*As the walked he saw that she was trying to talk and open her eyes. Stopping for a second he set her down.*
"What now? Come on wake up little one."

In all fairness, he could be walking towards the Common Room, right? Wrong, he was walking straight to the Kitchens, after all, he needed to see if the house-elves could do something for him.

He should've brought Arya along, the girl knew the house-elves much more than him. But he'd pinned his badge to his robes this time around. MAYBE, if the house-elves see he's a Prefect then they'll be nicer to him? Though, they were always nice, but he was always with someone else, like Conan, or Arya, or that little party for Fletcher.

Fletcher.

He smirked. The boy was probably going to say his name in the Kitchens just to be treated even better.

Wandering down the corridoor Ella headed to the kitchens. She liked visiting the elves, but she didn't even know if first years were allowed to...

Biting her lip, she spotted a few other students wandering down the corridoor too. Merh.

Keeping her head down, she fiddled with her hair as she walked just a bit faster...

Conan skipped. Yes skipped to the kitchens. He had just danced with Ellie. That meant it was skipping time. He danced with a girl. And a pretty girl at that. Oh yes she was. Pretttttty.

"Treyyyyyen," he squealed, his high pitched boy voice, going slightly higher. Skip skip skip. Sammich time.

For a moment there, Treyen thought that one of the first year girls were calling out for him.

But no. As soon as he turned to see who it was, he realized that it was Conan, and a very happy Conan, by the way, which is why Treyen was rather cautious around the boy now. "Conan!" was he going to the Kitchens to eat, or was he happy because he ate at the Great Hall and finally tried out the amazing food the house-elves make for them?

"You...look rather happy," not that the fifth year was going to complain or anything, BUT...the skipping was completely odd. "Everything okay?"

Funny how that question was asked when Conan was either happy or entirely miserable.

Conan stopped himself before he flung his arms around his Treyen. That would be inappropriate to do twice in one lifetime. They were bros. "Hi Treyen," he beamed, waving at his best friend. "I have come for sandwiches."

"I danced...with a girl" he whispered. He giggled. He was so excited by it. He might ask her to do it again. And again and again. She smelled so good too.

"You ok?"

Wait, the second year was still not eating at the Great Hall? Sigh. That was so Conan, though. So him. But he should try the grapes, like the one Treyen ate at the feast? Yes, those were delicious.

"No kidding, and who's going to make them?" he laughed, clearly joking, though, Conan could make his own, you know, it was only a sandwich, it wasn't that hard to make. "Me, right?" the boy kind of hoped that Conan would say 'No', because that only meant that the second year was taking care of himself pretty well, leaving Treyen with fewer things to worry about.

Wait.

What?

Blink.

Haha. That was...Treyen will rather not comment, but he still spoke, "You danced with...Sierra, I suppose?" yes, the Prefect knew about last year.

"I'm doing great, yeah," or just okay. His feelings had been too many and too complicated to know.

Conan chuckled, "No WE are going to make them silly. I wouldn't want you to do them all by yourself. That's selfish." Plus he could make his own sammich. He just couldn't toast them. That would burn him. Therefore he needed Treyen to help. And he liked having Treyen there anyway.

He shook his head, "I wish." Oh yes he did. He like Sierra a lot. Maybe he should ask her to dance. If it made him feel so happy dacing with Ellie.

"It was Ellie."

There! That was brilliant! Treyen smiled and nodded, he sooo agreed with Conan. "Spoken like a true Hufflepuff, eh?" he said, patting his back, oh the Prefect could be so proud, if this all actually mattered, or allowed them to gain points.

WAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT.

It was rather obvious that Treyen hadn't expected his answer. He actually expected some blush on his behalf, but that had been the most adorable answer ever. And...Treyen was actually jealous, it took him a long time to actually admit that he liked Ellie, and well, he hasn't done anything about it. Conan had already asked Sierra for the dance.

"You should ask her," 'FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE, LOCKHART', how come that sounded like something Kaia would tell him, eh?

But then...her name was brought up, but there were three Ellies he was aware of, and he was oh-so-certain that it wasn't HIS Ravenclaw, "Ellie? The first year? Or second?" he said, it couldn't be any of the fourth years, right?

Conan beamed, "Well I am a Hufflepuff." DUH! He wasn't any other house. He was a Hufflepuff through and through. And he would prove it through the years he was here.

"Ask Sierra to dance? But she wouldn't say yes. I am a Hufflepuff. She doesn't like Hufflepuffs." Not that that mattered to him. It did make him sad though. He was as good as any Slytherin. Even better, if you asked him.

He frowned, "Um she isn't a first year. Or a second year. I think she is a forth year." He didn't know any other Ellies. There were obviously more.

True. "I suppose you're now glad to be in Hogwarts, right?" because he'd put so much excitement into the Hufflepuff part that it seemed that way, unless Treyen was entirely oblivious to the true meaning of the words.

She doesn't like Hufflepuffs? That was new. "I think you should do it, anyway," because, "She could still say yes, perhaps her mind has changed a little," he winked at the boy. Sierra didn't seem to have any problem with Treyen, though, so, maybe Conan's assumption was wrong this year? The fifth year wasn't going to mention the 'always and forever' deal he'd made with Sierra, now the fact that they were partners in Potions, and recently...History of Magic.

That was completely off topic.

Fourth? Treyen was already looking at the portrait with the pear, when his eyes turned to Conan, "Fourth year? Is she from Ravenclaw? And a redhead?" why was Conan dancing with HIS Ellie, eh?

He shook his head, "I would rather be in MIT still." Stupid magic school. He was just making the best of the worst he had. It could be worse. He could be dead.

"Will you be there with me when I ask her?" As a wing man. Obviously he had seen them together like in classes together. They must be good friends.

Conan nodded, "Yeah. Do you know her?" Obviously he knew her. He wouldn't have asked otherwise. "I met her in Diagon Alley. And well she is the only girl I know, apart from Sierra. And I couldn't ask Sierra." Cos of the previous explanation.

Awful choice. Simply awful. Not the MIT stuff, but the one Treyen made about asking about Hogwarts again. It was just too soon to be asking that, right? WAY too soon. "I'd rather you wouldn't," he said, with a smile on his face, "Because then you wouldn't be here," and then how would Treyen ever manage to make sandwiches, eh?

The fifth year leaned against one of the corridor's wall, and then stared at Conan. Was he really asking what he thought he was asking?

Blink.

"I wouldn't mind...," he started to say, "...observing from a safe distance," that was something he should probably do on his own, right? Plus, he didn't know how Sierra will be reacting if Treyen was around the boy, no? It's not like he was Conan's father and they were setting up a play date or something.

Sigh. Ellie.

The boy probably looked pale by now. Because, really, why was Conan dancing with her?! It wasn't like Dallin all over again, because Dallin had been a stranger (and sort of continued to be), but he felt uneasy. "I do know her," and she's the prettiest girl he's ever seen, which is why...,"Why were you dancing with her?" because there hadn't any parties, except James' party at the lake, but Treyen had been there, and Conan wasn't.

Conan frowned, "You should come to MIT with me." Then they would both be out of this place. That would be better. "You should come with me over Christmas. You can stay at my house. It is warm and pretty back home."

He didn't want Treyen to observe. He wanted Treyen to say nice things about him. That would make Sierra like him. If she knew nice things about him.

"I needed help with homework, and she is the only girl that isn't Sierra, that I know. So I asked her." He didn't understand. They weren't dating. And Ellie had said yes. "Is it a problem that I danced?"

Go to MIT? Actually, Treyen wouldn't mind at all. Change of scenery and such, it was always good for the soul, no? The thing is, all he's ever known is magic. And he loved it, he couldn't leave it. Plus, he was needed in Hufflepuff, no? A quick glance at the badge was spared before he replied. "I belong here, Conan," he said, in a softer tone, "And...I'd love to visit your house, really," and the Muggle things he seemed to love the most, "But I'll have to get back to you on that one," he didn't know if his father had something planned this time around.

And he said nothing about Sierra.

He was loosing the boy! Speak! Now! "I could go with you, just let me know when," Treyen smiled, and almost chuckled, that could be a very amusing time, honestly.

THE HOMEWORK! OH! He remembered now, and his eyes widened. He completely forgot. Conan had owled Ellie, and if the second year had danced with her...then Ellie wouldn't be his dancing partner, correct? He couldn't speak at the moment. Memories of that time when he decided to join her walk to the Pitch started to rush through his mind. Not good. Certainly not good.

But what was he going to say to Conan? He'd asked first. And it's not like Ellie could only dance with Treyen, right?

"No, don't worry, it's fine, Conan." Then come he appeared so devastated from the news?

"Oh," Conan frowned slightly. He didn't belong here. But Treyen did. Which was sad. Because he needed Treyen. He was his only real friend. And they made sandwiches together. "It's ok. You can come during any holiday. Just tell me, and we can take my dad's plane home. You'll love it on his private jet. They feed you anything." Amongst other things. Like Disney movies. Lots and lots of Disney movies.

"It's fine. It was a bad idea anyway." He nodded. He was just a spiky haired, muggleborn, American Hufflepuff. No amazing Slytherin would ever fall for that.

"Oh. I am sorry. I won't do it again." He was promising. He wouldn't dance with Ellie again. Or really dance again. Ever.

Pres knew that the kitchens were supposed to be down here somewhere. Where was the problem. And if she was going to keep using "I just grabbed something from the kitchens" as her excuse for not eating at mealtimes, she should probably know where the kitchens were. She trailed her fingers over the cold stone walls as she searched for something that could possibly be the kitchens.

Oh, maybe Treyen said something wrong? Because Conan was frowning and he hated to see him frown. "You also belong here, Conan, you just don't see it that way," words of wisdom, totally, spending time with Hadley seemed to do him good.

And the boy was listening about all he had to say for the holidays. Oh, airplanes! He was reminded by Conan of all those times he had to get on a plane to France, and sort of realized that perhaps a visit to France may do him good. Just not right now, maybe for summer. "I like airplanes," it was one of the topics he discussed with Tiberius.

Wait, what was a bad idea? It's not like he was telling Conan to ask Sierra out, they were both so little, AND, it could be nerve wracking, he'd done that today, but managed to breathe and calm himself on the way to the Castle. The fifth year didn't want Conan to go through any of that. No. "It's not a bad idea, it's an assignment, right?" there was Conan's excuse. He'd blamed assignments and Professor's instructions many times.

What?!

"No, don't apologize, it's okay," truth be told, he was kind of glad that it was Conan, and not Salander or Dallin, "Really, it is." Not exactly true.

Conan shook his head, "I don't belong here Treyen. I don't believe in this place. It is all just a lie." The only part he did enjoy about being here, was seeing Treyen. And Sierra, but he would never admit that. The magic was a lie. And he wasn't going to believe something that wasn't true. Like Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy.

"I like airplanes too. My dad's one is just for me. Well and my dad and everyone he travels with. And the bodyguards." He couldn't forget the bodyguards. He wished he had a child bodyguard sometimes. They would be less scary.

"I know it's an assignment. But asking Sierra was the bad idea. She's Sierra." Cos that was a reason. And the only reason he had. "I can hunt down another girl that wants to dance with me. Maybe someone smaller." Yeah Ellie was a GIANT.

Conan nodded. He was still sorry that he danced with Ellie, when Treyen obviously wanted to. "Why don't you ask her to dance with you?"

Nessie finally managed to open her eyes, then slowly got up. She got the biggest fright of her life when she saw a much older boy standing by her. "AAAAAAAAH" she screamed out of fright, then after realising what she did, she blushed then said. "Sorry!! Thanks" she was still feeling really weak and felt as though she was about to trip over again, luckily this time she managed to support herself on the wall.

Nessie only remembered now that she hadn't introduced herself yet. "I'm Renesmee by the way, but you can call me Ness or Nessie" she was getting more dizzy and thought water might help. "Um.. I kinda need water, so if you don't mind I'm gonna go to the kitchen and get some" said Ness not wanting to be rude.

THAT. That actually hurt. A LOT. "Let's not...talk about it, yes?" he regretted ever bringing up this topic. Nothing that he could say would make Conan believe how real this place was, yet it was still hurtful, this was all Treyen has known his whole life, "Could you not repeat the 'lie' part again?" because this wasn't a lie. And he could understand where Conan was coming from, he's clearly seen how some Muggles can do what Wizards do, but the Muggles part WAS all lies, the Wizards...NOT.

Apparition will get you anywhere in very little time, so did the Floo Network, but brooms were as close as airplanes. "That's cool," he nodded, having their own airplane was cool, "I've never been on a private one, though," no, he'd flown with all kinds of Muggles and his dad and sister, but he wasn't getting into any details about it, mainly because there were no details to give.

Okay. Fine, Conan. No problem.

"That's alright, if you don't want to do it, then don't. I'm not forcing you." But Conan totally should do it. And he mentioned the 'smaller' part, that was funny, because Treyen was always shorter than Ellie, even now he was like an inch or two shorter than her. "Probably a good idea," he said, and chuckled, "But that doesn't matter."

Oh, no, he didn't!

He didn't say that, did he?

Treyen looked away for a moment, "I did," he said, looking back at the Huffie in front of him. If Treyen decided to tell Conan what Ellie had said, well, the boy wouldn't stop blaming himself, that's why the Prefect decided to go with another kind of answer, "But that's irrelevant." As if...not to be discussed RIGHT NOW.

"I'm Matthias but I go by Matty. Here let me help you." *Helping her up he started to walk them down to the kitchens.*
"You haven't eaten or anything today have you?"

*Not that she was awake he could tell. He saw this all the time with the new recruits over the summer. They wanted to show how far they could go and would end up forgetting to eat and drink.*

Conan nodded slowly. He'd made a mistake. He had upset Treyen. That wasn't good. He looked at the floor. He didn't want to look at a hurt Treyen, cos that would make him sadder than he already felt. He was a bad friend. First he had stolen his best friend's girlfriend, and now he had told him that he was a lie. Today was not a good day. "I'm sorry Treyen," he mumbled.

He had only been on private planes. He didn't know how else to travel. Would be weird travelling with lots of other people. Except Treyen, it would be fun travelling with him.

"You did? Why didn't you then?" Unless Conan had asked first. That would make him feel even worse. Conan had truly stolen his best friend's girlfriend. He'd lock himself somewhere later as a form of punishment. Or hit himself with a lamp.

Oh, but nooooo, he was looking at the floor! And it was Treyen's fault now. He'd rather have the happy Conan from before, even if that meant knowing the reason behind his happiness was Ellie.

"Don't worry about it, okay?" he smiled at Conan, and even nodded, the last thing he needed was the little Hufflepuff to feel awful right now, even if he'd somewhat hurt Treyen with his former statement. So, no worries. "So, tell me, how was the dancing?" he smiled, encouraging Conan to answer with one 'go on' nod. That ought to cheer him up, no? Even if it was the exact opposite for Treyen.

Seriously, Conan! Don't ask him questions that may make Treyen lie to you!

"I did, yeah, and...," what exactly could he say? "...she said 'Maybe'." There! He wasn't lying, she HAD said 'maybe', however, it all depended on whether she danced with Conan tonight or not, then again, she also mentioned the fact about them not needing an assignment...

Conan nodded meekly, "M'kay." He still didn't look at Treyen. He was still upset, that he had upset him. Why was everything so confusing? Girls were especially. Why did they make him feel all hot and flustered? Weird!

"It was nice. She was warm and smelled nice. She smelled of warm bread and girlyness." Which was always good in his books. More people should smell of warm bread. Maybe he could design that. Eau de Bread Roll! Would be a sure fire hit. Or at least he could spray everyone with it. Mmmmm.

Conan smiled, "You should dance with her then. Send her an owl. I did. Maybe she will dance with you now. Since she has danced with me." Yeah. And then Treyen would be happy.