Dark and Evil times lie ahead of us Harry...

who terry and tracey
what being the two t's!
where quidditch pitch
when an hour before din din
why because terry likes quidditch
summary terry stays after practise for a bit longer, and someone is there when he's done.
rating erm...pg...because I like pg.

Terry had stayed after practise for a bit longer. He needed the fresh air and alone time. Walking into the locker rooms, he shook his sweaty hair and stripped down to take a cold shower and cool himself down from the practising. Feeling the cold water running down his back gave him the chills, but soon enough he was stepping out, a towel around his waist. Shaking his hair off, water flew and landed on the ground as he pulled on his clothes. Slipping his black sweater on over the blue shirt he wore, Terry heaved a tired sigh and headed out the door. Practise was exhausting, Michael worked them hard, but it was worth it. Their first game was coming up, and practise makes perfect. They had to win the game.

Stepping out into the cold grass, he sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair. It took a while for it to dry, and when it did, it usually lay flat. Terry started to walk back to the school, his shoes squeaking in the damp grass, and the wind blowing against his body. He squinted at the setting sun, and heaved a sigh. He wanted to talk to Hannah so bad, but he couldn't get the guts to. Everytime he did, he'd chicken out and walk away. When he saw a girlish figure walking a ways in front of him, his stomach lurched. Was it Hannah? But when he saw the short hair he felt his heart slow down, and his pace slowed to match it. He couldn't keep doing this to himself, seeing every girl and saying it was Hannah. When he saw the figure turn he furrowed his brows and squinted to see who it was. Terry scrunched his face up. Tracey.

Who: Theodore Nott + Morag MacDougal
What: A late evening training session.
Where: The Quidditch pitch
When: Late evening (just before curfew)
Why: Because poor Theo can't waste away out on the Quidditch pitch alone.

Theodore had had a long and trying day. Along with attending his normal lessons - the homework given out in which had been forsaken that night - he had spent every free moment out on the Quidditch pitch with Crabbe and Goyle. He had been serious when he had told Daphne and Tracey that he'd deal with them; he didn't feel that their heads were in the game enough if they had time to go around pestering girls to go to the dance with them. He knew they were more than a little dense but - after a good many hours of pitch laps and Bludger play - Theo reckoned that the two might finally have got the message.

Now it was nearing the onset of curfew and they hadn't long retired to the castle. Theodore, however, still stood on the pitch. He was drenched in sweat, hair wind-swept and robes streaked with mud. And he looked troubled. It hadn't been until the summer before his 5th year that he had beefed up from being a human twig and the last year - his 6th - had been spent playing reserve for the Slytherin team. The fact that his talent on the pitch had become so noticed by the end of that year that he was guaranteed a spot on the team for his final year at Hogwarts and voted in for the Captaincy was irrelevant. He knew that his skill wasn't as refined as some of his competitors - no matter how diligently he trained - and he just had to trust that the sheer magnitude of his talent was enough to overcome this. Oh and there was also spending every waking hour on the Quidditch pitch in the run-up to the game. That helped.

who terry and michael
what being cool
where library
when afternoon - ish
why because michael is crazy with quidditch and school
summary mikey needs a break from studying/practising so terry comes to his rescue since he's a brilliant friend.
rating erm - pg?

Terry lied on his bed letting his brain race around, thinking about all the events that happened. A newspaper was printed, telling everyone that he'd 'snogged' Hannah in a corridor. Now - all the students looked at him and either winked or gave him a thumbs up. Some of the first year Ravenclaw girls frowned as he passed, and started to whisper. But he'd figured that most of the girls would start rumours, saying they'd been snogging secretly in broom closets or in secret hiding spots. Since the paper was out, he'd been in a bad mood. Girls were spreading rumours, guys were complimenting him about snogging the 'foxy' Ms Abbott. He hated it when people called girls foxy. If anything they were 'hot' but not foxy. He preferred to call her pretty or cute.

As he entered the Library, his eyes scanned for Michael. He'd told Terry earlier he was going to the library for some studying, and after a few hours of thinking, Terry decided to get him out of the studying world. When he spotted the boy in the back, surrounding by books, and a piece of parchment in front of him, Terry blinked and walked towards him. "You're done studying mate." he said and closed the book Michael was reading. "No more. You're over doing it bud. You're starting to look like Granger." he said with a tired smile and sat down in front of him. Michael was over doing it, and Terry needed to talk to someone, someone who would just listen. And Michael was a good person for it. He was the most mature out of their group of friends. Stephen and Terry were the jokers, the one's who acted like kids, and Michael was the one who calmed them down. But - Mikey also acted like a kid with them sometimes - most of the time though he was the adult.

WHO: Stephen and Terry
WHAT: Trying on tights
WHEN&WHERE: 9:00pm 7th year Ravenclaw Dorm
WHY: Because it's funny
SUMMARY: COMING SOON
RATING: ?

Tights! Really, what was Vickie thinking? He had bribed a first year girl with a few knuts to steal him a couple different sizes from the Ravenclaw girls dorm. Stephen opened the sack the girl had shoved in his hands before giggling and running off to dinner. He layed the three pairs out on his bed, and inspected them each.

Sitting down on his bed and letting out a groan, he unfastened his pants. Sliding them off, and choosing the middle pair of tights, Stephen tried shoving first one foot and then both feet into the opening. This obviously wasn't going to work out as well as he planned, so he removed the hose. This time instead of just shoving and manhandling the delicate fabric, he gathered all of one leg up and inserted his foot. Smoothing the tights up his leg, he moved to do the do the same with the other one. Halfway up his left leg, the door to dorm room burst open.

In the early morning hours, fliers would be left on the seats of the Great Hall so that every student at breakfast would be lucky enough to see them. No students (besides a few nameless first and second year Slytherins) would have been seen with the fliers prior to their strategic placing.

At first glance it appears to be a drawing, but it is actually a moving cartoon. It shows a cartoonish Theodore Nott ambling down a hallway towards the Gryffindor changing rooms. He has a big grin and is rubbing his hands together. A thought bubble above his head shows hopeful thoughts of getting lucky.

Upon arrival, the cartoon shows a rather long line of students waiting in front of the changing rooms. Not only boys, but girls as well -- and! Is that Ron Weasley and Harry Potter? Theodore's thought-bubble reflects the thought: Wow, that Morag Macdougal gets around!

We see students emerging from Morag's changing room, all of them bearing souvenir rags that are green in color and say, "Made in Scotland!" in the corner.

Then Morag herself appears, dressed head to foot in the green rags, and with hair as red as Ron's and as bushy as Hermione Granger's. The students will hear her cartoon-version shout, "Scottish whore, lasses, best get used to it!"

The cartoon then ends with this conversation copied from the diary of Morag herself: http://www.greatestjournal.com/users/ragsandroses/300.html?thread=5676#t5676

Trio - Log - Horcruxes

who: harry, ron, hermione
what: researching - getting some info from McG
when: 7:oo PM
why: because they need horcruxy goodness
summary: they meet in the library, ron and hermione fight like an old married couple ( per usual ), they leave the library, run into McG who then gives them notes that good ol dumblydore left behind leading them to YAY!horcruxes.
rating: uh...PG-13 just for shits and giggles. :D

When Hermione asked them to meet her in the library, Harry knew exactly where she'd be. This was because he'd been there himself every night since they'd arrived, and for hours on end. He brought a few books that he'd checked out with him, just in case Hermione wanted to look through them. Not that he thought it'd do any good. Harry didn't find anything groundbreaking and as smart as Hermione was, he didn't think that she would discover anything in them either. The Restricted Section was larger than he remembered from previous years, which had made searching extra difficult. Harry led the way to the back and saw Hermione sitting between two narrow bookshelves. He dropped the books on the table near her and grimaced as a large cloud of dust immediatly rose in the air. He took the seat on the other side of Hermione and scanned whatever book she was looking at. "We aren't late, are we?"

Ron walked closely behind Harry, a bit of a slump in his shoulders. He also held a few books and by the way he was holding them one would think that he dested them more than anything in the world. Of course he wanted to help Harry and Hermione with finding the horcruxes but the truth was that he was a horrible at studying and even worse at researching. It just wasn't something that he could do easily, despite the urgency of the situation. Grim-faced he dumped his books onto the table and sat next to Harry, across from Hermione. He put his arms up on the table and rested his chin in his hands, knowing that the evening was going to get even more boring as it wore on late into the night.

Hermione lowered her eyes from the shelves she'd been picking through when the two boys came down the row of books. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, "No you're not late - for once." Pulling a few of the older looking, leather bound books down from the shelves she set them on the pile Ron and Harry had lugged along with them and nodded. "That should be good for a few hours," she said with a slight grimace. She loved researching, but honestly, she felt like she was getting no where with the horcruxes. They hadn't had a lead in a long time. She then remembered Theodore and wondered if she should mention it. "Oh right - uhm - silly really, but uhm...well Theodore Nott, he asked me to the dance just now," she said, wincing in anticipation of their response.

It took a moment for Hermione's words to sink in. He'd been in the middle of grabbing a book, but after she spoke he felt his hand go slack and the book fell onto the table with a loud thump. "What?! Theodore Nott?? Why?" Suspicious by nature, Harry was already forming several reasons in his mind why Theodore would want to invite Hermione to the dance and what his motive could be. He had seen Nott Sr. as a Death Eater, had watched him serve Voldemort. More importantly, he had seen the way Theodore Nott had looked at him after he had turned his father in. Whatever reason Theodore had to invite Hermione to the dance, it couldn't be a good one. Of course, he entirely assumed that she had said no -- it was unthinkable that it would be otherwise. "What did you say when he asked you? What did he say?"

Ron's jaw dropped at Hermione's words and a look of pure disbelief crossed his face. For a moment all he can do is just sit there, his mouth gapped open and his eyes wide with confusion. Harry's questions to Hermione are unheard and he found that his ears felt very, very hot. Suddenly he jumped up out of his chair, slammed his hands on the table and all but roared, "WHAT?! You can't go with HIM!"

Hermione jumped slightly at both boys' reactions and she all but fell into the chair behind her. "Well of course I said no! It was Nott wasn't it?? And if you're so insecure Ron, why don't you ask me! Honestly! I'm not just some piece of meat for everyone to fight over!" Her eyes were burning a bit as she calmed herself, Pince glaring daggers at the group from behind her counter. "SHH!" she hissed. Hermione took in a deep breath and attempted to calm herself. "Just - oh nevermind. You two are impossible." She picked up a book and flipped it open in a rather determined manner tearing through its pages quite quickly. "Just pick up a book," she whispered fiercely.

"Pick up a book?" Harry hissed, and leaned down so that Hermione could hear him better. Not that she needed to, his voice was gradually getting louder. "Hermione, this could mean something! Who knows what Nott has in mind. What if he's trying to get revenge for what happened? Who knows what his motive could be! We can't just dismiss it!" Harry, being a boy, was completely unaware of the fact that he was more than suggesting that Nott was asking Hermione because he had an ulterior motive and not because he actually liked her. Furthermore, he didn't realize that any girl would take offense to this. "Draco was doing Voldemort's work before, wasn't he?"

COMPLETELY forgetting that they're in a library and completely ignoring Harry at the moment, Ron leaned closer to Hermione and said loudly, "Why would HE ask YOU to the ball?!" Rons ears burned now and his face has gone very very red. He turned back to Harry, shaking his head as if Hermione were mad, "She can't go with him! He's, he's..." Not sure how to finish, he looked back over to Hermione, his mouth still wide open in shock.

Hermione stopped what she was doing and remained quite still for a few moments. Her eyes lifted from the book, her cheeks flushed with both embarassment and anger. "Why Ronald? Why? Maybe because he thinks I'm worth something! At least he had the guile to ask me! And you - you - you just sit there! If you want me to go with you ask me!" Her eyes burned a bit more. "I'm not ugly Ronald Weasley!" she snapped. Pince had certainly had enough, "Out! Out of the library!" Hermione scooped the books up in her arms and started for the door, not waiting for the two boys to catch up.

At a bit of a loss, Harry had no choice but to follow. He had an idea why she had gotten mad -- he wasn't as clueless as Ron -- but he was still reeling from the fact that Theodore Nott would do something like that. Why? He grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him after Hermione, leaving the books behind for now. The last thing that he wanted to do was get in the middle of a fight between them, although he could sense one coming already. Still, there didn't seem a way to avoid it. "Wait, Hermione!" Not quite out of the library, Pince shushed him again, but he ignored her. "Wait for us, will you?"

Ron jogged after Harry and Hermione, shaking his head in confusion. When did he say that she was ugly? He didn't recall saying that at! He ran a hand through his hair and called after her, "'Mione, wait! Hey!" When she didn't slow down he picked up the pace a bit and caught up to her. Walking very quickly beside her he hissed, "What are you doing?? I never called you ugly! You said that!!"

Hermione finally stopped just outside what was now Professor McGonagall's office when Ron caught up to her, but didn't turn around. "I know you didn't but...oh for Merlin's sake. I'm sick of waiting Ron," she said finally, knowing it was going to make the situation that much worse, but she'd kept it pent up for seven years now. That was a long time for someone to keep something that significant to themselves. "And I don't know what Nott wanted," she said to Harry, turning to face them finally, her face still rather flushed. "I thought it was odd too. But he seemed genuine enough." She paused for a moment. "Maybe it was joke," she offered quietly.

By the time that Harry had stopped in front of both of them, he had the feeling that the conflict really didn't have anything to do with him and that there wasn't much he could really say. He was silent as Hermione spoke to Ron, flabbergasted, though when she mentioned Nott again the anger returned. "I'm not saying that it was a joke, Hermione, just that... his intentions might not be completely good."

Hermione felt a pang of guilt hit her stomach like a bucket of lead and her frown softened. "Look. Forget about it Ron," she said, as sort of an appology, though she was probably the only one who'd understand it. "And I don't know what else we could do about Nott. We could confront him about it, but he'd deny it or make up some ruddy excuse," she said, letting out a rather tired sigh. Running a hand through her hair she finally realised she too wanted out. Out of this corridor, out of her exams, out of this school. This wasn't where they were supposed to be. "Let's just...get to looking through these books," she said finally.

At this point Harry was too frustrated with everything to have any patience left. He was annoyed that they didn't get to research, worried about what had happened with Nott, and now was getting even more irritated that his two best friends were fighting. Nothing was easy anymore, and the things that he still had he wanted to last. If they both continued like this... Well. Harry was just sick of it. "Both of you shut up! I can't take this anymore!! Ron, just take her to the bloody dance so that we can study about horcruxes and get out of this school!!" Harry looked at Hermione, his jaw set. "Hermione, will you go to the dance with Ron?"

Ron's face scrunched up as if he were about to be sick. Hell, he did feel sick! He gulped, not daring take his gaze off of Harry. He stared at his friend, sensing Hermione to his side and knowing that if he looked at her it would not be good. What was Harry thinking?!

To say that Harry had been completely oblivious to what was going on would've been quite the false statement, and to say that it wasn't bothering him would also be rather foolish. Hermione, embarassed for feeling so childish nodded in answer to Harry's question, but didn't bother to look at Ron. It was bad enough having to look at Harry.

Harry, on the other hand, had no problem looking at either of them. As oblivious as he had remained for the first few years, he'd started to catch on eventually -- especially after he'd started dating Ginny. "Fine. Ron, will you go to the dance with Hermione?"

He gulped again, not really sure why his ears felt so incredibly hot. Trying very hard to only look at Harry, he opened his mouth to say, "I guess so," but nothing came out. He tried again, to no avail, and then just nodded.

Hermione snuck a glance at Ron, and even though he was struggling quite horribly to try and reply she found it rather endearing, but she didn't tell anyone that. Though her slight smile may have given her away. Fighting it back she managed to compose herself - the thought of the Horcruxes alone was sobering enough in itself. A sigh escaped her. "Well, now what. We can't go back into the library, Pince'll have our heads. And if we go to the Common Room we'll be surrounded by other students. Nosy students," she said, shaking her head. She was beginning to think this was pointless.

Relieved that that was done, Harry now had no problem changing the subject. In fact, he thought that it would make it much easier on Ron -- who was probably going to yell at him once they were in private. After Hermione spoke, he thought the predicament for a moment. "What about the Room of Requirement?" Sure, there was still a chance that a student or two could come across them, but he found it highly unlikely. Besides, he'd left most of his books in the library, and he had a feeling that they might reappear again if they tried his idea.

Really, really wanting to change the damn subject, Ron nodded at Harry as if he'd just said the most fabulous and interesting thing of all time, "Yeah!! Let's try that!" He breathed in a sigh of relief, still not really understanding what had just happened. His grin faded as he realised what he had just agreed to do. Go to a ball...with dancing? With...costumes...with...Hermione? He looked over to her briefly then looked away and took a deep breath. Whoa.

"That might work," Hermione agreed. It had worked for them before in tight situations, so why shouldn't it work now? They were rather desperate. "Let's go then," she said turning to follow the other two, but stopped short when the concrete eagle staircase behind them swiveled open. "Weasley, Potter, Granger, just a moment please," came a voice, followed by the clicking of heels on the cobblestone. McGonagall. Hermione froze. What'd they do now? Slowly turning around, a rather pained expression on her face, she replied, "Yes?" "I've got something that might help you in your...research efforts," she said somewhat hesitantly. Pushing her glasses a bit further up on the bridge of her nose she pulled out a tattered bundle of parchment. "Here. Albu-Dumbledore would have wanted you to have them," she said, her voice wavering a bit.

Harry was the one to step forward and take the parchment from her hands, and he did so without hesitation. The mention of Dumbledore's name had propelled him to react. He moved back again and looked down at the papers. He didn't know what they could be, but he had a sudden feeling that whatever it was would help them. It was something important, he knew that much, or McGonagall wouldn't have given it to them. Grateful (and definitely not for the first time), Harry smiled, which was rare lately in itself. "Thank you Prof--er, Headmistress..."

Ron, still a little wary of McGonagall from his years at Hogwarts, didn't say anything but looked on curiously as she handed Harry the parchment. He had no clue what it was but he was glad to have some kind of help. He felt as if he should say something then, despite the fact that McGonagall still intimitated him a bit, "Yeah, thanks."

Hermione merely smiled at the older woman in reply and gave her a small nod. The Headmistress' eyes wrinkled at the corners as she too smiled, "You're welcome. Now off you go! Its past curfew and if you hurry around the corner I'll pretend I haven't seen you." She waved her hands in a shoo-ing motion and quickly started back up the stairs after giving them a small wink. The books still under her arm Hermione jogged to catch up with the two boys, "What is it Harry?" she asked curiously, her fingers moving to brush against the parchment.

Already looking over the parchment, Harry didn't answer Hermione at first. He read Dumbledore's scrawling hand and tried not to be bothered by the sight of it. He took another moment and then flipped a page. "It's what he thinks the horcruxes might be," answered Harry in a whisper. Who knows who or what could be overhearing them. There weren't any paintings in this hallway, but Harry knew better than to automatically assume that they were alone. "Look at all of this... he has so many theories." He flipped another page. And then another. "It looks like he thinks it's something that has to do with the founders." He pointed at a particular line and then looked up at his two friends.

Ron peered over Harry's shoulder, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to read all the writings and found that it would take hours, maybe even days to get through all of it. He groaned, but was also happy that they had something to go on now. It was if there was a tiny ray of hope now that hadn't been there before. He looked over at Hermione and smlied a little, even with the realisation that she would put him and Harry both to work in trying to research what the parchment papers said.

Hermione let out a rather exasperated sigh and threw her hands up, a relieved grin on her lips. "Of course! Why didn't we think of that before? Its brilliant," she said, bending too to look over Harry's shoulder at the spidery writing. It should've been obvious weeks ago, and all along it'd been right there waiting for them. This was definitely something to be grateful for and she knew it would help them immensely in their progress. Glancing up she caught Ron's eyes and flushed, but smiled a bit before looking away. "Right - let's get going, this is huge. We're getting somewhere!" she said happily, squeezing both Ron and Harry's arms, the familiar Excellent!-I-love-a-challenge look twinkling in her eyes.

Who: Theodore Nott + Daphne Greengrass
What: A discussion of the night’s events and a good few innuendos, as is Theo’s speciality.
Where: Slytherin common room
When: After Theo’s meeting with Hermione
Why: Because Theo must share his amusing encounters with his friends.

It was sometime past seven when Theo finally left the library, books in his arms and somewhat of an unfathomable expression on his face. Being after dinner but before curfew, the Slytherin wasn't surprised when he saw that the corridors were still somewhat busy. As such he refrained from stopping off anywhere and instead continued his journey directly to the Slytherin common room. It wasn't until he was safely down in the dungeons that he dared break that expression on his face, it quickly being replaced with a more characteristic smirk. Oh what an experience! What he wanted more than anything that moment was to find Daphne and relate the story to her so her's was the first face he looked for as he arrived in the Slytherin common room.

As though on cue, Daphne descended the stairs just as Theodore entered the Common Room. She laughed and hugged him suddenly, giggling. She was about to say something, but was suddenly reminded of Raggy's words earlier. Daphne instead found herself mocking her, a pitiful doe-eyed look on her face: "Oh, I'm sorry, was I acting too desperate?" Still laughing, Daphne pulled away from her friend and sat on the edge of the couch. "Where have you been? The library again?" The teasing was absent from her voice when she addressed him about his study habits, which would have been unheard of had he been any other student.

Already in a good mood, Theo only laughed as Daphne hugged him before making her comment. He had been following the exchange between Daphne and Morag; it had been just one of the factors that had brightened up his day. It really was a good day to be Theodore Nott. Setting his books down on a table he took a seat next to his blonde friend, choosing to lean right back into the cushions which were surprisingly comfortable for those in a place as dank and dim as the Slytherin dungeons. "In the library, that’s right," he nodded, pulling his expression straight as not to give anything away before due time. "Not exactly studying though. I happened to have company. And somewhat of an errand to run."

"An errand?" Daphne yawned primly behind her hand in an effort not to look too interested. In reality, she was dying to know who Theodore had talked to and also what had transpired in this discussion. She loved gossip and that was no secret within the Slytherin house... or anywhere, really.

Daphne crossed her arms, leaned back on the couch, and watched him expectantly. She didn't ask him to tell her, although she was dying to know.

Unsurprisingly after six years together, Theo knew Daphne well. He knew she liked to know what was going on and, as such, it had been she that he had been thinking about the entire time he was talking to Hermione in the library. He knew full well that she'd find the whole thing extremely amusing. Which was why he was going to tease her with it a little. "An errand, yes. But as it happened I bumped into Hermione Granger." He paused for a moment. "Well not so much bumped into her as owled her and asked her to meet me there."

All right. Now Daphne was interested. She gave Theodore a wide-eyed look and scooted close enough so that no one passing might overhear. "You didn't! Theodore! I didn't think that you'd actually..." Daphne couldn't help it, she laughed. Hard. Imagine, Hermione Granger getting an owl from Theodore, a Slytherin. Hermione! "She actually showed up? Truly? What happened? Oh, darling dear, you must tell me!" Daphne gave Theodore a bit of a pout and was sure to use her nickname for him -- not that that would endear him to her any more, but she had to maintain some leverage here.

If he wasn't so chock full of having to hide his amusement Theo may well have put up more resistance to telling Daphne the story. But, as it were, he was too glee-filled himself. Not too much to put on a little act, though. "Oh, I simply couldn't deny my feelings for her anymore, Daphne! I owled her under the pretence of needing help with homework - I just knew that would get her there!" He was so close to laughing that he just went full steam ahead as not to give in to it. "And then I couldn't stop staring at her so she worked it out of me. I asked her to go to the dance with me, Daphne, I did!"

Dissolving into laughter, Daphne covered her mouth and tried in vain to control it. Oh, the very picture of it was infinitely amusing and she could do nothing to block it out!! It was a full minute before she could even answer him, and even then her voice was gasping. "Theodore! Oh... Merlin, what did she say?? Did she agree? Are you going to the dance with... with..." Daphne couldn't even finish the question. She was laughing too hard. It was impossible to picture bushy-headed Hermione on Theodore's arm -- positively painful, really. Covering her face with her arms, Daphne caught her breath again, "Are you trying to kill me here?"

"She turned me down for Ron Weasley!" Theodore answered before dissolving into fits of laughter himself. He was normally a pretty together guy but the hilarity of the situation paired with Daphne's influence on him just made him give in to his amusement. It took him a good minute or so to take enough deep breaths that he was able to control himself again. Straightening up and running a hand through his mass of dark curls, he shook his head. "Honestly, love, what girl chooses Ronald Weasley over me?"

Oh, this was too much. Daphne didn't even try to stay sitting up on the couch anymore. She layed down and propped her legs up on Theodore, still attempting to control her laughter. The fact that she turned him down didn't help. Daphne laughed... and laughed some more. When she was finally in control of her facilities she spoke, her voice still shaking with forced control. "Well, it is Hermione Granger! Her tastes can hardly be taken seriously!" Daphne regarded her friend for a moment and then poked him with her toe. "Good luck getting any respectable girl to go with you after Hermione Granger turned you down!"

Theo shook his head, pretending to look ashamed. "I know, it's awful. No girl will ever respect me again!" He managed to keep a straight face on that one for all of a moment before sniggering. Some of the teenage girls in the school had no self-respect, he knew that. Even if it was true that no one would go out with him again, which it wasn't, he wouldn't have a hard time to find someone to simply have fun with. "You should have been there, Greengrass. She was so apologetic that she had to turn me down."

"Never ever! You're lucky that we're already friends." Daphne sneered and attempted again to picture the scene, but it was just too funny and she had to take a few deep breaths to keep from laughing again. "Of course she was! Did Weasley show up in the middle of all of this?" Now that would have been something that Daphne would have enjoyed watching. Ron Weasley annoyed her just as much as Hermione did, after all. In her opinion, the two deserved each other.

If Daphne was thinking that Weasley and Granger were a perfect couple then Theodore had entertained the exact same thought earlier on. "He didn't, unfortunately." Theo wasn't usually a gossip but the events of the evening had been too good to care. "Did you see her journal though? It's ink spill after ink spill with those two. I think he's too scared to ask her and she knows it."

Daphne wrinkled her nose at the thought and shrugged. "Probably. It wouldn't surprise me. I don't know if I want them to date though... it's bad enough seeing them around school by themselves. If they were together..." Daphne's voice trailed and she looked a little disgusted. "Well, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about."

Theodore gave a little laugh. "You know I was actually quite turned on until you just said that," he told his friend, shaking his head. It was true, he hadn't been with a girl in a little while and thoughts of the dance and what usually followed such occasions - at least for Theo - had left him somewhat lustful. Not that it was a feeling propelled by his encounter with Hermione.

Amused by this, Daphne gave Theodore a little bit of a look. "Turned on during a discussion involving Hermione Granger? Please tell me that you're joking." She could usually sense that about Theo after knowing him for so long, although at the moment she felt like giving him a hard time. "It's best you're not now, since I'm not really in the mood to help you out." Stretching a bit, Daphne closed her eyes. "Though you're a comfortable foot pillow."

Shaking his head a bit more, Theo grabbed hold of Daphne's ankles as if he was going to push her feet off of him, though he actually made no move of the sort. "Well, love, you might well have to find yourself another foot pillow while I embark on the easier task of finding a little ... relief." He smirked at her though she had her eyes closed. He didn't really have much intention of going anywhere. In fact he thought that things might look up the next day when people heard about Hermione; contrary to Daphne's teasing he imagined that quite a few of his little fangirls would come running to his aid as soon as they heard that Hermione had turned him down.

Wrinkling her nose again, Daphne couldn't help but laugh. "You don't have to tell me these things, Theodore!" It wasn't a particular mental image that she enjoyed. Not that she didn't think that Theodore was attractive, but well... yeah. She squirmed a bit when she realized that he was still holding her ankles and opened her eyes to look at him. She tried to look stern, but that failed entirely. "You're tickling me!"

"Oh I am, I am?" With that Theo reached forward so he could place his hands on Daphne's sides, deliberately tickling her this time. He got some strange - and some admiring - looks from passing younger students as he continued. "And love," he added between attacks, "don't pretend you don't just get hot when I tell you about my needs." He couldn't possibly be smirking more at that point.

Daphne squealed and then began to laugh helplessly as Theodore tickled her. She didn't even notice the envious looks she got from the younger students. Seizing Theodore's hands, she held them tightly to keep them at bay and sat up to get a grip on his arms. Her sides aching, Daphne gasped as she struggled to regain her breath. "I give, I give!" She wasn't sure what she was giving into exactly, but at the moment all that mattered was that the tickling stopped!

Laughing, Theo let his arms be held under Daphne's control despite the fact that he could have easily pulled free and continued with his torment, had he wished to. "You know, you shouldn't say things like that, love," he told her, completely still in her grip. "People might get the wrong idea." He kept his voice hushed but only because he had been told it was sexy like that. He couldn't have cared less what people would have thought of him upon hearing his suggestions.

Half in amusement and half in exasperation, Daphne rolled her eyes at him. "You never let up, do you?" She gripped his hands for a moment longer as though not trusting that he'd stop, but then reluctantly let go of them. "You know that I'd never actually give, no matter how insistent your... needs... are." She smirked a little at the word and crossed her arms, entirely composed again.

"Oh, I know, love," he admitted with a faked exasperated sigh. He did know - and respect Daphne for the fact - that she wasn't just going to give in to him if he was persistent enough. Maybe some girls (and a fair amount of Slytherin Pureblood 'princesses' at that) would but he both expected and got more from Daphne. Which, though frustrating at times when he was really hot and bothered for some reason, he had long since accepted. "It's just that when there's a attractive girl practically lying on you already, it's hard to stop yourself trying."

"I guess I can't expect you to not be you." Daphne gave her friend a smile and patted his arm. "Either way, you have my deepest sympathy for your torment." She was only half-serious, and yawned again as she laid back in the same fashion she had been before. "Perhaps later in the week I'll be in a more giving mood." She left it at that -- ambiguous. Boys should always wait.

"That's what I like to hear, love," Theo replied in a joking tone, shifting as he often did to accommodate Daphne more comfortably. No one could say he wasn't a gentleman sometimes. In fact, despite constant innuendos that weren't especially proper, he was a gentleman a fair bit of the time. Or so he liked to pretend. As for his comment in reply to Daphne, he was only half-serious himself. As many inappropriate comments as he made, he was sure Daphne knew by then that he would never try and force her to do something she didn't want to do. He just wasn't that guy.

Daphne smiled and changed positions, this time laying with her head against Theo instead of her feet. "As though I live to please you," she replied sarcastically, although her words were mumbled. With her other hand she demandingly sought out his and moved it over her head. She loved it when he rubbed her head or her hair. Not that she would ever admit it aloud, but Daphne didn't always realize that actions speak louder than words.

Not one to disappoint, Theo obliged in stroking Daphne's soft blonde hair, smiling softly as he looked down at her. He took a quick glance around the common room - the population of which was now dwindling as his housemates finally resigned themselves to working on essays due the next day and other such unfavourable tasks - before tilting his head back against the chair and closing his own eyes. He liked to relax like this now and again; it often helped him forget just how insatiable he really was sometimes.

Who: Theodore Nott + Hermione Granger
What: An innocent little 'homework help' session in the library. Apparently.
Where: The library
When: Seven o'clock
Why: Because Theo can't resist acting on the thoughts he entertains.

Theodore may well have been a number of undesirable things but one thing he certainly never was was unpunctual. It had been a good fifteen minutes before his designated seven o'clock meeting time with Hermione when he had arrived in the library. Now, with only mere minutes to go until the clock would strike for the hour, he sat at a table in good view of the door, books and parchment spread out in front of him. He hadn't been entirely untruthful in his owl; a completed History of Magic essay did sit in front of him and he had been concerned with fact-checking ... the day before. But, after spending a good portion of the previous evening in the library studying a few useful books, he was long since satisfied with the essay. Not that Hermione was to know that. He had needed a reason to get her to meet him, after all, and he could think of nothing that would be more compelling to the Gryffindor than a plea for help with schoolwork.

Hermione,

I know we're not the best of friends or anything but I'm sure you know that I'm almost as dedicated to my studies as you are so I hope we can put aside our differences for the sake of our education. Being so focused on the upcoming Quidditch match I haven't had much chance to get to the library which is a real shame because there's a book I was really counting on to double check my latest History of Magic essay. However when I went by to get the book after classes today I found that there were no copies left. I wouldn't normally ask this of you as I know that your workload is as heavy as anyone's but I could really use your help with the essay. I'm not certain that the facts are right and I really can't think of anyone else to turn to. Please let me know if you'd be willing to meet in the library for a little while this evening to help me out.

Yours,
Theodore Nott Jr

Open!

who Eli and....you.
what Walking/talking
where Outside
when After classes
why He's bored

Eli closed up his journal and filed it away in the nightstand next to him. He slid the drawer shut and slid off the bed to put his shoes on and slip a sweater on over his head. The black sweater read Thestrals on it, with the crest on it, and a few designs here and there. Eli jammed his hands into his pocket and started off to the stairs. He needed to get out, he'd finished his homework, and staying inside was giving him a headache. He'd changed into his regular clothes, consisting of his sweater, blue (rather baggy) jeans, and his muggle shoes. He was fond of muggle shoes, especially the ones that were called skater shoes. He wasn't sure what it meant, but they were bloody comfortable. Pulling his hood over his head he walked out of the common room, and down the halls to the doors leading out back. His feet padded down the dark halls, all you could hear was him breathing, and his footsteps. Everything else was silent. Everyone was probably studying, doing homework, or...sleeping. Those were the three things most kids did after classes. But, unlike them, Eli was out for a walk. He had a headache, and it was driving him mad, fresh air seemed to be the only cure. First, he had to send a letter he'd written to his muggle friend. He missed her.

Stepping up the stairs to the Owlery, he looked around for his newest owl, Pepper. When he saw the owl come out of a owl house, he grinned and called him over. The owl came over happily and watched as Eli strapped the letter onto his leg. "You know where Em lives. Just take it there." he said quietly and smiled as the owl took off out the window and into the distance. He wanted to owl her so bad, but he knew it was hard to, with her living in a muggle neighborhood. But his owl was usually good about being sneaky, and not being noticed. Eli sighed and pulled at his hood, making sure it wouldn't fall off and rounded the corner to see someone else coming up the stairs. He jumped back as they almost collided and laughed nervously. "Sorry about that." he said softly and started around them.

Who: Daphne Greengrass + Theodore Nott
What: A little bit of conversation, flirting and not talking about the future.
Where: Slytherin common room
When: Around 9/10pm
Why: Because life isn’t complete without a discussion on the ins-and-outs of dating Hermione Granger.

Daphne sat cross-legged in front of the fire with magazines spread around her. She had one open and stared with a slight disgust at the silvery-purple lipstick a particularly beautiful witch was sporting. Whoever said that purple was coming back this season was deluded indeed. She wouldn't be caught dead in a colour like that. It wasn't even flattering.

Sneering, Daphne closed the magazine and tossed it on top of the pile. She picked up her wand and casually began to charm her fingernails a different colour. She'd learned this spell from her mother when she was very young in a rare moment of girlish confidence (although she wasn't allowed to perform it herself until she was old enough). She only let a few select people in her house know about it, but somehow it'd gotten out and now Daphne was the official nailpainter... though she would only do it if she was in the right mood.

The fire was dying, but Daphne didn't bother to attempt to relight it. She wouldn't know how to anyway. Instead she reached behind her and pulled one of the cashmere-like afghans from the chair and wrapped it around herself.

Instead of looking at another magazine she found herself staring at the fire... and thinking of her father, missing her father. She hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to him before she left Hogwarts. Of course, she received a letter from him almost daily, but it wasn't the same...

Contrary to popular opinion seeing as he was one of the top students in the year after Granger, Theodore actually spent time on his homework. That evening he had taken his time completing a particularly nasty History of Magic essay before he even thought about venturing from the library. For a ghost who didn't realise he was dead, Professor Binns' teacher mind was certainly acute enough to set a challenging piece of homework. His essay finished and neatly rolled, Theo gathered up his belongings and headed out of the library and down toward the Slytherin dungeons. He had finished all of his homework for the moment; he thought he might grab a shower or go over some Quidditch plays. The weather was still fairly mild; he might even go for a run outside. Stepping into the common room, these plans fell away for one he couldn't resist as he saw Daphne sitting by the dying fire, wrapped in a blanket. A smirk quickly forming on his face, he slipped through the shadows (of which there was no abundance in the dungeon room), crossing the room so he could arrive behind his blonde classmate without her even knowing he was there. Setting the books he had been carrying down on a nearby table, Theo leaned in behind Daphne. "I do hope you're collating some beauty advice for Granger, love. She needs all the help she can get."

Since Daphne hadn't heard Theodore enter the room at all, she jumped at the sound of a voice and released a small, high-pitched yelp. Being caught even thinking vulnerable thoughts made her cheeks heat up, despite the fact that he would have no way of knowing what she had been thinking.

It wasn't really in Daphne's nature to have the characteristic softness that women were supposed to possess, although most of the girls in Slytherin weren't known for having it either. Still, Daphne knew that even Pansy, Tracey, and Millicent had their soft spots, and she was determined not to let hers show.

Her surprise shifting to annoyance as his words sank in, Daphne turned her head to scowl at him. "Were you trying to frighten me to death by sneaking up on me, or by giving such a suggestion? Honestly, Theodore." She shook her head, but was secretly glad to see him and so settled on a smile. "Where have you been? I've barely seen you except in class... And through the pages of those thrilling journals, darling dear!" She couldn't help a laugh and patted his cheek. "Come sit with me. It's warm." That was Daphne's way: cold one moment, but warm and inviting the next.

If the smirk that had originally been on Theo's face hadn't been obvious enough, it certainly was by the time he had processed the sound of Daphne's little yelp. He didn't comment on it, however. In fact, Theo didn't comment on a lot of things people did that he found interesting, even though he more often than not noticed them. It just wasn't his way. Instead he focused on the obvious - the annoyed words Daphne spoke before she issued her invitation. And then the invitation, of course. His smirk hiding behind the winning smile of a Slytherin, he sank down to the floor, crossing his own legs like Daphne's, sitting fairly close to her and inclined toward her just a little. Without a second thought he withdrew his wand from his pocket and pointed it toward the fire that had retreated into little but glowing embers. A soft spoken Incendio was all it took for bright flames to flare up once again, the fire restored to it's former glory. Turning to Daphne, he spoke at normal volume, "I've been working, love. Not so foreign a concept for a 7th year, I'm afraid."

"Working?" Daphne watched the fire clinically as he made it bigger, and then gave him a half smile and pushed his arm. "Show off. You were working this whole time? Dinner ended hours ago." She hadn't started on her essays yet, even though one of them was due tomorrow.

Not that she was worried. Daphne could whip out an essay in under an hour. It wasn't the best work, of course, but it was passable and that was all that she cared about. If she set her mind to it she knew that she could have better grades, but what was the point? Her father already had a job ready for her at the Ministry. She didn't really need to try. Her mother loved to continuously tell her that she was in school to find a husband, although Daphne expressed even littler interest in that. she didn't like the idea of someone trying to tell her what to do. She also didn't like children.

Maybe it was because of his complete disregard to what anyone thought of him but Theo was far from embarrassed that he spent so much time working. He was captain of the Quidditch team, fairly popular with the ladies and a good-looking boy, if he did say so himself. He had his fun. What harm did a few solid hours of work a night do? None whatsoever. "Show off? Nonsense. I must keep up with my new girlfriend now, mustn't I?" Raising his eyebrows in amusement, Theo flashed a winning grin at Daphne at the reference to their in-journal conversation. In fact, since Daphne had mentioned it in jest, Theo had thought upon how simply amusing it would be to try and seduce Granger.

Since Theodore hadn't said anything about her yelp, Daphne was considerate enough not to say anything about his study habits. She had nothing against studying, really... she just didn't do much of it herself.

Smirking, Daphne looked at him in a mixture of disgust and amusement. "That's right, I forgot. And how is the relationship going, if I may ask? Or would that make me too nosy?" She smiled and leaned back on her elbows, ignoring yet well aware of the fact that this almost made her head touch his knee. "Not that I want to know too many details, darling dear. Dinner was hours ago, but I don't want breakfast ruined."

Theo put on a face and tone of joking reprimand. "You'll hear no details from me, love. It simply wouldn't be respectful." Unable to keep a straight face at that one, Theo gave a little laugh, leaning back on his hands and tipping his head back, a smile clear across his features. "Honestly, as if there would be anything to tell, even if I did stoop that low. Granger's probably a complete prude." Theo paused for a second, as if in thought, before straightening back up and shaking his head. "It doesn't bear thinking about." On second thought Theo wasn't sure that even he, charmer extraordinaire, could honestly pretend to be interested in Hermione Granger for too long. He hated few ... she really got on his nerves.

The reprimand made Daphne roll her eyes and suppress a smile. She (as well as anyone in their house or Hogwarts for that matter) knew very well how Theo was with the ladies. Daphne was always certain to take care of herself in matters with boys and never wore her heart on her sleeve. She knew better than that from watching her parents together. If she ever gave Theodore the time of day, it was with careful planning and execution. Daphne did things like that with distance... almost like a chess game. "And I'd rather not think about it, if you don't mind. I think that you're better off staying with your own house... not that some girls here are much better." Daphne wrinkled her nose in contemplation. "Tracey or Millicent, maybe. Pansy already has her claws in Draco..." Daphne trailed off. She didn't think about serious things often, like the war or Voldemort, but it was hard not to when someone spoke Draco's name. There was a pause, but then she softly continued, "...so you're somewhat limited."

Theodore's smile didn't falter at the mention of Draco although he had the same moment of contemplation as Daphne. His father a renowned Death Eater, one would be forgiven for thinking that it was rather difficult for him to ignore the war. But one would be wrong. Theo had not spoken to his father in years and, while he was not naive enough to imagine that his father had no plans for him to join the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named upon leaving Hogwarts, had little trouble pretending that the war wasn't happening. As far as he was concerned people could assume what they liked as to whether he would follow in his father's footsteps and join the Death Eaters. Any plans he may have had were nothing but his own. "Really love, some of the girls in the other houses aren't half bad. At least, they suffice for a quick ... acquaintance." Although self-confident almost to a fault, Theo was rarely crude with his words and often relied on simple implications to get his point across.

The simple implication was enough, and Daphne tossed a magazine at him. She herself had few rumours surrounding known conquests. Contrary to popular belief, Daphne didn't spend a lot of time with boys. She had her small group of girls and that was enough. It would be surprising to anyone that she'd really only kissed two boys -- Theodore and someone insignificant that she'd dated briefly in her fifth year. Dating wasn't really her forte, and she'd actually allowed Theodore (someone she never even dated) further than she had her own boyfriend. However, she'd never actually "gone all the way" and knew next to nothing about the experiences that Theodore often insinuated at. "I think that my mother would have a fit if I associated myself with someone out of the Slytherin house, although that would make her a hypocrite." Daphne had told next to no one that her father had been a Hufflepuff during his years at Hogwarts. The only other person (besides Theodore) who knew was Tracey.

The reactions of a Quidditch Chaser kicked in and Theo managed to move just enough so the magazine fluttered to the ground beside him, only just catching his arm. He tutted at Daphne for a moment before speaking up. "Of course your mother would have a fit," Theo replied, amusement shining on his face and evident in his voice. "Her perfect little Pureblood daughter dating anyone less than worthy ... perish the thought!" Theo grinned at Daphne for a moment before something seemed to come to him and he leaned in toward her, lowering his voice to a tone that girls seemed to find seductive and speaking with his lips not so far from her own. "It's rather a good job she doesn't know about us, it now? My blood may be pure enough but our history doesn't exactly make you the most innocent, does it now, love?"

Frowning still from the fact that he'd managed to elude the flying magazine, Daphne mentally refused to give in to his smooth (and quite suave) talking and mannerisms. She tilted her head slightly and put a finger against his lips. "What my mother doesn't know won't kill her, unfortunately. And besides... our history? What could you be speaking of?" Feigning innocence was something that Daphne was remarkably good at. She widened her eyes for good effect, though was certain not to make them unattractively wide. The last thing she wanted to look like was Lavender Brown. "I do believe you're making quite suggestion. Our history is quite insignificant compared to others you've had experience with, wouldn't you think?" Daphne's very favourite thing to do was to remind Theodore that he hadn't actually had her -- and that she was very capable of resisting him if she wished to... She had before.

His lips still under her finger - it was a very endearing move on her part, after all - Theo managed a smirk. Daphne was quite right, of course. If judging by how far each girl had allowed him to go then his experience with Daphne was quite insignificant. However how far a girl had let him go wasn't always the deciding factor in what encounters he chose to hold the fondness. "Perhaps, Greengrass," (he did have a penchant for using girls' surnames as oppose to their first), "but you must know that I hold more fond memories of our encounters than those I've had with ... let's call them fleeting fancies." It certainly was more enjoyable for Theo when he was with girls he actually liked rather than just a somewhat aesthetically pleasing airhead.

Daphne moved her hand down and considered him. She'd never liked being called by her last name, but it didn't matter as much when Theodore did it, though he was a close friend. She smiled a little and patted his cheek again, although this time the gesture was more gentle than friendly. "You're cute, Nott, and one of the few I'd actually..." She paused and then laughed and chose to use his word, "...encounter." Daphne never had pursued another relationship since her fifth year, although during that time encounters with Theo hadn't stopped. Daphne wasn't above such disloyalty. That had actually been what had ended the relationship. "My standards are unbelievably high."

He gave a laugh. "Don't I know it, love." Smiling Theo shifted onto his knees from his previously cross-legged position, gaining enough height on Daphne with this movement to comfortably snake his well-muscled arm around her slender shoulders. The amount he was leaning in no more than friendly now he added, "and one day you'll realise that I'm the best that you - or anyone - could ever possibly have." He flashed a grin after this; a habit that seemed to detract from what would otherwise label him as conceited although he certainly did believe that he was one of the best on the market.

Rolling her eyes, Daphne had no problem leaning against him and moving her arm around him as well. She resisted the urge to snuggle a bit and just looked at the fire. "I think that you're a bad influence, actually." She yawned and closed her eyes, forgetting that she'd only charmed half of her fingernails. "You ruin my relationships." She didn't bother mentioning that she'd only had one and that it was two years ago... those two facts were beside the point.

"Don't worry," Theo said, keeping his voice soft as not to destroy the atmosphere that sitting in front of the fire as they were created. "The young man that your mother chooses to be your husband will undoubtedly be every bit as unfaithful as you and then you'll have no guilt whatsoever when engaging in our ... encounters." He certainly knew what avenues to go down when teasing, that was for sure. Though he hadn't had a mother to teach him the ins-and-outs of Pureblood society himself attending a Wizarding boarding school pre-Hogwarts had been quite enough to teach him everything he could possibly have wanted to know.

"I can be faithful if I want to be!" Daphne protested, and gave Theodore's arm a light pinch. "It's the wanting to that makes a difference. Wouldn't it be amusing if you married someone and I married someone, and the two that we married had an affair at the same time?" It really wasn't a very amusing concept -- rather twisted, really -- but Daphne was also used to such behaviour. Not from her parents... her father had always been ridiculously loyal to her mother, but the sentiment wasn't returned. Daphne actually wasn't sure if she was actually her father's daughter. Her father, however, remained oblivious.

"Oww!" Theodore cried as Daphne pinched his arm although he was quite obviously teasing. He listened to her words with the remnants of a smirk on his face; he was quite aware that infidelity was rife in Pureblood society but it wasn't that or the situation that Daphne presented to him that was amusing him. "Honestly, love, do you really see me getting married?" Though Theo didn't talk much about the future to anyone, his future marriage or lack thereof was definitely something he didn't mind discussing.

"Everyone gets married at some point." Daphne had simply assumed that Theodore would, despite what he claimed. What else was there to do, anyway? Join the War? Who would want to do that? "Otherwise you'd just be lonely. Unless you do what you do here, which I guess you could... It'd be harder though, wouldn't you think? Without a whole school to choose from?" She winked at him, though couldn't help a grin. "You'd just have to settle for going out looking for new people, or find someone you know would give in, who isn't me, by the way." Of course, Daphne wasn't really sure how faithful she would be in her marriage. She'd always assumed that she would be, but she was her mother's daughter...

Theo's only reply was a trademark smirk/grin and a comment, "we'll see." Truth be told he didn't fancy thinking about the future much because the unknown made him feel powerless. Of course he was confident in himself and his abilities but he knew that there were far more factors than that that decided someone's future. Hell, his father didn't set out to become a Death Eater but circumstance had made him one. No, forget the future. Theo liked to live in the now. "You forget I still have a year to endear you to me."

For now she let the comment go. She knew Theodore well enough to know how he evaded questions of the future -- it was similar to how she avoided talking about the War. Neither of them seemed to like to do it. "A year isn't a long time, Nott. And besides, I already find you endearing." She gave him a close-lipped smile before leaning back against him again. "And you're quite a good pillow. So there, you've succeeded in your goal."

"I suppose I have." Despite the fact that he was a loner by nature and that the actions he made in response to his high libido had implications in terms of his reputation Theodore had the capability of being a good friend. So, as Daphne leaned against him, he shifted slightly to accommodate her more comfortably and moved his arm around her a little so he could stroke her blonde hair softly. "And you're right, a year isn't a long time." He rather wished it was. It was upon the realisation that Daphne was indeed correct that he made the decision there and then to make that year count.

Daphne closed her eyes and sighed contentedly when he stroked her hair. In this position she could almost be mistaken as a harmless and very vulnerable girl, though she was far from it. "It really isn't a long time. We'll have to do a better job of keeping touch once the year is over, you know." Daphne wasn't the best at writing owls, she really only sent three or four two liners to Theodore over the summer. It wasn't because she was busy, because she wasn't, but she had a hard time sitting down and actually writing. "Perhaps I can get into the practice with those new journals."

Theodore wasn't a master penman himself; he preferred to spend his summers reading and studying but also going out and seeing the world. He had been to Diagon Alley half-a-dozen times over the summer. Without his father around to tell him what to do he had been quite happy. But, big letter-writer or not, he certainly agreed that an effort would have to be made to keep in touch with Daphne. "Come to think of it they will be quite useful when we leave." Theo glanced into the fire thoughtfully a minute before looking back down to Daphne. "But how about we concentrate on what is for now, love?" Voicing his earlier thoughts he added, "we've really got to make this year count."

In all honesty, Daphne had no problem with that. She didn't like to think about the time where she'd have to leave Hogwarts and her friends behind. As much as school irked her, she'd come to depend on it in a lot of ways. She wasn't extremely eager to jump to a new chapter of her life. Who knows who her mother had in mind for her... Daphne made a habit of despising everyone her mother knew. "I know we do, but how? It's going to go by much faster than the others. What will make it different?"

Theo didn't hesitate to answer despite the fact that he didn't actually have an answer to give. "I don't know. But something will make it different, I'm sure of it. I find it hard to believe that this year can just pass like any other. Something will happen." Theo had never been a big fan of the divining arts and wasn't one to put much on fate but something made him feel like there was no way that his last year at Hogwars would be insignificant. He felt as if it wasn't possible.

It was a nice notion, so Daphne said nothing to contradict it. She did trust Theodore, oddly enough, since she trusted very few people. At least he was honest about what he did and how he was, and that was more than she could say for anyone else. "Something." She sighed and finally moved back from him to gather her magazines. "I need to do my homework. I haven't even started yet."

Theodore smiled at this. He knew that Daphne perhaps didn't place as much importance on grades as he and that was fine. He understood that different things were important to different people. Speaking of important things, Theo felt inclined to go for a run outside despite it being long past curfew. He hadn't achieved his tone and muscles by sitting around eating chocolate frogs that was for sure. "Of course." He went to push himself to his feet but not before reaching to plant a soft kiss on Daphne's forehead. And who said that Theo hadn't the capability to be sweet? On his feet now, Theo explained, "I'm going to go and get changed so I can go for a quick run. Good luck with the homework." There was little doubt that he would see her at breakfast in the morning so he made no such comment.

"Go then." She patted his arm after he kissed her forehead and then kissed him herself, this time on the lips. It wasn't anything to get excited about, since it was light and she moved back before he even had time to respond (she did things like this purposefully), but a first year still saw on their way upstairs and it was enough to turn them beet red.

Amused, Daphne snickered and stood herself, the magazines held in both hands. It was unlikely that she would get a lot of homework done tonight, but she'd at least finish what was due tomorrow. "See you in the morning." She customarily saved him and Tracey seats at breakfast. Pansy too.

Who Terry and Hannah
What Detention!
Where Filch's trophy cases
When 2 ish
Why Because they're rebels!

Terry heaved his bag over his shoulder and started out of Potions. It was 1:30 and his detention was at two. He jogged through the halls, shoving people out of the way, and climbed the stairs to the Ravenclaw Tower. He jogged to his dorm, and heaved his stuff onto his bed, and slipped on different clothes. Classes were over, and he hated the uniforms they had to wear. The tie was always too tight, the shoes were too stiff, and the shirt had to be tucked in. He pulled on his orange Cannons shirt and his regular jeans. Finally, normal clothes. His shoes sat on the ground, waiting for him to slip them on. His black socked feet slipped inside and he started down the stairs to go to his detention. He saw a few first years coming in and one of them glared at him. Terry gave them a death glare and they all ran away, seeing as he was towering over them and he was older. Terry grinned and started out of the door towards the trophy cases. Great, a detention, at least he was with Hannah right?

When he arrived at the cases he didn't see anyone. Not even Filch. Terry heaved a sigh and sulked over to a wall to lean against. All this running around for nothing, he was early. Looking at the clock on the wall, it read 1:58. He shook his head and glanced around, when he saw a figure moving towards him, he smiled, but found it was Filch. "'ey you! You're ah...the trouble maker right?" he asked with an evil grin. His yellow teeth were crooked as he grinned at him, Terry flinched and scrunched his face up. "Yeah." he answered with a nod. Filch let out a cackle, but started to cough and looked up at Terry. "Where's that other one?" Filch asked with a frown. "She's coming." Terry answered with a nod and started towards the trophy cases. When he saw a girl jogging down on of the hallways he smiled. She was here, finally. "'ey you! You! No runnin' around in these corridors!" Filch shot at the girl. She slowed down and started to walk.

Who: Hannah Abbott and Eli Summerby.
What: Doing what best friends do.
Where: Hufflepuff commons of course!
When: 11ish pm.
Why: Cause they've got things to do and each other to see!

Hannah only had a handful of best friends; the kind of friends that would pull themselves out of bed or abandon their favorite game/past time/hobby/etc. just to see if she was alright. Hannah loved them, she loved them all to death. To her, they were more like family and she was growing accustomed to it. Without including Terry, all of her best friends were Hufflepuffs - of course, the best of the best was Eli. Elijah Summerby was the very first person Hannah had ever spoken to upon entering her career at Hogwarts. I believe her first words to him were stammered, and stuttered, and sounded something like "Can I sit here? All the compartments are full." And upon him saying yes, an unbreakable bond was forged.

Since then, they had been sorted into the same house, given the same classes, and spent over half of their years together since age 11. I suppose you could say they were best friends. Hannah told Eli everything, absolutely everything. The only thing she hadn't said a word to him about was mother but she already had Terry to talk to about that and while she felt guilty about not telling Eli it just felt wrong to talk to more then one person about it. She wasn't sure why but it just did, so she hadn't talked to Eli about it. She also hadn't talked to him about Terry Boot.. yet.

Hannah had pulled a light sweater on over her tee shirt and glanced around the room. The magical clock to her left said 11:20 but Eli had told her to meet him in the Commons so she would. She carefully tip toed across the floor, creaking only a few floorboards as she made a beeline for the door. Once she was safely outside she felt a weight lift off her shoulders and she silently crept down the stairs and fell with an 'oomph' into the sofa cushions. It was only about a minute later that she heard Eli creeping down the staircase and she grinned. "It's about time Summerby."

Who: Terry and you!
What: Um...talking and Terry's going to the Room of Requirement
Where: Corridor going to The Room of Requirement because he's rad and knows where it is from the DA meetings.
When: Saturday morning
Why: Well why not? He needs to be social

Terry rolled out of bed, his hair sticking up every which way, and set his feet down on the carpet. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at his clock and saw it was nine thirty. He heaved a sigh and pulled on his black warm up pants, his grey sweater, and Muggle Nike shoes. He'd bought them over the summer, and found they were rather comfortable. When he stood up, his pants hung over the shoes, barely letting them show, and they moved towards the door. When he saw the first year boys who'd ruined his shirt, he grinned and pulled out his wand. Muttering, "Petrificus totalus." Out of the three, one woke. "Bye." Terry said and waved to him, waggling his fingers with a grin. The boy squirmed, but couldn't get up and saw a scared look on his face. He was tired, but he felt a sense of humor coming out already. He had to work on homework, and he wanted to get it done before lunch. Terry had found out that working in the Room of Requirement worked rather well, no one bothered him, and it had all of his needs. The dark haired boy saw his papers strewn about on one of the tables in the Common Room, and grinned when he remembered picking on the Hermione. He knew it was mean, but, it was fun and boys needed to have fun. He reached for the papers, tucked them into his bag, and heaved his bag over his shoulder. Terry started out the door, but paused at the notice board. Grinning, he pulled out a piece of parchment, he scrawled, "The Hermione Granger, got a detention in her First year at Hogwarts." Tacking it up on the board he nodded and ran his fingers through his hair to calm it down, but failed.

When he'd finished breakfast, he started towards the hallway leading to the entrance of The Room of Requirement. He remembered how to get in from when Harry started Dumbledore's Army and tought some of the students some hexes, curses, and spells they'd need to know if they wanted to defend themselves. When he thought of Dumbledore he bit at his lip and heaved a sigh. He missed Dumbledore, he liked him being the Headmaster. He was so laid back, loyal, and kind to someone if they got in trouble. Terry felt a smile pulling at his lips when he remembered the troll being the restrooms his first year. Everyone went mad, screaming, running, but he calmed them all down, and told them quietly to go back to their Common Rooms. He laughed softly and then heard footsteps behind him, padding softly down the hallway. Glancing back, he saw a shadow of someone, and felt his hair. Great, it was still sticking up.

OPEN TO ANYONE
WHO: Stephen and YOU?
WHAT: Studying in the Library
WHEN: After Dinner
WHERE: In the back of the Library
WHY: I think the real question is 'Why Not?'

Herbology was the worst for Stephen. He stretched out his legs underneath the table, leaning his chair back on two legs. He'd been the library for nearly an hour and had only written nine inches on the wonders of Gillyweed. He of course had some idea before he'd started about Gillyweed, thanks to Potter's ingenious use of it during the second task of the tri-wizard tournament. There really wasn't much more to it than that, well except maybe the history of it. Lacing his fingers behind his head, he murmured to himself. "Gillyweed, willyweed, Millie Peed."

Setting his chair back down, loudly, he heard a disapproving TSK! coming from the direction of Pince's desk. "Sorry." He muttered, only half apologetically. He slumped onto the table groaning. It felt good, the cool hard wood against his face. He took a breath in and held it for as long as he could before letting it out as slowly as possible. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up straight, only to notice someone now sitting across from him.

Who: Goldy the troll and Turnip the hag
What: MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
When: Afternoon
Where: Near the lake and later IN the lake
Why: No reason

Lisa Turpin was in a cheery mood even though she had just suffered from one of the most boring Ancient Runes lesson ever. Luckily, she could think about the bag of sugar that was waiting for her in her dormitory. Her mother had sent her a big bag full of sweets in the morning. It was something that she did every year. But this year's bag was slightly bigger than the year before's, possibly because it was her last year. Anyway, she had just gotten her bag of unhealthy junk from the dormitory and she was now making her way outside incase a pack of ickly firsties suddenly attacked her because of the contents of the bag she was holding.

Finding a large tree to sit under, she sat and starting looking through the bag to see what she had received this year. It was the same as always, a few chocolate frogs here, a few packets of Bertie Botts there, chuck in a few sugar quills and...

"Droobles best blowing gum!" she exclaimed gleefully.

Lisa's absolute favorite sweet in the world were Droobles but her mother had never ever sent her it before now because every time Lisa had one she'd go on a sugar high and would start filling the room with the blue bubbles. But sugar high or not, she took one out, started chewing and blew a giant bubble out.

Ahh. The joys that a few chunks of sugar could bring.

A cosmetic mishap!

WHO: Lavender and Mandy
WHAT: A cosmetic mishap!
WHEN: Early morning, halfway through breakfast
WHERE: Sixth floor girls' bathroom
WHY: Lav needs some action
STATUS: As complete as it'll get

In Lavender's mind, magic and cosmetics simply do not mix. Of course, she'd grown up with the weekly ritual of sleepovers with her Muggle friends, which always involved nicking their mother's lipstick and making themselves up. Harmless enough, all because lipstick does not include the same power that had caused Lavender's wand to randomly shoot pink sparks when she'd first purchased it.

Lavender had always strictly refused usage of Parvati's magical creams and lotions. The Tragic Tale of Eloise Midgen was warning enough for her, not to mention her wariness of magic altogether. Lavender wouldn't use even a Muggle product without first examining the ingredients for dodgy chemicals, and then the label for animal testing. Magical products seldom contained this information, and Lavender did not want the risk of showing up for class with some horrible facial disfigurement.

Even with those reasons behind her, Lavender's senselessness had once again caught up with her. The previous night had found her in the very same spot, examining her reflection scrupulously. She'd done the same thing three years ago, after word of Seamus and Dean's admiration of Parvati's looks had traveled back to her. True, she'd noticed then too the largeness of her eyes, but she never would have expected someone to actually comment on it. She was well aware that Millicent wasn't the nicest of girls, but Lavender was always the unsuspecting.

And so, that morning Lavender had borrowed Parvati's bottle of Manjusha's Magical Minerals and proceeded to dab its contents all over her face. The label simply called it, "An elixir of beauty," and Lavender would have Divination class with Millicent later that day. After waiting the instructed five minutes, Lavender splashed her face with water. And looked in the mirror. And shrieked. Loudly. She should have known that wizards would logically not know the least thing about minerals, but who would've guessed that their concoction would turn her eyebrows blue?

SUMMARY: Lav dyes her eyebrows blue, Mandy's confused, and Lav is able to make it to the Hospital Wing with the help of a transfigured piece of toilet paper.

OPEN TO ANYONE
WHO: Millicent and ?
WHAT: Detention in the Greenhouses
WHEN: Late afternoon, a bit before dinner
WHERE: Greenhouse 3
WHY: Sheer Boredom

Millicent wasn't surprised when she received detention on Friday afternoon. In fact she would have been surprised if she hadn't received it. Professor Sprout didn't take kindly to Millicent laughing her head off over a Hufflepuff near losing his arm to a Fanged Geranium. It was the funniest thing she'd seen in ages, so it was very much worth her first detention of the year.

She set off toward Greenhouse 3 after receiving her assignment from Sprout. Transplanting Flitterbloom didn't bother her, it was gathering the bubotuber puss that turned her stomach. The stench of the pus and the highly toxic nature was a bit more than Millicent was ready to deal with apparently. While working on her third plant one of the yellow pustules popped shooting the vile discharge across the room hitting someone else.

Who: Hannah Abbott and Terry Boot and EVENTUALLY Tonks.
What: Terry's favorite shirt is ruined so it's Hannah to the rescue!
When: Sometime after their classes and dinner
Where: An unoccupied corridor.
Why: Because Hannah is awesome and Terry is awesome and some first years pulled a rotten prank.

Hannah Abbott had meant to go and find Terry Boot shortly after she had offered her assistance to help him fix his shirt, but after a long list of distractions piled up she completely forgot about it. Well, it wasn't that she forgot about it because she could never and would never forget about Terry. She felt bad that his favorite shirt had been ruined, despite the fact that it was an amusing image to replay in her mind. Of course, she was more upset by the loss of his beloved shirt then amused by the way his face must have looked - all contorted in surprise and rage. Hannah smiled when she thought about it, she had taken in a lot of Terry's facial expressions and they had always put a smile on her face - why should this one be any different? But in any case she was about to rush off and find her beloved friend, Terry, when her cat Merlin decided to run off with her slippers. Hannah then spent the next hour sitting behind the common room couch as she urged the small critter to come out and return her slippers. As the minutes turned into an hour, she grew frustrated and when the time clocked in at 78 minutes Hannah realized that a simple 'Accio' would suffice and she, in turn, kicked herself for being such an idiot before retrieving both her cat and her slippers and returning to her dorm. Unfortunately, by that time she had become so sidetracked that her textbooks spoke more to her then her journal and she completely forgot that she had been going off to find her friend.

Needless to say, Hannah remembered the next morning at breakfast. She had gone over to the Ravenclaw table, given Terry's hair a tousle and promised to meet him after dinner that night. Hannah had been looking forward to it ever since. Terry was such a brilliant person to be around in Hannah's opinion. He had made her feel absolutely wonderful the last time they had seen each other and all that they did was talk. It wasn't awkward; it wasn't too heavy, or too light. It was the perfect combination of humorous and momentous conversation all tied into one. The idea of being able to see him again, just the two of them, made her more then happy. Hannah had forgot one major detail in the 'I'll meet you, you'll meet me, we'll fix that shirt' plan though - that detail could also be known as the LOCATION. It took Hannah a few seconds to realize she had no idea where she was walking to and she sighed in frustration. "I'm such an idiot" she said softly to herself, scuffing her feet as she walked. How could she leave out such an important detail? She must've been worried about her Transfiguration essay or something. After all they had a new professor this year and she had to make a good impression.

Fortunately, Hannah's wandering mind led her to forget about her frustration and eventually, directly to Terry Boot; and I mean directly. Hannah's newest habit seemed to be nearly killing the boy everytime she ran into him. This time though, she literally ran into him. She had made a sharp turn around a corner and caused a head on collision with none other then Terry Boot himself. Hannah let out a soft yelp as she tried to steady herself and the other person - gripping his forearms as she regained her balance not realizing it was Terry just yet.

Open to Lisa Turpin

Who: Anthony Goldstein and Lisa Turpin
What: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE! Lisa and Anthony get into an argument, there is much throwing of things about, and most important of all, detention!
When: September 10th 1997, afternoon
Where: Ravenclaw common room
Why: TBA

Boredom eats you. No, not really. But Anthony thought that was certainly what it was doing to him. He had just walked into the common room, back from lunch, and was about to do some homework. Yeah right. Since when did Anthony Goldstein did his homework on a nice Sunday afternoon? But there was nothing else to do, and his friends seemed busy with their own things. He noticed that his usual seat in the common room had been taken by a Second Year and scowled, for he had thought that it was clear he was the only one who could sit there. Anthony didn't exactly announce it to the whole world, but that was His Place And No One Else's. "Bugger off," he told the ickle Second Year, and she gave him the most frightened look before rushing off to sit elsewhere, far, far away. With a self-satisfied smile, he sat down and leaned against the couch comfortably. Anthony 1, World 0.

Who: Hannah Abbott and Terry Boot.
What: A mystery on the Quidditch Pitch
When: Their first day back! In the afternoon!
Where: The Quidditch Pitch.
Why: Fresh air, some fun, you know.. the usual.

Hannah Abbott hadn't spent more then one day back inside the Hogwarts castle but she was already spinning; spinning with excitement, with regret, with a cauldron full of emotions ready to bubble over. It was wonderful and horrible at the same time and she didn't know what to think. All she knew was that it never felt so good to be back at Hogwarts.

Their first full day landed on a Saturday however, so she was free to meander the halls. She was surprised at how many people had chosen to stay in though. It was lovely outside. Why be cooped up in a dorm or common room when you could be out enjoying it? Hannah hadn't a clue, but she didn't really care. All she wanted was some fresh air to clear her head. She decided it'd be best to go to the pitch, maybe go a few laps and see just how much she missed being on a broomstick. It took her all of 10 minutes to rush from the hall nearest her transfiguration classroom to the pitch. She stood before it in awe, G-d she had missed this. She missed it so much. She smiled fondly as she stood there before making her way over to one of the entrances to the locker rooms. Everything was fine until she heard a rustling behind her however she didn't freeze - she didn't even falter. Instead, she gripped her wand ; it was a silly thing to do as it could just as well be a student coming to join her with their mingling appreciation of the Quidditch pitch but she wasn't thinking. She was scared. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped her wand tighter, hearing the footsteps approaching. Counting down slowly in her head '3, 2, 1' she spun around on her heel wielding her wand before her to meet whoever it was who had been behind her.

The Hogwarts Express
WHO: All Hogwarts Students
WHAT: The start of a new school year
WHERE: Platform 9 3/4, The Hogwarts Express
WHEN: 7 September 1997

Mandy hugged her parents goodbye-- well, she tried to hug them, though it would be more accurate to say that they hugged her, as her arms were quire full-- and then she turned to look at the Hogwarts Express. A giant smile filled her face, although she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness at the same time. This would be her last time taking the train to Hogwarts, her last year living with her friends in the amazing castle that she had been able to call home for the last six years. But Mandy wasn’t one to spend much time feeling down about things, and so she picked up her bags and headed toward the train.

“Oomph!” She grunted as she struggled to carry her belongings. For this year, Mandy had not only brought her trunk of clothes. No, the ambitious Ravenclaw also carried with her 12 very large knapsacks—all filled with the brownies (made with rainbow-coloured sprinkles, of course!) that she had been baking for this very occasion over the last week. She wondered momentarily if she would even be able to fit through the train door.