"Yeah I'm in the same boat as you. People say I'm blunt. I have a horrible habit of just coming out and saying whatever I am thinking or what is on my mind. It sometimes ends up hurting people's feelings. But you can never say that I wasn't honest with you. So I understand the whole inappropriate question thing completely." Selina had started many a fight because she said simply what was on her mind. It was odd that most people wanted to be told a lie or when they asked for an opinion they didn't really want yours, they just want a reiteration of their own opinion.

"And as for credit, I'm just going on Kurumi. She's a good kid," she had slipped again! The horrible habit of calling older students kid was really starting to get bad. She must have looked so odd... then again she was never really one for fitting in, "and I trust her judgement."

Back to Quidditch! Selina's favorite subject by far, "I love it. I don't know what I'd do with my time without it. School is great and all but I come every year to play Quidditch. And I'm not ashamed to say it."

Wiliam just leaves the common room. N oone wants to talk to him. He is feeling very left out. Rose wins, Willaim loses

"People say much worse about me. If being blunt was that only problem I would be happy with that," Lexi said with a little chuckle. "I have to say that I don't really care if people get offended by what I say... I say what I think and people can either deal with it or not." Yeah. Oh well.

Lexi quirked an eyebrow when the younger girl called Kurumi a kid... "Aren't you a kid, yourself?" Lexi asked with a smirk.

Looking around Lexi was beginning to get a bit uncomfortable with all these people around... She was not really one for crowds.

Nika nodded in agreement as Raven said that Kurumi was the best baker in Hogwarts. "Yeah her cookies are the best!" Nika exclaimed with a smile. "What about you? Do you do any cooking?" She asked raising an eyebrow.



Nika followed Heather's gestured and grabbed some pizza too. She opened her mouth and took a small bite of the cheesiness. Mmmm, that's some good stuff. "Woah! They turned into muffins!?" She exclaimed as she chuckled. "Better than mine turn out. At least yours are edible, my cookies just turn to black piles." Otherwise known as burnt cookies. Those are not so yummy.... "Maybe we could ask Kurumi to teach us how to bake real cookies!?!"



Nika stood up to protest, but Zara had already made her decision. Well then she'd just miss out on a great party. Poor things looks so tired though so Nika will just leave it. Even though she doesn't want Zara to miss out. She waved goodbye to Zara as the first year made her way to the dorms. Hehe. Wait till she sees a mirror.



Nika shook her head and smiled, "No you were great! And it's your first year on the team right!? That's really impressive! A snitch at the first game!" She said admiringly as she looked at the slightly older Gryffindor. Kurumi was so well-rounded. She was smart, baked, was popular among the students and professors, and she could play Quidditch. "I'm hoping that I can learn to fly, without having a fear of falling, so that I can try out for the team in one of the coming terms!" She said with a grin. Maybe if Selina did teach her like she said she would then Nika could make the team.



Nika returned the unexpected hug and chuckled. "Well I how could I resist a Gryffindor part!?" She asked with a large grin. Hogwarts parties were the best. "Yeah tons of fun! You?" She asked in return. Nika hoped Selina was doing alright after putting this whole thing together. "And I know I already told you this, but I think since the party is for the Quidditch match I should bring it up again, You played well in the game and I was there cheering for you guys the whole time!" She said smiling. Yes, she even had a poster.

Selina smiled when Nika complimented her skills at the game, but she could feel a blush creeping up on her cheeks. Selina was not a person who was good at taking compliments. She supposed it had something to do with the fact that she was always the girl who gave out compliments that when she got her own she never knew how to respond. So she stumbled through her thank you to Nika, "Aw thanks. I, um, think that the team is what is important you know? And, um, great party right?"

Selina nodded at Lexi's sentiments. She liked the fact that this girl was not afraid of what other people thought of her. It meant that she had a spine and was not one to heel to others commands. Maybe that was what Kurumi liked about her so much, she was a true Gryffindor.

Swatting at the air Selina said nonchalantly, "Yeah I guess I'm a kid. Just a bad habit I've picked up. Besides I was the one who taught Kurumi to fly so her Quidditch en-devours always make me feel like a proud Momma. Even though she's a year older than me."

"It did...the second ones turned into buns...my grandmother kept laughing at me...but she said she couldn't blame me...i was only a little kid back then." she said, giggling a bit at the silliness, remembering her 7-year old self attempting to bake on her own. "We can ask Kurumi though, to help us, she's really good at baking!"


"I heard of that. My father used to read muggle fairy tales to me when i was younger." Heather told Thea and she looked at the cat in Thea's arms. She smiled at the cat. She did wonder why Thea would name the cat after an evil queen in a muggle fairy tale, but it was Thea's decision, and maybe she named it so, because the cat did look a little evil, at the same time adorable. "She's lovely. I'm sure she'll be more docile as time goes by-you are the owner, after all, and you'll establish a good relationship with her, i'm sure of it."

Heather giggled at Selina's answer. "I hope he wouldn't...but he'd be proud to see that you're doing great in playing, i just feel it." she said. "Hey, i know, on your next match, i'd be sure to bring both of my cameras...so i can catch you, and Kurumi and the rest of the team with both still and moving images. " Crazy, but it was worth a shot. It would be cool to see both still and moving images-and so she can practice with her sports photography skills as well.

Lucas had been sitting quietly in the corner of the common room, practicing his Arithmancy skills. His cat, Diego, sat on the arm of the chair he was in. He sighed and closed the book. He'd figured out his siblings' and parents' life path numbers and pinnacles and whatnot, and he was a bit tired of looking at numbers and doing math, even if it WAS just basic addition. He pet Diego absentmindedly and looked around the common room, seeing if anyone he knew was there.

"Mine...just didn't move," Kurumi giggled remembering the beast. "I've only ever had to stun a cat once, and it was when Walnut was trying to eat my pygmy puff, Momotaro." And she had gotten there just in time. Kurumi hated to think about what would have happened if she had chosen to stay in the library to read another chapter of the book she had been engrossed in on griffins.
Kurumi couldn't help but laugh. They really were an odd pair, here and Selina. Selina was outspoken and fiery whereas Kurumi was timid and shy. If Selina represented fire, then Kurumi was most likely water. Usually, that combination spelled disaster, but it actually worked out well for the two of them. "Well, there wouldn't be as many cookies," she smiled as she plucked one of the signet cookies from the tray and popped it into Selina's mouth.
"Lush..." Kurumi repeated as she allowed the sounds to roll off her tongue. "Is that...English?" Kurumi hoped that she wasn't sounding offensive. She honestly had never heard the word before.
"Thank you," she blushed as she began tugging on her hair once more. It wasn't changing colors or anything, was it? She still was horrible at accepting compliments from people, younger and older than her. "I-I-I am not sure I w-w-will be a star..." she said as her eyes grew wide in embarrassment. Weren't there plenty of strong players on that team? Not to mention she would have to play against Cookie Hater AND Sierra. Kurumi shivered slightly at the thought. She hoped that she came out alive after THAT match. "I'll certainly try my best though."

Her shy smile turned into a frown when William mentioned family. "Yeah...family..."
Kurumi smiled. She hadn't been to the Owlery since, well, since she had last spoken with CeCe and she had finally received word from Adam. The first and last words on parchment that she had had from him since he left Hogwarts. She hated how it still made her sad that he was gone. It had been over half a year since he had moved away and she SHOULD be over it by now. She should have moved on. However, some people were trying to force her to get over her feelings and not really respecting her wish for time had made it almost impossible for that wound to heal.

Realizing that she had been smiling and staring off into space somewhere around Heather's forehead, Kurumi blinked several times and attempted to recover from the awkwardness that had most likely formed. "How was your holiday?" she asked rather awkwardly.
"Well, for me sleeping on the floor has always been normal, so I find beds rather exciting," she smiled. "Mother always insisted that it was healthier for us to sleep on the floor. Something about or bones being allowed to grow properly." Which had clearly been a lie considering Kurumi was still short. She was just a little taller than Heather, who often got mistaken for a first year. "But, as long as you are comfortable there, I suppose I really can't complain. Would you like me to get you a blanket?" Since, you know, Josh seemed insistant on sleeping on the floor in the common room tonight.

Kurumi's eyes flashed to Walnut who was now prancing off to another section of the common room looking very proud of himself. Kurumi's eyes widened and her head snapped back around to Josh. As if the damp spot right on the front of his robes wasn't enough, the smell certainly was a dead give away as to what the feline had just done.

Kurumi's hair began to fade towards white in shock.

"J-J-Josh..." she stammered hoping that Walnut knew what was good for him and would retreat to the girls' dormitory right away. How was she going to explain this to him?

o______________________O
Too late. Josh had caught Walnut red pawed and was now flailing like a rabid beast in Josh's.....SHIRT!?

Kurumi's cheeks burned and she covered her eyes for a moment. At least after the match Carter had had part of his shirt still ON when he had shown Kurumi his bruises. Josh was now...well...HALF NAKED IN THE COMMON ROOM!

She momentarily forgot that Walnut was trapped in the boy's clutches and focused on not turning pink from the sight.

"W-W-Walnut...an animagus?" she squeaked still covering her eyes. She wasn't entirely sure who the two people were Josh had mentioned, so she highly doubted that Walnut was one of them. "I-I-I am pretty sure that he isn't...I mean...he spent the entire winter holiday back in Japan with me..." Nope, she wasn't removing her hands from her eyes.

Meanwhile, Walnut continued to flail around in his shirt hissing and clawing.
"But...why would I want to make people run for money?" Kurumi askd tilting her head to the side like a kitten who was seeing a small bug crawl across the floor for the first time. Kurumi wasn't sure what the connection was between being a Seeker and money - besides the snitch being golden - but she was sure Lexi had a good reason.

"Well, you taught me how to make a good cup of tea," Kurumi grinned. Her family, mostly her mother though, hadn't really liked it so much when she had made it over the break, but Kurumi was glad for a near taste. It also gave her cookie ideas.

"REALLY?!" Kurumi chirped as she watched her monkey friend jump around and squeak here and there in his adorable monkey voices. "I'd love to look after him and I am sure he will get along with my brothers. They are practically monkeys themselves." At least Ryunosuke and Junichiro were. Takashi was always on the quiet side. "Father actually mentioned taking me on a trip to America this summer. I wonder if we will be in the same place at the same time..." America was rather big, at least from what Kurumi could tell my looking at a map. The state of Califnornia itself was the size of her country.
"I couldn't have been more terrified," Kurumi giggled before taking another sip of her tea. "Y-You've seen me in practices, I am lucky if I manage to fly in a straight line. I suppose it was the rush from the actually match that helped me focus."
Walnut off in some corner of the common room, which was a VERY good thing considering Diego was present, Kurumi picked up one of the trays of lemon bars and sat down on the couch next to Lucas. She probably should change out of her Quidditch uniform soon, but she just couldn't bring herself to head to the girls' dormitory just yet. "H-Hello Lucas," she smiled holding the tray up to him. "Would you like something to snack on while you..." she peered over. "...work on Arithmancy?"

She then bowed her head towards the feline. "And good day to you too, Diego," she smiled as she reached over to scratch him behind the ears.

Ari was relieved. Good thing that boys didn't get so overly-dramatic. If it were her who was leaving Hogwarts in two years, she'd definitely put up a scene. Thankfully, this was not the case. 'You can always visit if you want to, right?' The girl thought about her mother, who was still very attached to Hogwarts and sometimes came by to visit, although none of her old Professors were here anymore.

'I hate it when people transfer. You get to make some great friends and then they leave. It's so unfair.' the girl sighed. That sounded more like Slytherin than Gryffindor. Meh. 'Thank you, I really think I need help. With muggle stories, I can just read them, of course, but the whole electricity and electrical appliances thing gets me overly confused.' she admitted.

'My best friend wants to be a Healer too!' Ari exclaimed, only afterwards realizing it didn't have anything to do with her present conversation. 'But maybe you could introduce some Muggle practices at St. Mungo's? I heard some are quite efficient.' Ariadne suggested. 'Me? Well...please don't laugh...I want to be...a wandmaker.' she replied, blushing a bit.

'I haven't had to stun anything... I would if I had to though!' Rose said. Well, of course she would! Unless it was a muggle... The she'd do it behing her back!

Thea grinned. At least somebody had heard of the fairy tale.. But then she saw the slightly confused expression. 'I called her Maleficen 'cause it suits her!' Thea smiled. 'She sort of answers to it aswell, anyways.' Well.. erm when she felt like it.
'Thankyou, but I really doubt it.' Thea laughed. 'She's so different from my little Henry!' Thea stopped. she felt sad when her little old man was mentioned. He was ill.. quite ill. 'Plus, she hardly leaves me alone! Only when it suits her.' Thea rolled her eyes. 'Do you have any pets here?' she asked.

Nooow Thea understood Kurumi's confusion. 'Um.. I dunno! I suppose it is?' Thea giggled. 'Well he's pretty! What type of cat is he?..' Thea thought she knew.. it was on the tip of her tounge! 'I think he'll give Maleficent a run for her money!' She grinned, deciding not to mention that Maleficent had already been sizing him up, deciding if she could harrass him or not..

Selina smiled at Heather and said, "Yeah I'd like that. I'm not really used to still shots, but I really like them, truly."

Selina pretended to look offended, "No cookies? How dare we even entertain that thought. You know how much I like me some cookies... and pie... and cake and candy and mashed potatoes and corn and salad and mahi mahi and sushi and rice cakes and tacos and pasta and.... yeah we all know about my iron stomach."

Alex entered the Common Room after sitting down at the Lake for a while. She sat on one of the many chairs around the fire and pulled out her copy of "The Tales Of Beedle The Bard" and began reading.

Rose budged up next to Alex. 'Hey! How ya doin'?' Rose grinned

" You welcome' Willaim told Kurumi.. " Beleive in yourself like everyone here believes in you and your star will come out" Willaim explained to Kurumi." I know you do your best aleways" William said to Kurumo. "Sorry, did not to bring up a bad subject" Wilaim apologized to Kurumi about the family remark.

" Hi, how are you?" Willaim asked Alex. " So did you ice skate at the lake?" Willaim asked Alex. " The pirate ship is really cool" Wiliam told Alex.

Alex didnt look up till she finished the last lil bit of the page. "Im good yourself?"

Alex looked at William after replying to Rose's question. "No i didnt William i sat and drew some pictures of the scenery and some have the ship in them." Alex smiled as she looked back down at her book.

'I'm fine...' Rose smiled not as radiant as her usual grin. Only Presley knew why! Alex probably wanted to be left alone.

"Sounds like you have a lot of good drawings" William told Alex." have you ever been on thee ship?" William asked Alex.

Lexi smiled at Selina and shook her head in amusement. "Trust me on one thing if you never take my advice again: Don't make yourself grow up too quickly. It's not nearly as much fun," she said with a nod. Words of wisdom- she had them.

"Well you did a great job teaching her to fly. I am not sure I could have... flying is one of the only things that came naturally to me. That and conjuring butterflies and flowers." Truth.

Turning to pet Rufus under the chin she smiled as he made a kissy face as her. Great little monkey, he was. She then turned her attention to Kurumi. "Yes I am very serious. I will be traveling with Merlin and Wasabi already and not to mention Daisy. Rufus would be quite displeased," she explained. And as if in agreement the little marmoset made a PFFFFFFFT noise with his tongue and jumped up and down.

"And we could be in the same place at the same time... I think we are going to New York City for a while. I want to see more though. And run for their money is a saying, Kurumi..." Hahaha. This kid cracked her up.

Casting another glance around her eyes fell on even more people crowded into the common room. Yeah. Time to make a grand EXIT. Lexi set the cup back on the table and rose from her seat. "Yeah. Great match today and I think I am going to head up to the dorms for a bit of reading before bed," she lied through her teeth. She was just not that keen on all of her housemates being that close to her was all. So with a wave she wove her way through the crowd and took the stairs two at a time.

Alex sat her book ontop of loads of other books for classes in her bag and smiled at Rose happily. Then turned to William. "No i have not have you 2 been on it yet?" Alex smiled at them both.

'Nope! Too scared I'll fall off!' Rose grinned

"I wouldn't mind if i fell in," Alex laughed, "Cause i dont mind swimming." Then smiled.

'I can swim, I just don't like doing so!' Rose grinned. 'Ugh, sooooo bored!'

"Well Watcha wanna do?"Alex realy couldnt think of anything to do.

'Dunno, sit here and complain about being bored?' Rose grinned. 'You?'