A smile from ear to ear, he ran his finger down the list to discover that he had not been successful. He had failed yet again. The smile soon turned to a frown.

Shocked and a little embarrassed, Andy walked away from the notice board after congratulating the winning team members. After that he entered the Dining Hall through a wall.

He sat down at the Gryffindor table and took a bite out of a piece of bacon not saying a word to anyone.

Marvo wanders in after a quick glance at the Notice board and goes straight over to Andy and sits, putting his hand on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry you didn't get on the team Andy. I know you played fantastically! I guess they didn't want to risk you being, erm.. exposed as it were. I mean, if the other teams found out your a construct, well, not only would they be disqualified, but you'd probably be taken away."

He looked down at the bacon, then back at Andy. "We must get your body back" He looked back down at the bacon. "You don't have to eat you know. erm.. is it nice?"

Andy lightly threw the bacon down on his plate and looked up at Marvo. "Maybe if I had my body in the first place I would have made the team," he said rather sharply.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Marvo. I guess it was always in the back of my mind that I wouldn't make the team. I mean, my whole life has been a living hell since the day I was born. Why should it start getting better now? It was probably good that they didn't pick me. I'm famous for my bad luck anyway."

He looked down. He was ashamed of himself.

"That may well be true Andy, about your life so far. But look. Your YOU now! Possibly for the first time ever your really you! Okay, so you don't have a body yet? so what? I don't have a right eye or a left hand. That doesn't make me any less a person, in fact as far as I'm concerned, it make me a better one!"

He looked at Andy, trying to reassure him, then had a thought.

" Look, How about we make a deal? We'll do everything we can to get you a real body, to get your real body back. and in the meantime, you make the most of the one you have. Think about it? Look at the advantages it gives you? Okay, so you can't be on the Quidditch team? But who on the team can walk through a wall? Walk underwater as easily as on land? Be hit by a cannon ball without feeling a thing?"

He tapped Andy on the head, then in the chest. "It's what's here and here that counts. THAT'S the REAL you. Not some bag of mostly water!"

It was amazing, even to Marvo himself, how his views had changed in the last few days.

"And if things don't work out.. well... have you ever considered a job with the Aurors? I happen to think, with your current abilities, and a bit of training, you'd make a fine Auror."

Andy couldn't believe what he was hearing. Him? An Auror? Marvo always had a way of making him feel better. But being an Auror. He would actually be something...special. Be someone important. He'd never actually felt that before.

Andy hugged him. "Thank you, Marvo," he said. "That means a lot to me. I can't tell you how happy I am that we're friends again. Your trust in me might have been questioned earlier, but I can tell you this. You are the only person in the world I can trust. You are the strongest person and certainly the best damn Auror I know! You've been like my best friend. No...you've been like a brother to me. And I wouldn't change that for anything in the world. Take away the last two letters in Warden and we have the same last name!"

He laughed. "I really appreciate you and everything you've ever done for me."

************

Arriving at the Gryffindor Table, Nimue was a little concerned to see that Mahou was not present. She looked so upset after the trials and Nimue didn't feel she'd been able to be much help. She decided to ask Marvo who she was pleased to see was sitting with Andy. The two boys seemed to be friends again.

"Hello Andy, Marvo. Look Mahou isn't here. I'm worried about her."

Andy looked up as Nimue arrived and wiped a tear from his cheek. "Hi Nimue," he said.

She informed them of Mahou's disappearance. "Mahou Amberstone?" he asked. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"

Nimue shook her head, "No - maybe in Gryffindor Tower but somehow I don't think so. You must have noticed during the trials when her hat fell off - she's a little different. I know that it won't stop people liking her and wanting to be her friend but she thinks it will and there's the problem. I don't like to think of her alone somewhere and feeling unwanted, not knowing that she's been picked for the team."

She looked around, "Maybe she's still out there at the pitch brooding. Or in the forest" Nimue's eyes brightened, "Oh yes, she's naturally drawn there and she might feel less alone with the nature spirits."

Andy did notice when Mahou's hat fell off. She looked odd. Almost not human. That didn't stop him from liking her as a friend. Andy would know a thing or two about being "abnormal".

"What do you suggest we do?" he asked her. "Go into the Forbidden Forest?"

He was frightened. The last time he was in the forbidden forest...well...he didn't want to think about it. All that mattered was that Mahou was safe.

"If that's what we have to do then it's fine with me." He looked at Marvo then back at Nimue.

Nimue was a little nervous as well. Despite her rapport with the Forest, there was something in the air - maybe she was just being empathetic with Andy's fear.

Every time she'd gone deep into the Forest bad things had happened - dementors, monsters and finally Dafydd Grimalkin nearly killing her. Yet she wanted to be proactive and not just always be in need of rescuing.

"If that's where she's gone that is where we have to go. She blames herself for losing 60 points from Gryffindor last night when Snape found her on the edge of the forest so there is no way we can tell a teacher about this. Maybe she thinks that because of what she is she is immune to the darkness of the forest but that is not so."

She turned to Marvo, "What do you think we should do and don't you dare think of leaving me behind. Mahou doesn't need to be dragged back here - she needs to know that she is accepted and belongs here with us - not out there in the woods. Marvo, you're wonderful at doing your Auror bit but you're as sensitive as a brick in such matters."

Marvo was smiling at Andy, pleased his (true) words had the effect he wanted. He listened to Nimue.

"True, the Forest is forbidden for a reason, very dangerous, some of these new ones don't seem to have realised that yet."

He stood. "And if I'm to go find her I can't think of two other people I'd rather come with me." With that he stepped towards the door.

Marvo was on a little bit of a 'high' at the moment, otherwise he might have had second thoughts. He did not like the forest at all. Far too many things with far too many legs!

Nimue smiled at this compliment following him. "The Scooby gang rides again!" She hoped Kat wouldn't mind being left behind but she seemed currently surrounded by admirers congratulating her on success. Hopefully they wouldn't be long.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Andy said as he walked with Nimue and Marvo.

He also had Kat on his mind. He wanted to fully congratulate her for making seeker. He wished she could be there with them on yet another adventure. The Scooby Gang!

"Are we splitting up or sticking together?" he asked.

************

Carina walked back, not in the best of moods. She hadn't played at her best. She'd played worse, obviously....but she'd not had much impact on the game. Muttering under her breath she walked to the brooms store and slung her broom in before heading back to the castle.

She sat down grumpily at the end of the Slytherin table, and wondered if anyone would sit by her. She wasn't bothered if they did. She'd obviously inherited half her father's 'go it alone' gene. Alone or in company, she was fine whatever happened.

Niki and Morticia met up just outside the Great Hall, and trooped in to dinner together. They were discussing the Quidditch tryouts. As they filled their plates with food, the topic turned to the cheerleaders.

"Well, it's just an excuse for them to show off their bodies in skimpy clothes," Tish announced, waving a drumstick.

"Some of them don't NEED excuses," Niki said, rolling her eyes. "Like Arcadia. Her clothes don't exactly follow the dress code...well, not at all."

"Although I think some of the professors like it!" Tish chortled.

"Like who?"

"Well, all the seventh years stare at her..."

"And so does Professor Kacirk! I think the only reason he passed her last year was..." Niki began, giggling. Suddenly, she glanced fearfully around, up the Slytherin table, and smiled wanly at Morticia. "I...have to go, Tish." She jumped up and scurried off.

Arcadia has stormed into he dining room with Oriana, not at all happy, in fact down right furious!

How COULD they delay the Cheerleader trials until after dinner? And after they had sat through all that boring floating around stuff!

She sat down hard at the Slytherin table and snatched a bit of bread and started buttering it, mumbling to herself and Oriana

But then Pan's ears pricked up as they heard Niki's 'comments'. Arcadia stopped buttering her bread and slowly lowered her knife.

Slower still she turned her head in Niki's direction, then got up, again slowly, from her seat. "I'll be back in a minute" She said to Oriana, in a very cold voice.

Not waiting for a reply she walked slowly over to Carina and pulled at her shoulder. "Come with me. Now!"

They left the Dining room.

Oriana was upset that the cheerleading tryouts were delayed. She heard Morticia's comment about how 'being a cheerleader is just an excuse for them to show off their bodies in skimpy clothes'. She felt offended, but being typical Oriana she didn't say anything. She wondered where Arcadia and Carina had gone off to. She bit into her drumstick and slurped down her drink. Being ordered around by Arcadia made you hungry! She smiled at her fellow Slytherins.

Branwen sat at the dinner table. She didn't feel that hungry. After watching the other students flying around on brooms she really wanted to fly herself. To feel the air currents swirl around her wings. Maybe after dinner she would go out and see how the boys were doing.

She glanced across at the Slytherin table. Randal was there, more reading than eating. She couldn't quite see what the book was though. Probably studying again.

She turned her attention back to her food.

Kat had finally finished hugging everyone. She was so happy to actually be seeker for the school. As she thought about it though she realised what a big responsibility it was. She needed to practice more, and try to work on a few fancy moves. She decided to start tomorrow before breakfast.

She walked into the great hall for dinner, and settled herself next to Branwen. "It's very quiet in here tonight. Where is everyone?"

Branwen looked up. "Not sure. It's mostly people who were playing Quidditch that are missing. Congratulations by the way. I here you made school seeker."

Kat nodded and beamed a bit more. "Yep."

Kat looked around to see who else was there. No Marvo, or Nimue. In fact she couldn't see Sarah or Fee either. She turned back to her food, wondering if anyone was going to join them.

********

"Sticking together. I want you two to promise not to wander off!" Marvo put on his best 'I'm in charge' voice and smiled. As they made their way out of the door he glanced over as saw Kat enter the room.

His first thought was to call to her and have her along but then he remembered Nimue words... *Give her some space. Don't seem so easy* So he turned and continued to lead them outside towards the forest.

Andy looked at Nimue and rolled his eyes giving her the 'Marvo's in charge again' look. He laughed.

Kat had obviously missed the group as they left. She stared at her plate for a few minutes before deciding to forgo dinner for once.

"You'll have to excuse me Branwen. I'm going to see if I can find Marvo. It is most unlike him not to be following me around. Ever since last term he has been like a lost sheep at my heals..."

She looked worriedly at Branwen, who nodded and continued to eat.

"I'll er... catch you later then." She disappeared off leaving her food relatively untouched.

Just outside the hall she asked a younger Ravenclaw who told her that Marvo had been seen heading outside with the Gryffindor prefect and the strange guy who had been walking through walls.

Kat chuckled a little at the description, but headed outside. She saw them as they drew close to the woods.

"Hey, what are you up to? And why didn't you invite me?" She asked as she caught up with them. The grin from receiving the news over the Seeker position was still there. Although there was a edge of concern about her...

Marvo looked stunned and mumbled "Oooohhhuuummm"

Nimue leapt in with a save, "It's Mahou. She didn't come in from the trials and she was very upset. I'm concerned that she took off for the Forbidden Forest again. She was creeping around the edges last night and well she might feel she belongs there more than with us. Didn't you notice anything about her ...without her hat that is?"

Andy heard Kat approach them. "Hey Kat," he said. "Sorry we couldn't find you. We're off to find Mahou. Nimue said she hasn't seen her lately and we were just about to search the forbidden forest. Would you like to come with us? We could use your help."

Somehow, Andy felt safe going into the forest. After all, if he could walk through walls and not get hit with anything, what harm could come of him? His main goal was to make sure the others were safe including Mahou.

"The ears you mean? Sure... But you don't talk about things like that do you? I mean they are fairly rare, and never really talk to humans do they. Other than them she doesn't really look that part though does she?"

"Do you suppose it is a family trait or that someone in her family married an unusual companion?" It wouldn't occur to Kat that Mahou was a real elf.

"You don't really think she would go in there do you? Didn't people tell her of all the things that happened last year? Doesn't she have more sense?"

Kat looked from Nimue to Andy and then to Marvo. Realisation dawned. "No! You are not going in there to look for her are you? Are you mad?!"

She looked at them again. "Well, you're not going without me!" It was a statement that invoked no argument.

Marvo Smiled. He was glad Kat was coming along, obviously not just because her talents might be useful. "Well. We don't want her getting into MORE trouble do we? So who else is better to go get her?"

He avoided commenting on the 'ears' He of course had information he was not supposed to pass on.

"So. Now we all together, shall we get going? or shall we invite everyone and make a school trip out of it?" He took Kats hand.

Nimue considered, this was Kat - they shared everything. "Mahou is part-elf but she's in a very strange place because of it. Keeps expecting everyone to taunt her. Now she feels that everyone will reject her who has seen."

As realization dawned in Kat's eyes, Nimue nodded. "It's the only way - if she thinks she is accepted there she'll be with the spirits of the trees but her place is here and she needs to know that."

"And of course we aren't going without you!"

"I suggest we get a move on then. Precious time is ticking away and Mahou isn't getting any safer. We stick together."

He smiled and grabbed his wand out from his pocket just in case. "Everyone ready?"