Upon rounding the corner, he spotted someone he knew. Someone he'd been dying to talk to again. Matty, the housemate he met in the Great Hall over some bad coffee but scones that apparently both their aunts were good at baking. Call it a bond, if you will; but Matty seemed to recognise Damien's surname when he'd mentioned it during their introductions.

And Damien must have looked like a dolt for not knowing a thing about his family history. But wasn't Matty adopted? Something like that. Could be another small bond they share.

Even though Damien isn't adopted, but he hasn't been raised by his parents either.

"Nice to see you, Matty," he said with a nod of his head. "Good book?"

Amazing. He was the one who brought it up. "Exactly." His smile had widened. Conan seemed knowledgeable enough about that subject and kind of excited at finding out this little piece of information. Good.

"Let's...wait until summer begins, shall we?" he said, with a smile. Why did he have the feeling that Conan wanted to meet those relatives as opposed to his Wizarding ones? The fifth year's question was also related to those stairs in front of him, as he gestured towards them at the same time.

Off they go, to the Common Room, no? Or wherever the stairs take them, actually.

Conan nodded. He was more excited about the summer than probably everyone else was. He wanted it to be summer already. So he could spend it with Treyen. And no 'magic'. And maybe see Treyen's muggle cousins. But he could wait to do that. He wanted to have some fun with Treyen this summer.

Then back to Hogwarts after the fun of summer. It sucks. It should be summer all the time.

He headed towards the stairs with Treyen, and down the stairs he went.

"Pfft not at all. A bloody waste of time really. Grant it I'm pureblood, didn't grow up around muggles, or know a lot of them but they can't be this thick."

*Matty held up the book. The title said it all Muggle's and How They Live Without Magic. Some of the things Matty knew was flat out untrue. Like muggles not being able to use cleaning spells most decide to live in a mess, mostly the children. It's just like wizards, no one like to clean. That was just one of the many things he did not agree with in the book.*

"The wizard who wrote this... Albert Abernathy? He either hated muggles or got hit over the head by a troll and wrote the first things he thought of. Sorry, how are you? Avoiding class as well?"

Damien chuckled. "I'd go with the troll theory. Sounds more exciting than an author simply hating Muggles," he said.

Matty seemed to hit the nail on the head regarding him and avoiding classes. "What gave it away?" he asked with a slight forced smile. "If we don't win the house cup, then you'll know one person to blame, at least," he added.

Other than having crazy dreams about people he didn't recognise, reading things in books that sounded completely absurd and being in all around wall flower ... sure Damien was quite well.

"Slightly tired," he said, giving Matty an answer to his first question. No need to be rude and not answer. Other than Lockhart, Matty was the only other boy who decided to befriend him thus far.

"Nah, I think chocolate does a perfectly good job on you" he said with a laugh remembered the time she'd went insane at the candy store back in Diagon Alley, wow, he'd remembered something maybe his memory wasn't that bad. "I may have forgotten the puffy thing, but I do remember the candy store" he said. He was going to go into further detail about it but then he realized Nessie wasn't in a great mood that day, he didn't wan't to remind her.

"No need to apologize" Tyler added quickly with a smile, "I didn't feel a thing" he said, although to tell the truth it hurt a tiny bit, maybe a bit more than tiny, but he wouldn't admit it. "Well I could've lied and told you it was the best name I've ever heard" he said.

"They need to update the books at this school."
*He said shaking his head. This guy seemed cool, only he looked a little sleepy. Maybe the guys in his dorm partied at 3am like his did. Looking at his watch dramatically Matty said*

"Well seeing as how it is the middle of class and you pretty much answered my question on if this is your free hour... I would have to say that gave it away."

*With a chuckle Matty could relate. This was his free hour but Marie was in potions so he normally would go take a nap.*
"Tired? Blokes in your dorm room party all night too?"

Damien laughed. A tired laugh, but it was a pretty good one. Made him feel just a little bit more alive. "Let's just say this is my year to screw up. I picked the wrong year, however, seeing as how it's time to take OWL examinations."

He hadn't really planned on anything after his magical schooling anyway, so why start worrying about it now?

The dormitory? Oh. Right; Lockhart was kind enough to set him up with a bunk in the 5th year boys dorm but he hadn't actually used it all that often. "Wouldn't know if they party or not," he said, Irish accent flooding through again. Damien made a face at the intrusion before continuing. "I actually haven't slept up in my dormitory for a couple weeks now."

As soon as Tyler said the word chocolate, Nessie's cheeks went bright red, even redder then her bright hair. She wasn't herself that day, she may have had alot of reasons not to be, but still she was highly insane that day. Tyler must have thought she was mental after that. Why did he have to remember the embarressing things and not the special things. "Um... Yeah I guess" she said faking a laugh. She didn't exactly want Tyler to think she was that embarressed, though her cheeks kinda gave her away.

She hoped he wasn't lying that it didn't hurt. She just thought that maybe she could get his brain to work a little so he could remember. He was right about the fact that he could have lied. He told the truth which was good Right? Maybe she should change Puffles name, or at least give him a second name, that Tyler would approve of. "Yeah I guess, maybe I should rename him?" she looked at Tyler, with a bit of an irritated look she didn't know why but she just did.

"So... you don't go to class, you don't sleep much or in your dorm... Ha what do you do all day?"
*Had he gotten lost in the castle and spends his time just trying to get back? By the sound of it this guy needed to get out and do something fun. Good thing he ran into Matty, he knew how to have fun.*

Charlotte hurried disoriently down the corridor with a determined look of her face. If she was being followed she didn't care. The ONLY thing that mattered was finding Barnabas. He was all that had ever mattered and she wouldn't be stopped.

Lately all I do is wander the castle or the grounds in hopes of finding some answers to the great big question that is my life.

This is what ran through Damien's mind after Matty's question, but of course he'd never actually voice that thought.

"I guess I don't really do much," was all he could muster up for a reply. "I'm what you call the ... 'Resident Slacker and Wall Flower of Hufflepuff' if you will. Counting you there are probably ... 4 people that I've speak to on a regular basis. And this is only the second time we've crossed paths," he added quickly.

"I tend to avoid social situations and nine times out of ten I end up pushing people away with my slack-hearty attitude."

"Really? That's how I used to be. I kept to myself, would read or sit out by the lake mostly but that's because I was wicked shy."
*Matty remembered those days, and they were not remembered fondly. He was always alone and he didn't notice how lonely he was until he finally got real friends. Mia was the one that pulled him out of his shell (kicking and screaming) but once he found friends he could never go back to being a loner.*
"Well if you don't want to be you don't have to be a Hufflepuff wall flower stalker whatever it was you just said. I was alone because I was shy, but that's not your problem... Do you have a fear of people or something?"

Tyler started to get the feeling he was being annoying, or doing something to annoy Nessie anyway. He noticed her staring to go red so he pretended to re-tie his shoe laces so he didn't have to watch her and probably make her go even redder. "Don't be silly, it's your pet, your name" he said shaking his head as he finished tying his laces. Changing your pets name because somebody didn't like it so much was almost like going to change your own name if somebody didn't like it.

Nessie relaxed a little as Tyler tied his shoe lace. well more like pretended to. As long as he wasn't looking. Tyler was actually a pretty good friend, besides fo when he forgot things. He always knew what to do and when, but Nessie was just irritated at the moment. She didn't really think it was with him, she just was.

Oh, so now his trying take back his words. She usually would never think like this, but because if her mood she wasn't exactly herself. It was as though she was somone else. "Yeah, but you don't think its cool, so why would anyone else." she didn't know what made her say that but she did. She then rolled her eyes at him. She was never like this, but it was as though somone was making her do this.

Tyler looked up at her, confused. It felt like he was talking to a different person, one that wasn't exactly nice. Sick of looking up at her he stood up and snapped his fingers in front of her face "you can snap out of it now" he said, thinking somebody might have put a charm on her.

Tyler shrugged "not everybody's the same, what I like and don't like will be a lot different to somebody else, you like Puffles, I don't" he said.

Tyler did not just tell her to snap out of it. She got really angry now. How dare he, she didn't say anything wrong, well at least she thought so."Snap out of what?" said Ness a little loud in a bit of an angry voice. "I didn't do anything!" she picked up Puffles, which had been sleeping a little on the floor, he just woke up. She was thinking of walking away and leaving.

She was just about to turn around, when she heard him speak again. Wait did he just say he didn't like Puffles! This was going to be bad, he may have meant the name, but Puffles was deffinately offended. Puffles started growling at Tyler. Nessie decided to just watch and let Puffles do as he pleased. Just as long as he wouldn't hurt any one, because then she could get into trouble. "Watch what you say!" said Nessie warningly. She made Puffles shush after a little while and stared at Tyler. How could he say that.

She didn't know how she got herself into this mood, but thinking about the day, Tyler saw her with the chocolates, had made her think about her best friend. Nessie really missed her best friend it was just so hard for her to move on, she kept on trying and trying, but all she wanted was her best friend, or at least one of them. She had also lost Zara, now since she left and Nessie hadn't seen Oakey around for ages. She needed knew best friends, but she just couldn't move on. Nessie was just happy not to be crying all the time anymore, she had cried way to much, but now her emotions seemed to be coming out in anger.

"Charlotte"

The voice that echoed down the hallway didn't seem to fit the child that it came out of. It was mature, stern and very powerful, the expression on the small brunettes face equal to the authority her voice seemed to hold. She reached out and grabbed the Librarian by the wrist, her face serious. "I will take you to Barnabus, I promise you I will" her eyebrow shot up as she spoke. "Come to the ship, in the Lake. He will be there, waiting for you" she lied, looking around at who else was there. Quite a few students it seemed. Her voice lowered into a whisper "But you have to do something for me.."

She looked out towards the direction of the staircase. If they hurried they could get on the ship without a load of students bombarding them.

Tyler took a step back from Nessie, this was something new, how was he supposed to deal with an angry girl? He could hardly handle them when they were in a good mood. "What's happened to you Ness?" he said, "look at yourself" he said, taking a further step back. Unlucky for her and the pygmy puff, he was a Gryffindor, no growling ball of fur or a yelling girl would frighten him. It was hard for him not to laugh, but for once he wasn't smiling.

"Watch what I say? Oh right I'll make sure I do that, I don't want I ball of fluff to eat me" he replied sarcastically, he shoved his hands in his pockets staring back at Nessie, there was quite a bit of distance between them now he doubted a pygmy puff could do nothing more than jump on the floor and roll around.

Nessie watched as Tyler took a step back, she didn't really care to be honest. She actually preferred he did. Nothing happened to her, something happend to him thats all, thought Ness. "Nothing happend to me, Something happend to you, I'm perfectly fine" It was quite a lie but Nessie managed to cover it up. She wasn't fine at all.

Puffles was tough, and as soon as Tyler said that he wasn't afraid Puffles jumped out of Nessie's hand, he then crawled on the floor getting closer to Tyler's shoes and started nibbling them. Nessie would normally have taken Puffles and calmed him down, but today she just rolled her eyes at Tyler. She then said now really angry. "He may not beable to eat you, but he sure can bite!" said Nessie showing Tyler her bite mark from the other day. Tyler probably wouldn't care, but now at least he couldn't say that she didn't warn him.

Charlotte spun around, blinking rapidly as she faced the person addressing her. It had been SO long... centuries even, since she'd heard someone utter her name. She would help her. She had to!

Her eyes fixed on the apprehending hand upon her wrist but she did not move to free herself. His name echoed in her ears, blotting out all reason. "Yes, please," she begged, tears brimming in her eyes. "Anything! Just take me to him."

Damien wouldn't go so far as to call himself shy; though he could see why Matty would make the connection. For the 5th year boy, it was more of a choice to lone about rather than socialize. Basically he felt isolated from the rest of his peers due to the simple fact that he seemed to have a long period of his life blacked out; it was missing from his memory -- Alright so that didn't really sound like a simple fact, but there you go.

He chuckled, agreeing with Matty's sentiment; Very true, Damien didn't have to be a loner. He could easily make the decision to talk with other students, socialize and (dare he say it) get close with people. He did feel close with Isobel, but that was on a different level than 'talking with the guys'. If anything, what Damien needed most was a few good guys to talk to.

Maybe Matty could be one of them.

"Interesting thought," he said, answering Mattys question; "A fear of people could be one way of looking at it. But if I had to venture a guess I'd say it's been mostly a choice. I choose to not socialize with too many people; mostly because I --"

Careful

"-- Because I feel that I don't relate well to anyone --"

Yeah. That's it.

"Yeah, if fine is what you call this then your telling a huge lie. You're not the Nessie I know" he replied, keeping it it cool, he was getting sick of her bad mood, he didn't deserve to put up with it. He laughed sarcastically at the pygmy puff, he couldn't feel a thing, he'd been bitten by a hamster before and it hurt more. He kicked the pygmy puff to the side, not hard enough to hurt it but just to nudge it away.

He glared over at Nessie, he wanted to walk away, go someplace where she wouldn't be, somewhere she wouldn't annoy him. "A tiny bite mark doesn't scare me, neither does your fluff ball" he told her, as he felt angrier. He kept his hand near his wand, finding it difficult not to pull it out and hex her or anything just to make her quiet and quit with her bad mood.

*Not being able to fully relate with others. Was this guy a long lost brother or something? Even though he had friends, a great girlfriend, family, and future he still felt like he was completely different then it all. And truth was that Matty was different. Starting to get the feeling that Damien was getting a little uncomfortable about the way the conversation was heading he changed the subject.*

"So... you into any sports? Magic or muggle?"
*If he said no then there was always books. Matty's second life and love was reading. He lamed his uncle for that, he had a huge library back home.*

"Please! Your Lying! Your just not the Tyler I know" said Nessie really angry right now. She then pulled out her tonge at Tyler. She had no idea how this fight just broke out. One minute they were all happy and now they couldn't stop fighting. Nessie still felt angry, all she wanted to do was let it out at someone. She felt a little bad for Tyler but he was the only one near by.

"HOW DARE YOU!!" she said as he kicked Puffles. Nessie immiediately picked Puffles up. She gave Puffles a hug and made sure he was alright. He seemed okay. "You such a weakling, you can't kick to save your life!" Nessie was just getting madder and madder. She was so mad she was starting to shake a little. She put her in her pocket, wanting to hex Tyler with her wand. She really wanted too, but she was resisiting herself, because a voice in her head told her not to.

"Oh Yeah! Well If I was you I'd be scared!" said Ness now shouting really loud. He better watch out! If he upset her, Nessie knew exactly who she could go to. She wouldn't go to any of her prefects they'd probably would just tell her to apologize. She'd go to Damien, he'd hex anyone for her. Well said he would no? Damien was like Nessie's older brother. He was always there looking out for her.