Skipping along after being by the Lake under the tree she used to always sit at, Alex entered the pathways. Being so energetic the fifth year sped past everyone happy to be back. As she went to dodge someone who looked her age, her bag swung and whacked them. "I'm so sor-" spotting who it was Alex screamed. "RONNIEEE!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around her best friend.

As Ronnie walked, something whacked her. She growled. This day just kept getting worse and worse... she swung around at the person, ready to take all her anger out on them. "What the hell was that fo-"

She then realized who had hit her.

*blink blink*

Merlin's Beard.

No way...
it couldn't be...

"ALEX!"

Ronnie shrieked, hugging her friend back tightly. "I was just thinking about you! A-and Rose!" she said. "Where have you been?!?" she cried.

Releasing her grip slightly the unnatural red head replied "I was away in Australian and was so busy I couldn't owl you! Which I deeply regret." squeezing Ronnie again. "Where is Rose anyway? And how have you been?!"

Ronnie sighed. "I thought you got like kidnapped or something!" she said. "You scared me!"

She then frowned at the mention of Rose. "I don't even know...I haven't seen her since...third year..." she trailed off with a frown. She shrugged at Alex's next question. "Eh, I've been okay. Lately I've just been stressed because of studying and then missing you and Rose." she sighed. "What about you?"

Damon winced slightly at the more firm hug but still returned it. He sighed when she said it wasn't his fault, "Technically it is... I went home one weekend when I shouldn't have... Had I not been, Mom and I wouldn't have gone on the walk we had and Anton's men wouldn't just go after her and Dad... She jumped in front of a killing curse to save me." He looked down but gave a soft smile, to what he said, "It's me who's lucky to have her... She honestly acts different when she's not around others."

Minerva looked at Ethan and then smiled as he used the drying spell.. "Thanks" She was still so confused, what was going on. "I don't know what happened. One minute we were in class the next I am soaked and you are spraying me with water." She looked around, "Why were you spraying me with water?" She couldn't figure this out. Moving closer to him she sat down next to him and just looked at the area that was still a bit wet from where he was spraying. Why were they in the pathways and what made him spray her. Were they joking about something,did something happen, Minerva just couldn't figure it out.

Something hit her and she turned, "Ethan that bird.. That..oh what was it's name." Was that what happened Minerva tried to remember what had happened in class. There was a bird and a silence charm and... "That's it Professor Newlin took the silence charm away. That bird song.. must have made us go loopy and do weird things.." Concerned crossed her face and she looked at Ethan.. "What do you think we did? Oooohh I hope it wasn't anything to weird, or anything that could get points taken.." She giggled then thinking about it, "Well whatever it was I must have needed a drink or something since you were spraying me.." Nudging him she laughed, oh how she wish she knew what happened.

The boar had looked tasty as it sat by the Front Gate of the school grounds but the Umbrella Vinora wanted something less fattening that would provide more energy and allow for some sport in catching it.

Squirrels were always good and where were they found most? The Pathways.

Large thick tendrils slowly weaved their way through the trunks of the trees lining the pathways searching for the furry little beasts to snack on.

"Gum?" Daichi repeated her words. "Like Droobles chewing gum?" Still, if it worked then he would give it a try right? "I'll send my owl to buy a pack then" he smiled though not right now. He was on his way to deliver a small package to his brother in London. He'd think about it when he got back.

The way the Head Girl said Indy made him blush again. He hated it that he blushed easily and it even intensified when she mentioned her brother. "Eh yeah..." he mumbled before scratching the back of his non itching neck. "He's your co-prefect right? i think i worked together with him one time.." in Herbology when they were supposed to clean the teeth from some kind of plants. The Slytherin still shivered at the thought. But now there was another problem. "What if he doesn't like me?!" he suddenly shrieked. If he had a sister he would be sure to track down her boyfriends and see if they were good enough for her!

And then Louisa began to laugh. She laughed so hard that at first, Daichi thought that she was laughing at him and his question earlier. His cheeks puffed out as he looked annoyed and crossed his arms but then realised it had something to do with Joao. "I ..yeah , he did. what's so weird about that?" he asked confusedly. Daichi remembered sitting in the three broom sticks and talking about relationships. It was also the time the older Slytherin had opened up and talked about his. Louisa and him to be exact and a faint blush appeared yet again when he also remembered that he told Joao that Louisa probably hadn't been the right girl. He felt guilty about it now. But back then the Slytherin had been sulking a bit because of Louisa's *lecture* about what had happened in Knockturn Alley and Joao actually listened to his problems. Said he was the only person in school worth talking to and that had made Daichi rather special right.

"KIDS?!" Daichi shrieked upon hearing that word, missing the plush part as he looked at Louisa with wide eyes. "eeeewwww! i don't want kids now~!" He was still a kid himself and couldn't even look after himself every now and then. And then to think he had to take care of another little one. He had no problem helping other students when they needed help BUT A KID!? HIS KID?! O___o

Coming back to Joao, Daichi felt relieved their talk about him getting kids was over because the thought scared him. He didn't know what to say so he just kept nodding but when she mentioned another guy's name he raised an eyebrow. "Vickers?" he asked, the name sounded familiar thought he could not picture a face to it. "He's a Ravenclaw right?"

Waiting for Louisa to reply to his question about this Vicky person, a sudden movement on the pathways caught his attention. His brown eyes looked behind Louisa's when he noticed large thick tendrils moving over the trees. "What's that? " he asked curiously as he pointed his finger to the trees. "You think a plant from the Greenhouses has escaped?"

Yet again, Edmund was strolling down the pathways minding his own business. He hadn't seen anyone except Isaac and Nell for a while and was starting to worry about Sutton now. She hadn't exactly been stable since she'd kissed Isaac, or at least that was what he was lead to believe. Especially after that time on the seventh floor. Maybe he'd go and look for her later.

Ethan began rubbing his temple in some sort of attempt to clear his foggy mind and try to remember what had happened. His memories were foggy at best and he couldn't quite remember where he had been - or what he had been doing - before finding himself on the ground. He looked over to Minerva as she tried to recount the things they had been doing. Yes.. water.. he was spraying her with water for some reason.. He already knew that much, but why would he do something like that? "I think.. I was trying to put a fire," he said, giving her a confused look again, as what seemed like a distant memory tried to rise to the surface. "Was there a fire?" he asked, not really sure if his memory was real at this point.

He stared at a point on the ground for a moment, trying to remember something.. anything.. when her words made him look up. A bird? Chicken was the first thing that came to his mind.. but he wasn't sure that was what she had meant. OH! "The Fwooper.." he said with dawning realization. He vaguely remembered being in class.. though that seemed so long ago. Was that what was causing their confusion and inability to remember anything? His eyes widened slightly as he saw her features cloud with concern. What were they doing? He wasn't sure he wanted to know.. He gave a cursory glance to the area then turned back to Minerva. It didn't look like there were many witnesses, if any. "Maybe it's a good thing we can't remember," he said with a chuckle.

Ethan had started to rise to his feet from where he was sitting on the ground when a movement caught his eye. Turning his head in that direction, he watched the base of tree as something green crept around it. His eyes grew wide and he quickly got to a standing position upon realization of just what that greenery was.

"Minnie!" he started as he quickly reached a hand towards her to help her up. "We need to get out of here.." Or something.. because the last thing he wanted was for one of them to end up as plant food. Thankfully the boy still had his wand in his other hand and he tightened his grip.

Sutton was out for a run through the grounds. It had been awhile since she'd gone for a run, just by herself. It felt good to have that time alone, to think and be by herself. As she rounded a bend in the path, though, she spotted a familiar figure walking down the path toward her. Slowing her pace as she approached, she smiled at him and immediately gave him a hug. "Hi, Ed!" she greeted him excitedly. She hadn't seen Ed in awhile for some reason. Truthfully, she hadn't exactly been seeking him out lately... things had just been.... weird ever since the incident.

He'd looked down at his feet as he walked, wondering if Sutton was avoiding him because he'd been a little strange with her. Maybe he needed to chill out a little more and just accept she'd made a mistake. People made mistakes and Sutton was a person. Looking surprised at the hug, Ed stared for a second, but then smiled warmly at Sutton. "Hey, Sut." He hugged her back and then took in her appearance. It seemed she'd cheered up a lot. "Good mood?"

She gave him a bit of a confused look as he asked if she was in a good mood. "Why wouldn't I be?" she asked curiously. Sutton was preeeetty much always in a good mood, so why should it be a surprise that she was? Shrugging, she grabbed Ed's hand and turned him around, making him walk with her back the way he had come. "What are you up to out here alone?"

"I dunno, 'cause when you're in a bad mood, you're not in a good mood?" Heh. Captain Obvious. He went along with her turning him around and pushing him back the other way, figuring she wanted to talk about something. "Um, I was walking. Just needed a break from my NEWT studies." He smiled sadly at Sutton as he put across the boring part of most of his days as of late.

....."Okay..." she responded, now even more confused about what he'd intended to know by asking if she was in a good mood. Figuring it didn't matter, though, she shook it off and kept walking, enjoying the spring weather. She nodded in understanding as he explained he'd been studying for his NEWTS. With a frown and a whiney voice, she wrapped her arms around his waist from the side and said, "Nooooo! No NEWTs! That means you have to leaaaave me!"

Heh. Thankfully she hadn't asked what was going through his head 'cause even he had no idea. He walked with her, waiting for her to say whatever she was excited about, but raised an eyebrow at her whiny complaint. "Hey, only during term. I'll come and see you and Nell on Hogsmeade weekends. I promise." Ed put an arm around her and smiled fondly at his sister that he'd never had.

Sutton sighed and nodded sadly, unwrapping of her arms so that only the one behind his back remained. It was hard to walk being all clingy on someone like that. Not making eye contact with him, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear nervously. "Well, I mean, at least my boyfriend will still be here..." Yep, no big deal. No need to make a fuss out of it. Right? Preparing for what could very well be a really long lecture, she flashed him a sweet smile, hoping it would be a deterrent if he chose to be mad at her or anything.

Aw, she looked so sad! Ed pulled her into a hug, but let go quickly because she'd unwrapped her arms from him. As they walked, he looked down at her, wondering what was making her so uncomfortable and then she dropped the news. "...your what will still be here?" Had he heard that right?

Sutton took a deep breath and stood up a little straighter as they walked. Right, well, here went nothing! "My boyfriend," she repeated confidently. Surely Ed would be happy for her, right? Especially happy that she was over Isaac, yes? "Logan Mackenzie and I are dating," she explained quietly, looking straight ahead down the path.

He noticed her change in stature and narrowed his eyes. Was she trying to be assertive now? Humpf. "I see." His voice was quiet and dangerously low. He walked for a while in silence, but then decided to break the awkwardness between them. "How long?"

Oooh... he was not happy with her. As she felt him get tense, she sort of shrunk a bit, all manner of her standing up to him gone. She'd just have to beg him to be okay with it, she supposed. "Just a couple of days," she responded. Maybe that would make it better... that she hadn't waited forever to tell him... and that he hadn't heard it from anyone else first. That was definitely a plus.

A couple of days. Well that was something of a consolation and at least she was now shrinking away a bit now she realised he wasn't too happy. "Does he make you happy?" It was the one thing he definitely wanted to know above all else.

A smile spread across Sutton's face as she blushed at the question. "He does. He's really, really sweet to me. He said that he got so jealous when he heard that I... ya know... Isaac... and he all of a sudden realized he's liked me for awhile now. And, I mean, I've pretty much had a crush on him since the beginning of term... I just figured I wasn't his type since he was dating someone like Ness. I'm not like her at all..." she rambled on. Maybe Ed didn't want or need to know all of this, but it was like once Sutton started talking about Logan, she just couldn't stop.

Good. Ed couldn't help but smile adoringly down at her. She seemed to be pretty happy about Logan and he seemed to be treating her right, so there were only two things Ed needed to say now, really. "Just let him know that I will hunt him down if he hurts you in any way whatsoever." He raised an eyebrow, showing he wasn't joking. "And as long as he keeps that in mind, then good luck to you both." He pulled her closer, hugging her fondly.

Sutton let out a cute little giggle as Ed threatened Logan. "I'll make sure to tell him that, though I don't think Logan would ever hurt me. He's really sweet..." she said shyly. As Ed squeezed and basically told her he was okay with it, she beamed up at him and hugged him back. "Thanks, Ed! I'm really excited!" she said, a bit of her usual bounce coming back to her step. "Are... you going to tell Isaac?" she asked quietly.