Marie looked at Matty's blue eyes. "Mmm, blue suits you well." Although she was glad he wasn't in Ravenclaw.

What kind of music did she listen to? "I really don't have a preference. I listen to whatever is playing. I'm not too picky really. What about you? What do you like?"

"Anything really, depends on the mood I'm in mostly."
*Not sure what to say next he cleared his throat getting nervous again but he had no idea why.*
"I feel odd asking but... what are your parents like? You never talk about them."

Marie stretched out on the couch and laid her head on Matty's lap. Looking up at him she smiled when he asked about her parents. "My parents are great. My dad works for the ministry and my mum takes care of the family. As you know I don't have any siblings so I have my parents all to myself." Which meant she was really spoiled and got whatever she wanted. "We get along really great. There isn't anything my parents wouldn't do for me if I asked." And if by some odd chance there was something they wouldn't do... or let her do, she just went to her grandfather to get her way. If mum and dad say no just ask granddad, he always says yes... once he sees the sad puppy dog eyes.

*Matty smiled at that and lightly ran his fingers in her hair. He was a little amazed at how soft and smooth her hair was.*
"Don't you ever wish you had a brother or sister? Or both?"

Mmm, she liked the feel of his hands in her hair. It was nice and relaxing. "When I was little I sometimes wished I had a sister to play with and do girl stuff with. My mum was great though, she always made sure I had things to do... plus I kinda like not having to share my parents with anyone." It was true. She liked being the only child and having all her parents attention for herself. "I guess you can say I'm a little selfish when it comes to my parents."

"Only a little?" *Matty jokingly asked with a smirk and a wink.*
"Even though they aren't my brothers or sisters I like having Michael, Noah, and Emma around. I don't know... I was alone for so long it's nice to have people around all the time..."
*Matty didn't remember much about his childhood, what stood out the most was fear and loneliness.*

"Okay, maybe more than a little... sometimes." Truth was, she didn't get to see her parents much with her being away at school most of the year so when she did get time with them, she wanted all their attention on her. "Aww, you have the cutest little cousins. Maybe I'll just come visit you when I start getting that feeling of wanted a little sister." She would happily play with and spoil Emma... and the boys too. "How old were you when your uncle took you in?"

Orabelle looked at it then looked back at him. Well, duh, of course she was surprised. Who wouldn't be? Everything looked just like it did back home and she had been, pretty much, convinced she was back in Paris till he told her it was a magical place. "The Room of Requirement," Orabelle muttered quietly. She had been tricked the first time she came in here, she then had been convinced she had been back at her favorite cafe in France. "I love it," Orabelle said with a smile picking up a canolli and taking a bit out of it, still kind of wishing she was really back in France...

"I was seven years old. It was one of his first missions as a leader. He was told to capture the enemy and... take care of those who fought... The men in the village cursed everyone with some spell, turning them into a sort of army. They didn't bother cursing me and my mother was able to shake it off... A man found out and came after her... after a few days when they were searching the houses my uncle found me... that was it. Said it reminded him of his past, he couldn't just leave me there. I don't really remember much... for a few months after I kept having nightmares so uncle cleared my memory and that helped."
*He could get his memory back if he wanted but from what Matty had heard he never wanted those bits of his past back.*

He smiled softly and lifted the hand he was holding to his lips and kissed it. "Happy Valentine's Day, Orabelle." He spoke softly. "I know it's not really Paris, but I really wanted to make you smile. I mean I like you and...." He whispered. "I don't like to see you sad all the time." He picked up a Chocolate Croissant and took a bite. Meanwhile his house elf kept everything refilled. He sipped his espresso and, not sure what else to say, he got quiet.

Marie felt a great sadness as she listened to Matty talk about his mum. Here she was telling him what great parents she had and he didn't even have his parents.

Sitting back up she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. "I'm sorry you had to go through that." It was times like this she was really grateful that she had both of her parents and that they were still together. Hearing all of this got her thinking about things though. Things that until this minute she was having a hard time understanding. "Is what happened to you as a kid why you're so determined to join S.A.M., so you can protect other children from going through what you had to as a child?"

*So lost in his story Matty was a little surprised when he felt Marie's arms wrap around him. But he hugged her back thankful all the same. At her next question Matty just nodded and held her tight.*
"Like my uncle I just want to protect those who can't protect themselves. Evil seems to grow by the hour and less wish to cut it down. Everyone only wants to take care of themselves and not even grant a thought that others might need help let alone actually help them..."
*Matty didn't remember much of his past, but what he did he wouldn't wish on anyone and he would do whatever it took to make sure it didn't. Looking down at her with a warm smile he asked.*
"So you understand now? Why I do it?"

Marie rested her head on his shoulder when he hugged her back. "Yeah, I understand a little better now. It still won't stop me from worrying about you when you're gone though." Especially since she knew she wouldn't be able to hear from him the whole time he was gone.

Looking up at him she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Let's talk about something a little happier, like... your birthday." Sure it was still a month away and they still had valentine's day to get through but she wanted to start getting ideas for his birthday now. "What do you want to do this year?" Sure there weren't many things they could do at school but if Hogsmeade was open then they could and would go there. And of course she would have to plan a party for him again. She wasn't going to let his coming of age birthday pass by without celebrating it with a party. She already felt rotten that she had forgotten Mia's birthday, she wasn't about to forget Matty's too.

*Matty smiled and kissed her back. When she pulled away he frowned at the mention of his birthday. He knew what was going on in that mind of hers.*
"All I would really want is to spend time with you, nothing special or anything. Just us being together."

"Definately!" Emmy giggled back. "I haven't even started it yet! I know I should have but homework is so boring! It's the experiments that I prefer." She pondered for a moment. "I could probably help though, if you want." Emmy offered, hoping for someone to study with. Maybe it wouldn't be sooooo boring then.

Amen! Presley thought silently. Out loud she said, "I've collected a little bit, but I don't really know what else to do." She agreedassignments sucked. They were like the teachers way of saying 'Go away, and stay occupied, I don't want to deal with you' and Presley thought they were a waste of her time personally. "Maybe we could work together?" Presley asked. Normally she would have asked Rachel or Luna, but considering the circumstances...Yes, it was best to do her school work alone or with an outside person until Rachel was up to it.

"Hey, no frowning allowed when we talk about your birthday." She would't allow it... at all. "This is a happy occasion so smile already." And it would be an even happier day by the time she got done with it. "I'm pretty sure I can manage that. We can go spend a fun filled day in Hogsmeade." Where she would have a party waiting for him.

*Matty would rather spend the day with her in this room but he would do anything as long as she was with him.*
"What about your birthday? What would you like to do?"
*He wasn't sure but he thought they might end up on spring holiday again for her birthday. Not that that was a problem at all, last year was loads of fun.*

Marie grinned at Matty when he asked about her birthday. "Very smooth, nice way to change the subject here." For now. They would be coming back to his birthday before they left this room. "Well, for my birthday I was thinking about us going to Australia. That is if you don't have anything else planned for the Spring holiday." And if his uncle would let him go. "Mia invited us to come stay with her over the holiday. Nik is going to be there too so we'll finally get to meet him." Really, Marie should have made more of an effort to meet the champions when they were visiting. After meeting that Monique girl though she wasn't interested in meeting any of them. That girl was a snob and Marie didn't want anything to do with any of the foreigners after meeting her. But now that one of her best friends was in love with one of them she really wished she would have taken the time to meet them.

Oh well, she'll be meeting Nik very soon.

*A trip to the down under? Matty had only been once and it was with his uncle, not for a holiday. He shrugged and nodded.*
"Hmm... sounds like fun... Nik and I didn't really start out on the right foot. Maybe we can fix that. But you didn't answer my question, is there anything special you want to do for your birthday?"

Oh right. Marie forgot that Matty had met Nik already. "I'm sure he's a lot different than when you first met him. I don't think Mia would still be with him if he wasn't a good guy." What? She did answer his question. She just told him what she wanted to do for her birthday... go to Australia. "Well, other than the trip, I want to spend all my time with you. We can hang out at the beach all day and knowing Mia, there will probably be a beach party in there too." Did that answer his question?

*A beach party? That sounded fun, as long as he was with Marie. Just then his stomach growled. He turned a little red and rubbed the back of his neck. How long had they been sitting together? It didn't seem very long.*
"Sorry, guess my stomach has a mind of it's own."

Well now, it seems a hungry stomach makes Matty forget what they were talking about. Either that or he didn't like what she wanted to do for her birthday. Deciding it couldn't be that she went with him being hungry. "Maybe we should go get some dinner to quiet your stomach down a bit." She said as she rubbed his stomach. Hopefully they weren't too late to eat in the great hall but if they were, they would just have to go to the kitchen and bother the elves to get them some food.

"Sounds like a plan, may I have the privilege of your company?" *Matty asked as he stood up, held a hand out to her and bowed. Looking up he gave her a smirk and a wink. If she didn't take his hand soon he would chuck her over his shoulder and run down stairs with her.*

Marie grinned at Matty when he held his hand out to her like that.

Taking his hand she stood up with him. "Why of course you may have the privilege of my company." Really, he didn't have to ask he just had to tell her he wanted her to go with him and she would go. "Lead the way kind sir." She said with a giggle. Yeah, she could be just as silly as he could.