Carter figured that no matter what he said there would be no convincing Patroclus that he was fine. This left Carter with only one option... never to speak of his feelings ever again.

Actually, that really should have been his plan all along.

He was really fine though. It wasn't a lie.

Really.

He'd just move on too. Simple as that. Hogwarts was full of girls. How hard could it be?

"Played?" Carter repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Is that what they are calling owl attacks now?" he said fighting a laugh. "Why didn't you just ask to borrow someone's owl?" That would have been the first thing Carter would have done. (If he didn't have an owl that is.)

"You can use mine if you'd like." he offered. "That is, if you feel brave enough to venture out there again."

Lexi wandered out of her common room and into the corridor outside of it. Hmmm. What to do? Least time she started a fire somone happened across her. Meh. Leaning against the cool castle wall she unholstered her wand and began to conjure pretty pink butterflies one after the other. Nonverbals for the win!

Heaving a great sigh she simply stood watching her creations flutter about the corridor, her thoughts wandering a bit...

Cody smiled at the young girl in front of him. "Yep, that's correct. It's quite long", he said to her. "Nah, it's completely fine. I was the same way when I was a First Year", he added. He looked away for a bit. "So what's your name?", he asked.

*sigh* "Oh well good then, I managed to go the right way, for once!" she chuckled.
She nodded "Yeah, sometimes it's a bit confusing here at Hogwarts - but I'm getting more and more used to being here. It's wonderful!"

"Katelynn. Katelynn Kimberly Livinghay, called Kat, Kate or Katie. I think there are no more names now?" she said and chuckled. "What's you'r name?"

"Yeah, I guess you did", he said nervously. "It's so big. I didn't know where I was going all of the time but you will get use to it", he explained.

"I think I'll just call you Kat", he repiled giggling a bit. "Just, Cody", he added. He never had so many nicknames.

Katelynn giggled. "Kat sounds good." Cody? like that muggle her cousin loved? "Nice to meet you, 'just Cody'" she said with a big smile.
"What year are you in, Cody?" she asked. Well, he definitely was older then her!

"Alright then", he said to Kat smiling. She had a lot of nicknames. "I'm in my Third Year and I'm also a Gryffindor", he explained to her. "I assume your in your First Year, correct?", he asked. "What house are you in?", he added.

"Yea, I'm in my first year. I'm in Ravenclaw!" she said with a smile, and gestured towards her.. well, Ravvie-robes.
Oh no. Silence. Katelynn was sooo awful at comming up with subjects to talk about! But she remembered what Kita had started talkinh about; "Do you have any siblings, Cody?" she asked with a small smile. Well, maybe it wasn't the most interesting subjects, but at least she had come up with something? right?

Ravenclaw, eh? Cody wouldn't of been smart enough to be put in Ravenclaw. He was just an ordinary Gryffindor. He smiled at Kat, not knowing what to say until she said something. "Well, not really, yes, I guess", he answered. "I have a half-sister who lives in Australia now" he explained to Kat. "What about you? Brothers, sisters, only child?", he asked.

"I'm an only child!" she said. "At home, I'm really close to my cousin, but sometimes it could still get kinda boring. That's why I love here at Hogwarts! there is so many people here, that you are never alone!" And that was true - making friends was so easy, because everyone was just so sweet!
Wait? pause. Australia? "Wait.. You said that your half-sister lives in Australia - how come? and where do you live?" she asked, but quickly added "I mean, if you don't mind me asking, of course!" and smiled. hopefully he didn't think that she was being too nosy!

From the owlery, Salander made his way towards the area of the Gryffindor common room, nervously playing with the ribbon of a gift box as he peered round the corner towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. If he could only get someone to let him in. No handing the gift over to a Gryffindor wasnt an option. He needed to talk to Lexi.

Just as he mustered the courage to talk to the Fat Lady herself a couple of floating pink butterflies entered his vision. Aww man was he?... no he was pretty sure he wasnt, he hasnt touched that thing for over a year. He followed the butterfly trail to where it was coming from, and lo and behold--

"Lexi!" Salander squeaked. Errr yeah them nerves, unpredictable arent they? He cleared his throat and smiled sheepishly. "Uh... I got your letter and uhm...." he dallied, not really knowing what to say afterwards. Instead he thrust the gift box to her "Uhm, this is for you."

Lexi stood against the wall, wand held aloft conjuring still more butterflies. She giggled uncontrollably as they floated around her head and one alighted on her nose.

Hearing Salander's voice she smiled brightly and conjured a MANLY green butterfly for him as she turned to see him. "Hey, Salander... You did? It is?" she asked dully as she moved forward, her butterflies trailing along with her. "Salander... you got me a gift? You shouldn't have," she said as she reached for it.

Biting her lip for a moment she looked up at him and blinked her big brown eyes. "I wish I would have gotten you a gift now..." she said as she tore the paper off greedily. As she opened it her eyes got a bit misty. Taking the beautiful necklace from the box she turned it over in her hand and smiled softly. "Oh Salander... it's beautiful!" she said as she threw herself at him. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly as she caught herself crying slightly. "Does this mean you aren't mad at me anymore? I am so sorry... I never meant to hurt you... I was such an idiot..." she said in rapid fire.

"Its the least I can do.... kind of a peace offering?" he started to explain until the green butterfly sort of distracted him How'd she do that? he started to wonder as his attention got pulled back when Lexi hugged him. And... is she crying? "Hey.... hey dont cry..." he murmured as he embraced her reassuringly and peered into her face. He had forgotten that he also left her crying the last time. He drew out a kleenex packet and handed it to her, mostly for her benefit but also for his. Waterworks. Please no, specially not now that he's managed to be thinking straight for the first time since the term started.

Was he still mad at her? He sighed "No... no I'm not mad at you." He left all that anger at the shed. He promised himself that the moment he stepped out that door, he was only moving forward. No looking back. He pulled her off gently and gazed into her face "Hey..... no name calling...." he grinned "... even if its to yourself." He shrugged, not wanting to think about the hurt anymore, he just wanted it to be a distant memory. "Lets just say we start anew from this day forth ok?"

"S-s-sal, you... you... it's beautiful. Will you help me put it on?" she asked as she tried to blink back the tears that had started to fall. She was just so RELIEVED that he didn't loathe her. It wasn't as though she had meant to hurt him or anything... it just seemed to happen to her. She took the kleenex packet from him and after fumbling with it for a few moments finally extracted one and dabbed at her eyes.

As he peeled her off of him she smile softly and nodded her head at him. "Yes, starting anew sounds lovely. I would really like that," she said as she silently added 'I will never hurt you again'. Mhm. That was her vow.

Holding the necklace out to him she smiled and said, "Put it on me?" Perhaps she could ask him to the tea party also... Sal would surely be up for putting on a costume and having a cuppa with her. Heheh.

"Sure!" he replied, taking the necklace and shifted behind her. He slipped the fine chain around her neck and re-clasped it, then turned her around "See... lovely.' he smiled as he touched the pendant lightly. As is its wearer. But he needn't have to say that out loud.

He leaned back against the wall as he twisted his Chucks against the carpet, feeling a little unsure. What is with him today? He's never been such a bundle of nerves since-- well ever. He needed to talk about something... something thats kinda common knowledge. Oh...."So, you saw that party the Prefects are putting together? A "Tea Party?" he snorted. He couldnt help it. Really if there was an award for subliminal message of the year this would definitely take it. "I wonder if we should be bringing placards or something."Because really they wouldnt expect students-- specially the guys-- to show up looking like a stuffed couch right?

Lexi turned around as he took the necklace. She smiled to herself as he clasped it into place and turned her back around, a small giggle escaping her lips as he ingerly touched the pendant. She couldn't help but blush slightly as she looked at his face.

When he spoke of the tea party she couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly. Wow... he was a TELEPATH!! She just KNEW IT! Okay, maybe not, but how awesome was it that he mentioned it. "We... Sal, would you like to be my date?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. Covering her mouth with one hand she giggled uncontrollably. "Sorry that was rather forward, wasn't it?" she mumbled as she moved her hand to rest her finger tips on her chin. She could feel the heat in her cheeks from the blush she was giving off.

She averted her eyes and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. When she saw his Chuck Taylor's she smiled. "I have pink ones," she said with a giggle as she pointed at his shoes.

He looked back down at his beat up, Ramones Chucks and grinned when Lexi said she had a pink pair of them "I never go anywhere without them." Like seriously. Because its the only pair of shoes he's ever worn since he couldnt recall where his leathers are.

He turned his attention back to her on hearing her question. Well, doesnt beat around the bush does she? "Hey so long as you bring the posters and the paint, I'll show up with the bullhorn..." he replied seriously.

Smiiiiirk.

Of course he was joking about that. "Sure I'll go with you Lexi." he smiled. "And really, no apologies." he said with a casual wave of his hand. At this point, he was just so used to Lexi being forward he would've felt it odd of she suddenly wasnt.

And now, something he was absolutely dreading since he read the parchment. "Have you decided what you're gonna wear? I mean, are you planning to come in as the Queen of England or something?" Because he just cant wait to look like a walking pin cushion. NOT

Lexi smiled and nodded her head. "I have a few pair... but the pink ones are the ones I wear all the time," she commented. Tucking another lock of wild hair behind her ear she giggled slightly.

Wait... posters, paint, and a bullhorn... she was SO lost. Blinking at him a few times she simply nodded. Better to nod than anything else. Hehe. "Oh! YOu will!" she squealed clapping her hands together excitedly. YAY!!

"Well the announcement said ANY period in English history... so I was thinking of the 1920's. Like a flapper or something. I actually have this amazing dress... Would that be okay with you? I mean... you could wear a tux really..." she said with a little bounce. Salander in a tux! Be still my beating heart!

Zander wondered down the Seventh floor corridor from the owlery where he had just been. One glance out of the window and you could see the crispness of a winter morning. It did kinda feel odd for him been all the way up here, considering he was a Slytherin and he was used to being down in the Dungeons. He yawned slightly he was still a bit tired, he slowed as he approached a particularly big window and looked out of it down to the grounds.

Caroline walked down the Seventh floor corridor. She was heading from the Astronomy tower. she had gotten up early this morning because she couldn't sleep and she needed to think. She had alot to think about. When it was still dark she went up there to do something star gazing. Her eyes were puffy, because well the thinking did get to her. And she had been crying up there.

She fell asleep up there and had missed breakfast. For some reason or another she grabbed her bag on the way up to the tower. She was in a hurry to get down to the kitchen to see if the house elves would make her something, or if she could make something for herself. She turned a corner to the corridor. The thought of going to the kitchens, made her sad again. Of course little miss emtional as of lately Caroline started crying again.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPP.

Her bag had ripped right down the bottom books parachment quills ink bottles went everywhere. "No. no. no. Not now." she half yelled

Zander was is a world of his own, he must have been gazing out of the window for at least 10 minutes, it was then that a little way down the corridor he head a girl yelling, this snapped him back to reality. Slowly he made his way down the corridor towards the girl whos bag had by the looks of it ripped open , he picked up the pace to pick up a few books when he realised who it was .

" Caroline !" he said brightly as he handed her two books, it was only when he looked at her that he noticed her eyes were red , she looked tired .. and she had been crying. Zanders features softened immediately and with a flick of his wand a box of tissues appeared " whats the matter? " he argued with himself for a brief moment about whether to place a hand on her shoulder, deciding against it he instead concentrated on picking up Carolines thins " Reparo " he flicked hes wand in the direction of the smashed ink bottles.

His eyes flickered over her for a second this time he did reach over to her shoulder " whats the matter ?" he asked again in a concerned tone. Zander wasn't in his school robes, he was wearing a deep green jumper with the Slytherin crest on the shoulder.

Caroline seen Zander come on the scene. Great. not that she didnt mind seeing him just why did it have to be now. At her moment of weakness, Caroline had only ever cried in front of one other guy at school, her friend Braeden. As Zander approached she wiped her eyes quickly. so maybe he couldn't tell. She give him a weak smile as he handed her two of her books. She looked right into his eyes and she knew that he could tell that she had been crying.

"Zander!" she said as she scambled to pick up more of her things off the floor. She didn't awsner his question. She gave him another weak smile as she took a tissue and wiped her eyes with it. She stood up with half a dozen books in ther hands. "Thanks" She said as used the reparo spell to fix the bottle. "I just feel, bad She said

Shes got pretty eyes shhh .. He stood up straight as she stood up , he wasn't sure what to say, was this going to be another one of those things she just didnt want to talk about , Zander couldn't help but be curious he cared. " Well fancy bumping into you eh " he said with a weak laugh. It was only at this point that he realised that his hand was still on her shoulder, he removed it awkwardly and glanced at her eyes again.. still red .. still puffy.

" Well err, why do you feel bad ?" he knew she was hardly going to tell him, but he wanted her to know that he was worried about her. " where have you been anyway ? " She definitely wasn't in the Owlery.

Marie sat there silently listening to the conversation going on around the corner. Right... Carter wanted her to be happy. He had a damn funny way of showing that's what he wanted. If the fool would have taken the time to listen to her last term then he would have know that HE was what would have made her happy. But no, he had to ignore and avoid her the whole term… so of course she was going to move on. Did he expect her to just wait around until he decided HE was ready to talk to her? She had spent seven months trying to get him to talk to her. There is only so much a girl can take and after being rejected for that long Marie knew it was time to move along.

Hearing the way Carter and Patroclus were talking about James did nothing more than anger her. They knew nothing about him yet they were going to talk about him. Sure she knew he was a flirt... a fact she may not always like, but she also knew he was NOTHING like what he used to be. He was trying to change and as far as she knew he was succeeding at it too. And yes, he made her happy.

Hearing the events of that dreaded summer recapped Marie felt like it was happening all over again… from Carter’s point of view that is. She did not need to hear again what had happened, she had been there. She just couldn’t make herself leave though so there she stayed, sitting on the floor just listening. Listening to Carter say he wasn’t over her, yet he still wasn’t willing to do anything about it… Just like last term. She was the one that tried making things better, she was the one that tried talking while all along he was the one ignoring her and obviously ignoring how he was feeling about her.

It seemed no matter what Patroclus said, Carter wasn’t going to listen, he wasn’t going to follow his heart and tell Marie how he was feeling. Instead he was going to… laugh? Really, he thought this was a laughing matter. And they say Gryffindor are the brave ones. Whatever. Carter was more worried about being embarrassed than anything. There was nothing brave there. It was obvious that Patroclus was just wasting his breath.

Nooooo! Josh was there. Why did he have to show up now?

Noticing how Carter chose to ignore Patroclus once Josh arrived Marie knew there was no point in sitting there any longer. Standing up she started to head in the opposite direction of the boys. She didn't make if far though before she found herself turning around and heading back the way she just came from... straight for the boys, Carter to be more specific.

What the hell was she doing? She should have just kept going the other way but no, her stupid self had to turn around walk over to Carter and punch him in the arm. "You are such a jerk. If you would have bothered listening to me at all last term you would have found out that YOU were the one that would have made me happy. Instead you chose to act like I didn't exist. Well guess what, I DO exist and James was the one that made me see that." Feeling the tears start to sting her eyes she stopped long enough to take a deep breath. She would NOT cry. She was done crying over Carter, she wasn't going to let him hurt her anymore. "You're right, maybe it is time you move on too."

With one last glare at Carter, she turned on her heel and stomped away from him turning back long enough to say, "And YES, James does make me happy." Something Carter could be doing if he would have told her last term the things he had just told Patroclus.

Caroline straighen up herself and got her composer back. She turned and looked up at the boy. She gave him a weak smile in return. She nodded "Yes" she laughed lightly. She scanned his face as he asked her why she felt bad. To be honest it was a other boy that she liked, but after meeting Zander yesterday she kind of likes him now too. poor girl is confused about how she feels. "Just girl, stuff you would not undersrand" She replied to him. which was prbably the truth guys just didn't understand girls sometmes. "I went up to the Astronomy tower, to work on somethings, What are you doing up here?" She asked curiously.