Damon looked at her and sighed, "She left for America at the beginning of last summer." He shook his head, "It's just a bit of stress... After all, only having two terms left and having to look for a college. Plus losing my only two real friends within three months time..." He sighed again.

Minerva was nervous coming into the common room. It felt strange to be coming in late to the school. She knew classes has already started and that her friends thought she was gone for good, but here she was. She would have to explain everything to them and hoped they would forgive her. It was an entire summer without any word from them. She knew she should have written to them or tried to use her mirror, but she wasn't sure what to say and they didn't try to contact her either, but then with the charms her cousin had placed around her grandparents house could they have contacted her. Minerva wasn't sure about this answer, knowing Leelee she probably made sure Minerva's friends couldn't find her. Frowning at this thought Min walked the rest of the way into the common room.

She scanned the room wondering who she would see first, would it be Alyssa, or Justin, maybe Ella, or even Damon. Looking around she didn't see any familiar faces and then she thought of a few that had left last year that she would not see again. Keefer was one of them. Frowning again she thought about quidditch. She hadn't flown all summer and was probably no where near ready to try out, but she most likely missed tryouts anyway. Then her eyes caught a familiar face and she couldn't help, but smile. "Damon" she said in almost a whisper, not knowing if he would be happy or mad to see her and not wanting to interrupt his conversation with the other student.

Damon looked around hearing his name. He knew the voice, but then again he'd made the mistake multiple times over the summer and the school year so far, but when he saw her, he smiled. His gothic looks changed as he actually started to relax seeing his old friend, "Excuse me a moment," He gave a polite nod to Violet before going over to Minerva.

He looked at her a moment, "Lord knows I have to be dreaming," He chuckled and hugged her, "Maxwell said you were never coming back," He looked at her, still in complete shock.

Minerva smiled as he came over. She was so happy to see her friends again. She had missed them so much. Then he hugged her and she felt more relaxed in thinking they would forgive her for her leaving so suddenly. She felt herself not wanting to let go of the hug for fear that she would turn and it would be just a dream that she was back at the place she loved so much.

"Your not dream and if you were this wouldn't be the greatest dream to have." she joked with her friend and then looked at him with a smile and a bit of a blush for the way he looked shocked to see her. "Well I'm not suppose to be here. If Leelee finds out I told my grandparents everything and got them to let me come back she will flip." She was so happy to be back she jumped right into conversation without thinking twice, "So how is everything around the school. How is Maxwell?" she hadn't heard from him all summer and she wasn't sure why that was, but she was excited to see him at the least.

Damon chuckled, "I think it would be," He smiled at her. The smile didn't last long, he sighed at the mention of Maxwell, his green eyes flickered once before turning brown, "...No one's missed you more than him. Though he wasn't very happy the last time I saw him. He was kinda upset that Ari had ended things with him." He sighed, "And if your going to ask about Taylor next I honestly have no idea, nor do I really want to."

It was Minerva's time to look in shock. "I'm sorry.. but did I just hear you say Ari ended things with Maxwell as in they had been dating and she broke up with him?" that's funny Minerva thought, she didn't even know that her and Maxwell had broken up. Yes she had left quickly and without really any words to anyone, but wouldn't someone try to find out if they were broken up before dating again? She shook her head and then looked at him more concerned at the next part he said, "You and Taylor are fighting or you have broken up?" Minerva found a seat and looked at him with confusion and concern. What all happened while she had been gone.

Damon nodded, "They got together sometime when I was out of town... Which was constantly." He sighed, taking a seat across from her, his hair darkening, "Oh, and it's a charm that's making me change by the way..." He looked down, "But Taylor and I broke up our first day back. Tried to be a friend and she's been treating me like... Well her lap dog, just someone who's there for her to play with..."

Minerva looked at him and frowned, "I can't believe he would just go and date again, especially Ariana. Well I guess I can't say again, but at least see if your broken up with the girl your with first. Plus, Ariana is suppose to be with Justin, what happened there?" Minerva felt so confused she had been gone way to long it looked like. Then she frowned even more, "Why do you have a charm on you to have your hair and eyes change. You know how I feel about those green eyes." She looked into her friend's eyes with concern.

Then came the next thought and question, "What on earth made you two break up? I never thought that would happen. Not with you two after everything that went on last term. Why would she treat you so poorly?" but it wasn't the first time she had seen Taylor do that, last term at the beginning she had watched it between Maxwell and her when she was with him liking Damon. Looking at him with concern she tried to give a small smile, "So much as changed it's just crazy. Are you okay?"

Damon looked at her, "He'd told me that you two had decided a long distance relationship wouldn't work." He asked somewhat confused, "Justin and Ari broke up at the beginning of summer." He sighed to her next question, "It's something, the more depressed I get, the more gothic I go... Happier, I go back to my normal self."

"We were arguing and she said that we should break up and I agreed." His eyes darkened a few more shades. He looked up at her and nodded, "I'll be fine now... I just told her about an hour ago that I can't talk to her anymore, because she makes me feel horrible and confused. She tried to pull a whole guilt thing by saying she wasn't herself and..." He shook his head, "I still love her... That's the thing that absolutely sucks."

Minerva looked at him, "He said that??" She was confused as well. "We didn't even talk before I left. I got back home and Leelee and Edward were in an argument. Something with work going wrong and then I was all of the sudden in the states being told I had to stay there and I could not contact anyone and I had to live for the rest of my school life with my muggle grandparents and live as a muggle." she looked down at the couch, I couldn't take it after awhile and begged them to let me back. "

Minerva then put her arm around her friend. "Damon, I'm sorry. I know it's hard, but if she was not being nice to you and treating you that badly then you did the right thing. Just keep your head up an worry about your classes for now. If you two are suppose to be together then it will happen again. Now that I'm back you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here when you need to talk." she tried to smile to reassure her friend that she was not going anywhere again if she could help it.

Damon looked at her, "That's what I remember him saying, but that was at the beginning of summer vacation." He sighed and looked at her, "But I'm sorry Min..." He hugged her back, and sighed, "I'm just glad you're back... It's been less fun without you."

Belle was not taken aback at all for the girl talking so much. She enjoyed it actually. "Oh do not worry Befeleda! You are doing fine, you are not talking too much at all." she said and then she noticed tears forming in her eyes. "Aww do not cry." she said and went up to hug her. She removed her tears from her eyes. "I am prefect and i am hear to help you first years, do not be ashamed and of course i will not turn you in. You are not doing anything wrong talking to me." Belle assured her.
"Now onto the whomping willow and forbidden forest." Belle began to change the subject. "The forbidden forest is kind of scary at night i can admit it. The whomping willow i would advise you go back a few feet so you won't get hit by the branches." she winked at her."I had a few experiences when the braches accidentally hit me when i wasn't paying attention to where i was walking." she showed her some of her bruises on her legs that didn't go away. "But i am a risk taker so it is my own mistakes."she assured Befeleda. "I wouldn't ask you to do the same." Now that she mentioned classes, Belle wanted to ask her. "What class are you looking forward to learning? I know my favorite class is Muggle Studies for me being part muggle and all." Belle said.

Minerva looked at him and then gave him another tight hug. "Well I'm back now, so no more worries on my account. I'm here to help in anyway I can. You know your one of my best friends and that is never going to change." She then looked around the common room. "This place doesn't seem to have changed at all." she then looked at him, "Well I'm minus a pet. Leelee got rid of Bouncers before I left, told me I wasn't allowed to keep him in the muggle world." she was still pretty mad about that as well. Leelee was a pain in her behind and she was glad she didn't have to see her cousin anytime soon.

Damon smiled, "Want to help me with Pixel, then?" He was about to pull her out when she jumped out of his school robes with a happy squeak, shaking her golden fur as she looked up at the new person. Damon chuckled, "Since Chelle and Dad are working on the road now Chelle entrusted me with her."

Minerva smiled at the little puff as it jumped from Damon's robes, but then she looked at Damon, "She's gold? I didn't think they came in gold." she laughed a bit at the puff, but it made her miss her own. She hoped Bouncers was safe and happy where ever he ended up. "Why are Chelle and Puck on the road? What are they doing? What about the kids?"

"She was hit by a hair dying spell." Damon laughed, "Dad was telling Chelle he wondered how she'd look with golden blonde hair... They got into a playful fight, throwing joking spells back and forth and Pixel got right in the middle of it," He smiled as Pixel went over to Min's lap, a little nervous of her, but still curious, "They've become part of the cast of Midsummers Night Dream. The triplets travel with them, and Lori is still living in France with her boyfriend."

Minerva listened to him talk about his family. It was nice to hear about someone else's family and to stop thinking about all the work she was behind in, her own family problems, and now her friend drama she had to deal with. Looking down at the puff she smiled and picked it up. Setting it on her lap she pet the little thing and smiled, "Hello Pixel, your a cutie."

Looking back at Damon she laughed, "They never have a dull moment do they? I bet Puck is in his glory with that one." she liked Damon's family and it was nice to hear how they were doing. "Do you still have your cat as well?" She hadn't seen the cat in awhile and she knew Damon wasn't completely found of the little fur ball.

Pixel stiffened slightly when she picked her up, but after a cautious sniff she squeaked happily.

Damon shook his head to her question, "No, they don't... Even when they're almost fifty the two of them are happy and carefree... Actually, they're trying to have another kid." He shook his head at the idea but still smiled, his red hair and green eyes returning slowly, "Grimalkin? He hides up in the boys dorm as much as possible. I'm stuck with him as well," He sighed, "They tried to get Rowan to take him... But Rowan obviously refused... He hates Grim... and I must say the little gray thing's not a fan of my brothers either."

Minerva couldn't help but laugh, "Well I don't blame Grim there." she pet pixel as she thought of her history with Rowan. Shaking her head, "Well if Grim needs a break from the boys dorm he is always welcome to hang out with me. I like him and he seems to like me as well." She smiled seeing his green eyes coming back, "There are those green eyes that are so nice my friend." she grinned teasing him. "So other then all the drama, what else is going on around here? I know I missed tryouts this year, but other then that?"

"Oh, you should've seen him when my grandmother decided to show up after about thirty years of being gone... She said that she believed Millie had Rowan under a love potion, that's the only reason they're married," Damon laughed, "The blow up Chelle had on her for that one was pretty priceless... but Grim seems happy up there, he doesn't like to move to much lately, lazy thing." Damon shook his head, "I mean... he's only two and he has nothing better to do then to eat and sleep... Or wake me up in the middle of the night because he's scratching me to death..." Damon shook his head and smiled about her comment on his eyes, "But other then drama... Nothing really, honestly... but you can't be that shocked by it."

Minerva couldn't help but laugh, "I would have paid to see your grandmother tell him that." she wouldn't admit, but she was still a little irritated over the way Millie treated her at the birthday party. She knew she should let it go and Millie had been nice to her after that, but it still just annoyed her and Rowan she would not probably ever forgive. Trying to control her laughter she listened to the rest, "Now which grandmother would this be? Pucks mom, your mom's mom, or Chelle's mom?" She had to meet this woman some day and shake her hand or something.

When he spoke of Grim Minerva just shook her head, "Well we will have to change that.. He will have to be forced to socialize a bit and even if he doesn't like it at first he'll get over it after all the cuddles and attention he will get." She smiled at Damon's reaction to her eyes comment, he knew she had always liked his eyes so this wasn't anything new between them. "Well I guess it's good nothing else has changed, because it seems like all the friends changing is enough at the moment."

Damon chuckled, "I don't think either of them could see straight afterwards... They ended up storming out of the house... And that's when Chelle snapped at her, and Chelle was... It was interesting, I've never heard her yell before then.." He sighed to her next question, "If you ever met her you wouldn't believe she's my Dad's mom... They're different... But I at least get a small idea where I get my traits from. But Nadea... We don't see her anymore after her marriage kinda went up in smoke." He still had no idea why Chelle's mother had walked out of her own marriage to be with Anton, but she had, and he hadn't seen her since, "And then Sage and Mom's parents died when Sage was eight and my mom five." He sighed, "They went to live with their aunt after that, so never got to meet them either."

"You can have fun with that, because I'm not going to be the one to force him down here." Damon laughed, "That cat has already made enough murder attempts against me already." He nodded, "I guess it is pretty good... No more drama has come up at least... though there is one other small thing with me..."

Minerva listened to him tell about his family. She always found his family very interesting. There were so many of them and so many had different backgrounds. "Well I still think she is okay in my book." anyone that says something to get Rowan going couldn't be to bad. "Well I think Puck is his own mold, not many can be like him." she joked and then frowned, "That is odd that Chelle's mom did that. Maybe she will come back around one day." for Chelle's happiness Minerva hoped so at least. "I can't believe they are going to try for more children. Your family is always growing." she smiled. "Well I have both sets of grandparents, but don't know my mothers parents at all if that helps. They are both wizards, but I don't really know them. I got a few letters from them, but that's about it. My dad's parents are muggles they are the ones I was with all summer. They are fantastic, but I really grew up with them so it was nice being with them again." she smiled and felt a bit of sadness from leaving them.

Laughing she shook her head, "Well I guess he won't get much love then since I can't go up and get him from the boy dorms." she looked at Pixel, "Guess you get all the cuddles." petting the puffs head she smiled down at it. Then looked back up a Damon and tried to figure out what else he could be keeping from her. She thought he had told her everything. Hmmm, what else could it be.. "Well go on, out with it. What else could you possibly have to tell me?"

Alyssa came running into the Common Room crying like as if her heart would break. She saw Minnie talking with somebody but she didn't stop to say hello. She needed to be alone. She needed to hide. Alyssa ran out of the Common Room and up the stairs into the Girl's Dormitory.

Yes, Josephina had heard of the almost points loss due to a comment related to the GOSSIP rag. She had even heard of the way a certain fifth year had stormed out of the classroom. Marion Burbage had not come off as the overtly sensitive type during conversation at the feast, but perhaps she would have to inform the Astronomy mistress not to take that rag so seriously. It was merely gossip, after all.

But right now, she had more pressing matters at hand. Like finding a certain Miss Alyssa Potter.

"Alyssa?" She called, after tapping the barrels to enter the common room. She noticed two Hufflepuffs chatting over there by the couches, but no Alyssa. Wait, Minerva? She was back? No time to waste though, chatting with her. Fina was on a mission. "Welcome back, Minerva." She said briefly, but then cut to the chase. "I'm looking for Alyssa Potter. Has she come in? She in the dorms?" She eyed the door that led to the dorms, and then looked back to Minerva and Damon.