Jordyn had spent the better part of the day just following a healer on the plants and potions floor.  Healer Deville was head of the floor, which was good because she seemed to at least tolerate Jordyn to a certain extent and wasn’t bothered when she asked questions about this and that around the floor.  She did have to do a rather phenomenal job of avoiding Tracy Jones, however.

Since the week before at Gracie’s party, Jordyn was doing a lot of avoiding.  It was one of those weird, horrible things.  When one didn’t drink for a very long time there was the tendency to forget how embarrassing one was when they were drunk.  This happened to Jordyn periodically and since she’d made her spectacular spring break muck up, now she was avoiding any and all repurcussions of partying (the hangover had been enough to suffer through without the embarrassment). 

Except, of course, meeting up with Sophie.  They’d run into one another there and had made plans to go to Alohomocha.  She’d somehow managed to write it down and found the paper, so despite the fact that they hadn’t really spent much of sixth year in the same circles, they’d been close during fifth year.  So, it was a sense of obligation and genuine interest in catching up that she pushed the door of Alohomocha open and breathed in the fresh scents of hot beverages and pastries. 

Glancing around, she was surprised – she must have been a little early.  Reaching up, she twisted at the necklace Jai had bought for her earlier in the summer and felt a little pang of guilt.  Push thoughts of very nice (too nice) boyfriend away and enjoy coffee, she reminded herself, letting out a deep sigh.  She wouldn’t order anything without Sophie though, so Jordyn walked toward booths on the wall and put her bag on the table before sliding onto the bench.  She carefully adjusted her skirt, pulled a little mirror to fix her hair (because one couldn’t risk looking messy, no matter who one was meeting), and as soon as she was satisfied, she put the mirror back in her bag and let her shoulders drop with released tension. 

This would be fun, she reminded herself, maybe not nearly as fun as trying to figure out how to counter a poisoning, but... since she wasn't allowed to stay beyond normal human hours and do anything but watch (and maybe speak sometimes), it could possibly be even better.

Since returning from the whirlwind tour with Mandrake Siren Sophie had, mostly, been sticking pretty close to home. There was Nana's greenhouse to tend to and of course if she went anywhere she was bombarded with images of the future and how everyone around her seemed to be getting to it but her. She hadn't lined up an internship or even a summer job hanging around Reducto looking after the shop or minding baby Col. From the sounds of things she'd really missed out on the trip but on the plus side going to Gracie's part had put her back in the orbit of Jordyn.

Now they were meeting for coffee - and in true Sophie Flickwick fashion she was running late. Somethings never changed, no matter whatever else in her life had. Soph had never been one to get anywhere but DADA on time. It was maybe a little funny when you cam right down to it - but she already felt guilty because if Jordy was anything it was punctual. She picked up the pace, tiny legs hurrying as fast as they could to get her through the doors of the coffee shop, unsurprised to see the long hair'd Slytherin already there (looking divinely pressed and polished in comparison to Sophie's shorts and oversized flannel). The smile forming itself in the corners of Sophie's mouth was one of genuine happiness at seeing the other girl

"I'm late, I know. I'm sorry! I was in the middle of a brew when I realized what time it was," her tone was bright as she bounded over to the chosen table, sliding in across from Jordyn, trying to look the appropriate mix of sheepish and excited to see her classmate. It was funny to be sitting there looking at Dimbleby  for the last year they'd sort of orbited one another vaguely, Sophie too caught up in her grief and trying not to drown to really see the people around her, trying not to resent the fact their worlds moved on when she felt so stuck. Something had clicked inside her over the summer, a feeling of understanding and then of missing the people she'd shut out trying to stay afloat. "Have you ordered yet? I want to be keenly fueled to pay rapt attention to every detail of your internship so far," her tone was typically excited Sophie as she bounced a little in her seat. This was going to be marvelous.

It was not uncommon for Jordyn to be the first person to arrive at any given location with any one of her friends agreeing to meet her.  The only person who could ever match her punctuality was Jai.  The thought made her chew on her lip just a little.  She was still feeling guilty.  Closing her eyes, she tried to very thoughtfully release the tension from her shoulders.  It was something she had to practice anyway – she wanted to be better than when she left Hogwarts, Professor Storm had indicated he would be checking.  Jordyn did not like disappointing people, particularly those she held in high esteem, so she was going to keep working on it.

When she got back to the house tonight, she’d probably continue working through her textbooks.  She got the newest ones she needed and had been doing all the pre-reading she possibly could before the year started, not to mention the revising from the previous year.  It was so much easier to revise over the summer when she coul actually use her wand.  One of the empty rooms in the house had become her practice space and though it suffered a few wall burns, it was immeasurably helpful. 

Planning out her evening of studying in her head apparently passed time quickly because before it really registered to Jordyn that at least twenty minutes had passed, she heard the quick approach of footsteps and she lifted her dark eyes, seeing Sophie approach.  “Please,” she hung on the second syllable for a little longer than was necessary, “don’t worry!” Jordyn was quick to reassure Sophie (though she knew were she in the other girl’s shoes she would have freaked out).  Jordyn found herself smiling as Sophie adjusted – a little jealous of how effortless she looked.  Jordyn was not an effortless person.  Some people were just not meant for that. 

“I haven’t ordered anything,” she added, looking at the little slip that they could order on and send it up.  She circled what she wanted using the quill that was magicked to the table and pushed both over to Sophie.  “There’s nothing to really know,” she laughed a little, “unless you want me to tell you what the back of healer robes look like and all the articles I’ve been assigned to read, then I have droves of things to tell you,” she laughed lightly.  “How was the tour?”

Sophie made her grateful face as Jordyn did what Jordyn did best, dismissing worry to be polite. Sophie knew her old friend had always been a bit ... persnickety, things had to be just so and if they weren't think you could almost see the tension headache starting to form in the long graceful line of Dimbleby's neck. She was a perfectionist, which actually made them quite the odd pair because Sophie had always been the sort of person who just did things and hoped for the best. She was all about how situations felt, which was probably why she admired Jordyn so much, she knew how to keep her head and be remarkably pressed. Sophie still faltered when it came to keeping her mouth shut and not letting her black and white view of the world get the best of her.

Glancing down at the order slip she chewed the corner of her lip for a moment before shifting her gaze back up, "That bad? No torrid love affairs to speak of? I'd always imagined the secret lives of healers to be very scandalous, too many years of listening to Wireless dramas I suppose. Nothing is ever as glamorous as the Wireless makes it out to be," she sighed a little and shook her head finally circling a delightfully sugar loaded sounding drink and toying with the quill's plume, trying to choose the proper words to describe living on a tour bus with eight grown men, a word besides smelly or gross. It hadn't been all bad after all, the trip had had some really high points! They were just a little hard to go into detail without explaining just how dire the situation with her father had become prior to his decision she needed to come with him.

She was pretty sure Nan had tattled on her, a few of her exploits with Deus the precious summer, not to mention catching her with the muggle neighbor boy over Easter Hols. All of that would have taken too much explaining so she kept it simple. "Spain was amazing. I always forget how much I love history when it's not being taught by Professor Jowd, and Muggle history is really interesting too. I did a lot of sight seeing with Johnny, snickering at Da in these hideous walking shorts and socks with sandals," she smile then, little giggle escaping as she rested her chin in her hand, "Come on, something interesting had to have happened"!

Being at St. Mungo’s really was nothing like the wireless shows about healers.  “Tell me about it,” she sighed wistfully at Sophie’s observation.  It always seemed so sexy and glamorous when Meranda Gracely was saving lives and figuring out her way around the hospital while also pining after the Healer in Charge, Dalton Shiffer.  So far, Jordyn had seen nothing like that – and her own life was far less exciting (and not something she wanted to talk about at the moment either).   She preferred to focus on Sophie’s summer.  “That sounds lovely,” she said enthusiastically.  “I’ve never been to Spain, but I imagine it’d be loads more fun than learning about it from a professor,” she smirked.  Jordyn didn’t mind school… but some professors (and subjects) were far more engaging than others.  “You can’t mean to tell me nothing exciting happened to you beyond socks and sandals,” she pushed a little bit – travelling all summer, even with a parent, probably opened a lot of opportunities for crazy cool things to happen. 

Jordyn hadn’t had that – her family rarely (if ever) went on holiday together, and she’d been home all summer.  As she was about to comment about how dull everything had been… A thought was like a bolt of lightening that ran through her.  Sophie must not have heard.  Jordyn couldn’t help but have talked about things with Neely after she got back from the Benefit and then she couldn’t leave Bran out – plus she had to tell Jai because it had been so surprising.   Even letting those three people know, it was likely that most of the population of Hogwarts had found out by now, but since Sophie had been gone for a large chunk of the summer holiday with her dad it made sense. Leaning forward, Jordyn’s brown eyes shifted from side to side, as though she was checking to see if the coast was clear. 

Wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue, Jordyn dropped her voice so no one else could overhear.  It was the key to good gossip, the way you said it, after all.  No one cared if it was something everyone could know.  And while some people didn’t mind telling the entire world, Jordyn selected carefully.  Their choices were their’s and it absolved her of most of the blame (in her mind) when everyone else knew.  “There was a benefit at the very beginning of summer and since I’m interning I had to go – handed out the wine,” she sighed – memories of insulting glasses aside, it hadn’t been the worst evening ever.  “But that’s another story,” she dismissed for the real, juicy part.  “Well, during the benefit there was a human auction – you know, pay a hefty few galleons for a private date or something of the sort.  I was exempt.” It was all presented quite matter of factly for Sophie.  “But, the head healer – Miranda Elliot, from Durmstrang,” she continued, “was one of the people to get on the stage.” 

This was, of course, all building to the most important point.  “And you’d never guess this but,” her voice got even lower, eyes narrowing to show just how important – and sensitive - this information was, “none other than Professor Ignan Storm put up the winning bid!  Loads of galleons too!”  She shook her head and sat up straighter, “I nearly dropped the bottle of wine I was pouring when I saw it happen!"

Sophie feigned innocence as Jordyn insisted something more interesting than her Da’s walking shorts and atrocious sandals had to have happened. All in all it had been a bit of a tame trip, a few heart to hearts, lots of thinking about her Mum, strange feelings of pride seeing the way people still got into Mandrake Siren’s music… but besides just her father and brother trying to keep boys away from her she had six other grown men scaring everyone remotely interesting off. The lads of Siren were like a second family to her, louder and more ruckus than her father but still too protective and unaware that she was seventeen bloody years old. Still, Sophie was small and sneaky and no one could watch her 24/7, even when they took shifts!

“Spain was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. There was one boy I suppose. His name was Nasari and spoke with the most delectable accent. He had a motorcycle and bum that Merlin himself must have sculpted,” she grinned at Jordyn, eyes sparkling with just a little mischief, “I fell as madly in love with him as you can in three days and we got incredibly drunk on very cheap wine. Then the little break was over and it was off to the next city. He wanted to write but, I don’t know, I think it would had felt less magical if we tried to drag it out into the whole thing. Besides, I don’t want to start 7th year with any more baggage than I’m already packing,” it was a strangely pragmatic stance to take on things for a former hopeless romantic who had at one point pinned after both Devlin Matthews and Chance Ryker for two solid years.

Sophie eyes grew wide as Jordyn explained about the benefit, appropriately sympathetic over the other witch being forced to pass out wine like hired help, interest growing at the mention of Healer Elliot, lips forming a disbelieving “o” as she dropped the Storm bomb, “No”! Sophie was utterly aghast and amused at the same time. Trying to imagine Ignan Storm existing anywhere outside Hogwarts was just strange, she knew it had to have happened because he had a whole life before he’d come to the school in her fifth year but really! Participating in a date auction! How very scandalous and, also, extremely unsettling, “I… I have no words. Literally, there are no words in my vocabulary to adequately express my shock, dismay, and mild nausea at the idea of Storm dating”.

There was an ultimate sort of satisfaction in knowing that there was more to a story than someone was telling.  Jordyn didn’t get to experience that much – she was far more literal of a person, and emotionally cut off from herself enough that it started to rub off onto her interactions with other people.  But she just couldn’t possibly believe that if Sophie had been all over the continent – in Spain especially – and not have something go on. 

The story itself was like one of those romantic novels Jordyn would never admit was sometimes stuck in the pages of her textbooks instead of revising late at night.  Leaning her elbows on the table, Jordyn propped up her face to listen – pouting as the story ended with only three days worth of memories and no torrid romance that was continuing across the strait.  “Write a book about it,” Jordyn suggested.  If Dolly St. James could do it, then she didn’t see why Sophie couldn’t.  The SG series was one Jordyn was well accustomed to waiting for the next update for.  She’d wait for Sophie’s book too.  “Nasari,” she repeated – she liked that name.  It had a certain… sound about it.  Maybe because it reminded her of her own situation. 

“That’s it.  I’ve decided,” she put her palms on the table and nodded in thought, “you’re writing this book.  I’ll help you with your classes this year so you can make it happen.”  A smile crept on her face and widened – especially because now it was her turn to share.  And, of course, the news did not fail to impress.  Sophie, who was virtually never speechless was left aghast at the idea of Storm dating.  “I know!” she squeaked and leaned closer over the table, her butt lifting off the seat a little bit – she even put her foot under her so she could be pushed up a little bit.  “It was the craziest thing.  I don’t even know if I’ll be able to make eye contact at the welcoming feast.”  It was a legitimate fear. 

Resting back down a little bit, Jordyn decided she could probably add her own business in, since Sophie had volunteered her torrid three day romance with the mysterious Nasari.  “I managed to forget about it long enough to at least enjoy some of summer though,” she informed her.  “My parents are still in the country with my grandmother – have been all summer, so though I could never meet Gracie’s bar setting party, I had my own fun….”

Sophie blushed a little and laughed at the suggestion she write a book, "My only regret is that Figaro didn't have to suffer through seeing it the same way I had to watch him basically eat Zia's face," surprisingly she sounded more amused than bitter. It hadn't really bothered her when the two started dating, it actually seemed sort of natural. Figaro definitely had a type, and while Sophie had missed her friend Fig, she did not miss dating the loudmouth Hufflepuff. "I suppose with the Slither Girls series ending this year someone has to take up the helm of trashy teen romance. He did seem awful disappointed when I told him I thought writing might ruin it all, maybe I'll have to reconsider," she gave as little shrug, expression playful. Sophie really was glad they'd agreed to have coffee, though it hadn't crossed her mind she realized suddenly just how much she'd missed these little moments with Jordyn.

"I can hardly look at him anyway," the petite Gryffindor commented on Deputy Storm, giving another little shudder at the lingering notion of Storm with a female-woman-lady. There was a sinking creeping idea that meant someone, somewhere, some time had actually kissed Ignan Storm. "Gordic's Garters. Picture them snogging," she almost shrieked, shaking her head and hiding her face trying not to giggle hysterically, "It's terrible! It's like a Transfiguation accident you just can't turn away from"! Professors were supposed to be monk like (even the young ones, it was just too weird to imagine them as people).

"You didn't," Sophie's eyes were bright with pride as she clasp her hands together, "Okay, you have to tell me absolutely everything. I'm incredibly sorry now I missed it because a Dimbleby party is not something one should miss. Were there delicious boys and incredibly drunk girls giggling in corners"? Sophie's own experience with party throwing had been rather mixed. There had been the disaster New Years Eve 5th year, finding out Matteo Amherst was just as icky as Fergie had tried to tell her, and her bonfire the previous summer hadn't gone much better because she'd been too consumed with Deus to actually enjoy herself. Obviously Gracie had much better luck when it came to social gatherings, but she'd wager Jordyn had a few stories under her belt now.

 “If you do,” Jordyn grinned, “I demand to see every single letter! Even the scandalous ones,” she teased Sophie.  They’d both experienced a sort of whirlwind in the romantic department, to be completely honest, over the past year, so it was fun to listen to life after the storm.  Jordyn had been fairly sure everything she’d experienced was going to go up in flames earlier in the month – facing that prospect really helped her see things a little clearer.  She didn’t want to lose what she had to be thankful for.   

While teenage drama and relationships were all the rage to talk about and gush over, the experiences of professors were slightly different.  As they continued talking, the ideas that Sophie put forth made Jordyn actually shuddered.  She respected Deputy Storm, in fact, he was a professor who had shown her an incredible amount of patience (and compassion) on more than one occasion.  “Stop!” she squealed with laughter, shaking her head.  “Noooo! That’s not an image I can take into the year with me,” she whined, sinking into the seat.  Being familiar with both of them, it was so easy to make that mental picture in her head and Jordyn was a little stunned at how vivid (and terrifying) it really was.  It was like watching a – well, Sophie used the best words: transfiguration accident. 

Shaking her head, she wrapped her hands around the edge of the table, as though to brace herself and let out a deep, pained sigh.  “If I have nightmares, I will personally write to you,” she said accusingly, narrowing her dark eyes at the girl across the table.  It was playful though, and the expression could not last as a smile started to split her lips apart and let her teeth show. 

When Sophie started to squeak about the party though, Jord felt her heart thump in her chest a little bit.  “No parties – if my parents did find out you wouldn’t see me on the Hogwarts Express,” she explained emphatically, not wanting to mislead her, “and while Gracie’s party was quite… fun,” that was a generous word for it.  She’d had a mixed time – thought it was spectacular and then that went to hell.  She didn’t want to talk about that bit.  “But, you know I started dating Jai at the end of last year,” she recapped, just in case – it hadn’t exactly been secret – the yearbook had it all over it, but whatever.  “Anyway, my parents spent the entire summer in the country with my grandparents and I was left at home for my internship, so…” she trailed off to let Sophie connect the dots (her face already starting to warm up and turn a healthy shade of pink because she couldn’t even say it out loud).

She cleared her throat and let her shoulders drop.  “Going back to school is going to be so hard.” A beat.  "Even if I am very glad to start.  Still crossing fingers on Head Girl..."

"I wonder if I'd even know how to write a scandalous letter," she giggled a little, wrinkling her nose at the thought. There was nothing scandalous about her relationship with Figaro, there had been that brief moment when Lucas went around kissing girls he shouldn't have and she was one of them...and then there had been Deus. Even thinking about the Slytherin now (after months and months of not seeing hide nor hair of him, not even in cryptic letter form) she felt her heart beat a little faster then sink. He had been the best and worst thing to happen to her after her mother's death. He'd kept her on her toes, kept her from falling into that pit of despair but where was he now? Not there, that was for sure. Still, the idea of a steamy salacious letter driven affair with the dark skinned, bright eye'd boy she'd met over the summer seemed sort of fun, maybe.

The topic shifted gears and she hid her face as Jordyn swore to send her a howler if nightmares ensued, "I'm sorry! You're the one who planted the image, I mean really something so public has a date auction! With someone we know, I don't know how you kept your head at the actual event. I'd have been torn between laughing manically and sobbing in absolute terror"! Humanizing Storm was even weirder than thinking of writing scandalous letters to a boy she hardly knew. It was just so...beyond the realm of anything Sophie had ever imagined in her life, it would be less strange to imagine her father happily remarried with a new brood of sprogs at this point in her life!

It was obviously a topic better left unexplored so she happily listened to Jordyn's explanation about no parties but Gracie's party, and reminded her that she'd been seeing The American since the end of last year. The Tournament had certainly made for interesting bed fellows, and as Jordyn's voice trailed off Sophie's eyes grew wide at the idea there might have been literal bedfellows made. Pink lips fell slightly apart as her brown eyes searched Jordy's face. She didn't look different, not in the way you'd assume a girl would after, but then she hadn't been able to tell with Ruby and Kale were going at it like bunnies so maybe Sophie just wasn't good at seeing the change, "Gordic's Garters! You've been holding out on me. You can spare me the squishier details, but I still want some, you have stories and I want to hear them".

Sophie waved her hand a little dismissively, "Oh please. There isn't a single person in our year better fit to be Head Girl, not even Verity - no matter what she thinks about herself. You've been prepping for that honor since we were little first years. Now, back to the important things, just what have you and Mr. America been up to," it was only a joke really, but Sophie had noticed more than a little weirdness between the hunky former Salemite and future Head Girl Dimbleby.

While theoretical relationships were well and good, Jordyn was just settling into the idea that she was truly in a real relationship where she was a little bit (a lot a bit) committed.  So, when Sophie asked for the details, Jordyn felt her cheeks turn hot.  Though she’d brought it up, it was still weird to talk about.  She giggled a little, awkward and fingers itching a little,  She flexed her fingers under the table and gripped onto her thighs.  “Oh… you know,” she chewed on the inside of her lip for a moment and lowered her eyes, blushing even more. 

It was easier for her to focus on the fact that someone else brought up Verity again in competition for Head Girl.  It made her stomach twist so uncomfortably.  “I know I have,” she sighed, “but I can’t help but be nervous.  You know as much as I do that she’s thinking the same thing.”  It was true.  Verity probably imagined she had it in the bag (or at least her friend’s did as much as Jordyn’s did).  So, it wasn’t as clear-cut as Sophie made it out to be.

She wished it was though.  Maybe it would be, how could Jordyn even know?  She wished the professors would have been much more open about the whole thing.  She had never gotten a read on it before she left for the summer.  That’s where so much of her anxiety was coming from now that the water had smoothed out around her and Jai.  Of course, Sophie’s continued questions on the subject made her stomach drop to her knees. 

Mr. America.  That could only mean one thing – Sophie had heard something.  Jai was certainly British, and had been at school with them the whole time.  She couldn’t have gotten him confused… she thought she’d mentioned his name. Her throat went dry and she felt the sweat beading on her forehead a little bit, and around her temples.  “Wait – America?” she lowered her voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening again.  She never realized how many secrets she could really be keeping.  “What?  What did you hear?” she asked hurriedly, like there was some rumor in the world she needed to crush. 

There probably was.  Oh Godric, she was going to faint – or sink into the cushions of the booth and never come out of them again.  That was probably going to happen.  Or she could transfigure herself into a fly and never have to worry about people ever again.  She was mortified. 

"You have more Prefect experience," Sophie shrugged her shoulders. She liked Verity, but she couldn't imagine Head Girl could mean more to anyone than it would to Jordyn, "besides, you're forgetting the fact it is much easier to survive as a Hufflepuff than a Slytherin who has to share air with Kitty Li, and still manage to keep hands clean. I mean without you can you imagine the level of devastation that psychopath could have wrought? Not to mention all you did in the wake of Hurricane Sasha and Hogwarts basically being on lock down. Those were seriously troubled times, but there you were - steadfast and flawless. If you don't make Head Girl, I will personally start a riot and demand a recount, end of," there was that fierce loyalty again.

Of course she immediately regretted joking about Mr. America, "Jordy," brown eyes narrowed in concern, the Slytherin looked like she was going to pass out or have a full blown screaming anxiety attack right there in the middle of the shop. Sophie reached across the table and h0oked her little finger around the other girl's, "It was a joke," she felt absolutely guilty and a little queasy because jokes were not supposed to induce this level of freak out. Of course she was also sort of curious what kinds of secrets Jordyn was hiding in all that hair, she had always figured Neely for the Queen of Secrets (that could not really be kept secret), but apparently Jordyn was just as capable. How very sneaky!

Leaning forward she lowered her voice, concern etched into her features, "Did something happen, with you and Tracey, I mean"? She hadn't kept close tabs on everyone connected to the tournament, but she was pretty sure she'd heard talk of him staying in the UK and working at Mungo's. Her mind was leaping and jumping twenty steps ahead, she had always assumed he was the genuinely good dude sort, "He didn't...do anything did he? Because if he hurt you," her voice was low and tense now, trying to wrap her mind around what she could have possibly triggered. She never would have taken him for the type to take advantage, but then that was the sad and sorry truth, you never suspected because if you did it wouldn't happen. She was torn between taking off to find the American and going around to the other side of the table and just holding Jordyn - because even without confirmation Sophie's mind raced to the worst possible thing. She wasn't totally sure when she'd become a pessimist but it certainly made her tummy hurt.

Sophie was right.  All of her friends were, of course, right, about the Head Girl decision.  It was just hard for Jordyn to also believe it because on the off chance it didn’t happen, if she really, truly believed that it was hers to have, she would lose it and then it would be far too devastating for her to go back to school like that.  It’d be total devastation.  Nodding slowly, she took in a deep breath and stopped.  “You’re right, you’re right,” she shook her head, “I know.  It’s just… you know… one can never read the professor’s minds and they’re in charge of the decision, so it can be… challenging.” 

That wasn’t the only thing, of course.  Her misunderstanding of Sophie’s joke had caused enough of a problem for Jordyn that now Sophie’s expression turned from her usual, happy little imp sort of face to a look of deep concern, which would have been warranted if not for the fact that she thought it was Tracy’s fault.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Tracy was a good guy and was going to be a fantastic healer (which made it slightly harder, knowing they’d be working together).  “Nothing like that!” Jordyn breathed out emphatically, shaking her hands in the air to emphasize the point.  “No, no  - don’t think that,” she coughed to clear her throat and resettled. 

“Tracy didn’t do anything to me,” she started to clarify for her friend.  “I went to Gracie’s party and was completely out of control.  We started dancing and then there was a little kissing…” she shook her head, it still made her feel guilty, even after she’d talked to Jai and had told him how she really felt and what it made her realize about what she wanted out of her relationship and that she had taken a lot of things for granted.  Letting out a deep sigh she let her chin drop and she took another deep breath. 

Now she had to explain to Sophie why it was so bad and what happened.  “Jai came over the weekend after and I had to talk to him about it,” she let out a huge, resounding sigh and licked her lips.  “I mean we didn’t break up – but it was so terrible, Soph.  I have never felt worse about anything.”  That was the truth, she had cried and apologized, she made it clear that she didn’t want to hurt him, she didn’t want to lose him… and he didn’t want to lose her either.  “We were having such a good summer too,” she explained, her miserable expression taking on a slightly happier look.  “And I just had to muck it all up.” 

Letting her forearms rest on the table, Jordyn let her shoulders relax too.  “I’m just hoping the rest of the summer will go well so it won’t crumble when we go back to Hogwarts.”  She shook her head and tried to be as positive as possible.  “What are you looking forward to this year?”

The relief on Sophie's face was instantly visible as she let out a long low breath. She was still worried about Jordyn, of course, but it was reassuring to know that Tracey was the kind of person she had believed him to be and not a Smarmasaur in disguise. Hearing what had actually happened brought the concern back to her usually smiling features but it wasn't nearly as severe or panicked as it had been previously. She was sympathetic, she knew what it was like to feel like you ruined everything. At the time Sophie had been pretty indignant but once she'd had time to sit and think about everything with Figaro she knew that she was partly to blame for their breakup. Not that she regretted it of course, they were just on two very different paths, and now at least they were sort of friends again, sort of.

The good news was Jordy and Jai hadn't broken up. The bad news was it still seemed to be eating at the Slytherin, "Jordy," Sophie's voice was soft and sympathetic, "this is the first time in all the years I've known you that you've done anything that could even remotely considered bad. You're seventeen, you're allowed to make mistakes. We're supposed to make mistakes. You didn't do it maliciously, you're not some evil harpy, and you told Jai. I know it doesn't make you feel better but, honestly, you're so tightly wound all the time it's no wonder you blew off a little too much steam that night". It was all said with a deep affection and desire for her friend not to be so hard on herself, but Sophie wasn't sure she was actually making anything better or not.

"Oh, you know," she gave a little shrug of her shoulder, letting Jordyn change the subject. "Basically my goal this year is to be tall and hot. Not cute or pretty, hot. Because there is a real difference and frankly after the last two years I feel like I deserve to maybe be a little bit vapid. Though I am really happy that Ollie is coming back. It just wasn't the same without her last year, I just hope Sasha isn't a giant troll to her again. I mean what happened with he and Ollie wasn't her fault and, you know, there's the whole Sasha-having-nearly-killed-Callum thing from 5th year. He certainly shouldn't get to pass judgement on anyone being too dangerous," she huffed a little, heckles raised at the mere thought of what the Ravenclaw might try to pull. She still wasn't exactly sure where Jordyn fell on the subject of Werewolves attending Hogwarts, but if anything Shona Donovan teaching them last year should have proven something to Were-haters, "I'm tempted to get SAWS back together... but you know, there was that whole... Great Hall Brawl of '09 to contend with".

It was so weird that friends could cut you slack before you cut yourself any.  Jordyn would probably always feel bad for what she’d done and she wouldn’t forgive herself totally because she should have been making better choices.  She could have went home – hell, she could have owled him that night and it didn’t have to happen.  But, Sophie had a point – and everyone else who knew (only her closest friends – or whoever saw at the party) probably thought the same thing. 

It wasn’t like Jordyn had cultivated a reputation for scandal for all of her years at Hogwarts. Hell, even when she had “dated” Devlin, it was very short and a very public break up.  That was just about as crazy as she’d ever been.  Even the very ridiculous spin the bottle incident of the previous year had been incredibly mild compared to everyone else in attendance.  Jordyn was not the type of girl who was usually attached to such… unpleasantries.  Hopefully, this whole thing would pass and it wouldn’t have any impact on her being made Head Girl.  She didn’t really think that would happen… but one never really knew in these circumstances.  The weirdest things happened.  “Thank you,” she finally said with a little smile. 

It was much better to talk about something different, and the upcoming year was both welcome and horrifying.  Goals were something Jordyn was familiar with, and she laughed – though not maliciously at her.  “It doesn’t sound like you need to work very hard at that,” Jordyn complimented and assured her.  She knew what it was to have a crisis of confidence.  “And wanting to feel attractive,” she never liked the word hot, but she wouldn’t take it away from others, “isn’t vapid.”  The least she could do was validate Sophie’s feelings after she’d been kind enough to reassure her that she was not the awful person that Jordyn was convinced she had to be for what she did. 

Besides, Ollie was coming back?  That was news to Jordyn who hadn’t seen – or heard – anything of the girl since fifth year.  The look of surprise on her face muted into consternation when she mentioned Sasha and what happened with Callum.  “Sometimes I don’t even feel like we’re all the same people anymore,” she commented with a shake of her head.  It was really mind-numbing, how a few years could change people, or be forgotten until it became relevant again.  “SAWS would be great to bring back,” she shrugged, “I know you were always so passionate about it and other students were as well.”  Jordyn had never really formed an opinion, but she wasn’t a bigot so she didn’t care so much, as long as things were safe.  Didn’t most people feel that way? 

“I’m sure you could get Professor Donovan to sponsor the club, or any faculty really.  They all seem like they’d be supportive.”  She shrugged.  “Sometimes, I think if our peers had more constructive things to worry about I wouldn’t have had such a difficult job,” she joked – referencing the days when she was prefect.  “Go for it.  If I’m Head Girl then I’ll have much less to do if you’re all engaged in political activism.”