((ooc: Merlin's having internet problems again.))

"I'd love to meet them," Zoe said, "and do nee worry, my dad tells bad jokes too."

"Yeah," Magnus said. There wasn't a lot of excitement in his voice.

"I'm glad they are all well," Paul said to Drew. "Good, I'd like to spend some time with you three." He knew River was wanting to say hello and he would.

"Yeah," Magnus said, "I was gonna say it was soon, but you were upset about missing us and well didn't want to make it worse." He kept his eyes on his roast beef. "She's been on bedrest too."

"Not this moment, her water broke not too long ago. She's got some time before the baby comes," Paul said. "I was called to come get Magnus, but like I said, we've got a little bit of time. And getting him home won't take long anyway."

Jona noticed that Magnus was definitely lacking in excitement at having a sibling and while Jona was sure he, too, had his reasons....well, it made Jona angry. He said nothing save for, "Right. Well, congrats." Then he turned towards, making a point to only talk to her so that he could hopefully ignore the ungrateful brother sitting across the table from him What he wouldn't give to see his own brother again! What he said to Zoe was: "Yeah, well, you should totally spend next summer at my house. Or you could spend half at mine and then we could spend the other half at yours! I know my uncles would love to meet you." Jona was excited at the prospect, though still portraying less of his normal exuberance due to the frustration of Magnus's attitude.

“I’d like to spend some time with you too,” Drew said to Paul. “I’ve missed you. I feel so out of things,” he sighed. “So much to try to catch up on and not enough time with homework and holidays and everything.”

He looked over at Magnus and bit his lip at this friend’s words. Again there had been so little time and next to none for the two of them to talk alone. The moon hadn’t helped matters either. He reached over and put a hand on Magnus’ arm. “’m sorry, Mags,” Drew said quietly. “She’s going to be alright though and so’s everyone else. You’ll get to see that with your own eyes. Just please send us an owl and let us know for sure since we’ll still be here.”

Magnus smiled at Jona's congratulations. "Thanks. Me parents are very excited."

"I'd love that," Zoe said. "A split holiday sounds lovely. I bet I'd like yer uncles."

"I'm sorry Drew," Paul said, "I feel left out of things sometimes too. When Grace said her first words it was 'Daddy' only because I was in the field. It hurt me that I missed it. But the reality is that we will miss things all the time. And what you are doing when you miss those things are unavoidable. I was away with my job. You were with your family bonding. You have to make the most of the moments you have when you have them--otherwise you'll be living in the past and miss more. Merlin and Magnus are here now. You'll have some adventures, of this I'm sure. So try to enjoy what you have, okay kiddo? As for you Magnus, having a baby brother doesn't mean your parents are trying to replace you. I'm sure you've been told this dozens of times. But don't forget, when it is the full moon, we will be there with you to make sure things are okay. We won't let anything happen to you or your new brother. Try to relax. Things will fall into place."

"I guess," Magnus said to both Drew and PAul. "I'm so afraid I'll hurt the baby...and mum's pregnancy as been 'ard."

"Hey, listen to me, okay," Paul said, "I give you my word, we will protect him and you. You'll see, come the next full moon. Things are gonna be okay."

Magnus hugged Paul. "Okay, I'll wait and see."

Merlin was in silence since Drew came over, once again he felt as he was invisible to him. He didn’t care about his gift and attempt from him and River to get close to him, in fact he didn’t even bother to say hello to his invisible friend. So if that’s how it will be then he won’t beg. “Tell Stella my heart and good thoughts are with her, and the baby. Give Bart a hug and congratulations. Magnus, remember we will always be with you and you can count on us to protect you abd Tegan- always.”

Merlin turned to Zoe and Jona. “Yes it’s true being a dragon has disadvantages- especially of size- but I wouldn’t change it for any other form.” Merlin smiled even when hecwas sad. “My patronus is pretty cool too.”

“Magnus or Paul, please let me know when the baby borns. I can’t wait to see him.”

Drew looked up at Paul () as he spoke, taking in the man’s words and thinking of what Paul had given up or lost over the years. Then he looked down at the table, deep in thought. Unconsciously, because he’d have rather been hexed than be thought a baby, Drew leaned against the auror, taking strength and comfort from Paul. He was quiet a long moment as his mind turned things over. Those who knew Drew best knew that he needed time to think and/or adapt. Though he could be spontaneous if it was fun to be had, he wasn’t a spur of the moment boy when it came to deeper things that really mattered to him. Paul was right as usual, Drew thought. He’d missed so much…fun, inside jokes…and it hurt to feel left out. Did his friends want to relive or remember things that had happened two terms ago when he’d been around? They’d all changed so much since then. But maybe they would. And if not, there was a new term to do things in. Taking a deep breath, he gave Paul a little hug of thanks and a smile at being called kiddo. It was just something about the way Paul did it that always made him smile. “I’ll try, Paul,” Drew promised. “Thanks for the reminder.”

Looking at Magnus and Merlin (), he said, “I’m sorry I haven’t been there, especially for you, Mags, since it sounds like it’s been rough and kinda scary. I mean I was but I wasn’t, you know what I mean. I could support through letters but not much else. But I’m here now.”

Suddenly he straightened up and stuck out his hand, palm down, across the table…nearly knocking over a glass in the process, but it didn’t deter the boy now. “One for all?” he asked, a note of hesitancy in his voice, unsure how his friends would respond now.

"A dragon would be neat," Zoe admitted. "I'd love to see yer form and patronus."

"That's what I'm here for," Paul said with a smile. "I'm gonna say hi to River. Be back in a few moments and then Magnus and I will need to go. And of course, we'll tell you Merlin about the baby." He patted each of the boys on the shoulder and headed to River's table. He hugged her and they started talking.

Magnus smiled. "We've been trying to tell you Drew, we want you around. Merlin and I."

Merlin smiled to Zoe. “I can show you later outside of course, both paronus and dragon form. But in an empty area, don’t like people looking and pointing later in the corridors.”

Merlin finally smiled. “And one for all.” He placed his hand over Drew’s and looked at Magnus. “Yes we do miss and want you around silly man.”

Drew smiled as Merlin joined him and he and Mags gave their affirmation. “I know, I know, it’s just…hard,” Drew said with a glance over at Paul who was talking to River. He sighed. Things would never be the same. But maybe they will be better said a little voice that sounded like a mix of his Mum, Dad, and Paul. He had to smile slightly. Yeah, yeah, he told them mentally. Just give me time and don’t cram it down my throat or rub it in.

“Since this seems to be the happening place cause we’re here…” he said, taking out his wand and with a word and a flick causing the box at the Slytherin table to float over, “how about we celebrate everything…us and the new baby…with some chocolate cake? My sources tell me that it’s going to be pretty good since a decent cook made it.” He grinned at Merlin.

Zoe let out a little squeal. "Ooh yes, yes please!!!"

Magnus placed his hand on Drew's too. "Good, crazy Drew," He smiled at chocolate cake. "Ooh yes! But you better offer the chocoholic auror some or you might end up in Askaban," he joked.

Merlin smiled to Zoe and looked at Jona. “Well if you want to join us, you are welcomed. If you are not scared of my dragon form.” He chuckled but was joking.

“Oh yes cake!” Merlin said. “I already missed the doughnuts, can’t miss cake too. Do you...” Merlin nervously said. “Do you mind if I call River too? Please give her a chance, she is a wonderful girl and needs friends. She really wants to be friends with you and she needs us. Please.”

Grinning, Drew said to Zoe () and Jona, () “There should be enough to share…provided you get a piece before Merls () or Paul attack. And that might be as soon as I take the cover off the box and they smell chocolate.”

He laughed at Magnus’ comment and a little glint shone in his eyes as he lifted the cover. “He’ll have to wait a second,” Drew stated. "And you too, Merls. And no...no calling," he added, his mind already at work. It wasn't that he was ignoring his friend's plea, but he had a plan.

Taking a knife, he cut a small piece of the cake and laid it on a plate. Then holding his wand, he concentrated hard. The first time the little triangle of cake gave a peep and a beak stuck out the end. Frowning, Drew tried again. He’d practiced his transfigurations but they still took some work with him. On the second try, he achieved what he’d had in mind. There on the table stood a tiny chocolate bird, its body dark brown with lighter chocolate on its feathers, like frosting. Its tail however was a pastel rainbow. Drew hastily yanked out a piece of parchment from his pocket and wrote a short note:

Please do not eat me. I am but a messenger. You…and the chocolate loving gent with you…are invited to join the Three Musketeers for a delicious celebration of life and friendship.

Drew folded the small missive and coaxed the little bird to take it into its beak. Then he sent the little creature winging it over to River and Paul.

((OOC: omg so much happened))

Jona had zoned out the moment Merlin first offered to let him see his dragon form and had only just grounded from his outter space moment, realizing a lot had happened while he was daydreaming. "YES!" He suddenly shouted. "Er, yes." HE said again, this time laughing. "To everything! Yes to chocolate cake. Yes to dragons. Yes to everything."

Zoe smiled at Jona. "We get cake AND seeing a dragon. We totally are lucky." She was excited and beaming.

Magnus was smiling when Drew invited Paul and River over.

River and Paul arrived. River pulled Drew into a hug. "Thank you." She smiled deeply.

Paul smiled. "Oh so you all are gonna share a tiny slice and I get the rest of this cake right? How sweet." He chuckled. It was good seeing them.

@/Raven @/MerlinPendragon @/leafling19

"The luckiest," He agreed with Zoe.

The newish scary dude - was he Paul? - made a comment about getting most of the cake for himself and Jona instantly became possessive. "The cake is for everyone," he said in a voice that came out a bit whinier than he meant it to. "Besides," he continued, trying to repair the scene he'd just made, "if anyone gets the whole cake, it's gonna be, um...Drew, right?" Why was Jona said bad at remembering people's names? Or, maybe all the upperclassmen just looked the same to him.

Drew was taken aback as River () grabbed him and hugged. “Um…you’re welcome,” he said, blushing.

At Paul’s teasing, Drew answered, “Too sweet for you.” He stuck out his tongue at Paul and then grinned devilishly. At Jona’s () comment, he laughed and said, “Yep, I’m Drew and yep I agree with you, Jona, but I’m willing to share…evenly,” he said with a grin for Paul and giving Merlin () a playful poke.

Paul laughed. "Oh I like you Jona. I was kidding. I'll just have to get Merlin to make me a cake. But I'd still share with my family."

"Merlin did most of the making," River said, "so it'll taste good. If I made it, we'd all be going to the hospital wing for food poisoning. I am not good at baking." She was blushing.

Paul pouted when Drew added evenly to sharing. "So mean."

Zoe was just happy to have any cake.

Paul and Magnus left shortly after the cake, saying goodbye to everyone.

Zoe raced down to the Great hall when she woke. She couldn't wait to see all the items for sell. Helping to set up still didn't help her get to really look around. She went straight to Spindlewarps Wool Shop as she was dying to buy some of the wools and accessories. She had a plan of "attack" of her shopping priorities. On her shoulder was her new fwooper Flossy and tucked inside her bag was her niffler, Lewis. She left her other pets in her dorm for now.

Outfit Not Found

Callista is one of the first to appear in the Great Hall. Madam Malkin's has never been her favourite place to shop for clothes, but they do have nice classic basics and there was a travelling cloak she saw in the window the last time she was in Diagon Alley that she's got to have. And those gloves will certainly come in handy.

Sabrina, of course, is investigating the offerings from the Magical Menagerie, impatiently waiting for Callista to join her. Being a serval, she can jump fairly high even though she's still a ten-pound kitten. But all the packets are fairly well warded and sealed so that they can't be opened without opposable thumbs.