Gavin slowly climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitory. He was tired. The day had been long and full of things he had never done before. The train ride, the excess of food, and the effort of trying to make friends had simply made him so tired. He wanted to still hang out in the Common Room and make some new friends but he didn't think he was capable of it anymore. He was too exhaused.

He looked around the dormitory and wondered which bed would be his. That was something Ivory hadn't told him. Did he choose whichever one he wanted? He looked around some more and finally saw his trunk at the foot of one bed. On that same bed, Milady was lying, rolled up in a ball, right next to the pillow. Good! His trunk and his cat were all at the same place. As he walked towards the bed, Milady looked up and miaowed at him soflty. He smiled and petted her.

"Comfortable, aren't you?" he asked her with a smile.

Gavin took a good look around the room. Everything was in the colour of blue and bronze and looked very peaceful. He knew he could certainly relax in this setting. He stood up and went outside the dorm to find the bathroom, which he found right across the hallway. Deciding that he needed to refresh himself, he took some fresh clothes from his trunk and went to the bathroom. After a few minutes, he was done and came back to the dormitory, wearing some lighter clothes.

He wondered how long it would take for somebody to come up the stairs and join him... Nobody had told him what to do with his dirty clothes.

He took his Merlin book from his trunk and sat on his bed to read. Maybe later, if he got lonely and nobody joined him, he may go back to the Common Room to meet more people.

Presley opened the door to see not a girls dormitory as she had been expecting, but the boys.
"oops, sorry" she mumbled to the one boy in there. She swiftly backed out and shut the door.

Ivan walked into the common room and without looking at anyone and with the same murderous scowl on his face up to his dorm and slammed open and closed the door as he went.

Grabbing his trunk he started slamming stuff inside the trunk. He was leaving and lord help the poor soul that tried to stop him. He was not staying here and letting his heart be fodder for every girl that actually pretended to like him. Nope. Wasn't happening. He'd go home and deal with his mum first.

Finn had seen him walk in from the common room, and Ivan did not look happy at all. Finlay frowned, wandering up to the boys dorm. This could not be good. Not at all. Pushing the door open, he was a little surprised to see him stuffing things into his trunk. That was not good. Not at all. Finlay sighed, walking into the dorm, and sitting on his bed.

he had a feeling that this was not going ot go well. Not at all. "Ivan..." He shook his head. "Whats happened?"

"Go away!" Ivan yelled as he heard the door open and continued throwing things into his trunk. He didn't look up at Finn as he heard him speak and he practically growled as he grabbed more stuff. "You want to know what's happened? I'm sick and bloody tired of everyone in this place!"

He threw a shoe against the door not caring if anyone walked in or not. "Every time I put myself out there I get shot down. Every BLOODY time." He wiped his hand over his bit lip and saw the blood there. He knew he had tasted it but hadn't processed it yet. "I kissed Dora. And what does she do....she bites me, pushes me and runs off like I...like I HIT her or something. I had even told her I liked her earlier and she said she liked me. I thought...." He grabbed something else to throw and saw it was the picture of his dad. Clutching it tightly he sat down heavily on his bed. "I can't do it any more..."

Oh dearie me. Ivan was not in a good mood at all. Part of Finlay wanted to like follow Ivan's wishes. He did not want to be at the end of one of Ivan's fists if the guy was in a bad mood. He already had a nice bruises on his face. No need to add anymore. But Ivan was his friend. And he needed to make sure that he was okay. Partly because he didn't want Ivan scaring some poor first year. That would not be good.

Oh. Girls. It seemed that Finlay and Ivan both had problems with girls. Nothing ever seemed to work for them. Maybe it was why they were both so good friends. "Throwing things is not going to help Ivan..." Finn said calmly, pretty glad that nobody had been coming through the door right then. "Maybe she's not ready....you know how girls are." They were bloody confusing people. He was going near a relationship for a while. Not unless the girl was pretty special. "You should talk to her..."

Ivan turned and glared at Finn at his oh so astute comment about throwing things. "Well aren't you a bloody genius." He looked down at the picture in his hands and sighed "You're right though." Throwing stuff wasn't going to fix anything. Standing up he looked at the stuff in his trunk and then at Finn. "I'm not talking to her." And she obviously didn't want to talk to him. As far as he was concerned it could stay that way.

He rubbed his free hand over the back of his neck. "When is Hogsmeade weekend?" He was starting to feel claustrophobic in this place.

Tired from the excessive day, Roderigo trudged up the winding stairs of the Ravenclaw Common Room. Fatigue dragged his body down, and it was with the greatest effort that he swung the door open to the Boy's Dormitory. It didn't open very well, but it was enough for him to move through. He moved to his empty, but highly inviting, four-poster bed and fell right into it. A few moments went by before he lifted his head and realized there were about five other boys inside as well. He gave a small nod, which was difficult because he was laying down, and slowly raised his hand.
"Hullo, I'm Roderigo De Lacerda," he said, just above a whisper.

Eino made his way to the Ravenclaw Common Room boys dormitory in order to complete his Charms homework. The cat he had acquired in Transfiguration class was sitting on his bed but as soon as it saw Eino it jumped down and hid itself under it. Ignoring it, Eino picked up a pillow, then went just outside the dormitory where the stairs were. He took out his wand, pointed it at the stairs then said "Glisseo!" Each of the steps began to lower itself to form a smooth and slippery slide. Standing at the top of it, Eino placed his pillow on the floor, sat on it, count to three, then pushed himself slightly and slid down what used to be the stairs. He glided on the smooth surface successfully, but since the staircase was spiral Eino had missed several of the last few steps, resulting in, what seemed to be, a never ending tumble. When he finally reached the bottom of the stairs he rubbed his right arm and his bottom, but of which hurt the most but were not broken. Luckily, he was able to grab onto the pillow and use it to shield his face.

After getting up, he took out his wand, pointed it at the steps and said "Finite Incantatem." The stairs returned to their original form and Eino climbed all the way to the top again. He really wanted to try sliding it one more time, but there was not way he could charm the entire staircase and he didn't want to get hurt again, even if it was fun to slide. So he took his pillow and returned it to his bed, then returned to the stair case and continued to practice the spell on one step only. "Glisseo!" The step became smooth. "Finite Incantatem!" And the step returned to its original form.

Spike sat on his bed, and carefully placed Matilda beside him. He pulled his legs to his chest, and sighed. Things hadn't gone to plan recently...Quidditch, missing bludgers but being struck by lightning instead, feeling grot, homework, exams... And now on top of that it was nearing the end of tern and he'd realised that people would be leaving soon. Awesome people, that he looked up to. Finn. Jimmy. Even Captain Jacob.

And who did he get next year instead? His little sister.

Meh. He needed a distraction.

Rolling over, he pulled a fist-sized object from his bedside drawers. Well, technically it wasn't an object yet, but it soon would be. Pulling a pencil from behind his ear, he started drawing roughly on it to give him some idea of size and shape. He kicked his legs against the matress and hummed a bit as he worked.

Finlay sighed as he wandered up to the dormitory. He had decided that he really needed to pack now. He was leaving it a few short days, and really didn't want to leave anything behind. Pushing the door open, he sighed at who he saw. Spike. Finn realy didn't want to leave him behind, it would be sad, especially considering that he might not have time to come see him hogsmeade. It really would suck.

"Hey Spike..." The seventh year smiled, as he passed his friends bed, and knelt on the floor by his bed, pulling out his truck from underneath it. Time to get packing. He threw the trunk open, and glanced at what was on the top of it. He smiled, taking the picture of him and Fallon, and placing it on the bed gently. He didnt want to break it. He really didn't want to pack. It kind of sucked.

Leaning over to his cupboard, he grabbed a couple of his ties, and through them into his trunk, before he thought of something, and smiled. Turning around, he chucked one at Spike. "Here....keep that."

Spike looked at his rough outline, and wrinkled his nose. He rarely took the time to drawn out his design, and he wasn't actually sure why he'd done it this time. Except perhaps because he wanted this to be special. He had a certain destination in mind. He took out the knife he used for carving, and started to work into the wood. A small pile of sawdust built up on the covers as he did so. He casually swept it to the side, not bothered by the mess.

Though, the voice of the person who had just entered made him reconsider that.

Flipping over to face the Headboy, Spike coughed guilty and hid the wood and knife behind his back and tried to sweep the sawdust under his bed with his foot. Good job his was wearing skanky old black socks today, and not one of the funky pairs he'd got for his birthday.

"Hey Finn," Spike replied, as innocently as he could. He gave his friend a smile, before grimacing a bit as the Headboy knelt on the floor a bit to close to the sawdust. Luckily he seemed to be distracted by a picture, and packing. Spike swallowed slowly, his innocent smile dropping.

He had to do that too. Spike hated packing. But, more importantly, Finn wouldn't be there beside him next term.

Sniff.

And then Finn chucked a tie at him. A tie? Spike looked at him curiously.

"Are you assuming I'm going to have a need for this?" he asked, suspiciouslu. He didn't think tying up little sisters counted, somehow. And ties were what old and smart people wore, and Spike was neither. He was messy. Very messy, as Finn had probably come to appreciate this year.

After throwing that tie at Spike continued to pack, even though he was going pretty slowly. Part of him really didn't want to go, it would really suck. He folded his shirts gently, and began placing them into his trunk, in any old fashion really. That would do. His mom would wash them for him when he got home anyway.
Finn glanced as Spike spoke, and Finlay smirked. "Not for being smart..." He mused, leaning against his bed, and looking up Spike. Man he was going to miss that little guy so much next year.

Thinking about it, he knew he could give Spike something much better as a leaving present, kind of thing to remember me by. Digging around in his trunk, pulling out a a picture. It was a picture from last year, and was of Jimmy, Spike, and Finlay in their quidditch uniforms. It was the only copy he had of the photo, but he didn't really mind giving it to Spike. He could have it, make him remember the better times, when he and Jimmy were friends. Pushing himself up, he walked over, and sat down onto Spike's bed.

"Here....have this."

Spike eyed Finn. Did that mean he WAS allowed to find a way of annoying Indy with it? He chuckled. "Glad about that. Not sure it'd really suit me. The whole smart-business thing, I mean. Unless you're trying to hint at me having to wear it for something else?" What he didn't know...though SPike had been forced into dress robes on an occasion. The thought of how hideous it was still made him shudder.

Wiggling across the bed to make room for Finn, Spike tried his best to look natural. That was hard with your hands behind your back, trying to hide something. At least Finn hadn't noticed the dust. Or, had chosen to ignore it. Finally happy that Finn couldn't see the discriminating evidence from his current position, Spike slid his hands into his lap, and looked at what his friend held out.

A smile spread across the boy's face as soon as he saw it. The three of them there together, after an epic quidditch session. He rubbed his lips together, slightly speechless. "You...sure?" he asked quietly, as he watched the figures. "It's an awesome picture." He looked at Finn. "It's not gonna be the same without you."

"Well....I dont think the smart stuff would suit you really..." Finlay mused, thinking about it. He could not see Spike being smart at all. Hint? "Im not hinting at anything yet..." Finlay mused with a smile. He wasn't intending on marry Fallon just yet. Maybe in the future, but then Spike might want to be a bit more smart when he was that age. He smiled at Spike. Yeah. He was going to miss this little guy, and the things he said, they'd have to owl each other a lot.

Finn smiled as he watched Spike's reaction. He was glad that the picture had made him happy. It made Finlay happy, but he didn't really want to see it that often anymore. It made him really miss Jimmy, even more than he had befoer. "I am." He nodded with a smile, leaning over and looking at the picture. It had been taken with a magical camera, so the three of them were moving, waving at who ever had taken the picture. Finn and Jim were occassionaly nudging, and jokingly punching each other too. It showed just how close the two had once been...it was what upset him about their loss of friendship.

"I know..." Finn mused, leaning against one of the bed posts on Spike's bed. "I'm gonna miss you a lot Spike..."

Spike laughed and shook his head. "Apart from the fact it's restrictive and hard to climb trees in, people tend to keep fussing about it too." Like parents and aunts and grandparents. The type that spit on their hankerchief to clean a smudge of dirt away. "Yet?" Spike raised his eyebrows. "So, maybe in the future?" He pursed his lips, pondering at what that might be.

Spike held the picture, and grinned. "Thanks," he said happily, laughing at Finn and Jimmy lightly jibing each other behind him. Shame they hadn't done that again all of this year. But Spike was still hopeful for the last few days. He might even hatch some sort of vaguely cunning plan...perhaps with some help from the others.

"It'll remind me of us, and make me think of you flying Pro," Spike commented, not wanting to mention his thoughts about Finn and Jimmy's friendship. "I want to see you in Quidditch Weekly!" Maybe he'd subscribed to it and actually read some of the tactics and news if Finn was in it and famous. Thinking of which... "Could you sign the picture for me? Before you go all big and highflying and forget about me?"

"I'm gonna miss you too, Mr. Head Boy Finn." He nodded solemnly. "You've got to write to me about your adventures. And maybe I can come visit you?" To see Finn, and get away from Indy. Perfect!

It was then he realised that Finn could probably see what was supposed to be hidden, since he'd leant back. Spike moved it into his lap, cupped in his hands. He looked at it, before slowly raising his gaze to Finn. "I started making you something," he said with a frown, "To remember me by. It's not quite done yet though. I wasn't expecting you to come in."

Finlay thought about it for a second, and nodded. "Maybe...." It'd be nice to marry Fallon, but he didn't know yet. He didn't even know if marriage was what he wanted. But he was only 18, so he knew he wasn't supposed to think about that yet. There was plenty of time in the future. He just hoped that he and Fallon lasted that long, because he really did like Fallon an awful lot.

"Well I'll try to get in there." Finlay laughed, although he did want to think about getting in there. He did want to go pro, so he thought that he would get in there eventually. So it'd be fun. He wanted him to sign it for him? Aww. That was cute. Finlay laughed, pulling a pen out of his pocket, and quickly signing the picture for him. Finlay then smiled at Spike. "You should ask Jimmy to sign it too...." Because that'd be cool.

Spike was making him something? Finlay smiled at Spike. Oh. The guy was so cute. "You shouldn't have...." Finn nodded with a soft smile. "I'm not going to forget you."

Maybe? Spike looked at Finn dubiously. It was a girl, wasn't it? "Well, as long as my hair doesn't have to be touched, I can try. Won't guarantee how long it'll last though." He poked his tongue out cheekily. Perhaps if it was reeeeeeally important he'd manage.

"Good," Spike said with grin. "I wanna see you winning. Cos if you're not here to protect me from bludgers, I need to know you're doing worthwhile job for someone else. Deal?" He watched Finn sign the picture, and gingerly took the picture back, careful not to smudge the ink. "Good thinking," Spike said with a smile. Admittedly the thought had already crossed his mind, linked to getting them talking again. If Finn thought he should ask Jimmy, then he definitely would. Having both their autographs would be awesome.

"Well, I guess I could give it to someone else..." Spike pondered. "But it wouldn't mean as much." He winked. "You can see it now and try guess what it is...or wait until I finished it by the feast. I don't mind." He glanced at his lap. There wasn't too much to see, but Finn might be able to guess just from knowing Spike. "You'd better not forget me," he said stubbornly. "Else I'll have to make sure you don't..." He gave a mischievous smile.

Oh yes, he could certainly do that...

"It won't be for a few years yet...." Finlay nodded with a smile. He didn't even know if it would ever happen, so Spike might not need to actually dress all smart. Well...even if it did happen Finlay wouldn't really expect Spike to dress up. It wasn't really SPike, and he wouldn't really mind. But they would come to that in future, when Finn was like older, and then Spike was much older.

"You don't need me to protect you anymore..." Finlay mused with smile. He'd really seen Spike grow as a quidditch player, and a person over the last two years. "You're a really good player Spike." And Finlay knew he'd only get better as he grew up. "But I'll send you tickets when I'm playing so you can see that I am winning." Because Finlay would like to win a lot. It would make him very happy.

"I'll wait till you've finished it." He nodded with a big smile, because it would be better like then. He already had two things that Spike had made it, so he was looking forward to seeing this new thing. Finn knew he'd never forget his little Spike, he was like the little brother that he had never had. "I won't Spike..." The older oby assured him, with a smile. "How could I forget you?"

A few years? Good. That was forever away, and plenty enough time for him not to worry about dressing a certain way that didn't allow for climbing trees. Or scrabbling through mud in search of a new pet. He smiled at the thought, looking forward to those aspects of the summer.

Spike nodded. "I do. They're 'orrible things, bludgers." He pouted. "And I'm not," he said more quietly, uncertain of himself. Not in the naive way of when he first started on the team and didn't really know what was going on...more in a doubtful way like he was when he used his wand. No reckless confidence for the love of flying. "You saw me at the end of that last game. It was awful." Sure, being able to say he'd been struck by lightning was pretty awesome, but letting down the team when they needed him? It felt horrible. He'd been avoiding Ellie since. At the moment, he wasn't sure if he wanted to play next year. With that still haunting him and losing his favourite teamie/protection.

"You'd better. Good seats, so I can see you properly when you wave to me." He hadn't been to a Pro match before, and the thought of it was pretty exciting. "What team?" he asked, "You know, so I don't end up going in the wrong colours and supporting the opposition?"

Spike fingered the object. He'd started it by hand, but thought it'd be cool to try doing some of the carving by wand, to show how much he'd come on this year. That was a lot down to Jimmy and Finn. He wanted to grow up and be epic like them, and he'd be practicing a fair bit, even if he wouldn't admit it. "I'll do it for the feast then," he said with a nod. "But no peeking in the meantime. If you're gonna wait, I want it to be a surprise." He looked at Finn seriously.

Spike grinned. "I don't know," he answered mischievously, "But it might be possible." He laughed. "More importantly, will you miss me?" He looked at Finn, mock wide eyed.

"You are." Finlay nodded, giving Spike a look. Finlay knew that his little buddy was a good quidditch player now. "I've watched you grow over the last two years, and I know that you're a good player Spike. You have improved a lot." Oh. The last game. That game had been a dreadful game, and it really sucked, especially considering it had been his last game at Hogwarts. "That was a one off. Everyone has bad games occasionally, and you were in a position that you weren't used to." Finlay didn't care what people said, he knew Spike was a good player, Finlay would always think that. "You should come over to mine during the summer, we could do some training...." They could do with every summer if Spike wanted too.

"Best seats in the house." Finlay smiled. It would be nice if Spike could come to his games, he'd like it a lot. "Montrose Magpies." One of the best teams in the league. Finlay was really happy for getting onto the team, even if it was the reserve team at the moment. But it was something, and he was determined to get onto the top team. It would be tough, but he really wanted to get up there.

Would he miss Spike. Finlay sighed, nodding her head. "It is going to be very weird not having my little buddy around all the time." He would miss Spike a lot. It would feel like something was missing, all the time.