Maxwell nodded, happy to be done saying sorry. He was just glad to have her back...a friend...a real friend. He couldn't help it, he gave her a big hug...he'd missed her, even with as mean as he'd been he still thought about her and wanted her to be happy. He pulled back from the hug a little awkwardly. "Friends then..."

Maxwell sighed. "Then they're all stupid! Any guy who could let you slip by is clearly an idiot..." He said not wanting to mention how jealous her flirting with other guys still made him. "Minerva, you are all that...don't let anyone tell you any different...you're a smart, funny, pretty and talented witch. Any guy who doesn't want that doesn't deserve it." He said with a shrug. "I know she's not the nicest girl i could have found...but there's more to her, she's got issues...like mine that make this hard for her...maybe some part of me just wants to save her.." He said knowing all of him wanted to save her...he was a fool. "It's okay, you don't like her...I'm not gonna hold it against you or expect you to like her..just try not to do it around me please." He asked.

Looking around, Jared quickly disrobed and slipped into the pool. Even though he was wearing trunks, being shirtless in the open air almost always gave him cause to blush. His uneasiness ebbed away as he sank lower into the springs. He looked around again. Jayden said she was going to be here, but it looked like he was a bit early. He closed his eyes, and let the water lap around his neck. It was really nice here, just relaxing, letting life be... He could spend days here and not get tired of it.

Jayden walked slowly down to the hot springs pool, her lips parting as they formed a huge grin. "JAAAAARREEEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!" She shrieked as she tore off her robes, revealing her neon pink swimsuit. The color of the suit contrasted rather well with her jet black hair and her piercing blue eyes. "AAAAGHHHH!" She yelled, cannon-balling into the hot spring.

"So, saw that you skipped Astronomy again. What's up with that, Snake?" She teased after surfacing.

Minerva was shocked by the hug.."Umm yeah friends.." she moved as he pulled away feeling awkward. She wanted to be friends, well try to at least, but she wasn't sure that quickly was a good idea. "We will work on the friendship, but once Elliot finds out we probably won't be allowed to talk." Minerva frowned knowing she will flip when she knows they were friends again.

"Maxwell.. really just stop, I'm really not that great. I'm an average witch, and average looking girl, and a big book worm.. So fun...more like super lame." she chuckled at her own joke. Then her jaw dropped and she shook her head, "Maxwell you know you can't "save" anyone. Why would you even try. That is not a reason to be with someone. People never really change even if they are fake for a bit." and even if Elliot tries to be nice, it is just an act that girl was pure evil and that would never change.

Maxwell nodded. "Sorry, about the hug...i just got kinda..happy.." He said with a shrug. "Min, Elliot's my girlfriend, not my mother...i'll talk to who i want." He said very plainly.

"I-No..to me you're great. I don't care what you say...i always thought you were cool..so say what you want but you're the only person in this school i can talk to about football that instantly makes you cool no matter what." He said with a grin. At the next part her frowned, he was being scolded for trying to do what he thought was right. "Min...I have to try..i was damaged and messed up, but i had people like you and Ariana...but who does she have...i care about her too much to just give up, i don't want to change her...just..help her." He said knowing he had to try.

The Umbrella Vinora was no where close. No, in face she was sitting in a nicely lit area inside the one of the greenhouses. That did not mean though, that other parts of the plant did not travel around. An extremely long tendril stretched out across the grounds until it reached the hot spring. It dipped into the water, then back out, then in again before suddenly coiling itself around a student's (Bazinga) ankle.

She did not like to let go of the things she caught.

She felt bad for her reaction to the hug it was more that she just didn't expect it, then she didn't like it. "Oh.. it's okay Maxwell, you just caught me a bit off guard is all." We just went from hating each other to a hug, not awkward.. no not at all... Then she shrugged, "Well I'm just saying, she isn't going to be happy." and Elliot didn't seem to be the person that cared mother or not, she didn't seem like she was use to people not bowing down to her every stupid bark.

Minerva didn't feel bad for saying what she said, no one changed, even if they acted it for a bit, and saving Elliot was going to be like training a cat to use to the toilet. She was looking at the ground when she noticed something coming towards her. That was an odd plant, Minerva thought. She then looked up at Maxwell and shrugged, "Well good luck with that. I hope you can help her then if she needs help."

That's when she felt it.. WHAT THE HECK!!! Looking down she saw that the same plant looking thing that she saw moving around was now wrapped around her leg. She looked back at Maxwell with a bit of shock on her face. Then she moved her foot around.. "Umm, plant.. please let go.." she said in a calm voice remembering the singing and talking to plants in Herbology. She didn't want to scare the plant it could pull her where ever it had come from and she wasn't sure where that was at this point. Wiggling her leg a little more she bent down to try and nicely unwrap the plant from her leg.

Maxwell was about to say something about how condescending she was being. People never changed? Change is all people do. Life is change...he wanted to scream at her but for the sake of them being friends he let is slide. Whatever.

He was about to say something when he saw the plant and then Min was just talking to it? "How is that going to help, it doesn't have ear Min? and even if it does i doubt plants speak english.." He said not sure how to help her.

Minerva looked at him and then the plant. Rolling her eyes at him, it was obvious he never paid attention in herbology. "Well Maxwell, Professor Bentley always has us talk to plants, so it couldn't hurt to try, right?" she looked back at the plant.. Come on mr....ummm miss plant, let go.." Minerva tried pulling some more to get the plant off, but it just seemed as if it didn't want to move.

Looking back at Maxwell, "I don't want to hurt the plant, I don't even know what kind of plant it is." She looked around to see if she could even figure out where it had come from as she tried not to loose her balance with it around her ankel. This was just as her luck had been going lately. Being embarrassed in different ways, what was the plant going to do take her to it's home and use her as plant food? Maybe it was bored and just wanted to play.. Minerva didn't have a clue, but she wanted it off her leg.

Maxwell looked confused. "Oh..." He said as if that suddenly explained everything for him. Talking to plants...even as a wizard it seemed a little silly, but whatever.

Maxwell looked up at her and nodded. "Yeah, that wouldn't be good..." He said about hurting the plant. "But how do we get it off?" he asked kneeling down and trying to loosen it's grip on her with his hands..it wouldn't budge. "Should we try magic or something?" He asked unsure what spell he could even use.

Irina still wasn't sure why but she just wasn't fitting in at Hogwarts. She had begged her parents to let her stay in Greece for wizard training but they told her she had to go and make friends. She wasn't sure since she was so tall for her age.

So far, not many people spoke to her. Even though she did keep to herself. Irina found some courage to explore her new school and so far she found it nice. But she passed students, friends all chattering away with each other, her mind went back to the begging session she had with her mother.

Though she was deep in thought, Irina kept a serene expression on her face as she stood at the edge of the hot spring.

The tendril did not let go of the Hufflepuff no matter how much she struggled, in fact it tightened its grip. The Umbrella Vinora was not going to let this one go.

Oh no no no.

Right another day of just wandering the Grounds. It was time a good walk was needed to cool his nerves. So much was on his mind.
That's when he heard two familiar voices not to far from where he was walking.

He neared the Hot Spring and saw that his friends Minerva and Maxwell were hanging out. "Hey guys." Oakey said as he waved his hand to them then looked down to the Hot Spring and followed a vine all the way to Minerva's leg!

"M-m-m-m-m-m-min-Minerva!" Oakey practically fell flat on his behind as he crawled back a few feet from her. "y-your leg! get it off! It's gonna eat you!"

Why did he have the dumbest fear of Man-Eating-Plants. Life was never fair.

Minerva looked at Maxwell and gave a small smirk showing she knew she was right and he wasn't going to argue. He would never argue when it came to her and knowing something from class. Looking back down at the vine she was starting to get annoyed, "Plant, please let go.' she tried to use her hands again to gently pull it away. "ouch" she whined it was pulling harder around her leg. "This is starting to hurt." she said then looked at Maxwell again.


Magic, well that would probably work, but she wasn't sure what spell could do something and with the pain going up her leg she wasn't thinking as clearly either. It wasn't a sharp horrible pain yet, but it was a pressure of the plant showing it was there.

Before she could answer she heard another person panicked about the plant. Looking up she sighed and felt her cheeks blush. Great.. It wasn't bad enough her ex was seeing her in this situation, but now her crush was going to see her like this as well. AND NOW he was freaking out about it. "Oakey calm down, it's not going to eat me." Well only if it pulls me to where ever it's mouth might be she thought to herself, but wasn't going to say that to him. "Umm. it is squeezing harder around my leg though." Looking at both boys, "Would one of you go get Professor Bentley, or Mr. Gibbons, or someone that might be able to help.." Come on one of you be a hero here.. Girl in danger, should this be a time to jump.. Hello!!!

Maxwell saw that this was only causing Minerva more pain. He wanted to get this plant off her...NOW! But what to do...Then Oakey showed up and Minerva started blushing....Merlin...him too! was there any boy she didn't have a crush on? Ughhh!

"Hey, Oakey.." He said very plainly. As if nothing was wrong. "Oakey why don't you go get help, since i don't think you wanna be around this...plant.." And so he's not Alone with Min.. "Minnie, take my arm...that way if the plant pulls you harder, it'll have to take me with it.." He said not afraid of where it could lead.

Oakey stood up still shaking heavily from the sight of his worst nightmare gripping itself tightly around Minerva's leg. He listened to as much of what Maxwell told him to do, and nodded.
I-I can go look for B-Bentley! Oakey turned around and started to run. He turned back around when it had occurred to him to say something to Max. "If you're gonna make that p-promise! you'd b-b-better back it up!" Oakey said to the Gryffindor. "U-use the Gripping charm and you really wont let Minerva go!"
No time for fooling around, he had to hurry to *gulp* the Greenhouses, to find Bentley.

Maxwell nodded. "Hurry!" He said to the other boy, taking a hold of Minerva, interlocking their fingers. He looked back as Oakey told him to use a spell, he didn't know it..he should really pay more attention. "I don't need magic to do that. I won't lose her....Go!" He looked down at the plant...stupid plant. "Don't worry, Min...I won't let go." This time..

Minerva felt her heart racing, she didn't feel panicked yet, but she knew if this thing pulled any harder she was either going to fall or it was going to hurt her leg, but with the two boys there she really didn't want to be the wimpy girl, especially in front of Oakey.

Looking down at the plant she wondered if stunning it would help. But she didn't want to hurt it either, hurting the plant could end up hurting her self, it could get mad and pull harder or take her down completely. Yes it's best to keep calm and hope these two get someone soon. Looking back up she heard Maxwell tell Oakey to get help. She couldn't help but wonder if it was because he was afraid or was it because he figured out her crush on him. That wasn't important now. She smiled at both of them. Taking Maxwell's arm, "Thank you, but as long as we keep calm, I think I should be okay." she looked at Oakey as he headed for Bentley. "Thank you Oakey" she called after him..

Minerva felt Maxwell's hand then go into hers and she looked at him for a second. Plant or no plant she didn't want anyone getting the wrong impression here. She pulled her hand away and then took his arm. "I think I have a better grip on your robes." She tried to save herself, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but didn't want Oakey thinking something was going on between them, because there wasn't. She knew it was not what she should be worried about that moment, but the plant was only gripping her leg kind of hard, so her brain could still focus on some things.

Maxwell nodded as she said to be calm. "I agree...if we remain calm it should be fine...." He said and then she ripped her hand away from her. Oakey was gone by now so he was going to be honest with her. "Fine, whatever! Can't have Oakey thinking you care about me anymore.." He said with an annoyed expression. "Sorry for trying to hold onto you..." He said grumbling a little, he understood there was nothing between them, but she didn't have to be so cold about it.

Amelia walked to the Hot Spring with a spring in her step. She was looking forward to having a dip in the water and letting all her cares go. What with it being NEWT's this year she was already starting to worry about her grades. And about Isaac. But for completely different reasons.

Thinking of Isaac made her want to scream though. He was just so frustrating, she loved him to pieces but at the same time this year she felt that there was something holding her back a little. He was behaving like a Hufflepuff, and he'd been rather sullen with the healer, and with her. So much so that she hadn't even stayed to yell at him afterwards...

Sighing, she pushed those thoughts from her mind. She loved Isaac, and they were bound to get frustrated at each other at some point. This was just her point. And she would admit that no matter her protestations to the contrary on the train to school she had been exceedingly annoyed about their holiday plans being ruined, even though logically she knew it wasn't either of their faults, and then she'd been annoyed by the fact that he'd left her on the station for some other girl. Okay, she knew it was totally innocent, but still, dumping your girlfriend to go help some other girl, especially when you should no said girlfriend isn't in a good frame of mind, is just so not on. Then add to that his injury and his behaviour about it and Amelia was just overall unimpressed.

He just hadn't been in the mood lately. His injury setting him back for weeks, then the lack of practice and stuff for quidditch because of it. And finally the failure at catching the snitch finally had just done Isaac in. He'd had it it had just been too much! Then he'd ended up in the hospital wing after getting knocked unconscious and that certainly hadn't helped matters at all!

Heading down to the hot spring, he pulled off his socks and shoes before slipping them into the water before he realized Amelia was there already. His eyes widening, Isaac didn't know what to even say. He knew she was peeved with him, but hadn't said a word to him at all lately, he now had a feeling she was going to say something now. It was time for her to finally tell him what a prat he was.

Well, maybe he deserved it, but then...did he really? He was frustrated at how the term had been going, more then he'd admit. Not to mention his NEWT's coming up and studying like crazy for them to get into the auror program! Sighing he rolled his pant legs up higher to keep them from getting wet "Hey." he said quietly.

Amelia looked over at Isaac, her eyes hidden under her lashes as she observed him. He looked...run down? And suddenly she felt bad about being mad with him. Just because he looked a little bit like a kicked puppy who couldn't get up.

When she saw him looking as he was she couldn't bring herself to berate him as she otherwise might have, or to nag at him. She could only really manage to return his awkward hey with one of her own, and a small, unsure smile, as her heart constricted painfully in her chest. He'd sounded subdued, he didn't even seem happy to see her, which hurt, it hurt a lot. Because he'd never not been happy to see her before.

But then again, she'd never been cold towards him before either. But she'd only been doing it so that she wouldn't say something she'd regret. Although, maybe that would have been better than this awkwardness.

"I'm sorry that I didn't see you in the hospital wing," she found herself whispering, moving herself closer to Isaac, and reaching out a hesitant hand to touch his face. Wondering if he'd be stiff when she touched him, if he'd let her touch him. "I wasn't at the game, but when I heard that you'd fallen off your broom and that you were unconscious..." she trailed off, not entirely sure how to finish the thought. But he'd know she'd been worried right? Or at least, she hoped that he knew she'd be worried when she heard.

Minerva looked at him and frowned. She knew she hurt his feelings, but didn't mean to. Her leg was starting to tingle from the plant having such a strong grip and she didn't want to deal with that usual drama at the moment. Quick thinking she grabbed her leg with both hands letting go of him. "oowww I think it's getting tighter.. Come on plant let go." she said. It wasn't any tighter, yes it was uncomfortable, but it hadn't changed since Oakey had left, but she needed to distract both of them from the hurt on Maxwell's face. "M..maybe I should sit instead of standing on my leg. Get at least my weight off of it." She looked at Maxwell to see what his thoughts might be.

She started running through lessons, trying to think about something Betnley might have said that could help with them. She tried talking nice to it, that wasn't working. "Do you think we could stun it?" Looking at Maxwell again, "I..I'm just afraid of making it made and it breaking my leg." she was starting to get nervous and you could hear the fear in her voice now. Her calmness was slipping the longer this thing had a hold of her.

Maxwell was annoyed. She changed the subject. Typical Minerva, she could never deal with anything hard or awkward head on, one of the things that drew him to Elliot. They were so different. "Yeah you should get off of it..." He said and did something drastic, sure it would make things more awkward, but having her sit would only make it easier for the plant to pull her away.

Maxwell picked her up, without question if it was okay. Maybe it would keep her safe and push her to deal with the issue not between them. He nodded. "I think we should stun it....if it get's any tighter...let's give Oakey a few more minutes, i'm not risking it getting mad and hurting you if help is on the way. But don't worry whatever it does i'm right here...okay?"

Looking over as she spoke in a whisper, he smiled quietly as she moved closer then touched his face. He'd missed that a lot. It was like she'd been avoiding him, just so she wouldn't yell at him. Though he deserved it he was sure. "The healer wouldn' let many people visit." he said shaking his head "I didn' know who visited and who didn' because of thet." Yep for all he knew he'd had tons of visitors!

"Good thing." he muttered. Yep, he didn't like the fact that so many people had seen him fail so badly. the unconsciousness had been a relief. Because it meant he didn't know he'd failed til much later. "Twasn' as bad as thet. I fell off jus' a foot or so off the ground, but it was after me feet hit the ground and smacked me face into me broom handle." he said quietly shaking his head. The failure to catch the snitch was so much worse then the actual fall and injury in his opinion.

"How haf ye been?" he asked quietly wondering when she'd actually tell him off for the prat he'd been lately.