Zhenya slowly made her way up to the Observatory. She was amazed at how beautiful it was. She looked into the telescope, but couldn't identify any of the stars or planets...

She sat down and pulled out her journal;

Quote:

Today is the First day of the First Quarter Waxing.
I've noticed that I'm more hungry. I crave food at the moment, which I think might have something to do with the moon phase. Last entry was on the New Moon, and I noticed then, looking back, that my appetite was increasing.
Last night I dreamed that the Garlic cloves I planted a few days ago would be sprouting when I went to check them. I woke up thinking to myself 'How is that possible?', but when I went there today to check on them and water them - they were sprouting! I started reading up about the first Quarter and it said "Dreams are more realistic, and might be prophetic" and - they were realistic and prophetic! WOW!
Anyway, I feel more energised, so I'm going to go on a quick late night walk... hope I don't get caught!

Zhenya Burton

She closed her journal and looked up at the starts for a few more moments before getting up and leaving.

Originally Posted by Gryffindoll

Braeden could only shake his head in disagreement as Caroline contradicted him, trying to blame his obliviousness on herself. She was silly. None of this was her fault.

Her last words did leave him wondering, though. "I should have told you sooner."
What would have happened then? What would things be like if she had really told him sooner? Would they have… dated? And then he would've never met Charlie, or dated Emma… Huh.
Thoughtfully, the lion boy's bushy eyebrows furrowed.

And then, next thing the gryffindork knew, Caroline was kissing him.
O______________O
Caroline. Kissing. HIM.
OHMYGOSH.

Poor Braeden was completely startled - GAH! Had that really happened?! Or had he imagined it? His first reaction was to look around for any signs of Emma - surely the whole scenario from the feast last term wasn't about to repeat itself, was it?!

Cheeks pink now, Brae cleared his throat awkwardly and looked down at the floor for a moment. His ears had gone bright red now. Caroline had just kissed him. He looked back up at the girl and was surprised to find she was still sitting there, as if daring him to say something. But what could he possibly say?! Nice kiss, love.

"Uh… I--I--Wha'… that…" He cleared his throat once more, just to buy himself a couple extra seconds. "That was… unexpected." He chuckled a bit in embarrassment, brown eyes now fixed on his empty goblet. Absentmindedly, the boy rotated the goblet around in his hands, thinking about what had just happened - what Caroline had just said, the kiss they'd just shared. This was all so... well, confusing. But Brae couldn't keep leading her on. He was completely willing to be her friend, to be there for her always, to hear her out when she needed to vent. He'd do anything for the girl. She was his first real friend at the school, and even though they grew apart during the past couple terms, she'd always held a very special place in his heart. It sounded corny, but it was true. He could never forget Caroline or the friend she'd been to him, the smiles and laughs she was responsible for, the many many good times.

But he had to be honest.
"Caroline, I... despite the fact that your cousin hates me right now..." he started slowly, choosing his words carefully, "I still love her."

Originally Posted by Saraie

So the first time not running away, turned out just like it would have if she had darted out the door, five seconds ago. She had just kissed her cousins boyfriend, and now she was feeling terrible for that. Now everything felt awkward between them now. It would have been fine, untill she just had to go and kiss him.

She stared down and the floor. She wasn't going to cry not in front of him.

The boy seem in shock again. Not that she blamed him she was shocked that she had just kissed him. He was just talking so sweet about her, and it was just a stupid reaction to the compliments that he had given her.

She really didn't want to cause more trouble between them, telling him her feelings were one thing, but kissing him was a totally different story.

Once Braeden was able to put his words together she listen to him, and say that he still loves Emma. She nodded "I'm Sorry, I dont want to cause trouble." which was too late now. "I need to go, I'm sorry I just had to get that off my chest." She smiled slightly at Brae, stood up and ran out of the Great Hall in tears.

Originally Posted by Gryffindoll

Braeden listened quietly as Caroline explained she didn't want to cause any trouble, that she had only wanted to get it off her chest. And then she announced she had to go. The boy, still rather shocked over everything that had just happened, stared at the blonde Slytherin blankly as she gave him a weak smile - which he saw right through - and left the table, running out of the Great Hall as if running away from something, from him.

The boy blinked, just staring at Caroline's figure in the distance, before he realized what had just happened.
Oh Merlin, he felt awful! This-- this wasn't how it was supposed to go at all! He hadn't meant to make Caroline cry - he couldn't live with himself if he seriously just let her run away feeling like that! She obviously wasn't going through the best of times, and he had a bad feeling he'd only made it all worse.

In a flash, the dorky lion boy had jumped up from his seat (stumbling and almost falling over in the process, as is typical of Mr. ClumsyFeet).

"CAROLINE!"

But she was out of the Great Hall by now.

"Caroline, wait!"
Luckily for Brae, he had the advantage of being much taller than Caroline, which made it easy for him to catch up with her. He was only a couple steps behind her, pleading in his mind that the girl would stop and turn around, give him a chance to fix things. He wasn't sure he could really do much, but… He needed her to at least know that, even if he couldn't return her more romantic feelings, he still wanted to be her friend; he still wanted to care for her and hear her out when she needed someone. Despite the fact that they had grown apart over the last couple terms, Caroline's friendship was one of the most valuable things in the cowardly lion's life. She was no less important to him than his own family, or even his own girlfriend. She was the first real friend he'd ever made.

He couldn't just let her go like that.

Originally Posted by Saraie

Caroline heard Braeden call out of the first time but didn't turn around she couldn't. Then she heard him again, this time she turned around, she couldn't believe how fast he had caught up to her.

She wiped her eyes.

"Braeden." She said when he caught up to her fully. A million things were going through her head. He had came after her that was a good thing right? If there was a chance that they could still be friends she'd take that. It was just the thought of her confession messing up their friendship, killed her, and she didn't even want to think about what this would do to her friendship with Emma, and plus the impact that it would have on that group of friends.

She wished that she hadn't told him at all. He had a girlfriend after all, her cousin and one of her best friends, and she had done this. She felt teribble about all of it. She couldn't help it, she had to tell him, before term was over, because who knew the next time that they would see each other after that, And maybe just maybe not telling him soon would have been better.

She looked down at the floor, it seem that she kept messing up everything that she had good, first with Carter, then with Jai and now with Brae. The one who was one of the best friends that she had. Yeah the girl had screwed them all up. It was like she she could have been in the trophy room again. Or the Owlery. But now the great hall how was she suppose to come everyday, with thinking this is the place where I screwed it up with Braeden.

Originally Posted by Gryffindoll

Braeden let out a sigh of relief as Caroline came to a halt and turned to him. He couldn't stop the smile that formed on his face at that moment, though it didn't last very long as he registered the tears running down her cheeks. Aw, man. If there was one thing the boy could not bear, it was seeing a girl cry. And knowing that HE was the one responsible for it, only made Braeden all the more eager to be suddenly swallowed up by the ground beneath his feet.

But he couldn't run away from his responsibilities, and right now he had the responsibility of making it up to Caroline.

"Hey…" he muttered softly.
Caroline seemed so frail to the boy at that moment. She wasn't like Emma, who seemed like she could deal with anything and everything thrown at her. But it was for that reason that Brae felt such a need to fix things with Caroline, to sort of just… take care of her.

"I'm really sorry, Caroline," said Brae, taking a step closer toward the blonde Slytherin. "I just… I don't want you to think that this will make me think any differently of you. I-- I still wanna be your friend… that is, if you don't mind me hanging around."

Originally Posted by Saraie

Caroline had stopping crying, thank goodness she felt like people were staring at her or something. She hated crying, and there she was just a few minutes ago standind there crying in front of him.
Maybe that's all she needed was a good cry. She was starting to feel better.

She listened to Braeden as she told her that he wasn't going to think any different about her. She threw her arms around him. He still wanted to be her friend. She could live with that. She giggled. "Of course I don't mind having you around handiing around. If you don't ME hanging around." She let go and took a step back. She beamed at him. She didn't know what she would do if Brae was completely shut out of her life. "Sorry. I didn't mean to freak out out and run off like that, its... its just been a rough year. You know."

Originally Posted by Gryffindoll

As Caroline suddenly threw her arms around the Gryffindork, Braeden couldn't help but smile, returning the gesture enthusiastically and lifting the girl a couple feet off the ground.

Well, thank Merlin she didn't hate him.
After setting the Slytherin down and they released each other, Brae's smile could only widen at Caroline's following words. As the girl then apologized for the past few events, he chuckled softly and shook his head.

"It's alright, I understand…" he replied. "I'm just glad you don't hate me for life." Really glad. He couldn't stop grinning like the big doof he was.

Originally Posted by Saraie

Caroline smiled as Brae hugged her back, and lifted her her off of her feet. She looked at Braeden. "I could never hate you. She shook her head. And hating him over something like that was just crazy. Yes, she was hurt.

But maybe she deserved it.

She remembered her pumpkin pie still sitting at the table. "Come on, I'll cut you a piece of pie." She grabbed his elbow and pulled him back over to the table where she plopped down and cut him a big slice of the pie.

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Making her way up from the dungeons and to the great hall, she flipped the camera she held around and around, looking at it from all different angles if only so she didn't have to make eye contact with anyone else. The girl had been down in the dumps lately, though apparently, the human body would not survive without food and since the house elves were being all stubborn...

She had to get out of her bed finally.

Slumping down on the bench, camera laying in front of her on the table, Evelyn placed her elbows on either side of it and leaned her head on the palms of her hands. There was just no inspiration for this assignment and right now, the only thing she could think about was that bread roll sitting right there. Huh.

*Click!*

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

Marilyn swept into the Great Hall, camera dangling from her neck. She'd just been outside photographing birds...and the Whomping Willow. The ancient tree had been on it's best behavior for her...So, hopefully the shots came out nice...

*pause*

As she was making her way to the Slytherin table, someone caught her eye. Evelyn? She'd emerged from the dorms? Nearing where she sat, Marilyn spied that she also had a camera. *hmm*

"It's nice to see you out and about." Yea, no one said 'Hello' anymore.

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Now that she had a random picture of the bread roll, Evelyn was beginning to think of what other random things she could make Lafay look at for a grade. Well, obviously everyone else was going to be taking pictures of the wonderful sunset, their friends and loved ones, and probably their pets so obviously someone had to give the Slytherin Head of House something out of the ordinary.

Like this fork for example.

*click!*

Or the ceiling enchanted to look like the sky.

*click!*

Or Marilyn...

*click!*

Wait. Lowering her camera, she stared at her Slythie friend, and eyebrow deciding it wanted to be stubborn and raise. Evelyn couldn't help it. "Yea well...can't be mopey forever, can I?" She could certainly try though.

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

Before she could even get a word out, a flash went off in her direction. Not thinking about it, she pulled her own camera up a CLICK'd a photo right back. *blink blink* Trying to clear her vision, she spied it had been Evelyn.

Marilyn attempted to eye her...but her vision was still swimming. Could one be mopey forever? She was sure it was possible...She was just pleased Evelyn wasn't attempting it...*blink blink* "Well, I'm glad you've rejoined us..." Attempting to spy her, but failing, Marilyn smirked. "So, have you gotten any good shots?"

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Oh, okay. Blinded.

Blinking, Evelyn looked down at the table, trying to get the white spots out of her vision. Meh. Well that was certainly unexpected. Rubbing an eye, she looked back up to Marilyn, a smirk of her own appearing on her face. "I do now."

Certainly the Slytherin girl was more interesting than a fork. No, that was just a fact. The fork didn't move. Placing her camera back on the table, before patting the empty section next to her. "Sit." Do it!

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

Marilyn blinked at her friend stupidly...What was she? A dog? Eying the camera being set back on the table, she decided just to take a seat. If anymore photos were going to be taken, the blonde would have rather been sitting down for them...

Not startled to death. *exaggeration*

Oooh, swooping owl...CLICK!

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Hmm, that was better. Now she didn't look like a complete loner or wasn't the only one taking random pictures in here. Placing the bread roll on her plate, she stared at it for a moment before stabbing it with her fork, and taking a picture of it.

*Click!*

Work of art.

"So, how have you been lately?" And the outside world? How has it been lately too?

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

Marilyn probably appeared paranoid, with how her eyes were sweeping around the Great Hall. Not the case, though. Anything could be a picture waiting to happen. *shifty*

Huh? Was that a...rat? CLICK! For two reasons, one...Potions homework...two, further proof that the house elves aren't doing their JOBS.

"I'm doing okay...Still trying to get over the whole mess with...him." The blonde still didn't like saying his name. She couldn't believe how utterly messed up it all was. "Other than that, nothing too much...."

Caroline was sitting down the table a ways with some...other boy. Gah! CLICK!

Evidence...

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Tearing the roll into two, she put the fork to the side before nibbling on the food finally, deciding that her empty stomach had suffered enough today. Still trying to get over the mess with...him? Staring at the blond snake, Evelyn just...stared for a moment. She heard about that.

Then again, rumors might as well be rumors. A fifty-fifty chance they were true.

Horrible odds.

"What happened?" she asked, taking another bite of the roll. She was talking about Carter, right?

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

Still glaring at that blond nuisance sitting down the table a ways, Marilyn sighed. More talking about Carter. *face palm*

"Well, I mucked up Valentine's Day...pretty bad." Understatement of the year, really. Demolished would have better suited. "I assumed that since Carter spends most of his time with Destiny that he would spend the holiday with her..." which made perfect sense at the time because of the pet names, constantly chasing each other around the school...Bleh. "I tried to explain how I felt..." INSECURE. "...and he said that maybe we had jumped into things to quickly."

It had been a nightmare. And it didn't help that she seen him EVERYWHERE. "I'm starting to think that maybe my theory wasn't such a good one after all..." Somehow her life had turned into some poorly written FanFic.

Someone spilling pumpkin juice...CLICK. Moron.

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Oblivious to the girl's glares to a certain snake, Evelyn listened closely to what Marilyn was saying. Valentine's day? See, this is why she didn't celebrate the day, or even liked it for that matter. For one, it was too pink. Secondly...it was just an awful day that ruined things for people.

Letting the roll drop down to her plate, appetite now completely gone, the hazel eyed girl sighed and rubbed her hands together to get any crumbs off them. Carter was an idiot for saying that in her opinion. It made no sense whatsoever. Once again leaning her elbows on the table and comfortably settling her head on the palms of her hands, her full attention was now on her friend.

"I think it's good." she said with a slow nod and a shrug of her shoulders as she tried to give a reassuring smile. Who knew how it turned out though. "Just needs a little tweaking here and there."

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

With a sigh, Marilyn nodded. "Perhaps you're right. I just...don't understand what happened. And as you might know, it leaves one feeling unsettled about the whole thing." How do you spend months alone with someone outside of school and then come back with...everything they had came back with.

Peering at the destroyed roll Evelyn had just dropped back on her plate, the blond sighed. "I want to hate him, but I can't...I think that's what upsets me so bad..." Maybe Evelyn could relate. Who knew, though. Perhaps things did happen for a reason...

The Slytherin wanted to ask Evelyn how she was feeling but didn't know if Ev wanted to talk about it. She was out of the dorms...and Marilyn didn't want to give her a reason to go back..."How are you doing?"

Yea, that wasn't asking too much...

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Evelyn couldn't blame her. She herself didn't really understand what happened, but then again, when did anything make sense when there was a Gryffindor involved? Sighing quietly, she nodded slowly, scoffing quietly as she stared at a few people at the table across from theirs.

"I know what you mean." THAT made sense to her. There was no way she could hate Josh, even if at times she wished so. Perhaps it was best that they were taking a break. It gave them both time to think, and apparently that was her brain's plan for the past few days. There wasn't a moment in which she wasn't thinking.

Almost missing Marilyn's question, Evelyn blinked finally and shrugged her shoulders a tiny bit. Just a tiny bit though, if barely at all. "Fine, I guess." Her gaze shifted back to the blonde Slytherin and after a moment, she attempted another smile. "I'm fine. Promise. Out and about. Stretching the sleepy legs." Picking up her camera, she smirked and stood up. "And I need to develop these photos."

Originally Posted by Miss Marilyn

Marilyn was eying Evelyn again. It felt like a push...but she wasn't going to argue with her friend. Sometimes it was best to hide ones insecurities behind a smile. Merlin knew she wished she'd been smart enough to do so.

"I think I'm going to head down with you...Go ahead and get this homework out the way. Secure more house points." *smirk* The blond stood, taking one last photo of the entire Great Hall...

Slytherin was SO taking the house cup again this term.