After reading a few chapters Justin went fishing into his bag and pulled out his iPod and went through his play list until he came to a song that was song by a muggle songstress that was quite popular back in the early 2000's. He put the ear pieces in his ears and began to mmble along with the words. " Someone like you..." he sung to himself under his breath. Depressed he picked up his book again and read along while continuing to sing in a hardly audible volume. He knew Minie had seen him walk in , but didn't even bother to say hello.

Damon smiled, "A biography, actually." He looked over his shoulder seeing Justin he felt a little bad, he looked at Min, "He's upset about something." He nudged his head towards Justin.

"Well I think that will be pretty interesting." she smiled at him. "You do have plenty to write about. When you finish can I be one of the first to read it?" She looked over at Justin. They had become friends again, but things were still a bit awkward with them, plus Justin knew her feelings towards Damon. "I will talk to him later, he's just going through things lately, he'll be okay, right now I'm talking with you."

He nodded, "Of course you can." He shook his head, "I need to go find Taylor and appoligize. So go ahead, your friend needs your help."

Minerva looked at him a little disappointed, but she understood. "Yeah, that's fine. I will see you later." Her tone showed her disappointment. She got up and walked over to Justin, plopping down next to him and kicking her feet up placing them over his lap. She knew he wouldn't care and she wanted to stretch out a bit. "So what's wrong with you? I guess it's now Minnie's therapist service." Well that's how she felt today. Going from problem to problem trying to fix everything for everyone. She pulled one of the ear pads out of his ear and stuck it in hers to see what he was listening to.

" Oh, hey, Min..... Naw Im alright. Just reading. " he said. There was no sense in telling her what was the problem since it wouldn't do a bit of good anyhow.
" The singer is some woman named Adele. Sometimes music helps my moods. " Justin said as he smiled over to her. It was feeling like the old times with her so comfortable relaxing accrossed him. Ever since first year this is how they hung out. It was nice having her so close again.... Although this time she was untouchable... Completely out of reach and he hated that.

Minerva looked at him "Don't give me that, somethings up. What's going on?" She took the ear piece out not really caring for the song, but didn't want to say anything. She hated when he lied to her, she could see it in his eyes, when he was lying. "I don't know her. Whatcha reading?" She glanced at the book surprised he had a book that he actually read. "So what's going on with you and Ronnie did you talk to her like I told you to or have you been avoiding her like you do me?"

" Really, Min. It's nothing.... Not really important... a bit childish really. Well, I like her. Her music speaks to me right now... And no I haven't even bothered trying to find Ronnie. " he admitted. " And I never avoided you... You avoid me. " he retorted. " And the book is something my mother gave me just before I left home to stay at the leaky. It's a book she started to write when I was little. Every once in a while she would add to it... I think she wants me to add my own ending or something." Justin shrugged.


" Uninteresting... How about yours , Nate? " Jstin answered the small second year that scared the crap out of everyone in the common room that day his wierd instrument that nearly kille him.

She looked at Justin not buying it. "I hate when you lie to me.. There is something wrong and you need to tell me or I'm getting up and headed to my room." She wasn't trying to be a brat, but she was irritated that he was keeping something from her. They never kept secrets, so why start now. "Well would you want to write an ending to a book? That would be neat." She ignored the part about the avoiding, she was over it, it was in the past, and she was done fighting about it.

" Min, I still have a hard time seeing you with other guys... I didn't like how we ended it. And I know that I'll get over it , but right now it just .... I want you to be happy and if it isn't with me than so be it. But I'm not going to pretend that you mean nothing to me. " he blurted. There it's al been said and done. No more secret thoughts or feelings.

Minerva sighed, "Just I don't like how things ended either, but they did end and we just need to work past that. I guess it was just easier for me to go back to being friends. I'm sorry that it bothers you. Maybe if you find someone that makes you feel really happy you will feel the same way I do right now." Unfortunately she wasn't sure which one was making her feel really happy, she was still confused on that part. "You don't have to pretend that I was nothing, we are still friends and hopefully best friends again at some point."

" I know all that, Min. I'll be fine. Jst having you ask my mum to move in with your guardians brought back alot of memories for me... Now the shoe's on the other foot, ya know?" he said as he shifted himself for a moment. " Min, We were never not best friends. " he said as he gave her a hug. " Always."

Minerva hugged him back "I'm glad we are, because I hated when we weren't speaking. It just didn't seem right." Minerva pulled back and smiled at him. "Hey Leelee said that it was fine for Vinnie to move in if she wanted. So send an owl to your mom."

" Oh... Alright. I will later." he said as he put his hands behind his head and laid down. " I'll send Persius after a nap. "

Minerva got up and grabbed her bag. She wasn't just going to sit there as he took a nap, she could be studying in the study room or headed to the library. "Well you have a nice nap Justin, I'm going to head out. I have some work to get done. You know homework doesn't do it's self." She gave an an eyed look to see if he would comment on doing or not doing his work.

For Anyone
 

Ella was positively beaming when she walked into the Hufflepuff common room. She had done it, made the quidditch team...HER! She couldn't shake the feeling that this was some kind of dream or something. Would she wake up if she was pinched? *Pinches self* "Ouch!" Nope, definitely not a dream. GRIN. Spotting an empty arm chair, the second year plopped down, looking around for familiar faces. Surely someone would want to celebrate with her, no? While she waited, the second year pulled some gummy worms from her pocket and ate them happily.

For anyone
 

*waves*
 

Ella looked up from her place by the fire and was pleasantly surprised to see someone with a guitar. Another player? Grin. And she didn't know this boy, which was kind of nice. The second year always liked to meet new people. Sitting up a little straighter in her chair, she tapped the boy on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm Ella."

Jordon stopped playing for a moment and turned to see a girl behind him. "Hi, I'm Jordon." He said smiling. He looked over at a girl that had stopped reading and was maybe sleeping now. Perhaps she was listening to him play. "Maybe," he thought, looking back to Ella.

"Nice to meet you, Jordon." Ella said cheerfully, taking a seat next to the older boy. "So how long have you been playing?" The second year asked, nodding towards the guitar. She was pretty curious, especially since she was taking an interest in that particular instrument. "I only just started playing last term but I'm getting pretty good. Lots of practicing and such..."

Jordon smiled "nice to meet you too." he said. "Umm since I was seven or eight I think." He thought for a minute, "Yeah that's probably right." He started strumming a few chords while they talked. "Oh, you're the first person I've met at Hogwarts that knew how to play at all." Jordon nodded, "I'd love to hear you play sometime."

"Seven or eight, huh? You're like my dad. He learned to play when he was quite young." Which was probably why Ella had gotten into playing. That and finding out that Logan could play last term. "Really? The first person?" Ella asked curiously, surprised. She knew a couple of friends that played though they might not have been playing much lately. "Are you new here, then?" She said curiously. Come to think of it, she had never seen this boy around so maybe he was new. Or Ella was horrible at observation. As for his comment on seeing her play, the second year smiled shyly. "I suppose I could do that. I'm sure I'm not as good as you, though." Nope. She was only a beginner...And on to the next important question. "So what music do you like to play?"

Jordon nodded, "sometimes it's good to learn early. You get better, quicker... or something like that." he said. Jordon could even remember his first lesson. "Well I met some people that would like to play, but couldn't find the time. With their studies and all I guess." He said. "No, I'm not new. I just wasn't here last year. We had some family issues so I couldn't come." He coughed then laughed. "Well maybe I can help you get better." He looked around, "there's not that many people here. Would you play something now?" He smiled "Pretty much anything. If I hear something I like, I learn it. I write a little bit too."

Ella gave Jordon a small smile as he explained you get better faster when you start young. "Yeah, I've heard something like that too." It made a little more sense that he had met people who would like to play, but just didn't have the time. That was common once classes started up. Even Ella hadn't been practicing as much as she would like. Oh, so he wasn't new...just gone for a while. "I'm sorry about your-uh family problems...I know what that's like." She said sincerely, turning to the fire again. She was sure he didn't feel like discussing those, and neither did she. The second year looked back at Jordon curiously when he said he could help her get better. "You would do that?" Cause Ella would love the help. Looking around them, she noted that he was right. The common room was pretty empty. "Alright, let me run and get my guitar up in the dormitory. I'll be back."

After a few minutes, Ella returned to the fireplace with her acoustic guitar slung across her, a nervous look on her face. She sat down once again next to Jordon and smiled. "Alright, promise you won't laugh, okay. I don't write my own songs anything..." Like he did apparently. "But this is one of my dad's favorites." And with one more look around the common room, Ella began to play the song, looking down at the guitar as she went.

" You've an interesting family , Nate. So, how are you finding your second term so far?" Justin asked. " You need a bit of help with your writting? "

" Yeah, I need to get mine done as well. Maybe you could help me out in little bit. I'm exhausted. " he said as he propped himself up on his forearms. " Hey, Min.... What's up with your friend Ariana? You think she might like me? I like hanging out with her and she seems really cool to spend time with...." Justin asked as he was fishing for information.

On my lunch.. Talk to you soon..
 

Minerva gave him a grin "I always will be around to help you if you need the help." She was about to leave so he could take a nap, but he asked her another question that made her laugh out loud. "Ariana, my friend.. Well I guess we are trying to be friends, but she hung me upside down the first time we saw each other. My dumb behind used the counter to the spell and dropped myself on my head" She laughed a bit, "Well she is Maxwell's best friend and she is a bit of a firecracker, but I think she is just what you need. I think you should go for it. If it helps I have NEVER seen her hug someone before, I was actually afraid the world might end when I saw her do that." Minerva laughed at her own joke, she did like Ariana, but she wasn't sure Ariana's feelings towards her.

" So, I got the unhuggable to hug me , huh?" Justin said with a smirk. Rathher full of himself at this point he turned back and said , " Thanks for introducing me to her, Minnie. I think she may be just the person I needed to bring me out of hiding. We're supposed to go to the lake tonight....For the first time since I asked you out ...I'm bloody nervous. But I think I might wait a bit to see if she does lie me.... Take it slow this time.... I can tell she is a no rush kinda girl. " Justin could not believe that he was spilling all of this to Minerva , But afterall they were best friends and always had been.

He looked at this new girl. Someone he'd never seen before, "Damon, Damon Ashllyn-Darkmyr Mercada..." He said awkwardly, he wasn't good with new people, and to be honest he was hoping to run into Minerva to appoligize, but he wouldn't be rude. As he always did he gave a slight bow after introducing himself, "I'm fine... Just drama with... two friends and a royal brat."

Justin heard Damon's voice and looked over his shoulder. " Hey, Damon. I know we didn't get off to a good start. Maybe we could start over. "
Then he got up from the floor and went over to him. " Start over?" he said as he extended his hand.

Alec Summers!! Post 1: HoM Homework Assigment: Le Protest
 

Alyssa quickly ran into the Hufflepuff Common room with her banners and sat down at one of the couches near the fireplace. She was going to stage a protest asking students and school staff’s support to allow everyone be allowed to enter each other’s common rooms. She was excited because she had never been involved in a protest before, and even better yet, be given permission to break the laws of the school, in order to do it.

Alyssa just wished that she had somebody that she could protest with. Then she saw Alec Summers sitting in the other couch. She knew that his best friend was a Gryffindor and she suspected that if she told him her idea, he might actually want to help her. So she got up and walked to him. “Hey Alec, as part of the History of Magic homework assignment we are supposed to stage a protest or a rebellion. I’m protesting about the fact that we can’t visit our friends who belong in the other houses, in their Common Rooms. Would you like to join me? You can grab a couple of banners and do whatever you want with it. Just make sure that everyone can see it and they know what you are protesting about. Interested? Alyssa asked the 2nd year.

Damon looked at Justin, "Hey." Wrong start? He hadn't thought they had, sure, Min had liked him when Justin first met him... But he didn't seem like he didn't like him or anything, "I don't do the handshake." He shook his head to his hand, "Sorry..."

" Oh... Right, sorry. " Justin said as he backed his hand away.

Jordon nodded, he didn't mean to bring up the the family thing. He gave a half smile then went back to talking about guitar. "Yeah, it would be fun. I've never really helped anyone before, but I could try." He said, now fully smiling. "Okay, I'll wait here," and went back to playing guitar.

When Ella returned, he looked over her guitar. It was pretty. He laughed, "I wont. Unless you mess up." He said, jokingly.
He sat there watching her play. The song was pretty too. He tried strumming along with her trying to learn a new song, but when that didn't work he put his guitar down and continued to listen.

He looked at him, "But yes... We can start over." He gave a small nod.

" alright then... So, you're a friend of Minnie's..." Justin said strugglingg to make conversation.

Different time line.. Min is not there with Damon...
 

Minerva smiled and laughed at his nervousness, it was kind of cute to be honest. She had forgotten how sweet he could actually be. She had missed her close friend and was glad to have him back in her life. "Justin nervous of a girl, now that's a new one. you will be fine, just don't do anything to get you hexed. You think I'm tough and have a temper, you haven't seen anything yet."

"Yeh. I'm finding this term good. Though the charms teacher is kind of a neat freak. But she's really good at teaching. I mean I would have some weird rules of my own." Nate replied still not knowing what to write. "No. Last term I was working on a book that I was making for my brother. I never got to start. If you saw me scetching any of the creatures that came out of the forest it was for this." After he says that he flips to the front page. "See." He puts the picture in between Justin and himself.

Post 1 for me too? HoM Homework Assignment![/copiesPearl]
 

Alec was just gazing at his blank poster, wondering what he could protest about. Lack of ice cream? No, that wasn't good enough. Maybe the fact that his Dad couldn't visit him when he was in school? Maybe. But he didn't know whether his Dad would want to travel all the way up to Hogwarts to see him only for a day. It would be better to wait for the summer for something like that, right?

... This was hard.

He slumped in his armchair, letting his eyes flick from the banner to the wall opposite. And it was just in that instant that he heard a voice! His grey-blue eyes flicked over towards the fourth year who had just bounded up to him in the usual manner he expected from her. The presence of this girl was enough to bring a smile to his face.

And what was more, she had an idea! Alec's smile turned into a grin. How perfect was this? He now had an idea of what to do for this protest! It was a great idea, as well. And it meant that he'd get the chance to work with one of his closest friends at Hogwarts. Perfection!

"Yeah, sure, I'd love to work with you, Lyss!" he said, "Erm, do you need me to make any more banners?" He ruffled his hair as he looked down at the awesome banners Lyss had made. It would be unfair if they went around protesting and he had no banners to contribute at all.

" Well, I just want to rush into anything and complicate things. That's all. " he smiled. Wel, I do like a challenge! " he joked. " I think this is great, Min.... You and I talking the way we used to? .... I miss that."

" Wow! Nate, you're really talented. I'd become an artist if I were you. Their fantastic. " he smiled as he looked at the sketches ing the boy's book.

"Awesome. It'll be great to work with you. And since you are so popular with everyone, especially the girls," Alyssa winked at him."I'm sure that you'll get a lot of attention. You can just make a protest sign or if not just use one of mine. I'll just leave some of them here for you."

"As for me, I'm going to make my first protest in the Great Hall. I hope I don't get detention for this. Professor Scabior better not be kidding about us be allowed to break the laws." Alyssa grinned at the 2nd year, "Because I'm definitely going to be breaking a whole bunch of them."

"If you see me back here alive and no one is chasing after me, then you'll know that I succeeded. Wish me luck." Alyssa told Alec before she headed out on her first protest mission.

Damon nodded, "Though I'm starting to think she doesn't want to be around me." He sighed, "Ever since we broke up she's been distant... Not that I can blame her."

Minerva laughed, "Well you do have a challenge, but don't mess this up. I don't want to have to explain to Maxwell why my ex hurt his best friend or I don't want to have to pick all your tiny little pieces up when she blows you up with her wand or something." she joked about the last part, but with Ariana who knows what she was capable of. "Yes I am very happy that we are being able to be like this again. I missed our friendship."

Alec grinned back at the older girl. Unless he was mistaken, this was the first time the two would be working on anything to do with homework! Usually the older girl kept to her own friends and Alec kept to his own. It was sad, really. The two made an excellent pair!

Say, what now? Him? Popular? With the girls?! He knew that he knew a lot of girls but he was pretty sure that he wasn't 'popular' with them. None of them gossiped about him during sleepovers did they? ... He hoped not! "I don't... I mean..." He ruffled his hair. He wasn't popular with them, at all! He wasn't even popular to begin with! "Thanks Lyss!" he said. They'll be very, very useful!

Lyss was protesting in the Great Hall? For a fleeting moment, Alec got the mental image of the brunette standing up on a table and chanting something for the protest. Breaking... rules? So they were allowed to bend the rules slightly? "Well, good luck!" he said, "Hey, you could take your Beater's bat with you!" In case... she needed a quick getaway? Whack Bludgers at people as she ran?

No, that was lame.

The young Hufflepuff let out a small chuckle at the older girl's next comment. This seemed very daring of them! And maybe this was something they could change! He just needed an idea as to where to go, now. "I'll meet you back here!" he called, just as the girl started walking away. Smiling, Alec grabbed a couple of the posters Lyss has left behind before following her out of the common room.

" well, she did say that she was a little hurt over it, but don't worry she'll come around soon enough. Trust me... just a month ago she was throwing rocks at my head... And today she's lounging acrossed me...." he joked with a laugh.

" I hope that I don't mess this up... Thanks , Min.... For being the first person to talk to me once I started coming out of the dorm.... I apreciate it.... You're the best friend a guy could have. " he smiled

Ella appreciated that Jordon was willing to help her despite the fact he hadn't done so before. It was really nice of him, especially because they hadn't known eachother before today.

The second year laughed when Jordon promised only to laugh if she messed up. So he was a joker, huh? Well Ella appreciated that. As she continued to play, she could feel that Jordon was watching. It made her feel a bit nervous but she focused on the song, remembering how her dad had taught her to play it over the summer. A small smile appeared on her face when he began to strum along and she was almost sad when her stopped. When the song ended, Ella looked up at the boy with her eyebrows raised. "So...was I terrible?" She hoped not. She didn't want to embarrass herself, especially in front of a potential new friend.

Minerva laughed a little, she was glad that her and Justin were friends again. "Well I have to get to work on some of my signs done for my protest that I'm doing." She grinned it was so exciting to think about doing a protest and even better to the point that it was for a class and she wouldn't get points loss for doing it.

" Alright, I'll be in the shudy room in a few minutes. " justin smiled back to her.

Jordon smiled, "wow, that was awesome!" He said, picking his guitar back up. "How could you think you weren't that good? You're way better than a lot of the people I've seen." He hadn't really seen that many people, but she wasn't bad at all. In fact, she was pretty good. It wouldn't be very hard to help Ella get better at playing. "So would you like me to help you sometime? We could even just hangout and play."

"I'm Aliza. Aliza Martinez." She gave him a huge smile hoping that would lift his spirits. "Whatever is on your mind, don't let it bother you so much. Things have a way of working themselves out.".

Another boy turned up and started chatting with Damon. Aliza almost felt invisible, so she backed away slowly from the two boys and headed back to her armchair. After sitting down, she glanced back at Damon just to make sure he was okay, then she went back to her book.

He sighed, "After what I said I doubt." Damon shook his head, he had no idea what to do anymore. He'd punched a wall, he had never done anything like that. He was a pacifist, didn't believe in violence... So why did Min being hurt make him so angry to do it?

" Damon, whatever you did... Minerva will come around. She's got a good heart and when she connects with someone the way she has the both of us she can't stay mad for long.... Trust me. Alright? You just need to give her some time...
That's all." Justin said while trying to be reassuring.

"I highly doubt you practically told her you regret ever meeting her..." He sighed, "Something happened that wasn't the most enjoyable thing to deal with at the moment, and I snapped at her because she said that I hated Maxwell and... I just lost my temper..."

" Damon, I told her that it was her fault her family died..... I think I've done worse. Minerva loves her friends more than life itself.... You need to talk to her... Let her know you didn't mean it. We all say stuff that we regret when we're stressed out, Mate. " Justin said as he gave Damon a pat on the back. " Just apologise to her.... Trust me... She'll know you're really meaning it just by lookin at ya."

Alyssa entered the Common Room after her flying stunt in the Great Hall. She somehow had a feeling that she had failed to make the impact that she had wanted to make but knew that it had been worth a try.

She sat down on the couch and stated into the fireplace and felt a great sadness overwhelm her again. It would be her birthday in a couple of hours and like the past two terms, she would be celebrating it quietly and without her family. Students were already leaving to go to Hogsmeade, and she wanted to go too but since she didn't have anyone to go with, she didn't want to go alone.

Alyssa sighed and sadly stared into the fireplace.

Ella beamed at the older boy when he said her playing was awesome. "I-It was? Thanks!" She said, looking sheepish. When he continued to complement her playing, the second year felt the blush forming on her face. Oh great, here it comes again. "I just-I don't know really. I guess I just haven't been playing for long and I thought." Shrug. "Thanks though, I'm glad you think I'm good." As for his offer, Ella nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I'd really appreciate if-that is if you don't mind." Though he obviously didn't since he had asked, right? "It would be nice to hang out and play. I usually practice out on the grounds, well before it gets too cold."

Post 4: Hufflepuff Common Room
 

Alyssa had just finished making some badges for her protest assignment and looked around for one of her friend to help her distribute them. Then she spotted Ella. She walked up to Ella and smiled at her.

"Ella I really need a BIG favor from you. Could you help me distribute these badges out to as many Hufflepuff students as you can. I'm going to get Alec to help me too. It's for a good cause really, especially if you have good friends that belong in the other houses. Will you help me?" Alyssa asked Ella, as she held out the bag of badges to her.

Minerva had just gotten done with her morning class and ran back to the common room to see bouncers. She had been so busy lately that she had been feeling a bit bad for the little fur ball. She sat down in her favorite chair and put the pygmy puff into her lap. He bounced and squeaked happily. Looking around the common room she had only seen a few people. It had been weeks since the fight with Damon, but they still hadn't talked. She realized that he was not lying when he said he would pretend he didn't know her. She looked towards the fire place and closed her eyes. So many thoughts were running through her head from all her classes, quiddtich, Maxwell, but always as much as she tried the thoughts went back to that fight.

Ella turned when she heard a familiar voice and smiled up at the older Hufflepuff as she approached. Her eyebrows raised a bit when Alyssa told her she needed a favor. Now she was curious, not sure what she could do to help out the girl. Ohhhh! Protest stuff. Grabbing a button from Alyssa, Ella read it and smiled. "These are good, Alyssa. Sure I'll help you hand them out. I hope when we have our Hogsmeade rally you'll come to that as well." That way they could support each other's causes, yeah?

Damon walked into the common room and saw Minerva. He started to turn when he remembered his promise to Taylor. He sighed and walked over to her, "Hey..."

Minerva heard a voice and opened her eyes, seriously did she just have to think his name and he showed up. She wasn't sure whether to make a sarcastic comment or just try to be nice. He had so many places and so many times he could have talked to her, but he didn't he acted like she wasn't even alive, so why now, why was he actually speaking to her now. "I'm sorry, do you know me, because last time I checked you told me you didn't." So being nice didn't come out so well, she shrugged it off. It's not like he cared about her or anything.

He sighed, Off to a great start... "You said you wished you never met me. Just trying to make it seem just like that." He looked down, "And I've just been trying to do what would make you happy..." He sighed again, "But I miss my friend."

Minerva looked at him and the frustration that she had thought was gone boiled back up at his words. Why was she so upset over this, she was happy with Maxwell and had many friends, so why was this such a big deal. She knew the answer as soon as she made eye contact with him. She tried to still show her frustration, but it melted a bit. She sighed not able to stay mad, but able to stay hurt. "Damon, I didn't want that. I was tired of feeling like I'm always caught in the middle. All this craziness finally got to me and I started feeling as if you all thought, because I am friends with all of you, that you all could use that against each other. I never meant that I wish I would have never met you. Damon my feelings have not changed much from that first time I met you at the feast." she looked to the ground knowing she had to explain herself more, "Damon, I am so happy with Maxwell and we are just a great fit, better then I could imagine, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been rough seeing you with her..knowing that all along that's where you wanted to be when I you were with me, so I'm sorry for anything that I said that was hurtful, my feelings and frustration got the best of me." She looked back up at him "I miss my green eyed friend as well." she gave him a weak smile.

Damon looked at her, "Taylor and I aren't... We don't quite know what we are." He sighed, "And Minerva... I tried to explain that to you. When you and I dated I fully intended on staying that way. I wanted to love you, more than anything else... But I couldn't force myself to do that, though I tried. I never meant for it to seem like I was leading you on." He looked down, he'd never been able to come out and just say what he wanted before. It surprised him more than it probably should have, "And I'm sorry if you ever felt like that was the case. I truly wanted to love you."

"Damon, suck it up and just admit you two are basically dating. Everyone can see it and it's fine, I'm happy that you are. I want you to be happy. If you feel anything like I've been feeling with Maxwell lately, then you needed to be with her." She felt a smile come to her face with the sound of Maxwell's name. "Damon, I know you did, but your heart isn't going to love someone it doesn't want to. Like I said it's been an adjustment seeing you two, but I am getting use to it now, but it was probably weird seeing Maxwell and I as well even if it was just a friend love that you had."

Post 4: Hufflepuff House Protest Badges
 

Alyssa was grateful that Ella agreed to help. "Here is a bag of the Hufflepuff Badges and thanks again for offering to help. The Hogsmeade rally? Sure you can definitely count me in. Now that I've got your help to distribute the Hufflepuff badges, I wonder whether I can get Anya to help me distribute the Gryffindor badges to her House mates.

I'm going to look for her. Catch you later, Ella and once again. Thanks."Alyssa waved to Ella as she made her way out of the Common Room.

He sighed, "We've kissed three times." He shook his head, "I'd hardly call that dating, and yes, we do plan to date; but that's not until this last memory comes back." Damon looked at her, "I don't mind seeing you and Maxwell together at all. I'm happy for both of you. Knowing that my friend was happy and that maybe he wouldn't be as desperate for me to just disappear..." He trailed off, he didn't see Maxwell's point at the time. He said he didn't love Taylor, but still hated the idea of Damon being with her. It didn't make sense to him, if Maxwell could move on why was it not okay for her to? If anything, Maxwell hated him even more now, it seemed. "I thought you would've known me better than to think it would bother me that you found someone else."

Minerva looked at him if she didn't think about it her mouth probably would have hung open. "Nope, I guess I don't know you at all now do I." she said with an attitude. This was not going anyway that she wanted it to. She wanted them to be friends, but everything he said was either irritating her or making her feel worse, why was that. She did know him well though, she knew it didn't bother him, of course it didn't and it wasn't just because he was happy for a friend, it was because he never had the real feelings she had. Then he brought up Maxwell, was he just happy, because he was hoping it would be away to get Maxwell out of his hair. She grimaced at the thought and just crossed her arms looking at him.

He sighed, "Min..." He looked down. He didn't know what to say, "I'm sorry...

She kept her arms crossed and tried to push the emotion out of her face.She hated that he still could trigger her emotions as quickly as he could. She didn't know what he wanted from her. She was starting to wonder if they could ever be friends again the way they use to it didn't seem possible at the moment as much as she wanted. She looked at him "I hate this" she leaned her head back and closed her eyes again. She did hate this, she just want things to go back to the way they were. She just wanted her friend back.

At a play so off for a while longer, bye
 

Damon sighed, he didn't know what to say to her, he said he was sorry, tried to explain himself, what else was there to do? Taylor said Minerva had wanted to try to talk to him, but she was being snippy and rude... He didn't understand, what did she want? For him to get on his knees and beg? "I knew I shouldn't have tried..." He sighed again, he was losing everyone he cared about. He could trust Puck or Sage... and now he was losing one of his only two friends... He turned and looked down, "I'll leave you be then..."

Minerva sighed, she felt the tears fall a bit, but still tried to fight them. "Damon I dont' know what to say. I don't like being mad at each other, but I just don't know how to fix it." She was speaking the truth, she didn't know what to do anymore, it seemed they were getting no where, should she just let him walk away since it seemed like that was what he was going to do, or should she try to talk to him more. All they did was disagree instead of talk though. She wasn't sure what to do.

Damon sighed, turning back to her, "Since you don't know me well, I guess I prefer to be straight forward and honest. So just tell me, for the sake of what is left of my sanity... Tell me what you want me to do. Please, that's all I want to know."

Okel walks into his common room and sits in a corner with a sketch book, beginning to draw.

Minerva wiped the tears that had left her eyes. "I don't know, I just want things to go back to the way they were. When you trusted me and we talked about everything and anything." She didn't know how to make that happen nor how to go about fixing their friendship.

He sighed walking back over to her, "I can't promise that I can make it that way again... but I can try." He would've sat, but he didn't think she would want him next to her.

The frustration was boiling over again and tears started falling. "Like at the broomsticks, I am sick to death of the tension, the back stabbing, talking behind each others backs. I'm done with it. How do we stop that? I just want it to stop. I want to be friends again, but I am just scared it isn't going to happen." She never snapped at Taylor before and she was even getting to the point of snapping at her when she would snap at Maxwell. The cycle didn't seem to be ending.

He shrugged, "I did try to talk to her about that... She won't listen to me though... The only thing to really hope for is that sooner or later they'll realize they have to get along at times." He sighed, "That's the best I've got."

She put her arms on her elbows and placed her head in her hands. "Nothing seems to be working. Maybe we just aren't suppose to be friends anymore. I just don't understand why it got this bad. " She hated it being like this and she hated being upset and crying in front of him.

He nodded a small agreement until she said they weren't meant to be friends anymore, "Min, if someone wasnt supposed to be my friend, I wouldn't talk to them. That night we met, I knew there was something I liked about you... and trust me, I don't miss people like I have you. I miss talking to my friend, one of the only two I truly have... The only two people I feel I can trust anymore."

Minerva looked at him and moved over a little hoping he might sit. "I miss that too." She thought for a second "So at Ari's birthday party you were talking about me being of the two you trusted during the game?" She couldn't help but have a small smile play with her lips. She wiped at her wet cheeks. "I still don't see how to get everyone to get along. Maybe when your with Taylor and I'm with Maxwell, maybe we just need to stay clear of each other. Just meet up alone or something. We have the mirrors and we have in here." She didn't know if that was a good plan or not, but it was worth the thought, wasn't it.

He smiled, sitting down next to her, "I actually said there were two people I didn't trust there. Though the only two I trust with everything is you and Taylor." He couldn't help the sigh that came out when she said they could meet, just the two of them, "You mean kind of like what Taylor and I tried to do, even after telling you and Maxwell about it?" He shook his head, "I'm fairly certain your boyfriend would have my head just because he doesn't trust me. It honestly wouldn't shock me if he tried to accuse me of trying to take you from him as well." He wasn't trying to be rude, he was just thinking realistically. Maxwell didn't trust him so why on earth would Maxwell let him around his new girlfriend?

Minerva smiled a bit, "I didn't mean to do it in secret or anything, Maxwell will know that I'm friends with you. I just mean that every time the four of us come near each other. Well it ends very badly, so it might be something that just can't happen anymore. As much as I want the four of us together." She looked down, it was frustrating that they could not be all four in the same room. "Maxwell fully trust me, so he is not going to think you are taking me in anyway. I'm allowed to have friends. I am very open and honest with him." Something that it didn't seem Taylor had fully been she thought.

Damon sighed, "Once again, even after we told you, he still did not want it to happen, and he trusted Taylor fully as well, he doesn't trust me." He looked down.

Minerva looked at him "Well then what do you say we do about this?" She was out of ideas and her head was being filled with dead end thoughts. Would they even be able to be friends. She felt if she told Maxwell that they were friends he would be okay with it, but Damon was right Maxwell would never be ale to get along with Damon ever it seemed.

Damon shook his head, "I don't know..." He sighed,"I honestly don't."

Minerva sat in silence a bit, this was getting no where, so she decided to just leave it as a mystery for now. "So how are the memories going?" She looked at him deciding for now to change the subject and since the party she was wondering how things were going.

"Better, Sage and I finally got to talk about it. According to him there are twenty-five all together, and I've had twenty-four." He nodded, "Though, he's lied to me about everything else, so that might be a lie as well."

Minerva listened to him and was happy that he had talked to Sage and was getting along better. "Well I'm glad you talked, and at least there is one left. I don't think he would lie to you about that. There is no reason to lie about something like that. Especially seeing you at the Willow and how much pain you were in. That drove me nuts not being able to do anything to help you, but I knew Taylor was next to you."

Damon shook his head, "Why not? He won't even be honest about how he was hurt." He sighed, "'I jumped in the Nile not caring if I got hurt because I hurt you.' Something I did learn about him, is that he doesn't care about anyone but himself after Mom passed."

Minerva looked at him and felt a bit bad. "I still don't think he would lie about that, it's not like it was benefiting him to lie to you about the number. Well it was probably very hard on him when your mom died." She put her hand on his to show she understood. She did miss talking to him like this, just the two of them.

He sighed, "I don't know anymore Min." He shook his head, "I just don't know who I can really trust anymore, besides you and Taylor."