Laura was really annoyed with Alexa now, here she was trying to be nice and friendly and there was Alexa trying to make it so she was the bad girl in all this when she wasn't, she would appologise to Alexa another day when hopefully the girl would accept it.

Laura sighed when Alexa said it didn't work, now that wasn't right something should have happened but oh well she would try again and hopefully this time she would succeed. "Torparticus!" Laura did the wand movement and then she was hoping for the best.

Alexa clutched her hand immediately when that tingling feeling suddenly shot into her hand. It didn't hurt so much as it shocked her. Sure she was expecting it to happen but it still caught her off guard.

"G-Good." She was still getting over the slight shock. "I think it worked this time." So the girl was good for something afterall. "Nice work. Now get it off me please." She didn't really like this sensation. It felt all weird.

Then she eyed her, just to see if she would have been as reluctant to take this one off as the last one. This being the last spell the girl could just walk away without getting it off but of course she knew that Laura knew better than to try something like that. She had nothing to worry about.

Laura smiled when she Alexa said that it had worked. "Alexa this is awesome." Laura wasn't sure Alexa would agree but well she had successfully done the spell at the second attempt which was something she was proud of. "Finate" Laura smiled as she looked at Alexa and then she wasn't sure what to say. "Can I just try one last time to make sure I've got it?" Laura hoped Alexa would let her.

Mmmmmm.

Wasn't it obvious she didn't like this spell being used on her? Jeez. It felt bad enough the first time. Still...she had taken more than one shot at Laura so she guessed it would've been only fair. UGH. After this she was going to get herself a large glass of pumpkin juice and she was going to drink until she passed out at which point she would be dreaming and be in a happier place.

"Alright. Go ahead." Get this over with.

She would probably have some chocolate frogs too...but then...she'd never sleep...

Laura smiled as Alexa decided to be a brave little girl and allow her to put the spell on her for a second time. "Torparticus!" Laura smiled as she focused on Alexa hand and did the wand movement, she then looked at Alexa wondering what to do next, she could easily leave and let Alexa stay like that but she wasn't so cruel, without waiting to see if it had been successful or not she used the Finate spell. "How was that then?" Laura smiled.

Annnnnddd the familiar tingling feeling was back. She guessed it was fine, at least it meant the girl had gotten the spell right so they wouldn't have to be there practising it for much longer. No. She'd had enough of this. She'd had enough of her.

Before Lex could even comment on it's effectiveness it was removed. "Uhh...it was good I guess." She shrugged. "It did what it was supposed to do so I suppose you did a good job." Just don't expect her to give any congratulations. "Do you think you've practised enough now?" Because Lex was just about spent. After a long day of school then a whole practice session with all its little annoyances she felt like she could just collapse. Unfortunately she had another day of classes tomorrow. SIGH.

Alexa gave the girl an expectant look as she waited for her to reply. If she wanted to try again she'd consider letting her but if she agreed enough was enough then Lex could walk away and head to a happier place.

Landon Hughes was sitting on the sixth floor corridor, wide-eyed, and flinching just a bit as he stared at the wall. He had just recieved a letter from his cousin, Andrew, a few minutes ago that would impact his life forever.



The letter was laying beside Landon's hand as he continued to stare, his wet, tearful eyes dark and silent. He was done with screaming...so far and he just couldn't think right now. He just couldn't.

Alice was skipping.

Yes, she was incredibly happy today. She had just come back from the Kitchens, from where she had sneaked a bucket of oreos and a plateful of noodles. The young lioness had been planning a surprise feast for her friends Landon and Melanie, whose favourite foods were oreos and noodles, respectively. As she pranced through the hallways, trying her best not to let the noodles slip off the plate, she could only imagine the fun they were going to have tonight.

And then she turned the corner.

Who else to come across but Landon? The sight made the little girl's eyes widen. Her brother friend sat there, staring at a wall, with tears in his eyes and a letter in his hand. Alice immediately set the food down and made her way over to him, concern in her sea-coloured eyes. "Donnie?" she asked carefully. "What.. what's wrong?"

Her actual question was left unsaid. What can Munchkin do to make it better?

To be completely honest, Melanie had absolutely no idea what she was doing. Her mind was quite blank as she wandered through the school's corridors, just going wherever really. The Gryffindor was a bit tired though; she hadn't slept well recently since they were staying in the Great Hall and all. Sleeping bags just didn't cut it the way actual beds did. With actual mattresses. Rubbing her eyes gently, she found herself on the sixth floor. Ah, had she really walked all the way up here?

Shaking her hair a little, she continued to walk down the corridor, before she saw Landon there... sitting. What...? With Queen Alice there too. That made absolutely no sense whatsoever because she doubted the two were fighting.

Melanie rubbed her eyes again. Was she still asleep? Walking all the way up to the sixth floor was one thing but seeing Landon here... crying... was another. Well, he looked like he was crying, Melanie wasn't quite sure what. One thing was for certain though - Landon was upset. And what type of best friend would she be to allow that to continue on? She already knew that Landon had been upset with Andrew not contacting him and all and immediately, the fourth year wondered if it had something to do with that.

Her feet carried her over and she looked at the paper, then at the boy, then to the little Queen. Without a word to the younger girl, Melanie took a seat next to him. "Hey there," Melanie said quietly, giving him a huge hug. "It'll be okay." Actually, she didn't know what was going on, but figured it was probably best for Landon to not talk about it. "Don't worry..." She looked at the blonde with big brown eyes though. What did they do now?

Anya had taken to... avoiding everyone lately. Not completely unexpected given she'd spent nearly every second of her day since September the 1st with a certain Jacob Keller. And now that the relationship that everyone said was going to fail, actually did, she was completely... eh. About. Everything. Completely indifferent.

Which was unusual for the third year who usually had a very loud opinion on everything.

And so she was wandering the halls in her indifferent state when she turned a corner and saw...

...Landon?

With Melanie and Alice...? That couldn't be good. She approached her fellow teammates and housemates. She wasn't really sure it was her place, considering... you know, that the only one she was kinda friends with was Alice.

But... for selfish reasons... a distraction was welcome. And so... she figured... three girls were better than one. She'd stay. Until Landon asked her to go away.

James, with his hands stuffed in his pants pockets, strolled down the corridor, looking around for someplace quiet to brood and write a letter to one of his cousins. That's all he wanted to do.

That is, until he spotted Landon with Melanie, Alice, and Anya.

He walked up quickly to them, and saw that Landon looked like he had just been crying. [b]"Landon? Mate, what's the matter?" he asked gently, concern filling his eyes as he crouched next to his friend.

Landon slowly turned his head at the sound of skipping and noticed it was Alice. He shook his head at her questions and felt a tear slip out of his eye. "Andrew..." He said, biting his lip and looking down at the letter.



Landon watched as Melanie came out of nowhere and sat down beside him. His face was sunken in almost as if he saw a person in a penguin mixed with a teddy bear mascot costume. He flinched as she hugged him and was stiff as he sat there, not daring to move. Though once she said to not worry he merely shook his head and said, "I...can't worry....no more...." A couple more tears fell from his eyes as he kept his gaze on the wall.



Landon's eyes shifted from the wall to a person who he'd never expected to be there.

Miss Anya Phillips.

"I'm...sorry. For...everything." He blurted out, feeling like a different person.

He was sure that was the last thing she thought would come out of his mouth, but it just came out. It even surprised him as he looked away from her and down at the ground.



Landon heard another person crouch in front of him and heard that familiar voice. James. He slowly looked up and grabbed the letter, shoving it in his best friend's direction. "Andrew..." He trailed off, bringing his knees towards himself as he buryed his head in them.

Melanie was definitely concerned for Landon now, if she hadn't before. She looked at him with wide eyes. What did she do? What did she do? What did she do?! Melanie didn't know what to do! She was almost as bad with tears as Landon was with them. She looked at Anya and Mister James who had arrived then back at Alice.

"Hey, hey," Melanie muttered, "don't cry." She fumbled with the clasp on her bag, pulling out a small plastic package filled with tissues. Opening it, she pulled one out and wiped Landon's tears. Because he seemed to distraught to do that himself. "Do you want... to tell me what's wrong?" she asked quietly, wrapping an arm around him, and keeping it there as he hugged his knees.

Because what he needed was a lot of hugs.

Like. A lot.

Now did anyone have any more ideas? Because Melanie was worried beyond belief and couldn't seem to think. It killed her to see her best friend this way.

Anya's eyes drifted between everyone that had gathered. Andrew...? Who was Andrew...? Did... did this have something to do with why Landon missed the last match?

And when Landon's dark eyes met hers, she was honestly taken aback. And... with the greeting that she'd just received... she honestly didn't know what to think.

She just knew... something awful must have happened to Landon.

She knelt in front of Landon and quickly grabbed one of his hands in both of hers. She felt overwhelmingly selfish for stopping just because she wanted something to distract herself from her own thoughts.

"Shhh...." she said with a soft coo. "It's alright." At least, the stuff with her was going to be alright. She still wasn't sure the exact reason that brought Landon to the corridor in the first place.

The Gryffindor smiled at Melanie when she came over, but remained silent, as Landon was the biggest concern at the moment. Forget the noodles, he needed a friend. When Anya drifted into the little group as well, Alice nodded to her. And James.. he and Alice hadn't spoken since that time since she had become cross with him. She didn't think this was the best time to rekindle their friendship...

It was all about Landon.

Alice heard the name of his uncle.. but what happened? The little lioness remembered something about him being ill.. but the exact seriousness of the situation, she didn't know. Landon had never explained further.. but had.. had something happened? Something that they didn't know of? Unlike being polite as Anya and Melanie had, the girl refused to ask Landon what was wrong. Carefully, she peeled herself off the floor and plopped into Landon's lap, peeking at the letter. The letter.. oh..

I didn't make it.

The girl's eyes sparkled as the pieces came together in her head. Landon's tears.. the letter.. the illness.. it all made sense. "Oh.. Donnie.. I'm so sorry." The tiny girl wrapped her arms around the older boy. Alice was tiny, but surprisingly strong, and she held him as tightly as she could. She figured he could use a friend.. or three.

She remained in his lap. 'Cause it was rather comfy. The third year didn't offer him any Oreos.. she wouldn't have wanted to eat if her Gramps had died, so she figured Landon wouldn't want to either. Maybe he just needed friends.

And they were here for him.

James took the letter from his friend and skimmed over it. When he finished skimming, he wrapped his arms around Landon in a hug, even though he was already being hugged. "Aww, Landon, mate, I'm sorry..." He felt for his friend, he really did. He remembered what his family went through when his uncle passed away years ago. Maybe, just maybe, he could help Landon through this.

Landon flinched a little as Melanie wiped his tears away with the tissues that she had. Had she always been one to have tissues in her bag? Eh, he shouldn't question it. He just didn't understand how she could tell him not to cry. "How can I not cry, M-Melanie? He's g-gone. Forever." He said, putting his head back into his knees and screaming.



Landon lifted his head from his knees when he felt Anya grab one of his hands. Usually, on a normal day, he would back up away from her and they would get into a pretty heated argument. But today, he had no energy. None whatsoever and he'd give up trying. There was no use anymore and even Andrew had said that. He just merely stared at her as she said it was going to be alright. And honestly? He believed her more than he believed his best friends for some unknown reason.

"I don't know..." He trailed off, as he looked from Anya, then to everyone else, his face sinking more and more as he realized so many people are seeing him crying right now.



Before he knew what was going on, Alice plopped into his lap and he frowned as he watched her read the letter. Usually he wouldn't want the sympathy, but right now he could care less. He awkwardly patted her back as she hugged him and he sighed, feeling some more tears fall out of his eyes.

"A-alice. You're choking me." He said, gagging a little.



Landon watched James read the letter as well and hugged his friend back. "Tell the rest of the guys, especially Chris and Ryan." He said, looking down at the ground. They would want to know, if they already didn't. Especially Ryan since he was Andrew's neighbor.

----------

Landon lightly lifted Alice off of his lap and sighed, standing up to look at everyone. "Can you guys just...leave me alone?" He frowned and started to walk away, tears continuing to fall out of his eyes. He didn't mean what he said, but he felt as if being alone was going to make this all better. He stopped and turned back around, walking towards the group. "I need the letter...it's-all I have now." His face sunk some more and he picked the letter up off the ground. "I'm sorry, just-leave me alone." He said, angrily and then he ran off.

Moving carefully with the mannequins, Minerva walked out of the classroom and down the hallway. She walked slower the normal not wanting to break anything, nor drop a mannequin. As she got closer to the door Minerva slowed and looked at the wall. They were safe last time she placed them in the hallway, so they should be safe this time again, right... Yes that's what she would tell herself before setting the mannequins down on the ground up against the wall. Placing them side by side in a neat row, she wished the homework door was open so she could just set them inside, but this would have to do. Turning she smiled seeing Ethan, "Just place them with the ones I have already placed down. Thanks for the extra help." Once he was done she walked next to him back to the room to get the last few mannequins.

Ethan slowly walked into the corridor, wheeling several of the clothed mannequins out with him once class had ended. Following behind Minnie, he slowly continued his walk, careful not to topple any of the mannequins as he pushed them. As she stopped ahead of him, he craned his neck around her. "Oh.. it's not open yet?" he asked in reference to the homework room.. where they practiced all their transfigurations on the dummies. Well... that would have made things easier for both them and Magnus, he thought.. but against the wall would work as well. Nodding to Minnie, he arranged his mannequins in a row against the wall, next to the ones she had already placed there. "Not a problem.." he added with a smile before walking back with her to bring out the rest.