He blinked a few times, trying to process names to faces. Orlando he somewhat knew, a Lion boy from some of the classes they shared. Nicolas he drew a blank on, until he somewhat remember a vague name from past conversations with his Gryffincess. He looped his arms around her midriff as his lips creased at the corner "It doesnt bother me unless there is a reason why I should...." he murmured back looking into her eyes. "I do want to be with you all the time, and I do, whenever I can. I know that when your free, or even when your not, you like to hang around other people and thats ok with me. I've come to terms that I gotta be ok when your with other people's company." It was a learning curve he was finally getting the hang of, not totally there yet, but theres been progress in that regard.

Oh dear Merlin. Did he jump to a conclusion? Yes it would seem so from that comment. "And clearly you do not have anything to worry about seeing as Orlando has a girlfriend and Nic... well he's Nic," she said trying not to get angry with him. He didn't need her anger anymore.

Taking a deep breath she released it and leaned in closer so she could rest her head on his shoulder. "...I haven't wanted to see you as much lately. What does that mean? Or... I haven't minded that I haven't seen you. I thought... I thought I was angry about you being such good friends with ... certain people. But I think... I have always thought there was someone better suited for you than me. And... if you saw that, which I do fear one day you will, you would hurt me and leave me. What if... what if we AREN'T the ones for eachother though? What if it is just us being selfish? Do we really have anything at all in common besides eachother?" she asked quietly and clung to him. She didn't want to let him go... even though she knew she would have to.

He froze, not blinking, not even breathing when she said she didnt want to see him as much. Question echoed in his head at the same time as she spoke. What did that mean? What has he done to make her feel that way? Did he miss something? Forget their special event? Then she said something that made him pull back, alarm and fear clearly written on his face "What do you mean babe? What do you mean someone better suited for me? Thats you! Why are you saying this? Did I do something wrong? " blurted one after the other. He was trying to keep his voice leveled but was failing miserably. "We do have a lot in common, yeah we have our differences but they.... they compre... compli.... they go well with each other, right?" he added, struggling for words to express how he feels. "Is it wrong to want you so much for myself that I would lay my life for you? I love you that much. Are you tell me thats wrong?" he uttered, his voice now only above a whisper, eye starting to well up "I dont understand whats going on Lexi. What's happening?"

Lexi sighed when he pulled back and looked at her like that. It killed her to look at him when he was clearly scared of losing her. It hurt to her core. "You didn't do anything. Maybe that's the problem. You have done a whole lot of nothing since you asked me to marry you. It's me being selfish... or it was me being selfish anyway. Part of me wanted to shout it from the rooftops... and part of me wanted to hide it from people. But... the fact that we can never have a normal, peaceful relationship scares me, Salander." She took a deep breath and searched his face. Could she end it? Could she actually do it? Who knows...

"No darling, that's not wrong to love me so much. I love you, too. But... what if there is someone who was better for you. I mean really. Your family, your friends, everyone would be happier if you found someone else probably. Do we have a future with so much working against us, Stradivarius? Are you SURE you want to stay with me and ONLY me for the rest of your life? I see the way you look at other girls... the way you interact with people when you aren't WITH me. You seem happier... more carefree. I feel as though I am holding you back from true happiness. Maybe even holding you back from being the great man I know you are," she rambled on, her voice breaking several times in the process.

"What if... what if everyone is right, Sal? What if we are too young and we are making a mistake? Huh? What if we go down that road and then end up resenting one another?"

Nodding her head at him, Louisa grabbed a filthy dungbomb and raised herself up a bit, swung her hand and shoooooooooooot, aiming at Vashti's right side. The dirty bomb popped in a quiet sound that didn't reach the two students crouching behind the boulder. The smell, however, did reach them and Louisa mimicked a gagging gesture before closing her nose and slouching back down, dragging Adam with her. "You next, but watch out for her first." She was going to see who threw that, right?

...unless she didn't recognize the dungbomb! It fell on the grass and dungs were already all over, right? That'd be an incredibly bonus!

His head started to shake, trying to figure out what he didnt do but should have "What do you want me to do Luv, please tell me and I'll do it. I'm sorry, I didnt know. I...." he was rambling, his sight clouded now by tears just ready to fall "What do you mean normal? What do you mean peaceful? This isnt normal or peaceful?" He was confused, he clearly thought it was all going so well, if this was what it was like to spend the rest of his life with her then he had made a good decision.

But hearing her speak, how she saw their relationship as it was has confused him beyond comprehension. So if this wasnt good then what was?

He closed his arms tighter around her midriff, as if holding her close to him will keep what he thinks is happening from actually taking place "Lexi, I know how some of my friends feel about you, how my family sees you, but when did any of those discourage me from carrying on with this so far? And yes I did think about proposing to you. It wasnt something on a whim-- I bought the ring at the same time I got you your birthday gift." he said as he reached out and caressed the side of her head, seeing the diamond earrings that matched the ring he gave her. "I never made it obvious to you because I wasnt sure myself. I was scared that what happened to my folks will happen to us. But after we fought at the library I KNEW the other option was far worse-- to go on without you. It was worse than dying." the welling have overflowed and was now streaming freely down his face. "Was that it? Me looking at other girls? I cant help it I admit that, thats my fault. But thats all I do, I just look, like pretty flowers when you walk by. I never do anything else beyond that trust me. But you-- you have my heart. Nobody else does. Thats why I will be with you. Always...." he voice trailed off now to a whisper ".... if you'll still have me."

Oh... no. What was she doing to him? Seriously. "I -- I don't know exactly. I just feel... I don't KNOW," she said miserably. She really had no idea how to put that to words that made sense. "Sal... you don't see what I go through as your significant other, love. So many people would rather you be with someone else... someone who isn't "evil and blonde" and the like. It's hard on me. You are oblivious to it because people don't treat me badly in front of you... but some of your dear sweet friends treat me like CRAP when you aren't around. It's hard to keep it all to myself. I have never wanted you to choose between them and me and I am not asking now. I am offering to step aside and let you enjoy your last term at school with other people that mean a lot to you," she said begrudgingly.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around him and held on tightly as he held her just as tight. "Sal I never have in the past, but there comes a point when no matter how strong someone is.. they break. Or it begins to cause self doubt. What if they can see this more clearly than we can?"

And then he started talking about waiting because he hadn't been SURE. DId that not seem odd to him? "Baby... is it supposed to be that hard? The figuring out bit that is," she asked in little more than a whisper. This was GUTTING her. It truly was. All of it... the entire conversation.

Looking at other women was like looking at pretty flowers. "What if -- what if I ogled other men in front of you? Would you like that? Would it make you angry? You have a hard time with my having male friends that I depend on. I am sorry I don't get along well with other girls..." she said as she choked back a sob.

..."I want you with all of my heart. I do, but what if we're making a mistake, Salander? Can you truly say you have no doubts in your mind that we will work. That we will spend the rest of eternity together til death do us part?" she asked as she too began to weep.

Adam had squatted down further behind the rock as Louisa pulled out the first dungbomb and tossed it with some authority. He watched as the bomb landed right next to Vashti's right side, and for a moment he wasn't sure that it had worked, but after a couple of moments the smell started to fill his nostrils and he was no longer having any doubts about the effectiveness of the bomb.

"Gosh, that smells terrible," Adam whispered, choking slightly on the smell as he spoke. He took a dungbomb from Louisa, using his left hand to plug his nostrils, before peering stealthily around the rock. The potion thief seemed kind of distracted, so Adam gave a hefty chuck, the dungbomb flying and landing about a foot or two in front of her. Quickly Adam slid back behind the rock and turned to look at Louisa. "Do you think she saw us?"

"No, I'm a half-blood. What about you? Just some far fetched stuff like students being killed by the tree, or almost dying. Which I'm sure the almost dying part can happen, its limbs are crazy looking. I've heard that someone did actually manage to get through and get close to the tree and then was never see again. But I highly doubt that, I wonder if it leads anywhere that would be cool if their was a passage way or secret meeting spot for professors. I personally would never want to go that close to it. I've also heard other crazy stuff." Rosalie told her new friend.
"Have you heard any crazy stories?" Rosalie asked, she wanted to know if this girl knew any other crazy stories. Some of them were pretty lame but others could be intense or funny.

The talk was becoming interesting for the both of them. "Oh, so you're a half-blood. Actually I'm a Muggleborn, so I don't really know stuffs like that of the Whomping Willow," said Erin softly. Basing on Rosalie's account about the tree, it was fearfully dangerous. Just judging from the movement of its limbs, it'll be slashing anyone near it. But, there was a thin thread that pulls Erin toward that weird thing slightly below the trunk of the tree near the roots. Not today, she thought. There are couple of students around and their action could make them, end up in detention.

Then suddenly, Erin heard a bomb. Well, not that loud but definitely something that will caught your attention. It was some older students, probably making pranks on someone. It was that girl, she saw an average looking student with black hair. The girl she had not met before but she definitely knew by the mouth of other students, Vashti Greenwell. "Oooops! muttered Erin with Rosalie then added, "I think we need to get away from here. Dungbombs!" Erin quickly grabbed Rosalie's arms and hurried toward the pathways.

William bought the bag of Hate Potion with him to the Whompping Willow. William added the devil's snare essence last to the Hate Potion. He stirred it clockwise for two hours.Wait, the Dna cannot be taken from a Pygmy Puff. William took a sample of his DNa and addws it to the Hate Potion.

Vashti had turned and was starting to leave the Whomping Willow behind when something suddenly appeared as if out of nowhere and landed on her right side. What in Merlin b- UGH. WHAT was that SMELL?

Her hand quickly moved up and pinched her nose to cut off the smell. As she breathed through her mouth, she eyed the thing that had landed next to her. Seriously, what in Merlin's name was this? And where did it come from? It couldn't actually appear out of nowhere - and even if it did, if this was what happened when people got near the Whomping Willow, then why did so many people come near? Wouldn't this be common knowledge? She would've read it in Hogwarts, A History or something else like-

Suddenly another gross-disgusting-thing landed in front of her, and she jerked her head up just in time to catch a glimpse of something ducking down behind a large rock sitting several yards away. Was that where these things were coming from? Was it some sort of creature - or an idiot student? Either way, Vashti drew her wand and crept toward the rock.

..did she see them? Louisa did not know. "I don't know. did you see her see you?" The girl whispered. But he didn't have to answer this because the wet muddy grass made some crunching sound and Louisa instinctively peered around the boulder and saw Vashti coming.

Now that stupid act led to many things, first their plan was ruined by letting Vashti suspect the boulder and then see Louisa peering around. Second the Ravenclaw jumped to her feet, noticing how filthy her OWN uniform was. Last, it was open war.

Louisa grabbed the box and started shoving dungbombs at Vashti, giggling, "Hello thief!" She said musically. If her uniform was filthy, she had to make sure Vashti's became filthy too. "Enjoying your day, hand-holder?" Bahahaha.

Apparently Adam had not moved stealthily enough because as he chanced another peek out from behind the boulder he noticed that Vashti was coming towards them...with her wand out. Um...this was a complication that he had not been expecting. He turned to warn Louisa that Vashti was coming, but it was a moot point. Apparently Louisa had decided to sneak a peek when he asked her if Vashti had saw them, and she too had spotted that Vashti was coming there direction. The next thing Adam knew Louisa was standing up, holding the mass of dungbombs in her arms and shouting words out at Vashti that Adam wasn't comprehending. Well...so much for being a stealth prank!

Deciding that Adam really had no choice but to back Louisa, he stood up as well, pulling out his own wand in case Vashti decided to shoot a spell at Louisa or something. After all, she didn't know Adam and Adam didn't really know her, so he figured she would probably choose to take out her frustration on Louisa before she'd take it out on him. When Louisa taunted Vashti by calling her "hand holder" Adam suddenly realized how pretty uninformed about the whole situation between the two. He knew that Vashti had stolen the love potion but obviously some other stuff had gone down that Adam was completely ignorant of. Not really sure what to do, Adam just stood there, eyeing the two of them thoughtfully.

Well...he was here if Louisa needed him.

When she caught sight of a face peering around the side of the large rock, Vashti knew it had to be an idiot student, not a creature. And the idiot student looked rather familiar too...

She was only about a yard from the rock when the culprit stood up and it turned out the idiot student was Louisa. Somehow Vashti really wasn't surprised.

She WAS surprised when Louisa suddenly just started launching a bunch of those gross-disgusting-things at her and by the time she finally remembered her wand and managed to cast a Shield Charm, her robes were nasty and the area around her smelled absolutely awful. And this was all because of that ridiculous love potion? REALLY?! Why couldn't Louisa just grow up and get over it?!

But...wait. "'Hand holder'?" she repeated, glaring slightly. "What in Merlin's name are you talking about?" And then some boy stood up from behind the rock as well. A boy she honestly didn't recognize. "And who exactly are you?" And why was he joining in on Louisa's immature prank, especially when he and Vashti didn't even know each other?

Louisa was having SO much fun. Vashti's uniform was a mess and by the time the older student did a shielding charm, half of the dungbombs were already tossed. Although with Adam's help, they would've tossed the whole box.. why didn't he just reach in and help? Louisa's giggles turned to chuckles as she gave Adam a confused look.

Then Vashti spoke. Or shouted? No, she only spoke, darn it! This girl was always careful not to show her anger. "Don't bring him into this. I asked for help and just like a faithful friend, he actually takes my side instead of stealing my possessions." HA!

Giggling once more, Louisa feigned a thinking pose staring up at the sky, "Hmm. Hand holder. Let's see what this means..." She shot a look at Vashti then, "Oh! The stars talked! It means you're a hypocrite. Stealing my own you-know-what.." Their voices were loud in the Grounds and the last thing Louisa wanted was to be punished over a failure genius plan. "..and use it for your own benefit!" But that wasn't what bugged Louisa, it was the fact that the potion seemed to work perfectly for Vashti! She did see the couple going aaaaall the way back to Hogwarts holding hands. If she was daring enough, she would've seen the swoony eyes Vashti was making at the Huffie too.

When Adam saw that Vashti was solely going to use her wand to form a shield charm Adam shoved his own wand back into his pocket. It looked like the girl wasn't particularly hostile which was good....of course if Adam had to duel he would in order to protect Louisa, but if he could prevent it that was obviously the better option. When Louisa shot him a confused look, wondering why he hadn't just grabbed a bunch of the dungbombs himself Adam returned the same confused look. "You looked like you had it covered," Adam said with a sheepish grin, which was really only loud enough for Louisa to hear. As soon as he had finished saying that he heard Vashti address him, but before he could respond Louisa was jumping down the girl's throat. Adam awkwardly closed his mouth that he had partially opened in order to respond to the girl's question.

Adam merely stood there, like a kid caught in the middle of two friends fighting without really knowing what to do or say. As he listened to the two bicker he gathered that not only had Vashti stolen the love potion from Louisa she had used the potion herself. Well...wasn't that an unexpected twist! Honestly Adam felt like he was right in the middle of a muggle soap opera instead of near an incredibly dangerous tree trying to block out the god awful smell that was hovering around the entire area. He figured until he was addressed again perhaps it was best to just be a mediator and protect the two of them from killing one another. Perhaps he wasn't the best prankster in the world, but was that such a bad thing?

Don't bring him into this? "He brought himself into this by stupidly deciding to join you." It wasn't like Vashti just started accusing some innocent bystander - he was hiding behind the rock just as much as Louisa was, so he was just as much a part of it as she.

And Vashti wasn't going to respond to that last remark. She just wasn't going to waste her breath explaining to Louisa that she was acting in the younger girl's best interests, like a real friend would. At least SHE didn't call Louisa names and throw things at her.

And...she thought she was a hypocrite? Louisa REALLY thought she'd used that love potion to make Anakin go on that date with her? REALLY? Not only was it just incredibly stupid for Louisa to think Vashti would scold Louisa for using a love potion and then use it herself, but it was also a bit offensive and hurtful as well - like she couldn't get a guy to go on a date with her of his own free will. If Vashti didn't know any better, she might've thought Will Fullmer had talked Louisa into this.

"If you really think I kept and used that love potion, I have to question your place in Ravenclaw," she replied a bit snappishly. "For your information, I used a Vanishing Spell on it the moment you left - I wasn't going to risk you going through my stuff and stealing it back." And she certainly wasn't going to risk someone else finding it in her stuff and thinking she was going to use it and then get her in trouble. "And Anakin asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him long before I even found out you actually used that stupid potion. So don't you dare accuse me of being a hypocrite when you don't even have your facts straight."

"He didn't bring himself into anything. I asked him to do it and with come persuasion he was in." Ahem. Yes, persuasion meant telling him half the truth too.. not that Louisa lied to him blatantly or anything! Nope. She wasn't that mean.

WHOWASQUESTIONINGHERRAVENCLAWNESS?!!!!

The girl took a threatening step forward, Vashti's dung smell keeping her away more than the shield. "Don't ever say that again!" And to add more on Louisa's nerves, Vashti went on explaining. The younger Ravenclaw's jaw dropped open. She. Did. Not. Just. Use. Evanesco. On. Her. Own. Love. Potion.

No.

"You did what.." She muttered, unable to react properly. "I don't believe you." Louisa cleared her throat and held on stubborn face features, "You might have gotten rid of it but that's after you used it on Anakin." The boy seemed all love-struck and drooly. And even if Vashti was honest, this opportunity was just priceless to see her angry and stung.

"So then he didn't come as some sort of 'faithful friend.' You forced him into it," Vashti shot back. If that was Louisa's idea of a good and faithful friend, then maybe Vashti was glad she wasn't considered one. She didn't want to be forced and "persuaded" into doing something like this.

As if she was going to obey any of Louisa's demands anyway. As. If.

She didn't believe her? "Then I'm still questioning your place in Ravenclaw." And that was that. "I got rid of it the moment you left. And if you're too blinded by your hurt feelings to understand that, then whatever. Just leave. Me. Alone." She was sick and tired of all this and she wanted to go take another shower. A really, REALLY long one.

When Louisa had made a step towards Vashti Adam instinctively moved so that he was right next to her. He wasn't going to try and stop her....he knew better than to try and stop Louisa from doing something that she wanted to do...but he could at least be there as back up so she didn't get hurt. When Vashti shot out the comment about being forced into Adam finally felt like it was his turn to step in and say something.

"She didn't force me to do anything," Adam said, not in a nasty tone but in a matter-of-fact kind of tone. "Listen...I obviously do not know the whole picture here, but I've gathered enough from listening to you two go back and forth that maybe there was a bit of a misunderstanding on both parts." Adam looked at Louisa, not wanting her to be angry at him for taking the middle man position. He did have her back, one hundred percent, but if he could somehow help save this friendship with Vashti Adam thought Louisa might appreciate it in the long run. "Now I don't know you enough at all to be able to tell whether or not you're lying, and you don't know enough about me to be able to establish how Louisa and I's friendship works, but what I can say is that it seems like you guys are fighting over something that might not really need to be fought over. If you really did just take the love potion from Louisa to try and stop her from using it on Dallin...well...Louisa I can't really fault her on that. I would have probably done something similar only because you're my friend and I don't want you getting hurt. However, if what Louisa is saying is true that you did take the love potion to use on your own interest...well...I can see why Louisa would want to devise this prank against you."

Adam paused for a moment, looking at the two waiting for them to start attacking him. "I'm just saying since we're all dirty, and we all smell, and we're all here, maybe it would be best if the two of you got what you needed off your chests. I mean...you guys still want to be friends, right?"

Just as Vashti's words made Louisa's anger rise, Adam's made them sizzle down. She was shooting dagger-eyes at the girl hiding like a coward behind a Protego charm, which she'd used twice in Louisa's presence and that was kind of alarming actually. The thing was what Adam had said about the love-potion was true and the same as Vashti had explained before, it just sounded more acceptable and welcome when it came from HIS mouth.

Go figure.

Louisa's body relaxed a bit, her stern face stayed sterny though. "Fine! I'll get it off my chest," she addressed Adam before turning her face to Vashti, "I hate it how you lied and decieved me to give you the potion. I hate how you think you're right about everything and take the liberity to get into my own personal business." Louisa's voice was sharp but low, "Also, you had no idea how I was going to use the potion! You didn't even know my real purpose behind getting one!" Not that she was about to mention it here. Nope. She knew better than revealing her secrets now.

Folding her arms Louisa added, "I don't want to lose you as a friend, no. I'm not only a Ravenclaw," Emphasizing on the last word for her, "But I have a lot of Hufflepuff in me. I'm loyal enough to remember your attitude toward Kitty and I all these years." Vashti faced a dark wizard for Merlin's sake! "But you can be extra annoying." HEH.

The Ravenclaw's head turned to Adam, smirking, "That felt good." Hopefully Vashti was hurt and touched at the same time. Louisa liked to cause that to friends. HEHEHE.

After their laughter had stop, she found herself staring at him, and he was staring right back. She wasn't usually like this at all; it was something new and strange. But wonderful. Yes, definitely wonderful.

She felt him move his hand farther onto hers, to the point where it was basically completely covering her own hand. He was making it incredibly hard to focus on anything else. Anything in the real world. Anything outside of this little bubble of him and her, together. Whatever him and her were right now.

Sighing, she moved her hand over just an inch more. Really, all she wanted was to intertwine her fingers with his, but she left her hand to rest just underneath his, not wanting to push things too far. After all, she didn't know if that's what he wanted, too.

Wait. He was talking. She practically forced herself out of her own thoughts to focus on his question. Do something? Do something. Simple enough.

"Sure." Adelyn smiled, "I'm up for anything."

And now Quiet Boy decided to speak. It was then that Vashti figured it was probably good that they did have a sort of third person who could jump in with a fairly objective view and prevent her and Louisa from killing each other. But at the same time, his "objective" view still annoyed her a bit because he didn't fully believe her side of the story, and he clearly had more reason to trust Louisa's twisted side of the story since he was her friend and not Vashti's.

But did she still want to be friends with Louisa? Maybe. Maybe not. She was far too annoyed with the little fourth year right now to give a very clear-headed response to that question. Getting it off her chest sounded quite nice though.

Shame Louisa had to go first.

And shame it didn't actually make her feel any better hearing all that. Not even her "I still want to be friends" helped considering she followed it up with "you're annoying". Yeah, like that was going to make anything better.

Least it was her turn now.

"Yeah, well I hate how you think you're right about everything and I hate that you thought it was better to come here and prank me - with a friend, no less - instead of facing me yourself. I hate how you don't think about the consequences of your words and actions before it actually happens, and I hate how you try and justify everything you do, no matter how wrong or hurtful it is. I don't care what your 'real purpose' for using the love potion was - it's wrong no matter who you use it on and no matter what your reasoning is. If you want someone to love you and respect you, you have to earn it, Louisa. A bloody love potion is not going to fix all your problems. It's only going to make it worse. So it's time you grew up and fixed your problems yourself instead of blaming it on other people and trying to get magic spells and potions to fix it for you."

Hm. Both Louisa and Quiet Boy were right about something at least - it did feel pretty good to get all that off her chest.

Adam listened to Louisa as she went first, happy that she concluded that she still wanted to be friends but flinching slightly that she called Vashti annoying. Perhaps that was a thought that might have been better kept to herself since it did kind of negate everything that she had just said, but they were getting things off their chests so maybe it was just something that she needed to get out there. When she turned to him and said that felt good with a little smirk Adam smiled and gave a nod of the head.

Then he turned to look at Vashti to indicate that it was her turn to go, and he listened thoughtfully as Vashti spoke. As he was listening to her he realized that perhaps in a way there was some truth to Vashti. Louisa was a think with her emotions kind of person, not that there was anything wrong with that, but sometimes it did put her in situations to get hurt not only herself but to hurt other people. Even Adam wasn't sure how he would have responded to Louisa if he'd known that she used a love potion on him...Was Dallin going to start talking to her again? He couldn't blame the kid if he needed a bit of time. And as Vashti continued it occurred to Adam that Vashti sounded like the kind of friend that was tired of trying to mentor and help Louisa...after all he was pretty sure that Vashti was older than both of them, and her words definitely made it sound like she was tired of trying to do the right thing and being stomped on by Louisa's angry words or silly pranks.

When Vashti had finished speaking Adam gave the girl a warm smile. "Do you feel better now?" he asked, hoping that getting it off her chest had at least helped a little. He was going to ignore the fact that Vashti hadn't answered the question of whether or not she still wanted Louisa and her to be friends...perhaps she needed to do a bit more contemplating before she came to that conclusion.

"So...now that you guys have gotten some things off your chest, where do you want to go from here? What do you guys need to try and get back to the best friend status that I knew you guys used to be," Adam said, giving them both an encouraging smile. Was it just him or was he starting to sound like a therapist more than a friend?