"Hey, Alex! Nice to meet you,'' Jory said. "I'm Jory.'' He threw some more bread into the Pond and the ducks quickly dove under the water to retrieve them. "Yup, sometimes I do think they understand us, but wouldn't it be cool if we could understand them?'' he asked his imagination, once again running away from him. "I'm sure they'd tell us loads of ducky tales.'' In the pond, one of the ducks quacked loudly. "See?'' he said, grinning. "That one agrees with me.''

Well, at least Alec and Anya have not very common middle name but he never ever gonna tell his roommate that he has a nice middle name. No he has a reputation to hold, thank you very much.

So she already knew Blacky for ten years? Wow! That's a pretty long time. "I thought you guys already knew each other since you're babies." But then again three years old can be consider as babies, no? "Sooooo, do you have any embembarrassing photos of Blacky?" Since they both knew each other so long so she might have one or two, right?

Good. And it'd be nice if she stop laughing too.

Messer eyes still glued to Anya waiting for her answer. He knew that the question wasn't fair. But hey, there's nothing fair in this world. "Yes, those are your only options." he nodded his head. He raised his eyebrows when he saw her smirked. He was pretty sure that she had having hard time answering his question before but now she's smirking? Oh. This is not good. And he's right. The girl found a loophole on his question. He knew he should said Alec instead of Blacky. Smart girl.

"True." Wait. "So that mean Blacky is a husky or maltese. He might more cute than me?" Right. "If you or someone asked me who is more cute, Anya or the duck. I'd say you." Sooo "How come you think the dog more cute than me? You hurt me, Anya." he said with a fake pout. "How about...." he paused for a moment "Blacky is a second year Hufflepuff? He's my roommate who told you a story about me wearing a skirt and his first name is Alec. I'm pretty sure you know him." he smirked "And last time I checked he's not a husky or maltese. Do you still think I still more cute than him?" and he smirked some more.

He grinned. He has a feeling that he'd very much enjoying the stand view. They need something to seal the deal. Not that he didn't trust Anya but grown up people always did something to seal their deal. Wait. "Deal then." he said before he kiss her on the cheek. He remembered he saw a muggle movie and it said you need a kiss to seal a deal. So there. Now let's just hope that he won't catch cooties.

Anya shook her head. "Nah. I was in Russia when I was a baby..." But that was another story. One that she was pretty sure Messer hadn't heard yet. Not that it was weird for her. She loved her life. And it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't been adopted. Other people just get weird when hearing that she was. Like they were worried they'd say something to offend her.

She chuckled. "Maybeeeh." she said in a sing-song voice. "But, he's my best friend. I'm afraid I can't just show off his embarrassing photos."

She shrugged. "Huskies and maltese dogs are pretty cute..." she said. She then chuckled. "That's hardily the same, Messer. You don't like ducks. And I do like dogs."

Aww. And there was a really cute fake pout. "Ohhh... you mean Blakey..." Anya said as if realizing for the first time what was going on. "It depends... there's different kinds of cute..." Like... there was no way that Messer could match Alec's nervous hair ruffle. But... Alec would never be as... energetic about stuff as Messer.

Plus, she kinda liked that Messer wasn't as weird as she pictured Alec to be during this type of conversation.

Anya blinked after Messer kissed her cheek. She played with her hair a bit... hoping to use it to hide some of the shade she felt coming toward her cheeks. "I guess... we're getting a bit too old to do pinky promises now..." she commented. She... should do it back, right? She gave Messer a kiss back on the cheek.

"I promise I don't have cooties." she said. "I haven't killed Blakey yet." Yup. Anya Phillips had cootie references. You know... if Messer was still afraid of cooties. Anya wasn't. She might have even kinda started to like them...

She then blinked. She'd been neglecting the ducks and just now realized it. Sneaky Messer.

"Russia. That's very very far away." Not to mention a very cold country maybe its colder than his home country.

Oh. Oh. Oh. He's very excited that she has that. He could use it as his new teasing material for Alec not that he need one but a back up plan always good. But unfortunately she won't show it to him. "You're no fun, Anya." Another fake pout.

"Huskies is pretty cool dog." Especially when they're older. They look like a wolf. But maltese? "I dunno if I agree with you on maltese." The dog is too ..... girly. Maybe that's why she think maltese is cute. Girls always likes something that girly.

How come its not the same. They're comparing to animals, no? "True. But the ducky is an animal too."

"Yes, that what I said. Blacky." He was pretty sure that the Gryffindor already understand what he's talking about from the beginning. "There was?" How come he didn't know this? Hold on a second. "That didn't answer my question, Anya." How come Alec could keep up with her was beyond him. "Are you sure that the sorting hat put you in the right house?" She's too sneaky for a Gryffindor.

Pinky promise just for babies. "Yeah. I guess so." he shrugged. Messer eyes eyes widened after Anya kissed his cheek. Did he catch cooties? He checked his body. He still alive and no cooties so far. Maybe the story about cooties is not entirely true. He should asked someone about this.

She doesn't? Good. That's comforting. "Haven't killed Blakey?" *blinks* "Why you want to kill Blakey?" Was that mean Blacky has cooties? o____O

Anya nodded. "Yeah. I guess. I don't really remember it." She was three when she left after all.

She chuckled. "I'm plenty of fun, Messer." He wouldn't still be there talking to her if she wasn't. "I'm just not going to hand you over embarrassing stuff. That's cheating." If he was to sneak into the Gryffindor girl's dorm and steal them... that would be an entirely different story. An entirely different, and no doubt hilarious, story.

She shrugged. "I guess it's more of a girl dog..." It seemed like girl's preferred the smaller dogs. As a general rule, small things were cute.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. Messer would get the nickname right... eventually... probably. "Yeah. There is." she confirmed. "Is there not for boys?" She couldn't imagine things being on the same cuteness scale. That would just be weird. Comparing apples to snowflakes weird.

And Anya knew she wasn't answering the question. She did that on purpose. "I'm pretty sure I paid attention to which house a piece of clothing yelled in my ear..." And she was devastated when it put her in a different house than Alec.

And yes, she was avoiding the question again.

"No. I don't want to. I was just giving proof that I don't have cooties..." she said. She then lowered her voice. "And that cooties aren't really real... or deadly..."

"I'm pretty sure that's it's just a story to keep boys and girls afraid of each other." Which, Anya never was. Her best friend was a boy.

"And nice to meet you too Jory." Alex replied as she watched the ducks dive under the surface of the water. "That would change your life! Sitting talking to ducks... how fun would that be." the fourth year said while imagining doing that very thing. "Like how the fish get in the way and stuff." she laughed. They were already getting along like they had known each other for years.

Jory held out his hand in which he held the bread. "Want a piece to throw for them?'' he asked Alex. When she mentioned fishes, he said "How about listening to fishes? They'd have unbelievable tales to tell. Maybe even where to find sunken treasure!'' Here again, Jory's imagination was running away.

Putting aside his humor and imagination,the Puff asked "Did you grow up in the Wizarding world?''

With a smile Alex took a piece of bread and broke it up. "Thanks." she said throwing a few pieces in for the hungry ducks to enjoy. "First we need to learn Blubberish, the fish language." the lion laughed whilst a duck caused some of the pond water to splash everywhere as it excitedly went for some bread.

"Yes but I'm pretty good in the muggle world to, yourself?" Alex asked. "And what year are you in?"

Maxwell sat on a large rock at the duck pond waiting for Minnie. They decided to meet here which ever way the quidditch game went...He was worried about her, not only had her team lost but she was knocked off her broom twice...he tried to distract himself but it wasn't working, all he could do was think of her...and worry.

Minerva walked slowly to the duck pond. She was very sore from the bludgers to the ribs, but she was always very upset with herself on how poorly she did at the match. She didn't mean to take so long to get to the pond and knew Maxwell would be worried. As she got closer she saw his upset face and it made her feel sad. She tried to straighten up so it didn't seem that she was as sore as she really was. "Hey hun."

Maxwell turned when he heard her voice. He stood up quickly and stood right in front of her. "Minerva..." He said so sweetly, he had never been more relieved to see her. He stroked the side of her face with his hand, looking into her eyes and trying to see how hurt she was. "Are you well enough for a hug? It's all i've wanted to do since i saw you hit by that bludger..." He said with his eyes looking like he might break down and cry right there.

Minerva smiled at him, but she wasn't really sure she could do a hug. "I can do one if your gentle, I'm a bit sore." Sore was a very big understatement for what she was feeling in her ribs at that moment. She knew she wouldn't be able to reach over his neck it hurt to move her arms upward, so she put her arms around him carefully to hug him. She saw how upset he looked and it made her feel bad. "Maxwell sweetheart I'm fine, I promise." She didn't want him worrying about her, it was part of the game and she knew that going in. She didn't realize she was going to be hit by more then one bludger, but again just part of the game.

Maxwell held her softly, putting his arms around her enough for it to be a hug but not hard enough to hurt her. "I'll do my best." He said holding her and kissing her cheek. "No, Minerva you're not...you're not fine...I know it's just the game but i can't sit here and watch you get hurt...when you fell from your broom...I-I've never been so scared in my life..." He said feeling like he never wanted to let her go again.

Minerva felt the pain as she tried to give him a tight hug she let go quickly and put her hand to her ribs. She looked up at him trying to smile, "Can we sit down?" She needed to sit she was in pain, there wasn't any hiding it. "I had a bad day, I know I did. But I think the bat going towards Lafay was worse then the bludgers." She found a spot and pulled her blanket from her bag that she kept with her. Sitting on it so she wouldnt' sit on the cold ground she brought her knees up to help support the pain.

Maxwell sat down next to her. "Maybe she won't care since her team won." He said trying to be positive. "Can I do anything to make you better?" He asked. "I'm sorry if i seem really freaked out...I'm just a little shaken up, I know it's just part of the game but i'm not sure i can see you fall off of your broom again..." He said nervously.

Minerva chuckled a bit, but winced with the pain. She then shook her head, "I don't know what you could do sweetie. We had to get off the field because Vinictus was down, I didn't even get them check." She shrugged they were probably just bruised pretty good she figured. She then looked at him concerned, "If you want you don't have to come to the next match. I will understand, but I'm just hoping that bludger will be done with me. Nice birthday present don't ya think two bludgers to the ribs.""

Maxwell nodded. "I'm just happy you're not in the hospital wing..." He then shook his head. "No, i have to be there to support you...Minnie..don't joke that way..." He said trying not to laugh a little.

Minerva grimaced as he said hospital wing, "No thank you that lady scares me worse then Lafay does." She tried to laugh again, but coughed in pain. "Oh I have to stop laughing." She smiled taking his hand and leaning her head on his shoulder, "You don't have to I understand. We were one short today, so next time there will be two beaters if I'm even able to play by then." She would have to see with her ribs how she was feeling. She couldn't grip her broom by the end of the match it was to painful she hoped that would go away soon. She then smiled, "I'm not joking today is December 2, it's my Birthday. That bludger must have known and that was my present."

Maxwell nodded about the nurse. "She's mean..No, i want to support you...plus i don't want to hear about it from someone else, or sit somewhere in the castle all alone worrying about you and wondering what happened..." He leaned his head on hers gently. "I know...Happy birthday, Your present is in London, I haven't forgotten you...I'll give it to you on break." He said wishing he could hug her tightly.

Minerva smiled, "Well then come and know I'm trying to be careful." She then shook her head she didn't care about birthday presents and making a big deal of her birthday. "Maxwell you didn't have to get me anything. Just spending time with you is enough. I have never been one to get excited about it."

Maxwell nodded. "I'll try...I can't tell you how hard it was not to go out there and pick you up off the pitch and rescue you...I'll try and do better." He said with a half smile. "I know i didn't, but your birthday is a special day. It's the day you were born and that's the most amazing thing in the world to me..." He said with a little toothy grin, reaching for her hand.

Minerva smiled at him, "I know it's hard not to be my knight all the time, but I can handle myself pretty well. I'm not glass I won't break. Well at least completely." Right now her ribs felt like they could be broke, but she wasn't going anywhere near that healer, so they would have to just figure out the healing on their own. She blushed and put her head on his shoulder as he talked about her Birthday. She really didn't mind not having it celebrated even though she liked parties, but she just didn't like being the center of attention.

Maxwell smiled. "It's hard but i love it...and i know you're not that fragile but i can't help looking out for you...I love you.." He reached into his pocket. "Here." He said handing her a vial of phoenix tears. "Drink these it might help with the pain..."

Minerva looked at the vial, "I'm fine Maxwell. Don't waste that on me." She had already used one before when she got hit by the willow, she didn't want to waste to vials. "I just need some rest that's all. I'll be fine in a few days." She smiled kissing his cheek.

Maxwell shook his head. "Take it, I can have mom send me more...please?" He asked pouting for real, he couldn't see her in pain much longer. "This will be faster than rest....please?"