Ella was glad things were getting back to normal for her friend. She wasn't sure what had happened but if Justin didn't feel like talking about it, Ella would understand. "I'm glad they are then." She said sincerely, ending that bit of the convo in case it made her friend feel uncomfortable. And they were talking about quidditch! QUIDDITCH! Ella could talk about the sport all day! "We did, didn't we? I really wanted to win that one. I guess they just got lucky." Yeah, that's all it was...luck! "We're only going to get better though! Keefer is a great captain." Mhmmm. He was clearly the best captain in all of Hogwarts! The blonde frowned, recalling how Minnie had been hurt that game. "I remember that. I was quite scared she'd been seriously hurt. Luckily it was just some bruises!" ...but those probably hurt too!
As far as classes went, Ella agreed about the struggling bit. Especially the whole plimpy dissecting thing! That had been horrible! "Of course we can study together! Just let me know when and where and I'll be there, okay?" The second year wouldn't mind the company and maybe she could help Justin out a bit?

O____O HARVEY'SBESTFRIENDSAYWHATTTNOW?

Blush.Blush.Blush. GAHHH. She was SO blushing right now. And she was embarrassed but oddly excited? Poker face time. "I uh-I don't think that's true, Justin. He-he's with Ameliah. We're friends...he just doesn't see me that way." He couldn't. It couldn't be true.

Justin chuckled at her reaction to Harvey thing.... He knew how
Harvey felt about her and yeah .. sure he was with Ameliah , but Justin knew they wewre not a proper match... She was hardly ever around as a matter of fact.... " Well, think what you want about Harvs , but I see how he's looked at you.... He hasn't necessarily told me how he feels .... He is a bit frustrated that Ameliah is hardly ever around...." Justin said very plainly as he took a coupple of sodas out of his bag and offered her one...." As for Quidditch I would have played this term , but There was alot going on at home.... My mother's ex was giving her some problems and stuff and that just had me really on edge....But Minnie talked me through it...Like she always does.." he smiled before taking a sip of his Mountain Dew....

Alyssa took out the cloth from her backpack and placed it on the table. She studied the drawing she had just made until she had the image of the hat firmly in her mind's eye. She figured that it was time to see whether she could transform that piece of cloth into the hat.

But first she needed to practise the spell incantation again. She quickly checked her journal to make sure that she had the words to the incantation right before saying it aloud. "TECTUM CAPUT....TECTUM CAPUT...TECTUM CAPUT."

Once she was familiar with the words, she took out her wand and just practised the wand movements which was a circular clockwise movement. Round, clockwise and then tap....round clockwise and then tap.

Now to do both together and that meant casting the Transfiguration Spell.

Cue the blush. How he looked at her? HOW did he look at her? L-like he liked her? Ella wanted to know more, really did, but couldn't bring herself to ask. She just didn't want to get her hopes up. And then, frown. Maybe he was only hanging out with Ella because he was frustrated Ameliah wasn't around. That wouldn't be too surprising. If only Ella didn't have so many doubts...things would be much easier. She took a soda from her friend and gave him a small smile before looking at him thoughtfully. "Why are things so much more complicated than they were last year?" She really wanted to know.

"You would have been a great addition to the team." Ella said sincerely before opening her soda and taking a sip. "Family stuff comes first though, I get that...and I'm sorry about your mom. I'm glad Minnie helped you out. She's a great friend, yeah? I miss her actually. I haven't seen her around too much lately."

Justin could tell Ella thought of Harvey often... The look on her face said it all without her speaking a word. He smiled kindly and began to speak again... " Ya know Ella.. I bet if Harv knew that you fancied him that he'd rather be with you than Ameliah, but that's just my opinion.... yeah Min is a great friend.. She always knows just how to talk me out of a fit..." he chuckled... " Every year gets more complicated with classes and friendships and relationships, Ella... Things aren't suppposed to stay simple ya know.... What we're given to deal with makes us stronger as individuals... If you ever need to talk about stuff don't hesitate to find me and throw your thoughts my way..."

Minerva walked into the common room and saw Ella and Justin talking. She smiled and walked over to her friend, "Hey guys. What are you two up to?" She thought maybe she was interrupting something and didn't know if she should turn and walk away or stay. So she went over to a chair across from them so if they didn't want her bothering them she could just read and stay out of their business.

" Well, speak of the devil... Hey , Min... By all means join us... The more the merrier..." he smiled up at his best friend...." What have you been up to?...." he asked with a naughty grin...

Ella wasn't sure what to think at this point. She was very confused and looked to Justin for some kind of answers. He was meant to be older and wiser, right? She listened quietly as he talked, trying to take it all in. "You really think that?..." She asked thoughtfully, a small smile on her face. "But if I told him and he didn't feel the same..." Okay so NOW she had just practically admitted to Harvey's best friend she liked Harvey...way to play it cool. "I guess I'll have to erm...think about it." Because the last boy Ella told she liked him had hurt her pretty bad.

The second year smiled, agreeing about Minnie. She was quite wise, that Minerva. And she didn't sugar coat things. She told them like they were. That was pretty valuable...and apparently Justin was really wise too. So things were supposed to be complicated? Well then, life was going along just as it should be. "But what if I don't like the complicated?" She asked out loud, not really expecting an answer. "I um-thanks Justin, I might take you up on that sometime." And the second year smiled at her friend before taking another sip of her Mountain Dew.



Well well look who it is! Ella smiled at Minnie, wondering if she had heard anything they had been talking about. Not that she minded, Minnie was her friend too. "Hey Minnie! I was just saying how I missed you!" The second year said with a wide smile. "We were just...talking about things. You know, how life seems to be getting more confusing and stuff." Did Minnie find it complicated too?

Minerva smiled at her friends, "Oh sorry Ella, I know I haven't been around lately. I had gotten the flu and then have been so busy catching back up. I haven't even seen Maxwell at all really." She then smiled, "I just came from the library actually. I was finishing up on some homework." She then looked a little puzzled. "Confusing might be an understatement at times. What were you two discussing that is confusing?" Minerva was curious to know what was going on.

" We were just talking about family , friends and relationships and the fact that Classes are super hard this year.... And The fact that we are having feelings that we never expected to have... Normal teenage stuff, Min...That's all" Justin said as took another sip of his drink... Thenhe bent over and pulled Minerva's favorite soda from his bag.. " Diet Coke, Min? " he offered...." As for the complication of life I think it keeps us on our toes and never in a dull moment..." he shrugged. " It's not like we can hide from change or adversity... We need to meet it head on... Take it by the nape of the neck and give it hell... "

"It's okay Minnie, I understand." Ella said sincerely, smiling at her friend. "I'm just glad you're out and about again!" That meant they could spend more time hanging out now, right?! AND she was doing homework at the library? That sounded like Minnie.

Ella let Justin do the explaining about what they were talking about. He actually did a really good job putting everything into words and she smiled at him, wishing she could express herself like that. She tended to explain things either too quickly or with her thoughts all jumbled up. Either way, it wasn't very easy to understand. "...yeah teenage stuff. What he said." She replied sheepishly when Just had finished. As for Justin's view on meeting change head on. "I guess some of us just aren't as brave as others?" She wasn't sure she could ever give anyone hell.

Minerva smiled "Your read my mind Mr. Wellheart." She laughed and took the pop. Opening it she took a drink. "I have some chocolate frogs in my bag if anyone would care for one. I promise they are good Justin." She grinned. "Well I don't think it's bravery it just getting to the point of not caring and wanting something to change." She looked at both of them knowing Justin was with Ari she then looked at Ella, "Why do I get the feeling a boy is involved in this conversation? Am I right, do you like someone Ella?"

" Ella, that's what friends are for... To help you get through the things you aren't strong enough to handle on your own.... That's what Min and Harvs and every other one of my friends are for... If you've got awesome friends they'll help you with anything" he smiled at the second year.... " Merlin knows that our little group has helped in times of peril more then a few times... Without each other I doubt we'd be sitting here right now.." Justin said bluntly and honestly... That was his style... Tell it like it was ... No holds barred...

Oooooh! Chocolate frogs! "I'll take one of those, Min." Ella said with a wide smile. "Oh and I have gummy worms if anyone wants some!" And she held up her bag, shaking them at her friends. They TOTALLY wanted some. And then Minnie was being like some...mind reader. HOW did she know they were talking about a boy? Well maybe because for girls, boys were usually the cause of confusion? "You're um...your feeling was right." KLKJHLKHDHLKDKH And now she had to like tell her, right? "I do...well I don't know. I guess I'm confused about how I feel." And that wasn't a lie. Not really. She was confused.

"You're right. And I do...have awesome friends. I guess I just worry too much or something?" She said, shrugging sheepishly. "And I guess no one's life is exactly easy so maybe it's normal for things to be all horrid once in a while."

Justin smiled as she took and opened the can of pop he handed her... " Thanks , Min.. I wouldn't mind a sweet or two.." he said as he grabbed a chocolate frog from her bag.... " Well, I was just telling Ella that I think that Harvey might be liking her a bit.... " Justin blurted as he opened the package and caught his frog mid jump and popped it into his mouth.


" Well, good friends are the key to life's twists and turns, Ella... And this business with Harvs.... I could sort of poke around his brain and see if he does like you as well for sure that way you'll know where you stand.... Would that help? ... he said as he grabbed some Gummy worms and looked at them before tearing into the first one... " Thanks by the way...." he smiled as he held out the lone worm in his hand.

Alyssa was now ready to make her attempt at transfiguring the cloth into the hat that she had drawn.

She looked at the drawing one more time, then closed her eyes and imagined the drawing in her mind. She visualized the hat, the color of it, the feather stuck in the corner of it. She concentrated on what she wanted the spell to do and that was to transform the piece of cloth on the table into that hat. When she was ready, she opened her eyes. Concentrating on the spell, Alyssa picked up her wand, and waving it in a circular clockwise motion, she said, "TECTUM CA-CHOO"....and sneezed.

"Darn it!! Alyssa said in frustration, knowing that the spell was ruined.

Minerva smiled and gave her friends frogs. She then looked shocked at the name that was said. "Wait..Wait.. Harvey, in Harvey Watson? You like Harvey, Harvs.. Ravenclaw, third year, my other best friend Harvey??" She laughed a bit, not meaning it in a bad way. "I think that would be super cute and he will never make any first moves so if you like him your going to have to just come out with it. Believe me he is a dumb boy, no offense Justin, but they have no freaking clue unless you just tell them."

O____o Really Justin? Way to sugarcoat things. Though they were all friends, yeah? So maybe they didn't need to...but still. Ella felt another blush coming on. "And I was telling Justin I think he's wrong about that..." Just you know...for the record.

Did Ella want Justin to poke around in Harvey's brain? Hmm. But what if that only complicated things. OR what if Harvey found out how Ella felt and didn't want to be her friend anymore...that would be horrible. "I don't know...I mean wouldn't he like...figure out I erm...maybe like him." Yeah, maybe. MAYBE people. And she watched as Justin gave in and took some worms. She smiled despite her embarrassment and shrugged. "Not a problem."

Groan. Now Minnie too? But Ella didn't say...EEEP! "I uh-well I'm not sure how I feel...like I said before and I-" The second year was feeling all kind of awkward right now. "I'm just a bit confused I think...and I won't be telling him anything...any time soon."

Minerva laughed, "Well it's your life and you will know the right time to tell him if you want, but like I said if you do like him your going to have to spell it out. I love Harvs dearly, but again he is a guy and will never figure it out on his own." She laughed knowing him way to well and knowing he would just assume she was being nice.

Justin sat back and relaxed as Ella spoke.... " I'll leave it be if it makes you uncomfortable ..." he said as he started chewing on the second gummy worm..


" Mins, right ya know?.... Harvey's a bit thick when it comes to girls... Poor guys a bit naive..." he chuckled.

NAAYFTGEFIJHWTORHTWOKTUHRUITHWIU!!!

Sophie ran into the Common Room, looking around with a huge grin on her face. TEEHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Where was Ella?? WHERE WAS ELLA?? She must talk to her like... NOW!

Search. Search. Search. THERE!! "ELLA!!!!" Sophie yelled from across the room, rushing in her friend's direction and not really worried she was interrupting her friend's conversation with the other people. "COME! I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU!! NOW!" VLENRGKJEHR!!!

Without waiting for her friend's answer, she grabbed Ella's hand and gave the others Huflepuffs a quick glance. "Sorry, this is important!" And saying that, she ran to the dorms with Ella, shutting the door behind them.

Ella listened to Minnie and gave her a small smile though she was feeling incredibly uneasy at the moment. "I-well okay. I'll keep that in mind." Actually Ella figured most boys were kinda out of the loop when it came to how girls thought and felt so it really wasn't a big surprise.

And then Justin was agreeing to leave the situation alone if she wanted him to. "I um...I just don't want to make things weird..." Yup. That was her answer. She didn't want to hurt their friendship by letting Harvey find out she maybeeee liked him.

The second year didn't quite catch the next thing Justin said as she heard a familiar voice yelling to her from across the room. O____o OHH Sophie! "Hey Soph!" Ella called back cheerfully, waving at her friend...but then Soph was coming over quite excitedly and really fast. Huh? Woah. Sophie really must have needed her if she was this excited and loud! And then she was being PULLED out of her chair and towards the dormitory! "I uh...see you guys? Oh and thanks...and here!" And the second year threw the bag of gummy worms to Justin as she was being led upstairs to hear some very exciting news...or bad news? Ella was very curious to know which kind she would be hearing.

" Alright, Ella... See ya later.. " Justin managed as he caught the bag of gummy worms... " Thanls! " he smiled up to her as Sophie dragged off to the dorms...

Minerva looked in shock as Ella got pulled away, "Bye Ella" she then smirked at Justin and pulled her wand. "Accio Gummy Worms" the worms flew from his hands and she laughed, "Thanks Justin, I wanted these." she stuck one in her mouth and ran to the opposite side of the common room laughing.

Oh she had gone and stole his gummy worms.... Justin jumped up and ran after her... " Min... Come on she gave them t me and all ya had to do was ask I woulda given ya half..." he pleaded as he cornered her into the table... Then he got a wicked smile and began to tickle her until she dropped the bag... He scooped it up and ran and jumped halfway over the couch and fell over the other side sending the bag of sweets into the air.....