(everyone)

After sitting down and stop thinking about drinks, Merlin turned to Niall; he wanted to thank him for the help, so he called on to him. "Hey Niall." The boy looked up and Merlin laughed out loud, his laughter filled out the room and most turned to look on his direction. "I was not expecting that!" He laughs some more. "You look so funny! It is a pity I don't have a camera!" He took a reflective object from the table and put it in front of him. "Look, your eyes are bigger than your face." After a few more giggles he said. "Thank you Niall, you helped me before when I needed it. You are a good friend, if you make it into Slytherin you'll have a friend in there waiting, if you make it into another house you still have a friend." He smiles once last time. "Butterbeer? I'm getting a tank!"

Niall beamed when Merlin laughed. Then he had to laugh as well, he looked ridiculous. "Glad my specs don't look like this," he said through the chuckle. "Glad I could help, ya been so good to me." He looked down shyly. "I hope I get into Slytherin, that'd be fantastic." He nodded, having really liked the butterbeer. "Please." He had a feeling he probably wouldn't get a full glass. He was such a small thing.

Merlin grins and rubs his head. "I think you look great with them. I love silly things like this, haha." After he heard his wish to become a Slytherin, Merlin couldn't help but feel a pang in the stomach because if he wasn't wrong, he doubted he was a Slyther but truly hoped he was wrong and the hat knew better. "No matter the house, you'll be fantastic." He winks before getting the big pint for Niall, Drew, Magnus, Rosie, Paddy, and him. "Hands full!" He placed them all in the center so everyone could grab one and as soon as he sits he drinks up. "Mmmm." The foam draw a mustache on his lips and smiling to Niall he said. "Now I'm a really an old man, see? White hair, white mustache." He interrupts Magnus. "How do I look wolfie? Sexy huh?" He giggles and receives a playful push from Drew.

(( Happy Birthday!!)) (and everyone/anyone else)

Drew had returned Merlin's hug and was glad to see things were settling again. As the group made their way to the Three Broomsticks, he managed to regain a bit of his anticipation about visiting new places. He nodded a thanks to the man who greeted them. Hearing of the drink making contest, Drew frowned thoughtfully. Well his drink would be green obviously. And yum... "Rosie, that looks amazing," he said to his fellow Slytherin. He grinned as Merlin dubbed it prefect approved.

Niall in the funny glasses was too cute and he laughed. "I think we'll have to call you professor now, Niall," he said playfully. Then he waved his hand as if they were in class. "Professor! Oh Professor! Can you help me with my drink assignment?"

As Merlin brought over butterbeer for everyone, Drew smiled. "thanks, Merls." He eagerly took a mug. At his friend's playful nudge, Drew snickered and said, "Dead sexy, Merls...but then you always are." He tried to keep a straight face but a giggle slipped out.

Niall hadn’t really remembered ever being that silly to be honest but he nodded and smiled. The boy had just taken a drink of the butterbeer and sprayed some out on Merlin when he pretended to be old and moustached.

Magnus had been writing furiously and scratching down amounts and such. He looked up distractedly. “Oh, yes, Merlin so hot to trot,” in a very droll voice. “Cheers for the butterbeer.” Then he went back to his calculations.

Niall put his silly glasses away, though he was still smiling. He was very glad for the improved moods.

(and everyone)

Merlin giggled at the comments of his friends and clean up Niall's mess after his outburst. "You can't spit on this hottie old man." He laughed and clean up his lips. "Magnus is so concentrated on whatever he is writing. I would just grab ingredients I think are good and mix them..tada!" He looks to where the chips were and brought some. "yes I have to taste it, make sure if its good or not." He bit on the eggs and nods. "It's good." He offered to Niall but she shook his head and Merlin shrugs and kept eating. "Drew are you going to make another Slytherin drink? I liked Rosie's but may try something in a bit."

Drew nodded as he sipped the butterbeer. "Yep, why would I make anything other than a Slytherin drink?" he smiled. "I just have to figure out what I'm going to put in it. I'm a big fan of the pick stuff and toss it in idea." He grinned at Merlin.

(and all )

Magnus suddenly got up and went over to the counter and started making his drink. He was muttering as he did it too. “Hand full of Raspberries….” Slowly he mixed his drink. He added blue berries and some currents--blending all those, he then add a large amount of lemonade and then shook the entire thing up and poured it into a class. He added the garnish and twisty straw. Then he went to the portrait. “Favourite colour is pink perhaps? Me drink is called Wit Beyond Measure.” He lifted up the blue drink for the picture to see. Then Magnus went back to the rest of the table and smiled.

Niall was a bit worried at all the information in his music book. He closed it and slipped it in his bag. Maybe he should have a go at making a drink. Later, he thought. He just wanted to relax a little.

Merlin decided it was his turn to make a blend, he wanted something fruity but also wanted a cool looking glass to display it, so he used his wand to change the appearance of a glass, once he was pleased he begins to mix. "One kiwi, five green grapes, one lime, one lemon, half a green apple, a handful of spinach, a pinch of cinnamon and ginger for spice, and half a banana for sugary taste. He blended the fruits, added ice, water, and mixed again. He tasted with a spoon to see if it needed anything else. "Good." Once finished he served it on the skull glass he transfigured and added a few herbs to decorate. "Scary looking? I think looks cool and tastes great." He was thoughtful and said. "I'll call it Cunning Snake"

(everyone)

"Oh that looks good Magnus, Merlin. I thought Rosie's looked good too." He looked shyly back at her with a dopey smile.

Magnus nodded his thanks. "Yours looks a little lethal Merls," he said, "what with the skull on it."

Merlin had a pleased smile on his face. "Thanks Niall." Then he looked at Magnus and replies. "Well I wanted to add a bit of alcohol but it's not permitted, then it would have been lethal." He laughs a bit and then adds. "The skull is just for it to look menacing since Slythers have a bad reputation." He grins as he nods. "But to prove we look bad but are good on the inside it has a fruity taste but the spice kick of our bite." He seem proud of his drink.

Magnus nodded, "you put a lotta thought in it. I'm sure its quiet yummy. I like the juxtaposition of the rough outside and the yummy sweet inside. Most snakes I know are really nice. I chose lemonade as the base drink because its sour and sweet and mixes well with berries--and I thought some people think the claws are a bit off the wall or fruity but there's more under those layers."

"Well the idea kinda flowed the instant I step in front of the ingredients, I'm a natural in the kitchen I guess." He laughs a bit and nods to Mag. "I like your base, I love using lemon because it brings the flavor of things out. I don't see Ravens as fruity, in fact I see them aa clever and with a hint of mystery. If I wasn't a snake, I would surely have been a Ravenclaw."

Magnus couldn't help but giggle. "I'm mysterious? You do seem very clever," he nodded.

Merlin nods rapidly. "Yes you are mysterious in ways. And thanks, I like to think I'm a bit clever." He giggles. "And at least I have excellent grades, mom would be pleased. But we Slythers are hardworking, last time I checked we had the highest points, so I can see the green decorations in the Great Hall already, another cup for the snakes." He grins. "Or so I hope." He scratches his head feeling silly. "I'm quite competitive and encourage the students a lot or more like nag them a lot. Do your assignments! Participate in activities! I'm a pest." He giggles.

"'Ow am I mysterious? he asked. He smiled at the excellent grades, he had those too, unless you counted Astronomy and divination. "Cos you're a good prefect. I let everyone run amok. And its against the rules to snarl at 'em and threat to bite 'em if they don't do their assignments--I know I got detention for it...."

Merlin thought about the question. "Well for some reason I always see Ravens in general like they have a secret- not necessarily a bad thing just that they know something the rest of us don't. I don't know if that makes sense but I found that mysterious and makes me curious. You too have that air, plus your nature is also mysterious, even the way you walk gives that vibe. I don't know is the way I perceive it." Merlin opened his eyes wide. "You threat to bite them? I only threat them a little...but not to bite them, like to take them to the forbidden forest at night, feed them to acromantulas and totally harmless things like that. No wonder you got detention."

"Huh," he said, "ain't no one ever told me that before."

Then Magnus frowned and looked embarrassed. "Well I were joking, but I guess considering what I am it wasn't a very funny one. Me parents got a letter... it were awful. 'Onestly, I wasn't actually gonna bite anyone. Like I said, I'm a terrible prefect I think."

Merlin shrugged. "It is the way I perceive it, I tend to be a bit...how do I put it? You know, just this sensation I get from people that somehow makes me read them a little in the most unexpected ways. Like an intuition?" He wasn't sure that explained it. "I'm sure it was a joke but many won't take it as that! No wonder your parents got letters- you scared the students!" He laughed.

That he was mysterious to Merlin seemed strange and cool at the same time. Then again as he thought about it... "Probly cos I'm not always predictable. But intuition sounds good too." He frowned again. "Whats worse is not only did I get a detention and in trouble with me folks--it didn't get more assignments done either."