to trying a smore during their Divination class, but had eaten the marshmallow by itself instead. "I didn't know dragons had a sweet tooth." Although, they were rather obsessed with treasure and not all treasure is silver and gold.

"It doesn't even matter whether or not she got caught," said Kelley. "I bet she was a great person, and a great witch. That's all that counts, really." She smiled kindly again.

Seeing that she might not have gotten the joke " Well I dont think that they have done a lot of study. Reall would you want to the the guy that had to go and check if your Chinese Fireball liked redhots over or bubble gum" smirking at the mental imiage so some poor dumb wizard trying to get a dragon to blow a bubble



scratching his head " Well the truth be told,she didnt do the witch thing she went in to muggle advertising for high end FassionThe only thing that I ever found out that she did. that was magical is every one said how pretty she allway was even first thing in the morning"

Cassie laughed at Freddie's comment. It was true that the boy was almost deathly pale but she was also sure that he probably couldn't tan well either. He would probably end up burning or something and a stripping Freddie would be hilarious. And of course it would pain him greatly to be sun burnt. She couldn't help but snicker at the thought.
"You're probably right, though, you should stick to that icky green colour of the snake house. It suits you." She stuck her tongue out at him.

Cassie's cheeks coloured when he said that he wanted to keep in contact with her. Of course she was hoping he would say that, seeing as well, she had gotten pretty attached to the boy and he had indeed become a good friend despite everything. But she didn't know if his girl friend would like that considering so she was just going to let things go, but now that he wanted to keep their friendship in contact, she was feeling much happier.
"Good, I was really hoping you would say that." And she was getting teary again. Sigh, what was happening? Cassie never got teary in public, but meh, she would let they flow if needed because she was saying bye to Freddie.

Cassie snickered and held the camera away as Freddie snatched at it and was successful in getting her pics. They would make great additions to her album. She mock frowned at him when he said Freddie was awesome instead of Cassie is awesome...shesh men. "I'll let you get away with it this time you." She playfully nudged him but smiled warmly." Of course, I'll owl you copies baldy."

"I think that would be a fascinating study!" Kurumi chirped already thinking of possible hypotheses in her head. "I would be willing to bake different varieties of cookies to see which flavor dragons were more inclined towards."

looking over to the slytherin table " I bet I could find some of the ,,,,,, slow witted snakes that could be talked in to Feeding the sweets to the dragons " giving the her a small smile " I could sample the sweets to make shure that no dragon would put on excess weight due to the change in diet " rubbing his hands together like he had seen all the bad guys do in all the old movies his dad use to watch " But how do we get the dragon not to eat the Slytherin. I mean we dont want the poor thing to get an upet tummy.......Right ? "

"Don't do that!" she squeaked thinking that he was actually being serious for a moment. "Maybe we should reconsider this whole feeding dragons sweets," she said scratching her head to think for a moment. "Then again, you could just use a Levitation Charm on them and avoid all that dangerous stuff all together."

"What's this I hear about dragons?"Adam asked walking over and sitting next to Mikey. "Still up for it, Kurumi?"

" WEll, maybe I will visit Boston in the near future" Rex told Kelley." I understand about buying everything" Rex said to Kelley. "Diagon Alley was fun for me" Rex explained to Kelley.

rubbing his chin in pretend thought " yea but we couldnt get good data on if they licked it first if you just levitated it in ... no best way is the Slytherin holding way "
truning to see the table guest " hey Adam Kurumi was just telling me about a new dish she want to try as a dragon treat Candy covered Slytherins " giving a small wink to see if he would play along

"Hi...Mikey.."Adam said nodding at his hufflepuff friend he had recently met. "I don't mind feeding certain slytherins to Dragons...I'd be happy to feed them...Do you mean you want the covered candy to Slyther in to their mouth?"Adam asked, hoping he got the joke.

"Erm, well, that's for you to decide," Christopher said truthfully. She would either be happy with the time they have left, or she would cry the entire time. He really hoped she did not choose the latter.
He shifted in his seat, and looked uncomfortably down at Violet. "Well, you already know that if my dad.... you know...... passes...." His voice caught a little, "...over the summer, that my mum is sending Elyon and I to an orphanage. Most likely different ones." Or did she know? He regretted the words once he spoke them, wondering if Selina was the the only one who
knew due to his sister. He guessed by Violet's expression that this was news to her.

"So this may be our last time together, as I'm spending some of the last moments with my sister on the train. Dad doesn't have much time left..... When he got better, it was only temporary..... We'll be lucky if he makes it over the summer. He's fighting as hard as he can, but it'l be a blessing when he's out of his misery." he couldn't even look at Vi anymore. He was already in enough pain. He didn't want this to be good-bye. Unless she showed up in his Muggle village in the tiny little town of Sea Town, it most likely would be.

Kurumi rolled her eyes. "Personally, I have nothing against any Slytherins," she smiled. Well, Cookie!Hater was the only one who seemed to have something against her at least. "I think you could manage to get the job done without risking someone losing a limb."
All the excitement drained from Kurumi's face when Adam suddenly appeared out of nowhere and sat down next to Michael in her immediate line of sight. Her gaze immediately shifted to what was left of her pumpkin juice.

Not responding to Adam, she finished off her drink, set the gobled down on the table, and turned her gaze to the two boys. "I just remembered I need to be somewhere," she said sadly flicking her eyes at Adam for a moment. "Thank you for the conversation, Michael. If I don't see you on the train, I look forward to see you again next term."

She placed special emphasis on the words next term before standing up and looking at Adam once more. If she couldn't say it, she hoped that her eyes conveyed the emotions.

Adam knew it had been a bad idea to come here when he saw Kurumi next to Mikey.

All his hopes were drained out of him. He was actually kind of hoping Kurumi would find the strength to stay. It was hard being so far apart from her. She knew as much as he did that they both wanted to be together, but given the circumstances...it just wasn't very plausible.

"Kurumi..please..."Adam pleaded desperately."I'll do anything to see you NEXT TERM!"He said rather loudly .

"Well, that's still good," encouraged Kelley. "Even I can't wake up looking pretty." She laughed quietly to herself. For someone so modest, she sure sounded like she had a huge ego.

Knowing how both of them felt but not shure of all the detailsWith a quick look to Adam "Shure Kurumi.We will catch up on the train we can discuss the the sweet covered Slytherin vs the tart covered one ...But just in case we miss each outher" giving her a quick hug " that is how we say good by in my neck of the woods " turning back to Adam "Trust me dude I know how you feel ,,, not bout Kurumi she is just a friend. You dont fish do you" puting his hand up to stave off Adams first reply " trust me somt time you need to give a little slack in the line ,cuz if you dont you can break the line of frindship and then it just you sitting alone on the bank" pouring the Griff a gobblet of of pumpkin juice




grinning at thougt of girls waking up and looking like madussa " yea but by the time your 20 I bet it will be magizine cover prefect "

Entering the great hall rather belatedly, the Hufflepuff paused by the opening doors, just watching, eyes a little too wide. She took in the crowded room, tables packed with students and teachers, and reached up her little hands to clasp the badge pinned beside the black and yellow house crest. Closing her eyes, Wesley took a big, shaky breath, and timidly shuffled towards her familiar house.

Wesley noticed Jake before anyone else; in the last year, it seemed as if he was always the first one she saw. And also the first one she avoided.

When she finally neared the table, the brunette had made efforts to speak with Melanie and Cedric, but they were already crowded with students, and so she gave up the cause before she even began - promising herself she would catch them on the train. Everyone, it seemed, as she desperately searched for someone to chat with, to distract her, was occupied. Everyone except for Jake.

Wesley, despite never doing to well in class, wasn't stupid. She got the clue. Somebody, the somebody who pulled, tied, and cut all the strings, was prodding her, reprimanding her, forcing her to make up for the big mistake.

But she didn't want to!

But she did.

Face crumpled into a pained expression, the sixth year awkwardly spoke to the older boy across the table, voice cracked and strained, "Can I sit here?" Not sure if he even saw her (Wesley couldn't see anything behind those sunglasses), she stiffly gestured to the empty spot before him.

Biting her lip, the 16-year-old glanced away for a moment, before returning to look him in the, er, shades. She gulped, the room, though buzzing with voices, too quiet in her ears. A word passed from her red-blistered lips, an almost silent, pleading whisper, "Please?"

Hearing that familiar voice, the voice that belonged to someone he'd very recently thought about, over there by the memory book, Jake looked up.

As soon as he saw her, a whole BUNCH of emotions flew through his head, including sadness, that he wouldn't have anymore encounters at feasts with Wesley again, and confusiong... because... well...

"I thought you hated me," Jake responded, voice quiet, but nowhere near as that soft little 'please', which he had heard. It was heartbreaking to hear it. "Or..."

Feared him? Jake wasn't sure. He only remembered her reaction that day in the common room.

But anyway.

"Yeah... yeah, please do."

Jake kind of sat up properly again and looked expectantly at the younger girl, though his sunglasses were still on and he'd completely forgotten them.

"I'm not gonna cut some slack..Listen...If i cut slack then I really will lose my first real friend...Now if you excuse me...I have someone to talk to."Adam said angrily, pushing past Mikey.

He looked beyond Mikey and could see Kurumi. Things weren't gonna be left with a broken mirror- no sir, Adam needed to talk to her one last time, and he'll go to any lengths to get there.

Wesley twisted her sweating hands into the fabric of the heavy school robes, mentally willing herself not to run away, to hide, but to stay in place. To take what he said, however much it hurt, and then to try her hardest - to dedicate her entire, whole life - to regain his trust and friendship.

But as she watched his visible facial features shift, twitch, tighten, loosen, fold, relax, move, the sixth year's mustered strength began to wane. She couldn't take it. She couldn't do it. She -

'I thought you hated me'

Wesley choked in air, closed face opening into a wide mouthed, wide eyed look of horror.

And then, just as quickly, it buckled, her bitten lip wibbling, brow furrowing, eyes tingling. She sank into the seat before him, broken. Wesley covered her face with her hands, not because she didn't want to see him, but because she didn't want him to see her, so ugly and dispicable.

"I'm sorry; I'm sorry; I'm sorry; I'm sorry-," she cried into her fingers, sticky sweat mixing with sticky tears. Her tiny shoulders shook, curved forward, and she rocked in her spot, desperately wishing herself invisible, and yet, in some twisted way, wanting to be seen.

Wesley... was suddenly crying. She'd sat down and not run away which was GOOD... but she was like... sobbing. It was dreadful.

Jake looked HORRIFIED... because, well... he'd made that happen. He was terrible with his words. Awful... and this was a prime example.

Knowing that there was no other way of facing this situation, Jake suddenly disappeared under the table...

... and reappeared on Wesley's side.

Without even a second thought, Jake wrapped his long, comparitively huge arms around Wesley's tiny body and hugged her close. His main priority was to calm her down.

"It's okay," he said weakly, and took his sunglasses off after a second... and resumed hugging. "You don't have to apologise. Just... calm down."

Jake continued to hug Wesley and WOULD until she seemed okay again... though he wasn't sure how long that would take. It didn't matter; they shared a common room.

"I'm sorry; I'm sorry; I'm sorry; I'm sorry-" the Hufflepuff continued to sob, each appology, rather than becoming more robotic, sounding increasingly frenetic. Her eyes squeezed shut, hands plastered to her face, she failed to notice Jake's sudden disappearence. All she could see was black.

"I'm sorry; I'm sorry; I'm!"

She was cut off midwail by, Wesley parted her fingers, peering through blurry eyes, by Jake. By Jake's arms, wrapped around her in a hug.

Wesley didn't understand. So she listened.

No, no, no, her thoughts became words, "No, no it's not. I do, I," she struggled, attempting to squirm out of his grasp, "I do. It's my," the tears started again, "it's my," she was choking; it wouldn't come out. It wouldn't come out. She was scared. She was ashamed, but she, she needed to say it, "fault."

"It's my fault. I, I," her pasty, sticky, drippy face turned frenzied, crazed, dark eyes widening, "You d-don't understand. I could've st-stopped it. I was there, I was, was a-at the D-d-death D-day party. U-under the table," long story, "and, and I heard you, t-talking to Myrtle. Y-you said you k-killed him. Kyle. And, I d-didn't believe you. I f-fainted."

"If I h-had helped you then, then, H-helios a-and Abby would st-st-still be," her wobbly stutter-sob broke into a full-out run, as her eyes widened still,"aliveandyouwouldn'thavehadtogothroughallofthatand RemiwouldneverhavecomeandMirandaandOliverwouldneve rhavegottenhurtandHeadGirlCelawouldneverhavebeenab ductedandnoonewouldeverhavefoughtandProfessorLupaw ouldstillbehereandMarielandTiberiuswouldneverhaveh adtoleaveand-," Wesley gasped for air, "wewouldstillbefriends."

There. She said it.

The ugly, dispicable truth.

Now he knew.

Wesley placed her suddenly cold hands in her lap, where they lay, placid and unfeeling. She couldn't look at him, so she looked at them, and whispered, shoulders drooped, defeated, "That was all I ever wanted."

Ohhhh, France?

That did sound like something to look forward to.

"Wow. That's... really awesome of her boss." she replied, with a small nod. Some people may prefer not to be moved around by work, but travel seemed like a really good way to learn about the world. And to have fuuuun, of course. "I bet it'll be a neat experience." Definitely.

She sighed thoughtfully at the Isobel's questions, biting her lip for a moment, before replying honestly. "I'm... really sad." Hard to admit, but not terribly hard, considering the majority of the seventh years felt the same way. "It's been home for a really long time and I like the people here and leaving has always been inevitable, but-" It just felt like her time to leave arrived so quickly. Melanie silenced herself, before she could get teary or overemotional or anything. As she continued a sad smile began to tug at the corners of her lips. "I'll just miss it everything." Literally. "...I think summer will be alright, though." As good as summers go. Melanie shrugged. She just had one summer left with her aunt, and she had a feeling she'd be fairly busy during it preparing for the fall.