Tabi kicked the barrel good-and-hard after it flipped its lid and splashed her from head-to-toe in smelly malt vinegar. "You stupid, good-for-nothing cheap piece of wood!" She yelled. Nothing happened; so,she continued her tirade, "LET ME IN!" Tabi stomped her foot in frustration.

Tabi didn't know what to do, as she mumbled and ranted quietly to herself.. She needed to get to bed before she got into serious trouble for being out so late. Slowly, Tabi shoved her hand into her pocket and took out a now soaked bright pink and purple Pygmy Puff. Looking it in the eyes, Tabi whined, "Now see what you've done, Sophie? We're going to be in a boat-load of trouble once they find us out of bed!" The little puff of bright fur simply purred as it snuggled into Tabi's hand.

"I know, I know," Tabi cooed softly, as she nuzzled her cute little pet. "But the next time you see a handsome boy puff, tell me before you take-off!" Tabi slumped back against the barrel and waited for help to arrive.

Presley was looking for Awarlesta, but she wasn't sure where to begin. She thought she had heard somewhere that the Hufflepuff common room was by the kitchens, but she wasn't sure where. So after checking the Great Hall, the Library, and the grounds for the younger girl, Presley had been forced to go in search of the common room. She stalked up and down the corridor, searching for any kind of door or something, but besides paintings (which she'd already talked to and begged) all that was in the corridor was a couple of stupid barrel. Maybe the door was behind them? Presley tried to move the top barrel, but it was stuck there. Convinced she'd finally found it, that the barrels were the door, Presley knocked loudly, hoping some huffie would answer, and go find Awar for her.

However, the instant she finished knocking, Presley was soaked. With something that smelled absolutely foul. She glanced down at herself in frustration. Of course, the nicest house in the school, the sweet, kind badgers would be the only ones to set up a booby trap for someone trying to knock on the door. "Scourgify," she said easily, ridding herself and her clothes of the substance. But it had ruined her hair. And her hair had taken twenty minutes to fix up this morning. Huffing in irritation Presley leaned against the wall, prepared to wait until the next Hufflepuff went in or out.

Awarlesta crawled out of the entrance to the common room with some parchment and a quill in her hands. She was on her way to the Owlery to assure Manolo and her mother that she made it okay to Hogwarts. When she got out, she turned to see her cousin there with a rather mad look. "Presley?"

Presley heard Awar's voice and stood up straight in an instant. "I have been searching for you!" She almost shouted waving the parchment in her hand in her cousins face. "And your stupid common room dumped an awful smelling potion on me!" Not that she was mad. Not at all. After all, it wasn't Awar's fault. But it was the stupid common room that wouldn't let her in.

Awar leaned back as Presley waved the parchment in her face and waved her blank ones back in hers. "What for?!" She giggled a little at the thought of her common room entrance fighting back.

Presley's eyebrows scrunched together when Awar waved her blank parchment in Presley's face. What was she doing? Presley's parchment was actually important! "I wrote to Grandfather about your sorting and I just got his letter back." Presley paused, just to make her cousin a little nervous. "He says to tell you that he's proud of you, and that you will bring greatness to Hufflepuff house."

Which was entirely unfair in Presley's opinion. Sure, it was what she'd wanted him to say, but he hadn't been so kind when Presley became a Ravenclaw. In fact, he'd been downright rude. Telling her that she was by no means intelligent enough for the eagles house. "So I just wanted to let you know. And apologize for getting angry at the welcoming feast." Presley didn't usually apologize for anything. But family was a special exception.

Awarlesta had trouble believing what she was hearing. "He's proud of me??" Well, there could be a chance he did. He was a lot more open-minded than her grandmother. "That's not what I thought he'd say." She got lost in her thoughts for a few seconds and then snapped back. "No problem. I see why you were mad. Did you like your present?"

Nate walked up to the entrance of the Hufflepuff Common Room for the third year now. As he got up there he notice Awarlesta and yuck her cousin. "Hey Awarlesta. And what's your name. Was it Pemney, or Hadley? No wait Presley." He couldn't help, but barf a bit in his mouth at the sound of him saying her name. He didn't like her since the opening feast. "Now if you excuse me, I have a Common Room to visit." He said. Then he tapped on the barrels to the rythem of Helga Hufflepuff. The barrels moved to the side, and a crawl space was revealed. Next he crawled his way inside, and was gone.

At least Awarlesta had reacted in much the same wasy as Presley had. That meant that it wasn't just Presley's mean side hoping her cousin would get in trouble. It was legitimately what they both thought would happen, and then their grandfather had said the opposite. Presley grinned at the thought of her pretty music box. "I loved it, thanks kiddo." Almost having forgotten about it, Presley asked "So, how did your first day go?" It must have gone well. Lessie was a Black. The name itself commanded the day to go well for them. Sometimes. Presley was quickly learning that life wasn't nice to anyone. Not even her. The invincible Presley Lynne Black.

And there was that stupid kid again. Presley looked at him sharply as he struggled to remember her name. Only idiots didn't know her after going to the same school as her for at least two years by the look of the kid. She sneered at him, and turned back to her cousin. "Lessie, pleaaaaaase tell me that the little insect isn't a friend of yours?"

Awar smiled big as Presley said she loved her present. At least, I did that right! Awarlesta thought back to her first day, swaying back and forth. "Uhhh...it was good, fantastic. I'm excited for the year!" She starting thinking about all the things Manolo and her father would tell her and she could nearly burst of excitement.

Awar waved at Nate as he entered the common room. "My friend?" Awar shrugged and looked down at her shoes. "Yeah, I guess. He's really nice. He just got the wrong impression of you."

They were friends? The wrong impression?? "He thought my name was Pemney, or Hadley, Awar. And the way he talked to me at the feast?" Was completely unfair? Whatever. "Blood is thicker than water, Awarlesta." Presley reminded her. "Anyway, I'm glad you had a good day. I've got to get back to my common room before curfew." And on that note she strode off. Awar could befriend whoever she wanted, but if it came down to anything, her cousin had better choose the right side.

Awar scrunched up her mouth and then ran after Presley giving her a tight hug before skipping off towards the Owlery. She just needed some hugs is all.

This had to be one of the silliest plans ever. As soon as Gwen had told her what she was hoping to hear, the Gryffindor had ignored anything else and listened to the loudest thought in her brain, which urged her to go all the way down to the kitchen level. Sure, the Hufflepuff common room was there somewhere, but what were the odds of Jory leaving or entering as soon as she got there?

Still, the girl was determined to speak to him. Gryffindor bravery or downright foolishness, she couldn't quite tell. But there she was, waiting for her friend, which might or might not show up.

Jory had just put his book bag in his dorm after returning from the library. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed having just confessed his feelings about Ari to Gwen. He still wasn't sure if he should have told her. But now that he had, there was one thing he wanted to do. Find Ari and tell her his feelings. But he was nervous; he had never done this before.

The Puff had just made up his mind to go look for Ari at some random place as was now pushing the door to exist his common room. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice her right in front of him until a few seconds later. "Ari!'' he said. ”Hello.'' He thought to himself, ''Just the person I wanted to see.''
Now that his friend was right in front of him, Jory wasn't sure if he would be able to say what he wanted.

Oh, wow! That was quick! Having been lost in thought, Ariadne was a bit startled when she looked up and Jory was standing right in front of her. Regaining her composure, her face lit up with a smile and she greeted back. 'Hey. I've been....looking for you.' the Gryffindor started, a bit uncertain. 'Gwen told me you were studying in the library this afternoon.' Hint, hint.

This was going to be more difficult than expected. And Ari certainly didn't want to admit to anything in this place where their conversation could easily be overheard. 'Do you have time for a walk?' Yes, she decided, the pathways were a more suitable place for this conversation.

Hoping that some fresh air would restore some of her Gryffindor boldness, Ari waited eagerly for the boy's reply.

Damon looked around as he came out of the common room, about to go meet up with Ariana to just hang out and talk. He couldn't deny that ever since they'd gotten together he'd notice small things never bothered him anymore, and he unfortunately hadn't seen Taylor yet... It had been a few weeks and he felt she should know, but he didn't have his scroll, so he had no way to get ahold of her, maybe he'd be lucky and run into her along the way to meeting up with Ari to tell her. He hoped they did, the longer he didn't tell her, the more he knew it would break her heart... And that was something he didn't want to do, but he wasn't going to lie to her and say that nothing was going on.

Taylor ran up to Damon and threw her arms around his neck, "Hey handsome!" She smiled and kissed his cheek, "I missed you. I have something to tell you." Tay looked up at him and kissed him.

Damon stiffened as she hugged her and jumped back when she kissed him, "Taylor..." He sighed and looked at her, "I have something need to tell you as well..."

Tay pouted when he jumped back. She frowned when he said that he had something to tell her as well... with that and the jumping back she was afraid, "What is it, Damon?"

Damon looked at her, "No... You said it first, you go first," He gave a smile, "That's what most do anyways."

Tay shook her head, "No you go first... mine might be useless after yours..." She searched his eyes, frowning.

Damon sighed, and ran his hand through his hand, forcing himself to look her in the eye, and not letting his eyes change with the depression that was coming, "Taylor..." He sighed again, "Ari and I... I'm with her now, and I actually have you to thank for it."

Her face dropped even more and tears came to her eyes. Hurt and betrayal shone in her eyes at the news. "I hate you..." Tay yanked off the locket, breaking the chain. Taylor threw it down at his feet. She shook her head and turned.

Damon winced as she threw the locket, "Taylor..." He looked at her, "I don't know what you want me to say, but I'm not sorry for this... I really do like her and you made it clear that if I couldn't change something that you didn't want to be with me." He lifted the locket off the ground, glass inside that held their pictures were shatter and the locket itself was a wreck, falling in half nearly... it wouldn't close all the way, "You have no right to be angry with me!"